So did you find yourself in the doghouse this Valentine’s Day weekend? Perhaps you gave your significant other something that was a little unbecoming or thoughtless? Or maybe you didn’t do anything at all, choosing instead to watch the Winter Olympics or the NBA All-Star game (though seeing pairs performing together, such as couples figure skating, is kind of romantic, and, I suppose in a man-crushy kind of way, D-Wade dishing the ball to Lebron)?
If you find yourself needing to make up for missing the Valentine’s boat, there is hope yet. Dig yourself out of your hole by booking a romantic getaway filled with reliving the scenery of that Valentine’s Day staple: romantic comedies and dramas. We’ve put together four destinations that have been featured in romcoms and tear-jerkers, so book a cheap flight and get ready to travel to your happily ever after—even if you dug a really, really, really deep hole for yourself.
The Notebook / Dear John in Charleston, S.C. – Charleston is one of the most historic, and romantic, places around, thanks to its unique architecture, Lowcountry atmosphere, and Southern hospitality. Throw in film adaptations to novels by Nicholas Sparks and you’ve got the perfect Valentinesque vacation spot. That’s because Sparks has a corner on the market of stories that like to not only rip your broken heart from your chest, but also throw it on the floor, stomp it flat with the heels of steel-reinforced boots, and then shred it into small pieces by way of an industrial-strength blender. In other words, fables that girls love.
Walking the streets of Charleston beneath stately oaks draped in Spanish moss or under the brightly lit night sky of a Kiawah Island beach will make her think she’s right in the middle of one of those tear-jerker movies of young, broken-hearted love who, as Roger Ebert puts it, “fail to find happiness together because they’re trapped in an adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel.” Throw in a ghost tour to balance out the mushy stuff while you’re there.
Midnight in Garden of Good & Evil / Forrest Gump in Savannah, Ga. – Similar to Charleston, both in proximity and history, Savannah has a little more of a sultry side to it that served as the main plot of the Midnight book and movie that put this Southern coastal town at the heart of many vacation packages. Aside from many romance-minded tourists, thanks to its numerous beautiful squares, Hollywood has been courting the town full of colorful history, stellar seafood, and a vibrant nightlife as well.
Enjoy staying at any number of historic hotels, visit the square where Forrest compared life to a box of chocolates (bring your own heart-shaped box for your date for a cheesy romantic accent to your trip), and if she’s a Food Network fan, take her to Paula Deen’s restaurant. A Savannah vacation is sure to rekindle any romance you might have lost.
Failure to Launch in Annapolis, Md. – Your wife or girlfriend has certainly seen this, simply because it’s starring Matthew McConaughey. While some of the film was shot in California, you’ll be able to easily experience the maritime-themed occurrences in the film. Go on a cruise through historic Chesapeake Bay, or get all Officer and Gentlemen like with a tour of the U.S. Naval Academy to explore the renowned campus and its chapel that has housed many romantic vow exchanges.
Walks along the City Dock, which hasn’t changed much in over a century, offer views of the water and yachts, and unique shopping and dining opportunities—be sure to taste the state’s signature meal of crab cakes. There are also numerous colonial-styled gardens to experience, such as the William Paca House and Garden built in 1763. Go in the summer months, when it’s warmer, and you can go shirtless, a la McConaughey style.
Junebug in Winston-Salem, N.C. – Not everyone has seen this quirky tale of going home again and the juxtaposition of marriage dynamics that exist between two brothers, their parents, and most notably, the two sisters-in-laws. But you should, because you’ll see the great Oscar-nominated performance by Amy Adams, as well as its setting of Winston-Salem, the most romantic place to which you’ve never been.
Not to be confused with Salem, Mass. where they had the infamous witch trials (not very date-friendly), but rather the epicenter of tobacco, NASCAR, and Krispy Kreme. Those aren’t exactly what you’d call romantic either, but it’s also the Piedmont’s precipice when it comes to performing and visual arts, which certainly will make the heart of your date flutter. Combine your art house film with this City of the Arts and you’re sure to score big points with your significant other.
Image credit: CharlestonMo.org
