Romantic Travel Near Home

from How to Make Every Trip a Honeymoon

Act like tourists—down to the cameras and clothes. Be sure to ask people to take your picture at local landmarks.

Check into weekend specials at city hotels that primarily function as business hotels. Many offer special weekend leisure packages—you might get a romantic suite for the price of a standard room during the week.

Take a ride aboard some public transport—whether a trolley or a train—that you normally don’t ride.

Take an “international” trip without ever leaving your hometown. Visit an ethnic neighborhood and sample another culture’s food, shopping, and movies.

Find an outdoor cafe where the two of you can enjoy an al fresco happy hour or dinner.

Dress up and go to an all-night diner.

Take off driving down local backroads. At each intersection, flip a coin to chart your course.

Tour a museum—or a new exhibit—you’ve never stopped to visit.

Plan a “hotel day,” even though you aren’t a guest. Arrive early in the day, enjoy breakfast, take a walking tour of the area, come back for lunch, do some shopping, then stay for happy hour and dinner. Most large hotels have multiple restaurants, and they make great people-watching venues.

People-watching is also wonderful in hotel lobbies. Before a hotel dinner, arrive early and sit in the hotel lobby like a new guest. Watch other travelers and take turns making up stories about each guest’s history and reason for being in the hotel.

Plan a getaway to a region’s outlet malls.

Pretend you’re out of town travelers. Rendezvous for lunch at a local hotel. (And, if things get romantic, get a room!)

Shop for art for your home at a local arts and crafts festival.

Visit local antiques shops.

Visit a skyscraper restaurant for a view of the city lights.