10 great places to stage a romantic scene

— -- There's nothing better than a good romantic movie for Valentine's Day — unless, of course, you can make it to the place where the romantic movie was filmed. Paris Permenter, co-publisher of lovetripper.com, shares her list of favorite filming locales with Ron Schoolmeester for USA TODAY.

Grand Hotel Mackinac Island, Mich. Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour may have been billed as the leads in the 1980 cult classic Somewhere in Time, but Mackinac Island's Grand Hotel also played a starring role, Permenter says. A particularly good time to visit is the second weekend in October for a Somewhere in Time celebration that includes stops at places made famous in the film. "Any time couples visit, though, they can take in the movie locations, from the 660-foot-long porch where the film's hero spent his first night in 1912, to the spot where Richard Collier and Elise McKenna first met (marked with a plaque among the trees)." 800-334-7263; grandhotel.com

From Here to Eternity BeachOahu, Hawaii Perhaps no movie kiss is more memorable than the one shared by Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr in the 1953 movie From Here to Eternity. "Their romp in the sand took place on what was called Halona Cove but has since become known as the From Here to Eternity Beach," says Permenter. "Just as it was in 1953, the small beach is set on an intimate cove surrounded by craggy cliffs that discourage many tourists from making the fairly steep climb down to the sand." 800-464-2924; gohawaii.com

Round Hill Hotel & Villas Montego Bay, Jamaica A favorite with red-carpet travelers (Ralph Lauren owns one of the villas, and names like Paul McCartney and Harrison Ford pop up in the guest book), this elegant resort was the setting for 1998's film How Stella Got Her Groove Back. "Ask for Villa 11 to create your own Angela Bassett-Taye Diggs moment," Permenter says. 800-972-2159; roundhilljamaica.com

The Tides Inn Port Townsend, Wash. "Request a stay in the suite where romance ignited between U.S. Navy aviation officer candidate Zack Mayo and local girl Paula Pokrifki, and you'll receive the key to Room 10 at The Tides Inn," Permenter says. Its windows still frame the same view of Port Townsend Bay that actors Richard Gere and Debra Winger saw during the filming of the 1982 movie An Officer and a Gentleman. 800-822-8696; tides-inn.com