Ah, love. Ah, valentines. Ah, hotels. Ah, restaurants.

As the Clovers sang so long ago, "There ain't nothing in the world for a boy and a girl but love, love, love." As the Month of Valentines (also known as February) approaches, travel providers are going all out to make your romantic rendevous memorable. Here are some offerings:  
*In Tennessee, the Secret City Scenic Excursion Train will  offer Valentine's dinner rides, which feature a romantic setting for couples as they take in the beauty of East Tennessee, while dining in the style established by the great passenger railroads of the 1930s and '40s. The annual Valentine trips have become so popular that Southern Appalachia Railway Museum, which operates the Secret City Scenic train, has scheduled four  special dinner trains on the weekend leading to Valentine's day. The classic dinner train will run on Friday, Feb. 11 at 6 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 12 at 5 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 13 at 5 p.m;. and Monday, Feb. 14 -- the big day itself --at 6 p.m. he rides last approximately 1-1/2 hours and roll through the former Manhattan Project K-25 plant site now known as East Tennessee Technology Park in Oak Ridge, as well as through rural Poplar Creek Valley of Roane County, which includes rolling hills, pastures and hardwood forest. Tickets are $140 per couple and include the train ride, complete dinner and all taxes. Call 865-241-2140 or visit www.southernappalachia.railway.museum.

*In Oregon Wine Country, the Allison Inn & Spa in the Willamette Valley offers a Valentine's and Vineyards package starting at $430. Included are a luxurious bedroom with king bed, fireplace and soaking tub, chilled champagne and a customized four-course dinner in the JORY Restaurant featuring Oregon Wine Country cuisine. Visit www.theallison.com/specials.php.

 *If you're well-heeled and want to make an unforgettable marriage proposal that will be seen on a giant outdoor screen in Manhattan, then  Eventi Hotel's "Love on the Big Screen" package is for you. The package offers the "proposing party" the opportunity to upload a marriage proposal on DVD that will appear on the Big Screen at Eventi, an outdoor 30 x 16.5 foot public arts and culture LED screen adjacent to the plaza behind the hotel at 29th street & 6th Avenue.  But this package, which starts at $2,011 plus taxes and tips, is availalbe ot only one couple on a first-come-first-served basis. Included  is a  four-course meal with a bottle of champagne in the hotel's Bar Basque, luxurious suite accommodations, complimentary "his" and "her" bathrobes, a magnum of champagne upon check-in, Urban Therapy Facial treatments for two at the Spa at Eventi, and chocolate-covered strawberries.For reservations, e-mail info@eventihotel.com. For hotel information, visit  www.eventihotel.com.

*Atlantic City, N.J. is offering up a passion-filled Valentine’s Day weekend with [heart] by Atlantic City, featured at Caesars, Harrah’s Resort, Bally’s and Showboat. There will be romantic dinners, exclusive couples' hotel packages and  entertainment. The program will kick off Friday, Feb. 11,  with specially designed menus at these restaurants:  Nero’s and Primavera at Caesars; The Reserve and Arturo’s at Bally’s; Rib and Chop House and Casa Di Napoli at Showboat; and Polistina’s and The Steakhouse at Harrah’s Resort. Dinner  is $160 per couple.  Star of MTV’s cult phenomenon, Jersey Shore, Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino will be making a fist-pumping appearance at the Pool After Dark on Friday evening. A whole lot more is happening, so you might consider a hotel package. Information on those, can be found by clicking  here.

*Couples who spend Valentine's Day (which falls on a Monday) at the Kennebunkport Inn in Kennebunkport, Maine,  can take in Historic Dock Square and check out the town's one-of-a-kind shops.  Then they can check in to a guest room with a welcome gift and a romantic four course dinner in the inn'sa ward-winning restaurant One Dock.  After dinner they may want to settle in by the fireplace and  have one of One Dock's specialty drinks. (Or they may have other plans.) The romantic getaway with a continental breakfast on Tuesday morning. Rates start at $199 a couple. Call (800) 248-2621 or visit www.kennebunkportinn.com/packages.asp.

Search Amazon.com for Valentines Day 

Beer here, beer here

For some people, romance is OK but beer is better. Accordingly, the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston has partnered with Samuel Adams to offer an exclusive behind-the-scenes brewery experience. You get a private tour of the brewery and a private tasting of Samuel Adams Boston Lager and limited edition brews in the  barrel room. Back at the hotel, a three-course beer pairing dinner awaits. The Samuel Adams Behind the Scene Brewery Package starts at $429 based on double occupancy, and is available January to May and September to December.  Visit www.fairmont.com/EN_FA/Property/COP/HotelPackages/, call 800-441-1414 or see a travel agent.

Trivial question 

Travelers who visit a destination ought to know how to spell its name correctly. Can you picked out which name or names is misspelled: Carribean, Philipines, Portugese, Tuczon? (Answer somewhere below.) 

Warm up in Costa Rica ... for $200 less
Wash away your winter woes with a Pura Vida Adventures, a surf and yoga center at the beachfront locale of Malpais, Costa Rica, has a deal for you.  Book the March 12-18 (coed) or March 20-26 (women only) surf and yoga adventure by Feb. 1 and save $200. The discounted all-inclusive package rates per person are: shared accommodation, $2,195; private accommodation with shared bath, $2,395; private accommodation with private bath, $2,895. Register online at www.puravidaadventures.com/index.php/reservations/camp_reservations, or call  415-465-2162.

Fascinating fact

In 1973, Bhutan issued a stamp that looked like a record and could actually be played on a record player.

Trivial answer

All four words are misspelled. The correct spellings are Caribbean, Philippines, Portuguese and Tucson.

In Dominica, weddings are beautiful and price is right

Photo by Jungle Bay Resort & Spa

Because June is the month of brides, let us think about weddings and honeymoons. Have you considered Dominica? With its Caribbean locale, natural beauty, waterfalls and rainforests, Dominica (pronounced dom-in-EEK-a) has earned its nickname of The Nature Island. What's more, many hotels are offering packages for newlyweds. Among the deals:

Jungle Bay Resort & Spa – The Escape Weddings and Honeymoons coupon special gets you $500 off your reservation and includes a professional wedding planner. The special is valid on reservations booked by Aug. 31, with rates beginning at $1,500. If booking, refer to coupon code wedding09. For more information, click here or call 767--446-1789.

Calibishie Cove – This waterfront boutique guesthouse has a Caribbean Honeymoon package, which includes seven nights’ accommodations in the Paradise Penthouse, a bottle of champagne, extra flowers, one candlelight dinner, one waterfall tour and a one-day kayak rental. Rates begin at $1,595 per couple. Visit http://www.calibishiecove.com/ or call 813-417-8448.

The Anchorage Hotel – The hotel's Honeymoon Package includes seven nights’ accommodations, a welcome drink and fresh fruit platter, a bottle of champagne, daily breakfast, one five-course private candlelight dinner, airport transfers, one whale and dolphin safari tour and one trip to Screw’s Sulphur Spa. Rates begin at $1,699 per couple. Visit http://www.anchoragehotel.dm/ or call 767-448-2638.

Calibishie Lodges – The Honeymoon Special includes four nights’ accommodations, airport transfers, a private driver and car, a welcome honeymoon drink, a bottle of champagne, flowers, daily breakfast, and excursions including a hike to Chaudiere Pool, water tubing in Concord and a visit to the Indian River and National Park. Visit http://www.calibishie-lodges.com/ or call 767-317-1843.

Rainforest Paradise – The Couples Package offers accommodations in a river cabin, daily breakfast, and a tour and lunch at the Rainforest Mushroom Farm. Rates begin at $840 per couple. Visit http://www.rainforestparadise.com/ or call 767-449-3074.

Crescent Moon Cabins – Located in a moonlit valley and surrounded by forest, farm and tropical flowers, Crescent Moon Cabins is offering newlyweds a five-night stay in rainforest cabins overlooking the Caribbean. The special includes daily organic dinners for two and private tours upon request to Boiling Lake, Morne Trois Pitons and any of the waterfalls. For more information visit http://www.crescentmooncabins.com/ or call 767-449-3449.

Dominica is located between the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Eastern Caribbean. For island information, visit http://www.discoverdominica.com/ or call 866-522-4057.

A travel joke, of sorts

While visiting a Mayan temple, a tourist asked the guide how old the structure was. "This temple is 1503 years old," the guide said.

"How," asked the tourist, "can you give such an exact figure?"
"Easy,"replied the guide. "The archaeologists said the temple was 1500 years old, and that was three years ago."

Celebrating July 4 in Kennebunkport, Maine

The Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport, Maine, has good reason to call its Fourth of July Package Red, White and Blue. The two-night (July 3-4) package includes a sunset cruise on the resort's  red Rugosa lobster boat, private surfing lessons on the white caps of the Atlantic and kayaking on the blue waters of the Kennebunk River. Also included are  July 4 fireworks and a lobsterbake under the stars, featuring a 100-piece concert band, a breakfast buffet for two each morning, and a red, white and blue bag of goodies. Additionally, the package includes red, white and blue themed libations and  culinary creations from red raspberry snow cones to white chocolate lobsters and  blueberry pancakes and more.  Pricing starts at $469 per person plus tax.

Click here call 800-552-5651.

Fascinating fact

The Great Lakes contain about 6 quadrillion gallons of fresh water.

The squeeze is on, more than ever

From the Wall Street Journal: "New Boeing 737-800s now being delivered to American Airlines have the same-size cabins as the existing 737-800s in American's fleet. But the new planes have 12 more coach seats, pushing the total number of seats to 160. Delta Air Lines Inc. has also added 10 seats to its 737-800s, raising the total to 160. So has Continental Airlines Inc."

And speaking of airplane seats ...

I submit that airline seats should be able to recline only about half the distance they do now. A passenger in full recline either puts the person behind him in a most uncomfortable position or forces that person to recline, too. Then the passenger in the next row faces the same unenviable choice. Dominoes, anyone?