Valentine's Day is obviously an annual excuse to focus on love and romance, the reality is that any time of year is a great excuse for a romantic getaway. Here's our picks for some of the most romantic destinations to take your wife this year!

Race is a difficult topic to explore for most Americans and for far too many people, the word is a trigger that raises barriers that put people in a defensive position where they pretend things didn't happen. As someone who travels constantly, I've learned that this isn't just an American reaction - it is a human one. As I travel I must be open to my views challenged as I experience new things. By talking with different people I've been blessed to see, hear, touch, and taste a lot of different perspectives. Combined with my love of history, experiences like this have given me better context to understand complex issues. Even more so though, it has given me the understanding that most things have many sides. I encourage each and every one of you to make an effort to open your minds, visit sites like these and simply take the time to listen, learn, and explore history when you do.

Most guys who are new to wine think of iconic destinations like Napa and Sonoma as the places to go for wine. While I am a huge fan of California wines... the reality is that there are great wine regions all over the country. Some such as Lake Michigan Shore have gained prominence in recent years, while others such as the Snake River Valley AVA just west of Boise are lesser-known. What's great about these "undiscovered wine country" getaways is that they tend to be less expensive, more relaxed, and offer other opportunities to build a perfect getaway without making wine the singular focus.

For generations, people have escaped to the mountains of North Carolina to avoid the stresses of everyday life. While some settled here in the mountains permanently and become the subject of legend and myth, others come here with the intention of resetting, recharging, and reconnecting with what it means to be man in a society that is ever-changing. These mountains possess untold beauty all year round but are especially enjoyable in the summer and fall. Whether you are looking for fishing, hunting, craft beer, artisanal food, or just fresh air - it's all hear and ready for you to take your share.

Visiting a favorite stadium, birthplace, or hall of fame is something that most sports fans dream of doing at some point in their lives. For most sports though, there is an inherent challenge with that since everything is so spread out. For instance, while Cooperstown might be a great place for baseball fans - it's nowhere near a major league stadium. With NASCAR in particular, Charlotte is THAT PLACE. Not only is this the home of one of the finest NASCAR tracks that I've ever visited - but they also host the NASCAR Hall of Fame, team garages, parts and technology innovators, and you can even follow in the footsteps of racing legends like Dale Earnhardt by visiting his hometown.

The mountains of North Carolina have a rich tradition of producing whiskey and frankly trying new things to produce a unique product that other distillers may consider unconventional. While it is unlikely that you'll ever be able to hike out in the woods and see how illicit moonshine is made, this is the next best thing... maybe even better!

Pinehurst is one of the single best destinations in all of North America for a guys-only getaway. Founded in 1895, the course has played host to many historic events in its nearly 120 years of existence.

Three separate hotels and a bevy of villas and condos await visitors, who have immediate and access to eight top-notch golf courses. The entire area takes up a little over four square miles.

Fishing is the perfect opportunity to unwind, take in beautiful scenery, and do something you enjoy either by yourself or with a group of friends or family members. If you visit the same fishing spot quite often, a change of location can be good for you. It may seem like a difficult task to find that ideal fishing spot that has everything you're looking for, but there are many great areas available right in America.

Biltmore Estate is more than just stuff for the girls. In fact, this place is a hidden gem for those of us seeking some outdoor adventure while exploring how the "other half" lived. Even better is that it is located in one of the BEST mancation destinations in the United States - Asheville, NC.

Last month, Heather and I had a chance to visit Haywood County, NC and stayed at Boyd Mountain Cabins. For those of you who have never heard of Haywood County, it is located in North Carolina's Smoky Mountains, just off of I-40 and only a few hours from all the major cities of the South East. It is also a very easy drive from most places in the Midwest. The collection of seven different cabins plucked from locations all over North Carolina, have been restored, refined, and brought up to date will all the modern conveniences you would expect for a romantic weekend together - including a full kitchen, heat and central air, comfortable beds, rocking chairs on the porches and more.

This isn't a "luxury cabin rental", but it had everything we were looking for. If you are looking to get away from it all by relaxing in the middle of North Carolina's Smoky Mountains, there aren't many better ways to do it!

Tucked away in the Smoky Mountains of south western, North Carolina is a fantastic mancation destination just waiting for you to explore it.

Haywood County is located just south of Asheville and has pretty much everything for a fantastic mancation - great fly fishing, awesome mountain roads that are perfect for driving a bike or a car, great food, awesome hiking trails, a casino, and even a chance to test your luck while gemstone mining.

If you have never been, fly fishing is as much an art form as it is a sport. While virtually anyone can stick a lure in the water and drag it behind the boat, fly fishing, IMO, requires even more understanding of your environment and brings you closer to nature - it is just you and the fish right there in the stream together.

There are trails of all sorts in this wonderful country, but North Carolina has created the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail in the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains. If you love fishing and you love being out in god's country then you must at some point in your life visit this area.

One of the spots you should visit while in the area is the High Hampton Inn. Located in the heart of the new Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail, the High Hampton Inn now features their very own fly fishing school!  Being the only trail of its kind in the U.S., fishermen can experience peak fishing in an area with temperatures that are generally 15 degrees cooler than lower-lying regions because of the 3,600-foot elevation.