What are your requirements for romantic destinations, romantic moments, romance?
 

We are looking to renew our vows next August or February. What places in the United States do you consider romantic? Do you have such an unique, out of the ordinary place you would like to tell us about? We are thinking about places which are isolated where we could find ourselves alone on walks in the mountains or beaches. If we decide to go in February (when we met) where should we go? If we decide to go in August (when we got married) what places should we consider? We enjoy big cities (Chicago, New York, NO, Boston) but we would like to find ourselves closer to nature, magnificent views and clean air.

If you want solitary, you are going to have to consider going to places in the off season.

Tuluum on the Mayan Riveria would be a gorgeous stretch of beach but it would be packed in February, less so in August.

The mountains are lovely but February is peak season and those escaping the heat of summer might clog them in August.

Would you consider September? I would think the keys maybe Little Palm Island would be perfect.

I think the Swag outside Asheville North Carolina would also be great. That may even work for August.

WE are taking a family trip to San Francisco. That being said, I hear it is a very romantic city. There is also the Napa Valley and Monterey and Lake Tahoe (views), and Pacific coast highway. My brother in law did part of this trip for his honeymoon years ago. If you choose Tahoe for a mountain retreat, you could fly into San Francisco for a few days in the city?I can't wait to see San Fran. myself.

Sorry, February is peak skiing season in the mountains.

> We are thinking about places which are isolated
> where we could find ourselves alone
> on walks in the mountains or beaches

> we would like to find ourselves closer to nature,
> magnificent views and clean air.

Isolated. Alone on walks in the mountains. Closer to nature. Magnificent views. Clean air. Hmmmmm.

If you decide on an August trip, there are dozens of places in the mountains that I can recommend. At the top would Glacier National Park Banff National Park, and the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. In all three cases, you can go from very nice accomodations to almost complete isolation in a matter of minutes. With a ten minute walk off the road, you can imagine that you are the only people on the face of the planet.

Note that "mountains" and "isolated February trips" just don't go together; so cancel all of these unless you chose August.

I'll bet the California Big Sur coast has some isolated B&Bs. August would be crowded, but there would be few people around in Feb.

St John, USVI is fabulous. Not a traffic light on the island. Roughly 75% of the island is National Park so it is very undisturbed. You can rent a villa w/your own pool and wonderful views for a very reasonable price. Dh and I went about a year and a half ago and found ourselves alone on many beautiful hikes and even spent one day on a beach with nobody else there. Plenty of good restaurants on the island as well.

These places come to mind:

Sedona (Feb) - Stunning scenery, tons of hiking options, cool, clear air and romantic B&B's and resorts.

Kauai (Feb or Aug) - Stay at the Princeville and visit Ke'e Beach. Although I understand this is high season, I've been there in August and found it pretty bare of tourists. Not sure what the island is like in Feb.

Belize (Aug) - Feb is high season and tough to escape the crowds on Ambergris Caye. Recommend splitting a trip between the mainland rainforest and Ambergris. There is a populated and unpopulated side to the island so if you want true isolation, you can find it. There are also snorkel trips to the lower cayes which are often completely deserted.

Great responses with so many posibilities, so many places to visit. Which one to chose? Big Sur, Glacier Park, Kenai Peninsula, Sedona, Kauai, St. John, Lake Taho. So manny places, so little time. We are going to have no more than four weeks. can you recommend any specific places to stay in?
GoTravel, please tell me a little more about Palm Island and Swag.
Thank you all for your help.

Little Palm Island is an exclusive entire ilsand resort in the Florida Keys (www.LittlePalmIsland.com). No matter what time you go it will not be crowded. Brace yourself for sticker shock, rates are around $1,000 per night but it includes you meals. The cheapest rates for Little Palm Island would be in August. Check out the site, breathtaking. The accommodations remind me of being in the South Pacific.

The Swag, near Asheville, North Carolina has breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is closed in February but very much worth the hefty August prices (www.TheSwag.com).

I would have a tough time deciding between the two. Since they are both exclusive properties, neither would be crowded during peak season.

Hi,

How about this spot in Belize?

http://www.aprivateisland.com/index.html

Also, Cambria, CA is also a beautiful romantic spot....we walked along the beach there in May, but did run in to a few other couples...

www.fogcatcherinn.com

Big Sur is pretty remote and very nice. Check out the Post Ranch Inn, www.postranchinn.com The Ventana Inn & Spa is also very nice, right across the street. ***kim*** ((l))

My number one requirement is a good man named Ken who is interested in both myself and having fun- and the second is anyplace private- and preferably where some descendant of either one of us may not appear.

As you get older and older, the romance requirements become fewer and fewer.

In August, I would suggest San Miguel de Allende, MX.

JJ5: which is not to say the romance ((L)) is any less!

Hi z,

Door County, WI is a great idea... but my first thought was the California coast... Carmel, Big Sur, that whole area has plenty of wonderful parks to explore, Carmel Beach... Post Ranch would be my 1st choice if $$ is not an issue. We enjoyed the Tickle Pink Inn on our 20th anniversary in October of 2003, and we couldn't have planned it better. Lovely inn, secluded and romantic with breathtaking views.

Happy planning!

How about Aspen in August? Hiking and outdoors and a romantic town. Shouldn't be as pricey or crowded as during ski season, either. Or maybe Park City, UT - same reasoning. Ski resort towns are not empty in summer, but they are definitely less crowded.

Or - Bar Harbor/Acadia, Maine, in Feb? Definitely off-season there, but I think you can cross country ski on the carriage roads, and I'm sure you can find some hotel/B&B/restaurants that remain open.

Just some ideas to investigate....

Cape Cod in one of the cozier bed and breakfasts or hotels. But in the case of August, I don't think you'll find anywhere you would actually be alone. I agree with the above poster's suggestion for traveling off season. If I want a quieter trip, that's definitely when I go.

Big Sur- Inn at Ragged Point- I want to go back there for an anniversary. Even during high season, it felt remote and the views were stunning. Restaurant was nice as well. I don't think I'd do Big Sur in February though:)

Oregon Coast is beautiful and fairly inexpensive in February. Cannon Beach is my favorite place- off season, we splurge on ocean front rooms. In August, CB is very very busy, but you could consider a rental in one of the smaller places nearby, like Mamzanita. Depending on what beach you are strolling on, you have a good chance of finding solitude, even in high season. (The more inconvenient, the fewer people generally.)

My impression of Lake Tahoe (keep in mind I've only been in the summer) is that I wouldn't go there for a romantic trip. Because of geography, the tourist population is pretty bunched together- whether that's in town or on the road or at one of the viewpoints. It also appears to be a year round destination. It is beautiful though- but for peace and quiet I'd probably go to one of the Idaho lakes.


Lastly, I know several people who go to San Juan Islands for their romantic trips. But I can't help there- that's more family picnic/camping destination for me. It may be worth checking out though!

<B>marvelousmouse</B>: This thread is 11 years old!

Oh dear! I'm so sorry- I don't even know how I got into it then. Usually I check the date:(

Not your fault -- It was topped by a spammer. He seems to attack every night but it looks like the moderators are on top of it.