Did you go on a date recently? Was it the standard dinner and a movie? Was your reaction, "Meh ..."?


Maybe your date is the love of your life. Maybe not. Either way, you want to feel like this after a first date:







Maybe it's not the guy or girl you went out with, but the cliched and familiar dating scene that has you down. Dr. Helen Fisher, author of such books as "Why We Love," told Chemistry.com that timing is crucial for romance[1] , and the novelty and excitement of moving to a new city can make you "ripe to fall in love."


But if you're willing to uproot yourself for love -- or at least temporarily uproot yourself for a week of much-needed vacation -- make sure you optimize your chances. Places like New York and Paris are often depicted in movies and novels as beacons for romance, but when it comes to meeting someone, dating someone, and ultimately falling in love with someone in the real world, Hawaii may be your best bet. In Hawaii, it's as if summer loving never has to end, and the salt air and floral smells are natural aphrodisiacs.


Below, five reasons it's easier to fall head over heels in Hawaii:


Romantic settings:


Instead of the stale dinner and a movie routine, classic first dates in Hawaii include strolling along the beach with a glass of wine in hand or hiking a beautiful, secluded trail to a waterfall vista. The natural beauty and scenery in Hawaii are awe-inspiring -- it's as if you're living in a Wordsworth poem. There's a reason that people travel to Hawaii for their weddings and honeymoons. Take note.


couple holding hands on beach




Sex appeal:


People in Hawaii live in their swimsuits all year-long, which means skin -- a.k.a., the best aphrodisiac of all -- is everywhere. "Warm weather -- fewer clothes -- could increase arousal[2] ," Catherine Sanderson, a psychology professor at Amherst College in Massachusetts, told LiveScience.com.


man touching




Bonding experiences:


Nothing forges a bond between two people quite like doing something challenging and exhilarating together. According to Professor Arthur Aron,[3] "When you meet someone under conditions that are highly arousing ... a time when the body is stirred up and excited, we tend to experience attraction at a heightened level[4] ." Hiking, water sports and adventure sports are weekly, if not daily, activities in Hawaii, which means the opportunities for adrenaline and excitement are ripe. Tandem surf sesh, anyone?


couple surfing




Intimacy:


Hawaii is far from the rest of the U.S., we get that. But the upside to being away from home is that transplants in Hawaii really band together. This provides a lot of great opportunities to meet new people, as big groups of friends constantly get together for holidays and weekend activities. What does this mean for romantic relationships? It's as if couples are on an accelerated track since they're not distracted by college friends or family trips. Intimacy, in other words, comes quickly on a tiny island in the middle of the Pacific.


lesbian couple




Happiness:


People in Hawaii are happier and less stressed[5] than anywhere else in the country. This is doubly advantageous. First, if you live life with a smile on your face, it makes it easier to attract a partner[6] . Once you find that person, the lifestyle in Hawaii will also make it easier to have a healthy, low-stress relationship, which is something we can all smile about.


happy couple beach



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  • Keeps Your Blood Flowing


    According to Dr. Jennifer Berman, co-founder of the Female Sexual Medicine Center at UCLA, orgasms increase your circulation, keeping the blood flowing to your genital area. This in turn keeps your tissue healthy!




  • It's A Form Of Cardio


    Although it can't be considered an alternative to daily exercise, having an orgasm is a cardiovascular activity. "Your heart rate increases, blood pressure increases [and your] respiratory rate increases," says Berman. And because it's akin to running in many physiological respects, your body also releases endorphins. Sounds like a pretty fun way to work your heart out.




  • Lifts Your Mood


    Feeling down in the dumps? An orgasm might be just what you need to pick yourself up. In addition to endorphins, dopamine and oxytocin are also released during orgasm. All three of these hormones have what Berman terms "mood-enhancing effects." In fact, dopamine is the same hormone that's released when individuals use drugs such as cocaine -- or eat something really delicious.




  • Helps You Sleep


    A little pleasure may go a long way towards a good night's rest. A recent survey of 1,800 women found that over 30 percent of them used sexual release as a natural sedative.




  • Keeps Your Brain Healthy


    Having an orgasm not only works out your heart, but also your head. Barry Komisaruk, Ph.D. <a href="http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/tips-moves/orgasm-news" target="_hplink">told <em>Cosmopolitan</em></a> that orgasms actually nourish the brain with oxygen. "Functional MRI images show that women's brains utilize much more oxygen during orgasm than usual," Komisaruk says.




  • It's A Natural Painkiller


    One thing that Victorian practitioners may have been onto is that orgasms can work to soothe certain aches and pains -- namely migraines and menstrual cramps. (So now you know what to do next time you have a headache if you don't feel like popping an Excedrin.) According to Berman, the contractions that make up an orgasm can actually work to evacuate blood clots during your period, providing some temporary relief.




  • It Relieves Stress


    Most of our lives are so hectic that it's hard to even imagine being relaxed. However, it turns out that <em>sexual</em> release can double as <em>stress</em> relief. Not only do the hormones help with this task, Berman says that being sexual also gives our minds a break: "When we're stressed out and overextending ourselves, [we're] not being in the moment. Being sexual requires us to focus on one thing only."




  • Gives You A Healthy Glow


    There actually might be something to the idea that we "glow" after sex. The hormone DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), which shows <a href="http://www.ivillage.com/secret-health-benefits-sex/4-a-283856" target="_hplink">increased levels during sexual excitement</a>, can actually make your skin healthier.




  • Aids Your Emotional Health


    Last but not least, when you know what it takes to make yourself orgasm, you may increase your emotional confidence and intelligence. "When you understand how your body works and ... [that it] is capable of pleasure on its own, regardless of your partner status, you make much better decisions in relationships," says Logan Levkoff, Ph.D., a sexologist and certified sexuality educator. "You don't look to someone else to legitimize that you're a sexual being."