Anniversaries are such a joyous occasion. It’s a time to celebrate countless feats: the fact that you’ve found each other, the fact that you’ve built a home and family together, and the fact that you’ve managed to navigate the tricky waters of compromise and sacrifice.
Whether it’s your first or your forty-first, we have a few anniversary ideas in mind. Each one of the cities below boasts a fascinating feature or two, from medieval fairy tale fountains to enchanting castles in the woods. Whatever your fancy, we hope all your dreams will come true in any of these romantic destinations below.
Donegal, Ireland
If you or your partner have a love for the fanciful, you simply must head to Ireland. In the summer, the warm rays of the sun embrace you with the intensity of a long-lost lover. In the fall, the rain might start to become more abundant, but all that does is create a further air of mystery.
Tucked into one of the northern parts of the Republic, you’ll find Donegal – beautiful in its own right. Tucked even further away, in what feels like an Enchanted Forest, is Lough Eske Castle. Stay here for a few nights for a five-star affair where all your champagne dreams will come true. The rooms are expansive, the bedding is luxurious, the onsite eateries feature world-class food, and the staff treats you like family. The spa will melt all your cares away and the castle grounds will sweep you away into another place and time entirely.
Edinburgh, Scotland
Let’s up the ante on the fanciful. Edinburgh certainly has misty streets of its own, as well as bucketloads of folklore and fantasy to match the green, rolling hills of Ireland. The Witchery will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a lair of sorts – a most sumptuous, luxurious, and decadent lair. Just look at the pictures!
It’s often touted as Scotland’s most romantic hotel, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s hidden in a collection of historic buildings dating back to 1595. Given its proximity to Edinburgh Castle, you simply must take a tour if you can pull yourself away from your suite. Then, walk down the Royal Mile until you reach The Palace of Holyroodhouse, the King’s seat when he’s in Scotland.
London, England
Soaring high above the clouds in The Shard, Western Europe’s tallest building, you’ll find the Shangri-La. Overlooking the Thames, you and your lover will enjoy many a warm embrace as you take in the views. All 202 suites boast spectacular views of the city and there are four signature dining venues when you’re not out in town.
Perhaps their best feature is their infinity pool – glorious just as it is, but it also boasts the title of London’s highest infinity pool. In close proximity to St. Paul’s Cathedral and Borough Market, there’s plenty to explore right within walking distance. However, don’t be afraid to ask the concierge to help you find your way to any number of royal attractions, from Westminster Abbey to The Tower of London, to Buckingham Palace, and beyond. Certainly, you will feel like royalty when you’re here.
Paris, France
Not far from the Arc de Triomphe, L’Hôtel du Collectionneur is an art deco treasure. The hotel decor, lobby, and rooms will whisk you straight off your feet the moment you arrive. They also have a spa that will make you feel like you’ve been dropped at heaven’s gate. Imagine all the relaxation and romance that will float through the air when you’re there.
Of course, being in the City of Love, you can walk straight down the Champs-Élysées until you find yourself in the Jardin des Tuileries. From there, Paris is at your fingertips. Whether you visit the Latin Quarter, St. Germain, or Le Marais, any stroll hand-in-hand through Paris will reignite your love.
Colmar, France
If Christmas is your season of love, then you simply must go to the place that looks like Santa’s workshop on a candy stick. As a colorful medieval town filled with half-timber buildings that overlook the canal, Colmar is beautiful in winter, spring, summer, and fall. But, at Christmas, it takes the cake in terms of winter wonderlands.
When you see the streets festooned in twinkling buntings and countless Christmas lights, you can’t help but feel the wonder and magic of the season. Step into the glorious cathedral, St. Martin’s Church, to light a candle for your loved ones and glory at the art.
Zagreb, Croatia
Zagreb? Where did that come from? Hear us out… There’s a really weird museum in Zagreb that we’re madly in love with – The Museum of Broken Relationships. It’s an enchantingly strange little place where the curators accept objects from former lovers after a breakup. You’ll find everything from sterling silver Claddagh rings to rubber figurines. Each item symbolizes a love lost.
That Claddagh ring was one lovingly replaced by a former boyfriend who cold-heartedly left his girlfriend on a sad winter morning. That rubber figurine used to sit on the kitchen table of a couple who were torn about by their parents’ controlling delusions. Wouldn’t it be cool to say you visited the far-and-away land of Croatia while tucking away all those stories as a sort of “word to the wise?” Here, you can promise to protect your love and never let one of your prized possessions end up on their walls.
Prague, Czech Republic
Alright, Zagreb might have been a stretch. Let’s head back to those fairy tale lands. Prague is often touted as a fairy tale city for its endless rows of arches, bridges, castles, and cathedrals. One of the city’s focal points, Charles Bridge, is a wonder, dating all the way back to 1357.
Larger-than-life statues of saints line the bridge, leaving you to wonder how things like this were crafted before modern-day tools. Prague is a place to walk hand-in-hand as you explore one of the safest cities in the world, sample its endless array of local beers, and toy with the notion that you’ve stepped back in time.
Bali, Indonesia
Let’s go even further off the beaten path. If you’re in a relationship that values wholeness, wellness, and spirituality, you’ll find all that and more in Bali. For more of a spiritual retreat, head to Bali, specifically Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape. Buahan is nestled neatly into the thick leaves of the forest and holds all the cards when it comes to ingenuity.
As a luxury no-walls, no-doors retreat with a central pavilion where like-minded couples unite, and you’ll find no shortage of wonder here. You’ll also savor many a moment in their insatiable infinity pool that extends all the way into the valley of wonder.
New York, NY
New York, especially during the upcoming holiday season, is always a good idea. If you can snag a room someplace like the Library Hotel, you’ll be perfectly situated for a number of lovely occasions. First, the Library Hotel, in and of itself, is a wonder, with its central location to Midtown and its literare decor. It also has a fabulous rooftop bar where you’ll want to situate yourself to take in the even glow of the sunset over the city.
Best of all, it’s a hop, skip, and jump away from the New York Public Library, which is an absolute treasure. But, if you are, in fact, here during the Christmas season, there’s a lovely market set up behind the library in Bryant Park. You’ll love strolling through that together, picking up little trinkets and gifts, before returning back to your room to warm up for the evening.
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
While Cape Cod sparkles during the summer months, ironically, we love visiting it in the off-season when the crowds are gone, and the Atlantic still dazzles in radiant beauty (you just wouldn’t want to try to swim in it). There’s a particularly magical part of Cape Cod, Woods Hole, that seems to have a stronghold on peace and serenity.
Book a few nights at the Woods Hole Inn, where you’ll be perfectly situated to saunter down to a few fine eateries at night after you’ve luxuriated in your suite all day. Overlooking the harbor, it truly does feel like the world is your oyster when you’re here.
Bar Harbor, Maine
Continuing with the theme of enchantment, we simply must add Bar Harbor to the list. Of course, it’s a summertime delight, much like the Cape. But, somehow, the same notion holds here, as well. If you come in the wintry off-season, the crowds will have dissipated, and the air will take on a romantic feel, as though you’re the only ones in town.
To be fair, some of the shops and cafes close in the off-season, so you won’t have a full menu of explorations. But there are still plenty of B&Bs, coffee shops, and bookshops for you to wander around. And that’s the way to play it here: cozy into a quaint B&B, stroll the quiet streets, and, when you find yourself ready for some action, put on your hiking boots and take on Acadia National Forest. You’ll feel like you have the forest and sandy shorelines to yourself, creating a wonderfully romantic feeling.
Seattle, Washington
There will be no sleepless nights in Seattle if you play your cards right. This is the place to walk the misty streets, dip in and out of bookshops, and seek out every harbor view possible. Golden Gardens Park is particularly resplendent, with its panoramas of Puget Sound and Mount Rainier.
If you’ve secured a well-reviewed Airbnb, you can stock it up after an adventure to Pike Place Market. Take home the finest meats, cheeses, wines, soaps, and lotions from local artisans, and then cozy in for an evening full of bubble baths, champagne toasts, and delicious charcuterie delights.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
A bit like Bali, Santa Fe is also a haven for wellness retreats. If you’d like a couple’s vacation that revolves around nothing more than royal relaxation, magical massages, and tantalizing treats, you won’t have to look far within this peaceful haven of a city.
Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort and Spa not only has this in spades but also boasts healing waters that guests walk away from feeling wholly renewed. As one of the country’s oldest health spas, they certainly know what they’re doing here. You and your partner will certainly leave here feeling the same sense of rejuvenation that every other visitor walks away with.
Columbia Falls, Montana
How does a treehouse in Montana sound in terms of luxury and romance? The Montana Treehouse Retreat in Columbia Falls, not far from Whitefish, is a lover’s paradise. The owners have crafted luxury treehouses with every amenity imaginable and gracious panoramic views over the stunning forestry that only Montana can lay claim to.
When you’re not cozied under the blankets, taking in the snow-covered vistas, you can also take off and explore Glacier National Park. You’ll come home well-rested, eager to enjoy a meal in the treehouse and just take in the luxury views, perhaps with a little fire by your side.
Savannah, GA
A Southern Belle knows a thing or two about romance, right? Well, Savannah epitomizes the glamour and charm of a Southern Belle. With its oak-lined lanes dripping in Spanish moss, you’ll feel like you’re walking hand-in-hand under a romantic archway just for you. Stroll down Jones Street to gaze upon the old Antebellum homes. Book into a B&B like The Gastonian to ensure hearty breakfasts and evenings filled with wine and cheese by the fire.
Come evening light, stroll down to River Street to enjoy the sunset from the rooftop bar at The Bohemian Hotel. On your last day, you can also pick up some trinkets on Broughton Street, specifically the Paris Market, to remember those romantic nights beneath the glow of the street lamps in Savannah.
We Raise a Glass to You
Wherever you’re headed to celebrate your love, we raise a glass to you. We hope you enjoy every moment and savor the notion that, in a world packed full of billions of people, you found each other.
Perhaps we’ll see you strolling along The Seine someday. If that’s where you’re headed, be sure to check out our destination guides. We have a library full of ideas to help you craft the most romantic getaway. Cheers to you!
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