1. Naples , Florida
The perfect retreat for two would feature balmy Southwest Florida weather, spectacular sunsets, beaches of feather-soft white sand, and warm waters ideal for swimming. It would allow a choice of activities-filled beachfront resorts or intimate inns. It would provide a sophisticated arts scene and secluded places to connect with nature. It would gather galleries, shops, sidewalk cafés, wine bars, and jazz clubs together in a lively, easily walkable downtown.

2. New York , New York
Of course you must skate arm-in-arm at Rockefeller Center, snuggle under a blanket while riding in a horse-drawn carriage through Central Park, and gasp at the views from the 86th-floor observatory of the Empire State Building. Clichés? Sure. But they’ll still warm even the most jaded cynic’s heart. So will the sight of lower Manhattan from the Brooklyn Promenade, the free trip across New York Harbor on the Staten Island Ferry, and the overlooks from high above the East River on the Roosevelt Island Tram.

3. Barbados
Tropicality mixes with civilized formality (courtesy of 340 years of British rule), giving this Caribbean island a delightful sense of occasion. One dresses for dinner here. One pauses for afternoon tea. And Bajans (rhymes with Cajuns), though quite friendly, wouldn’t dream of intruding on visitors’ privacy. Beaches suit every taste—wild Atlantic waves on the east coast, placid Caribbean ripples on the west, and everything in between on the southern shore.

4. Sausalito , California
This compact, eccentric town just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco begs to be explored. Its twisty streets harbor everything from art galleries to dive bars. Chic open-air cafés offer great food and better people-watching. Because Sausalito clings to a hillside, almost any place in town delivers one of the most romantic sights in the world: the San Francisco skyline.

5. Niagara Falls, Ontario
Why wintertime? Because spray from the falls coats rocks, trees, buildings, and the occasional slow-moving tourist with ice, turning the town into a glittering fantasyland. Why the Canadian and not the New York side? Because you get better views of the falls and more lodging and dining choices. Why “ice wine” on restaurant menus? Because this dessert wine, a specialty of the region, practically explodes with flavor—be sure to sip, not gulp.

I'm sure all this beauty really will take your breath away!..