This week’s date night idea takes you and your partner on a romantic escape to virtually any destination in the world, even locations that only exist in your imagination. WM have given their ideas for their favorite romantic destination adventures at home, including all the extra details to make it a night neither of you will soon forget. When you’re ready for an intimate night for two, grab your virtual ticket and start planning with the ideas below!
1. Kauai, Hawaii
Hawaii’s lush Garden Island can keep active couples blissfully busy. Adventurous choices include snorkeling, scuba diving, hiking (where waterfalls compete for attention with ocean vistas), windsurfing, fishing, horseback riding, and golf, all of it top-notch. But every visitor should also simply lie on the beach and enjoy scenery so pretty that it has shown up in a long list of TV shows and movies, from “Fantasy Island” to South Pacific.
2. Big Sur, California
No place in the world offers a more sublime landscape. It almost takes two to fully drink it in. Thoughtful couples, in fact, trade off stints at the wheel while traveling this awesomely rugged stretch of Central California coast. Drivers negotiating the twists and turns of Highway 1 as it clings to the cliffs can spare precious little attention to admire the view. Fortunately, the Western-accented Ventana Inn & Spa provides compensatory pampering; ![]()

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800/628-6500
or ventanainn.com.
3. Sanibel and Captiva islands, Florida
Stunning sunsets, strictly limited development, and musical beaches create a truly enchanting hideaway. Gulf of Mexico currents toss up millions of seashells, which sound like wind chimes as they tumble in the waves. No wonder Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s visits inspired her to write Gift from the Sea, her lyrical meditation about life and love. The recently renovated resort Song of the Sea, where each of the 30 rooms features a kitchenette and a screened porch,
4. St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Fantasies of fleeing to an unspoiled tropical paradise really do come true here. A national park covers two-thirds of the 20-square-mile island. Vast stretches of white-sand beaches draw only handfuls of visitors. St. John’s best lodgings keep the focus on the surroundings. Maho Bay, which pioneered deluxe tent camping,
5. Cape Cod, Massachusetts
New Englanders escape here in summer for beaches, natural beauty, history, great seafood, and quirky shopping. All those attractions also beckon in winter, albeit in a quieter way. Deserted shores invite hand-in-hand strolling accompanied only by the placid splashing of the waves. Enough restaurants and shops stay open year-round to keep the credit-card companies happy. In Chatham, sweethearts can snuggle at the superb Captain’s House Inn, where every one of the 16 rooms and suites includes a fireplace; ![]()

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800/315-0728
or captainshouseinn.com.
6. Savannah, Georgia
This historic and eccentric city richly lives up to its reputation as a dreamy destination. Grand homes overlook landscaped squares decorated with moss-draped trees and splashing fountains. Genteel retirees mix amiably with creatively costumed Savannah College of Art and Design students. For sumptuous lodging,
7. Santa Barbara, California
Beautiful beaches, charming Mediterranean architecture, excellent restaurants both casual and chic, acclaimed wineries, and a general air of laid-back sophistication add up to an enticing place for couples to explore. Parks and gardens sprout everywhere, probably because the glorious weather encourages everyone to stay outdoors. At Simpson House Inn, guests can play English lawn croquet among an acre of English gardens, all secluded behind tall hedges. Fifteen rooms, suites, and cottages feature luxurious but comfortable decor; ![]()

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or simpsonhouseinn.com.
8. New Orleans, Louisiana
“We’re coming back, and we’re going to be bigger and better.” Cynthia Reeves is speaking of The House on Bayou Road, her quiet hideaway of an inn just off Esplanade Avenue near the French Quarter. She could also be referring to New Orleans itself, sadder and wiser after its assaults by hurricanes, but still saucy as it prepares to welcome visitors once again in 2006.
9. San Juan Islands, Washington
Peaceful and rustic, this cluster of islands north of Seattle also packs a lot of surprises. For one thing, the sun shines much more often than the Pacific Northwest norm. Visitors know about such nature-based attractions as whale-watching, bicycling, and kayaking. But the uninitiated might not expect the quality and variety of the artwork, especially on Orcas Island―or the llama and alpaca farms. Of the four islands accessible by ferry, Orcas has the most diverse landscape and biggest variety of recreation; San Juan offers a more historic feel; Lopez, the flattest, makes for the easiest biking; and Shaw appeals to lovers of peace and quiet.
10. Mackinac Island, Michigan
Couples visiting during winter can have this frozen-in-time Victorian vacation village almost to themselves. When snow works its magic on the landscape, a cross-country ski excursion or a horse-drawn carriage ride can seem like a Currier & Ives print come to life. This time of year, the island relaxes its no-motor-vehicles rules to allow snowmobiles. But horse-drawn drays still provide hauling services. Bogan Lane Inn,

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