Best Romantic Beaches

Romance abounds in these 5 destinations, where luxury, amenities and beach backdrops set the stage to hone your flirting skills.

Boost the romance in your relationship with a weekend on Romantic Beaches  where you can laze your days happily in the waves, sand and sun and spend your nights in style with your loved one. Romance abounds in these 5 destinations where luxury, amenities and a beachfront setting set the stage – and hone your flirting skills.

Cannery Pier Hotel

Astoria, OregonThe sleepy fishing village of Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River is the oldest American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains. Watch the waves crash against the rocks, try your hand at crabbing or marvel at the charming Victorian town. Homes that adorn the community of the cliff. Shipwrecks can be seen offshore at low tide. All beaches are public, albeit a bit windy and free from the usual crowds of coastal tourists.

Couples meet again at the Cannery Pier Hotel, where rooms are elegantly appointed with atmospheric fireplaces and clawfoot tubs overlooking the sea. Hours of wine and canapés.

Dolphin Bay Resort & SpaShell Beach, California

Situated between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Shell Beach has a small-town vibe, but offers plenty of appeal to keep even the most savvy travelers entertained for a long weekend. The addition of the oceanfront beauty of Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa has only upped the romance factor in this quintessential beach town. Spacious rooms with panoramic views and beds to die for, an intimate spa, an oceanfront infinity pool, and plenty of privacy have made Dolphin Bay a romantic retreat at for discerning weekend warriors. Amenities aside, the resort’s restaurant, Lido, serves some of the most innovative cuisine to be found on the California coast.

The Wauwinet Inn Nantucket, Massachusetts Heavyweights like John Kerry and Teresa Heinz and Chanel Vice President Arie Kopelman spend the summer in this chic island destination, but for a price, ordinary people can partake in the tranquility of this coastal paradise. Dunes and views, head to Ladies Beach. For a more intimate beach experience, explore Coatue Beach with its harbor and gray seals, tidal flats and rolling dunes.

Stay at The Wauwinet Inn, an exclusive relais and chateaux property where guests feel like they are at their (very rich) best friend’s beach house. With complimentary popcorn and DVDs, or curl up in luxurious Pratesi linens – the atmosphere is elegant yet always comfortable.

Casa MoradaIslamorada, Florida

Sure, South Beach is a prime candidate for a Florida weekend getaway, but for a quieter getaway, take a 90-mile detour from Miami to the 6 islands that make up Islamorada. Although fishing is the islands’ favorite outdoor activity, couples can opt for an exclusive indulgence weekend at the 16-suite Casa Morada. Rooms are outfitted with all the necessary elements for romance: private outdoor spaces and outdoor hot tubs; panoramic sunset views; and in-suite massages. Want to get out and explore
? Snorkel the Keys Reef, take a yoga class or rent a boat.