Have you ever wondered which U.S. cities are the most romantic? Well, in honor of Valentine's Day last year, I posted a list of my top 10 picks, including Chicago, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, Santa Fe, and Savannah.
Although I still stand by that list, Amazon.com has released its own choices, based on a recent sales study, and you might be surprised by its top picks. In honor of Valentine's Day 2011, Amazon compiled its sales data, since January 1, 2011, for romance novels, relationship books, romantic comedy movies, Barry White albums, and sexual wellness products on a per-capita basis in cities with over 100,000 residents. Surprisingly, Amazon determined that – based on sales, not travel plans – the top 20 most romantic cities in the United States are:
1. Alexandria, Virginia (#1 for the second year in a row!)
2. Knoxville, Tennessee
3. Orlando, Florida
4. Miami, Florida
5. Ann Arbor, Michigan
6. Columbia, South Carolina
7. Cincinnati, Ohio
8. Murfreesboro, Tennessee
9. Gainesville, Florida
10. Tallahassee, Florida
11. Vancouver, Washington
12. Round Rock, Texas
13. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
14. Salt Lake City, Utah
15. Arlington, Virginia
16. Las Vegas, Nevada
17. Clarksville, Tennessee
18. St. Louis, Missouri
19. Dayton, Ohio
20. Frisco, Texas
As the author of Moon Florida Keys – and a fan of the Sunshine State in general – I was delighted to spot four Florida cities on the list. If Amazon's romance-related sales are any indication, it seems that Floridians are indeed in the mood for love. I have to admit, though, that while I was also pleased to see places like Ann Arbor on the list, I was rather surprised to note some not-so-obvious towns, such as Round Rock, Texas, and Clarksville, Tennessee. Admittedly, those aren't the first two locales that come to mind while planning where to take my next romantic getaway, but it's clear that their residents have romance on the brain.
So, tell me, which U.S. city do you consider the most romantic? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
In the meantime, Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!
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As always, I’m open to ideas for future posts. If you have any suggestions, burning questions, or destinations that you’d like me to explore in greater detail, please comment below or contact me via laura@wanderingsoles.com.
Disclosure: While I occasionally accept free or discounted travel assistance when it coincides with my editorial goals, my opinion is never for sale, which means that everything written in my American Nomad blog and Moon travel guides is my unbiased reflection of the things that I see, do, and experience while traveling across the United States.
Photo © 2011 Ann Arbor Area CVB / Text © 2011 Laura Martone
This article was borrowed from the Moon Travel Guide Blog
http://www.moon.com/blogs/american-nomad/top-romantic-us-cities-according-amazon
I absolutely love their fun and interesting blogs!
