Of all the vacations people take in a lifetime there is one which has a special meaning. It is the honeymoon. The honeymoon or holiday spent by the couple after marriage may have had its origins in the idea that the first month of married life is the sweetest. It is also believed that it was an ancient custom for the newly married couple to drink a potion containing honey on each of the first thirty days of marriage.
For Americans there are several traditional honeymoon destinations which have become very popular and continue to draw newlyweds all year round.
On the east coast of America Niagara Falls located at the border between Canada and the United States has been a strong magnet for newlyweds. With its torrential cascade and perpetual arched rainbow it will continue to exert its power for years to come. Most visitors will agree however, that the view from the Canadian Falls is more beautiful and majestic than that seen on the American side but one can walk freely from one side to the other without any problem.
The falls themselves seem almost as a metaphor for a marriage. The power of the Niagara River cascading over the falls symbolizes the leap into the future which the new couple will make and the arched rainbow over the falls is a symbol of the luck, hope and good fortune which they hope to obtain.
Outside the falls though there is not much else to do at Niagara Falls but this is not a problem. One of the ideal requisites for a perfect honeymoon is the lack of unnecessary distractions. Being a place with more than its share of natural beauty and possessing few distractions Niagara Falls makes an ideal choice for a honeymoon. For this very reason the Caribbean islands, the Bahamas and Puerto Rico are also especially popular as honeymoon destinations. The clean water, white sand beaches, warm climate and azure blue skies create an idyllic atmosphere for the newlyweds to initiate their new life together.
For those living on the West coast Hawaii and Guam have always been the lure for newlyweds offering much the same idyllic beauty as those islands in the east. All of these islands whether located east or west of the Continental U.S. offer that necessary week or two of isolation for the flowering of the new marriage. They were custom-make for deepening relationships.
Mexico, the friendly neighbor to the south sometimes referred to as the 'Amigo country,' is also a magnet for the honeymooners. The Yucatan and Acupulco is a well-known resort destination noted also for its fine beaches, inexpensive hotels and friendly people.
A honeymoon may last as long as a week but not much longer. In a sense it is not a real vacation because sightseeing is not the primary objective. For most couples a honeymoon is that chance to get away from all the attention which had preceded and accompanied their actual wedding. Now is the time to sober up to the commitment of life's most important relationship.
In recent years many economically wise couples have foregone the needs for a honeymoon and chosen to save the money for a down payment on their future home or to spend on other practical expenses that come early in marriage.