Romance may not be dead, but it's surely on life support. We meet people online these days, we woo them with apps, we schedule our dates by the minute and travel well-trod paths from initial attraction to disappointment, bitterness, and breakup.
Admit it. You were going to send flowers this year, weren't you? Maybe dinner at a nice restaurant?
You can do better than that. Your partner deserves better. Surprise your partner with creative ideas for romantic getaways. Here are some vacation ideas that will surely put you both in the mood.
Paris, FranceAh, Paris. The City of Love. It's undeniably romantic.
But it's so... predictable. Strolling the Seine and drinking a demitasse of espresso in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower are so common they're clichés.
For real romance, why not take a cooking class together? A simple web search will reveal dozens of classes for beginners and serious amateur chefs. The storied chefs of Le Cordon Bleu share their secrets in classes covering French cuisine, pastry, boulangerie, freshly baked pastries and many other specialities. You can learn to make perfect eclairs in a six-hour course or take a full-day shopping tour of Parisian fresh-food markets.
Learning together is a great way to turn a ho-hum visit to a renowned tourist locale into a romantic adventure to last a lifetime.
Moneterey, CaliforniaYou don't have to leave the United States to have a romantic vacation. California's Monterey Peninsula offers scenic drives, fabulous restaurants, and long walks along California's most beautiful coastline.
Numerous inns offer romantic rooms and suites, many with hot tubs to enjoy outdoors under the stars. You can shop for handmade goods next door in funky Carmel, and watch waves crashing on rocks below you as you sip cocktails before dinner. Monterey is the perfect way to get away from it all without flying all night.
Tuscany, ItalyTuscany is home to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, and while it may not be technically illegal to visit without touring the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia and the Pitti Palace, you shouldn't risk it. Florence's museums are home to some of the world's best-known and most beautiful works of art.
But there's more to Tuscany than Florence. The region is also home to some of the world's best wines. It's a simple matter to book a place on a wine tour that will lead you through the rolling hills to one vineyard after another for samples, picnics, and unforgettable vistas. You can even rent a car and plot your own route through the Tuscan countryside. You'll be glad to have some fresh air after all those museums.
St. Petersburg, RussiaImmerse yourself in Russia's imperial past with a visit to St. Petersburg, legendary home of the czars. Western visitors don't spend a lot of time in St. Petersburg, and they're missing out. The summer palace of Catherine the Great is a wonder of classical architecture, and it has been converted into a world-class museum, the Hermitage, whose collections rival those of the great museums of western Europe. For bonus romance points, huddle under fur blankets as you ride a horse-drawn carriage through Palace Square.
A rooftop tour will give you a unique perspective on the city and its canals, and you'll find plenty of cozy restaurants serving regional specialties from all over the former Soviet Union.
New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans has all the ingredients for an unforgettable romantic vacation: a distinctive local culture to explore, world-class restaurants, and lodgings ranging from funky to luxurious. Plus there's the French Quarter, home to New Orleans night life and dozens of no-cover-charge bars where you can catch the best live jazz in the world.
No visit to New Orleans is complete without beignets in the French Quarter and brunch at the Court of Two Sisters, but do yourself a favor and see the rest of the city too. Take a tour of the bayous or visit little voodoo shops full of spells and potions. You can spend a lifetime in New Orleans without seeing everything. It's a great spot for romance.
Zihuatanejo, MexicoIxtapa is famous for resorts and night life, but the sleepy Mexican village next door is a better spot for a romantic getaway. There's not a lot to do in Zihuatanejo but sit on the beach, snack on authentic Mexican cuisine, and sip cocktails as you relax in the sun.
The weather is warm in February but there are no crowds. You can explore the sleepy city center on foot before returning to your beach-side villa for a nap before dinner. There are museums and archeological ruins to explore...but honestly, why bother? Turn off your phone, unplug from the Internet, and focus on your partner. That's what romance is all about.
The Romantic Road, GermanyFor an unforgettable romantic adventure, why not bicycle through beautiful European scenery? Southern Germany's Romantic Road, the RomantischeStraße, is a 200-mile bike route that will take you and your partner from the forests of Bavaria to the foothills of the Alps.
Guidebooks break the route into 10 one-day trips. You can do all 10 segments or just a few - it's up to you. Unforgettable scenery, restaurants, and lodgings make the romantic road a vacation to remember.
It's a Big World!
The world is big and full of adventures. With this article as a starting point, you can put together your own unforgettable romantic adventure. Roses are nice, but airplane tickets are better.
Bon voyage!