What makes a vacation romantic? Let's start with examples before definitions. Here are a few romantic vacation ideas.

An ocean cruise is certainly a classic romantic vacation. Why not escape it all - even the sight of land. Isolated together out at sea, in the comfort of a cruise ship - that can be very romantic. There are a couple things to consider, though, if you want to keep the romance going.

First, thoroughly investigate and talk about your options. Perhaps you both were assuming the other wanted a traditional warm-water cruise, when in reality you both would love to watch whales and glaciers on an Alaskan cruise. It's not just about the many possible destinations, either. There are different styles of cruises, from pure sightseeing ones to more active ones to "party boats." Be sure the cruise has activities that you'll enjoy participating in together.

You also need to be sure you budget enough so money worries don't steal the romance from the vacation. Think about what you'll be doing, both on and off the ship. It isn't romantic to run out of money on a vacation, and cruise ship bars are notoriously expensive.

Romantic vacations might include train rides, if you both like to relax and take in the scenery. The Royal Gorge Train, here in Canon City, Colorado, for example, takes you for a stunning ride through the gorge and along the Arkansas river. The dining cars serve great meals and the windows on some cars co overhead, so you can easily take in the view above.

Budget Romantic Vacation Ideas

The sun, sand, and the sound of the waves can relax you and take away the stress and worry of "everyday life," but beach vacations can get pricey. If money is tight, you can do like we did in northern Florida. We camped in our conversion van at a state campground on the beach. Our days were spent collecting shells together, swimming, and flying a kite. One evening we took our chairs down by the water to watch the sunset. The beaches of the Great Lakes are another great place for a romantic vacation, and are even more affordable.

Another low-cost romantic vacation idea is to rent the little cabins that can be found in many state parks. Wilderness State Park in northern Michigan, for example, has cabins that are closer to the beach, and those that require you to hike into the woods a few miles. They are reasonable, and you can pack in good food and a bottle of wine to add to the romance.

It can be very affordable and romantic to spend some time together in a small town that is surrounded by beautiful scenery. Some of our favorites include Lone Pine, California, Anaconda, Montana, Silverton, Colorado, and Marquette, Michigan. Try wandering the streets of walkable small towns, exploring the woods and fields around them, eating in local cafes and going to classic small-town theaters. For my wife and I, this is one of our favorite romantic vacation ideas.