By David B. Ryan
According to the Greeting Card Association, May and June are top months for weddings and honeymoons, with nearly 99 percent of newlyweds taking some sort of honeymoon then. Some couples enjoy the mild late spring weather for their honeymoon, but others prefer the climate for their special time to be warm and balmy. While many couples take trips to the
Caribbean, the Bahamas or Jamaica, the Continental U.S. and
Canada also have many locations that are perfect for honeymooners.
San Antonio, Texas
May temperatures in San Antonio average 86 degrees during the day and 65 degrees in the evening. The city has countless outdoor venues, including a Riverwalk with shops, dining venues and historic hotels. Stay in one of the bed and breakfasts or restored hotels in the historic King William Historic District for a unique honeymoon experience.
King William Historic District
South Alamo Street to South St. Mary's Street
(National Register Historic District)
New Orleans, Louisiana
The city of New Orleans is fully operational, with repairs made to the top sites and locations that experienced damage during Hurricane Katrina. The month of May in the Big Easy is loaded with music and fine food. Dine at the historic Commander's Palace in the Garden District of the city. Zagat's 2009 survey listed the establishment as the most popular restaurant in the city, a title the restaurant held for 17 years before Katrina closed it down for a time. Hit Tipitina's for an evening of music. They offer a vast array of groups and soloists, many of them internationally-known artists from the New Orleans area.
Commander's Palace Restaurant
1403 Washington Avenue
New Orleans, LA
(504) 899-8221
Tipitina's
501 Napoleon Avenue
New Orleans, LA
(504) 895-TIPS
Balboa Island, California
May weather can bring what the locals call "June Gloom" or it may bring warm winds and sunny skies. Either weather pattern makes for a perfect honeymoon in Balboa, a part of the city of Newport beach. Stay at the historic Balboa Inn, located on the street leading to the pier. Rent bicycles to ride on the nearly 3-mile-long boardwalk, or skate along the sidewalks and enjoy the ocean breezes. Take the bicycle on the oldest U.S. operating ferry to Balboa Island for a ride around the island. Room rates depend on the room selected, the season and the day of the week.
Balboa Inn
105 Main Street
Newport Beach, California
(949) 675-3412
The Upper Peninsula
Michigan's Upper Peninsula offers adventure, romance and natural beauty. May is the perfect time to avoid the summer crowds. Go camping or spend romantic nights in bed and breakfasts located throughout the area. Mackinac Island is the home of the historic Grand Hotel that was constructed in 1886. Rent the honeymoon suite and dine on room service for a special evening. Walk on the sandy beach and view the waters of Lake Huron, or take a romantic stroll on the world's longest front porch. Autos are not allowed on the island, and the boat trip to the hotel is part of the adventure. Room rates at the Grand Hotel begin at $235 and extend up to $395 for the exclusive "Named Rooms." These must be booked early.
Grand Hotel
1 Grand Avenue
P.O. Box 286
Mackinac Island, MI
(800) 33GRAND
Point Pelee National Park
If hiking, biking and bird watching in crisp lake air under the warm sun sound like ideal activities, Canada's Point Pelee National Park is the May destination for a honeymoon. The park is located next to Leamington (not far from Windsor), Ontario, on the shores of the longest natural beach in the county. Popular park activities are bird and butterfly viewing, hiking, cycling, and swimming. Rent bikes to cycle along the woodland trails, walk along the boardwalk, explore the huge marsh, or swim in Lake Erie.
Point Pelee National Park of Canada
407 Monarch Lane, RR 1
Leamington, Ontario
Canada
N8H 3V4
(888) 773-8888
Resources
About the Author:
David B. Ryan has been a professional writer since 1989. His work includes various books, articles for "The Plain Dealer" in Cleveland and essays for Oxford University Press. Ryan holds degrees from the University of Cincinnati and Indiana University and certifications in emergency management and health disaster response.
