Gull Lake Living Magazine

French Lick, Indiana: French Lick Resort

Romance, of course, can be wherever the two of you are. But wonderful surroundings help. We found some of the most romantic places anywhere in the Midwest—in the city and country. All you have to do is get away together!

French Lick, Indiana: French Lick Resort

West Baden Springs Hotel

Celebrate your time together at the West Baden Springs Hotel (pictured) or the French Lick Springs Hotel, both part of deluxe French Lick Resort in southern Indiana. At West Baden Springs Hotel, special events include Jazz Under the Dome, cake decorating, and wine pairing presentations. At either resort, guests love the spacious rooms, spa with couple's massages, restaurants, golf and hiking. frenchlick.com

The Villas at Gervasi Vineyard, Canton, Ohio

Stucco walls, stone fireplaces, flat-screen TVs and large travertine-tiled baths with heated floors deck the 24 suites that opened to complement the on-site restaurant. In the morning, guests brew Italian java and then enjoy fresh-baked breakfast treats. Other luxury accommodations on the Gervasi site include The Casa, a new boutique hotel; and The Farmhouse, a restored and modernized 1830s home. gervasivineyard.com

Suttons Bay, Michigan: The Inn at Black Star Farms

The Inn at Black Star Farms

Yes, it's a splurge, but The Inn at Black Star Farms, 12 miles north of Traverse City, coddles you in so many ways. The 10 stellar rooms, named for stars in the sky, feature modern furnishings and luxury bedding. A bottle of house wine awaits your arrival, as does a nightly reception. A gourmet breakfast also is included in your lodging. Explore the property on a guided tour or follow a series of trails around the 160-acre estate. Ask about packages that include extras such as massages, sparkling wine, a bouquet of flowers or balloons, or chocolate-covered strawberries. blackstarfarms.com

Chicago destinations

The Langham Chicago

The Langham Chicago (pictured) Impeccable service begins when a Chanel-suited staff member greets you in the Mies van der Rohe skyscraper in River North. Fine art graces the walls, and the 316 guest rooms (complete with marble baths and rain showers) are some of the most spacious in the city. Check for special offers and be sure to set aside some time for the luxe Chuan Spa. chicago.langhamhotels.com

The Peninsula ChicagoImpeccable amenities give one of the city's luxe properties its sterling reputation, and its on-site dining offers a slice of excellence to those who can't spring for a stay. Refreshed guest rooms include state-of-the-art tablets controlling lights, room temp and the TV. Treat your sweet handcrafted cocktails on the rooftop terrace. chicago.peninsula.com

Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin: Sundara Inn and Spa

Wisconsin Dells: Sundara Inn and Spa

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Steve Eliasen.

The resort, named for the Sanskrit word for beautiful, hides among tall pines on a winding road outside the Dells. Float through a seamless series of hot tubs, steam rooms and heated towels. Privacy is as complete as you want. Couples can take massages in the candlelit Spa Together room. Waiters carry champagne to couples at the poolside fire bowl. Though Sundara provides free chauffeur service to area entertainment, you might not choose to leave. sundaraspa.com

Cincinnati, Ohio hotels

Lytle Park Hotel

Credit: Aaron Conway

Lytle Park Hotel The 106-room hotel opened last year inside a 1909 building. The design brings in the vibe of the surrounding Lytle Park with a vaulted glass ceiling, plenty of greenery and nature-inspired decor. A four-season rooftop patio overlooks the park, downtown Cincinnati and the Ohio River; guests can also enjoy a lobby bar and fine-dining Italian restaurant Subito.

21C Museum Hotel Travelers love the contemporary artwork, 156 spacious guest rooms, a spa and on-site fine dining, pus a rooftop bar—all in a renovated historic building downtown. A Relax With Art package includes a stroll through the building's artwork and a spa treatment.

Galena, Illinois, destinations

Inn at Irish Hollow

Inn at Irish Hollow(pictured) Fireplaces, whirlpools, hot tubs and a gourmet breakfast will pamper you in the luxurious accommodations at this inn. Choose from five private guest houses or three rooms in the main inn. Hiking (and in season, skiing) trails beckon those who want to explore nature, and nearby Galena holds many attractions as well. irishhollow.com

Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa There are plenty of reasons to plan a trip to Eagle Ridge. You arrive to chocolates, a long-stem rose and champagne. Outdoorsy types can choose horseback riding, hiking, biking and then relaxing in the spa. On-site dining and other amenities mean you wouldn't have to leave Eagle Ridge; it would be a shame, though, to pass up the chance to browse in nearby historic Galena. eagleridge.com

Branson, Missouri: Big Cedar Lodge

This resort calls itself "the sweetheart's paradise in the Ozarks." For Valentine's in 2021, you can choose from offerings like a Galentine's Day wine-tasting, romance-themed paint nights, couples trivia competition, spa treatments and more. A variety of upscale accommodations encourage you to snuggle up with your partner by the fire. bigcedar.com

Columbus, Ohio: Hotel LeVeque

Hotel LeVeque

Credit: Photo courtesy of Hotel LeVeque

Pamper yourself at this luxury downtown hotel in one of Columbus' most iconic buildings, the 1927 LeVeque Tower. A $27 million renovation included a 6-floor, 150-room boutique hotel with shimmering, celestial-inspired decor. At night, savor the chocolate truffles provided with turndown service, and relax as your room's star machine turns the ceiling turn into a galaxy. hotellevequecolumbus.com

Saugatuck, Michigan: Lake Shore Resort

Midwest resort revival

Credit: Ryan Donnell

This recently renovated family-run motel kept its fun mid-century vibe but added sleek new furniture, lakeside yoga classes, and free bikes and kayaks. And oh, those Lake Michigan views...does it get more romantic than a Lake Michigan sunset? lakeshoreresortsaugatuck.com

Chetek, Wisconsin: Canoe Bay

Couples come to hide away on honeymoons or rekindle relationships in 23 rooms and cottages around Lake Wahdoon. Favorite activities include canoeing (of course), hiking or snowshoeing on the 280-acre couples-only property, taking horse-drawn carriage or sleigh rides at a nearby farm, having in-room relaxation massages and reading (the resort has an extensive library). Breakfast comes to rooms discreetly, adding to the atmosphere. canoebay.com

Mackinac Island, Michigan: Mission Point Resort

This sprawling, romantically idyllic resort on car-free Mackinac Island completed a $10 million renovation in 2019, refreshing rooms and added a coffee shop and enhanced wellness perks. Play croquet, watch a movie in the island's only cinema, or snag a Adirondack chair on the iconic Great Lawn. missionpoint.com

Minneapolis: Hewing Hotel

Hewing Hotel, Minneapolis

Credit: Courtesy of Hewing Hotel

Framed hatchets, exposed timber and brick, and custom Faribault Woolen Mills throws reflect the artsy vibe of this former warehouse in the North Loop. Take in the Minneapolis skyline from the rooftop bar and lounge. hewinghotel.com

Hocking Hills, Ohio, destinations

Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls

Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls (pictured) Rekindle romance at this charming lodge. Each of the inn's 12 cottages sits on its own 2 wooded acres; each is outfitted with a deck and a whirlpool hot tub. Gourmet meals round out a weekend of shopping, massages and owner-recommended naps! innatcedarfalls.com

Glenlaurel InnCouples head here to enjoy each other and nicely appointed cottages and rooms, some with hot tubs and some with two-person whirlpools. Guests can make reservations for five- or seven-course dinners. glenlaurel.com

Dubuque, Iowa: Hotel Julien Dubuque

Built in 1839 in what is now known as Old Main District, this refurbished boutique hotel appeared in The Bachelor and maintains the romantic atmosphere with a luxury spa and onsite dining at Caroline's Restaurant. Packages might include champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. hoteljuliendubuque.com

St. Louis: Moonrise Hotel

This hip, retro boutique hotel is a great choice for spending the night in the Delmar Loop district. The couple's package includes champagne and strawberries, a rose petal turndown, and breakfast in bed. moonrisehotel.com

Topeka, Kansas: Cyrus Hotel

Topeka, Kansas

Credit: Courtesy of Cyrus Hotel

New in 2019, the upscale lodging—Topeka's first boutique hotel—offers rooms blending modern chic with historical elegance. Grab a continental breakfast or evening cocktail at The Weather Room bar and restaurant. cyrushotel.com

Columbus, Indiana: The Inn at Irwin Gardens

This early-20th-century Italianate-style inn features the original furnishings and sunken gardens built to resemble the ruins of Pompeii, where they will set up romantic treats. Hide away in a luxurious room and indulge in hearty breakfasts. irwingardens.com

Duluth, Minnesota: South Pier Inn on the Canal

Duluth, Minnesota

Credit: Ginger Crichton

Couples looking for a city retreat love this hotel at the foot of Duluth's historic Aerial Lift Bridge. Balconies face Lake Superior's waves and let guests watch as the bridge opens for tankers and other boats to pass through. Restaurants and shops are an easy walk over the bridge, and the city's other attractions are a few minutes away by car. southpierinn.com

Kohler, Wisconsin: The American Club Resort

Credit: Photo Courtesy of The American Club Resort.

Celebrate or retreat at this five-star resort. The star of the luxurious rooms is the bed, plush with pillows and draped with a down comforter and Italian sheets. Spa services, meals and special touches make for romance. americanclubresort.com

Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin: Blacksmith Inn on the Shore

Enjoy harbor views after a soak in a big tub at this cozy Door County spot. Nice extras at this Baileys Harbor lodge include in-room whirlpools and gas fireplaces, plus kayaks and bikes. Choose a package to suit your event: honeymoon, anniversary, or just a quiet getaway for two. theblacksmithinn.com

Stillwater, Minnesota: Rivertown Inn

A stay at the Rivertown Inn feels just like slipping into the pages of a Victorian novel. Each of the nine intricately decorated suites and bedchambers are named for a 19th-century novelist, poet or literary figure. Especially dazzling: The Agatha Christie Grand Suite (pictured) with its Tiffany-style lamps, elegant fireplace and private outdoor garden terrace. Indulgent multicourse breakfasts include dark chocolate pancakes with Belgian chocolate sauce. rivertowninn.com

Detroit: Detroit Foundation Hotel

Detroit Foundation Hotel

Credit: Photo courtesy of Joe Vaughn/Detroit Foundation Hotel

Vintage and modern touches blend to create a stellar experience at the former Detroit Fire Department Headquarters. The boutique hotel boasts 100 rooms and the Apparatus Room restaurant. Enjoy contemporary-style rooms with made-in-Detroit decor (door handles, wallpaper, leather trays) as well as beautifully restored features in the lobby and exterior such as the red arched firehouse doors, glazed wall tiles and original flooring. You're a short walk or ride from downtown mainstays such as the RiverWalk, the lavish Art Deco Guardian Building (with free guided tours), Ford Field and Comerica Park. detroitfoundationhotel.com

Alton, Illinois: Beall Mansion

The level of pampering and attentive service matches the aesthetics at this elegant and well-maintained mansion. Sumptuous accommodations include whirlpool tubs and fireplaces in many rooms. They'll help couples celebrate honeymoons and anniversaries with special packages. beallmansion.com

Nebraska City, Nebraska: Lied Lodge

Just the two of you will be coddled while surrounded by natural beauty at this resort owned and operated by the Arbor Day Foundation. Plush and comfy rooms invite you to settle in for a romance package, which includes dinner. liedlodge.org

Winona, Minnesota: Alexander Mansion Historic Bed and Breakfast

Alexander Mansion Historic Bed and Breakfast

CD players hide in phonographs at this 1886 Victorian mansion. It's run by innkeepers who welcome you graciously, cook amazing frittatas and disappear when you need one-on-one time. All four tasteful guest rooms in this Mississippi River town B&B deliver sumptuous stays. alexandermansionbb.com

Kansas City, Missouri, destinations

Hotel Phillips

Hotel Phillips (pictured) This Art Deco hotel reflects its original 1931 design. Sweeping twin staircases and marble floors lead to comfortably elegant rooms. Check the website for romance packages that include wine, chocolates, flowers and more. hilton.com

RaphaelComfort, service and convenience are the watchwords at this rejuvenated boutique hotel in the middle of K.C.'s upscale Country Club Plaza shopping district. You can expect just the right amount of pampering at the renovated Raphael, from the moment the valet takes your keys until the end of the day, when you discover the chocolate chip cookies that accompany the turndown service. Rendezvous for dinner at Chaz on the Plaza for a romantic dinner. raphaelkc.com

Lead, South Dakota: Spearfish Canyon Lodge

Spearfish Canyon Lodge

In winter, couples on a weekend getaway at this upscale resort in the Black Hills can rent snowmobiles to travel the 350 miles of groomed trails. In summer, they hike trails to waterfalls and canyon walls. When done, cozy up by the massive hearth in the lobby and rest on pillow-top mattresses. spfcanyon.com

Thompsonville, Michigan: Crystal Mountain Resort and Spa

Head to the mountains for some romance. This resort offers packages including dinner for two with wine as well as in-room wine and strawberries. By day, golf, mountain bike, ski, tour wineries and more. The 18,500-square-foot spa promises head-to-toe pampering and wellness. crystalmountain.com

Davenport, Iowa: Hotel Blackhawk and The Current Iowa

Davenport, Iowa: Hotel Blackhawk

Two boutique hotels promise luxury stays in downtown Davenport: The Current Iowa in the 1910 Putnam building and the century-old Hotel Blackhawk (pictured). The Current puts the first rooftop bar in the Quad Cities; the Blackhawk includes a spa and bowling alley. Both offer packages that put a little something extra in your stay. marriott.com, hotelblackhawk.com

Indianapolis: The Alexander

Credit: Photo: Andrew Bordwin, Courtesy of the Alexander.

Let's say you're hip. Or want to be. Then it's time to check out this boxy glass boutique hotel with a superfriendly staff and a colorful bar near the mod lobby. The 209 sumptuous rooms and suites—many with featherbeds and granite counters—come with Keurig coffee makers and motion-sensor lighting. thealexander.com

Nisswa, Minnesota: Grand View Lodge

Choose from rooms, suites, cabins and townhomes in Minnesota's Brainerd Lakes region. Huge stone hearths, the Glacial Waters Spa and massive windows overlooking Gull Lake beg couples to unwind. grandviewlodge.com

South Haven, Michigan: The Victoria Resort Bed and Breakfast

The Victoria Resort Bed and Breakfast

Relax in luxurious rooms or guest cottages a short walk from the beach and South Haven's many restaurants, shops and other attractions. All rooms feature Victorian-esque décor, spacious modern baths and flat-screen TVs; deluxe rooms offer whirlpool tubs and gas fireplaces. You can borrow bikes to cruise around town as well as enjoy the B&B's pool and tennis court. victoriaresort.com

Milwaukee destinations

Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee

Pfister Hotel (pictured) Offering gracious service and style in the heart of downtown, this historical hotel specializes in honeymoons and lets couples escape from interruptions for a day. thepfisterhotel.com

The Brewhouse Inn and Suites The former brewhouse in the late 19th-century Pabst Brewery Hotel complex has found new life as a hotel, with 90 spacious guest rooms surrounding an atrium with six enormous copper brewing vats. Beer and history lovers will enjoy the ambience of the hotel as well as a tour of Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery just across the road. brewhousesuites.com

Saint Kate Arts Hotel The former Intercontinental Hotel has an artsy new personality, with multiple gallery and exhibition spaces. saintkatearts.com

Lutsen, Minnesota: Lutsen Resort on Lake Superior

Lutsen Resort

Ski or kayak season, this place has the après activity down. After a candlelight dinner, unwind in front of your room's fireplace or in the whirlpool. Special occasions warrant even more special touches. lutsenresort.com

Oscoda, Michigan: Huron House Bed and Breakfast

The Huron House B&B, a 14-room couples-only enclave, offers luxury resort-style amenities such as huge four-posters with lush linens, fireplaces, Jacuzzis, wide-screen HD TVs, DVD and CD players, private decks and gorgeous views of Lake Huron. A complimentary breakfast (fresh croissants, coffee and juice) is placed outside your door each morning at your specified time. huronhouse.com

Northeast Minnesota: Gunflint Lodge

Grand Marais, Minnesota: Gunflint Lodge

Snowy cross-country ski trails, cabins with hot tubs and excellent food compete for couples' attention at Gunflint Lodge, tucked into northeast Minnesota's wilderness about an hour inland from Grand Marais. Packages cater to couples being romantic, celebrating anniversaries or on honeymoons. gunflint.com

Hermann, Missouri: Alpenhorn Gasthaus

Built in the 1860s, this redbrick B&B indulges couples in many ways: private accommodations, gourmet meals, a hot tub under the stars and a wine cellar twinkling with candlelight (numerous proposals have taken place there). alpenhorngasthaus.com

Ozarks destinations

Garden House Bed and Breakfast

Garden House Bed and Breakfast (pictured) Guests enjoy whirlpool rooms and private balconies at this modern, spic-and-span B&B. Bright and airy rooms overlooking Lake Ozark offer a perfect spot for unwinding. A full breakfast is served in the dining room, or you can have it delivered to your room or private patio. thegardenhousebnb.com

Stonewater Cove ResortGuests looking for a quiet, secluded immersion into the Missouri Ozarks will enjoy the 500 acres of Stonewater Cove Resort, which in themselves are remote enough. But surrounded by thousands of acres of National Forest Service land, getting away from it all is truly possible here. All this peace with elegant accommodations. stonewatercove.com/

La Crosse, Wisconsin: The Charmant Hotel

The Charmant

Housed in a former candy factory downtown, The Charmant is the sweetest stay in La Crosse. Guests receive a free chocolate upon check-in, stay in rooms with milk chocolate-color wall accents and can buy chocolates from a 24-hour sweets bar. A classy rooftop bar serves cocktails and wood-fired pizzas, while a French-inspired restaurant with an industrial-chic vibe plates entrees like Parmesan chicken and vegetable tajine. thecharmanthotel.com

Willoughby, Ohio: Louis Penfield House

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Louis Penfield House.

Twenty miles east of Cleveland, experience a three-bedroom Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian house set on 30 wooded acres as if it is your own. Spend the evening by the fire appreciating Wright's style after a hike along the Chagrin River, which cuts through the property. penfieldhouse.com

Lawrence, Kansas, destinations

The Oread

The Oread(pictured) The KU campus spot boasts gracious accommodations and on-site fine dining. theoread.com

The Eldridge Stay in one of the 48 suites at this historic hotel, established in 1925. Have a romantic dinner at the restaurant or The Jayhawker bar, which serves more than 35 kinds of martinis. eldridgehotel.com

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Source: https://www.midwestliving.com/travel/around-region/50-romantic-midwest-getaways-0/

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