By Spud Hilton, San Francisco Chronicle

A couple exchanges vows outside an igloo at the Icehotel in Sweden.

A couple exchanges vows outside an igloo at the Icehotel in Sweden.

It would be too easy to whip up a shallow list of the cliches of romance, the places that are the best for smooching, having candlelit dinners, proposing or even saying vows. Fortunately, in The Worlds Most Romantic Destinations, author Abbie Kozolchyk (and Annie Fitzsimmons in the forward) recognize that its just as easy to fall in love with a place, or even the romance of travel itself, than to fall in love with a person. Easier, probably. The list of locations some surprising, some obvious but with a twist seems to encourage readers to touch on all three loves: partner, place and travel itself. Amid the romance, theres plenty of practical information for what to do and how. (And it doesnt hurt to have the wanderlust-churning photos that National Geographic is known for.) Heres a sampling of places where youll love to love with someone you love.

Spud Hilton, shilton@sfchronicle.com

Jukkasjarvi, Sweden

The only official stop on this self-guided tour? The 17th century wooden Sami church, Laplands oldest surviving house of worship, complete with a birch and reindeer-horn organ. If the church starts to give you ideas, remember that theres another one you may want to hold out for: the hotels improbably cozy Ice Church, where you can orchestrate a most dazzling proposal, vow renewal, or if youve come prepared wedding.

Photo: Luca Vaime, Alamy Stock Photo

The entrance door of Kiyomizu Dera Temple during the cherry blossom season.

The entrance door of Kiyomizu Dera Temple during the cherry blossom season.

The Glacier Express winds its way through the Alps snowy mountains.

The Glacier Express winds its way through the Alps snowy mountains.

Dusk settles on the lantern-lit canals of Liijang in Yunan province, China.

Dusk settles on the lantern-lit canals of Liijang in Yunan province, China.

Travel book: The Worlds Most Romantic Destinations

St. Moritz, Switzerland

A mix of natural and man-made beauty, the Muottas Muragl Philosophers Trail is lined with plaques that bear inspiring quotations from such greats as Socrates and Sartre. Along the way, youll find both stunning panoramas and blanket-draped benches to snuggle on. Warm up inside with hot chocolate at the nearby and aptly named Romantik Hotel Muottas Muragl.

Yunan province, China

Of course, the province isnt entirely pastoral. To get the full town-and-country experience, spend a day along the waterways and bridges of the UNESCO World Heritage-designated old town of Lijiang. And at night, watch the partiers who challenge each other from open-air bars on either side of a canal to singing duels. Not your run-of-the-mill utopia, to be sure but fun nonetheless. Call it Shangri-La for Glee fans.

Kyoto, Japan

But if you do nothing else during your time in Kyoto, walk through the celebrated 10,000 torii, or sacred gates, at the Fushimi Inari shrine. Getting enveloped in this orange otherworldliness is one of the citys greatest romantic experiences, and each time you emerge from a series of torii on this two-hour mountainside circuit, a sakura sighting is sure to follow.

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