What’s more romantic than flying, for Valentine’s Day or any other day? Just you and your right-seat honey, getting away from it all for magnificent views, great food, and new adventures. To help you plan your next spree for two, we asked three pilots about their favorite romantic destinations and what they do there.
To Wisconsin pilot Ed Becerra and his wife, Caitlin, “every day is Valentine’s Day,” words for us all to live by. Their shared passion is flying in their 1950 Piper Pacer, enjoying “all the luxuries of an airplane from 1950.” During Covid, Ed and his wife decided to fight cabin fever by participating in the Fly Wisconsin Airport Passport Program, exploring the state with their dog, Lolla, and documenting their adventures in their vlog. Here are Ed’s romantic recommendations:
“First, some general advice for folks planning a romantic getaway: find someplace that doesn’t have all alcoholic options because you still have to fly. Find places with activities that interest you, where there are good eating places close by, and where you can grab local goods. For example, at the north end of the Door County peninsula in Wisconsin is beautiful Washington Island. It has an airport where you can land, borrow a courtesy bike, and then go hiking, visit a beach, or check out local restaurants. You can buy goat-milk gelato and cheese curds, then fly to a grass airstrip in the middle of the Island, sit under the wing, and have a picnic. There’s no one there but you and the wildlife. And you’re with your best friend, so what is there not to love?
Actually, Door County (Door County Cherryland or Ephraim/Gibraltar airport) was our first trip together, and it’s still our most romantic destination. It’s on a peninsula between Green Bay and Lake Michigan, and it has the most shoreline of any county in the U.S. When you fly over, the waters are so turquoise and clear, you can see almost to the bottom. It looks like the Caribbean—you can even see some of the shipwrecks from the air. When we’re there, we hike and visit local wineries and breweries. (I don’t drink when I’m piloting, but my wife tastes, and chooses bottles for us to enjoy when we get home.) The Wild Tomato restaurant in Fish Creek has the most amazing wood-fired pizza, and Peninsula State Park is right across the street, so you can go enjoy your pizza in the woods.”
Maarten Smits started flying almost 30 years ago and now works for a major cargo carrier in the UK. For recreational flying, he belongs to a flying club, which he visits as often as possible in his spare time. Here’s his advice for romantic getaways in Europe:
“A romantic destination to me is one that your romantic partner enjoys as much as the pilot does flying into it. Flying through the Alps is one of those destinations: the scenery is spectacular if you manage to find a calm day without much wind. The attached picture is taken over Lake Garda in Italy, on the way to the Brenner Pass from Venice, a city about as romantic as it gets. While you’re there, you can enjoy a gondola ride in the Grand Canal and soak in the sights. The challenge is often to get into the city proper from the surrounding GA airports (Venice Marco Polo or “Giovanni Nicelli“). But in the age of Uber, that’s no longer a problem.
Another of my favorite destinations is Toussus le Noble (Paris-Saclay-Versailles) in France, a short distance away from Paris, the “City of Lights.” The airport often lets you borrow a car, so you can drive into the city (~30 minutes) for lunch or sightseeing. Located just southwest of the city, the airport is perfect for GA aircraft, and the handling fees are reasonable. While you’re there, stroll the Seine and eat some snails.
The city of Spa, Belgium (Spa La-Sauvenéire airport) is another favorite in the summer. Flying in with the windows open, you can smell the pine trees below in the Ardennes Forest. You and your partner can enjoy spa treatments while you sample the local food and drink, and the town itself has lots of small restaurants, outdoor cafes, and beautiful architecture.
For romance plus excitement, there is also a VFR route into the GA terminal at busy Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands. It’s called the Victor Arrival to runway 22/04, which takes you south of the city, with some great scenery. (Officially, you need an operational reason to request it but, traffic permitting, most controllers will grant the request.) Mingling with the big jets is a fun experience, and a direct train connection to the city center puts you right in the middle of the canals and historic gabled houses. Enjoy a raw herring or a Dutch frikandel as you take in the sights.”
Samantha (Sam) Inguanzo works as a yacht broker and splits her time between Florida and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She got her start as a pilot after being invited to take part in a cross-country trip in college and recently completed her instrument rating. For Sam, a romantic destination includes nature, architecture and historic roots, a great vibe and beautiful photo ops. Here some destinations which Sam says fit the bill:
Cedar Key Airport located in North Central Florida is a romantic and interesting destination for pilots with its short landing distance of only 2500 feet— still more than enough for most GA planes. The airport is right along the coast and very beautiful. There are golf carts available to rent at the airport, but there are only four so make sure to call ahead. It’s a small, secluded location with good restaurants. As in many of the Keys, there’s not much need for transportation and, if needed, courtesy cars are often available.
Venice Municipal Airport is another beautiful destination on the West coast of Florida. Venice has white sandy beaches and Sharky’s bar and restaurant, right on the beach, has a shuttle which will pick you up from the airport. It’s a big local spot and pilots love it, too. This a very dark area with the ocean right there and no horizon, so you need to be well-versed in instrument flying or fly out before dark. It makes for a great trip, and you can enjoy a spectacular, romantic sunset on the flight out.
Mackinac Island, Michigan, (pronounced “Mackinaw” by the locals) is another wonderful destination. There are no cars allowed on the island, so there are courtesy bikes available at the airport, and also horse-drawn carriages that can be arranged in advance. I think it’s one of the most gorgeous places in the world, and you need the full day to experience it. When I visit there, I spend time hiking, exploring the downtown, enjoying great breakfast places, and visiting the Grand Hotel. The hotel has lots of great vantage points for pictures, and there’s breakfast available on the balcony with a gorgeous view. As you fly in, make sure you don’t fly over the town, and be sure to read the NOTAMS. Also, bring your tie downs because it can get gusty!
So, there are some sweet ideas for your next romantic flights, and here are a few more. If your idea of togetherness is to get far away from it all, check out this blog from musician and back-country pilot, Nick Hoffman or consider actually landing in the Alps like Maxime Campagnon. If you’re looking for West Coast destinations, you could visit Washington state’s islands via the new and growing DeLaurentis International Airport or you could tour San Diego by air. For a non-traditional perspective on a traditional romantic destination, consider flying over Niagara Falls.
And if the weather’s bad, as it often is around Valentine’s Day, you and your honey can still cuddle up for flights of fancy, planning your next getaways. Because dreaming is romantic, too.
Thanks for featuring us in the blog! And thanks to Sam and Maarten for some other neat places to fly to!