When the colder weather starts to get you down, why not let someone else do the cooking and fill up on warming dishes from restaurants around the city?Talisker hot toddyThere's more than one way to warm up at Club Services Ipswich this winter!  Head in to try three delicious cocktails perfect for the colder weather:- Talisker Hot Toddy - a smoky twist on the classic warm winter drink, combining Talisker 10 Scotch Whisky with honey and lemon flavours.- Baileys Latte - the ultimate indulgence, a delightful blend of classic latte enriched with a pour of delicious Baileys Original Irish Cream.- Casamigo's Paloma - a refreshing combination of Casamigos Blanco Tequila and pink grapefruit soda, garnished with a grapefruit wedge.

As the temperature drops there's nothing better than sitting by a cosy fire, wine or beer in hand or enjoying a delicious meal.  Here's a few places in Ipswich where you can stay warm and cosy watching the flames this winter.Spicers Hidden ValeThe re-built Homage Restaurant design includes a double sided fire place.  There's comfy lounges where you can sit and enjoy the warmth of the fire with a drink and nearby tables overlook the fireplace.  There's also a fire pit outside to help up the ambiance.The Cottage RestaurantAt The Cottage Restaurant there are two fireplaces.  The restaurant is a converted heritage home and the warmth travels throughout the rooms.  They also have a fantastic seasonal menu to try out in winter.

Knock off work early on a Friday, pack a bag and head to the heritage city for a weekend of fun, contemporary tastes and historical delights. Day 1 Friday night4.00 pm: Start your weekend with tapas and cocktails at The Rusty Nail Bar. Try their drink of the week and small bites including pork belly, arancini and more.6.00 pm: Stop in for dinner at Bakehouse Steakhouse, next door to your accommodation for the night. You’ll love the chic vibe at this award-winning restaurant, set inside a historic building that was originally a bakery. You can finish your cocktail crawl here too.

For those with sensory sensitivities try these gentler experience next time you're in town...Queensland Museum Rail WorkshopsQueensland Museum Rail Workshops is a Best of Queensland recognised tourism experience that offers sensory days during the holidays.  During these sessions less tickets are sold and lights and sounds are lowered allowing access to events like Day out with Thomas to those that need a gentler experience.  Noise cancelling headphones and sensory kits are available for every visit though. Ipswich Nature CentreTake a walk through the Ipswich Nature Centre, in the morning, during the week to enjoy the nature refuge in the middle of Queens Park.  After you can head to the children’s playground which includes a liberty swing. 

Wind your way along country roads to discover Spicers Hidden Vale, an escape just an hour’s drive from Brisbane combining the style and comfort of a luxury retreat with the warmth of country welcomes. Here you can discover a genuine regional adventure that combines a breath of fresh air with luxury, garden to plate dining and a generous range of nature-based activities.You can experience the bush at its best in understated luxury, with space to relax.  Space to listen, to laugh, to embark on an adventure among the abundant wildlife on the 12,000 acres of Australian bush.And here's a few ways to get the best out of your weekend...

If you have a sweet tooth, love a lolly or like to indulge in milkshake, then you'll want to add these cafes to your list of places to visit.  With cabinets full of tarts, muffins, blondies and cakes or a gourmet ice cream you'll satisfy those sweet cravings in no time.UB's Milk BarWe'll start our sweet journey off with a visit to UB's Milk Bar.  Ipswich's original gourmet ice creamery still honours it's roots with decadently different ice cream flavours.  But they've also added poffertjes, waffles, sundaes and milkshakes to the menu.The ice cream flavours include strawberry balsamic, dark chocolate and mandarin, Dutch spice, lavender honeycomb and peanut butter.