America's Most Romantic Cities 2010

By Travel & Leisure

January 26, 2010

Credit: iStock

When pressed to name a romantic city, Paris—with its swoon-worthy architecture, enchanting cobbled streets, and cozy candlelit bistros—comes to mind. But where does one go in the U.S. for a romantic escape? Travel + Leisure’s America’s Favorite Cities Survey posed that question to the public, and the responses are as fascinating as a tour through Match.com.

Now spanning 30 U.S. cities, the annual survey delivers a wealth of opinions on travel, touching on such hotly debated topics as which cities have the best singles scene, boutique hotels, ethnic food, and smartest residents. And as any attached traveler on the eve of Valentine’s Day will attest, also knowing which U.S. cities are tailor-made for a romantic getaway is a very good thing.

Related: 50 Best Romantic Getaways

Not surprisingly, gorgeous, groovy, food-forward San Francisco ranked high in this year’s survey. New York, too, continues to be a favorite of die-hard romantics seeking sophistication in a larger-than-life playground.

“New York City is a place of infinite possibility, which, in my opinion, makes it one of the most romantic cities on the planet,” says Terri Powell, a 43-year-old executive assistant who’s looking for love in the Big Apple. “From the Brooklyn Bridge to the Manhattan skyline to Central Park, who could ask for a better setting in which to find love?”

Another top contender? Las Vegas. Though renowned for its debauchery and what-happens-in-Vegas-stays-in-Vegas shenanigans, Sin City is also ideal for rekindling passion.

“While Vegas might not be the greatest place to find love, it is a great town to put the romance back into a relationship—from formal and dramatic to down and dirty,” says Joan Fernald, a 39-year-old Las Vegas resident.

Interestingly, Los Angeles—a city that consistently ranks high on the list as having attractive residents—falls short this year in the romance department. (Perhaps locals are too in love with themselves to take notice of anyone—or anything—else?) A 25-year-old Los Angeles resident, Jonathan R. Williams, agrees: “In L.A., everyone is constantly looking for the ‘11’ on the 1–10 scale, because there are so many good-looking people. We get distracted constantly by all of the ‘shiny’ things walking around.”

And while “Hotlanta” may have earned its nickname for its sizzling nightlife, the Georgia city still comes in at the bottom third for romance. It looks like Cleveland, too, needs to take a lesson or two in wooing locals and visitors alike with its romantic assets: a Lake Erie location, an up-and-coming culinary scene, and midwestern charm. This year, unfortunately, the survey wallflower was overlooked for many, more brazenly romantic towns.

Whether you’re on the hunt for Mr./Ms. Right or looking to celebrate singlehood far away from cooing couples, Travel + Leisure has the escape for you. Read on for the 2009 America’s Favorite Cities Survey results.

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#1 Honolulu

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Honolulu’s only other #1 ranking was in the “relaxing retreat” category, but that clearly helped secure its win as America’s most romantic city.

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#2 Charleston

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Who wouldn’t fall in love among this South Carolina city’s rich history and southern charms? The friendly people only add to its romantic allure.

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#3 San Francisco

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Locals and visitors alike swoon over California’s beautiful City by the Bay; its high scores in boutique hotels as well as luxury hotels means there’s no shortage of romantic hideaways.

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#4 New Orleans

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Lovebirds flock to the Big Easy for great live music, decadent cafés, and a laissez-faire vibe.

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#5 Santa Fe

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Desert sunsets, cultural treasures, romantic adobe hideaways, and the #1 ranking for peace and quiet all make for a dreamy Southwest destination.

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#6 San Diego

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Grab your loved one and soak up some easy California living in this coastal city that just happens to have America’s best weather.

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#7 San Antonio

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Friendly people and great B&Bs let you express your Texas-size affections in this historic river-walk town.

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#8 Las Vegas

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Romance in this anything-goes town? Hey, wild weekends aren’t just for singles.

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#9 Miami

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With America’s most attractive people, Florida’s sizzling hot, Latin-loving city on the ocean helps set the mood for romance.

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#10 New York

Credit: Kelly Bazely

A soaring cityscape, iconic sights, and world-class entertainment make the Big Apple a great town for sparking big-time romance.

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#11 Chicago

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Though not as popular as its coastal siblings, the Windy City still has views that can take a couple’s breath away.

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#12 Seattle

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Caffeinated, geek-filled Seatown couldn’t crack the top 10 in this category, but bad weather hasn’t washed out its romantic side.

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#13 Portland

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Oregon’s hip hot spot—and one of the country’s fittest cities—gets the heart pumping in other ways too.

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#14 Providence

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Big surprises come in small Rhode Island–wrapped packages; survey takers have a little crush on the Divine City.

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#15 Phoenix/Scottsdale

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Amazing all-in-one resorts in the Valley of the Sun apparently were enough to light only a mild romantic fire.

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#16 Denver

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In the Mile-High City, a Rocky Mountain high comes more from an active getaway than a breathless visit.

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#17 Boston

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College students, baked beans, impassioned Sox fans? Check. But the romance of Boston’s rich history wasn’t enough to inspire actual romance.

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#18 Nashville

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Despite its musical talent, this Tennessee town just doesn’t make hearts sing.

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#19 Austin

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The results are in: awesome music, cool shops, and killer neighborhood restaurants weren’t enough to keep Austin from this list’s bottom half.

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#20 Orlando

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Some of our survey takers found this Magic Kingdom city to have a romantic draw, but not surprisingly, more liked it for a family vacation and great resorts.

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#21 Minneapolis/St. Paul

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To survey takers, the Twin Cities play host to America’s smartest people, but rough weather didn’t exactly add to the area’s sex appeal.

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#22 Kansas City

Credit: Ann Shields

It may be in the Heartland, with some of America’s friendliest people, but this all-American city has little affection for romance-seekers.

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#23 Philadelphia

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America’s most unattractive people, according to our survey takers, couldn’t have helped the City of Brotherly Love earn any points in the romance department.

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#24 Los Angeles

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Angelenos may be attractive, but they may also be more in love with themselves than each other. Survey says: head north, or south, for romance.

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#25 Houston

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Ranking in the bottom third, this new-to-the-list Texas town needs to work on first impressions. Even its great restaurants and high-scoring theater scene aren’t enough to inspire romance.

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#26 Atlanta

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“Hotlanta” struggled in our survey; respondents liked the business hotels, but how romantic is that?

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#27 Cleveland

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Ohio’s wallflower of a city came in #2 for classical music, but hardly rocked the romance category.

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#28 St. Louis

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Romance is clearly not an overarching reason to visit Missouri’s metropolis. Its strongest trait, according to survey takers? Affordability.

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#29 Washington, D.C.

Credit: Meghan Lamb

The great monuments of the nation’s capital can be romantic, but it seems the wealth of lawyers and politicians kills any romantic buzz.

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#30 Dallas/Fort Worth

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These twin towns may be deep in the heart of Texas, but not in the hearts of couples. How to ease the pain of coming in last? Go shopping.

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America's Most Romantic Cities 2010

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#1 Honolulu

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#2 Charleston

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#3 San Francisco

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#4 New Orleans

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#5 Santa Fe

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#6 San Diego

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#7 San Antonio

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#8 Las Vegas

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#9 Miami

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#10 New York

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#11 Chicago

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#12 Seattle

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#13 Portland

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#14 Providence

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#15 Phoenix/Scottsdale

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#16 Denver

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#17 Boston

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#18 Nashville

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#19 Austin

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#20 Orlando

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#21 Minneapolis/St. Paul

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#22 Kansas City

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#23 Philadelphia

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#24 Los Angeles

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#25 Houston

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#26 Atlanta