Romantic Weekends

A Break on the Lake Issue: Spring/Summer 2013 Author(s): Claudia Taller Grapes grow as far as the eye can see in North East, Pa., which hides away on the short shoreline between the Ohio and New York borders. Famous for its cherries, the area also boasts nine wineries, a historic downtown and railroad depot museum, art galleries and an inviting bed-and-breakfast.  The first grapes in North East were planted during the 1840s.  A mini-tour begins at Mazza Vineyards, which shows off native grapes as well as Chambourcin and Cabernet Sauvignon. At South Shore Wine Compa...

Love is in the … Water Issue: Spring/Summer 2013 Author(s): Jill Sell Locals just smile and say, “It must be something in the water,” when asked why Berkeley Springs is so romantic. For centuries, people have visited Bath, W. Va., to bathe in and/or drink its warm mineral water that bubbles up naturally at the 4.5-acre Berkeley Springs State Park. (There is no actual town called Berkeley Springs.) And like the most interesting personal relationships, Berkeley Springs keeps changing, reflecting pure love one minute, lust the next. Native Americans were attracted to the wate...

Historic Elegance Issue: Spring/Summer 2013 Author(s): —Jessica Esemplare Part big city, part small town, St. Charles, Illinois, located about 40 miles west of Chicago, beckons couples with its bustling nightlife, high-class entertainment and luxurious accommodations.  The historic Hotel Baker, located on downtown’s main drag along the Fox River, is at the heart of the action. This recently restored landmark, built in 1928 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, still maintains its vintage elegance while offering modern-day amenities. The Penthouse Suite —...

A Moveable Feast Issue: Fall/Winter 2012 Author(s): Amy Lynch Southern cooking meets Southern hospitality in Louisville, Kentucky, a city with a distinctive culinary flair all its own. Hopping on one of Leslie Burke’s City Taste Tours is the perfect way to sample all of the greatest eats the town has to offer in the course of a morning or afternoon, with the bonus of a narrated sightseeing excursion on the side. Between bites of Louisville classics like rolled oysters, Benedictine cream cheese spread and the decadent “Hot Brown” sandwich, visitors definitely don’t ...

Memories of Scottish Moors Issue: Fall/Winter 2012 Author(s): Gerald Bartell The Brae Loch Inn transports the warm hospitality and hearty food of a Scottish Highland Lodge to the upstate New York village of Cazenovia. Housed in a rambling, gabled home built in 1805 and operated as an inn since 1950, Brae Loch has a comforting feeling about it that makes you want to duck under a wool plaid coverlet — or “rug,” as they say in the glens — and read a mystery set on a dark and stormy night. You’ll find plenty of coverlets, as well as deep reading chairs and hardwood furnishings in roo...

Take to the Lake Issue: Fall/Winter 2012 Author(s): Amy Bizzarri Bocchetta Lake Michigan Shore Wine Country, with its picturesque resort towns, stunning shoreline and award-winning wines, is fast becoming a romantic destination for wine lovers in its own right. Located on the eastern shores of Lake Michigan and stretching across the southwest corner of Michigan to the mid-mitten city of Kalamazoo, this certified American Viticultural Area offers a range of delights — from informal wine tastings to comprehensive culinary classes, casual to elegant dining, intimate bed and breakf...

A Beautiful and Historic Trail Issue: Fall/Winter 2012 Author(s): Matthew Biddle With the Civil War sesquicentennial upon us, there’s no better time to visit Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. But after visiting the battlefield where Union forces defeated Confederate General Robert E. Lee, hop on the Gettysburg Wine & Fruit Trail for a relaxing afternoon in the picturesque Appalachian foothills. Launched in 2009, the trail links two wineries with orchards, fine-dining restaurants and overnight lodgings throughout Adams County. It includes 17 participating locations, all of which are indep...

His and Hers Issue: Spring/Summer 2012 Author(s): Stacey Higgins Well known for its bourbon distilleries, Kentucky is taking on a new libation with a passionate fervor — wineries are now popping up alongside the historic whiskey makers of the state. In Bullitt County , just south of Louisville, there’s a new Wine & Bourbon Trail that marries the region’s greatest assets: bourbon, wine and nature. The trail makes for an ideal couples getaway. At Jim Beam American Outpost & Homestead in Clermont, visitors will learn about one of the country’s oldest bourbon pro...