There’s no better time and place to eat than summer in Alaska. Perhaps I am slightly biased on this. Forgive me. But really, where else can you eat wild fish right out of the sea? Or clams and mussels fresh from the Alaskan ocean? Here, wild berries can be gobbled by the handful, still wet with temperate rainforest dew. Or you can enjoy flavorful garden greens made tender by Alaska’s chilly summer mornings. We grill wild meats sustained by miles and miles of pristine lands. And I haven’t even mentioned Alaska’s famous carrots. Perhaps it’s the minerals in the glacier-fed soils that make them so sweet and crunchy. Some of the most discerning eaters I know (ahem, my children!) find they’re best pulled straight from the soil.
Chances are, you and your partner have spent a lot of time at home this past year. From spicing up living room dates to exploring every corner of your community, it’s due time for a change in scenery—especially if your love life is feeling a bit same old, same old. After all, no matter how close you are with your S.O., stress can dull your spark—and sometimes date night just won’t cut it. So why not venture outside of your lovely abode?
"There is nothing like a vacation, away from work, family, and the stress of everyday life, to bring couples closer," Franklin Porter, Ph.D., a psychotherapist in New York told Women’s Health in a previous interview. "Sharing new experiences and adventures, or revisiting romantic places shared from the exciting days of the relationship, can go a long way towards reminding the couple what attracted each to the other." Not to mention, luxury hotel sheets can do wonders for your sex life. Sold.
Before you schedule those days off, chat with your beau about what you both need (and want!) out of a couples getaway. Looking to get back to nature? A glamping experience in Vermont could be in the cards. Craving time by the ocean? A tropical trip is just the ticket. Or maybe you want to reconnect with your own body—and each other's. A wellness couples retreat with lots of rejuvenating yoga could be exactly what the (love) doctor ordered.
Right this way for an assortment of romantic vacays to match the vibe of any kind of love birds, from the adventurous to the relaxed. These 15 best couple retreats will renew and light a flame under your relationship this year...
Stillpoint Lodge, Alaska
Cost: Package rates start at $2,200 per night, per person
Details: What’s more wild than a romantic retreat to Alaska? Stillpoint Lodge is located in secluded seaside village Halibut Cove, near Kachemak Bay State Park. If you’re looking to get right up into nature, this is the bucket list trip to end all bucket list trips. Spot whales, bears, and glaciers (oh my!), hike through the untouched and expansive forests, and spend afternoons kayaking along serene, pristine waters. Bet that everything from the outside world will feel like it falls away.
The all-inclusive resort offers rustic yet luxurious private cabin accommodations, locally sourced meals, customized itineraries, and assorted activities like helicopter adventures, deep-sea fishing, hiking, and yoga classes. Sustainable cuisine is a standout here—menus change daily by what’s seasonal and available from local farmers, fishermen, and hunters. A mix of wildlife, wellness, and adventure, these new, mind-boggling experiences are bound to create memories that will truly last a lifetime (cheesy, but true!).
