The Best Vacation Ideas for Couples
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and couples will soon start indulging in jewelry and chocolates, fine wine and gourmet dinners, flowers and lingerie. All of these traditionally romantic gifts are great fun, no doubt about it, but have you considered vacation ideas for couples?
These vacation ideas for couples make for a particularly wonderful treat for two. A special getaway for just the two of you. We’ve compiled a list of specific locales and more general activities that lovebirds can enjoy on the other 364 days of the year. So read on to glean some great vacation ideas for couples.
Tour Northern Italy
There are few places that evoke romance quite like Italy and while Northern Italy does not spring to mind in quite the same way as the central and southern sections of the boot-shaped country, travelers have not exactly forgotten it. Visitors regularly flock to the waterways of Venice and travel to Milan for exquisite shopping. Still, there are lesser known gems that make for particularly magical trips for couples.
Take some time to admire ancient architecture as you stroll hand in hand through Bologna. Enjoy typical Italian charms such as gorgeous gardens, picturesque cathedrals and amazing food in Verona, a city that features all of them while lacking the crushing crowds. Located closer to the Swiss and Austria borders, Lake Como and Lake Garda have captured the interest of Hollywood stars and business moguls alike, thanks to their combination of soaring mountains and smooth waters.
Sip Your Way Through Wine Country
Wine regions such as Napa Valley and Columbia Valley have gotten acclaim for both their wonderful grapes, gorgeous panoramas and all of the quaint accommodations that have sprung up alongside them. But did you know that wine growing is an almost ubiquitous activity? For example, you will find at least one winery in every state, including some that might surprise oenophiles such as Hawaii and North Dakota. So, if you want a simpler vacation getaway for you and your loved one, check out the wineries near you.
There are other, lesser wine areas that make for great getaways too. Charlottesville, Virginia offers multiple wineries, as well as Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson. New York’s Finger Lakes region boasts excellent wineries that bottle Rieslings and Gewürztraminers. And Texas, the sweltering Lone Star State grows grapes, specializes in strong red varietals such as Tempranillo, Syrah and Zinfandel.
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Drive the Oregon Coast
The Pacific Northwest offers views and experiences that you cannot find anywhere else on the continent. The inky Pacific Ocean crashes against rocky, forested shorelines and top-tier resorts bump up against gourmet grub and world-class microbrews. You get the picture. There is nothing that quite beats cuddling up in bed with your sweetie after peering at a dramatic seascape, embarking on a long hike and eating amazing dishes.
The miles of the Oregon Dunes are also good enough a place to start as any. It is an area so striking that it inspired Frank Herbert’s SF masterpiece Dune. Here you can ride dune buggies, ski or snowboard down sandy slopes no matter the weather, or pedal away on a bike. While visiting the rocks at Canon Beach, stop at Public Coast Brewing for a drink. Then, unwind at Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa, named under one of TripAdvisor’s Top 25 Hotels for Romance. Or, get a little free spirited and simply drive the 365m coast, seeing where the road will take you.
Explore Quebec City
Want to visit Europe but cannot cross the Atlantic? Quebec City is the perfect place for the two of you to escape. With French as the national language and bolstered by over 400 years of history, this metropolis of more than a half-million souls positively exudes continental charm and it is a perfect destination for couples.
Start by touring Old Quebec (Vieux-Québec), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, La Citadelle (North America’s largest British built military installation) and the Notre-Dame Basilica. Visiting during winter? Ride in a horse-drawn carriage or cruise the river. Enjoy a romantic meal with a cityscape view at the Ciel Bistro-Bar in the Hôtel le Concorde before tucking in for the night.
Go Country at Pigeon Forge
On the other side of the sophistication spectrum lies Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, home to country music star Dolly Parton’s eponymous theme park Dollywood, the Alcatraz East crime museum and a country-cooking restaurant housed in a 200-year-old mill called (appropriately enough) The Old Mill. But make no mistake, the Pigeon Forge has lots to offer couples, especially adventuresome ones.
You can also whitewater raft on the Pigeon River. Hike any of the area’s picturesque trails, some of which are challenging. You can also be a detective at the Great Smoky Mountain Murder Mystery Dinner Show. Then, bed down at Blackberry Farm, an ecolodge in nearby Walland, Tennessee.
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Try Island Hopping
Hopping from one Caribbean island to the next is a familiar sort of trip for couples and there are incredible options just south of Florida. But have you ever stopped to consider all of the other island options across the world? There’s a dizzying number and virtually all are great for couples.
For example, the Seychelles archipelago, which lies off of the eastern coast of Africa, has heartbreakingly beautiful beaches. Perched south of Sri Lanka, the Maldives boasts water so clear it has to be seen to be believed. Go caving and fishing in the Philippines’ Palawan, which also contains luxury resorts. Or, for a less traveled location, try the Dalmatian Islands in Croatia. For years, eastern Europeans have flocked to the area’s turquoise-watered shores, ancient churches, car-free villages and generally laidback manner of living.
Of course, no matter how wonderful these ideas may be, a romantic getaway does not have to involve a lengthy trip. All you need is a some free time, a little creativity and your sweetheart! Be sure to fall in love with these vacation ideas for couples.