By Mallory McKnight

How is a modern Great Lakes girl – jaded by chocolates, roses and candlelight – to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a thoroughly original way?

Old stand-by getaways include the ski lodge, urban hotel room or rustic bed and breakfast. But one destination that usually gets left off the list is a no-brainer for Great Lakes residents any other time of the year.

There are 10,368 miles of shoreline along the entire Great Lakes basin, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment. There’s no reason that entire beautiful coastline should be a vacation destination only four months out of the year.

Here are the top reasons to hit the beach on Valentine’s Day:

• The Ice Formations– During the winter months, the lakes freeze and create beautiful ice sculptures on the coast. The ice builds up around piers and lighthouses creating a unique and breathtaking view of landmarks that cannot be found during the summermonths.
• Snuggling – The winter beach can be a cold and lonely place. It provides couples with an opportunity to get close. “It requires you to bundle up and snuggle,” said Marci Cisneros, executive director for the Grand Haven Area Convention and VisitorsBureau.
• Privacy – In the winter months, it’s not unusual for the beach to be pretty much empty. “It’s very serene and peaceful,” Cisneros said. “You really have the place all toyourself.” With so few visitors crowding the landscape, the beach during winter can make those special moments even more intimate.
• Sunsets – Sunset always draws visitors to the beach. The turbulent water and cloud formations can make winter sunsets some of the most spectacular of the year. A special added bonus, sunset comes early this time of year so the night will still be young after watching the sunset.
• Atmosphere – Few places are filled with as many clichés as the beach. In winter, the beach is available to view in a whole new light. “The blowing sand and snow are the most beautiful display of the environment and the season,” Cisneros said.

For more proof of the beauty of the beach during winter, visit here.