Be it a local staycation, or a weekend trek to the sea, mountains, forest, or vineyards, a little alone time together can do wonders for your love life. Reconnect with these intimate getaways for two.
By the Sea: Ocean House, Rhode Island
If crashing waves and craggy cliffs — with a touch of the French Alps — are your idea of romantic heaven, look no further than Rhode Island’s stunning Ocean House. Set high on a bluff, this meticulously restored oceanfront hotel (one of the last remaining in New England) comes with a soothing color palette and spacious guest rooms offering sea views.
Private Tête-à-Tête:
Head to OH (ocean and harvest) Spa for blissful 90-minute, side-by-side “Time Together” massages, then relax over a glass of bubbly watching the waves crash onto the sand. Guzzy up for dinner at waterfront COAST restaurant, offering a seasonal menu based on fresh ingredients sourced from local farms. Choose the prix-fixe four-course savory (i.e. Stonington lobster and New York lamb) or vegetable degustation (white asparagus and acquerello risotto) menu with wine pairings, followed by an optional, but must-do cheese course.
In the Vineyards: Auberge du Soleil, Napa
The rolling hills, lush grape vines, and heritage olive trees will have you feeling you’re in the South of France, as will Auberge du Soleil’s 50 guest rooms and suites — housed in maisons and named after quaint French villages. Instead, you are blissfully in Napa where in room refrigerators are stocked with the vineyard’s own wine and cheese, and where you will look forward to rising early each morning to watch the misty fog romantically lift over the vineyard.
Private Tête-à-Tête:
Every room at this adults-only hotel is extraordinary — most have wood-burning fireplaces, deep-soaking tubs, and chic french doors that open onto private terraces. But for the ultimate indulgence, reserve one of the private maisons (Monaco or Cannes) by interior designer Suzanne Tucker. Both offer stunning views of the vineyard and come with a welcoming bottle of Dom Pérignon. Meander through the tranquil sculpture garden featuring the works of California artists, and opt for outdoor spa treatments (incorporating mud, olive oil, grapes, and fresh herbs) before heading to The Restaurant, the hotel’s coveted Michelin star dining experience.
Mountain High: Dunton Springs Resort, Colorado
What was once a thriving gold-mining town in the Colorado Rockies is, today, one of the most romantic resorts in the US. Meticulously restored, Dunton Springs Resort (the only place in town) features hand-hewn cabins, all exquisitely furnished; there’s also a wild-west saloon and dance hall. But the real darling here is the bubbly hot water — the 85 to 106F rising-from-the-earth natural hot springs — strong in iron and manganese, with a dash of lithium. Couples can experience the healing waters from inside Dunton’s 19th-century bathhouse, under the stars at the source, in the pools outside the bathhouse, and even inside the Well House cabin.
Private Tête-à-Tête:
For ultimate romance — and soaking pleasure — book into the Well House cabin, which comes with a king-size bed, wood stove, and its own private (in room) hot spring and cold plunge. Combine with the romantic three-night Mountain Romance package which includes meals, drinks (Champagne upon arrival), two massages, and a half-day privately guided experience. Or to really up the ante, tie the knot with the elopement offering which includes an officiant, flowers, wedding cake for two, and photography session.
Old Hawaii at Koa Kea Hotel & Resort, Kauai
Stylish yet old-school Hawaii is the vibe of this far-from-the-masses, close-to-the-water’s edge Kauai hotel. Set on Hawaii’s oldest and arguably most beautiful island, Kauai (renowned for its lush foliage, flowers, and waterfalls), the 121-room Koa Kea comes with traditional lanais and bright Hawaiian hues. Newlyweds love it here as do long-married couples who return faithfully year after year for the resort’s quiet romantic simplicity: stunning ocean, swimming pool, swaying palms, and top-notch restaurant.
Private Tête-à-Tête:
Spend days swimming, snorkeling, and lazing under cooling palms on Kauai’s famed Po’ipu Beach, just steps from your room, before heading to the intimate (did we mention romantic?) spa for a couple’s treatment and dip into the lava rock whirlpool. Later back on your lanai, slip into the silky robes (found in the room) and sip mai tais while watching the fiery red sun sink into the Pacific. Continue the celebration with dinner at the Red Salt, where acclaimed chef and Kauai native Noelani Planas serves up locally-sourced Hawaiian seafood and produce — vanilla bean-seared mahi, ahi tartare, and his decadently layered Red Salt burger.
Into the Woods: Winvian Farm, Connecticut
Ordinary is not in the vocabulary at this luxuriously unusual, whimsical and yes, extraordinary resort. Winvian Farm features 18 freestanding chalets, designed by 15 different architects — no two even remotely the same (although all come with rainfall steam showers, fireplaces, and Jacuzzi tubs). Consider the Lighthouse in the forest, a nod to Connecticut’s maritime culture or the two-story Treehouse, suspended 35 feet above the forest floor. Each cottage comes with bicycles, perfect for exploring, as well as snow shoes in winter.
Private Tête-à-Tête:
As a Relais & Chateaux property, the food is stellar; executive chef Chris Eddy has worked under both Alain Ducasse and Daniel Boulud. In addition to savoring romantic meals for two, sign up for a pasta cooking class with your love. Or better yet, a private wine or chocolate tasting led by the resort’s sommelier and pastry chef. Be sure to book into the spa — and specifically, the couples suite, for massages by the fireplace, followed by champagne.
