Popular Getaways

Your wedding ceremony and reception are the public celebration of your marriage; your honeymoon is your own very private celebration. Many couples opt to take a fabulous trip for their honeymoon. If you have the time, funds, and stamina for a big trip after the wedding, it’s certainly worth making that trip of a lifetime—two weeks at a plush Hawaiian resort, country-hopping through Europe by rail, a luxury cruise through the Caribbean...whatever satisfies your wanderlust.

However, just as many couples choose to have their honeymoon closer to home. A regional honeymoon costs less money, and it’s easier to travel to a destination that’s not so far away. After all, the real reason for a honeymoon is to rest and relax with your new spouse, and the Upper Midwest boasts numerous locales where you can enjoy each other’s company in gorgeous surroundings. 

If you want the best of both worlds, make a short, regional getaway right after the wedding and then plan an exciting second honeymoon adventure a few months later. You’ll have a chance to unwind immediately following the wedding and then enjoy an exotic travel experience once your lives have had a chance to settle down a bit.

Northern Getaways
Each and every year, thousands of Midwestern newlyweds enjoy a relaxing and romantic honeymoon that doesn’t require a plane ticket or a new wardrobe. Luxurious lodges and resorts, rustic hideaways, charming village and country inns, as well as cozy bed-and-breakfasts abound—all located near the magnificent Great Lakes shorelines or our beautiful inland lake and river country. Some areas cater to special activities such as golf, skiing, fishing, or hiking; all offer the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of the area.

Every season is special in the northern regions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Upper Michigan. Autumn is majestic with its seasonal colors and crisp air. Spring heralds the return of the eagles to waterfalls created by rivers that have overrun their banks. Summer is sunny and hot, but hardly ever humid.  

Hiking, biking, fishing, berry picking, beachcombing, and antique shopping are popular pastimes that are easy on the budget and give you hours of relaxing time together. Rent a sailboat or canoe to watch a sensational sunset from the middle of a lake. If you’d like to experience a bit of group adventure and get some exercise, join a wilderness backpacking, kayaking or canoeing trek through the breathtaking Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Winter brings its own rewards to the many honeymooners and vacationers who venture into the northern areas of our states. If you haven’t taken in winter in a northern locale, you can’t imagine how romantic it really is. Most accommodations include a fireplace and/or your own private in-room Whirlpool. After a day of downhill or cross-country skiing, dogsledding or hitting the trails on snowshoes, nothing could be more welcome. Cuddle up in front of the fire with a glass of wine. This is winter at its best!

Cruise Control
You want an exotic honeymoon, but you don’t have time to plan every detail. You’d like to do something that lets you see lots of sights, but also provides ample time for pure relaxation. Your best option? Take a cruise!

You’ll find some of the best the world has to offer—whether it’s the wilds of Alaska, the sun-drenched tropics, or the ancient beauty of Greece and Turkey—without the months of preparation needed to plan a trip yourself. 

If traveling is difficult for you, or if you’re hesitant to voyage to some faraway locale on your own, a cruise is a safe and practical choice. Most ships have wheelchair-accessible rooms, and the staff handle special requests with ease, since they’re trained to accommodate the personal requests of their guests. The staff are more than just nice folks, however; they boast a wealth of knowledge about the ports of call they visit and will do what it takes to make each day of your trip go smoothly.

Even if you never left the ship, you’d have the makings of a wonderful honeymoon. After all, the cruise ship’s luxurious setting is the perfect backdrop for romance. Sunsets on the ocean, beautiful dinners, dancing, a midnight swim—the classics of romance are easily found on a cruise. Of course, being pampered by the ship’s staff doesn’t hurt either, especially after the whirlwind of your wedding.