While there are plenty of beautiful towns in Europe that have old world charm and all-inclusive resorts in Asia that offer luxurious getaways at reasonable prices, sometimes the amount of cash in your wallet simply doesn’t live up to your glorious trip plans. However, if you are dreaming of taking a romantic getaway with your sweetheart in 2016, there is no real reason to actually leave the United States. Romantic weekends are closer then you think.

Flights between cities definitely won’t set you back as much as hopping across the pond will and the money you save on airfare could be put to better use, such as room service at the fanciest hotel in town. With that in mind, here are three of my favorite towns to visit in the United States.

Romantic Weekends

New Orleans

Built by French settlers centuries ago on the banks of the bayou, this town was nearly flattened a decade ago when Hurricane Katrina tore into it. However, the resilient citizens of New Orleans rebuilt their city from the ground up to be even better than ever. The warm, year round temperatures found here are certainly a plus for visitors.

Outdoor activities such as walking around the scenic downtown area, cruising the local waterways, and riding on one of the oldest street cars in the United States are popular activities for romantic weekends.

The local cuisine is another reason to put this town on your travel list. Spicy Cajun food like gumbo and traditional French food like beignets are a great reason to visit this unique city. New Orleans is also known for its fresh, plentiful seafood, which means that an elegant evening out in this town certainly won’t be spoiled by a lackluster fish entrée.

San Francisco

Just mentioning California brings certain images to mind. San Francisco easily escapes the grit of Los Angeles and the glitter of Hollywood to be a truly great destination for couples looking to spend wonderful romantic weekends.

This walk easy town gives travelers a lot of activities in a small amount of space, if you don’t mind getting a workout on the hilly landscape. Popular activities in this town include riding in the cable cars, taking in the view of the Golden Gate Bridge, visiting the local museums, and strolling through the area’s many historic neighborhoods. There are also plenty of green outdoor spaces for travelers to enjoy.

Of course, city visitors certainly won’t go hungry during their stay. In fact, the restaurants in San Francisco feature a wide variety of authentic Asian cuisines that set the town apart from other spots in the area. However, as is the case with any large city, there are some areas of San Francisco that are best avoided and travelers will definitely want to familiarize themselves with these places before making hotel reservations.

Miami

Although this vibrant beach side town immediately conjures up the identically titled song by Will Smith, there is far more romance to this tropical destination than the aforementioned lyrics would imply. Of course, the constantly warm weather and the sandy shores are a major draw for city visitors but there is far more to Miami than beach related activities.

This town has plenty of museums, historic sites, and green spaces that are sure to pique travelers’ interests. Meanwhile, nearby spots such as Key West and the Everglades National Park make excellent day trips for those that need a break from the big city.

As far as finding tasty treats to eat, travelers should be aware that Caribbean flavors dominate the restaurant scene in Miami but fusion dishes also remain very popular menu items. Once the sun sinks into the waves, couples will be easliy find romantic weekends and be delighted to retire to any of the many comfortable boutique hotels that can be in the South Beach area.

Where is your favorite place in the U.S. to spend romantic weekends? Have you been to any of my favorite on the above list? Share your experiences with us!