Devoting your life to education has definite rewards, but finding a balance between work life and home life can be a constant struggle. It’s really important to schedule some downtime so you can connect with others—especially the one you love.
Taking a couples road trip, no matter how short, can help you relax, reconnect and recharge. These 5 U.S. destinations offer some of the best experiences for couples who want to take a romantic road trip.
1. Romance flavored with history and art in Savannah, Georgia
If you’re looking for a romantic couples getaway in the South, sumptuous Savannah is hard to beat, with its live oak trees dripping with moss, gurgling fountains and purple wisteria draping over front porches. After a leisurely breakfast at Roussell’s Garden bed and breakfast, take a carriage ride through the Historic District, or go on a Footprints of Savannah walking tour that traces Black history in the city. Then, get in line for a pecan-fried chicken lunch at The Pirate’s House.
Do you and your sweetie share a love of art and literature? View the 4,000 works of art in the Telfair Museums. Later, indulge in a romantic dinner at The Olde Pink House. Or, explore Bonaventure Cemetery made famous by John Berendt’s book “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” followed by a visit to the childhood home of writer Flannery O’Connor. (Bonaventure Cemetery offers an app to take a self-guided tour of the grounds while the visitor center is closed and guided tours are paused due to the coronavirus pandemic.)
Nearby Tybee Island provides a change of pace, if you’d rather spend more time dipping your toes into the sand and listening to the rolling ocean waves.
NEA member discounts on travel: Through the NEA Travel Program, you can search for deals on flights directly to Savannah Airport or to Jacksonville International Airport (a 2-hour drive); book a rental car to get around town; and look for affordably romantic lodging options such as Kimpton Brice Hotel, Marriott Savannah Riverfront, Hotel Indigo and many more.
Plan your itinerary: Visit Savannah | Explore Georgia | Roussell’s Garden bed and breakfast | Footprints of Savannah walking tour | The Pirate’s House restaurant | Telfair Museums | The Olde Pink House restaurant | Bonaventure Cemetery | Flannery O’Conner’s childhood home
2. Get away to a Northern Rockies wonderland in Whitefish, Montana
If outdoor fun inspires romance, this northern Rocky Mountain town delivers. On a trip to Whitefish, enjoy winter activities such as skiing and snowshoeing, or visit in summer to explore Glacier National Park, only 30 minutes away. With easy access to hiking and biking trails, outdoor lovers will find something to do year-round.
With a charming downtown shopping area, it makes sense to secure cozy yet affordable lodging there. Or, if you share a love of golf, Grouse Mountain Lodge offers stay-and-play packages. If your sweetie has a sweet tooth, sample the homemade pies (and the rest of the menu) at Loula’s Café.
Want to make your arrival special? Take Amtrak’s Empire Builder from Seattle or from Chicago/Minneapolis.
NEA member discounts on travel: Through the NEA Travel Program, you can search for deals on flights to Glacier Park International Airport (15 minutes away); book a rental car to get around the area; and look for affordably romantic lodging options such as Lodge at Whitefish Lake, Grouse Mountain Lodge, Good Medicine Lodge B&B and many more.
Plan your itinerary: Explore Whitefish | Visit Montana | Glacier National Park | Amtrak’s Empire Builder | Loula’s Café
3. Wine and cherries flavor the romance in Traverse City, Michigan
Photo courtesy of Traverse City Tourism
Wineries, cherries and freshwater beaches inspire the romance in Traverse City. Explore the lighthouses, beaches and trails along Grand Traverse Bay on Lake Michigan. Don’t miss a climb on the dunes at Sleeping Bear Dunes in the warm months. Or stop to photograph a covered bridge on Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive.
In winter, share a snowshoe walk, downhill or cross-country skiing and a seat by the fire. In the spring and summer, tour a vineyard and enjoy a picnic in the temperate weather.
The quaint Oviatt House bed and breakfast is conveniently located in town. If you’d rather sleep amid a vineyard, consider Chateau Chantal, offering sunset jazz concerts in the summer. Or go completely romantic with a night on Sailing Yacht Scout. Tasting cherries is a must here, so order the brie smothered in cherry sauce at Sleder’s Family Tavern.
NEA member discounts on travel: Through the NEA Travel Program, you can search for deals on flights to Cherry Capital Airport; book a rental car to get around the area; and look for affordably romantic lodging options such as Park Place Hotel, West Bay Beach Resort, Wauban Cottage and many more.
Plan your itinerary: Traverse City Tourism | Pure Michigan | Sleeping Bear Dunes | Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive | Oviatt House B&B | Chateau Chantal | Sailing Yacht Scout | Sleder’s Family Tavern
4. Romantic recreation in Stowe, Vermont
Photo courtesy of Greg Petrics/Stowe Mountain Resort
You probably recognize Stowe as either a winter skiing destination or for its renowned New England leaf-peeping drives. But there are many other ways to bond with your sweetheart in Stowe.
You can go ziplining, mountain biking or snuggle underneath a warm blanket for a sleigh ride. In the summer, sit on the grass of a rolling meadow listening to the music from the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. Settle in for a romantic stay at Fiddler’s Green Inn, situated just a few minutes from Stowe Mountain Resort, or splurge with a getaway at Stowe Meadows. And, of course, you can’t come to Stowe without dining at the Trapp Family Lodge. Yes, the Trapp Family from “The Sound of Music”!
NEA member discounts on travel: Through the NEA Travel Program, you can search for deals on flights to Burlington International Airport (a 40-minute drive); book a rental car to get around the area; and look for affordably romantic lodging options such as Green Mountain Inn, Field Guide Lodge, Brass Lantern Inn and many more.
Plan your itinerary: Go Stowe | Vermont Vacation | Vermont Symphony Orchestra | Fiddler’s Green Inn | Stowe Meadows | Trapp Family Lodge
5. California wine country meets the Old West in Paso Robles
Photo courtesy of Juice Media/Travel Paso Robles Alliance
For a more affordable wine getaway, forget Napa and head straight to Paso Robles in central California, about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. This trip comes with the ambience of an Old West ranching community. Sip wine at the in-town tasting rooms before venturing to the vineyards.
How should you visit? Take your choice of self-drive, bike, van or limo tours. For a behind-the-scenes look at grape growing, take Steinbeck Vineyards’ crash course on a 4-wheel-drive tour.
Downtown, you’ll find reasonably priced luxury accommodations at Paso Robles Inn. Drive over to the coast for a tour of Hearst Castle, or spend a morning soaking at River Oaks Hot Springs. For the freshest of meals, Thomas Hill Organics serves up deliciousness picked straight from their farm.
NEA member discounts on travel: Through the NEA Travel Program, you can search for deals on flights to San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (32 miles) or Santa Maria Public Airport (65 miles); book a rental car to do some sightseeing; and look for affordably romantic lodging options such as Paso Robles Inn, Hotel Siri, Adelaide Inn and many more.
Plan your itinerary: Travel Paso | Visit California| Steinbeck Vineyards | Hearst Castle | River Oaks Hot Springs | Thomas Hill Organics
