America's Most Romantic Restaurants

Sunset views, saucy cuisine, seductive wine lists: let the sparks fly at America’s most romantic restaurants.

River's End Sonoma County CA

You know the clichés: long-stemmed roses, soft lighting, strolling violinists.
Well, forget all that. Real romantic restaurants have cut the fluff. Instead, they’ve focused on what’s really important: great food and wine, excellent service, and an authentic ambience.
We think it’s pretty simple: a great romantic restaurant should make you feel the way a great romantic partner does—appreciated, special, and like you’re the only person in the room. From cozy mountaintop huts to candlelit seaside enclaves, here’s where to find America’s most romantic restaurants. For that great partner, though, you’re on your own.
River’s End 
Sonoma County, CA 
Sure, ocean sunsets are a romantic cliché, but that doesn’t make them any less dramatic. And sunset views from every table out over the Pacific Ocean and Russian River bathe the River’s End in romance. The wine (heavy on area vintages, of course) and food only add to the experience. Share the succulent Dungeness crab—fresh off the Sonoma Coast fishing boats—and don’t miss the made-for-two crème brûlée with bourbon-soaked vanilla beans and chocolate ganache.

10 Best Beach Destinations for 2011

When the temperatures drop and the hassles of everyday life start to overwhelm, it's comforting to know we can escape to the warm sun and surf of a beach. Luckily, there are great beach destinations located in all corners of the globe, and you're bound to find one that's a perfect fit for you. With that in mind, we asked our readers and scoured the world for 10 places that embody the perfect beach getaway for 2011.

Anse Lazio

Seychelles

With Emirates Airlines increasing its daily flights to Seychelles, it's easier than ever to visit the archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Our readers recommend Anse Lazio on Praslin, Seychelles' second largest island, for an ideal beach getaway. Nestled in Chevalier Bay, Anze Lazio feels like a hidden oasis, thanks to the giant granite boulders that shelter its white sandy beach and bright turquoise sea. The shoreline remains largely untouched by buildings, aside from a few beach bars and restaurants located back amongst the palm trees, and a coral reef that keeps the waters calm also makes for an ideal snorkeling and swimming spot.