6 of the Most Romantic Places in America

It’s a fact of life: Love blooms in lovely places. When the view is spectacular and the mood is mellow, magic is bound to follow. Here are six spots — in very varied parts of the country — that seem to be custom made for romance. Some of the prettiest settings are in big cities. Others are a bit more remote, and that is part of their charm. They all offer that sense of magic that makes for romance.

Coit Tower, San Francisco

From its perch atop Telegraph Hill, San Francisco’s iconic Coit Tower offers 360-degree views of one of the world’s loveliest, and most romantic, cities. Gaze down at the graceful Golden Gate Bridge and enjoy a panoramic view of San Francisco’s 44 hills. Go inside, too, to see vibrant New Deal art as powerful as the views outside. Many a proposal has been made and accepted in this dramatic setting.

Jenny Lake Lodge, Grand Teton National Park

The rugged Grand Teton Range in Wyoming offers some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the United States. Romantic views — glittering lakes ringed by wildflowers, dramatic peaks iced with summer snow, sunsets that display every pastel that you’d find in a paint box — are just the beginning. Jenny Lake Lodge, at the base of the mountains, offers rustic luxury in a setting made for love.

The Loeb Boathouse, Central Park, New York City

It could be argued (at least by Woody Allen) that all of Manhattan Island is made for romance, but for a very special romantic event, stroll just inside Central Park from East 72nd Street, rent a rowboat and glide around the park’s lovely lake — it is a perfect place to propose. Cap it off with a celebratory dinner (reserve in advance) in the flower-filled Boathouse. It will create a moment you will never forget.

Navy Pier, Chicago

There is always something magical and romantic about seeing cities at a distance, when you can’t hear the horns or see the litter baskets. Climb aboard the 150-foot-high Ferris wheel at Chicago’s Navy Pier and engage in some serious talk (maybe a proposal) as you watch the lights of the city glitter across the water. Want more romance? Follow up with a ride on the delightfully old-fashioned musical carousel.

The Riverwalk, San Antonio

Amidst the hustle and bustle of big-city San Antonio, couples can find some peace and tranquility as they stroll along the city’s innovative Riverwalk, past lovely restaurants and shops and sometimes alone with only trees and silence. It is possible to wine and dine, float in a boat and even to get married at a place called Marriage Island. Enjoy some private moments on the Riverwalk before you remember the Alamo.
The Seafront, Cape May
When the past is made perfect — as it is in sweetly Victorian Cape May — romance is bound to blossom. This Victorian-era beach resort at the southern tip of New Jersey made it through Hurricane Sandy unscathed, and its wedding-cake-like 19th-century mansions make delightful bed-and-breakfasts. The beach is perfect for long walks and talks. The restaurants, especially the Ebbitt Room, are top tier.