Travel + Leisure Names Riviera Nayarit in Top Ten Best Romantic Summer Getaways Emma Sloley - Travel + Leisure
go to original July 18, 2014

(CNN) - Imagine sipping Argentina's finest wines with the snowcapped Andes in the distance. Sailing the fjords of Finland while the midnight sun shines down. Or taking in a live opera under the stars in the high desert of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

These stirring scenarios have one thing in common: a gorgeous backdrop tailor-made for romance.

"We're all starring in the movie of our lives," declares Susan Moynihan, founder of The Honeymoonist, a boutique travel-planning company for luxurious romance experiences. "And a beautiful setting makes you feel more beautiful - you want a setting that matches your mood."

Sometimes it's not just the usual hot spots that hit the spot, though. In compiling our favorite romantic summer getaways¸ we looked further afield than staples like Rome, Bora-Bora, the Greek Islands and Paris. (Don't worry, we'll always have Paris.) We even let another of New York's boroughs steal our hearts away from perennial favorite Manhattan.

"Part of the goal for a romantic trip is to get out of your routine and away from everyday stresses and surroundings so you can focus on each other," says Moynihan. "Going to a destination that is distinct and different from your everyday life helps create that mood and magic."

Find out where you two can create some magic of your own this summer...

Riviera Nayarit, Mexico

Stretching nearly 200 miles from the colonial town of San Blas to Nuevo Vallarta (just north of Puerto Vallarta), Riviera Nayarit winningly combines Pacific coastline with the majesty of the Sierra Madre Mountains.

An acclaimed culinary scene and some of the world's best whale-watching don't hurt either. The city of Puerto Vallarta's siren song is strong—lively nightlife, a pretty historic center and winsome hotels like colonial art-filled Hacienda San Angel. If you're in the mood to splurge, seek out the 250-acre Imanta (doubles from $800), hidden between lush jungle and a perfect sweep of beach near Punta de Mita, at the northern tip of Banderas Bay. 

Kick back with a margarita and sublime fish tacos at the beach restaurant. Nearby, the famous surf town of Sayulita offers a laid-back vibe and activities (paddleboarding, horseback riding, yoga) that draw a youthful and New Agey crowd.

Read about the other nine romantic locations around the world at CNN: Best Romantic Summer Getaways