8 Romantic Getaways

En español | For Couples Who Still Look Good in Their Bathing Suits: Halfway between L.A. and San Francisco, Pismo is California's often forgotten — and less crowded — seaside paradise. Walk the broad beach; see the sunset from the pier. Or get lost together at nearby Oceano sand dunes, the largest in Southern California.

For Vintage-Wine Enthusiasts: Some 200 vineyards sprout from mountains that plunge into the slender lakes of central New York state. Sit back and sip your way through a winery tour, or find a rocky nook amid the cascades at Watkins Glen State Park.

For Ex-Hippies Who Need to Recharge Their Crystals: Whether or not you believe this starkly beautiful area north of Phoenix is home to soul-reviving "spiritual vortexes," at sunset, from up on Airport Mesa, the very rocks seem to be ablaze. And after dark, behold one of America's starriest night skies.

For Dixiephiles Who'd Be Worn Out by New Orleans: If walks in the park are your romantic dream, welcome to one of America's parkiest towns. Sleepy, cypress-shaded Savannah is laid out with a different park — each dedicated to some war hero or city father — every few blocks. The crown jewel is the beautiful expanse of Forsyth Park, the perfect setting for a horse-drawn carriage ride.

For Former Skiers Who Miss the Slopes: Admit it: The most memorable parts of your old ski trips were curling up at the lodge or strolling after dark. Well, you can still do those things, especially in Aspen, a village of farmers markets and crafts shops — plus gourmet restaurants and high-end boutiques — that keeps its Alpine identity all year-round.

For Bed-and-Breakfast Lovers: The intimate waterfront towns of Maryland's Eastern Shore are all pretty quiet, but with a population of only about 650, few places can make a pair of lovers feel more really, truly alone than Oxford, one of America's oldest towns (1694). As dusk falls, on your way to dinner at the cute-and-creaky, circa-1710 Robert Morris Inn, you can wrap an arm around your sweetheart's waist and stroll right down the middle of the main street.

For Artsy Types Who Crave a Quiet, Creative Vibe: They say the town at the tip of Cape Cod is America's oldest art colony (1899), and you two are sure to find yourselves in any number of galleries, lingering together in front of a painting or sculpture or two. If you tire of the art scene, hike along the sand and stick your feet, if you dare, in the frigid-all-year north-Atlantic surf.

For Adventure Seekers Who Now Know Better: The only sounds you'll hear as you canoe through the heart of Florida's watery wilderness may be the cry of the cranes and the gentle splash of your paddle in the water. At nearby Big Cypress National Preserve, the boardwalk trail could bring you almost face-to-snout with a gator — and maybe a rare Florida panther.

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