Can't picture yourself lounging on a beach on your honeymoon? Try one of these new ideas to celebrate your new marriage, from adventuring to commmunity service.
1. Adventure Travel
Hiking, kayaking and canyoneering-oh my! According to the Adventure Travel Report, half of all American adults have taken an adventure trip in the last five years. Of those, nearly 32 million did some "hard-core" activities like scuba diving and whitewater rafting. Resorts are increasing their offerings to include adventure amenities, and a number of mountain resorts, like Snake River Lodge in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Utah's Red Mountain Resort & Spa, offer guided hikes. At many island resorts, including some on Maui, Bermuda and St. John U.S.V.I., you can join cycling trips, and all Sandals Resorts in the Caribbean offer free scuba.
2. Eco-tourismIt's never been easier to find an earth-friendly-and luxe-vacation destination. To be considered green, a resort should offer locally sourced cuisine, embrace indigenous culture and encourage recreation that highlights the region, while involving the community in the effort. Go to enn.com to search for certified-green resorts.
3. Educational ActivitiesThanks to a little invention called the Food Network, cooking classes are hotter than ever. And from Thailand to Mexico, more and more honeymooners are opting to learn how to spice things up. Classes may range from lectures to food walking tours and weeklong instructional retreats. Not the next Top Chef? You can choose an intensive language program, a yoga retreat or a surf camp-all these are making a big splash on today's honeymoon scene.
4. Honeymoon RegistriesMost couples opt for a traditional registry, but you may want to try a honeymoon registry instead. Created online, the lists function in the same way as other registries. You can ask for things like romantic dinners, sightseeing tours, car rentals and spa sessions; tabs indicate when something has been purchased. To create yours, go to honeyluna.com.
5. FamilymoonNot only are second weddings more common, but many of you (about 30 percent, according to our reader surveys) are coming to marriage with children and opting to bring them along on the honeymoon. These getaways most often take place at large resorts that offer something for everyone: children's programs as well as private areas and activities for the newlyweds.
6. Mini MoonNowadays many couples have less time and dinero to spend on their honeymoon. Enter the Mini Moon, a quick two- to three-night getaway in an accessible locale. You can stay in a romantic inn or a glamorous big-city hotel-and have a great honeymoon minus the hassles of traveling.
7. South AmericaTravel experts agree: These Latin countries are the hottest spots on earth. Each country offers adventure, culture and top-notch lodging at a fraction of other popular destinations. Experience the romance of a safari along the Amazon in Peru at an eco-lodge like the intimate Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica. Or consider a cruise to the famed Galapagos off the coast of Ecuador. In Chile and Argentina, wineries abound, as does fantastic cuisine and plenty of pampering spas.
8. Volunteer Vacations
Tour operators are now offering packages that help honeymooners who want to give back. Join a conservation effort, like those offered by the EarthWatch Institute (earthwatch.org), which offers programs such as monitoring leatherback turtles in Costa Rica and protecting dolphins in Greece. Perhaps you want to help rebuild hurricane-torn towns in the Caribbean islands. Travel websites, like Cheaptickets.com and Travelocity.com, have more information on packages.
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