I am planning a honeymoon either in the Pacific Northwest including Seattle, Victoria and Vancouver or the Northeast. We are 25, love the outdoors, artsy places, laidback vacation spots, history, the ocean, nightlife, etc. We prefer romantic inns and bed and breakfasts. HELP!!! Think Romance, Romance, Romance!

Hi, Amy! Congratulations! Have you considered Canada? The exchange rate
makes it very attractive! Fly to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Rent a car & head
for the South shore....lots of romantic
B&B's. Spend some time strolling
around Halifax before or after you
head out on the road. If you
love the outdoors you might also want to
consider driving to Cape Breton in
Nova Scotia. Go to a place called Ingonish along the Cabot Trail. Stay @
Keltic Lodge....Gorgeous. Are you
golfers? They have one of the top 50
courses in the world in Ingonish!

No! I am not a travel agent....but I
did grow up in Nova Scotia!!! The NS
gov't Dept. of Tourism will send you a
Travel Guide (excellent) if you contact them.

Have fun whatever you decide to do!!!

The West Coast is so much more romantic then the East Coast . . .

You can do a search on this forum (there have been many questions and good answers recently); once you know more precisely where you want ot go, you can ask specific questions.

I'd skip Canada, especially Vancouver and Victoria. They've had lots of drug, crime, and prostitution problems recently, and it seems to be getting worse. The exchange rate is good, but the prices are higher; so it sort of evens out.

(There has to be a reason why so many BRitish Columbians are spending their vacations in Washington, Oregon, and California, don't you think?)

Amy, Wonderfully romantic B&Bs along the Mendocino coast and farther north up to the Oregon border. The islands off Seattle are just what you are looking for--one place that comes immediately to mind is the Salish Lodge. And, I still think Victoria is romantic for at least a one day visit. Do a search here first and the come back to us with specific questions.

Hi, Amy,
As a Seattleite, I'm obviously partial to our part of the world, but let me put in a plug for the east coast.

Please consider a honeymoon in Quebec and the Maritimes. Montreal and Quebec City are world resources, and the Chateau Frontenac and boardwalk on the bluff over the St. Lawrence are truly, truly romantic, honeymoon places. I know this for a fact, 'nuff said.

Then down the river to the Gaspe Peninsula, very lovely and French feeling, then maybe as Paula suggests, on to Nova Scotia or to PEI. Back through Maine to Boston or through the eastern townships to Montreal - a very nice trip indeed.

Congtratulations!

One vote for the east coast for romance.

I've been to both the Pacific NW and the NE, and, as much as I love the former (I'm a born hiker), the NE would seem to match your likes better. Stay at a B&B along the coast at just about any place north of Portsmouth; and you'll be able to get all of you wishes within a couple hours. You can relax in these seacoast towns, explore the history at any of a hundred places, then head for the Boston area for more nightlife than you could ever ask for.

One thing to ask: what time of the year will you be honeymooning? If during the winter, ignore everything I've just posted!!

To Seattle John: Your suggested itinerary has me dreaming.... Sounds
perfect....Might do it for a second
honeymoon!!!

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. We will be honeymooning in August, so it may be a bit warm. They all sound so nice that I still can't decide.

Think it might be a bit cooler in the west, but I'm not an expert about Maine, Vermont etc.

It will be quite a bit cooler (and not at all muggy) on the West Coast, from Mendocino County, in California, north along the Oregon and Washington shores. The weather should be balmy on Washington's Long Beach Peninsula, on Whidbey Island, and in the San Juan Islands (daytime temperatures in the 70s; nighttie temps in the upper 50s or 60s). Best of all, it rarely rains in August in the Pacific Northwest--and there are very few (if any) mosquitoes or other biting and stinging bugs.

I would definately go to the Northwest. There is so much to see and do there. The Salish Lodge is beautiful and relaxing. Highly recommended!

Highly recommend the coast of Maine and Nova Scotia. In Maine look into Bar Harbor and Camden particularly. www.visitmaine.com

Well, from someone who has lived on both coasts (presently, the West) I must say that Bar Harbor, where we spent ours, was pretty romantic, and St. John and environs are so beautiful. West coast is rugged, can be cool, and has many nice towns. Ditto the remarks re Victoria and VANCOUVER. We don't go there anymore..once I thought Vancouver the most beautiful city in the world, but much has changed, mostly for the worst. The coast of Oregon is unsurpassed in beauty, Coast of Washington can be cold and foggy, but we still love it...lots of hiking and hideaways...Lake Cresent (probably must book) Lodge...I can go on and on. But don't discount the East either...The Maritimes are magnificant! It's more a personnal choice. Which is closer for you, or near where you may eventually want to settle?

Message: Amy:

I originally posted this on the Canada forum, because it's about Canada. But, seeing the postings, I thought it might help. If nothing else, the photographs are nice. The L.A. Times travel section had an article on Victoria last Sunday. The article is at this address:

http://www.latimes.com/travel/otherd...nada000528.htm

At the end of the article are several places to stay--some B&B's, some not--along with web site addresses.

Some one above here says that there are very few mosquitoes or stinging bugs in coastal washington. Not true as I get bitten a lot by mosquitoes there and also August is notorius for lots of nasty stinging wasps (yellow jackets) on the San Juan islands.

In Seattle: Inn at Harbor Steps. Fireplaces in every room, full breakfast and afternoon tea, wine and cheese, convenient to all major attractions (across the street from Seattle Art Museum). Dinner at Chez Shea, Il Bistro, Il Terrazzo Carmine.

Disagree with those who think Victoria not worth a visit. Not if all you're planning to do is hug the tourist strip downtown with all the pseudo-British pubs, Gap,and other chain stores and souvenir shops. Tak a a bus out to the Rockland -Oak Bay neighborhoods, wander the garden at Government House or better yet, take a tour of several private gardens with a guide, see Christ Church Cathedral, the big museum downtown, ride the Harbour Bay ferry out to Point Ellice, stay at Mulberry Manor, not one of the spots in downtown, (has to be the best B&B/country inn in Victoria -- mansion with beautiful rooms, great garden, full gourmet breakfasts and the nicest hosts you can imagine. Only 4 rooms though so they book fast. If you're without a car there's a bus stop at corner that gets you downtown in less than 10 minutes, but many of the best sites are within walking distance.)

If you do have a car, drive out to Sooke and along the coast -- very romantic.