Today, I’m joining up with Brita and a whole bunch of other wonderful bloggers to celebrate the month of love! Want to join in the 2020 Love Blog Challenge? Check out the list of prompts here, and join the link-up below.
I feel like I should put an asterisk next to “romantic places” in the title of this post. Because what I mean is that all the places I’ve included below simply ooze romance, whether you’re experiencing them solo in a very Anne Shirley “bride of adventure” kind of way, as a Galentine’s group, or with your significant other.
Also, I can assure you with the utmost confidence that these destinations will give you all the romance any old day of the year, not just on Valentine’s Day. But it’s the month of love, so let’s indulge our inner romantics, shall we?
Paris, France
You can’t have a roundup of romantic places without including the City of Light, the City of Love — Paris! Spencer and I visited on our honeymoon, and I would go back tomorrow if I could.
From the food to the sights to the architecture, everywhere you look inspires delight. Between the Lourve and the Musée d’Orsay, Paris has more breathtaking works of arts than anywhere else I’ve visited. I also would be remiss if I didn’t tell you to take a day trip to Versailles while in Paris. You won’t regret it!
Read more: Three Days in Paris
Sintra, Portugal
A quick train ride from Lisbon, Sintra is like something out of a fairytale. Surrounded by wooded, mountainous landscapes and home to a number of dazzling castles, it feels like you’ve been plopped into a storybook the entire time you’re there.
I can’t recommend more that you take the walking paths up to either the Castelo dos Mouros or the Palácio da Pena, both romantic places in their own rights. It’s not a short walk, but you get a real sense of this historic resort town outside of Portugal’s capital city.
Read more: Sopa Portuguesa
Florence, Italy
Being completely honest, there are a lot of romantic places to visit in Italy. Rome has history galore, Cinque Terre is the perfect day excursion, and Venice is home to perhaps the most romantic of professions — the gondolieri. But Florence was my favorite by leaps and bounds!
If you only have a day, you must visit the Duomo, Brunelleschi’s famed dome that sits atop the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. There are 463 steps to get to the top, and it can get claustrophobic at times, but it is certainly worth the climb. Then, when you’ve taken your photos and marveled in the beauty of Florence, reward yourself for all that walking with a scoop (or two!) of gelato.
Kakum National Park, Ghana
Picture it: Green rainforest as far as the eye can see! That’s how it felt being 130 feet above the ground on Kakum’s Canopy Walk. Totaling more than 1,000 feet of walkway over seven different rope bridges, the whole thing is a sight to behold.
Was it a little scary being held above the canopy with just rope and wood? Yes.
Did it ever feel unsafe? No.
Would I do it again? Yes, yes, 1000 times yes.
Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh is exactly what a European town ought to be. There’s a castle in the middle of the city, the streets are cobbled, there are ruins to take in just outside of town, and there’s a natural park with a great view of the entire city.
Things to definitely do:
- Hike to the top of Arthur’s Seat
- Have breakfast at The Elephant Room where J.K. Rowling wrote bits of her Harry Potter series
- Visit Edinburgh Castle
Also, it’s a pretty quick ride down to London by either plane or train, so you can always pop to a new city, too. Romantics places abound in the U.K.
Read more: 10 Breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Québec City, Canada
Spencer and I did a little tour of eastern Canadian cities in the fall, and Québec City was an absolute gem! It’s a little like arriving in Paris; there’s French spoken everywhere, the food is divine, and the architecture is reminiscent of old school France. Montréal is like a little Europe!
Take a guided walking tour to get an idea for the city, then continue to walk your way through good breweries, cafes filled with crêpes and pastries, and picturesque shops in the historic area of town.
The Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
Oh, Ireland! I studied abroad for a month on the west coast of the Emerald Isle when I was in college, and it’s held a piece of my heart ever since. I feel like the Cliffs of Moher is one of those places like the Grand Canyon — you think it can’t possibly be any more grand than the photos, and then you see it.
Experiencing it in person is one of those things that entirely takes your breath away. There’s beauty, and then there’s the Cliffs of Moher on a brisk Irish morning with the sun peeking through the clouds and a green unlike any other filling your eyeballs. It is a not-to-miss, must-see, totally romantic natural sight!
Read more: Three Days in Dublin
Kyoto, Japan
Kyoto was a kind of home base for Spencer and me during our trip a few summers back, and I fell in love. Not only is it the perfect jumping off point for a number of day trips across the country, but it has such a rich history and understated beauty.
I could have spent an entire week going between the amazing natural sights like Arashiyama and its monkey park to the man-made structures like the Fushimi Inari Taisha, those beautiful reddish-orange gates that lead to a Shinto shrine. Whether you’re looking for great food or unique cultural experiences, Kyoto exudes a romance that feels like it’s from an entirely different time period.
Read more: The Best Week in Japan
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Yes, we did one of those cheesy photo sessions when we stayed at the Sandals Royal Caribbean. But I love this photo of us, so I don’t even care.
I’ve never been a “beach person,” but the beauty and romance that permeates every landscape in Jamaica has caused me to reconsider any previous qualms I had about sticky saltwater and sand that gets everywhere. It could also have something to do with the unlimited tropical drinks and fancy restaurants at the Sandals we visited. Who knows? 😉
St. Augustine, Florida
I had to include a U.S. city in this list, and nothing came close to St. Augustine! As I’m sure you’ve noticed by now, history = romance to me, and there aren’t a lot of places in my (relatively new) country that have quite the historical legacy of this former Spanish settlement.
My aunt has a beach house nearby, and we used to frequent this area when I was a kid. There is so much to do, see, and eat, and it all has an old Spanish flair that you don’t find in many places in the U.S. You can take the little trolley tours around the city to the Fountain of Youth, St. George Street for shopping, the Castillo de San Marcos, and even the popular wineries and distillery in the area. Basically, there’s something for everyone in St. Augustine, and the romance is palpable around every historic corner.
Get to know today’s Love Blog Challenge hosts!
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Tyler Hyde is a writer and social media manager living in Cincinnati. On her lifestyle blog, An Aspiring Heroine, you’ll find travel itineraries for the places that most inspire her, honest reviews of her favorite products, and advice for new writers based on her own experiences crafting her first fiction novel. She strives to help young women become the heroines of their own stories through clever content and everyday inspiration.
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Brita Long is the pink and sparkly personality behind the Christian feminist lifestyle blog, Belle Brita. On her blog and social media, you’ll discover more than authentic storytelling–she’s brutally honest about pursuing a fulfilling and joyful life even with Crohn’s Disease and depression.
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Kayla is a twenty-something INFJ and Hufflepuff. She’s a full-time professional working in higher education, with interests in reading (mostly thrillers) and binge-watching television shows on some of her favorite streaming platforms. Her favorite things are coffee, Chick-fil-a, Mexican food, and cats. She lives with her husband and their furbaby, Courage, just outside of a small college town near Atlanta.
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Alright, give it to me straight. Which incredibly romantic places have I omitted from this list?
P.S. There are more wonderful places for a couples excursion or solo trip on my list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
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