by Brad Linzy

Masai Mara, Kenya

www.kenyatravelideas.com

Imagine floating aloft in a hot air balloon over a migrating herd of wildebeests, with a pride of lions or a lone cheetah giving chase. This is the kind of thing you might experience on an exotic honeymoon to Kenya. With eight National Parks, five wildlife reserves in the country, and plenty of companies willing to take you on safari, Kenya is a great place to experience the African savannah. And with access to the sea, Kenya also boasts sandy beaches with plenty of seclusion from the usual throngs of tourists.

Seal Island/False Bay, South Africa

Named for the seals that inhabit its rocky shores, Seal Island off the coast of South Africa near Cape Town is also famous for another regular visitor…The Great White shark. If you’ve watched the Discovery Channel for any length of time, you have probably come across the programs that show Great Whites flying out of the water like missiles in pursuit of these seals. These programs are filmed at Seal Island. This is also the best place in the world to cage dive with the Great White and is also a good base for exploration of South Africa’s picturesque coast.

Bhutan

www.kingdomofbhutan.com

Considered by some to be the last of the unspoiled Himalayan Buddhist kingdoms, Bhutan is a tiny nation surrounded by lofty mountains and a deep-rooted, ancient culture. Situated between Tibet and the Bengal region of India, Bhutan offers the quiet, reflective traveler a welcome, if far-flung, stopping point on the road to Enlightenment. In order to protect the local culture from over exploitation and integration with outsiders, the Bhutan tourist agency only allows 21,000 visitors annually to explore the country. But for those lucky enough to be among them, the country offers a variety of sporting activities such as mountain river kayaking in addition to the cultural attractions like fortress festivals and folk dances. Plus, Bhutan is considered one of the top 10 bio-diversity hot spots on earth, with a wealth of flora and fauna found nowhere else on earth, including over 770 bird species, 50 species of rhododendron, and rare orchids.

Maldives

maldives.tourism-asia.net

When one thinks of Asia he is more likely to think of the rugged Mongolian steppes than of lush tropical islands, but a honeymoon in the gorgeous Maldives will seriously challenge that preconceived notion. Situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean off the coasts of Sri Lanka and India and featuring extravagant atolls, flourishing coral reefs, crystal clear blue seas, and white sandy beaches, and surrounded by the exotic beat of a thriving Asian culture, The Maldives is the perfect tropical destination for those who have already been to the Caribbean more times than they care to count and want something different for their honeymoon. With activities like surfing, fishing, and scuba diving on the itinerary, there will be no shortage of fun in this picture-perfect climate.

Melbourne, Victoria

www.visitvictoria.com

The region surrounding the city of Melbourne, Australia offers a diversity of activities and sights like nowhere else on the continent. The arid peaks of the Flinders Range spill into the lush, wine-producing Yarra Valley, with over 55 wineries to explore. Gippsland Lakes offers dreamlike scenes of lush fern gullies and spectacular limestone caves. The Great Ocean Road reveals stunning vistas and activities where the wild Pacific Ocean bashes Australia’s craggy cliffs. Phillip Island, just off the coast, offers visitors a glimpse of some native species of penguin, koala, bird and seal. This region also offers some of Australia’s best rainforest scenery.

New Zealand

www.newzealand.com/travel

While not technically part of the Australian continent, the island nation of New Zealand is one of the most secluded and wondrous places on the world map. Famously forming the backdrop of the Lord of the Rings trilogy of films, the nation features geological terrain that can be described as an unlikely cross between the Himalayas and Ireland. It’s unearthly panoramas are seemingly never-ending as more than one-third of its landmass is dedicated to natural parks and preserves. Its coastal highways take visitors on a virtually endless tour of spectacular coastline, and with such a variety of terrain, there are hundreds of outdoor activities and thrill-seeking opportunities, as well as quiet, relaxed escapes. So whether you’re paddling a canoe in a glacial fiord, scaling the rim of an ancient volcanic crater, or relaxing on a picturesque beach in the middle of December, New Zealand has a little bit of everything to offer.

Scotland

www.visitscotland.com

While not normally considered a prime honeymoon hideaway, simply because of its lack of tropical appeal, the northernmost reaches of Great Britain, Bonnie ol’ Scotland, can be a rewarding choice of honeymoon destination. With its vaulted sea cliffs, it’s endless green pastures, and misty, enchanted hillsides, Scotland’s romantic allure is of a totally different nature than one might normally think of. Like an ancestral Celtic song, the Scottish landscape has a way of burrowing into the heart and drawing new lovers closer. Travel in Scotland by rail and see a country once ruled by clans and lordships from fortifications now hundreds of years old. Spend the night in manors and castles once presided over by royalty. And visit pubs where the locals still love a good song and a good spirit.

Rome, Italy

www.travelplan.it/rome_guide.htm

The city on six hills wasn’t built in a day, but you can certainly be there in a day. Imagine taking your post-nuptial excursion to this romantic and ancient city that was once the heart of the civilized world. Imagine walking the streets hand-in-hand past 2000-year-old structures, smelling the sweet fragrance of Roman cuisine wafting in the air, the sound of street performers playing lovely strains on unusual instruments. Stroll through outdoor piazzas that frame masterworks by sculptors you’ve only read about in schoolbooks. Take in all that the nightlife and fashion shopping have to offer, and you’ll need a whole month to scratch the surface on this lovely, ancient, yet modern city of romance.

Estes Park, Colorado

www.estes-park.com

Situated just outside the panoramic Rocky Mountain National Park and Roosevelt National Forest, Estes Park offers a variety of bed and breakfast lodging, as a well as more traditional mountain lodgings with fantastic views of the surrounding mountain landscape. With the intimate feel of a secluded Swiss village, the noise of life melts away with the spring thaw. And with the City of Denver just a short drive away from this secluded mountain haven, you and your sweetheart will find no shortage of places and things to explore of all varieties.

Alaska

www.travelalaska.com

They say with any great trip getting there is half the fun. Nowhere is this probably truer than in the case of Alaska - the last great American frontier. Many travel agencies offer Alaskan packages which involve hopping aboard a cruise ship from a West Coast city in the lower 48 and cruising up to the glacier-capped shores of Southern Alaska, then taking a classic train ride into the breathtaking Alaskan interior. The trip can also be taken in reverse, in which case you’d fly to Alaska and take a train down to the shore where a cruise ship will bring you back to the lower 48. From wildlife viewing and backpacking, to fishing and thrill seeking adventures, the 49^th State has it all, and its unspoiled beauty is sure to inspire anyone’s burgeoning romance.

Galapagos Archipelago

www.Galapagos.com

The Galapagos Islands are world famous for their diversity of wildlife and as one of the places where naturalist Charles Darwin developed his ideas for his groundbreaking work, The Origin of Species. Officially a part of neighboring Ecuador, the Galapagos hosts thousands of tourists every year who flock to see the stunning beauty and diversity Mother Nature is capable of producing. From prehistoric iguanas to tiny penguins to giant tortoises, the Galapagos is a place where trained naturalists lead guided tours and educate as well as enthuse. Visiting the islands by cruise ship also means you will have the opportunity to visit Ecuador’s beautiful Andean countryside and the culturally rich city of Quito.

Patagonia

Patagonia is the name for the southernmost region of South America. Comprised of areas of both Chile and Argentina, Patagonia includes just about every possible type of landscape known to man within its domain. Everything from belching volcanoes and craggy mountain ranges to sweeping plains and frozen glaciers, Patagonia is a geological anomaly that only the bottom of the world could produce. One look at the awe-inspiring, larger-than-life landscape, and it is no wonder Ferdinand Magellan called this the “place of giants.” For those with an even more adventurous streak, Patagonia offers the best launching point in the world for Antarctic expeditions. Cruise packages exist that will shuttle you from an Argentinean port to Antarctica’s frozen ice shelf, with island stops along the way. With Antarctic packages starting at $6,500/couple, it’s a little pricey, but how many people can say they’ve seen actual Gentoo penguins in their natural habitat?