Top Ten US Honeymoon Destinations

You've planned for months (or years?); you've compromised and appeased your and his/her family; you've hosted the wedding of the century. Now it's time to relax and just enjoy each other's company for a week. It's time for your honeymoon. North America is home to a host of romantic destinations - from the vibrant, non-stop activity of Las Vegas to the scenic beauty of Niagara Falls to the elegant pink sand beaches of Bermuda. There's something for every taste in my choices of the best North American honeymoon destinations.

1. Las Vegas - You don't have to be a gambler to enjoy Las Vegas. In addition to the casinos, Vegas offers world-class dining, elaborate theme pools, name entertainers, and unique luxury shopping arcades. What's more: the city, truly, never sleeps. You can shop at 6am or at midnight, and grab a sandwich after an 11pm show. Just outside of town, the wonders of nature await. Lake Mead and Hoover Dam are just a half-hour drive away; Colorful Red Rock Canyon is just southeast of Las Vegas; and the "impossible-to-describe" grandeur of the Grand Canyon is accessible by a breathtaking 30 minute "flight-seeing" trip.

2. Niagara Falls - One of the scenic wonders of the United States and Canada, Niagara Falls is a honeymooners' mecca. An affordable and easily accessible destination to residents of the Northeast and Midwest, Niagara Falls offers romantic suites complete with heart-shaped bathtubs, boat rides to the crest of the falls, and scenic vistas from all over town. Just north of the Falls are the Niagara Wine Trail, home to some of the world's best icewines and the charming Canadian colonial town of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

3. Hawaii - Few places in the world are more romantic than the Hawaiian Islands. The year-round temperate climate, Trade Wind breezes, and Polynesian culture combine to create a destination unlike any other. Hawaii is just three hours from the west coast and offers a variety of activities, from the dramatic Volcanoes National Park on the island of Hawaii to the "Garden Isle" wonders of Kauai to the bustling shopping and dining of Honolulu.

4. Florida Keys - Dubbed "America's Caribbean," the Florida Keys offer honeymooners a relaxed, festive atmosphere; elegant Victorian architecture; quiet bed and breakfast inns; and some of the best sports fishing in the world. Don't miss the sunset celebration each evening at the end of Duval Street.

5. A Cruise - After all of the hectic days of planning a wedding, a cruise is the perfect antidote. Everything is taken care of for you. No need to worry about dinner reservations, show tickets, and sightseeing. It's all arranged. What's more: your "hotel" sails to a different exotic destination each evening while you sleep. Choose from three to fourteen-night voyages, from getaways to the Bahamas to two week Mediterranean cruises.

6. Cancun - Once a sleepy agricultural center whose only visitors were intrepid archeologists bound for the Mayan ruins at Tulum or Chichen Itza, Cancun today is a bustling tourist resort. Created in the 1970s and 80s by the Mexican government to be a vacationers paradise, Cancun now boasts over 24,000 hotel rooms. Of course, it still has the Mayan ruins, miles of white sand beaches, and clear, turquoise water.

7. The Bahamas - Just a half-hour's flight from South Florida, the Bahamas offer a casual Caribbean ease, sparkling blue waters, and a wide variety of watersports. Choose between the British Colonial charm of Nassau and the wild, barely tamed beauty of Freeport on Grand Bahamas Island. Either way you'll find affordable accommodations, friendly people, casino gambling, and world-class diving and snorkeling.

8. Jamaica - Jamaica, in the heart of the Caribbean combines an island insouciance with exotic and lush beauty. The country is known for its beautiful beaches set against dense, tropical jungles. Jamaica is dotted with luxury, all-inclusive resorts, a perfect choice for honeymooners - one price includes airfare, accommodations, meals, drinks, and activities.

9. Colorado Ski Country - If you're getting married in the winter or early spring, consider a Rocky Mountain vacation. The picturesque resorts of Aspen, Vail, and Breckenridge offer some of the world's most challenging skiing as well as cozy hostelries, romantic fireside dinners, and hard-to-beat shopping. Plus, the dramatic backdrop of the mountains makes every vista magical.

10. Bermuda - A perennial honeymoon favorite, Bermuda is just a two-hour flight from east coast cities, such as New York, Washington, and Boston. Still a member of the British Commonwealth, Bermuda combines English culture, food, and flair with a lyric island lifestyle. The buildings here are painted a rainbow of pastels; the beaches are pink with coral; and the accommodations are small, largely locally-run, and charming.

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