Ok, we’re all slowly coming off of a near-two month long, tinsel and mistletoe-filled high. It’s easy to find the romance in November and December, when even gritty city streets are decorated and lit to look like backdrops in a romantic comedy.

But now it’s January (and here in New York, not even a snowy one, at that), the Christmas lights have been taken down, the champagne bottles have been rinsed and put in the recycling, and everything is a bit….blah.

But don’t despair! January can be romantic, too — you just have to work a little harder to find the magic.

Here are some ideas on how to keep some of that holiday magic going in your dating life, well into the new year.

1. Go on a Winter Roadtrip
Going to summery destinations in the off-season, like The Hamptons or Cape Cod or any resort-like small town, is completely different than going in the height of summer. The cold, the barren landscape, and the lack of people will make you feel like you own the place — and there’s nothing more romantic than feeling like you and your date are discovering something for the first time.

Head on a date day-trip somewhere unexpected, or if you’re in a more serious relationship make it an overnight stay. Either way, bundling up and exploring someplace new together will definitely help create a spark.

2. All-Day Oscar Movie Marathon
All the Oscar contenders have been released by now — have you seen them all? Choose a theater nearby, and plan out your date based on their movie schedule. You can usually manage to see two or three features in a row. A perfect, cozy, indoor activity for when it’s freezing outside.

3. Take Advantage of the Lack of Tourists
Very few people travel in January, so your hometown will have fewer tourists as well. Now’s the perfect time to finally get around to seeing the Statue of Liberty, or the National Gallery, or whatever touristy thing you’ve somehow never gotten around to doing. Yeah, it’ll be cold, but that’s what makes it romantic: the perfect excuse to duck into a bar for a drink to warm up, or, at the very least, to sit a little closer…

4. Beef Up for Winter
Resolutions, smesolutions: it’s winter, it’s cold, and it’s the perfect time of year to really tuck into some rich, indulgent food. What restaurants or dishes have you yet to explore? Propose a date to try and find the best boeuf bourguignon in the city, or scour deal sites like Groupon or Living Social for some good restaurant deals in your area. January, with its early sunsets, is the perfect month for long, multi-course meals by the fire, so take advantage and master the art of the dinner date.

5. Head Outdoors!
Winter doesn’t necessarily mean you have to hibernate for four months (though by all means go ahead, if that’s your preference). But winter sports can add flush to your cheeks and sparks to your dating life! Head to a mountain for some skiing or snowboarding if its available to you, or if not, cross-country ski through the park when it snows enough. Take a hike and read Robert Frost poetry, start a snowball fight, make a snow angel, dare your date to take a polar plunge, or at the very least take advantage of the sudden lack of crowds at the downtown skating rinks. Nothing like a little energy and exertion to invigorate you and get you through what otherwise could be a relatively trying month.

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