The New England gay honeymoon wedding planner.

The Northeast has long been one of the country's best regions for gay romantic getaways, thanks to its near-perfect balance of progressive attitudes, swank country inns, stunning scenery (think verdant mountainsides and creaky old covered bridges), and urbane yet rustic restaurants. Since 2000, every state in the region--except Rhode Island, New York, and Pennsylvania--has in some way legally recognized same-sex relationships, and gay and lesbian couples have taken to the countryside to get hitched or live out their honeymoon. And a road trip amid the region's famous fall foliage is icing on the same-sex wedding cake!

(From south to north on the map ...)

(N.J.) The charming village of Lambertville, which is just a few hundred feet across the Delaware River from oh-so-queer New Hope, Pa., has long been one of the state's top gay destinations, with its mix of hip cafes and fine antique shops. Here, the upscale 45-room Inn at Lambertville Station (609-397-4400), complete with a ballroom with sweeping river views, has been the site of many commitment ceremonies.

(N.J., PA.) Few drives in New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania offer the scenic beauty of the route extending from Lambertville up alongside the Delaware River. Start with State Route 29 north to Easton, Pa., then follow State Route 611 and U.S. 209 up through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area to charming Milford, Pa., which has become an increasingly popular regional gay weekend destination.

(N.J.) New Jersey's most romantic getaway, the gay-friendly Victorian seaside resort of Cape May, sits at the state's southern tip, with stunning beaches facing the frothy Atlantic. Cape May Point State Park (609-884-2159) is the perfect place for hand-holding as the sun sets, while the sumptuous 1879 gay-owned Virginia Hotel (800-732-4236) with its sterling Ebbitt Room restaurant enthusiastically welcomes same-sex couples.

(N.Y.) The small, liberal Hudson River Valley town of New Paltz made headlines in late February 2004 when young mayor Jason West began performing marriages for same-sex couples, though New York state law didn't recognize them. Idyllic New Paltz is home to the enchanting, castle-like Mohonk Mountain House (800-772-6646), a gorgeous hotel built between 1879 and 1910 set on glistening Lake Mohonk that has become popular as a setting for commitment ceremonies.

(CONN.) Urbane, gay-friendly New Haven is one of the great comeback cities of the past decade, with fabulous restaurant, theater, and museum scenes near the campus of prestigious Yale University. The city's Lighthouse Point Park (203-946-8327) with its historic carousel building has become a prized spot for commitment ceremonies. Downtown, dine at the refined Union League Cafe (203-562-4299), which features a massive fireplace, fine crystal, ethereal French fare, and solicitous service.

(CONN.) Up in northwest Connecticut's leafy and sophisticated Litchfield County, you'll find romantic locales from the covered bridge in West Cornwall to the roaring cascades of Kent Falls State Park. The area is dotted with fine country inns and outstanding restaurants, among them Lakeville's gay-owned Wake Robin Inn (860-435-2000), a regal 38-room mansion.

(CONN., MASS., VT.) From southwestern Connecticut up through the Berkshires in Massachusetts and the Green Mountains in Vermont, few roads offer more scenic fall leaf-peeping than U.S. Highway 7. Avoid the interstates and stick with this winding route whenever possible.

(MASS.) Northampton, in Massachusetts's verdant Pioneer Valley, might be more famous as a lesbian weekend retreat than any small city in America. The friendly, diverse college town, with its scenic bike paths and the outstanding Smith College Museum of Art, appeals to an artsy, educated set. In nearby Hatfield, the gay-owned Old Mill on the Falls (413-247-3301) makes for a beautiful same-sex wedding locale.

(MASS.) Since Massachusetts legalized gay marriage, the gay seaside destination of Provincetown has done a brisk honeymoon business. Book a sunset ride with Art's Dune Tours (800-894-1951), which offers special wedding packages against the stunning backdrop of Cape Cod National Seashore. Spend the night at the uber-opulent (and gay-owned) Crowne Pointe Inn and Spa (877-276-9631), where many rooms have hot tubs and fireplaces.

(VT.) To experience the quintessence of small-town New England charm, pay a visit to little Arlington, Norman Rockwell's hometown, which is also near the internationally renowned Bennington Center for the Arts. Consider staying--or having your commitment ceremony--at the Arlington Inn (800-443-9442), a dashing Greek Revival mansion with six cushy rooms plus a stellar restaurant.

(VT.) Stowe is undeniably one of Vermont's most enchanting little towns, a bustling ski community that also offers great hiking and biking during the summer months. Here you can opt for one of the posh spa treatments at the Stoweflake Mountain Resort (800-253-2232); its restaurant, Winfield's Bistro, ranks among Vermont's top culinary experiences. The tranquil, gay-owned Timberholm Inn (800-753-7603) has hosted dozens of commitment ceremonies over the years.

(N.H.) It's in New Hampshire's White Mountains that you'll find one of the country's premier lesbian resorts, the tranquil, secluded Highlands Inn (877-LES-B-INN), which is a top honeymooning retreat.

(MAINE) Just 70 miles north of Boston, the artsy seaside village of Ogunquit offers the gay-friendly vibe and seaside quaint factor of Provincetown, minus the crowds. It's a perfect overnight getaway, with several gay B&Bs, esteemed theater at the Ogunquit Playhouse, and sumptuous dining at Arrows Restaurant (207-361-1100).

NEW ENGLAND GAY MARRIAGE TIMELINE

April 2000: VERMONT becomes the first state to pass a same-sex civil unions law, which grants same-sex couples the same benefits, protections, and responsibilities enjoyed by married couples.

April 2004: MAINE passes a domestic partner registry that gives registered same-sex couples a legal status similar to that of married couples. May 2004: MASSACHUSETTS makes civil rights history as it becomes the first state to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

April 2005: CONNECTICUT passes same-sex civil union legislation. It's the first time this kind of law was enacted not as the result of a lawsuit.

September 2006: A MASSACHUSETTS superior court judge rules that same-sex couples living in states that do not expressly prohibit same-sex marriage--including neighboring RHODE ISLAND and NEW YORK--can marry here.

December 2006: NEW JERSEY passes same-sex civil union legislation. April 2007: The NEW HAMPSHIRE House and Senate passes civil union legislation, to become law on Jan. 1, 2008.

June 2007: NEW YORK The Democratic-led state assembly votes to legalize same-sex marriage, but the state senate is likely to hold the measure up indefinitely, despite Governor Spitzer's support for it.