Who said you have to fly to Paris to taste love? In honor of Valentine’s Day on February 14th, take a virtual tour of these amazing places across America that make dreamy couples’ oases.
Jefferson Island Rip Van Winkle Gardens in New Iberia, Louisiana
Jefferson Island Rip Van Winkle Gardens in New Iberia, Louisiana, makes for the perfect romantic getaway. (Credit: Iberia Travel)
This Cajun country locale makes for the perfect romantic getaway. At the gardens, gaze at the colorful peacocks, marvel at the abundance of flowers and visit the 19th-century Victorian house. Then, dine on a delicious lunch at Café Jefferson, which has a glass-enclosed porch set within a grove of 350-year-old live oaks, overlooking the gardens and Lake Paigneur.
Should you choose to extend your visit, book a cottage and enjoy a sundowner cocktail by the lake.
Before leaving town, check out nearby Avery Island, known as the home of Tabasco pepper sauce, where you can visit Tabasco 1868 Restaurant and the Jungle Gardens Wildlife Refuge.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico, really surprises when it comes to vacationing lovebirds. (Credit: Visit Albuquerque)
Ready for romance in the hot air balloon capital of the world? One of America’s oldest cities, the Land of Enchantment really shines when it comes to vacationing lovebirds.
While there are plenty to choose from in town, try taking a tandem bike ride with Roots Bicycle Tours & Rentals at Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm – a ranch nestled on 25 acres of lavender fields, cottonwood trees, and landscaped grounds. Dreamland Bagh Stop at Golden Crown Panaderia Neighborhood Bakery for a bite to eat en route.
The wine region in Albuquerque also proves ripe for romance. In the evening, Casa Rondeña Winery is known for its excellent portfolio of handcrafted New Mexican wines, and Tablao Flamenco offers a world-class line-up of performances paired with regionally inspired wines and a four-course, prix fixe meal. is
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Valentine, Nebraska
Get your stargazing fix at Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area in Valentine, Nebraska. (Credit: Nebraska Tourism Commission)
The name can say it all. Stargaze in the Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area, which plans to apply for a dark sky designation in 2022. This would mean that it is one of the darkest sites on Earth (only 15 sites have the designation).
This small town in Cherry County also has no shortage of great outdoor recreational activities like kayaking, hiking, bison tours, bird watching and more.
Niagara County, New York
Niagara Falls, the true “Honeymoon Capital of the World”, truly tugs at the heartstrings. (Credit: Niagara Falls USA)
Something like that about Niagara Falls. The real “Honeymoon Capital of the World”, the breathtaking waterfalls truly tug at the heartstrings.
After marveling at the waterfalls around Niagara Falls State Park, venture to hiking trails with postcard-worthy views of the historic Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse, Niagara Gorge, and welcoming bistros along the tranquil shores of Lake Ontario.
The destination is also home to an extensive wine region along the Niagara Escarpment, complete with the Niagara Wine Trail for experienced visitors.
Zoos continue the tradition of naming cockroaches, animals after animals and loved ones on Valentine’s Day.
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia, has Spanish moss trees, interesting history, antebellum architecture and delicious food. (Credit: Visit Savannah)
In the Hostess City of the South, as it’s called, stroll the cobblestone streets while you wonder “What if we lived here?” Game, feast on a romantic sunset riverboat cruise and go on a ghost tour.
Also, be sure to take the 15-minute drive from downtown Savannah to Tybee Island, where you can see Georgia’s oldest and tallest lighthouse, the sun setting over the ocean, and your sweetheart.
Newport, Rhode Island
Chow down on fresh crab cakes and slaw, and maybe leave behind a pinot grigio or two dockside for your eternity along the old harbor of Newport, Rhode Island. (Credit: Corey Favino)
Chow down on fresh crab cakes and slaw, and maybe enjoy Pinot Grigio dockside forever with this New England port.
Slip into vacation mode with an amble along the 3.5-mile Cliff Walk (one of the city’s most popular places to pop the question). Of course, no trip to Newport is complete without visiting the architectural wonders that are the Gilded Age mansions that America’s wealthiest families called home in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Bonus idea: Partake in some wine tasting and lunch at farm-to-table Newport Vineyards or take a sunset cruise on the Adirondack II — an 80-foot schooner that cruises the mansion-studded shores of Narragansett Bay and Newport Harbor. (You can even visit Hammersmith Farm, JFK’s former summer White House and the site where the president and Jackie Kennedy Onassis said “I do.”)
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Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
One of the best cities for lovers along the spectacular Pacific Coast Highway is the beautiful city of Carmel-by-the-Sea. (Credit: Visit Carmel)
Perhaps one of the best towns on the Sweethearts’ Road is the beautiful town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. After walking through the art galleries, shops, charming courtyards and secret passageways in the village and checking out some 10 heart-shaped sculptures in the city, walk along the picture-perfect beach.
Take a short drive down Highway 1 in a classic vintage car to live like you’re an old-time movie star. Don’t complete your trip without visiting Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, where spectacular views are rare.
If you’re celebrating a special occasion, book a table at French-and-Italian haunt Casanova, or Aubergine, a Michelin-starred restaurant that’s an edible tribute to the California coast.
Lover’s Key State Park in Fort Myers Beach, Florida
Lovers Key State Park in Fort Myers Beach, Florida is located two and a half miles from one of the most beautiful white sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. (Credit: Fort Myers – Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods)
Located on a two and a half mile stretch of one of the most beautiful white sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, the park was once accessible only by boat until 1965 when a road was built to the island and its gently sloping There were palm trees.
While spending time here with your partner, you can swim, bird watch, hike, seashell hunt or enjoy a candlelit dinner on the beach as dusk approaches (this can be arranged by Lovers Key Adventures and Events). Or, rent a bike for the day and explore around the park. Many weddings take place in this charming sliver of southwest Florida, so you can catch couples on their big day during your day trip, and the park is also the site of the annual vow renewal on Valentine’s Day.
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Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona, is a great place to visit for amateur astronomers. (Credit: Visit Tucson)
Another choice for avid astronomers, revel in the Dark Sky Ordinance enacted in the 1970s that strictly limits artificial-light pollution in the city as you gaze up at the vast blanket of stars above.
For those who want to go wild on their Sonoran Desert trips, book the Astronomer Nights program at the Mount Lemon Sky Center, where you’ll stay overnight at the observatory with professional astronomers and have access to two of the largest telescopes available for public use. . south-west
Other picks for sweethearts are a private barrel tasting or a wine dinner at Tucson’s first wine-focused The Citizen Hotel and a sunset horseback ride at Tanque Verde Ranch, followed by a six-course chef’s table dining experience.
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Kauai, Hawaii
Kaua’i, Hawaii, really pulls out all the stops for lovers. (Credit: Kauai Visitors Bureau/Kicka Witte)
The island really pulls out all the stops for lovers. Cinematic scenes abound — Waimea Canyon (“Grand Canyon of the Pacific”), jagged cliffs, gently lapping waves against the Na Pali coast, to name a few. Couples can also enjoy a visit to the National Tropical Botanical Garden, kayaking the Wailua River, snorkeling at Poipu Beach or hiking in Koke’a State Park.
When it’s time to relax, book a room at Hokuala Kauai – A Timbers Resort or Royal Sonesta Kauai Resort and lovingly recap all the day’s adventures with your spouse.
