Places to Go for an Anniversary Trip

An anniversary trip should feel like more than just another holiday since it’s a celebration, a memory in the making. I’ve sought out destinations where romance and adventure blend seamlessly. From fairytale landscapes and timeless ruins to serene beaches and hidden escapes, here are some unforgettable picks for your next anniversary getaway.

1. Jacksonville, Florida: Ocean Light & River Calm

“Let’s not rush anything,” I thought as we walked along the St. Johns River at golden hour, the water catching pinks and golds from the sinking sun. Jacksonville gave us beaches and skyline, oak trees and art and space to just drift through it all together, no pressure to check a box.

I enjoyed our morning walks on Neptune Beach, where the sand was cool and firm, and the waves just loud enough to fill the quiet without crowding it.

I had brunch at Secret Garden Café. I ordered shrimp and grits with creole butter and a warm biscuit on the side. The shrimp were tender and smoky, the grits creamy and rich, and everything smelled like garlic and bay leaf and sunshine through a window. We ate slowly, enjoying our time together.

2. Breckenridge, Colorado: High Altitude & Slow Mornings

“This air feels like a reset,” I thought as we stepped onto the trail behind our cabin, frost still clinging to the edges of the pine needles. Breckenridge in fall was all gold aspens and woodsmoke, with mountain peaks wrapped in early snow and shops tucked into the kind of downtown that looks like it belongs in a snow globe, even when there’s no snow yet.

What I Loved Most: The stillness between the busy seasons. It was easy to find a trail to ourselves, or a cafe corner where no one cared how long we stayed.

My highlights? Breakfast at Columbine Café. I had sweet potato and bacon hash with fried eggs and housemade toast. It smelled like sage and maple, and the potatoes were crisp and caramelized. We lingered over mugs of strong coffee, boots warming by the fire before heading back out into the mountain light.

3. Lake Havasu City, Arizona: Desert Light & Waterfront Wandering

“How does a place this warm feel this calm?” I thought as we stood on the footpath beneath the London Bridge, the Colorado River slipping by in glassy green. Lake Havasu surprised me. Desert heat balanced by cool water, palm-lined beaches edged by red rock, and just enough retro charm to make the whole town feel like a laid-back time capsule.

What I Loved Most: Strolling along the bridge at sunset, where the sky turned lavender and the river reflected every pastel shade like it was holding onto the day for just a little longer.

My highlights? Lunch at Cha-Bones. I had filet medallions with garlic butter and a side of risotto that smelled like parmesan and roasted shallots. The meat was tender and perfectly seared, and the risotto creamy with just the right bite. We ate slow, under twinkle lights on the patio, the air still warm even as the sky dimmed.

4. Walpole, New Hampshire: Hills, Cider & Hand-Held Quiet

“This is the kind of place you don’t just visit, you settle into,” I thought as we drove down a two-lane road lined with sugar maples, their leaves spinning gold in the breeze. Walpole felt untouched. I admired its white church steeples, country stores with creaky doors, and the hush of fields just beginning to frost.

What I Loved Most: The stillness of it all. We took a slow walk through Alyson’s Orchard, our hands brushing as we picked apples and listened to the leaves whisper above us.

My highlights? Lunch at Walpole Valley Farms’ The Barn. I had a grass-fed burger with cheddar, caramelized onions, and a side of crisp apple slaw. The bun was warm and soft, the beef rich and flavorful, and the slaw bright with cider vinegar and fresh herbs. I could still smell the woodsmoke from the fireplace inside as we stepped back into the chill.

5. Verve Rally, Europe: Scenic Roads & Soulful Speeds

“This isn’t just a drive...it’s a celebration in motion,” I thought as we curved through the Alps, sun bouncing off polished hoods and laughter trailing behind us like exhaust. Verve Rally wasn’t about racing, it was about joy. About seeing Europe’s most iconic roads from behind the wheel of a dream car, with just enough glamour to make every pit stop feel like a film set.

What I Loved Most: The rhythm of the journey. Mornings starting with strong espresso and a map briefing, then engines humming through countryside curves, past vineyards, lakes, and cliffside roads with names that made my heart speed up.

My highlights? A lakeside lunch in Switzerland. I had grilled sea bass with lemon, served on a terrace that smelled of rosemary and crisp mountain air. The fish was delicate and smoky, the olive oil herbaceous, and I lingered with my plate, sun on my arms, supercars glittering in the lot below like oversized jewelry.

6. Loen Skylift, Norway: Height, Silence & Holding Hands Above It All

“The world just got quieter,” I thought as we rose above the fjord, our gondola climbing toward the clouds. The Loen Skylift lifted us from green valley to snowy mountaintop in minutes, but time stretched at the summit. Air was thin and cold, views endless, and everything below looking smaller, softer, quieter.

What I Loved Most: Standing together at the edge of Mount Hoven, wind tugging at our jackets, no sound but breath and wind and the subtle click of the camera. We didn’t say much. It felt like we didn’t need to.

My highlights? Lunch at Hoven Restaurant, right at the summit. I had stew with root vegetables and cloudberry compote. The stew was rich and savory, the meat tender, the broth filled with thyme and something smoky. It smelled like pine, pepper, and the cold. We ate slowly, every bite a warm answer to the wind outside.

7. Scottish Walking Vacation: Miles Together, One Step at a Time

“This is the kind of quiet we needed,” I said as we walked side by side through a green so deep it almost hummed. For our anniversary, we didn’t want fanfare. Instead, we wanted space, and time, and something to share without filling it with too many words. Country Walkers led us along trails that curved through the Scottish Borders, past lochs and old stone fences, where every footstep felt like a shared promise, newly made.

What I Loved Most: That feeling of walking together, in sync but silent, letting the hills do the talking for us.

My highlights? One afternoon, the mist rolled in low and soft, and our group stopped for lunch at a countryside inn. We ate lentil soup. It was hot, peppery, and thick, with oatcakes that crumbled just right. The room smelled of thyme, wet wool, and fresh bread. Later, we followed a trail through purple heather to a view that stretched for miles. I remember squeezing his hand and thinking, “This is exactly how I wanted to spend this year.”

8. Castle Rock, Colorado: Cliffs, Coffee & Time That Lingers

“It feels like the kind of place where the sky knows your name,” I thought as we reached the top of Rock Park, wind moving through scrub oaks and distant peaks sharpening in the afternoon light. Castle Rock had room to breathe. I loved the red rock trails, cozy corners downtown, and a rhythm that made us slow down without even realizing it.

What I Loved Most: Wandering downtown hand in hand, dipping into bookstores and boutiques, then sitting quietly on a bench with no agenda but warmth and stillness.

My highlights? Brunch at Crave Real Burgers. I had a bison burger with roasted poblanos, smoked gouda, and chipotle aioli on a housemade bun. It smelled like char and spice, the meat tender and rich. We split a side of truffle fries and lingered by the window, watching leaves spin down the sidewalk.

9. Eatwith: At Home Around the World

“This feels like the dinner party I always hoped to be invited to,” I thought, sitting at a long wooden table in a stranger’s Parisian apartment, warm light bouncing off wine glasses and the smell of something slow-cooked drifting from the kitchen. Eatwith wasn’t a restaurant. It was an open door. A seat at a local’s table, where the best flavors came with stories, and dessert always came with laughter.

What I Loved Most: The intimacy. It didn’t matter if we were in Barcelona, Lisbon, or Rome. Every host made me feel like an old friend they just hadn’t met yet. The food was homemade, the conversations real, and every dish came with a memory.

My highlights? In Florence, I joined a pasta-making dinner where we rolled out fresh tagliatelle and topped it with a truffle butter sauce. It smelled like earth and cream, the noodles silky and warm. We sat out on a tiny balcony under string lights, plates clinking, the host’s dog curled at our feet.

10. Shop Hop, Buenos Aires: Style, Stories & Strolling Side by Side

“This feels like a love letter dressed in linen,” I thought as we stepped into a sunlit boutique tucked behind ivy-covered walls. With Shop Hop, shopping in Buenos Aires wasn’t about bags or brands. It was about discovery. We wandered with a local guide who knew every secret showroom, artisan studio, and quiet alley humming with design.

What I Loved Most: How personalized it felt. Each stop was tailored to our taste, each conversation layered with history and warmth. It wasn’t just retail therapy. It was cultural connection with a stylish edge.

My highlights? After trying on handmade leather loafers, we stopped at Café Rivas for a quiet lunch. I had grilled provoleta cheese with roasted tomatoes and fresh sourdough. The cheese crackled at the edges, the bread was soft and smoky, and it all smelled like basil and warm wood. We sipped tea, bags at our feet, feeling like locals for an afternoon.

11. Queenstown Sparkle & Glenorchy Stillness

“This feels like a painting I can walk into.” That was the thought that caught me as we stood at the edge of Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown, the water glassy under the Remarkables. The town hummed with energy. I saw cafés spilling out onto streets, jet boats skimming the lake, laughter drifting through the crisp alpine air. And yet, just a short drive north, Glenorchy waited: quiet, raw, the mountains folding in close like a secret shared only with us.

What I Loved Most: Holding hands on the Glenorchy jetty at dusk. The lake mirrored the last streaks of pink and gold, and it felt like time pressed pause just for us.

My highlights? In Queenstown, dinner at Rata. I had a lamb shoulder braised until it fell apart with the touch of a fork, served with earthy root vegetables and a red wine reduction that lingered on the palate. The air smelled of rosemary and warmth, the kind of meal meant to be shared slowly. In Glenorchy, a simple picnic by the lake: local cheese, fresh bread, and crisp pears, eaten on a blanket while the mountains kept their quiet watch.

A downside? Queenstown’s popularity meant lines, especially for activities and restaurants. The bustle sometimes pulled me out of the sense of retreat I wanted for an anniversary escape.

Plan your Queenstown & Glenorchy anniversary trip:

• Drive Time: Queenstown to Glenorchy ~45 minutes along Lake Wakatipu
• Vibe: Queenstown: adventurous, lively; Glenorchy: serene, intimate
• Highlights: Skyline gondola views, Milford Sound day trips, Glenorchy jetty, nearby hiking trails (Routeburn Track)
• Best Time to Visit: Late spring through early autumn for clear skies and comfortable temperatures
• Cost: Free to explore landscapes; gondola ~$50; fine dining varies ($$$)
• Hours: Queenstown restaurants ~11am–10pm; outdoor attractions open daily

12. New York City Anniversary Carriage Ride in Spring

The trees had just begun to bloom, branches bursting with pink and white blossoms that drifted like confetti in the breeze. As the carriage wheels turned softly along Central Park’s winding paths, I thought, “This is how the city remembers to be gentle.” The horse’s steady pace matched the rhythm of the season, unhurried, full of promise, and everywhere we looked, spring wrapped the park in color and light.

What I Loved Most: Passing under flowering cherry trees while the city skyline peeked through. The ride felt private and timeless, even with the hum of New York just beyond the park’s stone walls.

My highlights? After the ride, we paused at Bow Bridge where the lake reflected willows and blossoms, a scene that felt painted just for us. Dinner followed at One if by Land, Two if by Sea, where spring flavors carried through. I had a roasted chicken with lemon and herbs, the aroma bright and citrusy, and a strawberry tart that tasted like the season itself.

A downside? Spring weekends drew many visitors, and popular paths sometimes filled with walkers and cyclists. The romance stayed intact, but the quietest rides were earlier in the day or near dusk.

Plan your NYC anniversary carriage ride in spring:

• Location: Carriages line up along Central Park South (near 59th Street)
• Vibe: Romantic, floral, timeless
• Highlights: Blooming cherry trees, Bow Bridge, carriage ride through Central Park, candlelit dinner nearby
• Best Time to Visit: April–May for peak blossoms; evenings for a softer glow
• Cost: Standard rides ~$60–80 for 20 minutes; longer routes available
• Hours: Daily, 10am–midnight; blossoms best mid-morning and late afternoon light

13. Anniversary Wrap-Up: Places Made for Two

By the end of it all (the mountain mornings, seaside meals, quiet drives) I thought, “It doesn’t matter where we go, as long as we go like this.” Each destination held something different: a view, a flavor, a pace that fit the moment. But the feeling was the same everywhere, time we made for each other, marked by something lovely and a little unforgettable.

What I Loved Most: How these places made space for us. We weren’t swept into crowds or buried in plans. We were walking, watching, tasting, together. And whether it was a fjord in Norway or a biscuit in New Hampshire, the memory came back warm.

My highlights? The meals, always, the quiet table for two, the surprise flavor, the smell that lingered longer than the conversation. A moment paused between one bite and the next, where the day turned just a little sweeter.

Plan your perfect anniversary escape:

• Ideal Timing: Around your anniversary or during shoulder seasons for quieter travel
• How to Choose: Think about the kind of silence you want...mountains, water, city corners, or garden paths
• What to Bring: A shared playlist, a favorite old photo, and no rush at all
• What You’ll Keep: A memory that feels like it’s still happening, even after you’ve unpacked

Hi, I'm Ema. I'm the face behind Vacation Idea. My husband, son, and I spent years on the road, basing ourselves in each place for one or two months at a time. This has allowed me to experience each destination as a local, and I'm eager to help you with travel itineraries, weekend inspiration, and local tips. I love to chase unique experiences and revisit old favorites, anything from great sunsets to places of mystery. I have 30 years of experience, over 400,000 social media followers, and my work as a travel expert has been mentioned on ABC6 Morning Show, Best of the Web, and USA Today. When I'm not traveling around the USA, I live in Austin, TX. Click for more.

 

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