Solar power is perceived by some as a drop in the bucket, but it can really make a difference, particularly in remote places where sun is plentiful and power is expensive to import.

Turtle Island, set in the Yasawa Islands in the Republic of Fiji, and scene of the 1980 Blue Lagoon movie starring Brooke Shields, is an all-inclusive private island, a high-end resort with a long history of sustainability. This spring, the installation of 968 solar panels rendered the island nearly 100 percent self-sufficient, using the sun’s energy to power not only the resort but the surrounding community. The new solar project will save an estimated 85,000 liters of diesel fuel per year, or an estimated 220 tons of carbon emissions, significantly reducing the island’s carbon footprint and thus becoming one of the world’s most prestigious and socially conscious getaways for the pampered set.

More than 900,000 trees have been planted on the island since 1972  to foster reforestation and provide the Island with a 90 percent tree canopy.

Other projects promoting sustainability include a four-acre natural hydroponic garden, extensive composting and recycling. The Turtle Release program, which is designed to help save the threatened Green and Hawksbill turtles, is a particularly tangible success. Visitors can snorkel and see the fruits of the labor.

The locals are integral to the success of the resort. Medical clinics and schools for the native population have always been a part of the resort’s master plan.

The cost for a Turtle Island dream vacation is not cheap, it’s a bucket list/special occasion type destination perfect for weddings or a once-in-a-lifetime event. There are 14 private beaches with cottages called  “bures,” eco-friendly, locally sourced tropical villas. You can even rent the whole island and live out your own Blue Lagoon fantasy.

I have so many summer memories of family boardwalk strolls, noshing on knishes in Brighton Beach, soft serve, sand between the toes and sweat mixed with sunscreen dripping in my eyes.

The boardwalks of my childhood were the bar, the town square, and the place where young and old, beach bunnies and schmata wearing grannies, could congregate. There were rides, games, sweet and savory treats and no sense of time. AND yes, I always got splinters, because I never wore my flip-flops (as my parents suggested) and sadly, more often than not, I returned home with a sunburn that I regret today.

It is that intangible sense of freedom, community and unvarnished leisure time that the boardwalk connotes that will be resurrected, despite rising seas and superstorms!

Even in season, Kailua is pretty deserted during the week. During the weekends locals descend on it, but otherwise, the long crescent beach is almost empty. It has astounding views at every step; there are ancient craters and an endless horizon to watch, with an occasional whale pod to discover if you stare long enough during the winter season.

What I like about Kailua is the absence of high-rises. This ultra exclusive beach area has no resorts or monolithic condominiums — just houses, some of which are mind-bogglingly expensive, others, more modest — but still more expensive than most of us can even imagine affording. Still, the whole feel of the place is casual. This is not a particularly showy stretch of houses and most are not hidden behind forbidding walls.

Some of them are actually available to rent. The ones directly on the beach have extraordinary price tags — but believe it or not, some of the ones within walking distance are affordable (you can find them on the internet). In addition to the beach you get a) bragging rights that you walked the beach that Obama walked (and rented on his Christmas vacation); b) the best shaved ice in the islands; c) access to a series of good to great restaurants; and d) a low-key town that makes you forget what a lot of other places in the islands have turned into.

My favorite memories on this last visit: devouring the tuna tower at Lucy’s; running amuck at Mama Yogurt’s tasting all the free sample flavors out of the do-it-yourself soft-swirl machines; having a marvelous dinner  outside on the porch of the new Kalipawai Cafe restaurant, sister to its more famous sibling, the Kalipawai Market;  strolling the beach in a light rain (and then watching it pour right after I made it into the house I was staying in); and just walking that gorgeous beach twice a day and thanking the fates (and my friend Deborah who opened up her house to me and several other friends) that have made it possible for me to enjoy such a beautiful and peaceful place.

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Pepper Schwartz serves as the AARP love and relationship ambassador and is the chief relationships expert at Perfectmatch.com.

A friend and I went to scout it out for a winter romantic getaway, and even though we worried about hypothermia a few times, my guy will benefit from this reconnaissance.

If you go to Santa Fe in winter, you own it. Imagine being alone in the picturesque square, alone chatting up the salespeople, and able to drop into even the most popular restaurants on a whim. With the touristy crowds gone, we could enjoy a spontaneous day — and get the best of everything.

We stayed at the centrally located Inn at Loretto — at a substantial discount — and had a huge colorful room with a monster king bed (which  we treated like two twins) and a very nice bathroom with an elegant shower.  Unfortunately, the fireplace was just decorative (although it did have wonderful supersized candles in it) and in terms of romance reconnaissance the room didn’t rate since I require a great bathtub on my checklist.

But what was perfect: going down Canyon Road and having the galleries to ourselves, and finding a little Tea House on that road, frequented by locals, with a cozy little couch and a series of small rooms to get alone in; going to my “must do” in Santa Fe — Ten Thousand Waves — and getting such a great massage in the Japanese themed “peoples spa” that we went back the next evening. I also went back to the amazing craft museum for the umpteenth time and the Indian museum — but this was the first time I had these museums to myself!

This lack of business isn’t good for Santa Fe, but I’d prefer braving the cold (I will dress a whole lot more warmly next time) than battling for reservations. We had no trouble getting into Don Gaspars for breakfast, brunch or dinner. We did  all three  because  I love that funky place with the great location and fabulous New Mexican recipes.

Sure, if you are an arts maven you have to go in the summer, but if you want a getaway just for the two of you, go in the winter.

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Pepper Schwartz serves as the AARP love and relationship ambassador and is the chief relationships expert at Perfectmatch.com.

The Westin Lagunamar in Cancun was actually a wonderful answer to the “how do you combine romance and family” question. The Westin Villa formula on this site provides a good answer. The twenty-thirty-something contingent had studios with Jacuzzis — just about big enough for two (rather small) people — really good views of the pool, and beyond that, the ocean and beach. Critically, they also had kitchens — so everyone could have their leisurely morning alone time — and at night, we piled into my one bedroom that had a dining room that seated all seven of us.

My room in building number nine had an especially romantic view. I was almost on the beach and the welcome sound of the waves (audible in most of the rooms) was especially present in mine.

The two young couples were happy just getting the usual drinks either in or near the very large infinity pool — but occasionally the itch to see Mexico presented itself. We sucked in our breath and managed to get all of us in our rented Dodge station wagon and headed out with a few trepidations: the staff at the hotel seemed to be quite shocked that we were driving instead of going on the huge buses that ferry most tourists to the major attractions. We were a little nervous too: I opted for the daily insurance coverage on the car, something I never do in the states.

Our outings were almost total successes. We all loved tubing down the river and lagoon at Xel-Ha, a  snorkel park and natural aquarium  on the Caribbean sea. There was a portion that went through a mangrove where the couples (in tubes built for two) could snuggle and play — and adrenaline moments in the more open water — such as jumping off cliffs into the water at  resort-approved spots (my son did that one) and farther down the inlet, a place where couples could walk over the water on ropes (while holding onto ropes overhead (none of us dared to do it). Since adrenaline does actually make the heart grow fonder, the couples seemed to be substantially more affectionate with each other by the end of the day.

We were mindful that you could have too much family and not enough romance. So at night we looked for places that the couples could feel their hearts beat as one. My romantic restaurant find this time was Thai — serving food of the same name, located in the shopping mall, on the bay, across from the Westin. I know, it was in a mall, but Thai is composed of a beautiful series of gently lit open air rooms and the nicest ones are private and cantilevered over the water looking back at city lights.

A few days later, we went to the Mayan ruins — and even though I had been to both Tulum and Chichen Itza, I continue to be amazed at the sophistication of these ancient temples (some built as early as the 6^th century, A.D.).  Both ruins had significantly more archaeological excavation since I had been there eight years ago, and that was the good news; the bad news was that you can no longer go into the main temple — and the magnificent jade jaguar is no longer on public view.

So, I said our outings were “almost” perfect. Well, driving back after a long day at the archaeological sites we got to meet the local authorities. We were going about ten miles per hour over the limit: not a good idea in Mexico. Yes, we got waved over by the police. And no, we didn’t want to go to the police station. And yes, the policeman would accept our cash. In fact, he would accept less cash than he asked for because we didn’t have a lot of money on us and he didn’t take MasterCard.

Oh well, this made it the official Mexican tourist experience. Everyone still had a great time and the young couples said they’d do it again in a heartbeat.

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Pepper Schwartz serves as the AARP love and relationship ambassador and is the chief relationships expert at Perfectmatch.com.

Getting sucked into a series of books can be a marvelous experience. You become so invested, almost intimate with the characters. Much to my surprise, I am completely taken by Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy and have been burning the midnight oil as I gallop through the three books. I keep putting the reins on my reading because I don’t want it to end.

This summer, on a trip to the Pacific Northwest’s Olympic Peninsula, I insisted we take a 50-mile detour to visit Forks, Washington, home of the Twilight saga. Twilight is a series of four vampire, teen romance novels by Stephenie Meyer. It follows a teenage girl, named Bella, who moves to Forks, Washington and falls in love with a 104-year-old vampire named Edward Cullen.

I have not read any of them and have little interest in the recent wave of vampire chic, but I am interested in the cult fascination of the vampire trend, and thought it might make a fun side trip. If for nothing else, my 11-year-old son has friends who are obsessed with the characters and so I was intrigued.

After much moaning by the three boys in the car, we took the hour-plus trip from Port Townsend to Forks, a sleepy logging town that has become somewhat of a Mecca for Twilighters or Twihards, as they are called.

Let me tell you, this was a mistake. Unless you have a tween daughter or are particularly smitten with the saga, it’s a huge waste of time. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s positive that a little town on the edge has been resuscitated by a literature feeding frenzy, but I didn’t need to waste the gas money. Besides some life-size poster cutouts of Edward and Bella in the surplus store and this hilarious stall for wood bundles cashing in on the sensation, the town isn’t exactly scintillating. I’m sure if I had read the books I would feel differently, but I certainly used up my free pass to make a travel suggestion for the whole family.

If you are a Twihard, there are tours and chotchki shops on the main drag. You can spend the morning hiking in the Olympic National Forest and then make a detour to this two-stoplight town.

Now a trip to Stockholm, Sweden sounds more appealing. I might even be tempted to take a Millennium Trilogy Tour, seeking out all the spots in Stieg Larsson’s mega hit series. The books ooze with Swedish culture. Since reading the books I have baked Swedish bread and grilled my Swedish friends about everything from the incredible caffeine overload the country must experience to trying to keep the Nordic names straight. The tours take visitors around Stockholm to the real and fictional addresses in the books. The tours even make a stop at the 7-11 shop Lisbeth Salander frequents; she seems to live on frozen pizzas.

Interestingly, the global sensation of the trilogy has meant that visits by tourists have spiked whenever books are translated into a new language. The Larsson mystique was amplified by his premature death of a heart attack at age 50, and there is talk that he was mid-way through a fourth novel when he died unexpectedly. Swedish tourism officials have said the fans of the trilogy, along with the royal wedding this summer, have put Stockholm in the limelight and increased tourism traffic.

If you are interested, there are English language tours, tickets cost about 120 Swedish kronor or about $18-$20. Lisbeth and Blomqvist groupies can also purchase a map of the tour’s route for 40 kronor, about $6, at the Stockholm City Museum or the Stockholm Tourist Center.

No longer. Forest Park, the green spine that connects Washington University and the suburbs to the downtown area, has been beautifully reclaimed and in a space 60 percent bigger than New York’s Central Park, visitors and citizens can jog and bike along groomed trails and boat in large waterways.

One excellent excursion is to bike up to the famous Gateway Arch that was built to celebrate St. Louis’s colorful past as the provisioning place for western expansion. The arch, designed by renowned architect Enno Saarinen, is awesome.

I first saw it when it was completed in 1965, but this time, with it’s silver skin glinting in the sunlight, it seemed even more graceful and monumental. I didn’t go up to the top, but you can. There is a tram that goes up the 630-foot structure, causing most riders’ hearts to beat a little faster.

For a different kind of thrill, go to the greatly gentrified downtown and visit the gorgeously rehabilitated art deco Thaxton building. On Friday and Saturday nights, the Thaxton building opens up its “Speakeasy.” The bar downstairs echos the atmosphere of the “gin joints” of the 1920s and ’30s. You enter through the back, and yes, you are only admitted after getting the once over by the management through a little peep-hole in the door.

Finally, if the city’s reputation as a beer town grabs you, you can take a tour of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, which also includes their Clydesdale stables. I remember the latter more fondly than the former. Years ago, my boyfriend and I visited the brewery and the intense smells of hops did not sit quite right with him. He turned a peculiar shade of green that would be perfect for Halloween.

Personally I’d rather end my own visit to St. Louis at the magnificent Botanical Gardens, but experienced beer drinkers might be just fine.

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Pepper Schwartz serves as the AARP love and relationship ambassador and is the chief relationships expert at Perfectmatch.com.

I fondly remember visiting the vastness of Metropolitan Museum of Art, marveling at the classics, journeying to Papua New Guinea and Egypt, giggling at the Greek sculptures and noshing at the, then, very fancy café with all the Upper East Side lady lunchers. Most of all I cherished the multicolored little button you get with admission, which I used to save in a jar.

Every time I return to Manhattan I make a pilgrimage to the Met, no matter what is showing. I bring my own kids and rush through, plying them with candy and promises of a ride on the carousel, much as my parents did.

Recently, on one of the hottest days of the year I had a few hours to make my manic tour of the museum.  After a whirlwind visit to the American Woman fashion exhibit—that rocked as much as the original song and the Lenny Kravitz cover—we had about a half hour to kill. I was with a colleague who insisted we head up to the roof garden, a somewhat hidden and unknown asset to the majestic museum.

It was nearing 100 degrees and I was enjoying the comfort of the cool marble and air conditioning inside, but was up for an adventure. In heels, we hiked up, what seemed like a secret staircase, and made our way to this idyllic, verdant roof garden with a bar and an immense bamboo structure. The Doug and Mike Starn on the Roof: Big Bambú installation is closing this Halloween Sunday. The constantly evolving sculpture was mesmerizing and those who could stay hydrated and withstand the heat were enjoying the whimsy.

There are many great bars in New York, many hip venues,  but to be outdoors, high above Central  Park, with a stunning view of the skyline,  while sipping a cocktail is truly a  special New York experience and a respite from the hurly-burly of Fifth Avenue. Ask a museum guard, in whispers, to guide you to the secret stairwell and make the trek to the top. Hurry, the roof garden is generally open in season through the late fall, weather permitting…although the idea of bundling up and sipping hot toddies and cocoa, looking out over a white blanketed park in winter sounds sublime.

Like many people, when my kids were young, I had to arrange most of my vacations around my children’s schedule — which meant trips around school holidays. I had gotten in the habit of traveling to Hawaii around Christmas even when I could have gone other times. Big mistake.

This September, we had perfect weather every day of our two week vacation (not so likely in December) and all dining and tourism options were open and easy.

I stayed at the Outrigger Kiahuna Plantations, which is ordinarily a family place but not so much at this time of year. The gardens are mature and gorgeous, the landscaping lush, and we had a unit (160) that while not as close to the beach as I would have liked — compensated by having a huge lawn in front of it and a reasonable ocean view. It was a lovely unit — a full kitchen, a commodious living room and tasteful rattan furniture. The only thing I could fault it on was the bathroom: it was small, basic and uninviting. A real loss for me since I love luxurious two-person bath opportunities.

The restaurant at the hotel is totally romantic. It has very good food in a classic Hawaiian setting — a covered porch, strung lights across the garden, beautiful Koi ponds and splashing water. It feels like old Hawaii and it is my favorite restaurant that does not have an ocean view. The water view, however, was just down the way at The Beach House. It’s no big secret — everyone and their mother knows to go there at sunset — but that doesn’t make it any less wonderful. There are expansive, exceptional views and very good food. (you can also go early, get a great seat for drinks and be positioned for dinner). Or, skip the restaurant entirely and do as the locals do — just go sit on the beach or lawn’s edge and watch the sunset come and go.

Kauai is by its very nature romantic. However, it’s also true that it’s very nature is to be wet, so ordinarily you get all the greenery and lushness at a price. We had dry weather- but it rained hard almost every night. I think that’s very romantic.

If the weather favors you, do what we did: rent a convertible, then go to the beach at the Na Pali coastline where fit hikers walk the 11-mile trail that I have only seen from the sea. Boats will take you to the valleys that open up between the brutally beautiful green mountains whose hard edges slant down to the ocean. I am told that the hiking trail displays an even more beautiful show — but I am pretty sure I will never have that vantage point!

My own kind of exploration was to go to the Allerton gardens. If you like flowers and green plants even a teeny bit, this is where you should go. It’s expensive ($45 entrance fee) but worth it. The estate was bequeathed by a Chicago industrialist and his adopted son to the state of Hawaii. It is a series of rooms that are created by the flamboyant ferns, palms and blooming plants that love Hawaii’s rain and soil, and each section is special.

There is a striking vista as you start the tour on a shuttle that lets you see where the Allerton’s house on the beach was and is (it’s only open to the public on special evening tours). The shuttle drives along a beautiful ocean view road and then descends to the 80-acre garden itself. We unloaded our group (about ten people) and with our extremely entertaining guide Martin, wandered for more than an hour among the walks, plants and fountains that Allerton designed. The tour was educational, beautiful and delicious (there are a lot of wild and cultivated fruit trees and Martin, gave us a few bites to educate our palates). Sucking on juicy fruits, walking through filtered light, sheltered by enormous palms and constantly seeing elaborate hanging flowers and vines makes it almost obligatory to hold hands with your honey here.

You may not need any other romantic experiences after this one but there are so many additional options to explore. For example, get a basket and go to one of the many wonderful farmer’s markets on the island; walk the beach just before the sun is really up and own the coastline. Go to one of the kayaking outfits near Lihue or near Princeville and Hanalei and kayak down a lazy river. Have a drink at the Grand Hyatt Wailea outdoor bar looking over the expansive lawns to the ocean. Take  the pretty walkway along the property line and end up at the gorgeous cliffs and public beach at the end of the property.

Five days was not enough on Kauai but our plan was to divide our time and fly to Kona on the big island. We stayed in a  Waikoloa condominium complex called Hali’i Kai, a gaited suburban community near a golf course. Golf courses do nothing for me, but our unit, near the beach, had a terrific sunset view and the beach club, right next to the edge of the water, had what seemed like a 180-degree ocean view. Sadly there was no beach access — our coast was a rocky lava promontory and it was pretty much like that within reasonable walking distance. But there was a nice path that went through the lava field  to the extensive grounds of the nearby Hilton.

In any case, we didn’t just hang around our immediate area. We took our car and explored the far reaches of the island. We did the requisite trip to the volcano and a few less conventional excursions like one to an  area beyond Hawi (a really nice old Hawaiian town that’s gotten modestly yuppified) to see some close friends of some close friends, and then for a fabulous meal at Sushi Rock, a small, unassuming place where the chef and owner have created sushi feasts there that are second to none.

What is especially romantic to do on the Big Island? Just sitting on or near the beach having the breeze refresh your senses; walking along the paths of the ancients — the Pauko petroglyphs managed by the Mauna Lani  Bay Hotel are a magical tour;  going to the Wednesday through Sunday markets at Kona; and touring the little towns that still have their old atmosphere — not a McDonald’s to be seen.

As for romantic roads, I was especially pleased about a little detour from Waimea on the Old Mamalahoa Highway, which is an alternative route to Hilo off 19. It was a gorgeous cut through some of the Parker ranchlands and we stopped and took it all in for a while. I also think it would be very romantic to ride horses around here. But then I’m a horse person.

Finally, I can’t forget the waterfalls and lagoons. There is something especially sweet about watching the force of water fall from great heights. Rainbow falls just outside Hilo is quite lovely, but my favorite on the big island is between highway markers 13 and 14, also near Hilo. Akaka Falls drops majestically 420 feet and is viewable from the parking lot, but it is much more wonderfully experienced by taking the walkway that circles the falls and the jungle around it. It’s an exotic, almost intoxicating half hour walk over streams, through hanging flowering plants and with peekaboo sightings of smaller falls until you reach the big one. But just one cautionary note: the falls might best be visited  during the morning or in the low season because I gather it is frequented by tour buses during afternoons and high tourist times. We saw it with maybe five other people in the park near closing time and it was perfect!

I have always included the Hawaiian islands in my top ten romantic places in the world.
Maybe I was wrong. Maybe they should be in the top five romantic places in the world. Whatever their ranking, if you don’t feel romantic in Hawaii — see a therapist.

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Pepper Schwartz serves as the AARP love and relationship ambassador and is the chief relationships expert at Perfectmatch.com.

So, here’s what’s romantic about the Willows-Herb Farm pairing. Everything.

The Willows is  almost adjacent to the Herb Farm - an excellent location when you find yourself stumbling across to your lodgings after you have eaten and drunk more than you thought humanly possible. It is a very warm, welcoming kind of place with classic Northwest architecture but it does have more than it’s share of weddings in the summer, so you could find the lobby teaming with revelers. There is a “happening” kind of bar near the lobby (with a great wine selection) and a nice patio - but for a quiet moment, you’ll do best to go to a small sitting room on the second floor.

The lodge has two special Herb Farm suites (decorated by the owners of the restaurant) that look out on an intricate and fascinating herb garden of mass proportions. (The restaurant starts their dinner with an optional tour of the garden that I enjoyed way more than I thought I would). Our suite was very large with one of my main requirements for a romantic room - a two person tub. The decor was a bit much - you have got to like country decorating (leave no wall unadorned) but with comfortable chairs and a cozy couch and included  thoughtful amenities (a carafe of Port, an additional bottle of very nice red wine, a generous tray of cheese, nuts, dried fruit). We loved our evening there, but I also went and saw the inn’s other rooms, which were more Northwest Lodge style, and also had fireplaces and two person bathtubs. I liked them a lot.

It’s hard to do justice to the dinner. It starts at seven (after the tour of the herb garden) and it goes on for three hours. The portions are perfectly plated and small, but there are nine of them. There is a wine for each course and if you drink it up, they add more. The room is beautiful, the table sparkles with five or six different kinds of wine glasses and decorative plates. The servers are all serious food people in apprenticeships and the owner and his wife help serve, explain and MC the rendition of what you are about to eat. We were there for one of their 26 different menus - The 100 Mile Dinner - which means everything (including the salt!) had to be made within a hundred miles of the dining room. It was inventive and the staff and chef were obviously challenged and excited by the assignment. (How do I know? They all gathered in front of us at the start of the dinner and told the room that this was the hardest of all their dinners to accomplish.) They were all so obviously thrilled to be there, sharing their craft and their passion, that we felt they were having just as good a time making this dinner as we were having eating it.

From the start, including the guided tour of the garden to an informal walk through their 4000 plus bottle wine cellar, we felt the personal hand, taste and desire for excellence of everyone involved with the Herb Farm. That alone was pretty impressive, but of course it wouldn’t matter if the execution of the evening didn’t match up to it’s ambitions. Happily, I can say every course was  imaginative and delicious. (The menu is set but if you have dietary issues they will make sure your specific needs are met. In my case, I hate beets and told them over the phone when I made the reservation. No beet appeared on my side of the table).

So this is the perfect place to have a truly memorable evening.  Everyone, from the owner to your servers, knows your name. There are no screaming babies to disrupt your intimate reverie. The dinner is pricey and it is adult. (The Willows is moderately to expensively priced, unless you book one of the Herb Garden suites, which are quite expensive).

If you are in Seattle or visiting Seattle, it’s about a 30 to 40 minute ride from downtown. Check it out for an anniversary, a place to pop the question (no, he didn’t) or just because you are in love. If you go the Herb Garden definitely stay overnight at the Willows. You will kick yourself if you don’t.

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Pepper Schwartz serves as the AARP love and relationship ambassador and is the chief relationships expert at Perfectmatch.com.