Being forced to stay close to home for a honeymoon doesn’t have to be a bummer. Roadtrips can be very romantic if you’re in the right place. If life hands you lemons, make lemonade, right? Or, just drive your lemon down the highway. Yeah. We weren’t sure what was up with this one either…

Happy Friday everyone!

All of the wineries we visited had spittoons on the counter for tasters to spit out their samples. This avoids any change of dangerous driving.

But let’s be honest, most of us want the full experience. Hiring a limo or bus to do the driving for you is a great way to relax and taste all you want and be responsible. Consider some of these companies to haul you and your sweetie around:

• Finger Lakes Winery Tours
• Caz Limousine Service
• Finger Lakes Limousine & Coach
• Grapevine Country Tours

Our last stop of the day was Rock Stream Vineyards in Rock Stream, NY. Tim loved this place because they server complimentary cheese with your tasting. Can’t go wrong with free cheese!

This place is best known for their grappa, a Pomace brandy liquor made from grape skins. It’s meant to be served chilled and sipped slowly, so it’s not for the novice. The 80-proof liquor will put hair on your chest. It wasn’t for me, but Tim’s now a fan.

We took home a bottle of Cabernet Franc which didn’t last the week at our house. It went great with the Italian dinner we cooked a few nights later.

As you drive down Rt. 14 along Seneca Lake, there are wineries lining either side of the road. Some offer free tastings, others charge a small fee per pour. Our next stop was Torrey Ridge.

We each chose six wines to taste. The staff at all of the wineries are helpful in picking what you might like. The more questions you ask, the more you learn about their particular varieties.

This stop is actually two tasting rooms in one. Adjacent to the Torrey Ridge building – which houses the huge, two-story tasting facility seen at the top of this post – is the Earle Estates Meadery.

Legend has it, the term “honeymoon” originates from an old Irish tradition in which newlyweds drank honey wine, or mead everyday for one full moon (a month) after their wedding. That makes Earle Estates a must-see for any honeymooning couple. We may not have been “just married,” but it made us happy anyway.

During our day of wine-tasting in the Finger Lakes, Tim and I started out in Geneva, NY, at Belhurst Castle. Built in the 1880’s, it’s a place with a long and rambling history, including its use as a speakeasy and casino during prohibition.

Like most many of the wineries in the region, they’re probably best know for their Reislings. Belhurst consistently receives awards for their wines.

It goes without saying, that one must be careful when tasting and driving. So we loaded up on lunch before we began to imbibe. Stonecutters is one of two restaurants at Belhurst. In good weather, you can sit out on the patio and enjoy the amazing lake views across the lawn.

The food is reasonably priced and wine parings are suggested with each item. We started with a cheese platter featuring Upstate New York cheddar and some tasty mustards. My mozzarella-tomato-pesto panini and Tim’s catfish sandwich were great. He especially loved the fried pickle that comes on the side.

Without drinks, our bill was less than $30 for two. Not a bad way to start the afternoon.

Then it was on to the good stuff: the vino. Belhurst recently completed construction on a new wing at the hotel, below, that houses the tasting room and gift shop.

We sampled some of their reds and whites and spent some time chatting with the dude who was pouring. He told us about the grapes used, some from Upstate and others from Long Island. Tim and I both love dry wine, so we decided to take home a bottle of their semi-dry riesling. It was a little pricey, but quite good.

As our readers know by now, we’re just as fond of 90+ day epic journeys as we are of staying close to home for a honeymoon. One place my husband and I love to travel to is the Finger Lakes wine region .

On a drive home from visiting my in-laws in Syracuse, Tim and I decided to take an afternoon tour of the Finger Lakes to remind all us East Coasters that we can find a bit of Napa-esque charm nearby. Our friends Mark and Christi absolutely loved their long-weekend mini-moon here. With it’s stunning lake views, charming B&B’s, and award winning wines, the Finger Lakes is the perfect place for a short stay or a week-long retreat for a new couple. A five-hour drive from Boston or New York is all it takes to get away. And don’t worry, we were parked for the shot above.

You can find lots of trip planning info here and here. A great B&B list is here. Foodies will want to check out this list.

Marisa and Eric’s honeymoon road trip led them out of Portland and into Wilamette Valley for some wine tastings. With over 50 wineries in a spectacular setting with views of Mt. Hood, this wine region has gotten tons of recognition for its Pinot Noirs and Pinot Gris. The newlyweds liked Domaine Drouhin in Dayton.

After the imbibing, Eric took a much-needed, post-wedding-stress rest. Or maybe it was just a little too much wine. Either way, it’s well deserved.

Less than an hour east of Portland is Bonneville Dam, which spans the Columbia River. This massive, impressive man-made structure generates power for the area. Visitors can see fish and sometimes even sea lions stopping by for a meal.

Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge is breathtakingly spectacular. It’s just a short drive from downtown Portland.

Great views of the river and amazing hikes are what draws visitors. It’s also know for some pretty incredible waterfalls. Above, Marisa check out the aptly named Bridal Veil Falls.

And of course they had to hit up McMenamins Kennedy School, a Portland fixture. It’s got 35 guestrooms, a movie theater, a brewery and a bar. Sure, it can be a little surreal to sip whiskey is a spot that still looks exactly like an old elementary school, but you simply cannot go to Portland without visiting. Eric found himself at home in detention.

Teacher Marisa felt right at home with the chalkboard and took a minute to practice her new name. Too sweet!