The Most Romantic City in America Is in ... Mississippi?

Contributing Editor Carl Unger believes that every trip is worth taking. He loves an extended trip to Europe as much as he enjoys exploring the towns and landscape near home. Basically, you'll find him wherever there is good food, fresh air, and plenty of stories to bring home.

Carl has been writing for SmarterTravel since 2005. His travel writing has also appeared on USA Today and the About.com Boston travel guide.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "It's not revolutionary, but a small Moleskine notebook is my one travel must-have. It's great for noting things you want to remember and it takes up hardly any space in your bag."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Japan. I'd love to take a month off and visit the cities, temples, and countryside. I'm fascinated by the country's juxtaposition of ancient traditions and modern ambitions."

Travel Motto: “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” –Terry Pratchett

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Window."

See recent posts by Carl Unger

New York? San Francisco? When it comes to romance, they have nothing on … Biloxi, Mississippi?

Apparently.

OpenTable, the popular online restaurant reservation program, recently released its annual list of the 25 Most Romantic Cities in America, with Biloxi at its top. To be fair, I’ve never been to Biloxi. I have heard it’s wonderful and would certainly never disparage a city I’ve never visited. But I can’t be the only person surprised by this.

The list was determined by looking at three criteria: The percentage of restaurants rated “romantic” according to OpenTable diner reviews; the percentage of tables seated for two; and the percentage of people who dined out for Valentine’s Day in 2017. And, of course, this data is based on OpenTable users only, not the general public—so cities where OpenTable isn’t widely used won’t be represented.

So what other cities made the list? Some highlights include Carmel, California; Salt Lake City, Utah; San Antonio, Texas; Brooklyn, New York; and Providence, Rhode Island.

Need a few more ideas? Check out our list of (less surprising) cities for a romantic getaway.

Readers, what do you think is the most romantic city in America? What do you look for in a romantic city? Let us know in the comments below.

More from SmarterTravel:

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

Don't see a fare you like? View all flight deals from your city.

Today's Top Travel Deals

Brought to you by ShermansTravel

The Most Romantic City in America Is in … Mississippi?

Carl Unger

More from SmarterTravel:

Top Fares From

See Deal

See Deal

See Deal

See Deal

Don't see a fare you like? View all flight deals from your city.

Today's Top Travel Deals

CIE Tours: Exclusive Sale on Select...

AmaWaterways Europe & Asia River Cruises...

Pennsylvania: Daily Car Rentals from Pittsburgh

Trending on SmarterTravel

The world is huge

Carl Unger

Related:

More from SmarterTravel:

Top Fares From

See Deal

See Deal

See Deal

See Deal

Don't see a fare you like? View all flight deals from your city.

CIE Tours: Exclusive Sale on Select...

AmaWaterways Europe & Asia River Cruises...

Pennsylvania: Daily Car Rentals from Pittsburgh