Fitness
4 Unique Getaways To Bring Couples Closer
These mini-vacations will make you fall in love all over again.
A couple walks on the beach in St. Lucia.
Getty Images
Long-term relationships are hard. Anyone who has been in one knows that merging two lives and keeping the spark alive is no small feat. Successful romantic partnerships require self-awareness, compromise, gratitude and selflessness. It's only natural for couples to hit points where the relationship feels stale, the communication breaks down, and the days of butterflies and flirting are a distant memory. Sure, most of us have taken vacations to escape the stress and monotony of day-to-day life, but do your getaways actually deliver? If not, you should know that travel is reinventing itself, and a weekend away with your partner-in-crime could be exactly what you need to spice things up or even get things back on track after months (or years) of a struggling relationship. Lucky for you, I have done the research and discovered four getaways that are sure to bring you closer together long after you return home. Here’s how you can grow your connection while getting away:
Play at Romantic Adventure Getaways
Forget standard hotels. With two locations in Ohio and one in Illinois, Romantic Adventure Getaways offers a private, Airbnb experience that promises a night (or longer) of imagination, mystery and serious excitement. Let your inner child out and get ready to explore because your suite is full of surprises. Each suite is an escape room complete with twists and turns around every corner — or every trap door. Take the Pleasure Island suite, for example, which is described perfectly as what would happen "if Pirates of the Caribbean and The Goonies got together and had a love child." Or, if you've been dreaming of a trip to the love capital of the world, the Night in Paris suite, featuring its very own Paris Café and Moulin Rouge experience, definitely won't disappoint.
No matter which suite you choose, be prepared to solve riddles and puzzles in order to unlock entry into new rooms and experiences that will blow your mind. Along the way, you might stumble upon hidden tunnels, surprise saunas, secret karaoke rooms, or even a chocolate fondue experience. The rooms are designed to deepen intimacy and romance and come with instructions guiding you through immersive activities like body painting, Reiki and hot stone massages. Booking is simple: reserve the suite you want, check in like any regular Airbnb, and prepare to play while you stay.
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Embrace Nostalgia at The Mountain Lake Lodge (aka the Dirty Dancing movie set)
Mountain Lake Lodge in Pembroke, Virginia, the lodge location for the film "Dirty Dancing."
Tatanka/Alamy Stock Photo
As the movie's soundtrack suggests, you'll have “the time of your life” at the retreat where Dirty Dancing was filmed back in the 1980s. On select weekends, this charming mountain lodge located in Pembroke, Virginia, hosts themed getaways dedicated to the iconic film, complete with scavenger hunts, trivia and, of course, plenty of dance lessons. Just how dirty these lessons get is entirely up to you! All meals are included in these three-day, two-night packages. If you've ever dreamed of perfecting that famous lift with your beloved, this is the getaway for you. Check the website for dates and pricing.
Invest in Your Relationship with an IntimacyMoons Couples’ Retreat
If it feels like your relationship needs a breakthrough more than a getaway, IntimacyMoons offers a compelling solution. For couples experiencing complacency, disconnection, affair recovery or libido mismatch, these personalized, therapy-based retreats ask you to put in the work. This is luxury travel with a purpose, and it comes with a price tag to match; consider it a meaningful investment that will pay off long after your vacation ends. Clients choose where their clinician-led retreat takes place, with options including Barbados, Miami, St. Lucia, Washington D.C. and Martha's Vineyard. Your package includes a pre-retreat dinner with your therapist, up to nine hours of private couples therapy, a couples massage and a post-retreat check-in. Using research-backed tools like the Gottman Method, IntimacyMoons helps couples replace destructive patterns with deep friendship, healthier conflict resolution, and lasting connection. And you'll leave with a toolbelt you can rely on for years to come.
Wonder Together at a Cape Canaveral Rocket Launch
People visit the Apollo Saturn V Center at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Merritt Island, Florida.
Paul Hennessy/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
It's easy to get lost in the problems and monotony of everyday life. Witnessing a mega human creation (over a million pounds of steel and fuel) take off and disappear into space has a way of reminding you just how vast the universe really is, and how small your problems are by comparison. It's also a reminder that, sometimes, with enough passion, grit and commitment, even the impossible becomes possible. With launches scheduled every few days, the Kennedy Space Center invites visitors to experience a rocket launch up close and personal. Those who have been there before describe it as “one of the most awe-inspiring things I have ever witnessed,” and “a stunning and visceral experience.” For a general admission fee of around $75, you’ll gain a full-day experience with access to the closest viewing area and the opportunity to touch an actual piece of the moon at the on-site museum. Book a room at the nearby Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront property and extend your stay. This beachfront hotel has a resort feel, with on-site tiki bars, restaurants and a café/gelato shop. The best part? You can view the launch from the sandy beaches for no additional cost. Build flexibility into your trip, as launch times shift frequently and delays are part of the adventure.
What do you say, girlfriends? Isn’t it time to pack your bags and fall in love all over again?
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