17 Most Romantic Food Vacations In America

There's nothing like a romantic getaway to fan the flames between you and someone you love — especially when that getaway involves fantastic food that you can experience even if you never leave your hotel room. The key is to find the right hotel. But don't worry — we've got you covered. Here are 17 of America's most romantic food vacations. 

The Chateau Chantal bed-and-breakfast is located 12 miles north of Traverse City, Michigan, on the Old Mission Peninsula. Couples don't come to the picturesque hotel just for views of vineyards and fresh water, though. They also visit for the array of cooking classes offered January through April by chef Perry Harmon. Wine lovers can explore local wineries located on the two peninsulas extending north from Traverse City — the Leelanau Peninsula and the Old Mission Peninsula. The area, which is famous for its chardonnay, riesling, and pinot grigio, is particularly attractive for couples looking to find up-and-coming wine regions. 

For couples who have a strong desire to hone their culinary skills together, a weekend (or even a week) in beautiful St. Helena, California, at the Culinary Institute of America is a perfect getaway. The CIA offers an array of boot camp classes for couples on a variety of topics, like French, Asian, and Mediterranean cuisine, that explore the ingredients, flavor profiles, and cooking techniques of the different regions. Given that the CIA grounds are only minutes from wine country, couples have the options of staying in St. Helena, Napa, or neighboring Yountville. Southbridge Napa Valley is located right in St. Helena and offers a dining and wine package for two that includes an evening's accommodations as well as a bottle of Merryvale Winery's cabernet sauvignon and a box of chocolates upon arrival.

Forget staying in a hotel or bed-and-breakfast for your romantic getaway and try upgrading to the Fort Marcy Condo Suites in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and taste your way through the engaging city. Couples can sign up for the Southwestern Foodie Fiesta, a three-day food adventure located in the foothills of the southern Rocky Mountains. The program includes a hands-on cooking class that features the local flavors and a gourmet dinner at Luminaria, which is famous for its contemporary American cuisine accented by bold Southwest and Santa Fe influences. Beyond food, couples can experience the rich culture coupled with the beautiful weather of Santa Fe by exploring activities from the theater and the opera to the rodeo and geocaching adventures.

This beautiful chateau atop Huckleberry Mountain in the Poconos is perfect for couples looking for some peace, quiet, and great food. Enjoy a fine French dinner (proper attire required) at their elegant candlelit dining room, and if you plan your trip according to your taste buds, make sure you're there during the last Wednesday of any month — that's when you can sign up for a special eight- to 10-course Chef's Table dinner. You'll enjoy fresh fish, choice meats, and herbs and produce from the onsite garden.

The Heathman Hotel offers a Fifty Shades of Grey package. Enough said. According to their website, the main characters frequent the Heathman for the scandalizing room suite scenes, but also for refreshments in the bar and the exquisite dining experience in their private restaurant space. While high tea at the hotel lounge is not to be missed, neither are the city's many other culinary treasures. 

They say Virginia is for lovers. At the Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, the hotel knows the way to a person's heart is through his or her stomach — which is exactly why they offer a wide array of romantic dining vacation packages. The aptly named packages include the Sweetheart Package, Shared Wines and Treasured Times, Bed and Breakfast, and For the Love of Food. Packages boast a variety of activities, from visits to neighboring D.C. wineries to a decadent spa experience that includes fine chocolate truffles. Additional dining options include five restaurants right on the Potomac, where the culinary staff presents farm-to-fork concepts utilizing local products from Northern Virginia farms and wineries.

The warmth of a cabin-style elite hotel can be quite alluring, and an extended stay at The Point in the Adirondacks is the quintessential backdrop for a romantic tryst. The private Adirondack estate built by William Avery Rockefeller a century ago as his family's vacation home is now a sprawling hotel with a dining program headed by chef Loic Leperlier. Guests at The Point often dine together with other couples in the Great Hall, forging bonds and creating a jovial atmosphere. Guests can also enjoy snow barbecues at the lean-to, luncheons on the terrace, island picnics, and cocktails on the Elco — as well as intimate dinners for two in the guest rooms.

The Big Easy is known for its rich cultural history, music, and, of course, local cuisine. Situated right on the edge of the French Quarter on Canal Street, one block from Bourbon Street, the Ritz-Carlton offers traditional Southern ambience, including gorgeous interior design, with, furnishings and art from the Garden District's antebellum mansions. If the mood strikes, the New Orleans Culinary Experience Tour stops off at two of the city's most celebrated historic restaurants — Antoine's and Tujague's — where couples can learn the difference between Creole and Cajun cuisine firsthand.