9 minutes reading time United States
Is it time to escape with the one you love? There is a romantic vacation out there for every type of couple, whether they share a love of the outdoors, a desire for beach chairs and umbrella drinks, or a drive for culture. For couples, the greatest holiday destinations give the opportunity to recover and reconnect while creating amazing memories together.
The Best Vacation Destinations for Couples
Consider taking a romantic trip to one of these wonderful spots in the United States or farther abroad, to places like the Caribbean or Costa Rica. Keep in mind that the finest destinations for a romantic getaway are those that have personal significance to you and your companion.
1. Dominican Republic, Punta Cana
Mimosas and fun in the sun and sand? Is there anything better for a romantic getaway? What about a trip to try some local libations while driving buggies over massive mud puddles? At the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Punta Cana, you can do it all and more.
Let’s face it: the last year has been tough. This year, soak your bones, calm your mind, and delight in a safe and secure couple’s retreat to the beaches of Punta Cana. Every hotel at the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel has a private in-room hot tub, and you can have a turntable and curated library of vinyl records brought to your door, so bring your battery-operated candles and leave your cares behind for a few nights in the Dominican Republic.
2. New Mexico, Sante Fe
What distinguishes the finest holiday destinations for couples? Great meals and a romantic location to stay are vital, as are a few enjoyable activities to do together. Sante Fe, New Mexico, offers all of these and more, as well as something extremely special that few locations in America can match: light. Of course, there is light everywhere, but the light in Santa Fe is nothing short of magnificent. The way light caresses the adobe walls of the structures here is both more pleasing to the eye and warmer in warmth. The end result will be not just beautiful images of you two lovebirds, but also a romantic setting.
Because art reigns supreme in Santa Fe, it’s the ideal trip for couples who like painting, sculpture, art, and culture. Dive into the realm of Georgia O’Keefe and the fantastical modern art mecca that is Meow Wolf, then get on a bike and ride about this small city during golden hour.
When the sun goes down on another romantic day in Santa Fe, the facade of the Loretto Inn and Spa, which is covered with candles, will take your breath away.
3. New Orleans, Louisiana
More than simply a party town, New Orleans is pure romance, intrigue, music, and, if you choose, mayhem. See live jazz at the iconic Preservation Hall in the French Quarter, wear some beads around your neck, and sip a drink while you wander through the crooked streets packed with ghosts and revelers side by side day and night.
Take a riverboat ride, eat some crawfish étouffée, and stay at The Cornstalk Hotel on Royal Street in the Quarter. This hotel puts you right in the middle of the action while still shielding you two love birds from the deluge of noise you’ll hear on most good evenings in the Mardi Gras capital.
4. Texas, Fredericksburg
If Germany is too far away this year, take a couple’s trip to Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country instead. There are wildflowers, vineyards, and fantastic local shopping in this lovely city an hour northwest of San Antonio, but what you’ll notice first is the Little Bavaria ambiance.
History buffs will enjoy Fredericksburg’s Pioneer Museum, which tells the story of the first German immigrants, as well as the National Museum of the Pacific War, which is located so far away from the Pacific Ocean because native son Chester W. Nimitz commanded the United States Pacific Fleet during WWII. Outdoor enthusiasts will fall in love with the wildflowers and enjoy trekking in the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. Live music at a variety of locations adds to the beautiful days spent here in this wonderful holiday destination for couples.
Stay at the adults-only Hangar Hotel, which has aviation artifacts, USO history, and 1940s-inspired romance.
5. West Virginia’s New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
The United States’ newest national park is one of the top holiday destinations for couples who love outdoor adventure. With a lot of beautiful things to do all year long and romantic places to stay after long days of hiking, whitewater rafting, mountain biking, fishing, and—gulp—bridge walking, this is the perfect place for a romantic adventure trip.
Stay at Hemlock Haven, a short distance from the Canyon Rim visitor’s center and Babcock State Park’s historic Grist Mill, which are both within easy driving distance. Booking a stay at one of these cottages is really worth it, complete with a private hot tub in the middle of the foggy woods.
Alternatively, Adventures on the Gorge Resort puts you right in the middle of the action and will take care of all of your fly fishing, rafting, and other adventure sports in this stunning new West Virginia national park.
6. New York, The Catskills
The Catskill Location offers easy access to the once-hippie refuge of Woodstock and other picturesque New York holidays, but what truly distinguishes this region as one of the top vacation places for couples is the Tiny House Resort, a cluster of small lodgings. Along a creek, these luxurious and simple cottages and custom-made trailers are a great place to get away from the busyness of city life.
Every morning, you may pick up fresh eggs and vegetables to create omelets, see the goats and Flemish rabbits, and stroll among the chickens. Relax in a hammock with a book or your favorite podcast in your ears for a few days and let the world pass you by.
7. The Northwest Pacific
The Pacific Northwest is a terrific place for a couple searching for outdoor adventure and naturally socially distant nature experiences. This lush part of the continental United States stretches from the Olympic Peninsula west of Seattle to the Redwoods in Northern California.
In between, there’s Fern Canyon and Gold Bluffs Beach, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon’s rugged coastline and marvelous sand dunes, the cascades along the Columbia River Gorge, and the Maryhill Museum of Art’s unusual collection, including the Théâtre de la Mode exhibit highlighted on Avery Trufelman’s fantastic Articles of Interest Podcast (now of The Cut Podcast, from New York Magazine).
Stay at the Klickitat Treehouse, which is the only one of its kind, to enjoy the Pacific Northwest’s secluded natural beauty to the fullest. Sip your morning coffee in front of floor-to-ceiling windows and under spectacular skylights that bring the lush green outside in.
8. Maine, Bar Harbor
Acadia National Park and the lovely New England town of Bar Harbor combine to make one of the greatest couples holiday destinations this year. Staying in a room with a large king bed and fireplace at The Primrose, established in 1878, will stoke the flames of passion. Plus, everything in town is just a short hand-in-hand walk away, including scores of quaint eateries like the Side Street Cafe, ice cream shops churning out delicious local Maine blueberry cones, cute local businesses, and a terrific local improv comedy club.
Enjoy superb made-to-order breakfasts at the Primrose, which are included in the low cost, before venturing out to discover the natural treasures of Acadia, including the Jordan Pond Path. This 3.7-mile trip has smooth soil on one side of the stream and a more difficult rock trail to cross on the other.
9. Washington D.C.
Culture, gastronomy, history, and a plethora of Smithsonian freebies combine to make Washington D.C., one of the top vacation destinations for couples. Stay at Riggs Washington D.C., a stunning hotel built in what was previously a National Bank building on 9th and F Streets. The beautiful chambers pay respect to the building’s history, each like their own safe deposit box.
Enjoy the National Zoo and as many Smithsonian Museums as you can fit in, including the stunning National Museum of African American History and Culture, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, The National Gallery of Art, and, soon, a National Museum of the American Latino and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum—all of which are completely free to visit. Before you depart, stop by Falafel Inc. for some delicious falafel and hummus at a reasonable price. Nothing on the menu costs more than $4, and every time you eat there, you help feed migrants.
You’ll enjoy a lovely and reasonably priced trip to the capital as a couple. Alternatively, if you and your spouse like your piece of inexpensive American history with a side of slots and table games, check out the beautiful lodgings offered at MGM National Harbor, which is just a short drive from D.C.
10. New York, New York City
When you think of New York City, you undoubtedly think of Times Square, Broadway theaters, and other prominent tourist destinations. However, for this romantic vacation to New York City, avoid midtown and instead visit Greenwich Village. The pace is slower in the Village, the grass is greener and more plentiful, with pocket parks every few blocks, and the mood is far cooler and more genuinely New York City. After all, this is where punks and poets once (and still do) make their art.
If comic books, POP! figures, and geek culture are your things, stay at the Moxy NYC East Village for convenient hand-in-hand strolls to the famed Strand Bookstore and Forbidden Planet. You’ll also be close to Union Square and Washington Square parks, as well as the most incredible vegan meats at Red Bamboo (the BBQ “chicken wings” and “pork chops” are insanely excellent). Settle into luxurious seats at the East Village Angelika Theater for an art-house film, watch a musician at Webster Hall or Irving Plaza, and fall in love with each other all over again in the best section of the best city on the planet.
