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Put away your passport, and say good-bye to jet lag: These romantic spots are perfect escapes-and they're right in our own backyard!

Don't want to travel far for your honeymoon? No problem. There are plenty of romantic escapes right here in the U.S.A.—some around the corner, some just a road trip away. They promise fun, adventure and a much-needed dose of relaxation. From Maine to California, we've sought out the most beautiful retreats in the country. Call it love, American style!

The Maine Coast

With a stretch of tiny (and not-so-tiny) seaside towns located along the rumbling Atlantic Ocean, Maine has long been a summer getaway for Boston-area residents—it's just an hour-and-a-half drive north. Lighthouses, antiques shops and lobster shacks make this New England region a particularly tempting setting for honeymooners. And since the Bush clan has a vacation home in Kennebunkport, it even boasts a "Presidential Seal of Approval."

Go Play: Catch some rays on Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport, or at Gooch's Beach in nearby Kennebunk. Stuck with a cloudy day? Buy a piece of furniture for your new digs in one of the many antiques shops along Route 4—it's dubbed "Antiques Alley" for good reason.

Party Hearty: At night, lift a glass of Guinness, pulled straight from the tap, at Alisson's on Dock Square, Kennebunkport's most popular pub For more information visit alissons.com.

Good Eats: Nunan's Lobster Hut, in Cape Porpoise, is one of the most popular spots to crack open a two- or three-pound lobster, served up with soft potato rolls and pickles, and followed by slices of house-made blueberry pie. Just don't expect anything fancy, and don't be shy about putting on that bib. For more information call 207-967-4362.

Sleep Well: The posh White Barn Inn in Kennebunkport is the antique-filled New England inn of your dreams. All 25 rooms come with four-poster beds, period furnishings and wood-burning fireplaces that are perfect for those chilly nights. Ask about the four new waterfront cottages, which come with kitchenettes so you can boil your own fresh-from-the-Atlantic lobsters, or at least make some morning coffee. For more information call 207-967-2321 or visit whitebarninn.com. —Jill Fergus

Stowe, Vermont

For a healthy dose of New England charm, head to this historic village in northern Vermont's Green Mountains, a mere five-hour drive north of New York City. Stroll the streets, lined with restored colonial buildings that house restaurants, art galleries and craft shops. You'll also enjoy Stowe's natural scenery and fun activities, including skiing in winter and mountain biking in the warmer months.

Go Play: In the summertime, hike to the top of 4,395-foot-tall Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak. In winter, strap on your skis and schuss down the trails at Stowe Mountain Resort—you can hit everything from bunny slopes to double black diamonds.

Party Hearty: Before settling in for the night, no matter the season, stop by the chalet-style Rusty Nail Saloon for a few drinks—there's live music and dancing on the weekends. For more information call 802-253-6245.

Good Eats: After a long day of snowshoeing or biking, what you really want is a quiet, relaxing dinner for two. Our choice? The Restaurant Swisspot. Defrost with a cheese-topped bowl of onion soup, then share an order of fondue, raclette or another Swiss specialty. It's a warm and wonderful ending to an active day. For more information call 802-253-4622.

Sleep Well: The nine-room Stone Hill Inn may be just a couple of years old, but it has plenty of old-fashioned country charm. Here, you'll find four-poster beds, sunken Jacuzzi tubs for two and gas fireplaces situated in the wall between the bathroom and the bed so that you can always stay nice and toasty. For more information call 802-253-6282 or visit stonehillinn.com. —J.F.

Hilton Head, South Carolina

Hilton Head island may be connected to the mainland by bridge, but it's worlds away from the crowds and congestion of nearby Myrtle Beach, and just a six-hour drive north of Atlanta. There are 12 miles of beaches, all studded with rugged sand dunes, as well as natural marshes and giant oak trees dripping with Spanish moss. You'll also find championship golf courses, plenty of tennis courts and miles of bike paths that ring the island. This is one sunny trip that requires flip-flops and sneakers.

Go Play: Worship the sun on lovely Coligny Beach, one of Hilton Head's most popular strands. Then, tee up on the Harbour Town Golf Links, considered by many to be the island's most challenging golf course. For more information call 888-807-6873.

Party Hearty: In the evening, join both tourists and locals alike at the Salty Dog Café, located right on the dock, to toss back a few cold ones under the stars. It's the place to go on the island, as evidenced by the fact that you'll see lots of "Salty Dog" T-shirts doubling as beach cover-ups during the day. For more information call 843-363-2198 or visit saltydogcafe.com.

Good Eats: The Old Oyster Factory, overlooking Broad Creek, is a Hilton Head landmark. Built on the site of the island's original oyster cannery, the 75-year-old menu is still filled with the seafood specialties you'll crave after a day of breathing in salty sea air. Choose from rich oysters Rockefeller, steamed shrimp . . . and Southern fried catfish, of course. For more information call 843-681-6040 or visit oldoysterfactory.com.

Sleep Well: At the Main Street Inn, all the gas-lit walkways lead to quiet courtyards and Charleston-style formal gardens, complete with fragrant jasmine blossoms and gardenia bushes. The 33 rooms at this plantation-style inn feature antique four-poster beds and fireplaces. You can also expect heart-of-pine wood floors, after-dinner cordials and enough fine china for a Southern belle's trousseau. For more information call 843-681-3001 or visit mainstreetinn.com. –J.F.

Little Palm Island, Florida

You don't have to travel to a far-flung South Pacific island to find your own romantic cottage by the sea. Little Palm, a private island resort, is a mere three-mile boat ride off the Florida Keys. Go ahead and kiss cars, TVs, alarm clocks and telephones good-bye—this island paradise is a true escape.

Go Play: Stroll through the resort's spiritual Zen-inspired, palm-lined garden. Drift off for a nap in a hammock, or lounge on the sugary, white-sand beach. Feel like a dip? Swim, snorkel or go deep-sea fishing, sailing and scuba diving in the deep blue sea.

Party Hearty: Schedule a late-afternoon massage, and then retire to your room early. You can order up a bottle of champagne and have your own in-room party for two in the Jacuzzi.

Good Eats: You could dine in the lovely Little Palm Dining Room, but we have another idea. Ask the resort to set up a table for two on the beach. You'll indulge in shrimp with watermelon by tiki torchlight while on the lookout for deer and birds.

Sleep Well: The 30 one-room Little Palm cottages may stand on stilts in a grove of coconut palms, but they're as luxe as can be. Each cottage is outfitted with a king-size bed draped with a filmy net canopy, a whirlpool bath and a sexy, bamboo-enclosed outdoor shower. For more information call 800-343-8567 or visit littlepalmisland.com. —Katharine Dyson

Mackinac Island, Michigan

Just four hours by car from Detroit and seven hours from Chicago, this lakeside retreat started out as a popular weekend escape for those cities' wealthy industrialists. Today, residents and visitors alike maintain the old-world style by traveling around on foot, by bicycle or by horse-and-buggy, thanks to an 1898 law that banned motor vehicles.

Go Play: Choose among the island's favorite pastimes—horseback riding, tennis, swimming and biking.

Party Hearty: This is a very laid-back place, so don't expect any crazy nights out. In the evening, you can stroll hand in hand with your guy, admiring the flower-filled gardens and magnificent Victorian summer places built by industry magnates, or take a horse-drawn carriage ride around the island.

Good Eats: The Iroquois Hotel's Carriage House restaurant offers great views of the Straits of Mackinac. Request a window-side or terrace table, and start off with North Michigan smoked fish, followed by broiled Lake Superior whitefish or salmon marinated in Sherry. Satisfy your sweet tooth with ice cream puffs served with local fudge. For more information call 906-847-3321 or visit iroquoishotel.com.

Sleep Well: The grande dame of the island is the all-inclusive 386-room Grand Hotel. Red-coated coachmen greet arrivals at this National Historic Landmark, and guests still play croquet on the lawn and dress up for dinner. Settle into one of the rocking chairs on the sprawling 660-foot front porch, or dance to live big band music in the Terrace Room nightclub. Try to book room #314, where a wall of windows offers an excellent view of the lake. For more information call 800-334-7263 or visit grandhotel.com. —Debbi Karpowicz Kickham

Door County, Wisconsin

Known as the Cape Cod of the Midwest, sprawling Door County is located on a lanky 75-mile-long peninsula that juts into pristine Green Bay—a five-hour drive from Chicago and a mere three-hour drive from Milwaukee. The region is celebrated for its picturesque harbor towns and lush cherry and apple orchards.

Go Play: Spend your days exploring the shops and galleries in the picturesque villages of Ephraim, Fish Creek and Sister Bay, located just 10 minutes apart on Highway 42. You'll inevitably pick up some pretty artwork and pottery at one of the many shops there.

Party Hearty: Things tend to shut down early at night in this neck of the woods. Your best bet is to stay in and spend the evening together, snuggling under a cushy quilt in your room with mugs of hot cocoa.

Good Eats: The White Gull Inn in Fish Creek is famous for serving up Door County's traditional dish: the fish boil. You'll sample local whitefish, plucked straight from Lake Michigan and cooked in a kettle over an open fire, as well as red potatoes, cole slaw and rye bread. There'll be cherry pie for dessert—after all, the orchards are practically in the backyard. For more information call 888-364-9542 or visit whitegullinn.com.

Sleep Well: The historic Whistling Swan inn, which is also in Fish Creek, has just seven antique-filled rooms, all overlooking Green Bay. Sip afternoon tea on the porch in a comfy wicker chair and you may not ever want to leave this Norman Rockwell-style inn. For more information visit whistlingswan.com. —J.F.

Texas Hill Country

Just an hour's drive from Austin and San Antonio, Texas' Hill Country is one of the Lone Star State's most picturesque secrets. Fields of wildflowers stretch for miles, and antiques shops and wineries dot the landscape—which seems to stretch forever beneath the warm Texas sun.

Go Play: Take a self-guided tour of 200-acre Wildseed Farms, the nation's largest working wildflower farm. You'll see fields of bright poppies, bluebonnets, sunflowers and herbs—and you can pick up your own seeds in the gift shop. For more information call 800-848-0078 or visit wildseedfarms.com.

Party Hearty: Be sure to visit Luckenbach, a tiny hamlet with a general store, a dance hall, post office—and a bar with a wood-burning iron stove in the center of the room. The town is so small, it's just called The Bar. Bonus: There's usually live music; in fact, Willie Nelson has even been known to stop by. For more information call 830-997-3224 or visit luckenbachtexas.com.

Good Eats: Friedhelm's Bavarian Inn, in the region's main town of Fredericksburg, serves hearty German food, including schnitzel, dumplings and sauerbraten with gingersnap gravy, and pours a large selection of German beers. Order up a mug of Spaten or an Oberdorfer and toast with the traditional "Prosit". For more information call 830-997-6300.

Sleep Well: After a day of touring and exploring, the 40-acre Rose Hill Manor, just outside of Fredericksburg, is the ideal spot to unwind. Sip iced tea in a rocking chair on the country-style porch, or curl up with a book—on wildflowers, of course—in the library with a glass of local wine. For more information call 877-767-3445 or visit rose-hill.com. —J.F.

San Juan Islands, Washington

The pristine islands of San Juan, Orcas and Lopez lie just off the western coast of Washington State. Fortunately, you can reach these shining stars of the Pacific Northwest by the inter-island ferries that run between them and Seattle (about a two-hour ride). Enjoy the beaches, the whale-watching, the fresh Pacific seafood restaurants and the slow, easy pace.

Go Play: In the summer months, whale-watching is the prime activity here. Head to 36-acre Lime Kiln Point State Park on San Juan, and hang out at one of the lookout areas. You can take pictures by the lighthouse, and spy seals and porpoises, too—they often make appearances offshore. For more information call 360-378-2044.

Party Hearty: Sample local wines in the tasting room at family-owned San Juan Vineyards. The wines are favorites in the Puget Sound area. The Syrah is especially good. For more information call 360-378-9463 or visit sanjuanvineyards.com.

Good Eats: San Juan's largest town, Friday Harbor, has a handful of fabulous seafood restaurants, including the Place Next to the San Juan Ferry. (Yes, that's the name!) As with everything on the island, the vibe is casual and the seafood is fresh. This candlelit bistro is a standout for its super waterfront views (it sits right on the ferry landing) and an especially delicious bouillabaisse. For more information call 360-378-8707.

Sleep Well: Check into the Friday Harbor House on San Juan, a romantic inn set high on a hill overlooking the marina. Each of the 20 rooms has a fireplace, natural wood furnishings, a whirlpool tub and a balcony. Rooms include a continental breakfast, which is served with locally roasted coffee and granola. For more information call 866-722-7356 or visit fridayharborhouse.com. —J.F.

Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

This quintessential California getaway offers West Coasters the best of land and sea. Known simply as Carmel, it is located in a cool, shady pine forest that's fringed by a pristine white-sand beach. And, since it is on the Monterey Peninsula, just two hours from San Francisco and six hours from L.A., Carmel-by-the-Sea remains a playground for California-based celebrities, as well as a fun and funky haven for artists and writers.

Go Play: For something a bit more ambitious, pack your in-line skates or rent a pair of bikes and cruise side by side along stunning 17-mile Pebble Beach. You can watch the surfers and the sunners do their thing in the California sunshine.

Party Hearty: For a romantic evening under the stars, pack a picnic, borrow a blanket from your hotel, and take in a play at the Forest Theater. The Pacific Repertory Theater's playhouse stages classic works by Shakespeare as well as more modern pieces, such as "The Buddy Holly Story" and "The Wizard of Oz." It's a beautiful way to enjoy that fabulous California weather. For more information call 831-622-0100 or visit pacrep.org.

Good Eats: Dine alfresco, as is the California way, in the gardens of Porta Bella. This cottage-style restaurant serves up Dungeness crab cakes, Monterey sand dabs (a local flounder) and pork tenderloin with pomegranate glaze in its flower-filled stone courtyard. For more information call 831-624-4395 or visit carmelsbest.com.

Sleep Well: One of the most celebrated beach resorts along the Monterey Peninsula is the 270-room Inn at Spanish Bay, in Pebble Beach. Not only is it a great option for golfers, thanks to the championship course on-site, but it's also incredibly romantic. Expect in-room fireplaces, luxurious marble baths, down comforters and sea-view balconies. For more information call 800-654-9300 or visit pebblebeach.com. —K.D.

Taos, New Mexico

How do smart travelers pick their vacation destinations? They follow the artists. It's true: Wherever you find an arts colony in America, you'll discover a magnificent setting that serves as creative inspiration. And Taos, which is located just 70 miles north of Santa Fe and 315 miles south of Denver, is no exception. It's wedged between the towering peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the plunging chasm of the Rio Grande Gorge, all bathed in ethereal desert light. This small, intimate Southwestern town boasts luxurious adobe-style inns, spicy cuisine, open-air hot tubs and all the Navajo rugs and abstract art necessary to furnish your newlywed home.

Go Play: Raft the rapids of the Rio Grande through narrow canyon walls, or take a hike in the Wild Rivers Recreation Area, where the Rio Grande merges with the Red River. This high desert mesa is carpeted with cacti and the same wildflowers that painter Georgia O'Keeffe depicted on her canvases.

Party Hearty: If the soothing décor at the Adobe Bar in the Taos Inn doesn't smooth your brow, a powerful Cowboy Buddha margarita will. Filled with top-shelf Herradura Tequila and Cointreau, this delicious cocktail packs a powerful punch. For more information call 505-758-7466 or visit taosinn.com.

Good Eats: Add some heat to your palate at Orlando's, Taos' finest New Mexican restaurant. Once you've tasted the hot green chili sauce in the Los Colores dish and breathed fire, cool your mouth with dessert: citrusy and sweet frozen avocado pie. For more information call 505-751-1450.

Sleep Well: Thick adobe walls and open courtyards span the six secluded acres of the Fechin Inn, making it the perfect welcome mat after a day in the hot sun. The 84 rooms and suites, many with fireplaces (for those chilly nights), are decorated with wood carvings created by local artisans. A fitness center, massage rooms and a sublime open-air hot tub enhance the appeal. For more information call 505-751-1000 or visit fechininn.com.