A couple’s vacation: How to choose the best getaway with your girlfriend

Taking a vacation with your girlfriend is a great way to spend quality time together, but how do you decide where to go? You usually can’t go wrong booking a beach vacation, but if you really want to impress her, take her to a city that suits her personality.

Consider the following three destinations that appeal to specific personality traits: romantic, fun or adventurous.

Romantic

New Orleans, with its European influences, is the ideal destination for a romantic getaway. Kick back and relax on a paddlewheel boat, spend the night at a cozy bed-and-breakfast in the popular French Quarter, stroll down St. Charles Avenue and admire the Old World architecture.

Grab a beignet and cup of hot chicory coffee at Café Du Monde, but allow more time for dinner. New Orleans, often called “The Most Romantic City in America,” is home to some of the country’s most impressive restaurants. Many celebrity chefs have restaurants in New Orleans, including Emeril Lagasse and Paul Prudhomme. Make sure you book reservations at the more popular restaurants well in advance.

Fun

If you’re looking for a fun vacation with a thriving nightlife, head to Memphis, Tenn. Known as the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll, you can find a band playing at a bar on Beale Street any night of the week. Take a tour of Elvis Presley’s Graceland estate, check out the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum and stop by Sun Studio, where Elvis recorded his first song. If your girlfriend is an Elvis fan, plan your trip to coincide with Elvis Week, an annual event typically held in August that draws Elvis fans and impersonators from around the world. (If you go, know that the impersonators prefer the term “tribute artists” to “impersonators.”)

You also can enjoy riverboat cruises on the Mississippi River, the second largest in the United States. For a very quirky experience, stop by the Peabody Hotel for historic The Peabody Ducks Parade. Every morning, five ducks march into the lobby fountain to the tune of John Philip Sousa’s King Cotton March. The ritual repeats with a similar exit during the evening.

Adventurous

Thrill-seeking couples should head to Estes Park, Colo., which is on the eastern edge of Rocky Mountain National Park. In the summer and fall, try rock climbing at Lumpy Ridge or the challenging Longs Peak and whitewater rafting along the rivers near Estes Park. In winter and spring, go sledding, snowshoeing or skiing in the back country.

The parks service no longer operates the Hidden Valley Ski Area, which means there’s no chair-lift up the mountains. You also ski at your own risk here, and hazards include falling rocks, quick changes in weather and exhaustion from trudging through the snow. Because many insurance policies won’t cover accidents that result from adventure sports, look into getting additional insurance. HCC Medical is an agency that offers insurance that covers sports injuries, as well as emergency evacuation.

Find great deals

A weeklong vacation can put quite a dent in your savings account, so keep an eye out for travel deals or bundled packages that could save you a lot of money. Websites like Kayak, Deal Chicken and Travelzoo help you find special offers. And when you provide your email address, Travelzoo will email you the top deals every week. So start looking for the opportunity to take your girlfriend on a vacation that perfectly suits her personality.