A carriage ride through the lakeshore village of Ephraim makes for a romantic honeymoon activity in Door County, Wisconsin. Other area attractions include wineries, art galleries, fish boils, and a variety of outdoor sports. (Photo: DoorCounty.com/Door County Visitor Bureau)

“Green Bay” may be synonymous with Packers football. But for those thinking of a Wisconsin honeymoon, it should also evoke images of quaint B&Bs, antique shops, wineries, lighthouses, and cherry trees. They’re all part of Wisconsin’s romantic Door County.

Sailing past the Sherwood Point Lighthouse. Kayaking tours of the rugged coastline are also available. (Photo: DoorCounty.com/Door County Visitor Bureau)

Door County is located on the peninsula that juts into Lake Michigan on Wisconsin’s eastern border; Green Bay is the body of water that sits between the peninsula and the mainland. Small cities and towns scattered along the lake shore on both sides of the peninsula have carefully preserved their old-fashioned charm, even as they cater to tourists with bed-and-breakfast inns, antique shops, boat tours of the rugged shoreline, and an array of critically acclaimed restaurants, wineries, and art galleries.

Wisconsinites will tell honeymooners that they absolutely must experience a B&B: they are part of what the region is famous for, and, really, can you get any more romantic? If your style is more about pampering amenities, there are several luxury resorts on the peninsula. Adventurers may opt for a campground, and honeymooners on extended stays can rent houses or condos.

Winery tours offer an interesting diversion; here, a couple strolls through Simon Creek Vineyard and Winery. (Photo: Mike Roemer)

Part of the appeal of Door County is that couples can enjoy time together without pressure to schedule a demanding itinerary. Days spent lounging on the beach or curling up by the fireplace make for ultimate relaxation. You might also plan to visit local wineries. These establishments bottle their creations from locally grown and imported fruits. Schedule tours of the vineyards and bottling operations, and enjoy custom tastings. Don’t forget to buy a bottle and tuck it away for your anniversary.

If you are in the market for a honeymoon souvenir to adorn your wall, the galleries in Door County house everything from modern art to landscapes. While you’re out browsing, you may want to dine at a restaurant offering one of the region’s famous fresh fish boils.

Outdoorsy couples can hike through one of 25 national, state and local parks. There are water sports rentals in the summertime (kayaking or WaveRunners, anyone?), and winter activities such as cross country skiing and snowmobile rentals. Keep in mind that due to harsh Wisconsin winters, a few of the gift shops, wineries, restaurants and lodging providers only operate during warmer months. Some couples prefer the peaceful winter scenery, and several establishments cater to these tourists.

Couples looking for a rustic escape will enjoy the rolling farmland and country orchards along the main highway. Keep in mind that Door County is a rural destination, and travel is not as convenient as it would be to an urban setting. There is an airport in Sturgeon Bay, the peninsula’s most populous city, but the small field that is not serviced by most commercial carriers. Unless you and your spouse are part of the private jet crowd, you’ll probably drive to the peninsula from a nearby city, such as Green Bay, Milwaukee or Chicago.

Useful Resources for Your Door County Honeymoon:

Door County guides at TripAdvisor
Find out how recent visitors rated Door County (the reviews are overwhelmingly glowing), compare room rates to find the best deal, and get lists of the top-rated restaurants, attractions, and places to stay.

Door County Tourism Website
A resource that includes listings for lodging, restaurants and attractions. Seasonal availability and hours of operation are also listed.

Door County Wine Trail
A list of local wineries. Information about each winery is included, such as descriptions of wines offered and driving directions.

Door County Navigator
A list of Door County art galleries. The listing includes everything from large galleries to independent artists.

Videos: Summer Activities in Door County

The Door County Visitor Bureau has more than 60 videos profiling local activities; here is a playlist of videos profiling summer activities. See their YouTube channel for more video playlists if you’re planning a fall of winter Door County Honeymoon.

Map: Door County, Wisconsin

View Larger Map

Still looking for ideas? Check out TripAdvisor’s list of 52 of the world’s most romantic vacations.

A view of Discovery at Marigot Bay from the harbor.

If you’re planning a Caribbean honeymoon on Saint Lucia, check out Discovery At Marigot Bay, a top-rated luxury resort. It gets great reviews at TripAdvisor…you can link to those reviews at the end of this article. And if you mention that you saw this article on Creative Honeymoon Ideas, you can get a free room upgrade and couple’s massage…see below for details. In the meantime, here is a description of Marigot Bay submitted by the resort:

Described by James A. Michener as “the most beautiful bay in the Caribbean” Marigot Bay has provided a safe haven for yachts over the centuries and in recent years, has become a very well-known holiday destination with lively local restaurants and bars, a marina, and Discovery At Marigot Bay, a five-star, four-diamond “AAA” luxury, eco-friendly resort.

Relax in the cabana on the grounds of the Zen Gardens.

Marigot Bay is the idyllic setting for this contemporary resort. The property provides an intimate environment for guests with every possible modern facility, including the Lapli Spa, a fitness center, 3 swimming pools, non-motorized water sports, shopping, bars, fine-dining and harbor-side bars for the ultimate holiday experience.

Dining options at the resort include the bay front Boudreau Restaurant, offering delectable French-Caribbean Cuisine; The Hurricane Hole Restaurant & Bar, one of Discovery’s various casual bars and eateries; Pink Snail cocktail bar; and its recent addition, It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere Café, located dockside within the Marina Village Courtyard. Guests can even throw an intimate dinner party at Discovery’s very own private treehouse!

There are number of other dining and entertainment venues within a stone’s throw of the hotel, and the Marina Village, with its latest cluster of boutiques and cafes, offers guests a wide selection as well as duty-free shopping.

The resort boasts 57 luxury suites and 67 superbly appointed guest rooms set into the hillside with stunning views across the bay. Bedrooms and suites offer modern styling, with dark wood furniture, white walls and slate-tiled bathrooms.

Kitchens in the suites are furnished with state-of-the-art Italian appliances, and the spacious dining area overlooks the picturesque Bay.

Bedrooms contain luxurious king-size beds, with select units containing two extra-size single beds. All beds have romantic draped netting. Every room features 27″ flat-screen TVs, DVD players and music systems, fridge, coffee and tea facilities, air conditioning, and bathrooms with bidets and walk-in drench showers. Guests will experience an indoor/outdoor living style, as all rooms and suites have large balconies overlooking the bay or lush, well-manicured gardens and the rolling hillside.

Discovery at Marigot Bay Hotel is indeed the hot spot for a relaxing retreat where the pace is slow and tranquil and where one can completely unwind in idyllic surroundings.

Mention this article when booking your honeymoon and receive a complimentary couple’s massage and room upgrade. The room upgrade is to be issued upon check-in and is based on availability.

Useful Resources for Your Saint Lucia honeymoon

St. Lucia reviews on TripAdvisor
Read an overview of Saint Lucia, including other travelers’ reviews of the best places to eat, sleep, and visit.

Discovery At Marigot Bay
The official website for the luxury resort.

Reviews of Discovery at Marigot Bay
Find out what other travelers had to say about their stay at Discovery at Marigot Bay, then book your own room using TripAdvisor’s competitive price checker.

Have you ever fantasized about being a pioneer, living in a log cabin surrounded by clear streams and mountain views? Do you have more than one book by Janette Oke, Laura Ingalls Wilder, or Louis L’Amour on your bookshelf? Yes? Then you might already be entertaining ideas about a pioneer honeymoon.

Renting a wilderness cabin might be more affordable than you think.

But while you may be willing to “rough it,” what about your spouse-to-be? If he (or she) is the type who likes his or her honeymoon accompanied by modern conveniences and creature comforts, then you may want to look into a cabin rental that comes with all those amenities.

Here’s one possibility that found its way into our inbox the other day. This particular outfit is located in the mountains of British Columbia, Canada. Here’s how proprietor Brenda McFetridge describes her River’s Edge Guest Cottages:

Welcome to our bed and breakfast, Rivers Edge Guest Cottages. Situated in a secluded 40-acre setting, surrounded by crown land, mountain views, and the Klinaklini River, our two private log cabins with private bath and kitchenette, queen size beds, and comfortable seating offer a feeling of pioneer life, without giving up the comforts of home. The original log homestead cabin also offers a second bedroom with two bunk beds, all custom built of BC pine logs. The Mule Deer Cabin offers a real wood burning glass fronted fireplace. Both cabins are smoke free. Amenities offered in both cabins include complete kitchenette, complimentary coffee, tea and cocoa, wine glasses and corkscrew, home baked goodies upon your arrival, hair dryer, local newspaper, CD players,  movies, games and books. The Bull Moose cabin also has a telephone. Amenities offered on site are: fax and copy services, complimentary local and regional telephone calls, wireless Internet in common area, laundry facility, charcoal grill, firewood, and miles of hiking trails. We’re listed in Frommer’s “Best Hiking Trips in British Columbia.” There are many hikes and sights in the area. Good fishing is from June 1 through mid-September. The Klinaklini River offers good fishing, and nearby One Eye Lake and Big Stick Lake are both good for fishing, boating, canoeing, and even swimming! Perkins Peak is the northernmost part of the Pantheon Range and is easily accessible by car nearly all the way to the peak at 9250 feet.Check on our locally maintained events calendar at www.chilcotinchatter.com for local activities and events taking place in communities from Riske Creek to Bella Coola.

Horses and bicycles dominate the streets of downtown Mackinac Island. Photo: Mackinac Cowgirl.

Perhaps no place in the United States has cultivated an atmosphere of romance more carefully than Mackinac Island. With its horse-drawn carriages, its “painted lady” cottages, profusion of lilacs, and grand views, it is no wonder that travelers say that it is “alive with a feeling of romance.”

Somewhere In Time, a 1980 movie starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour, tells the story of a young playwright who travels back in time to find true love on Mackinac Island. Whatever you think of the movie (which was initially panned but has become a cult classic), it’s an appropriate metaphor for Mackinac Island (pronounced—and sometimes spelled—”Mackinaw Island”). The island’s residents have worked hard to transport lovers back to a bygone era of Victorian charm and horse-drawn carriages.

Mackinac Island is located in Lake Huron in the Straits of Mackinac between Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas. Stepping onto the island is a little like stepping back in time; its 500 permanent residents boast of the Victorian charm of their village. Automobiles are prohibited on the island; people get around on foot or bicycle, or (if you’re a tourist) by horse-drawn carriage. Eighty percent of the island is occupied by Mackinac Island State Park: “There are 1,800 acres under canopies of cedars and birches,” according to the park’s web site. “Limestone bluffs tower over wildflowers and crystal waters.” Although camping is prohibited, the park offers several historic sites: Fort Mackinac, built by the British during the American Revolution, provides a panoramic view from the island’s highest point, and early 19th century downtown buildings that recreate a time when the island was a hub for the fur trade. Several of the park’s historic sites are located on the mainland, including a reconstructed 1715 French fur-trading village and Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse.

Art galleries and two butterfly gardens are among the island’s other attractions. The 10-day Lilac Festival, held in June, is the highlight of the island’s busy summer schedule. The festival celebrates the island’s famous lilacs with the world’s longest horse-hitch parade, free outdoor concerts, boat cruises and garden tours, among other activities.

The island caters to tourists with dozens of lodging and dining options, many featuring a Victorian ambience. It’s also a popular wedding destination, and offers many wedding-related services as well as a wedding guide. As with any island tourist destination, prices are higher than what you’d expect on the mainland—visit in the off-season and you’ll get a better deal but fewer activities.

Useful resources for your Mackinac Island Honeymoon

Mackinac Island guides at TripAdvisor
Read visitor reviews of the island’s top-rated hotels, bed and breakfasts, and attractions; also, compare room rates to find the best deal.

Mackinac Island Tourist Information
A content-rich site listing almost everything you need to plan a trip to Mackinac Island. Note that the site sells advertising; you need to click on the “more listings” button in order to get beyond the “featured listings.”

• Interactive Map of Mackinac Island: Check out the very cool flash-animated interactive map of the island, which provides a great overview of the island and its attractions. Click on “tour” icons to view 360° photos of the island.

Mackinac Island Official Tourism Bureau
The official web site of the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau contains much of the same information as the Mackinac Island Tourist Information web site in a simpler format.

• Mackinac Island Calendar of Events: Check here for a detailed calendar of events for the upcoming year.

A Wedding Trip to Mackinac Island
“Especially in the evenings, when many couples and lovers stroll the quiet streets together, the Island comes alive with a feeling of romance,” Lynn Conway writes. Her account of her wedding and honeymoon is full of travel details and beautiful photos that make it a good travel guide for anyone planning a trip to the island.

Mackinac Island slideshow (on Flickr)

Mackinac Island videos

Still looking for ideas? Check out this list of 52 of the world’s most romantic vacations.

The new royal couple will be visiting Ottawa, Canada, and Alberta, Canada at the beginning of July—and you could join them on your honeymoon, if you win the “Travel Like the Royals” sweepstakes being sponsored by the Canadian Tourism Commission. This is another one of those Facebook contests: go to http://www.facebook.com/KeepExploring, “Like” the page, and follow the instructions for filling out the registration form. (Note that you’ll be handing over information from your Facebook profile.)

There are two grand prizes: a trip for two to Ottawa, Canada, and a trip for two to Alberta, Canada. Each trip is timed to coincide with the visit of the Royal couple, and sweepstakes winners will have “the opportunity to report on their experiences through blogging and other social media.” The trip package includes round-trip airfare, three nights’ hotel accommodation, and some “royal treatment” experiences.

Enter by May 27, 2011. Here’s the official press release:

The Palace may be mum about the royal honeymoon location, but the first official overseas trip for Will and Kate — aka Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge — will be in Canada starting on June 30. Canada is one of the most aspirational and exotic travel destinations in the world (Americans: Please/S’il vous plait take note).

Given the royal spotlight and visit, it’s time to focus on the unique and amazing experiences that Canada offers vacationers. The Canadian Tourism Commission has launched a “Travel like the Royals” Facebook sweepstakes wooing contestants with a 5-star vacation for two to Alberta or Ottawa (Canada’s capital — but you knew that), two of the five destinations the royal couple will be visiting on their trip. The prize includes business-class airfare, accommodations in luxurious Fairmont hotels and excursions.

Enter to win by May 27th via: http://www.facebook.com/KeepExploring

With its miles and miles of Gulf Stream-warmed beaches, North Carolina’s Outer Banks are a popular honeymoon destination for newlyweds looking for quick and easy access to surf and sun. But couples looking for a quieter getaway need only go a little bit farther along the barrier islands to find the perfect retreat: Ocracoke Island.

Sailboats at sunset on Ocracoke Island. (Photo: Jim Dollar, JimDollarPhotography.com)

Located at the tip of North Carolina’s Outer Banks (a long, thin strip of sandy barrier islands stretching about 135 miles down the coast), Ocracoke Island is truly off the beaten path—it’s accessible only by water or air. But that same isolation has helped to preserve the historic and natural charm of the island.

Settled in the early 18th century, Ocracoke Island has been isolated from the mainland for so long (the first ferry service began in 1957) that some residents still speak with a brogue that linguists trace back to Shakespearean English. That isolation has helped to preserve the island’s rich history. It’s possible to wander the streets of Ocracoke Village and see homes so old that they have detached summer kitchens and family cemeteries—in fact, the whole village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A herd of wild ponies are thought to have descended from horses that swam ashore from Spanish shipwrecks. A graveyard for four British sailors is a reminder of the island’s role in defending the coast against German U-boat attacks in the early part of World War II. And although the island’s most famous visitor left no artifact, his legend lives on—the pirate Blackbeard attacked ships in waters off the island, and met a dramatic end in those same waters in 1718.

The National Park Service is helping to preserve the island’s natural heritage as well. Much of the island, aside from Ocracoke Village, is part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore; as a result, Ocracoke’s 15 miles of beaches are unsullied by development.

Although the New York Times suggests that Ocracoke Island is “a hidden treasure no longer” due to increasing tourism, it’s not nearly as crowded as the busy tourist communities of Kittyhawk and Kill Devil Hills in the northern part of the Outer Banks. Ocracoke Village’s handful of historic inns, B&Bs, and rental properties are generally well-rated by reviewers on the web, and the national seashore’s campground provides a more rustic alternative for honeymooners on a budget. Between its rich history and its austere natural beauty, Ocracoke Island remains a romantic honeymoon retreat, especially during the off-season.

What to see and do

• Catch the music at Deepwater Theater. The theater is home to the bluegrass band Molasses Creek as well as other musicians.
• Visit the ghost town of Portsmouth Village. About 20 minutes south of Ocracoke Island lies Portsmouth Village, a settlement dating to 1753 that began a slow decline with the onset of the Civil War. The last residents left in the early 1970s, but the village is maintained by the National Park Service. Visitors can wander the village, includinga school, post office/general store, church and life saving station, as well as old homes with summer kitchens and dairy houses.
• Explore the legend of Blackbeard. Explore the history of the island at the Ocracoke Village Visitors Center and Museum, including the legend of the pirate Blackbeard. You can look out over the waters where Blackbeard met his end in 1718; ask locals for directions to Teach’s Hole. Also visit Teach’s Hole Blackbeard Exhibit and Pirate Specialty Shop. The exhibit includes “a life-size recreation of Blackbeard in full battle dress, a weapons display, old bottles, original art, woodcuts of Blackbeard, old coin and pirate flag displays, and an eight-minute documentary about Blackbeard’s death here at Ocracoke,” according to the shop’s website.
• Visit the wild ponies. Ocracoke is home to a small herd of wild ponies that probably descended from horses that swam ashore from Spanish shipwrecks. The National Park Service has penned them for their own protection; visitors can watch them from a viewing platform.
• Hike Hammock Hills Nature Trail. Hammock Hills Nature Trail, located north of the village, takes visitors through salt marsh, maritime forest, and sand dunes.
• Take a walking tour of historic Ocracoke Village. Ocracoke Village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Among the places worth seeing are old homes with family cemeteries and outbuildings, historic churches, Ocracoke Lighthouse, a working general store that retains its 1920s charm, the coast guard station, and a graveyard for British sailors whose ship was torpedoed by German U-boats in waters off the island. You can find a good overview of the walking tour at Historic Albemarle Tour.
• See Ocracoke Lighthouse at night. Ocracoke Lighthouse is one of the oldest working lighthouses in the U.S. Its light flashes intermittently from a half hour before dusk to a half hour after dawn. Visitors are not allowed to enter the lighthouse.
• Hang out on the beach. Much of the island is part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, so besides swimming, look for the island’s natural inhabitants, such as sea turtles, brown pelicans, and white ibis; dolphins may be spotted offshore. Or watch fishing boats come into Silver Lake Harbor.

Other highlights of an Outer Banks honeymoon

If you travel the length of the Outer Banks on your way to or from Ocracoke Island, be sure to make time for other activities and attractions. Among the highlights are the Wright Brothers National Memorial (site of the Wright brothers’ first flight), Roanoke Island Festival Park (commemorating the famous 16th century “lost colony”), the Elizabethan Gardens, the North Carolina Aquarium, and Jockey’s Ridge State Park, site of the highest sand dunes on the eastern seaboard. The northern beaches of the Outer Banks are lined with plenty of tourist attractions, seafood establishments, and beach-related outfitters. Be forewarned that during the summer season, the northern portion of the Outer Banks can be quite busy.

Useful links for your Ocracoke Island honeymoon

TripAdvisor: Reviews of best hotels, B & Bs, and things to do on Ocracoke Island
Compare what real travelers have to say about various places to stay and things to do on Ocracoke Island. Plus, compare prices and find the best deals.

Wikitravel: Outer Banks
A fairly extensive guide to the Outer Banks of North Carolina; to view the article for Ocracoke Island, scroll down and click on the link, under the “Hyde County” heading.

Ocracoke Village
The official website of Ocracoke Village, with extensive and detailed information about area attractions, places to stay, and how to get around.

OuterBanks.org
The official tourism website for the Outer Banks, with extensive information on where to go and what to do, plus a useful events calendar.

Ocracoke Island Journal
A personal blog by a resident of the island, detailing everyday life.

Ocracoke Island Videos

Here’s a 4-minute video tour of Ocracoke Island. A little cheesy, but still a useful overview of what to expect on your Ocracoke Island honeymoon.

Ocracoke Island: Map

View Larger Map

Photo courtesty of Jim Dollar Photography.

If you win one of the eight grand prizes in this sweepstakes, you’ll get a free California (honeymoon) vacation, and the chance to taste the life of a famous Californian, too. The sweepstakes, which is sponsored by the California Travel and Tourism Commission, begins today and ends on June 19, 2011. A different grand prize package will be featured every week. You could potentially enter as many as fifty times for a chance to win. Enter at www.visitcalifornia.com/sweepstakes.

Here are the sweepstakes details, from the press release:

The California Travel & Tourism Commission (CTTC) is launching an eight-week sweepstakes to encourage everyone to “Live Like a Californian,” with once-in-a-lifetime prize packages that will let winners do just that. Each grand prize includes round-trip flights for four, three nights’ lodging, a rental car and a destination experience themed around one of the eight Californian innovators and icons featured in the campaign.

The sweepstakes, which launches today, will also award weekly prizes, including round-trip flights, courtesy of Travelocity and $250 California-branded Visa cards.

Hollywood icon Betty White; surfing legend Jack O’Neill; musician Jason Mraz, extreme skier Glen Plake and Chef Roy Choi are among those who will be featured during each successive week.

Some of the “money can’t buy” experiences include:

• Betty White, Hollywood – go behind-the-scenes with Betty on the set of her hit series “Hot in Cleveland.”
• Jason Mraz, San Diego – get the star treatment with a chauffeured ride and tickets to Jason’s show, then meet him backstage!
• Kevin Rafferty, Disneyland – experience the magic of Disneyland with a tour of the Imagineering studio with senior concept writer Kevin Rafferty, and then go park-hopping.
• Glen Plake, Mammoth – hit the slopes with Glen before the mountain opens, then enjoy apres ski happy hour during a private luxury snowcap tour of the back country.
• Frank Almeda, San Francisco – take a private tour with Frank of the “Living Roof” and the California Academy of Sciences capped with a picnic lunch and dinner in the Moss Room with menus by famous San Francisco chefs.
• Roy Choi, Los Angeles – go behind the scenes of LA’s hottest street food – Kogi BBQ – with Roy, followed by a tasting tour of his favorite LA eateries.
• Jack O’Neill, Santa Cruz – tour O’Neill headquarters where you’ll be outfitted with O’Neill gear, then go surfing (or take lessons) with an O’Neill pro.
• Randy Lewis, Napa – join Randy for a private tasting and picnic at Lewis Cellars in Napa Valley, followed by a spin around the track at Infineon Raceway.

The sweepstakes will be featured on www.visitcalifornia.com/sweepstakes, which will give entrants an overview of the promotion, along with weekly prize overviews and the weekly featured grand prize. Each weekly quiz will be themed around the featured Californian and include a bio, along with four questions to be answered for bonus entries. Duplicate quiz functionality will be found on CTTC’s Facebook page, with a preliminary step to ‘Like’ Visit California in order to access the quiz. Upon submission of the entry form, the user will be invited to ‘Share’ with Facebook for an additional bonus entry.

For more information on the “Live like a Californian” sweepstakes, friend us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/VisitCA and follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/CATourism for the latest contest details.

It’s no mystery why countless romantic films have been set in New York City: there’s simply no better place to fall in love than amid the glittering heights of the “crossroads of the world.”

"There I was in Times Square getting ready to hit the train home and this newly married couple walks by with some of their wedding party," says the photographer who took this picture. "The newlyweds stopped at a classic Times Square hotdog stand for a dog and kiss." (Photo: Jazz Guy, on Flickr)

From Cary Grant’s An Affair to Remember to 2009’s New York, I Love You, countless couples have found their happily ever after in the Big Apple. And who can forget Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey—and a few hundred other New Yorkers—singing and dancing their way through Central Park in Enchanted? (See the video clip at the end of this article.) But as romantic as New York City may be on film, it’s even better in person.

“New York was so much fun to explore and what made it a million times better was having my new husband by my side,” says Crystal Cunningham in a blog post she wrote about the New York City honeymoon taken by her and her husband Jacob.

“We had a blast,” she says. “It truly is a magical city.”

"When You Get Caught Between the Moon and New York City": The New York skyline. (Photo: Tony the Misfit, on Flickr)

Part of the appeal of a New York City honeymoon is the wide variety of things to see and do. Crystal and her husband spent their honeymoon in New York exploring the city through the lens of their favorite movies and television shows; they took the Manhattan Movie Tour, hitting famous locations from The Cosby Show, Friends, Seinfeld, and more. They also managed to make time for the traditional New York tourist spots: Ellis Island, the Empire State Building, the nooks and Crannies of Central Park, and the many shops along Chinatown’s Canal Street.

Kim Rawley took a different approach to her New York honeymoon: “New York City is really a writer’s city, in much the way that Paris is a painter’s city, and when we made honeymoon plans, there were two places I especially wanted to see: the Hotel Chelsea and the Algonquin Hotel.” Both locations were home to famous writers such as Thomas Wolfe and Arthur C. Clarke. Among the other must-do activities on their honeymoon: ice skating at Rockefeller Center and a horse-drawn carriage ride through Central Park.

Although Kim and Crystal had a definite itinerary for their New York City honeymoons, just winging it works, too. Hannah and Will were both students when they got married, and were too exhausted to plan more than a trip to a Broadway show during their December honeymoon in New York City. No worries; they managed to find their way to Times Square, Central Park, the Museum of Natural History, Grand Central Station, the Museum of Natural History and more (including a disappointing trip to the top of the Empire State Building). “While it was freezing, I loved being in the city, especially during Christmas time,” Hannah says in her blog about their honeymoon.

Ready to start planning your own New York City honeymoon yet? Grab your walking shoes and Metro map! Here’s a taste of what you can do; see the links and videos at the end of this article if you want to do more in-depth research.

What to see and do

• 

  Quiet green spaces such as this pond at 59th Street offer a respite from the fast pace of the city. New York City (Photo: Alex Lopez © NYC & Company)

  In Central Park, rent a rowboat on the Lake, take a horse-drawn carriage ride, or have your picture taken next to the Alice in Wonderland sculpture.

• Not far from Central Park, make your way to the Museum Mile, one of the densest concentrations of museums in the world. This stretch of Fifth Avenue between East 82nd and East 105th Streets includes the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Neue Galerie, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the National Academy Museum, Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, The Jewish Museum, the Museum of the City of New York, El Museo del Barrio, and the Museum for African Art. The world-famous Metropolitan Museum of Art is worth a day’s exploration by itself; its hundreds of galleries contain art from every age and every corner of the world.
• It’s your honeymoon, after all, so ditch the high culture museums for a few hours visiting the Museum of Sex in the Gramercy Flatiron District—and yes, it’s a real museum, with a board of advisors, curators, a mission statement (“to preserve and present the history, evolution and cultural significance of human sexuality”), and more than 15,000 works of art, photography, clothing, technological inventions and “historical ephemera.”
• In the Chelsea Garment District, visit the hot new gallery area between 10th and 11th Avenues, or catch some original comedy at the People’s Improv Theater, or take in a sports event at Madison Square Garden, or browse the Chelsea Market, a block-sized building (formerly the original Oreo cookie factory) crammed with restaurants, bars, art space, and shops selling everything from flowers to knick-knacks.
• Stroll through the Lower East Side, where you’ll find trendy boutiques, French cafés, and velvet-roped nightspots sprinkled among dry-goods discounters, Spanish bodegas, and mom-and-pop shops selling everything from t-shirts to designer fashions to menorahs. You’ll also find historic sites from the earliest period of U.S. history.
• During the summer, stroll through South Street Seaport, home to free outdoor concerts during the annual River to River festival—and then sample the many shops and seafood restaurants along the waterfront.
• For great views of New York Harbor, take the Staten Island Ferry; it’s free, runs regularly (every 15 minutes during rush hours), and offers great views of the Statue of Liberty as well as the New York skyline.
  

  (Photo: Joe Buglewicz © NYC & Company)

• Plan an evening in the theater district, followed by a late-night dinner at a classy restaurant. Swing by the TKTS Booth at the north end of Times Square to pick up discounted tickets to Broadway and off-Broadway shows.
• Or, if theater isn’t your thing, plan ahead to book tickets at your favorite television show. Some popular shows (The Colbert Report, Saturday Night Live) require advance planning and a little luck to see; others, such as The Today Show, don’t even require tickets—just show up at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. (NYCgo.com has a list of shows and how to get tickets.)
• Bargain-hunt in the many shops and restaurants in
  

  Chinatown offers great opportunities for shopping, eating, and people watching. (Photo: Joe Buglewicz © NYC & Company)

  Chinatown: Wikitravel reviewers recommend you try Banh Mi Saigon Bakery, which is located in back of a jewelry and gem shop and serves “fantastic” Banh Mi Saigon (pork) and Banh Mi Ga (chicken) sandwiches, or Ten Ren Tea Time, one of the best “bubble tea” houses in Manhattan. (The name “bubble tea” comes from the tapioca/sago balls in the tea, which are sucked up with an oversized straw or eaten with a spoon.) Or just people-watch in Columbus Park, where you might find people practicing tai-chi, or traditional Chinese fhan dances.

• Head over to the Bronx to visit the Bronx Zoo, a world-class urban zoo featuring thousands of animals over 265 acres. Then visit the New York Botanical Garden, which features nearly 50 gardens and plant collections on 250 acres.
• If exploring Central Park doesn’t bring out the kids in you, then maybe a visit to Coney Island will. Ride the iconic roller coaster in the theme park, grab a hot dog, and stroll along the boardwalk before heading into the cool exhibits at the nearby New York Aquarium.
• Be sure to grab lunch or a snack from one of the thousands of street carts where food is cooked and served hot on the spot. Be adventurous—branch out from New York hot dogs to sample arepas, freshly cooked Indian dosas, or the legendary halal offerings in Midtown.

Tips for your New York City honeymoon

• Find affordable accommodations. According to Wikitravel, you can expect to pay up to $50 for a hostel, $100-$200 for a budget room with shared bath, $250-$350 for a mid-range hotel with a decent room and a restaurant, and
  

  It ain’t the Caribbean, but you don’t have to completely give up that “beach honeymoon” in New York. (Photo: Marley White © NYC & Company)

  much higher in a high end hotel. Most rooms below $200 in Manhattan are small with room for a bed, a TV, and little else. However, keep in mind that you do not need to stay in Manhattan. For instance, you can stay in the city’s new hotel zone in Long Island City, Queens; accommodations there are generally cheaper, clean, and safe—and an easy subway ride into Manhattan. You might also look into staying with a local; you can find people who are willing to share their homes by checking out a home exchange or hospitality network website.

• Ask locals for help. Don’t believe the stereotypes about New Yorkers being rude; in fact, most of them are quite friendly and willing to help out tourists, if they are able. Tap into that “hometown hospitality” to get real-time advice from people who can give you the inside scoop on where to go, what to do—or simply how to find your way to where you’re going.

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• Familiarize yourself with a bus tour. Get an overview of the city and scope out the attractions you most want to see by signing up with a hop-on, hop-off bus tour operator. CitySights NY offers such a tour on a fleet of new double-decker buses designed with top-deck-only seating. Their $49 All Around Town Tour offers 48 hours of access to their double-decker bus tours, as well as a 90-minute New York Waterway Harbor cruise and a ticket to the Museum of the City of New York.
• Get around with a Metrocard (and good shoes!). Familiarize yourself with the bus and subway networks, and consider picking up a seven-day unlimited Metrocard, which will cover your bus and subway fares. Often, it’s faster to walk to your destination. According to Wikitravel, there are 20 blocks per mile along the avenues (which run north/south). The average person can walk roughly one block per minute, or sixty blocks (three miles) per hour. The streets, which run east/west, have much longer blocks.
• Consider picking up a pass. If you’re planning to hit a lot of the major tourist attractions, consider buying a pass that will give you free access to top attractions. New York CityPASS grants access to nine top attractions, while The New York Pass allows fast-track (line-jumping) access to 55 top attractions, as well as a free 176-page guidebook outlining the hours of operation and directions for every New York Pass attraction.

Helpful New York City Links

Guides

NYCGo.com
The official New York City tourism website contains a wealth of information on what to see, where to go, and what to do.

Wikitravel: New York City
Basic, practical information on how to get the most out of New York City, written by actual travelers who offer insider advice. Be sure to click through to the articles on the various boroughs and neighborhoods to get even more information.

TripAdvisor: New York City Hotel Reviews & Ratings
Check TripAdvisor for the largest collection of user reviews and ratings on various hotels and attractions.

Honeymoon stories

New York City honeymoon: Crystal Cunningham

New York City honeymoon: Kim Rawley

New York City honeymoon: Hannah and Will

New York City videos

Here are a couple video guides to New York City and, just for fun, the Central Park dance routine from Enchanted.

All Flickr photos are used under a Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 3.0 license. This article contains material from the following Wikitravel articles: New York City; Manhattan; Brooklyn; Lower Manhattan; Chinatown; and Lower East Side. Used under a used under a Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 3.0 license.

Stunning scenery and excellent skiing make Banff National Park one of Canada’s most popular tourist destinations. Jagged snow-capped mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, abundant wildlife and hidden canyons all contribute to the dramatic setting, but on top of all that, many of the area’s lakes are an unearthly bright blue-green color due to their mineral content (one online reviewer says the area is “so beautiful it looks fake”).

Downtown Banff offers a variety of diversions, from sophisticated art galleries to fine dining and nightlife. (Photo: Erlwas. Used under a Creative Commons 3.0 Share-Alike Attribution license.)

Banff National Park is located in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, about an hour and a half drive west from Calgary (home to the 1988 winter Olympics). Although Banff is an international tourist destination, when we visited for our honeymoon in late July 1999, it didn’t feel overcrowded. Although even the easy trails are spectacular, many were virtually empty. The weather was a bit nippy, though, for late July—it was in the 60s (Fahrenheit) for a few days, so bring warm clothes no matter when you go.

The town of Banff can be crowded during the summer; its downtown is packed with restaurants, shops, pubs, clubs, and tourists from all over the world. Visit Banff for all that, but make your romantic retreat in quieter Canmore, about 20 miles east of Banff. Although Canmore is smaller than Banff, it is generally less crowded and less expensive. Canmore has many fine hotels and bed and breakfasts, plus a historic downtown full of shops, pubs, and nice restaurants. We stayed at two chain hotels in Canmore for part of our honeymoon (the Best Western Pocatello offered nice rooms at an affordable price), but the best place we stayed was The Creek House bed and breakfast (see link below). The gourmet breakfasts, in particular, were superb (mango Belgian waffles come to mind); we usually had breakfast right alongside the pretty creek, with a few ducks paddling lazily around nearby. In the evening, you can cook in a fully stocked gourmet kitchen or eat out (see below). It’s pricey—from $390 Canadian to $580 CAD per night, depending on the accommodation and season—but worth it, at least for a night or two.

Canmore is also home to the Canmore Nordic Center, a world-class mountain biking and cross-country skiing facility built for the ’88 Olympics. Plus you’ll find more golf courses than you can shake a stick at in the Canmore area.

Did we mention the scenery…? As we said while we drove across Alberta’s prairies toward the snow-capped mountains of the Canadian Rockies, “This view is like God tapping your shoulder and saying ‘Wake up! Pay attention!’” It’s a truly stunning setting for a honeymoon.

Things to do around Banff and Canmore

1. Go hiking

• Stewart Canyon around Lake Minnewanka. This is where we had a near-encounter with some bighorn sheep Walking along the lake and then into the canyon, we noticed a group of bighorn sheep trotting along behind us. Frankly, it just isn’t something you see every day. When they began following us across a bridge, we got slightly unnerved and scrambled up a large rock—forgetting, of course, that bighorn sheep are built to climb rocks. They passed by and we shared a rueful laugh. Oh, and the scenery along the trail is pleasant as well. Lake Minnewanka is supposed to have excellent trout fishing.
• The Bankhead loop. Bankhead is a ghost town that used to be a bustling mining town. This historical interpretation site has no interpreters, just signs, but it’s fun to wander the grounds imagining what it must have been like at one time. There are picnic facilities nearby; bring your lunch.
• Grassi Lakes. This quieter trail just outside Canmore heads up Mount Rundle, passing by two small gems of lakes, both colored an ethereal blue-green. When we went, we encountered people rappelling a cliff at the lake site. The hiking trail can be challenging, although with good footgear you’ll be fine. There is also a wonderful view of a huge waterfall along the way.
• Larch Valley. This was the hardest trail we hiked (the initial ascent is so steep that there are ten “switchbacks” to get to the top). Adjacent to Moraine Lake, the trail takes you to a high plateau (a frost hollow) surrounded by Larch trees where you can get a great view of the Ten Peaks mountain range (imagine ten snow-covered mountain peaks lined up in a row). Bring a wide angle camera. The trail continues up to the highest peak accessible in the Canadian Rockies, Sentinel Pass (experienced hikers only!), but we stopped at the frost hollow and headed back down. The trip up and back took us the better part of an afternoon.
• Moraine Lake. Every time we show someone our wedding album, they’re very polite: “Lovely dress…what a nice cake…charming reception….” Then we turn the page and they are shocked speechless, because they’ve just seen the stunning first picture from our honeymoon: the almost iconic Moraine Lake. The water seems unnaturally turquoise blue, a result of glacier melt that is the norm of many lakes in the area. Moraine Lake holds top honors for sheer beauty. Take a hike on the edge of the lake just to keep looking at it. There are canoes for rental as well. (But don’t expect to swim…the water is very cold even in late July.) There is a charming lodge nearby with expensive snacks and outdoor tables.
• Bow Summit at Lake Peyto. This is a bit of a drive from the towns of Banff and Canmore but worth it. Another stunning glacier lake, with a beautiful and quiet trail nearby. If you just want to see the lake, there is a parking lot near the summit with a million dollar view.

2. Go skiing

We’re not skiing experts, and we visited in the summer, but it is obvious the area caters to skiers, both downhill and cross country. Some major resorts are Nakiska, which hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics; Lake Louise, which is the largest ski resort in Canada (and rated best in North America for scenery and second best for value by Ski Magazine); and many others. Check the late season for deals, and remember that the ski season can run through May.
 

3. Go golfing

Definitely stay in Canmore for this: the golf courses are closest to this town. In fact, in small Canmore, there are four courses: SilverTip, Canmore Golfing and Curling Club, Stewart Creek Golf Club, and Brewster’s Kananaskis Ranch Golf Resort. Nearby is award-winning Kananaskis Country Golf Course. Finally, the acclaimed Greywolf Golf Course is two hours from Banff.

4. Mountain bike or cross country ski at the Canmore Nordic Center

The Canmore Nordic Center, created for the 1988 Calgary Olympics cross country and biathlon events, is two kilometers from downtown Canmore. In the summer, it is a world-renown haven for mountain bikers. None of this is for the faint hearted: remember, Olympians were challenged here! Bikes, helmets, and skis are available for rental, and the center also offers lessons. You can also visit for the center’s historic value; it has a cafeteria and gift shop.

5. Soak luxuriously in the hot springs

The Banff hot springs are just the thing after hiking through the area's scenic mountains. Or skip the hike and just relax, taking in the scenery! (Photo: Banff Lake Louise Tourism)

There are number of hot springs in the Canadian Rockies; Radium Hot Springs near Kootenay National Park is 80 minutes southwest of Banff, while Miette Hot Springs in Jasper is quite a bit farther. The most accessible hot springs are right in town at the Banff Upper Hot Springs, which are fed by Sulphur Mountain. Even if you are staying in a hostel with no hot tub, you can pay a small fee and soak to your heart’s content in this outdoor pool of mineral water, naturally heated to 104° F. Bring a bathing suit and remember that you won’t be alone; it was a tad crowded the day we went. There is a day spa on the premises that does aromatherapy and various kinds of massage for a fee; be sure to call ahead.

6. Experience a real glacier

If you love these mountains, you’ll want to thank the ancient glaciers that carved them out. The Columbia Icefield is the largest glacier field in the Northern Hemisphere, and a relatively short drive from Banff.  Dress warmly, in layers. The icefield consists of six major glaciers feeding three rivers. You can hike in the area or even camp overnight in a nearby campground if you’re so inclined. If you want to see the glaciers without all the work, a number of tour companies will fly you over the icefield, or take you by all-terrain vehicle to the center of a glacier, where you can learn how to walk on moving ice.

7. Eat

The Rocky Mountaineer is a sightseeing train that takes visitors on breathtraking trips through the Canadian Rockies. (Photo: Banff Lake Louise Tourism)

In a nutshell, the food is great. It isn’t New York City, but since it caters to an international crowd, there are lots of little ethnic restaurants in Banff and Canmore that range in price from quite inexpensive to “once in a lifetime” expensive. Here’s a taste of what you’ll find: Joe Diner in Banff is worth a hamburger—it’s a 1950s style diner with attitude to spare, and reasonably priced. Guido’s Restaurante is a bit of an institution, and we had some very good, medium-priced Italian food there. It was very quiet, with candlelight—a fine honeymoon restaurant. (We also saw a moose walking down the street after that dinner.) The best food we had in Canmore was at Sinclair’s, a lovely old house with a large deck that has been converted into a Canadian-style restaurant. Sinclair’s is a Frommer’s choice selection for the area, and reasonably priced. Finally, there is a five-diamond (AAA/CAA) French restaurant in Banff, Eden, which offers an eight-course tasting dinner for $125 Canadian (too rich for our blood on our honeymoon, but maybe next time).

8. Assorted wilderness pleasures

Besides all of the above, you can also go horseback riding, fishing, river rafting (we rafted down the Bow River), kayaking, or wilderness touring.

9. Assorted cultural pleasures

The Banff Center holds an annual film festival, book festival, a summer arts festival, a summer concert series, and a performing arts series. For its part, Canmore has a dinner theatre (“Oh Canada, Eh?”), and the Canmore Folk Music Festival is generally held at the end of July or the beginning of August. In addition, movies, shopping, and art galleries are also available in the area.

Useful Links for your Banff & Lake Louise honeymoon

TripAdvisor: Banff, Canada
Hundreds of user reviews of hotels, restaurants, and attractions in the Banff area. Also, compare prices to find the best deals.

Our honeymoon in the Canadian Rockies
“It was amazing. Everywhere we went, there were GIANT MOUNTAINS! GLACIERS! TURQUOISE LAKES! It was incredible…. The mountains…just came shooting up out of the ground. They were big. Just huge. Big. With big glaciers dripping off of them. Way cool!” Reading their amusing account, we got the distinct impression that Tim and Steph enjoyed backpacking the Canadian Rockies in late September 2003. Read about their encounters with glaciers, bighorn sheep, and German tourists, then click on the link at the end of the page for another page with lots of pictures.

Heart Mountain
Wayne Norman and his wife decided to scale Heart Mountain, near Banff, on their honeymoon. Brief text account; no photos.

Banff Lake Louise Tourism
The official tourism website for the area; includes a section on weddings.

DiscoverBanff.com
Comprehensive commercial travel directory for Banff.

canmorealberta.com
One of the best guides to the region on the web; includes interactive map of Canmore and a live webcam of the Three Sisters mountains.

DiscoverCanmore.com
Comprehensive commercial travel directory for Canmore.

Banff National Park
Official site of the national park.

The Banff Center
“The Banff Centre is an incubator of creativity that inspires and empowers artists, the mountain community, and business and community leaders from Alberta, Canada, and around the world.” The center also sponsors festivals, concerts, and performing arts; be sure to check their calendar of events.

The Creek House
A luxurious bed and breakfast alongside Policeman’s Creek near downtown Canmore, with views of the mountains out of most windows.

• Photos of downtown Canmore: Visit this page to get a feel for the attractions in downtown Canmore.

Hostelling International-Canada-Alberta
Lists youth hostels in Alberta, including several in the Banff area.

Travel Alberta
The official tourism site for Alberta provides a broader overview of the region in general plus valuable information for visitors.

Video: Banff Lake Louise Tourism

Video: Canadian honeymoon

Now through August 1, you can enter to win a trip through the Canadian Rockies on the Rocky Mountaineer, thanks to a new sweepstakes from Woolrich. Here are the details from the press release:

Woolrich, the Original Outdoor Clothing Company® has teamed up with Travel Alberta to give away a railroad adventure for two through the Canadian Rockies in the Woolrich Adventures Sweepstakes.  Now through August 1st, adventurers can sign up online for a chance to win* this once-in-a-lifetime journey at www.woolrichadventures.com.

The grand prize for two includes airfare to Vancouver, B.C.; multi-day service on the world famous Rocky Mountaineer; accommodations at legendary Fairmont Hotels; and return airfare from Calgary, Alberta.

“The Woolrich Adventure sweepstakes links the rich travel heritage of Woolrich with one of the most spectacular and historic mountain regions in the world,” said Brian Mangione, Executive Vice President.

The grand prize trip begins in the modern city of Vancouver, B.C. and then transports through time to the wilds of Banff and Lake Louise Alberta Canada on the award winning Rocky Mountaineer.  The two-day magical train journey winds through shimmering glaciers, abundant wildlife, crystal clear lakes, thundering waterfalls, deep canyons and evergreen forests … traveling a historic route in legendary luxury.

Once in Banff and Lake Louise outdoor activities await.  The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, in the heart of the Banff National Park, boasts an expansive hiking trail system.  By foot or horseback the trails lead to breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and the spectacular emerald colored lake.  In Banff opportunities are boundless from a trip up the Banff Gondola to rock climbing to a round of golf on the championship course at the Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course.

Along with the outdoors, Woolrich has a long connection to rail travel that dates back to the late 1800′s, when Woolrich introduced the conductor’s Railroad Vest.  The vest continues as a keystone piece in theWoolrich product line up of clothing and accessories for the outdoor lifestyle.

As always, be sure to view the official rules. For more information about a Rocky Mountain honeymoon, see our Banff-Canmore-Lake Louise honeymoon page. You’ll be directed to our old website; to return to this website, use your browser’s back button.