Anniversary Trip Ideas for Each Month of the Year

Planning the perfect anniversary trip for you and your sweetheart depends largely on the time of year. Europe, for example, is teeming with tourists during the summer months, but the crowds don't arrive en masse until after May. Likewise, while coastal Florida has become a magnet for couples, its temperatures aren't exactly tropical year-round.

You certainly wouldn't want to visit the Caribbean while it's being ravaged by hurricanes or Napa after all the grapes are gone. Even the best anniversary destinations have their better seasons, so cater your travel plans to the month.

01 of 12

January: Ski Resorts

Aspen block — Piero Damiani / Getty Images

If you and your honey are snow bunnies, then having a January anniversary works out to your advantage. This time of year, ski resorts near and far are in full-swing. Consider booking your winter getaway in Vail or Aspen, Colorado, or the world-famous Whistler Blackcomb in Vancouver, where you can snuggle with hot cocoa or a bottle of merlot in a beautiful lodge after a fun day on the slopes. Make it even better by requesting a room with a romantic fireplace or jacuzzi.

02 of 12

February: Mexico

Riviera Maya — Dollia Sheombar / Getty Images

February is not exactly prime travel time, which means quieter (and cheaper!) destinations for you. Make like birds and head south to Cancun or the Riviera Maya in Mexico, where the temperatures linger in the 80s most days. Valentine's Day is celebrated all around the world, so you can expect restaurant specials and couples packages at hotels abroad. This is a good time to visit the Bahamas, too.

03 of 12

March: Las Vegas

Las Vegas strip — Westend61 / Getty Images

The best time to visit Las Vegas is from March to May and September to November. Winters simply don't allow for some quintessential Vegas experiences—swimming in the pool with a daiquiri, namely—and the summers are simply too packed, not to mention scorching hot. The weather in March is usually 75 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny and the crowds shouldn't be too bad, either.

04 of 12

April: Hawaii

Coastline of Oahu, Hawaii — Art Wager / Getty Images

Post-rainy season is the ideal time to visit the great island of Hawaii. April is spring break season, so the college students are bound to move south to Miami (or to Cancun, where the legal drinking age is 18). Not a lot of them spend the extra dollar to go to Hawaii, so it typically stays out of their crosshairs. You can expect temperatures to be in the 70s and 80s during the day and a mild 60-something at night (perfect for al fresco dining).

Continue to 5 of 12 below.

05 of 12

May: Europe

Grand Canal in Venice, Italy — Peter Unger / Getty Images

July and August are peak travel months for Europe. The beaches of Barcelona will be so busy you'll barely be able to find a vacant sliver of sand and, meanwhile, the hotels in London, Paris, and Venice will be at their most expensive. May—after the warmer weather has moved in but long before the summer crowd arrives—is the perfect timing. Whisk your honey away to Dublin, Rome, or the City of Love, itself.

06 of 12

June: Cape Town

Safari in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa — STOCK4B-RF / Getty Images

Now's the time to take your sweetheart on that safari you've been talking about for ages. June is, in fact, winter in South Africa, which means the temperature keeps within a comfortable range (mid-70s as opposed to 80s and 90s at other times). By this point, the rainy season is also over and the wildlife is more active than ever. Book your stay in Cape Town to enjoy the beaches, too.

07 of 12

July: Scandinavia

Vancouver skyline — Sven Hofmann / Getty Images

Scandinavian countries are great for hiking, but they're also wet and cold for much of the year. If Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, are on your travel list, there's no better time to visit than July, when they're mostly dry and averaging temperatures in the mid-70s. After a long hike, treat your partner to a spa day (the Scandinavian thing to do) including a massage for two.

08 of 12

August: The Mountains

Lake Coeur d'Alene in Idaho — csfotoimages / Getty Images

August is peak travel season for almost any destination in the Northern Hemisphere, so take this time to enjoy what's in your own backyard. You don't have to venture too far to find mountains in the U.S. A road trip to the Rockies, the Sierra Nevadas, or the Smokies is in order. Summer is the best time to visit these alpine environments seeing as the weather is less temperamental and larger portions of them are accessible to tourists.

Continue to 9 of 12 below.

09 of 12

September: Europe, Again

Boat along a canal near Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam — maydays / Getty Images

Europe is such a vast chunk of territory that it does, indeed, deserve two tourist seasons. By the time September rolls around, the kids are back to school and most family vacations are over with—now is the time to maximize on cheap flights, hotels, and quieter streets in European cities. Places like Amsterdam and Prague are synonymous with romance, too.

10 of 12

October: California Wine Country

Staircase leading to winery, Napa Valley, California — Glowimages / Getty Images

There's hardly a more romantic place in the States than California Wine Country, especially during harvest season, when the grapes hang plump on the vines and the wine seems to compliment autumnal flavors so perfectly. The colorful foliage beckons couples to go for country drives, or to see the countryside with a drink in-hand aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train.

11 of 12

November: The Southwest

Horseshoe Bend, Arizona — Francesco Riccardo Iacomino / Getty Images

Arizona is a scorcher during the summertime. The outdoors are what it's all about in this neck of the woods, but going for a hike from June to September puts a person at risk of heat stroke. November is a much cooler time to visit the Grand Canyon and the desert destinations of Utah (Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, especially) and New Mexico. Sedona, Arizona, is a romantic haven with lots of wellness activities and spiritual programs to boot.

12 of 12

December: A Cruise

Cruise ship moored at Grand Turk Island, Tursk and Caicos, Caribbbean — mikolajn / Getty Images

Wait until hurricane season is over, then book yourself on a spacious boat where you can sit on the deck and catch some sun before winter sets in back at home. Between Christmas and the New Year is a popular time to go on a cruise, so ships take off more frequently from Florida's famous ports.