It’s possible that your honeymoon will be a once in a lifetime chance for exotic travel, but it’s definitely a much needed break after the stress of planning and executing a wedding. It’s easy for traveling to become a low priority as life takes over, but since it’s expected after your wedding, you should be sure to take advantage of the opportunity! This week I’ve put together a few interesting honeymoon destinations that will prove memorable for even the most adventurous couples.
Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland & Virginia
If you’re lucky enough to get married at the right time (end of July!), you could take your honeymoon on Assateague Island during the annual Pony Penning festivities. The ponies, most likely the descendants of Spanish shipwreck survivors, are herded across the Assateague Channel during the Chincoteague Volunteer Firemen’s Carnival. The size of the herd is limited to 150 ponies so, after being checked by a veterinarian, each year most of the foals are sold at an auction benefiting the volunteer fire company.
The Pony Penning is a great local tradition, and the many luxury bed and breakfasts on the island—I recommend the Garden and Sea Inn—provide a wonderful setting for a romantic honeymoon.
Kalinzu Forest Reserve
More adventurous animal lovers might also be interested in visiting one of the last remaining habitats of the mountain gorilla. Lonely Planet recommends a 9-day trek from Kampala through the Kalinzu Forest Reserve followed by rafting down the White Nile River before returning to Kampala. Not for the easily exhausted, this is a hard trek with the great reward of getting to see what remains of the mountain gorilla population in Uganda. Lonely Planet even offers a discount to those that sign up through their website!
The ICEHOTEL
A small village in northern Sweden is host to one of the most unique hotels in the world: the ICEHOTEL. Just what it sounds like, the hotel is constructed from 1,000 tons of ice and 30,000 tons of “snice” (snow and ice). The hotel, a protected and copyrighted work of art, is rebuilt and redesigned each year by around 50 artists from around the world. The ever-changing nature of this beautiful hotel give guests the chance to return year after year for a completely new experience. If you are looking for a honeymoon where snuggling in a warm bed is encouraged, the ICEHOTEL is right for you!
Volunteering
Some couples see their honeymoon as an opportunity to give back after the excess of a wedding. A new trend of volunteering honeymoons has been developing, and many couples find this rewarding vacation a great option. And with private rooms and weekends and evenings free, you won’t be denied the alone time we expect on a honeymoon. Global Volunteers offers programs from one to three weeks with trips as simple as delivering essential services or as intellectual as teaching conversational English.
There are many more options for adventurous couples, but as long as you are spending time together–and doing what makes you happy–the choice is yours. It’s your honeymoon!