Cozy Seaside Cottages
Bed & Breakfast Inns are perennial favorites with romance hunters. The best collection in Washington (about 15% of the state total!) are concentrated on the south end of Whidbey Island (Clinton, Langley, Coupeville) and include cottages by the sea or a lake, cabins in the woods, and old farmhouses serving elegant breakfasts. (www.islandweb.org)

Ferry Romance
At night, ferryboats illuminate Seattle's Elliott Bay. Watch them from city hills, or on a dinner cruise of the harbor (several operators). Or hop aboard a ferry for a trip to Bainbridge Island, and on the return, watch as the lighted city beckons you home. (www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries)

Arlington Escape
A full range of spa services at the Hawthorne Inn & Suites in Arlington are completely peaceful--children, cell phone and pager-free. Dine at the Little Italy Italian Market and Trattoria where you can learn cook for your sweetheart, or just enjoy the food and wine tasting. (www.snohomish.org)

Sunset Cruise
One of the most romantic experiences anywhere is an enchanting sunset cruise in the Columbia River Gorge. Here, too, are wildflower walks, the best collection of major waterfalls in the country, romantic old lodges and handsome new ones. Plus Maryhill Museum, whose romantic history will touch your heart. (www.skamania.org)

Cascade Loop Sunsets
Watch alpen-glow lingering on the crags of Liberty Bell Peak from Washington Pass (SR 20 in North Cascades National Park). Not far away, in the Methow Valley, Freestone Inn is fabulous at dusk, where pine and sage perfume the evening air. (www.cascadeloop.com)

Breathtaking Beauty
Maybe the loneliest romantic landscape in the state is the Okanogan Highlands (about 5 hours from Seattle, east of U.S. Highway 97). Visit in fall, when aspen groves glow with golden colors. (www.visitokanogancountry.com)

Kiss Me in the Rain
Olympic Peninsula rain forests, with huge trees shrouded in moss, are especially haunting to the romantic spirit. The Hoh Rain Forest, south of Forks off U.S 101, is the classic. Steal a kiss under a canopy of lichen on the banks of the glacier-fed Hoh River. (www.cityofpa.com)

Love on Lake Washington
After a day popping in and out of art galleries and specialty shops in lakeside downtown Kirkland, stroll through some of the many little parks that dot this upscale community, and enjoy the public art and sculptures.Take an Argosy boat cruise (www.argosycruises.com) that leaves from the Kirkland marina (passing famous homes, including Bill Gates'). Settle into a park bench and watch the sunset paint the background behind the Seattle skyline and the Olympic Mountains. The restaurant options run from intimate (old-world French Bistro Provenal) to chic (crisp urban Marina Park Grill), and for those who want a pampered overnight stay, stay at the five-star Woodmark Hotel. For details call 800-252-1926 or visit kirklanddowntown.org.

Sleepless in Seattle
Known for its clutch-stripping hills, salty air, halo of mountain ranges, and coffee-loving residents, Seattle is the epicenter of fast-paced romantic indulgence in Washington. Lovers on-the-go can catch a Broadway show at the Asian-inspired 5th Avenue Theater, stargaze from the observation deck of the Space Needle, dodge low-flying fish at the landmark Pike Place Market, or take an amphibious Duck ride along the waterfront and then into the bay. The new Elliott Hotel offers the latest in-room technology along with stunning mountain views for those who want to combine business with pleasure. For some rock n roll romance, visit the Experience Music Project. (www.seeseattle.org)

Artistic Island Towns
Friday Harbor (on San Juan Island) claims the liveliest boat harbor in the islands (lots of rental craft and whale watching cruises). Eastsound (on Orcas Island) may remind you of a village from England’s Devon or Cornwall. Coupeville (mid-way up Whidbey Island) is one of the oldest small towns on the Sound, and anchors Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve (first such in the nation). Langley (farther south on Whidbey) features an artists’ cooperative with demonstrations, vine-draped cottages and lush gardens, glass blowers, art galleries, a microbrewery, a family winery, and boat excursions. (www.guidetosanjuans.com)

LOCALS SUGGEST:

• Friday Harbor Jazz Festival in July (book early).
• Poulsbo on the Kitsap Peninsula presents about a dozen Nordic festivals.
• Bicycling back roads from small town to small town.
• Cruise boats from Seattle tour small towns for events like the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival (www.tulipfestival.org).