You don’t have to go far if you’re looking for a cozy spot to spend with your sweetie, sans kids. From gaslit streets to historic inns, New Jersey is home to some pretty charming towns with authentic restaurants and quaint downtowns.
In a survey of 3,012 couples, travel site Exoticca asked couples to share their most “sought-after cozy and atmosphere-rich destinations” for a romantic getaway. Lake Placid, New York took the top spot in the country. The historic village known for its storied Olympic history is home to quaint lodges set amid the mountains in a bustling downtown with a European feel.
“These destinations aren’t about big itineraries – they are about atmosphere, warmth, and finding a place where time moves differently,” Juanjo Duran, the CMO of Exoticca, said about the towns that landed on the list.
In New Jersey, 3 towns made the list of the country’s most sought-after spots for a Valentine’s Day getaway: Cape May, Clinton and Lambertville.
One of the state’s most popular spots for summer vacations, Cape May, which came in at #14, is as charming as it is fun-filled in the winter, too. Pretty Victorian homes take on a whole new aesthetic in the colder, quieter months. Inns and historic homes feel extra cozy in the winter, and there are plenty of eateries to take advantage of for a night out, including the popular Ugly Mug Bar & Restaurant, known for its happy hour, great cocktails and live music.
During the long Presidents Day Weekend, there are wine tours and events lined up in Cape May. On Valentine’s Day, get tickets to the Cape May Wine Trail, where you can get to know the wines of Cape May County during a relaxing, trolley-led vineyard and winery tour. Board the Cape May MAC trolley at the Emlen Physick Estate at 1048 Washington St., and head to Jessie Creek Winery and Briganti by the Bay. Lunch by The Cheese Shop is included and wine is available to buy. For info and tickets, click here. On Sunday, February 15, the Inn of Cape May will host a Brunch & Bingo. Of course you’ll play a little bingo as you compete for prizes but there will also be breakfast and a fashion show by Lace Silhouettes/Cotton Company. Click here for ticket info.
Coming in at #79, Clinton is a picturesque town in Hunterdon County known for its natural beauty, farms and open space. It also has a cute downtown that’s straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Home to historic inns and cottages, Clinton has beloved restaurants like The Clinton House, which dates back to 1743. The popular mainstay serves up steak and seafood, and has a connected bakery with an assortment of pies, as well as a variety of restaurants, boutiques and ice cream shops in the downtown.
For breakfast and brunch (or any meal of the day), head to the Clinton Station Diner, an eatery partially housed in a train car. The Taylor ham, egg and cheese is a favorite as is the seven-pound Zeus burger.
Named one of the country’s most charming downtowns by HGTV, Lambertville came in at #93. Known for its antique shops, Lambertville is also home to lots of restaurants, boutiques, Victorian homes and B&Bs. It’s just a short walk across the bridge to New Hope, Pennsylvania, another hot spot for day trips and weekends. Book a room and dinner at the Lambertville Station Restaurant & Inn, where the food is as exceptional as the atmosphere is cozy.
Lambertville House is another must-try. Serving small plates of seasonal dishes, the hotel that houses the restaurant has been a local landmark for more than 200 years. For steak, burgers, pasta and salads, make a reservation at Bell’s Tavern, which has a bar and specials made with in-season ingredients, like the Winter Pasta with orecchiette, sausage, Brussel Sprouts, chestnuts, mushrooms and shallots.
The top 10 towns for a cozy Valentine’s Getaway, as chosen by the readers of Exoticca’s travel itinerary site, are:
- Lake Placid, New York
- Aurora, New York
- Ouray, Colorado.
- Gatlinburg, Tennessee
- Taos, New Mexico
- Apalachicola, Florida
- Fernandina Beach, Florida
- Bristol, Rhode Island
- Mount Dora, Florida
- Homer, Alaska
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