Last week we posted “Where the Wild Things Are” about some exotic choices for honeymooners looking for natural wildlife and out of the ordinary places.

One of our readers at Celtic Wedding Rings said:

“It’s interesting to see that when it comes to honeymoons, people choose to go faraway places. People who live in America want to travel to Europe, Caribbean, Asia etc. People in Asia want to see America, Europe, etc. The farther away it is from where you stay, the more exotic it seems to be for the couple.”

Indeed, it’s a case of “the grass is always greener…” isn’t it? That being said, a lot of people spend their lives in a comparatively small geographic area. I have a good friend who’s never been outside Texas. Of course, given the size of Texas that’s still huge amount of land to cover. Anyway, with a nod to Celtic Wedding Rings for the inspiration, My Wedding Hero presents “Where the Wild Things Are: The Sequel” - a look at some local US “exotic” honeymoon places.

• Arizona - If the wildlife that calls to you is desert based, then Arizona will surely tug at your heartstrings. If you want a bit of the Old West, you’ll find Tombstone’s Boot Hill, Phoenix’s Pioneer Living History Village, or you can learn more about the wide variety of native peoples including The Navajo Nation. And no visit to Arizona is complete without a stop at the unbelievable Grand Canyon.
• Texas - With a tourism slogan like, “It’s a whole other country.”, you might be tempted to think that was a bit of a stretch. Maybe I am a bit biased on behalf of my adopted state, but when you have cities like Fort Worth where the Chisholm Trail Ride or the annual Stock Show & Rodeo show means sometimes the cattle or horses really ARE on that city street, you realize maybe there’s something to that. From Mustang Island State Park to a huge variety of birdwatching choices (590 native species) to the Natural Bridge Caverns, yes, we just might keep you busy a while.
• Wyoming/Montana/Idaho - What’s that you ask? Why do I have 3 states there? Well, Yellowstone National Park, of course. From Old Faithful to fishing to llama packing (I’m not kidding), you could vacation here over and over and still not see it all. If you opt for viewing wildlife, be sure to stop by the page where their safety video introduction starts. One look at the bull elk playing chicken with the car will make you wonder how pioneers survived with just wagons.
• Hawaii - Ah, “The Islands.” You can almost hear people capitalize the letters. Any why wouldn’t you? If your idea of paradise includes lush tropical waterfalls and stretches of beautiful beaches with a touch of Mother Nature’s volcanic action, this is the place for you. You can take a whale watching excursion from Maui or hike through Halawa Valley on Molokai. When you have all that wild beauty and the ability to go to sleep at night in a first class hotel, yeah, I’m thinking that’s MY idea of paradise.
• Alaska - What more can I say? This is one of those “just pick any place” places. Considered by many to be the last natural frontier, Alaska evokes images of Northern Lights, incredible glaciers, and amazing wildlife. If you’re longing for a glimpse of caribou and moose, then Denali National Park with its 6 million acres and breathtaking Mt. McKinley may be your dream come true.

There you have it folks, wildlife and exotic choices in our own backyard. I know there are 43 other states I could have mentioned with their own wild and beautiful places. Unfortunately, I don’t have that much time or space! Happy Honeymooning!