Valentine's Day is typically about candied hearts, red roses, and candle-lit dinners to celebrate your relationship. Why not bond by committing, as a couple, to start a regular exercise routine together? Not only can you keep your relationship healthy with quality time together, you can also get your bodies into shape.

But being amid gym equipment is hardly the stuff of romance novels. Be innovative and you may just find romantic, little-known and inexpensive work out spots. Here are some of our favourites, just to start you off.

Singapore Botanic Gardens

With thousands of plant specimens, Singapore Botanic Gardens offers soothing scenery and vast greenery. The whole estate is a perfect place for a romantic power walk or light jogging with your partner. Try jogging up and down the hilly part of the garden to boost your cardiovascular health.

Or bring along a rubber ball or Frisbee to play a lighthearted throw-and-catch - guaranteed to spark peals of laughter.

Fort Canning Hill
Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and take in the historical significance of the site.

Located in the heart of the city, Fort Canning Hill is dotted with memorials of Singapore's history dating back to 14th century. Take time in between your walking laps to visit Sir Stamford Raffles' residence and Singapore's first botanical garden, which he built.

The flights of stairs around the hill make for great climbing exercise.

Central Business District Area

Enjoy a moment of calm right in the heart of the city with a run along the Singapore River. If the two of you work around the Central Business District, you are only 10 minutes away from starting your workout after knocking off from work.

Engage other couples and friends for a more social experience. Form running clubs or join the Health Promotion Board's i-Run, held every Tuesday and Thursday from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. Running with a group keeps your enthusiasm up.

Call 6295 0163 or visit www.i-run.com.sg to find out more.

Alternatively, arrange to join the Fitness@Work sessions in your work area together. Fitness@Work is an hour-long, specially choreographed aerobics workout session suitable for people of different fitness levels. These sessions are held on weekday evenings at areas with a dense working population. In fact, there is a Fitness@Work session on Valentine's Day, 6.30pm to 7.30pm, at the National Library Board (Victoria Street).

Log on to www.hpb.gov.sg or call 6435 3012 for more information.

Snow City

Recreate winter romantic moments seen on the silver screen and try winter sports at Snow City in Jurong (next to the Singapore Science Centre). Learn skiing or snowboarding - both great total-body workouts - from the experienced instructors. And it gives you a great opportunity to cuddle up to your loved one for warmth.

Sentosa
The redevelopment of the island in recent years means nicer beaches and more attractions for everyone.

Slap on the sunscreen and head down to the seaside for a long walk by the beach or a game of volleyball. Or rent a pair of bikes and cycle around the island.

And what better way to end a day of activity than to sit idly side-by-side on the sand and watch a golden sunset?

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, part of a limited area of primary rainforest left in Singapore, is an ideal place for couples to go for a fun hike. Trek through the jungle via well-marked paths or join one of the guided walks. The change of scenery provides a great break from our daily urban routine.

MacRitchie Reservoir

Boardwalks skirt the edge of the scenic MacRitchie Reservoir. For the more adventurous, take the walking trails that run through the forest, which are graded from easy to difficult. Remember that different people will have different levels of fitness, so choose a trail that is suitable for both of you.

Walking is a great form of exercise as it is low-impact. Besides the walking trails, you can also head for the TreeTop Walk - a free-standing suspension bridge between the two highest points in MacRitchie. The TreeTop Walk provides a bird's eye view of the surrounding areas.

This article is courtesy of the Health Promotion Board.