So, you thought Orlando was just for kids? Think again. Disney (and other theme park lovers) aren’t just youngsters entranced with Disney hero princesses and their consorts. As it turns out, countless couples long to visit Orlando — and especially Disney World — to snatch their piece of a happy ending. Some even dress up as characters among the 19,000 who get engaged at the park. Indeed Orlando offers up a piece of classic Florida allure (sun-dappled days, palm trees a sway, cocktails served in coconuts, boats, hot air balloons, bikini-filled beaches (albeit lakeside), and top-notch gastronomy) while providing the carefree escapism found in its plethora of amusement parks. Those with a penchant for fantasy can find it not only at Orlando’s many theme parks, but also at Winter Park, a historic town just minutes from downtown. It’s a haven of unique shops and eateries. Don’t miss the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour that explores the waterfront.)
Stay at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort, not only family friendly, but also a place that provides plenty of adult nooks. From its adults-only pool to its Spanish steakhouse Capa (set on the hotel’s rooftop to provide stellar views of the nightly fireworks) to couples massages in The Spa, the sanctum entrances. Choose the Park View Suite for its private terrace overlooking some of the resort’s 26 acres — a keen spot for fireworks gaping. For extras, the able concierge can arrange almost anything you ask: think roses strewn over your bed or a private helicopter ride to Miami for lunch.
Or, opt for a stay at the newly reimagined Waldorf Astoria Orlando, an official Walt Disney World hotel that sits within a 482-acre nature reserve. You can really dive into all-things Disney with courtesy shuttles taking guests to/from the parks all day, or choose to rest and reset in their spa, offering completely customized experiences and a Himalayan salt room. Be sure to dine at the award-winning Bull & Bear (New Yorkers, yes this is the same one you loved in NYC) which requires a hard-to-come-by reservation or LaLuce, an unforgettable Italian-inspired restaurant (the butterscotch pudding is a must). For those seeking the best of the best, there’s a helipad on property for easy arrivals and departures, and book room 1447: You can not only see all of the Disney parks and fireworks, but in these top-floor Astoria suites you’re guaranteed a res at Bull & Bear.
If Orlando doesn’t appeal, Florida tempts you with plenty of other seductive options, sure to inflame your love. Here are some of our favorites.
Sunset Key Guest Cottages, Key West
A world apart, Key West lies at the southernmost point of the United States. With a bygone Hemingway gone fishing feel, it boasts brightly painted gingerbread cottages, six-toed cats, turquoise waters, and heart-stopping sunsets. Live the vibe at Sunset Key Cottages, positioned on a remote 27-acre island location off Key West, accessible only by boat. Private, luxurious, one- two- and three-bedroom cottages nestle amid bougainvillea, their terraces anchored by Adirondack chairs. Hideaway on oceanfront hammocks, within pool cabanas, or yielding to services at the waterfront spa.
Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, Palm Beach Florida
Snuggle up in Palm Beach’s only private oceanfront cabanas, where morning Champagne starts lusty days and afternoon swims cool off all that cuddly passion. A Cabana Host can even supply easels with painting tools should an urge to be Picasso hit. On Florida’s Gold Coast, this sophisticated resort vaunts a private beach on seven oceanfront acres, replete with gardens. Chic interiors by Jonathan Adler exude a cool-kid vibe, evident in the stylish 2,500-square-foot Commander-in-Chief Suite — inimitable for mollycoddling. At the Eau Spa, only the Perfect Champagne and Caviar Couples Journey will do, a five-hour fantasy of high living repose from facials to pedicures for the two of you.
The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami
This halcyon hideaway, on the northern tip of Miami Beach nestles between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, removed from South Beach’s hubbub. A jewel box size of 102 rooms, The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami has placed just two rooms on each floor, each encompassing such sigh-making flourishes as a free-standing tub surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows. A semi-private beach with a splendorous cabana, treatments a deux at the Exhale Spa, nights in your one-bedroom Presidential Suite, and VIP access to Bal Harbour Shops across the street round out romantic weekends.
Hotel Effie at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, Miramar Beach
On Northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast, revered for its unique powdery sand Hotel Effie at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, flaunts the region’s only rooftop pool. It crowns the chic hotel, an oasis of lovey-dovey possibilities. Ride in style from the airport, conveyed by a private chauffeur, nip a welcome cocktail during check-in, then celebrate your relationship in the grand Honeymoon Suite, adorned with fresh-cut roses. Nibble breakfast in bed, unwind in Spa Lilliana, then further decompress poolside in a cabana. Thanks to a shopping credit, couples can consider matching outfits to wear when they take a seaplane tour, sit by a sunset bonfire with a bottle of Champagne, or indulge in a candlelit dinner on a private evening yacht cruise.
Esmé Miami Beach Hotel, Miami
This newish, bijou property — steps from South Beach’s humming pedestrian plaza Española Way — encapsulates the essence of the city’s artsy roots with its Spanish-Mediterranean architecture and bygone village ambiance. It feels both part of the action and sequestered in turns. With a mission to summon sexiness all around, Esmé Miami Beach Hotel implements an “every night is date night” vibe, offering intimate programming such as Cuban Jazz Thursdays in its speakeasy El Salón and al fresco happy hour on The Roof, which connects the five roofs of Esmé, complete with a plunge pool. With its design a dramatic reference to the 1920s, the hotel oozes fancifulness. Canoodle in the Louise Suite, a corner enclave with a balcony.
The Don CeSar, St. Pete Beach
Long before there was Barbie pink, there was Don Cesar pink. An enchanted rose-hued palace hotel amongst the dunes on St. Pete Beach, located on an island facing the Gulf of Mexico, this refurbished historic hotel (a favorite of F. Scott Fitzgerald) has been hosting the glitterati since 1928. Today couples can swoon over the view from their One Bedroom Gulf View King Suite’s terrace. Lounge around either of two pools or sip a cold libation, as you dig into that much-touted grilled mahi sandwich served at the Beacon Pool Bar & Lookout. Take part in onsite water sports, do beach yoga atop the sugary sand, and be soothed with couples spa treatments at Spa Oceana.
Featured photo courtesy of Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa
