Life Lessons in Romance

By Linda Holloway / Photography by Holloway Photography

We instruct our children in a variety of life lessons, but what about romance and love? Most importantly, the tradition of a romantic relationship between their role models—parents and grandparents. For our wedding anniversary, Larry and I enjoy our “escape for a date” to a romantic destination. For our “first date” anniversary, we enjoy a meal at a fine dining establishment in Tuscaloosa. Last year, we invited our grandson, Gunnar, for a road trip to retrace the steps of our first date—1968 style.

Beach Escape Hilton Sandestin Beach

Whether splashing under the summer sun or strolling along a secluded beach on Valentines Day, a beach escape is pure serenity. For the ultimate romantic lodging, enjoy the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa—the largest waterfront luxury hotel along the Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Request a Deluxe Junior Suite overlooking one of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Sleep late enveloped by posh linens and surrounded by elegant décor, but it is the sprawling sunsets from your balcony that will bring you back next year. Wind your way to the beach and pick up a logoed T-Shirt or hat to remember your Hilton Sandestin experience. Schedule a couple’s day at Serenity by the sea – the Spa at Hilton Sandestin Beach. Now you are relaxed for a romantic evening of fine dining at Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood—the Hilton’s onsite AAA Four-diamond restaurant. Request Seagar’s piano man, Ray, to “play” your song. Dining is also available with advance notice in the private wine room.

For activities within the 2,400-acre Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort community, enjoy water sports, 15 tennis courts, and four championship golf courses. Stroll along the popular Village of Baytowne Wharf that offers shops, nightlife venues and restaurants—including the romantic Bistro Bijoux. Enjoy the Village of Baytowne Wharf’s musical entertainment from Jimmy Buffett-style to rock ‘n’ roll. Escape from the crowd by walking to the Grand Lawn where gas lanterns light the way along the shell-paved Market Street. For Hilton Sandestin reservations, 1-800-367-1271, or visit www.hiltonsandestinbeach.com. For Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 1-866-293-4833 or visit www.sandestin.com. For area tourist information, 1-800-822-6877, or visit www.beachesofsouthwalton.com.

Historic Escape
The Mansion on Forsyth Park With a setting straight from the cover of a romance novel, The Mansion on Forsyth in Savannah, Georgia, combines history and romance for an idyllic romantic escape. The renowned Kessler Collection has masterfully merged New York/Miami chic with yesteryear in their 126-room AAA Four-Diamond boutique property. The hotel’s cornerstone, a restored 19th-century Victorian-Romanesque Revival mansion, houses the gourmet 700 Drayton Restaurant.

In the lobby you will find Versace furniture and 200-year-old Verona marble columns. The lavish interior features over 400 pieces of art. The rooms are decorated with plush bedding topped with a carved rococo headboard, and double doors opened to reveal the oversized soaking tub. The Bohemian Jacuzzi rooms are also popular. The Mansion is the “go-to” place for celebrities such as Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner as well as Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. The Poseidon Spa’s “Couples Massage” is a must-do, and make reservations for a romantic evening at 700 Drayton Restaurant.

Savannah was tagged as one of “The Best Romantic Getaways in the World” in Travel + Leisure Magazine in 2009. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride or stroll 22 public squares. Stop and kiss in front of the famous Forsyth Park Fountain and roam City Market and River Street for shopping and entertainment. Visit the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace and Telfair’s Owens-Thomas House. For fans of the book and film, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” visit the Mercer-Williams House. Old Town Trolley’s “Ghost and Gravestone Tour” stops at the Sorrel-Weed House. For lunch, you may spot Paula Deen at The Lady and Sons Restaurant, and for an intimate evening dining experience, try the historic Olde Pink House, circa 1771.

Mansion on Forsyth Park, 1-888-711-5114, or visit www.mansiononforsythpark.com. For area tourist information, 1-877-Savannah, or visit www.savannahvisit.com.

Sweet Home Alabama
Alabama has an abundance of romantic destinations including Montgomery, Alabama. Check in at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center located in the cultural and culinary hub of the downtown revitalization. The upscale hotel is part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail & Resorts. The luxurious rooms and suites is one reason this luxury hotel deserves AAA’s Four Diamond award. For golfing couples, the hotel is less than 10 minutes from the Capitol Hill site on the RTJ Golf Trail. Top entertainment is just steps away at the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre where David Copperfield and Willie Nelson are among the performers for 2010. You can also walk to the Alley, downtown’s new entertainment district. Make sure you try Chef Ted Noble’s famous Shrimp & Grits at the popular Olive Room downtown, and Country music fans will enjoy the Hank Williams Museum that displays Williams’ personal belongings and his 1952 Cadillac.

Step aboard the Harriott II and enjoy a romantic dinner cruise along the Alabama River. Spend some time in Blount Cultural Park, roaming the lush landscaped park complete with lakes and fountains. The Montgomery Museum of Fine Art and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival (ASF) are located here as well. The ASF is one of the ten largest Shakespeare Theatres in the world and has attracted more than three million visitors from all 50 states and more than 60 foreign countries. Hamlet and All’s Well that Ends Well are among the plays for 2010. The Montgomery Museum of Art is where you will find an Edward Hopper original, New York Office, 1962.

Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa, 1-877-545-0311, www.renaissancemontgomery.com. For area tourist information, 1-800-240-9452, www.visitingmontgomery.com.

Bluff and Beach—Alabama Style
For other Alabama romantic spots, visit The Lodge at Gorham’s Bluff in Pisgah. The three-story white wooden lodge boasts six guest rooms with gas logs. Our favorite room—the King Room, complete with a private porch that overlooks the Tennessee River Valley. The Lodge has previously been tagged by readers in Southern Living as one of the romantic spots in Alabama. Enjoy a candlelight dinner and ask for a gourmet box lunch that is perfect for a picnic along the hiking trails, 256-451-8439, www.gorhamsbluff.com. On the way to the beach, make sure you stop by author Harper Lee’s hometown of Monroeville first for a performance of the play, “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Celebrate with the locals on this the 50th anniversary of the famous book. Check for designated performance dates in April and May. For tickets, 251-575-7433, www.tokillamockingbird.com. Less than 2.5 hours from Monroeville, lodge at the Beach Club in Gulf Shores. Located along Fort Morgan Road and overlooking the Gulf, the resort offers a relaxed atmosphere. Enjoy tennis courts, pools and make time during your “escape” to enjoy the European spa, which offer one-of-a kind treatments, and features exclusive Sonya Dakar products that have been featured in Glamour magazine, 1-866-627-1259, www.beachclubal.com. For more Alabama destinations, call Alabama Tourism Department, 1-800-ALABAMA or visit www.alabama.travel.