North of Boston/Merrimack Valley welcome romantic vacationers

Luxury hotels in the Greater Merrimack Valley are ready to help you plan that much-needed romantic escape. Stay in a castle on the hill at the Chateau Merrimack, and you’ll feel like royalty. Ask about rooms with a fireplace or private balcony overlooking the river. Get a couples massage at the JuJu Spa, and soak in the indoor pool and hot tub after relaxing in the sauna. At the Inn at Hastings Park in Lexington, reserve your own cozy igloo for dinner or champagne brunch, or arrange for a private bonfire experience. At Concord’s Colonial Inn, where colonial charm meets modern comfort, relax in the Thoreau Suite with colonial decor, antiques and a bathroom with a jetted tub. Toast your time together in the inviting Village Forge Tavern.

It’s time to be pampered: Book a room or suite at The Inn at Hastings Park, the boutique hotel in lovely Lexington, and settle into luxury, from Frette towels and bed linens to a rain shower in your marble bathroom. The inn’s Revolutionary Romance Package includes complimentary gourmet breakfast for two as well as chilled champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries upon your arrival. Enjoy couple time by walking to the green (where the Revolution began), using a complimentary bike to explore the rail trail or just strolling among the town’s emporiums. Dine in comfort at Artistry on the Green restaurant, celebrated for its fine farm-to-table cuisine. Enjoy a cocktail on the porch or in the bar at this historic inn.

With impeccable service, a tranquil location in an historic town just north of Boston and an on-site spa, the Briar Barn Inn is the romantic retreat you have been seeking. Across from the common in historic Rowley, surrounded by protected land, the inn offers 30 spacious, uniquely decorated rooms with gas fireplaces, soaking tubs, plush robes and fine linens. The on-site restaurant, Grove, serves creative but classic regional fare, with handcrafted cocktails and a vibrant wine list. Relax after dinner on the terrace or by a courtyard fire pit. Book a couples massage or other treatment at the spa. Enjoy your days on the North Share by gallery-hopping, antiquing, kayaking or hiking the area’s breathtaking coastal trails. (And take that sunset walk on Gloucester’s Wingaersheek Beach!)

Romance in the heart of Salem: It’s yours at the Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites. Book a plush room or suite along with the hotel’s Romance Package and enjoy early accommodations, two breakfast vouchers in the award-winning restaurant and local made chocolates and vase of roses when you arrive. (A Valentines Day Package includes champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries.) The hotel, on historic and romantic Pickering Wharf, has a heated indoor pool and state-of-the-art fitness center. Stroll down to a lighthouse, or among the wharf’s elegant shops, or head into town to visit Nathaniel Hawthorne's House of the Seven Gables, the Salem Witch Museum or the Peabody Essex Museum. Sample the area’s craft breweries, cider houses and fine restaurants.

A very romantic inn in a very romantic town, the elegant Harbor Light Inn welcomes couples with a variety of special packages and room enhancements. The Romance Package includes sparkling wine, chocolates and flowers. The Deluxe Romance Package features champagne, flowers, chocolates and a cheese and fruit plate. The inn will also make arrangements for a couple’s massage in your room. Ask about a room with a working fireplace and a two-person jetted spa tub. Enjoy a glass of wine by the atrium fireplace or in the cozy Tavern. Breakfast, including hot dishes and homemade breads, will be delivered to your room. Spend your day strolling through this picturesque town, with a charming harbor, interesting shops, galleries and restaurants.