| You're feeling like a romantic French getaway but | | | | Great Oaks Manor is a historic Houston, Texas |
| can't afford to make it over to Paris, the | | | | area bed and breakfast, located just minutes |
| "Romance Capital of the World." What do you do? | | | | from downtown Houston. Go for the "Night in |
| Have a French Picnic in Your Own Backyard | | | | Paris" Moulin Rouge-style room, inspired by Van |
| Your backyard can be your actual backyard, or | | | | Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec paintings. |
| you can go to a nearby lake, mountain picnic area, | | | | La Villa Romaine Bed and Breakfast |
| or in front of your own fireplace in front of a | | | | 29 South Market Street |
| romantic fire. Set the mood with all things French. | | | | Petersburg, VA |
| If you have a nice wine shop in your town (and, if | | | | 804-861-2285 |
| you don't, move), go and pick a nice French wine. | | | | La Villa Romaine is Petersburg's oldest |
| Although many top French Bordeauxs and | | | | continuously-operated B&B. But, once inside |
| Burgundies can be a bit pricey, there are many | | | | you may forget you're in Virginia and swear you |
| less-expensive, yet delicious labels you can | | | | were in Paris. You have your choice of the Louis |
| choose. If you're lucky enough to live near a | | | | XV Room, with marble fireplace and 18th century |
| Trader Joe's or Cost Plus you can usually pick up | | | | Louis XV painted bed; Louis XVI Room, furnished |
| an inexpensive bottle of French wine or | | | | in the Louis XVI style with a Louis XVI bed |
| Champagne. | | | | purchased at an antique market in France; the |
| Next, pair that wine or Champagne with a nice | | | | Provence Room featuring a Louis XV country |
| French cheese. That's right, leave the Cheese | | | | French bed and antique Provence wash stand; or |
| Whiz and Velveeta behind and try something new. | | | | the Renaissance Room with Henri II furniture. |
| Visit a cheese shop and experiment a little. Taste | | | | Other rooms at La Villa Romaine are decorated in |
| a little of this and a little of that. Tell the cheese | | | | French pieces as well, including the dining room in |
| expert what wine you're serving and he or she | | | | Louis XV Country French style; the Library with |
| should be able to help you find a great cheese or | | | | French furnishings from the 17th, 18th and 19th |
| two that will go perfectly with your wine. If you | | | | Centuries; and the Formal Salon with a Pleyel |
| don't have a nice cheese shop in your town, you | | | | Grand Piano made in Paris in the mid-1800s. |
| can always go online to find a great French | | | | Degas House |
| cheese, as well as tips for wine and cheese | | | | 2306 Esplanade Avenue |
| pairings. One such site is | | | | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Now, pick up a couple French CDs as romantic | | | | 504-821-5009 |
| background music and you have the perfect | | | | Spend a romantic weekend at the The Degas |
| romantic French setting. What? You don't | | | | House, the only American home or studio of the |
| understand the lyrics because they're in French? | | | | French Impressionist Master Edgar Degas. The |
| Who cares. It's French. They don't call it a | | | | guest rooms and house are decorated with |
| romance language for nothing. | | | | antique and reproduction furniture, with a collection |
| Go to a French Restaurant | | | | of Degas prints and sculpture. Degas created at |
| Most larger cities have some authentic French | | | | least twenty-two works of art while living in the |
| restaurants where you can dine on French food | | | | house, which is just minutes from the French |
| with a French-speaking wait-staff. You might want | | | | Quarter. |
| to do a search for your city to see if there are | | | | Go to Montreal |
| any award-winning French restaurants in your | | | | If you live in the Northeastern United States and |
| area. Many times local papers will have reader's | | | | a French-style inn or B&B isn't French enough |
| surveys. You might also check citysearch.com, | | | | for you, then why not go to Montreal, one of the |
| which lists "best of" businesses. Depending on | | | | largest French-speaking cities in the world? And, |
| your city, you might find a "best" French | | | | as long as you're there, you might want to stay |
| restaurant for your romantic French dinner. | | | | in Le Hotel Le St. James, chosen by Mobil Travel |
| Go to a French-Style Inn or B&B | | | | Guide as one of the Most Romantic Hotels. |
| French food not enough for you? Then spend the | | | | Located in Old Montreal, Le Hotel Le St. James |
| weekend in an inn or B&B which is | | | | features a spa where you can receive a couples |
| French-inspired, decorated in French furnishings | | | | massage, or, should you wish, an in-room |
| and French art. A few places to consider are: | | | | massage. |
| Great Oaks Manor | | | | Paris may be the "Romance Capital of the World," |
| 419 Macek Road | | | | but, with a little creativity, you can make any |
| Richmond, TX | | | | place, even your own backyard, the "Romance |
| 281-343-9551 | | | | Capital of You. |