Don’t get it twisted: Hawaii continues to be planet Earth’s numero uno vacation spot for cooing lovebirds.
“Primarily, {couples} are going to honeymoon locations like Hawaii and Mexico,” mentioned Sara Margulis, the co-founder and CEO of Honeyfund, a honeymoon registry website that has helped 1.5 million {couples} fund-raise for romantic getaways.
However as extra {couples} search journey, affordability and novelty, the hierarchy of honeymoon harbors is shifting. Due to Honeyfund’s massive pool of person knowledge, together with bookings, they have already got a good suggestion of the place newlyweds will probably be heading in 2026.
On the worldwide scene Japan and Italy are sizzling, “however we’re additionally seeing loads of rising US locations, like Tennessee, California, Florida and Alaska,” she mentioned.
“And we’ve actually seen Tennessee do very effectively in the previous few years. I feel that has to do with the comfortable, Gatlinburg mountain cabin vibe, which is admittedly beautiful.”
In reality, Alaska broke into the registry’s High 20 honeymoon locations at No. 18 for 2026, after being at No. 21 for the 2 prior years. That’s just under California at 17. In the meantime, Tennessee at present sits at 9 for 2026, after touchdown there in 2024. Regulate for stateside escapes and so they leap to 5 and three, respectively. (Hawaii, Florida and California make up the remainder of the home High 5.)
“These shifts are primarily based on a post-COVID shift towards affordability, driveability and passport-less locations,” a spokesperson for the corporate added.
However perhaps it shouldn’t be such a shock that these very totally different locations — 3,241 miles aside because the hen flies — are each changing into hotbeds for honeymooners.
Planning your individual post-altar journey? We’ve gathered the most recent, biggest methods to be in love in these two very totally different however equally gorgeous spots.
Amore in Alaska
Cruise ships now are available in two sizes: gigantic and additional small. To see Alaska the best manner, it’s all about small.
Azamara Cruises’ 390-cabin ship, Pursuit, sails the Alaskan coast from Might by August, stopping at ports from Whittier to the distant city of Ketchikan.
For 2026, Azamara has simply unveiled 10 new surf ’n’ turf itineraries that provide you with a style of the Alaskan wilderness on land and at sea.
These “cruise excursions” mix crusing with scenic rail expeditions, riverboat journeys, farm visits, cultural experiences and encounters with the area’s landscapes and wildlife in Denali Nationwide Park. Or cease in pre- or post-cruise at Alyeska Resort, a ski spot exterior Anchorage within the Chugach mountain vary, and soak in its Nordic spa.
Costs for a 15-night cruise tour, together with the Hubbard Glacier and Icy Strait, plus a four-night Denali riverboat and rail tour begin at $8,049 per particular person.
Wish to take a look at your sweetheart’s spunk? Strive Gondwana Ecotours’ Alaskan whales and waterfalls yacht journey tour. It’s “a quintessential romantic escape, providing an intimate and splendid setting good for {couples} and honeymooners,” mentioned firm rep Adam York.
This tour of Southeast Alaska begins aboard a 20-passenger yacht, which navigates dramatic coves inaccessible to bigger ships. Anticipate breaching whales, glaciers and waterfalls as you go to Fords Terror and the serene Windham Bay Wilderness Space, all served alongside connoisseur meals.
On shore, mountaineering in Tongass Nationwide Forest (the nation’s largest nationwide forest), a go to to a salmon hatchery and skiff excursions are additionally on the menu.
Costs begin at $11,995 per particular person for one cabin.
Tryst in Tennessee
The Nice Smoky Mountains have lured generations of vacationers to cities like Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, each of which nonetheless supply inexpensive and scenic mountain chalets amid a number of the nation’s most gorgeous forests. However today East Tennessee is placing on airs with resorts which can be upping the usual of service and culinary excellence.
Blame Blackberry Farm — the OG Relais & Châteaux, luxurious “farm to desk” resort that gave personal jets an excuse to land in Walland, Tenn. In 2018, that ultra-exclusive working farm opened a sister property dubbed Blackberry Mountain, just some miles away within the Smoky Mountains. The 5,200-acre property has simply 36 cabins, cottages and suites, and a bevy of cooks, together with Joel Werner and Joey Edwards at on-site restaurant Three Sisters.
Chef Phillip Hare captains the Firetower mountaintop restaurant, whereas Logan Griffin handles every thing else as culinary director. It’s all about consuming farm contemporary meals and ingesting effectively in an environment that’s one way or the other epic and comfortable on the identical time.
Costs begin at $1,995 per evening.
However its not simply the far facet of East Tennessee that’s good for drama. The Cumberland Plateau has dense landscapes and waterfalls which can be virtually jungle-like (enjoyable truth: They filmed the 1994 reside motion “Jungle E-book” film in these components).
Head two hours south of Nashville and also you’ll uncover a slice of wooded wonderland on the outskirts of Chattanooga at Bolt Farm Treehouse.
A 55-acre, 5-star, adults-only resort, it was created by husband-and-wife staff Tori and Seth Bolt. The distinctive accomms right here vary from mountaintop treehouses and domes to reflect cabins with personal sizzling tubs and hearth pits.
Most not too long ago, they unveiled honeymoon treehouses, with sizzling tubs, outside showers and, better of all, personal pizza ovens.
Nightly charges from $749.
