The Best Romantic Places to Vacation in May and June

Paris, Versailles and Giverny

Every couple deserves to visit Paris at least once in a lifetime, and preferably in springtime. The hordes of summer tourists haven't yet descended, and the city is at its most resplendent. Not only is love in the air, but the fragrant scent of flowering gardens is as well.

In town, the Jardin des Tuileries, Jardin du Luxembourg, and Jardin des Plantes seem made for strolling lovers, If you have time, travel beyond them to these world-famous garden spots:

Versailles: Home to French royalty before they lost their heads, opulent Versailles is under an hour from Paris. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the palace contains more than 2,000 rooms. You'll also want to make time to visit the formal gardens dotted with fountains and sculptures.

Giverny: The flower garden and Japanese-inspired water garden that inspired Claude Monet also are a quick train ride from Paris. You'll recognize the gentle willow trees, lily pads and pastel flowers from the master's paintings.

Carmel, California

One of the prettiest and most charming spots along the Central California coast, the village of Carmel-by-the-Sea is a delight for walkers. With thatched roofs and tiny arched doorways, some of the small buildings look as if they came straight out of the shire. Many spaces have been refurbished and repurposed: a pharmacy is now a restaurant, a dairy trading post is now a bank. Every block has dozens of shops and art galleries. Shops are small, specialized, and feature precious finds.

Consider joining a walking tour in order to sample the town's flavors and history. If you prefer to go it at your own pace, pick up a Wine Walk Passport, and you can sample local wines in a variety of tasting rooms that are all within walking distance of each other. 

Castilla y León in Spain

A scenic rural region northwest of Madrid, Castilla y León is a feast for the senses in spring. It reveals itself through wide plazas, majestic cathedrals and modest chapels, historic castles, and modern museums. A patchwork of green in May and June, the ancient towns of Ávila, Salamanca, and Segovia, all deemed World Heritage cities by UNESCO, are places of vast aesthetic and anthropological value.

Encounter the true soul of Spain by lodging in extraordinary royal guest houses, set in a peaceful world apart from big-city stress. The Posadas Reales of Castilla y León provide couples with the charm, comfort, and personal attention that characterize the best getaways. And gourmets who visit Castilla y León have the pleasure of dining at a number of Michelin-starred restaurants across the region. 

South Walton, Florida

Laid-back South Walton makes no demands. Whether you want to swim in the clear Gulf of Mexico, play golf, try paddleboarding, go kayaking or sport fishing, or lie on the beach with a cool drink close by, this stretch on Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast obliges.

You'll find that the natural beauty of the surroundings is seductive, as is the tranquility of this relaxed and restorative place. Couples will appreciate the pedestrian-friendly area’s eclectic shops, art galleries, and waterfront restaurants that serve scrumptious Gulf-to-table fare. And there's no price for the picture-perfect sunsets, delivered daily.

New York

Sweltering in summer and bone-chilling cold in the depths of winter, New York City weather is best in spring and fall. If you've never been, you'll certainly want to do the tourist things — seeing a Broadway show, visiting the Statue of Liberty, and ascending to the top of the Empire State Building.

To truly enjoy your visit, make an effort to escape the crowds and explore other, less-crowded parts of New York City. Consider visiting the Met Cloisters in Upper Manhattan, the Museum of the Moving Image and the ethnic restaurants of Queens, or the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. Catch a baseball game when the Mets or Yankees are in town. Everything is easily reachable via inexpensive public transportation.

Even if you can't bear to leave Manhattan Island, you can still revel in street fairs and festivals, pop-up shops and food truck meals that can make a visit to New York City far less expensive (and more fun) than you might imagine.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

The small, hilltop city of San Miguel de Allende is renowned for its bohemian spirit that has drawn visitors for generations. Nine churches on the El Jardín main square alone and plenty of baroque splendors earned it UNESCO World Heritage status and can make celebrating spring here an enriching cultural experience.

A wonderful place to stroll from morning till late at night, San Miguel de Allende charms with its colonial architectural gems. On your rambles, peek behind wooden doors that lead into the city’s sumptuous centuries-old private courtyards overflowing with vibrant pink, red, and purple bougainvillea. Find indigenous crafts, mirrors, ceramics, and silver items, and load up on Mexican treats such as sweet cajeta caramel syrup in Mercado de Artesanías. Parque Juárez is a leafy respite from the sun where artists sell their work.

As much fine art museum as boutique hotel, Hotel Matilda's public spaces are covered on a revolving basis with works by top contemporary Mexican artists. Yet Matilda was clearly designed with intimacy in mind, thanks to sequestered wings and private patios.

Chicago

Come spring, Chicago shakes off its winter coat and reveals a wealth of activities for couples to savor outdoors. Located right on the shore of Lake Michigan, the city invites you to explore it by water via a variety of excursions including lunch and dinner cruises and fishing charters. And right off Michigan Avenue you can board an architectural tour that sails along the Chicago River; just look up, and be amazed!

Do you like free? Millennium Park is one of the most popular free attractions of the city, along with the Lincoln Park Zoo. The park features free music events, Lurie Garden, and public art including the iconic "Bean" installation. And when you're ready to go inside, keep in mind that many of the city's top museums charge no admission on Thursday evenings.

There's one more thing that makes the Windy City a great choice for couples having a spring fling: Chicago's most romantic hotels.

Sydney, Australia

Instead of rushing summer, head south of the equator, where winter is approaching in Australia. Nonetheless, the climate remains comfortably temperate along the East Coast from Melbourne to Sydney to Cairns, which is the focal point of the country's activities. It's here that the majority of Australians live, and it's here most American couples visit. 

The east coast is famous for endless miles of coastline that are the source of Australia's beach lifestyle. For a truly unique adventure that braves the heights, climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge for a view you'll never forget.

Even if you can't catch a performance at the iconic Sydney Opera House, join a backstage tour. For something completely different, reserve seats at the Bangarra Dance Theatre, where an acclaimed Aboriginal dance company brings stories of Dreamtime to life on stage.