Stick close to home and discover a bit of paradise in your own backyard (as well as save on airfare). Here, a dozen of BRIDES magazine's favorite U.S. destinations:
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Known for: Classic American summers. Picture children jingling bicycle bells, old-fashioned main streets, and couples sharing ice-cream cones on after-dinner walks.
Don't miss: Hitting the high seas on a whale-watching trip (humpbacks often surface beside the boat) or a sunset sail around the bay -- bring a blanket (for snuggling) and champagne.
Charleston, South Carolina
Known for: Old-South style, as well as exquisite antebellum homes like Boone Hall Plantation, the inspiration for Gone with the Wind.
Don't miss: Strolling arm-in-arm down King Street in the city's historic district, built by British transplants in the 17th century. The ultimate souvenir? A Carolina four-poster mahogany rice bed.
Green Mountains, Vermont
Known for: Winter skiing and summer canoeing -- plus hiking through some of the nation's most brilliant fall foliage.
Don't miss: The locally tapped maple syrup that turns up on most menus. You can buy it in grades, from light to dark amber, at every country store.
