Top 12 Budget Honeymoons in the USA
March 19, 2010— -- Stick close to home and discover a bit of paradise in your own backyard (as well as save on airfare). Here, a dozen of BRIDES magazine's favorite U.S. destinations:
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Known for: Classic American summers. Picture children jingling bicycle bells, old-fashioned main streets, and couples sharing ice-cream cones on after-dinner walks.
Don't miss: Hitting the high seas on a whale-watching trip (humpbacks often surface beside the boat) or a sunset sail around the bay -- bring a blanket (for snuggling) and champagne.
Charleston, South Carolina
Known for: Old-South style, as well as exquisite antebellum homes like Boone Hall Plantation, the inspiration for Gone with the Wind.
Don't miss: Strolling arm-in-arm down King Street in the city's historic district, built by British transplants in the 17th century. The ultimate souvenir? A Carolina four-poster mahogany rice bed.
Green Mountains, Vermont
Known for: Winter skiing and summer canoeing -- plus hiking through some of the nation's most brilliant fall foliage.
Don't miss: The locally tapped maple syrup that turns up on most menus. You can buy it in grades, from light to dark amber, at every country store.
Learn About Top 10 Places to Score Honeymoon Stays for Free at Brides Magazine
Gulf Coast, Florida
Known for: Beaches, beaches, beaches, all on the bathtub-warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. In the north, dunes and sea grass dominate; further south, the strands are wide and long.
Don't miss: The region's high-kitsch southern take on the American summer. This is the unofficial capital of miniature golf. Pay tribute by playing a round.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Known for: Cowboys, ranches, and jagged high-altitude mountains -- great for skiing and snowboarding in winter, horseback riding and hiking in summer months.
Don't miss: An intimate afternoon sleigh ride through the snowy woods and hills of the National Elk Refuge. Follow with a dinner of local wide game at The Granary restaurant.
