Trip ideas · 6 cities ranked
Romantic Getaways in the US: 6 Trips for Two, by Mood
A romantic getaway works when the place sets the mood for you: a sky full of stars, a private soak, a sail at sunset, a band playing while you eat. These six trips each do one of those things better than anywhere else we cover, and each has a plan for two on this site.
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We picked by mood rather than by fame, so choose the kind of romance you want first. Every fact below was checked on the venue's own website on October 2, 2026, and each card shows where we checked it.
How we ranked them
- One signature moment: a sunset sail, a stargazing tour, a mineral soak or a spa you'd plan the whole trip around.
- A dinner worth dressing for: a dining room with a view, live music or a creek beside the table.
- Easy for two: a compact base where you can walk or take a short ride between the good parts, and evenings you can talk through.
- A plan on this site: every pick links to a couples' guide and an itinerary we've written for that city.
At a glance
| # | City | Best for | Signature moment | Ideal stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sedona | Red-rock sunsets and dark skies | Stargazing with an astronomer | 3 nights, with a day in the Verde Valley |
| 2 | Key West | Sunset sails and island dinners | Wind & Wine schooner sail | 3 to 4 nights |
| 3 | Palm Springs | Mineral springs and supper clubs | A private soak in 105-degree mineral water | 3 nights, with a day at Sunnylands or Joshua Tree |
| 4 | Santa Barbara | Wine and the Pacific | A 16-passenger bring-your-own-wine sail | 3 nights, 4 with a day in wine country |
| 5 | Asheville | A mountain spa weekend | A pool under 6,500 fibre-optic stars | 2 to 3 nights |
| 6 | New Orleans | Jazz and old-world glamour | The revolving Carousel Bar | 3 nights |
1. Sedona, Arizona
Best for: Red-rock sunsets and dark skies. Signature moment: Stargazing with an astronomer.
Park at the Airport Mesa overlook ($3, good all day) and arrive an hour before sunset, as the airport itself advises, then eat beside the creek at Cress on Oak Creek (dinner daily 5 to 9 p.m., last seating; reservations strongly recommended). On a clear night, Evening Sky Tours puts a professional astronomer and big telescopes in front of you; October tours start at 8 and 9:30 p.m.
Airport Mesa Scenic Overlook
Airport Rd, Airport Mesa
Sedona's classic sunset view across the whole red rock skyline, from the lot the airport runs on top of the mesa. Parking is $3 for the day (keep the receipt); cards and cash accepted. The short Airport View and longer Airport Loop trails start here.
Cress on Oak Creek
L'Auberge de Sedona, 301 L'Auberge Ln
L'Auberge de Sedona's restaurant, beside Oak Creek. Dinner daily from 5 to 9 p.m. (last seating), Sunday brunch, and the Cress Bar from 2 to 9 p.m. Reservations strongly recommended.
Evening Sky Tours stargazing
Village of Oak Creek (Big Park), south on SR 179
Heads-up: Start times change with the season.
A professional astronomer walks you through the constellations, then at least six objects through big telescopes: planets, star clusters, nebulae and galaxies. Tours run year-round; in September they start at 8:30 and 10 p.m., in October at 8 and 9:30 p.m., and from November at 7:30 and 9 p.m.
Plan it
- A Weekend in Sedona for Grown-Ups
- Things to Do in Sedona for Couples
- 3 Days in Sedona: A Grown-Up Itinerary
- All of Sedona for grown-ups
Sedona hotels on Stay22Broken Arrow jeep tour (Viator)Verde Valley wine tour (Viator)
Suggested base: Uptown or near Tlaquepaque on SR 179, a short drive from the restaurants and trailheads. Fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), about two hours' drive.
2. Key West, Florida
Best for: Sunset sails and island dinners. Signature moment: Wind & Wine schooner sail.
The Wind & Wine sunset sail takes no more than 26 guests (13 and over) for two hours, with eight wines including a champagne, and a charcuterie board with chocolate. Then dinner on the Atlantic side at Louie's Backyard (reservations highly recommended), or on Sunset Key at Latitudes, one of OpenTable's 100 most romantic restaurants in the US for 2025.
Danger Charters Wind & Wine Sunset Sail
Old Town waterfront (departure point on booking)
A two-hour sunset sail on a classic schooner for up to 26 guests (ages 13+), with eight wines including champagne, craft beer and a spread of cheese, charcuterie and chocolate. Calmer and smaller than the party boats.
Louie's Backyard
700 Waddell Ave
Waterfront tables on the Atlantic side of the island, with island cooking and the Afterdeck Bar on the water below, open from 11:30 a.m. until late. Lunch and dinner daily; reservations strongly recommended.
Latitudes on Sunset Key
Sunset Key; launch from 245 Front St
A beachfront restaurant on the small private island of Sunset Key, reached by a short boat ride from the Front Street marina. Dinner nightly from 5 p.m.; OpenTable named it one of the 100 most romantic restaurants in the US in 2025.
Plan it
- A Weekend in Key West for Grown-Ups
- A Romantic Getaway to Key West: Plan It Like a Grown-Up
- Things to Do in Key West for Couples
- All of Key West for grown-ups
Key West hotels on Stay22Sunset sail on a schooner (Viator)Dry Tortugas ferry day trip (Viator)
Suggested base: Old Town, on a quiet street off Duval, or a waterfront resort near Mallory Square. Fly into Key West International (EYW).
3. Palm Springs, California
Best for: Mineral springs and supper clubs. Signature moment: A private soak in 105-degree mineral water.
The day pass at The Spa at Séc-he ($135 Monday to Thursday, $165 Friday to Sunday) includes a private 15-minute soak in 105-degree mineral water, plus the steam room, salt caves and pools. In the evening, Melvyn's has live music every night from 6 p.m., and on Thursdays the Purple Room serves a three-course dinner with live jazz for $59 per person.
The Spa at Séc-he
200 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, downtown
The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians' spa, built over the tribe's sacred hot mineral spring. The Taking of the Waters day pass ($135 Monday to Thursday, $165 Friday to Sunday and holidays) includes a private 15-minute soak in the 105-degree mineral water, plus the saunas, steam rooms, salt caves and pools. Open daily 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Melvyn's at the Ingleside Estate
Ingleside Estate, 200 W Ramon Rd
Old Hollywood Palm Springs: a classic steak and seafood dining room at the Ingleside Estate, with live music every night. Dinner daily 5 to 9 p.m.; the bar is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Purple Room Supper Club
Club Trinidad, 1900 E Palm Canyon Dr
A supper club at the Club Trinidad Resort that recreates the Rat Pack era. Tuesday to Thursday there's entertainment from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. (Thursday is a three-course dinner with live jazz for $59 per person), and Friday and Saturday are ticketed dinner shows, with dinner at 6 p.m. and the show at 8.
Plan it
- Things to Do in Palm Springs for Couples
- 3 Days in Palm Springs: A Grown-Up Itinerary
- All of Palm Springs for grown-ups
Palm Springs hotels on Stay22Joshua Tree tour from Palm Springs (Viator)Palm Springs Aerial Tramway ticket (GetYourGuide)
Suggested base: Downtown or the Tennis Club district, walkable to Palm Canyon Drive and a short drive to the Uptown Design District. Fly into Palm Springs International (PSP), about 10 minutes from downtown.
4. Santa Barbara, California
Best for: Wine and the Pacific. Signature moment: A 16-passenger bring-your-own-wine sail.
The Sunset Kidd is a 41-foot ketch certified for 16 passengers. It has no bar, so bring your own wine and a picnic in a soft cooler. Spend the afternoon on the Urban Wine Trail: more than 20 tasting rooms, most of them in the Funk Zone near the beach.
Sunset Kidd Sunset Sail
Santa Barbara Harbor, 125 Harbor Way
A 41-foot ketch that takes no more than 16 passengers, and says plainly it's "not a narrated tourist ride". Bring your own wine and picnic in a soft cooler; there's no bar on board.
The Funk Zone and the Urban Wine Trail
Funk Zone, between State St and the beach
More than 20 tasting rooms pouring Santa Barbara County wines, most of them in the converted warehouses, murals and galleries of the Funk Zone, with a second cluster on Anacapa Street and El Paseo downtown.
El Encanto Dining Room & Terrace
800 Alvarado Pl, the Riviera
The hilltop hotel restaurant of El Encanto, with alfresco tables in the gardens and views down to the coast. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and takes outside reservations on OpenTable and Resy; ask for the terrace.
Plan it
- A Weekend in Santa Barbara for Grown-Ups
- Things to Do in Santa Barbara for Couples
- 3 Days in Santa Barbara: A Grown-Up Itinerary
- All of Santa Barbara for grown-ups
Santa Barbara hotels on Stay22Funk Zone wine walk (Viator)Santa Ynez wine tour (Viator)
Suggested base: Downtown or the waterfront, walkable to State Street, the Funk Zone and the beach. Fly into Santa Barbara Airport (SBA).
5. Asheville, North Carolina
Best for: A mountain spa weekend. Signature moment: A pool under 6,500 fibre-optic stars.
The Omni Grove Park Inn's spa covers 43,000 square feet, with two waterfall pools and a lap pool under 6,500 fibre-optic stars. Give a day to Biltmore, where every ticket includes a complimentary wine tasting and buying online saves $10 a ticket, then end with a glass at 5 Walnut Wine Bar, where most wines are $5 to $15.
The Spa at The Omni Grove Park Inn
290 Macon Ave
A 43,000-square-foot underground spa of stone arches and tunnels, with waterfall pools, a lap pool under 6,500 fibre-optic stars, saunas and eucalyptus steam rooms.
Biltmore Estate
Biltmore Village entrance, south of downtown
George Vanderbilt's French Renaissance chateau, with a self-guided audio tour of the house, formal gardens and a winery in Antler Hill Village where admission includes a free tasting (21+). Timed tickets; buying online is cheaper.
5 Walnut Wine Bar
5 W Walnut St
A small wine bar and listening room with live music seven nights a week, mostly jazz, swing and gypsy jazz, and no cover most nights. Cheese and charcuterie boards to go with the wine.
Plan it
- A Weekend in Asheville for Grown-Ups
- A Romantic Getaway to Asheville: Plan It Like a Grown-Up
- Things to Do in Asheville for Couples
- All of Asheville for grown-ups
Asheville hotels on Stay22Biltmore Estate tickets (Viator)LaZoom comedy bus tour (Viator)
Suggested base: Downtown, walkable to the restaurants and bars, or the Grove Park Inn for a resort stay. Fly into Asheville Regional (AVL).
6. New Orleans, Louisiana
Best for: Jazz and old-world glamour. Signature moment: The revolving Carousel Bar.
The Carousel Bar at the Hotel Monteleone has been turning since 1949, one full turn every 15 minutes, with live music seven nights a week. Preservation Hall plays short concerts through the evening (most nights at 5, 6:15, 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.), and the Steamboat Natchez evening cruise offers a buffet of Creole classics.
Carousel Bar & Lounge
Hotel Monteleone, Royal St
The city's only revolving bar: a 25-seat carousel that turns once every 15 minutes, in the hotel where Faulkner, Capote and Tennessee Williams drank. Live music plays in the lounge nightly.
Preservation Hall
726 St. Peter St, French Quarter
The small, plain room that has kept traditional New Orleans jazz alive since the 1960s. Several short concerts run each evening with a rotating line-up of the Preservation All Stars and other house bands.
Steamboat Natchez evening jazz cruise
Toulouse Street Wharf, French Quarter
A two-hour evening cruise on a paddle-wheeler, with live jazz from the Dukes of Dixieland and an optional Creole buffet dinner. Corny in the best way, and lovely at sunset.
Plan it
- 2 Days in New Orleans: A Weekend for Grown-Ups
- Romantic Things to Do in New Orleans for Couples
- Where to Hear Jazz in New Orleans (Without the Bourbon Street Crowds)
- All of New Orleans for grown-ups
New Orleans hotels on Stay22Steamboat Natchez evening jazz cruise (Viator)Garden District walking tour (GetYourGuide)
Suggested base: French Quarter edge or the CBD / Warehouse District. Fly into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY).
More romantic trips we cover
- Charleston for candlelit dining rooms and a schooner sail past the Battery. See Charleston for couples.
- Savannah for slow evenings among the squares. See Savannah for couples.
- Scottsdale for desert spas and a hot air balloon at dawn. See Scottsdale for couples.
- Planning around a date? The trip planner builds an evening-by-evening plan for any city we cover.
Everything here was checked in September 2026. Hours, seasons and reservation rules change, so confirm with each venue before you go.
Questions people ask
What is the most romantic getaway in the US?
It depends on the mood you want. For scenery and stars, Sedona: a red-rock sunset from Airport Mesa, then a stargazing tour with an astronomer. For water and sunsets, Key West or Santa Barbara. For music, New Orleans.
Where can couples go for a romantic weekend?
Pick a compact place with one signature moment: Key West (a two-hour Wind & Wine sunset sail), Santa Barbara (a 16-passenger sail and the Urban Wine Trail), Palm Springs (a mineral soak at Séc-he) or Asheville (the Grove Park Inn spa). Each has a weekend plan on this site.
What is a romantic getaway on a budget?
Sedona's sunset overlook costs $3 to park, the Santa Barbara sail lets you bring your own wine, and most glasses at Asheville's 5 Walnut Wine Bar are $5 to $15. Spend on one dinner and keep the rest simple.
What are good romantic getaways in winter?
Warm places: Palm Springs, Key West and Sedona's milder days, with clear desert nights for stargazing. Pack a layer for desert evenings.
What should we book first for a romantic getaway?
The one thing that sells out: the sunset sail, the stargazing tour, the spa day pass or the dinner reservation. Then build the rest of the trip around it.