The Best of Both Worlds
What's Up? Weddings

You love the beach. Your spouse-to-be loves to golf. You’ll be at the spa. Your other half...hmm, don’t think so. Choosing where to go for your honeymoon shouldn't be one more stressful item on your to-do list. Why not mix and match? These two-in-one honeymoon combos offer the best of both worlds and will get your married life off on just the right romantic road.

Southern Charm in South Carolina: Charleston and Kiawah Island
Charleston, one of the most romantic cities in the U.S., blends the past and the present into one seamless whole. The first city in the world to adopt a law that preserved whole sections of town, Charleston boasts such well-known streets as Rainbow Row, whose name can be traced to the 1930s when the entire block was restored and painted in colors used by the colonials who once lived in Charleston.

In the center of town, stroll through the Old City Market, with its hundreds of vendors selling everything from South Carolina foodstuffs to artwork to sweet-grass baskets, a Charleston tradition for more than 300 years.

If you come to Charleston and do nothing else but eat, it would be time well spent. Gourmet restaurants with fare from around the world abound, but you won’t want to miss the city’s “down home” eateries with traditional Southern fare like shrimp and grits. For an elegant night out on the town, enjoy dinner and jazz at Charleston Grill in Charleston Place Hotel.

Charleston may have a laid-back Southern vibe, but if you’re looking for a retreat from city life altogether, head to nearby Kiawah Island, just 21 miles away. Named for an Indian tribe that once inhabited the area, Kiawah is consistently ranked as one of the country's best honeymoon destinations and among its most romantic beaches.

Once privately owned, the island is now a world-class resort destination with 10 miles of undisturbed Atlantic beachfront, and leisure activities ranging from canoeing to tennis, golf, hiking, and biking.

History Lives on in Massachusetts: Nantucket and Boston
A pocket-square of an island, Nantucket lies 30 miles off the coast of Massachusetts, and is only 14 miles long and 3.5 miles wide. (You can see it in its entirety from the top of the steepleof the First Congregational Church.) Nantucket’s long history dates from 1659 and for years it was a thriving whaling center (which you can learn all about at the Nantucket Whaling Museum).

Much of Nantucket’s charm lies down its narrow lanes. The island is home to more than 800 iconic 18th and 19th-century grey-shingled houses, almost all of which are located in their original setting. Because of the grey-shingled buildings and frequent fog, Nantucket is affectionately referred to as the “Little Grey Lady of the Sea.”

Nantucket is also a nature lover’s paradise with bike paths that lead to the island’s many beaches and more than 8,400 acres of undeveloped land that can be explored by visitors.

After the serenity of Nantucket, switch gears and head to the bustling city of Boston, where you can be on the go 24 hours a day if you choose.

For an overview of the city's long history, walk along (hand in hand, of course) the self-guided, 2.5 mile long Freedom Trail, that leads through Old Boston and highlights the city's most important historic sites.

Art lovers won’t want to miss the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, whose paintings and sculptures are housed in an Italianate villa that was once home to art collector Isabella Stewart Gardner.

Time for a brew? End your tour of the Samuel Adams Brewery with a free tasting and, if you were a fan of the television show "Cheers," hoist a cold one at the Bull and Finch Pub, whose exterior was made famous in the show.

Boston is a sports-mad town, no matter what the season, so join the fun and get tickets for whatever home game is on when you're in town. (For a behind-the-scenes look at historic Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, join the daily tour.)

Top O’ the Morning to You: Dromoland Castle Hotel and Dublin, Ireland
You've just had your fairy-tale wedding. Now why not continue the dream at DromolandCastle Hotel in County Clare, Ireland. One of Dromoland’s signature activities is a Hawk Walk, where you can take part in handling and flying one of the resident Harris hawks.  When you're not communing with the feathered creatures, Dromoland offers a wealth of other activities, from championship golf to pony-and-trap rides around the castle grounds; trout and perch fishing on Lough Dromoland; clay shooting; archery; tennis; horseback riding; and relaxing in the intimate spa. Just a short drive from Shannon Airport in Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co. Clare, Dromoland is also ideally located near some of Ireland's most popular attractions, including the Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle, Galway, and Limerick.

From Dromoland, cross the country to Dublin (fly from Shannon, take a train or bus or, if you're the adventurous sort, rent a car, but just remember that the Irish drive on the left and that many of their roads are small, country two-laners). Dublin is a lively, youthful city with some of the friendliest folks you'll meet anywhere. For a city overview, take a hop-on, hop-off sightseeing bus tour, and then home in on some of the sights or activities you'd like to pursue further, whether it’s strolling down the pedestrian-only Grafton Street, with its boutiques, cafes, pubs, and entertaining street performers; visiting the Book of Kells at Trinity College; cruising the River Liffey; or enjoying an Irish beer and music at one of Dublin’s many pubs.

 

 

 

 

In the Land of the Bagpipes: Edinburgh and Gleneagles Golf Resort
Edinburgh is a land of the old and the new—and its divisions are aptly named. The Old Town is made up of winding streets and narrow closes (lanes), while in the New Town you'll find classic European squares, broad streets, and colorful gardens.

Make your first stop Edinburgh Castle, located at the top of the Royal Mile on a volcanic rock that has been the site of a fortification since Celtic times. The tiny St. Margaret's Chapel, on the grounds of the castle, is the oldest building in Edinburgh and has stood intact for more than 900 years. At 1 p.m. visitors can watch and listen to the firing of the one o'clock gun, a custom that dates back to a time when few people owned clocks or watches. You may want to cover your ears!

Leave the Castle and head down the Royal Mile, lined with restaurants, tourist shops, and the de rigueur kilt-wearing, bagpipe-playing Scotsman. At the foot of the Royal Mile is the Palace of Holyroodhouse, which not only houses some of the Queen's royal art collection, but is also home to the royal family when they visit Scotland. Behind the palace is Holyrood Park, which is dominated by a volcanic remnant known as Arthur's Seat. From the top you can see all of Edinburgh, as well as the kingdom of Fife and the Borders.

In need of some pampering? In a unique setting you’ll find The Spa at the Scotsman Hotel. The building was once home to the country’s national newspaper (called—not surprisingly—the Scotsman). Built in 1905, it still retains its original Italian marble staircase, oak paneling, marble pillars, and ornate ceilings. What had been the press room, housing the newspaper’s giant printing presses on the lower ground floor, is now the Scotsman Health Club and Spa, with a state-of-the-art, 60-station gym; Scotland’s first stainless steel swimming pool, steam and sauna; Tropicarium (a cross between a sauna and a steam room); treatment rooms; and a relaxation suite.

Once you’ve gotten your city fix, head 41 miles outside of Edinburgh to Gleneagles, the "Best Golf Resort at the World” (and in this land of golf, that’s saying something). The Gleneagles Hotel features three award-winning courses that will keep any golfer happy in this birthplace of the sport. Along with golf, you can be cosseted at Gleneagles' award-winning spa, in addition toenjoying some of Scotland's other well-known country pursuits, such as shooting and fishing, riding, falconry, gundog school, and off-road 4x4 driving on specially developed courses.

A View from the Top: Basel and Wengen, Switzerland
If you're a tennis fan, you know Basel as the home of Roger Federer. But there's much more to the city than that. This center of history, fine dining, art and architecture boasts the sophistication of any cosmopolitan city but with the restrained vibe of the oh-so-polite Swiss.

Enjoy a romantic lunch or dinner at the historic Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois, with its Rhine River-front location. Take time to stroll through the hotel, if you’re not already a guest (Napoleon, Goethe, and even the Rolling Stones have been).

Enjoy the creative works of Basel-born iron sculptor Jean Tinguely at the Tinguely Museum. Tinguely, who created a revolution with his kinetic works and moving objects, is well-known for his “electromechanical” sculptures, which play music, paint, etc. The Tinguely fountain is also a well-known piece of art which consists of a series of individually moving water pipes in a large pool; the pipes spout out water as they move, to the delight of the local kids (of all ages!).

Basel’s waterfront promenade along the Rhine is an ideal spot for strollers, joggers, and passengers who wish to cross from one bank of the Rhine to the other on the iconic ferries that have been traversing the river for the past 150 years.

Leave the city behind, and in less than two hours you can find yourselves at the mountaintop retreat of Wengen. Accessible only by mountain railway, at an altitude of 4,265 feet in the Jungfrau region of the Swiss Alps, Wengen is a mecca for skiers and hikers. In the summertime, Wengen is an ideal place to mountain climb; 15 cable cars can take you to the most beautiful viewpoints in the area. And in the winter Wengen, situated in the ski center of Kleine Scheidegg-Männlichen with its famous Lauberhorn and Eigergletscher runs, is one of the most scenic and popular winter sport villages in Switzerland. 

Je T’Adore: The Romance of Paris and the Chateau d’Esclimont
For many, Paris is about museums and monuments; for others, it’s about wining and dining; for still others, it’s about shopping (even if only gazing through the windows). But for everyone, it’s always about romance.

Enjoy the glittering display of the City of Light on an evening cruise down the Seine.  While away the afternoon in a traditional French tearoom, such as Laduree, whose chef invented the popular French macaron—two lighter-than-air cookies filled with a flavored cream (chocolate, lemon, pistachio, green tea…the flavors defy imagination). Take in an opera or ballet (or just go for the tour) of the Palais Garnier, which brims with opulence, with colored marble, molded stucco, gilt, red satin and velvet boxes, and a false ceiling painted by Chagall. And, of course, when you’re not gazing at each other, gaze at the magnificent views that Paris seems to offer at every turn. While most people make their way to the top of the Eiffel Tower to survey the citybeneath them, skip the crowds and take a trip to the top of the Tour Montparnasse instead where a high-speed elevator will take you to the panoramic café-lounge on the 56th floor. For a completely unobstructed view, climb up two more flights, stand arm-in-arm in the white target painted at the center, and marvel at the sight of Paris spread out before you—complete with a view of the Eiffel Tower! 

End your French honeymoon like royalty by retreating to the 16th-century Chateau d’Esclimont, just 37 miles from Paris. Tucked away in the midst of a 150-acre park, the Chateau—complete with a castle-requisite moat, stone bridge, turrets, and openwork balconies—was once the property of the Duke of La Rochefoucauld, many of whose original furnishings, paintings, and chandeliers remain today. You’ll feel as if you have time-traveled several centuries in reverse (but fortunately with 21st-century plumbing and Internet access!). The Chateau is just a short drive from the medieval Notre Dame de Chartres, the famous UNESCO World Heritage Gothic cathedral. Visit the famous stained glass windows, and stroll through the picturesque town itself which lies in the shadow of the cathedral, on the banks of the river Eure, lined with gabled houses, winding streets, humpback bridges, and water mills.