Things to do / Travel Guide
Forget the history, leave behind the hustle and bustle of the big city: if eastern Pennsylvania is good for one thing, it's as a place to fall in love. Philadelphia is just one of those cities (didn't its nickname clue you in?), with wide avenues and great parks, lovely residential areas perfect for a nice walk, and class acts for those looking for entertainment and a good scene. The Poconos and Hershey are just waiting for celebrating honeymooners, and Dutch Country is worthy of daytime excursions for those on a romantic getaway. The region, especially Philadelphia, is inundated with French restaurants. Whatever your reason, if love is on your mind, eastern Pennsylvania should be your destination.
Romantic Lodging and Activities in Eastern Pennsylvania
One of Philadelphia's most sought-after districts is that around Rittenhouse Square. The square itself, a park for over two centuries, is surrounded by restaurants and boutiques of all kinds. Also in the immediate area is Rittenhouse 1715, a Colonial-era inn known for its impeccable service. Each suite comes with a fireplace, a large-screen plasma television, a king-sized bed, and a beautiful bathroom with a Jacuzzi. Stroll out from the hotel to the restaurants surrounding the square, wander through the neighborhood's side streets, and get lost together in a great city.
For a completely different kind of scene, leave the city, and prepare yourselves for a wonderful time full of pampering and beautiful scenery. A Poconos getaway has been a romantic tradition for more than half a century. Indeed, Poconos honeymoon resorts are known for their obsession for making everything perfect for lovers and all occasions. The Caesars Pocono Resorts are an institution, each hosting thousands of couples a year. In fact, these hotels are exclusively for couples - no families or singles allowed. At these resorts, like Cove Haven or Pocono Palace, you can bathe with your loved one in a champagne-glass whirlpool or a heart-shaped tub, sit before your suite's fireplace, or check out the famous spas.
Another kind of country scene takes you to Dutch Country, where the rural and old-fashioned atmosphere makes for the perfect getaway. The center of this area is Lancaster, and there are a number of quaint bed and breakfasts to whisk you off your feet. Stay at Lovelace Manor, a grand Second Empire Victorian offering, with a wraparound porch and of brick red complexion. The rooms are replete with antiques such as canopy beds, the floors are hardwood and polished, the doors are of ornately-carved wood, and the bathrooms feature original marble-top sinks. Lovelace Manor features more amenities for a complete romantic experience. The bed and breakfast offers massages, for one thing. Afternoon refreshments are served in the parlor; and for a special treat, treat yourselves to a candlelit breakfast of French toast and other soul food goodies.
Romantic Dining in Eastern Pennsylvania
The whole region of eastern Pennsylvania is packed with fine eateries known for setting a romantic scene. Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square is the center of everything, and a string of excellent and trendy restaurants make for a number of romantic meals. Establishments like Rouge, with its continental and international cuisine and outdoor seating, Devon, serving seafood and excellent chocolate desserts, and Barclay Prime, a prime steakhouse - all boast bars and bartenders ready to serve you the perfect cocktail.
Philly is a sucker for fine French restaurants - some of the finest outside New York City. Lovers the world over agree there's just something about French food that piques the erotic. At le Bec Fin, one of the city's top restaurants of this cuisine, the ambiance reminds of a single sweet cello or French horn. With entrées like the crab cake and a plat principal of perhaps homemade seafood sausages, you may well feel as if you've died and gone to heaven. Then comes dessert from the dessert cart! And indulging from the extensive wine list, you'll reach nirvana.
For romantic meals outside Philadelphia, many a master chef has settled down in Dutch Country, cooking up his or her own fantasies for all the visitors to partake in. In Lancaster, Strawberry Hill is a feat of creating the perfect scene and a fantastic cuisine. The grounds are an old Victorian - turreted - brick building, with a red-brick and paneled-wood interior. The food ranges from pistachio-encrusted brie cheese to baked oysters, red and gold beet salad to macadamia chipolte chile-rubbed ahi tuna. The wine list is one of the best in Pennsylvania, specializing in California wines of the best vintages.
Now for dessert, you owe it to yourselves to head down to Hershey for a devotion to the brown aphrodisiac - chocolate. Hershey's Chocolate World is a dedication to America's fascination with chocolate, and the store therein is one of the biggest chocolate stores in the world. Find a park bench somewhere and split the five-pounder chocolate bar, then head to Kit Kat Café for drinks.
Romantic Excursions in Eastern Pennsylvania
From Harrisburg, you can tour the countryside on a horse and buggy ride, take enchanting excursions through farmlands of tobacco and corn fields. Enter the small towns where people still lead the simple life, while the names of these towns themselves are nothing if not suggestive - with this in mind, visit the Intercourse Pretzel Factory.
And you can gain a new perspective of the glorious countryside from above. A balloon ride is the perfect way to finish off a romantic weekend or a getaway. From the rolling fields of Dutch Country to the rolling mountains of the Poconos, the sights to behold will leave you with a sense of wonder.
Whether your scene is fancy French restaurants and city parks in Philadelphia, love-inducing champagne glass whirlpools, or countryside inns and carriage rides - eastern Pennsylvania beckons to lovers.
Romantic Vacation Ideas in Philadelphia, Lancaster, the Poconos, Eastern Pennsylvania
Romantic-Vacations-Getaways
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