love is in the air

Love is in the AirThe Pocono Mountain Area, popular for its majestic scenery and year-round recreation, is even better known as a honeymoon hot spot. The region's love nests—complete with heart-shaped bathtubs and decor in shades of lacquer red and royal purple—are part of American folklore.

The area became a romantic destination during World War II when soldiers on leave vacationed in the Pocono Mountains before shipping overseas. Following the war, many of these GIs married, and—thanks to postwar prosperity—very young couples could afford to take honeymoons. They returned to the area to celebrate, and it became known as the Honeymoon Capital of the World. By the late 1950s, the area was welcoming some 2,000 honeymooners per week, rivaling Niagara Falls as the newly marrieds' go-to spot.

The tourist board quickly caught on, and lodge owners created special resorts geared to honeymooners—some even required a recent marriage certificate to secure a room. Along with the supposed exclusivity, resorts installed such romantic enticements as two-person sunken tubs, and stays included organized activities and family-style dining with other couples to foster camaraderie.

In 1963, Life magazine featured photos of the first heart-shaped bathtub at the Caesars Cove Haven Resort in Lakeville, and the rest is history. With several other locations in the Pocono Mountains, including Paradise Stream Resort and Pocono Palace Resort , the Caesars chain still caters to couples with over-the-top romantic kitsch. Some honeymoon suites boast 7-foot whirlpool tubs in the shape of champagne glasses; round, king-size beds with mirrored headboards; double steam showers; heated in-suite pools; fireplaces; and ceilings lit with twinkling stars. Tying the oversize spaces together are red couches and carpets, white floor-to-ceiling Corinthian columns, Egyptian and Roman murals and mirrored walls.