Every bride wants her wedding to be the stuff fairy tales are made of, but when it comes to the honeymoon, it’s no holds barred. Many choose some exotic, romantic location they’ve dreamed about since they were old enough to imagine a honeymoon, and others simply want to find a place where family and friends are but a distant memory and they can spend hours alone as newlyweds. If you are planning your honeymoon, why not go for a bit of adventure that will spice up an already spicy time in your life? Looking to step away from tradition? Try these on for size.

Rwanda – Not the Stuff Movies Are Made From

Few people haven’t heard of the blockbuster Hotel Rwanda where one man pits himself against the Hutu militia to house refugees in the hotel he was managing. It truly was a heart wrenching story based on fact but honeymooning in Rwanda is a whole new view of this immensely beautiful land. Here young couples can travel through the ‘land of a thousand hills,’ backpacking it through some of nature’s most pristine forests. Pack it by day and stay in eco-luxury by night. Hotels in many areas offer daily tours where honeymooners among other guests can get up-close and personal with nature in all its glory. Looking to go head to head with one of 880 gorillas – or a few more? This is where you’ll have the best chance of doing just that!

Hiking the North Coast of Hawaii’s Kauai

For those looking to merge a bit of tradition with a lot of excitement, why not take a romantic honeymoon cruise to Hawaii and then spend days in a lush, tropical paradise? Many young and adventurous honeymooners spend glorious days hiking the hills and trails on Kauai’s north coast where the scenery is the perfect spot to take all those honeymoon photos to be cherished always? What bride doesn’t look her loveliest against a backdrop of tropical vegetation and what groom isn’t at his masculine best hiking a trail through thick foliage with nature all around? Truly the best of both worlds! Romance aboard the cruise and adventure in nature. What more could any young couple ask for?

Swim the Rock Pools of Zambia

If you are looking to get ‘unclad’ by day as well as by night, why not honeymoon in Zambia? This South African nation has some of the most enchanting rock pools in the world, formed by erosion happening over many millennia. One of the most exciting pools is appropriately named the Devil’s Pool which is situated just at the very edge (and they mean the VERY edge) of a steep drop that lends an air of fright, even among all the beauty of the rock formations all around. Truly one of nature’s contradictions, beauty and fright side by side in the most natural way imaginable.

See the Austrian Alps Like Never Before

Of course, it is easy to imagine a honeymoon in Austria amid the majesty and splendor of the Austrian Alps. Nothing really is more romantic than snowcapped mountains any time of year but try hiking them on your honeymoon! Stay in Salzburg located just on the border of Germany so that you can easily travel back and forth, visiting two countries for the price of one. By day you can hike the Alps and by night you can experience discos and clubs where locals go for fun. Don’t be surprised if the locals toast you one too many times with a raised mug of stout black beer. No champagne for the Austrians (or Germans) on a traditional honeymoon in the land of brew.

Honeymooning Off the Beaten Path in Puerto Rico

Those looking to be almost entirely secluded off the beaten path will absolutely adore Gurabo, the remote area of Puerto Rico that is anything but a tourist trap. Here couples can fish on the serene waters of Carraizo Lake to bring dinner home to their cottage, equally as serene and secluded. However, don’t despair for a bit of night life if the mood should strike you as San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, is just a thirty mile ride away.

There is no reason you can’t merge the perfect traditional romantic honeymoon with a bit of fun and adventure. It’s like getting two ‘vacations’ for the price of one. Let your romance take you away by night and explore some of the most spectacular ‘non-touristy’ locations by day. Looking for a honeymoon like nothing you’ve dreamed of? Each of these adventurous locations can offer that and s