Honeymoon destinations: from the predicted to the secluded to the unusual

There are vacations, and then there are vacations. But whether you’re on the beach soaking up the sun or immersing yourself in new experiences and a new culture, you want your trip to be memorable.

When it comes to honeymoons, that goes 100-fold. After all, you’ll be making special memories to last a lifetime. And while memories of other trips may wane, you want your honeymoon memories to shine forever.

These days with charter flights, package deals and all-inclusives, your choices for a honeymoon destination are almost endless. Yet you’ll want to plan something meaningful to you as a couple and reflective of your lifestyle.

Cathy Robinson, group travel coordinator and honeymoon specialist at Brentwood Travel, has seen it all in her 30-plus years in the business.

Mexico and the Caribbean are extremely popular honeymoon destinations out of the Midwest, she says. That’s because nonstop flights to Jamaica, Punta Cana, Cancun and Puerta Vallarta save precious time spent making connections, Robinson says. The result: more time to spend at your destination to enjoy together.

And the prices can be appealing. “You can get there reasonably and then have more of your honeymoon dollars to spend on upscale adult-only properties, swim-out rooms, suites, etc., she says. “You’re not spending all of your honeymoon dollars getting to a destination.”

Cheryl Drew, an auto travel counselor with AAA Missouri, says a lot of St. Louis couples wants all-inclusives. “You plan the wedding, it’s a little bit hectic, a little bit stressful. They want to go on a vacation that includes everything, and there’s not very many options in the United States. St. Lucia is a big one, too, because a lot of people want to do Sandals Resorts.”

Growing in popularity as honeymoon destinations are Australia, Tahiti, Greece and Ireland, Robinson says.

“A lot brides and grooms I see want to do something that is not exactly what their friends have done,” she says. “We still do a lot of Mexico and Caribbean, but we’re starting to get people thinking outside that little box of just those areas.”

In the spirit of thinking outside the box, we offer a few destinations you might not have thought about as honeymoon destinations (save one):

NEW YORK’S FINGER LAKES

One of the most stunning parts of the country, the pristine Finger Lakes in central New York, stretch over 14 counties. The region is dotted with a series of 11 picturesque, narrow but deep lakes shaped like slender fingers. Three of the most popular lakes are Seneca, Cayuga and Canandaigua, each with its own serene and bucolic charm.As a quiet, picturesque locale for a honeymoon, it’s hard to beat. Rolling green hills are laced with more than 100 wineries — including a host of wine trails —and a growing cadre of microbreweries.“If you have a couple who are really interested in wine and beer, this is a fantastic location,” says Karen Miltner, public relations manager of Finger Lakes Visitors Connection.Rolling hills, valley views, vineyards, waterfalls and scenic views abound.

And it’s a perfect destination for active couples. “If they’re really, really active, there is definitely a lot of outdoor activities they can do,” she adds. “Bicycling is extremely popular because we have a network or rural roads with practically no traffic and great scenery,” Miltner says. “Some of it’s along the lake, but even between the lakes where you don’t have a view of the water, it’s just that beautiful Americana farmscape that you can see for miles and miles.”

Hiking, kayaking and canoeing are also popular as are standup paddle boards. Quaint small towns offer a host of other things to do. On Canandaigua Lake, visitors can ride the Canandaigua Lady, a replica of a 19th century paddle wheeler offering dinner cruises for “nice romantic dinners on the water,” Miltner says.

Accommodations range from bed-and-breakfasts and vacation rentals to hotels and resorts. Couples can even honeymoon — or be married in — a breathtaking castle on Seneca Lake in Geneva, Miltner says, “The really big, big honeymoon destination in Ontario County is Belhurst Castle,” she adds.

The Richardson Romanesque mansion built in 1889 as a private residence has a view of the lake that “is pretty spectacular especially from the Tower Suite with the balcony overlooking the lake itself,” Kevin Reeder, Belhurst owner, says.

The castle is furnished with antiques including a suit of armor. Unique to the castle is the original hand-crafted woodworking. “It took five master woodcarvers five years to complete the woodwork throughout the four-story building, Reeder adds.

Just down the road is Geneva on the Lake, a Four Diamond resort. General Manager Bill Schickel calls it “an elegant spa resort.” Also overlooking Seneca Lake, the building, modeled after Villa Lancellotti in Frascati, Italy was constructed in 1914 as a private home. The Wall Street Journal called its gardens “reminiscent of Versailles.”

And visitors — honeymooners or not — will fall in love with the Finger Lake’s unique dessert — grape pie.

LANAI, HAWAII

Hawaii is a favorite honeymoon destination for many couples, but for real privacy head to the “Pineapple Island” of Lanai.Originally home to pineapple plantations, when production shifted to Southeast Asia, the island was given over to tourism, with two major hotels on the island. The hotels, now owned by Four Seasons, have been closed for renovation, but the Four Seasons Resorts Lanai is due to open this month, and the Lodge at Koele, at 1,600 feet above sea level, will reopen later this year.Other accommodations include Hotel Lanai, various bed-and-breakfasts and rentals through Airbnb and VRBO.Located off the coast of Maui, secluded beaches are more than a generic description here — they’re real. “So when you talk about a getaway, you can absolutely get away to beaches on Lanai that no one else is on,” says Lori Holland, public relations director for Four Seasons Resorts Lanai.

Roads are limited on Lanai and much travel requires a four-wheel drive. And while night life is thin, there’s much to see including petroglyphs and — especially for honeymooners — Sweetheart Rock.

NIAGARA FALLS

Time was when Niagara Falls was called the “Wedding Capital of the U.S.” Of course, there are plenty of people in Niagara who still consider it the country’s wedding capital (Las Vegas may beg to differ).It’s hard to pinpoint why the falls attracted so many honeymooners. Legend has word spread about Niagara after Aaron Burr’s daughter honeymooned here.But there’s no denying it — the sheer beauty of the magnificent falls does tend to move one’s heart. And maybe the spray is an elixir of love.The Canadians claim to have the best view of the falls and for an overall perspective, that’s somewhat true. But, on the American side, you walk along the falls and actually feel the sheer power of more than 600,000 gallons of water rushing over the falls each second and thundering in your ears.

The falls are located in Niagara Falls State Park, the nation’s first state park, designed by master park designer Frederick Law Olmstead.

Romantic activities abound — riding Maid of the Mist under the falls, picnicking on Goat Island, strolling along the river, meandering along the thundering falls— all memories you’ll cherish for a lifetime.

Lodging choices include the historic Redcoach Inn, built to resemble the Bell Inn in Finedon, England. The English Tudor inn was named after the red carriage that brought General Marquis de Lafayette to Niagara Falls.

Another option is the beautiful art deco Giacomo Hotel in downtown Niagara Falls within walking distances of the state park.

NATIONAL PARKS

If you’re looking for a gorgeous backdrop for your honeymoon (or even your wedding), consider one of America’s jewels — its national parks.And, because 2016 is the 100th birthday of the National Park Service, you will share your anniversary with the park service.Rose Wells of Aurora, Ill., fell in love with Yosemite National Park when she visited it years ago. Even though she hadn’t yet met her future mate, she dreamed of having her wedding there. “It just became my dream,” she says. “People would ask where I wanted to get married, and I always said the Ahwahnee Lodge in Yosemite,” she says. “Then I met my husband, and he made my dream come true.”In 2012, the couple and a small contingent of friends and family members traveled to California where the couple wed at the historic Ahwahnee Lodge. The event was everything Rose Wells envisioned — and more. Deer wandered about as the guests sipped cocktails on the patio, and a bear photo-bombed the wedding party as they posed for pictures on the lawn. “I got upstaged by the bear,” Wells laughs.

“It was really spectacular. The guests had an incredible experience Yosemite —there’s nothing like it. You can look at all the photographs you want but until you stand there … it’s just so majestic.”

Rick Hoeninghausen, director of sales and marketing for Yellowstone National Park Lodges, met his future wife in 1980 while working at Yellowstone. They later got jobs at Everglades National Park and married. “We chose to have our honeymoon where it all started” — in Yellowstone, he says.

The AAA’s Drew agrees that national park honeymoons are a great option. “Smokey Mountains and Yosemite are pretty romantic,” she says. “And wine country can be entertwined with Yosemite.”

Drew herself just got married a year ago. And where did she honeymoon?

“We never did because we had two house payments,” she says. “It’s futured. We combined two households and sold our houses to buy a house together. We’re probably going end up in Vermont at his family’s cabin this summer.”

IF YOU GO

Finger Lakes region • visitfingerlakes.com

Lanai, Hawaii • gohawaii.com/en/lanai; fourseasons.com/lanai

Niagara Falls • niagara-usa.com

National Parks • nps.gov