Domestic Honeymoons

A lot of romantic brides fall in love with the idea of a European honeymoon in Paris or a little Italian villa. The fact is, however, that such vacations are expensive, and there's a lot to be said for exploring your own country. The United States has a lot to offer in the way of honeymoon spots, and if you are really looking to save, a location in drivable distance is the way to go.

I recently had the chance to visit Philadelphia, which, being in the middle of the Eastern Seaboard, is close to almost anywhere on the east coast. The city is full of places to go and see. The Liberty Bell and Independence Hall (where the Constitution and Declaration of Independence were signed) are must-see artifacts of American history. Admission to either is free.

Dining options are almost limitless in Philly. A delicious Philadelphia classic is the cheesesteak. Lots of locations claim to have the best version, but if you head into South Philly you'll find two right across from each other: Pat's and Geno's. Buy one from each place, try both and make your own judgment!
Another type of restaurant popular in Philly is the BYOB restaurant (try Figs, a Moroccan restaurant on Meridith Street near Fairmount and Pennsylvania Aves). Reading Terminal Market also has a lot of great food options.

As far as entertainment goes, Philadelphia has an extensive arts district, called Avenue of the Arts. The Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra offers community rush tickets at only $10--they go on sale at 5:30pm the same day of an 8:00 and a great bargain for a spectacular performance. Another inexpensive option is a mural tour. Philadelphia has literally thousands of murals painted on the sides of the buildings and there are both guided tours available or maps so that you and your spouse can explore for yourselves.

If you want to get out of the city for a little bit, Longwood Gardens is only an hour away. This garden conservatory hosts brilliant botanical displays year-round, indoors and outside.

These are only a small, small portion of things to do in the Philadelphia area. For more Philladelphia ideas, click here.

Your honeymoon should be a place both you and your fiance are excited about. Other domestic ideas to think about are:
--Northern Michigan (think waterfront historic towns like Mackinac Island)
--The Great Smokey Mountains National Park (great for hikers and naturists), or renting a cabin/camping in any National Park for that matter, for a peaceful, relaxing getaway for less money
--Bar Harbor, Maine (lobsters, blueberries and rugged coastline, anyone?)
--Chicago (pizza, shows and shopping). There's a lot to explore in this big city that most people only get to visit on business trips and flights are pretty cheap if you aren't close enough to drive.

Additionally, an excellent one-stop web source for travel information is WikiTravel.