Places worth getting lost

Mackinac Island is the romantic escape you didn't know you needed

You don't have to be in a relationship to understand why certain places feel inherently romantic: the light, the pace, and the way they seem to slow time down. Whether you have been married for forty years, are navigating a thrilling new relationship, or are simply craving a soul-stirring escape with a dear friend or on your own, these destinations have a way of making you feel more alive. From the gas-lit cobblestone streets of Charleston to the horse-drawn carriages of Mackinac Island, here are 10 places that will show you exactly what makes them so special and unlike anywhere else.

Perched on a peninsula between two rivers on the South Carolina coast, Charleston is an easy drive from Charlotte or Savannah, and well-connected by air. Savor the slow pace of the Lowcountry as you wander past 18th-century row houses along Rainbow Row, cross the iconic Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge on foot, and sit down to world-class Southern cuisine — shrimp and grits, she-crab soup — on gas-lit cobblestone streets.

The historic Battery promenade, lined with antebellum mansions, makes for an unforgettable evening stroll.

Sitting in the straits between Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas, Mackinac Island is accessible only by ferry from Mackinaw City or St. Ignace. Once you arrive, motorized vehicles disappear entirely — the island has banned cars since 1898 — leaving only horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, and the sound of the wind off Lake Huron.

Stroll the 8-mile perimeter path, stop for a slice of the island's famous fudge, and settle into one of the rocking chairs on the 660-foot-long porch of the Grand Hotel, the longest in the world, as the afternoon light fades across the straits.

A short drive from Charleston and easily reached by air, Savannah is a city that seems to exist slightly outside of ordinary time. Lose yourselves under a canopy of Spanish moss and ancient oaks in Forsyth Park, wander through the city's 22 landmark squares — each one a shaded, fountain-centered oasis — and browse the boutiques and galleries of the storied City Market district.

Come evening, a ghost tour through the cobblestone streets of the historic district reveals a darker, more deliciously mysterious side of this living, breathing Southern postcard.

Strung along the southernmost tip of Florida and connected to the mainland by the Overseas Highway, one of the most scenic drives in the country, the Keys offer a laid-back, "end-of-the-road" feeling that is difficult to replicate anywhere else. Spend your days snorkeling above the only living coral reef in the continental U.S., kayaking through mangrove tunnels, or simply watching the sky turn impossible shades of orange and pink from a dock in Key West, where the nightly Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square draws locals and visitors alike.

Just an hour north of San Francisco, Napa Valley is one of America's most celebrated wine regions, home to over 400 wineries tucked into rolling, sun-drenched hills. Hop between tastings at iconic estates like Castello di Amorosa or Robert Mondavi, linger over a long farm-to-table lunch, or take a breathtaking sunrise hot air balloon ride over the valley floor as the morning mist lifts from the vines. The town of Yountville, home to Thomas Keller's legendary French Laundry, is a destination in itself.

Located in the heart of the Hawaiian archipelago, Maui is accessible by direct flights from most major U.S. cities. Watch the sun melt into the Pacific from the black sand beaches of Waianapanapa State Park, or hold hands along the legendary Road to Hana: a winding, 64-mile coastal drive past waterfalls, rainforests, and sea cliffs that feels like the mainland is a world away.

For the adventurous, a pre-dawn drive to the Haleakalā summit rewards you with one of the most breathtaking sunrises on earth.

Tucked along the rocky Big Sur coastline about two hours south of San Francisco, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a place that somehow manages to look like it was imagined rather than built. Stroll through its fairy-tale stone cottages and secret garden courtyards, explore the tide pools of Carmel Beach at low tide, and visit the nearby 18th-century Mission San Carlos Borroméo.

Evenings here feel intimate and otherworldly, the kind of place where you find yourself walking more slowly without quite knowing why.

Nestled in Colorado's Elk Mountains and reachable by a scenic drive from Denver or by regional flight, Aspen is as breathtaking in autumn as it is in the heart of winter. Ski world-class slopes at four different mountains in the snowy months, then return in October to witness the hillsides blaze gold as the aspen trees turn, a spectacle that locals call "the golden season."

The town itself, with its blend of Victorian architecture, cozy fireplaces, and high-end galleries and restaurants along Galena Street, provides ample reason to linger long after the slopes close.

About two hours south of the Grand Canyon and 30 minutes from the Verde Valley Wine Trail, Sedona sits surrounded by some of the most dramatically beautiful landscapes in North America. The iconic red rock formations — Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte — provide a jaw-dropping backdrop for sunset jeep excursions, guided vortex hikes, and long, candlelit dinners on restaurant terraces.

Many visitors describe leaving Sedona feeling strangely restored, something the locals attribute to the area's famous energy vortexes.

The oldest state capital in the U.S., Santa Fe sits at 7,000 feet in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, about an hour from Albuquerque. Wander the ancient adobe streets of the downtown Plaza, browse more than 250 galleries along Canyon Road — considered one of the most important art markets in the world — and warm up with a bowl of authentic green chile stew or a plate of carne adovada.

The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum and the centuries-old San Miguel Mission are landmarks not to be missed.