AP Features, January 29th, 2007
How does this sound for a romantic way to spend Valentine's Day: Rent a cottage in a secluded place, on a beach or in the woods.
Sunset Magazine features 10 romantic retreats in its February issue, from Kauai to Colorado.
They are:
-Waimea Plantation Cottages in Waimea, Hawaii, in a coconut grove on Kauai; 61 cottages with kitchens from $220 at http://www.waimea-plantation.com.
-Crystal Pier Hotel in San Diego, Calif., where clapboard cottages are perched on a Pacific pier; 24 cottages from $235 at http://www.crystalpier.com.
-Hidden Meadow Ranch in Greer, Ariz., 10 miles to the nearest village at a super-luxe guest ranch in the snowy White Mountains; 10 log cabins from $550, including meals, horseback riding, and other ranch activities at http://www.hiddenmeadow.com.
-Les Petite Maisons in Sonoma, Calif., in sunny new cottages a mile from Sonoma's town square.; four cottages from $125, including breakfast at http://www.thegirlandthefig.com.
-Casitas de Gila Guesthouses, near Silver City, N.M., amid hooting owls and bighorn sheep; five casitas from $145 at http://www.casitasdegila.com.
-Chevy Chase Beach Cabins, Port Townsend, Wash.; seven cabins from $95 at http://www.chevychasebeachcabins.com.
-Shamrock Lodgettes, Yachats, Ore., at an updated 1950s beach resort, with views of the ocean or the Yachats River; nine cabins from $99 at http://www.shamrocklodgettes.com.
-Highland Haven Creekside Inn, Evergreen, Colo., 30 minutes west of Denver, cozy cottages in the woods; six cottages from $210 at http://www.highlandhaven.com.
-Spooner Lake Wilderness Cabins, Lake Tahoe, Nev., where you can cross-country ski out the door through the silent pines; two cabins from $160 at http://www.spoonerlake.com.
-Griffin House Inn, Elk, Calif., where you can whale-watch from the deck; seven cottages from $148 at http://www.griffinhouseinn.com.
