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Top 7 American Romantic Getaways of 2016

Once you start a family, I have found that romantic getaways become fewer and farther in between.  My sweet daughter had just turned one, and I was pregnant with the second baby (which happened to be a boy yay!), so my husband and I decided it was the perfect time to escape for a long weekend to relax, reconnect, and have some fun before the second wave of craziness entered our lives.

That is why, when I started planning my yearly romantic escape with my husband, I took this task extremely serious. It is not as easy as before the kids to pack up and leave, but we decided to make an effort to go on two trips every year where it is just the two of us: One within the US and the second one to an exotic country. Hey, having tots doesn’t mean you can’t have fun without them!

I carefully picked a list of 7 ah-ma-zing properties in the US that I knew was going to have perfect service, superb food, chic decor, the spa was going to have rave reviews, and the location was going to be easy to get to. I was not going to take any chances on my one and only trip!

After careful deliberation, I decided to not only book one, but book several throughout the year, so my one and only trip turned into five, ha!

Find below the top 7 romantic hotels for a quick getaway in the US:

Glenmere Mansion

 

Built in the Gilded Age of America, this 150-acre estate used to be the playground to one of the richest families in America. They would entertain guests ranging from aristocrats, royalty, and premier artists. Now opened at a luxury estate hotel & spa, very minimal work was done to the original estate to keep it as authentic as possible, with just a few modern twists. Perfect, for the seasoned and discerned traveler, Glenmere Mansion combines traditional luxury with outstanding service.

 

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Blackberry Farm

 

Blackberry Farm is the perfect example of flawless southern hospitality set in a storybook location. Built in 1939 in the idyllic Smoky Mountain foothills, this boutique luxury hotel is located on 6,200 acres of romantic and fog drizzled forest.

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Amangiri

 

Those looking for solace & solitude will love the Amangiri. With a backdrop of some of the top National Parks in the U.S., including the Grand Canyon, this sleek hideaway is perfect for couples who appreciate a stylish and minimal aesthetic while also wanting to explore the outdoors.

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Post Ranch Inn

 

Post Ranch Inn is located in a unique setting, on the cliffs of the Pacific Coast Highway, offering staggering views of the California coastline and wine country. The moment you set foot on Post Ranch, the breeze will awaken your senses and the view will make your eyes sparkle. The romance of the hotel boasts is so intense, that most of the guests are either celebrating their honeymoon or anniversary.

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Four Seasons Santa Barbara

 

One of my favorite hotels in Southern California, the Four Seasons Santa Barbara is nestled right along the beach, so close you can hear the waves crashing onto the rocks while you lay in bed. Known for it’s year-round perfect weather, Santa Barbara is the perfect place for a weekend getaway with your significant other. Sun, sand, and surf are only steps away from this classic hotel that combines Four Seasons luxury with California charm.

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Lake Austin Spa

 

Nestled along Lake Austin, the scenic and peaceful view provides the perfect backdrop to unwind. While sometimes 2 glasses of wine do the trick, once in a while a spa weekend is just necessary and Lake Austin won’t disappoint. The spa itself is gorgeous and the staff makes you feel like you are the only guest that matters to them.

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Cal-a-Vie San Diego

 

This crème de la crème spa is a stunning oasis nestled in the hills just north of San Diego with the most breathtaking location in the city. Cal-a-Vie has the most luxurious spa I have ever seen and soon you will as well. Like Golden Door, they tailor every program to suit your personal fitness goals. There is a 5:1 staff-to-guest ratio. Over the top? Nah, I would say it is just perfect for a fussy guest like our readers.

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Blackberry Farm. Walland, Tennessee

Blackberry Farm is the perfect example of flawless southern hospitality set in a storybook location. Built in 1939 in the idyllic Smoky Mountain foothills, this boutique luxury hotel is located on 6,200 acres of romantic and fog drizzled forest.

This 62 guest-room property is a fully operational farm allowing the chef to make every meal fresh. Everything you will eat is grown, or raised right on site – the rest purchased from local farmers. The accommodations have a sumptuous feel with an exceptional attention to detail. The Farmstead Cottage and Singing Brook Cottage Suite are two of my favorite rooms, the latter offers connecting doors giving the ability to book side-by-side suites, ideal for family or friends traveling together. Also included is your own private golf cart. Farmstead Cottage is a bit more sophisticated, ideal for a city couple who are accustomed to the finer things in life.

Blackberry Farm’s restaurants are widely known for offering some of the freshest food and ingredients around. The restaurants try to create haute cuisine while incorporating locally grown produce indigenous to the Smoky Mountains. In fact, Blackberry Farm has been recognized as the #1 Hotel for Food Lovers from Bon Appetit Magazine. Spend breakfast at the Main House and make your way to the James Beard award-winning restaurant, The Barn. 

Blackberry Farm offers a wide array of food & drink activities, not to mention they have their own brewery. The Farm also offers yoga, outdoors activities (which include kayaking and fishing), adventure treks, and will help you plan romantic picnics. After a few days there you might love it so much you’ll be asking for a job application.

 

Photographs courtesy of beall + thomas.