The most romantic places in the USA

America's original seaside resort is a beautiful romantic respite. The island at New Jersey's southernmost tip is famous for its beaches, promenade, and fun in the sun. There are 2.5 miles of pristine beach along the Atlantic Ocean and dozens of shops at Washington Street Mall, Washington Commons and Carpenters Square Mall. Whether you come during the crowded summer months or idyllic winter and spring, sail off into the Cape May sunset with your sweetie.

Don't miss: The historical architecture. Cape May is home to more than 600 restored Victorian buildings.

Located 4,000ft above sea level within the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation, Antelope Canyon offers picture-perfect panoramas for lovestruck outdoorsy folks. Formed by the erosion of Navajo Sandstone due to wind, water and time, the photogenic slot canyon is the perfect backdrop for sweet snaps thanks to its deep corridors, smooth edges, and 'flowing' sandstone. Access is by permit only, and Navajo guides lead tours through the captivating canyon.

Don't miss: The wavelike sandstone structures are among the most photographed in the country—especially when the sun hits it just right.

Surf's up and so are sandy strolls at Paumalū (Sunset Beach) in Oahu, the most populated of the Hawaiian Islands. The sandy beach offers one of the longest stretches of rideable surf in the world (there are swells up to 30 feet in the winter months!). This is a perfect place to take long walks hand-in-hand on the beach. 

Don't miss: As the name suggests, this is the place on the North Shore to settle in and soak up the sunsets, which dazzle in pink, orange, and lavender hues.

Take your partner's hand and plunge 26ft below the ground to see elaborate rock formations and majestic waterfalls. Accidentally discovered nearly a century ago by Leo Lambert, who named the falls after his wife, Ruby Falls is the tallest and deepest underground waterfall in the U.S. open to the public. Glass-front elevators whisk visitors deep beneath the ground.

Don't miss: Special Friday night tours, where guides lead visitors through caves by lantern light.

This superlative park—the only one to have carriage trails and the first national park east of the Mississippi River—has all the hallmarks of romance. Among the park's many charms is Cadillac Mountain, a 27-mile Park Loop Road flanked by miles of shoreline, plenty of picturesque spots for picnics, and horse-drawn carriage rides along 45 miles of meandering trails through mountains and valleys. Acadia National Park on Maine’s Atlantic coast offers unbelievable natural beauty.

Don't miss: Watch the sunrise from the top of Cadillac Mountain, which is the first place to catch the sunrise in the U.S. for half the year.

Star-crossed lovers can cuddle and gaze at the stars and aurora borealis from within fiberglass geodesic igloos at Borealis Basecamp, just 25 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska, in the Arctic wilderness. The basecamp features a relaxing sauna and a galaxy of stars to admire while you chill out. Snuggle in bed in a cozy dome and ponder the meaning of the universe while watching the Northern Lights dance, dazzle and swirl through transparent 16ft igloo ceilings.

Don't miss: Enjoy sustainable Alaskan seafood at Latitude 65 restaurant. 

Long before Yellowstone became America’s first National Park or Sun Valley, Idaho, became America’s first ski resort, there was the rejuvenating Lava Hot Springs. Located about two hours north of Salt Lake City and three hours south of Yellowstone National Park, Lava Hot Springs' pure geothermal hot spring mineral water is perfect for turning up the heat with your other half. Take a dip in five outdoor gravel and rock bottom pools or swim laps in the indoor six-lane pool. There's no sulfur odor—just 2.5 million gallons of mineral-rich hot spring water that bubbles up from an ancient volcano and flows through these pools daily. Your sexy soak is a steamy affair with water temps ranging from 102 to 112 degrees Fahrenheit.

Don't miss: The website says these thermal waters help with sex hormone function. Do with that information what you may. 

If ever there were a more romantic beach, Cannon Beach is it. Just 90 minutes from Portland is Cannon Beach, a beach town in northwest Oregon famed for its iconic Haystack Rock, Pacific Northwest culinary food and bird population. From early spring to mid-summer, it's an ideal spot to see tufted puffins and other wildlife. Cozy up with your loved one for a beach bonfire and the serenade of the waves crashing on the sandy shore.

Don't miss: Haystack Rock, a 235-foot basalt sea stack that rises dramatically from the ocean.

Formed by the Colorado River 17 million years ago, admire the awesomeness of the 227-mile-long, 18-mile-wide, and one-mile-deep Grand Canyon with your amour. Increase your heart rate with an exhilarating rafting trip along the Colorado River that courses southwest through the limestone, sandstone and shale canyon.

Don't miss: Adrenaline junkies can take a Grand Canyon helicopter ride, ride a mule along the 7.8-mile Bright Angel Trail and snap selfies on the glass-bottom Skywalk perched 4,000ft above the canyon floor.

The iconic granite Teton Mountains punctuate the 310,000-acre Grand Teton National Park in northwestern Wyoming, serving as the perfect backdrop for romance. Less than an hour drive from Yellowstone National Park, the world’s first national park, the park is the perfect place to picnic, pitch a tent and relax. With over 200 miles of trails and outdoor activities galore, including biking, fishing, and hiking, this rejuvenating, restful respite may be just the boost your love life craves.

Don't miss: The Hidden Falls trail is about a closed, five-mile loop that leads to a beautiful 100-foot waterfall. 

Enjoy the slow pace with your significant other in the Great Lakes on Mackinac Island, where cars are prohibited. More than 80 percent of the island is state park land populated with nature trails, historic sights and endless views. Located on Lake Huron in northern Michigan, Mackinac Island has charming hotels and inns, horse-drawn carriages, and mesmerizing sunrises and sunsets—all contributors to setting the mood for romance. 

Don't miss: Indulge in Mackinac Island's world-famous fudge—the perfect sweet for your sweetheart.

The hot air ballooning capital of the world is the ideal spot for taking your love to new heights. New Mexico's largest city is home to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the world's largest balloon festival held in October each year. Still, conditions are perfect year-round for hot air balloon rides. Go up, up, and away at sunrise or sunset and float over the Rio Grande River Valley. 

Don't miss: End your flight with a Champagne toast, a ballooning tradition from the French. Villagers and farmers would get upset when the colorful balloons landed in their villages or farmlands, so balloonists carried a bottle of Champagne onboard to appease them post-flight. Thankfully, the tradition endures.

Straddling the New York-Canadian border, Niagara Falls State Park offers several vantage points to admire the 3,160 tons of water that rush over the falls every second. Dine à deux with a top-level view at the aptly-named Top of the Falls Restaurant, the only restaurant overlooking Niagara Falls (open May to September), then try a soggy boat ride to 'explore the roar' at the base of the falls on the Maid of the Mist.

Don't miss: Capture a selfie at Cave of the Winds, a misty lookout point just 20ft from the rushing waters. You’ll soon feel the rush of romance in no time.

Stroll along meandering paths flanked by florals at the Public Garden. Established in 1837, Boston's Public Garden was the first public botanical garden in the U.S. The flower beds are laid out in traditional Victorian style. Stop and smell the roses and admire up to 80 species of plants.  b

Don't miss: Take a swan boat ride, a tradition for over a century. The foot-propelled paddle boats are the only kind in the world, gliding visitors around the garden's lagoon at 2 miles per hour. It's an idyllic vantage point for a passionate kiss.

Set sail with your lover with a wine tasting off the coast of Seattle on Bainbridge Island. A 35-minute scenic ferry ride terminates at Bainbridge Island, a 5-mile by 10-mile island and city west of Seattle. The tiny island boasts seven boutique wineries. The close proximity of each winery makes it easy to visit them all in a day to sip, savor, profess your love and propose a toast (or marriage!).

Don't miss: You'll have one of the best views of the snow-capped Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier. Pack those cameras!

Named after a 1939 LIFE magazine contest in which newlyweds won a two-week honeymoon vacation to the island, this barrier island off Florida’s west coast is a piece of paradise. No matter if you soak up the sun on Honeymoon Island State Park’s four miles of pristine, white sand beaches, take a leisurely stroll hand-in-hand on a nature trail through a pine forest, or admire wildlife like ospreys and gopher tortoises. Each acre of this romantic island is picture-perfect.

Don't miss: The park reopened to reduced capacity in late November 2024 following storm damage, but you can still enjoy parts of the five-mile beach. 

Serenade your partner and make sweet music at Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater, the most acoustically perfect amphitheater in the world. Nestled at the meeting point of the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains 6,450ft above sea level, it took 300 million years to create the red, brown and ochre-hued geological wonder that includes an open-air, 9,525-seat amphitheater that hosts memorable concerts most days of the year from March to October.

Don't miss: This iconic music venue hosts some of the world's biggest acts. Be sure to check the website for a calendar of upcoming events.