10 Great Destinations for a US Staycation

10 Great Destinations for a US Staycation



Thanks
to the sheer scale and diversity of the US, you don’t
need to travel internationally to see fresh horizons or enjoy a
different pace of life. Whether you’re a city slicker looking for a
rural escape or a spiritual type in need of a recharge, these
destinations are ideal for long-weekend getaways or pit stops on
longer journeys.

Destinations for a long weekend in the US


Carmel-by-the-Sea

California, United States

Best for: Creative folk in need of vitamin
sea

Let the ocean breeze tousle your locks as you cruise along the
Pacific Coast Highway to this artistic colony and unassuming
retreat of the stars; Doris Day, John Steinbeck and Clint Eastwood
(who was once mayor) rank among former residents. Days are best
spent dipping in and out of independent boutiques and cafés – don’t
miss the 18th-century Mission San Carlos Borromeo del río Carmelo –
before ambling along flaxen sands flanked by shoreside cliffs and
cypress trees. For something quieter still, or perhaps an add-on to
a long weekend break, drive 40 minutes up the coast to the
pastel-hued beach town of Capitola.

Where to stay: Hotel Carmel


Washington DC

United States

Best for: Culture vultures keen to stray beyond
the marble monuments

Thought DC was just a destination for politicos? Think again.
This is a city built on culture. With November’s presidential
election set to create an electric atmosphere, we’re coupling
visits to white-marble monuments and museums with adventures into
the capital’s thriving underground arts and entertainment scenes –
don’t miss the National Museum of Women in the Arts and Dupont
Underground. Navigate the Tidal Basin or trace urban green trails
across the National Arboretum before ordering Afro-Caribbean small
plates in Kith/Kin for dinner. The city has a packed events
calendar; check ahead when planning your trip.

Where to stay: The Line DC


Dunton

Colorado, United States

Best for: Nature lovers who don’t want to
sacrifice luxury

An hour’s drive from Telluride, this 1880s mining town had been
all but abandoned until it was bought by entrepreneur Christoph
Henkel in 1994. Today, thanks to a sensitive restoration carried
out by local craftsmen, its sprawling meadowland and evergreen
forests are flecked with luxe log cabins and a bougie riverside
camp. Use them as your base for exploring the San Juan Mountains,
taking a dip in the Dolores River, knocking back whiskey in a
saloon once frequented by Butch Cassidy or toasting s’mores around
an open fire. Time to spare? Plan a scenic drive through the Ute
Mountain Reservation to the Four Corners, where Arizona, Colorado,
New Mexico and Utah meet.

Where to stay: Dunton
River Camp


Eureka Springs

Arkansas

Best for: Libertarians in need of a retreat
from the 2020s

This cliff-hugging town is perhaps Arkansas’s most liberal
enclave, despite being home to the state’s most famed Christian
landmarks – the 20m-tall Christ of the Ozarks statue and Thorncrown
Chapel. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places, so you
can expect to trade in chain stores for a Victorian-era downtown
filled with independent boutiques and craft emporiums. Once you’ve
done rubbing shoulders with its resident hippies and leather-clad
bikers, take a dip in Eureka’s eponymous natural springs or get
your outdoor fix in the Ozark Mountains.

Where to stay: This 30s treehouse cabin overlooking Lake
Lucerne


Portland

United States

Best for: Hipsters with a penchant for the
outdoors

In the US’s most progressive city; creativity, eco-consciousness
and small, independent businesses reign supreme. Knock elbows with
artists and musicians as you cycle along streets lined with murals
and food carts, venturing from craft breweries to quirky cocktail
bars. When you’ve had your fill of kombucha, take an excursion to
Cannon Beach (crowned by Haystack Rock, of Goonies fame), hike
around the Columbia River Gorge, drink your way through the
Willamette Valley or grab your skis and hit the slopes at Mount
Hood.

Where to stay: Ace Hotel Portland


Newfane

Vermont

Best for: Farmer’s market mavens with a soft
spot for old-school traditions

If Vermont were a person she’d be an adorable grandma – full of
heart and ready to ply you with home-baked apple pie. The ultimate
distillation of Vermont can be found in the old village of Newfane,
where typically white-washed, New England-style buildings play host
to a handful of zany, old-fashioned stores. Pop into The British
Clockmaker or Olde and New England Books and swing by Dutton Berry
Farm, which will just be coming into season in spring.
Alternatively, fob off all the attractions and hunker down with a
slice of pie at the Four Columns Inn.

Where to stay: Four Columns Inn


The Great Smoky Mountains

Tennessee

Best for: Hands-on nature fiends

The Great Smoky Mountains on the Tennessee -North Carolina
border make a perfect weekend getaway in spring, when the low-lying
vapour of their namesake peaks becomes dappled with over 1,500
types of wildflowers. Soak up local wines and views as you stumble
along the Rocky Top Wine Trail or choo-choo you way down the Little
River Trail – a disused railroad speckled with decrepit but
charming old holiday cabins. And of course, there’s always the
Dollywood amusement park if you find yourself hankering for a good
ol’ throwdown and a rip-roaring adrenaline boost.

Where to stay: Blackberry Farm


Windham Mountain

New York

Best for: City slickers looking for a rural
escape

We know, we know. It’s perhaps an obvious choice, but when it
comes to weekend breaks you can’t beat the Catskills. Cheaper (and
less stuffy) than the Hamptons and two-and-a-half hours’ drive from
the Big Apple, this area is a natural oasis. We’re making a beeline
for Windham Mountain. It’s home to the Kaaterskill Falls – a 230ft
cascade with pools for swimming – and paths primed for chunky
walking boots and a healthy stash of energy bars. Trust us, you’ll
need them.

Where to stay: Eastwind


Sedona

Arizona

Best for: Spiritual types who need to
recharge

We simply can’t get enough of Sedona’s swollen, red-hot, rocky
landscape. Some might call it hokey, but if you’re spiritual type
then hop it to this little town in Arizona. Plan a tour of the
energy vortexes at Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and
Boynton Canyon, where the land is supposedly charged with
exceptionally powerful electromagnetic energy. Shop for crystals in
town or check-in with a tarot card reader. The force is strong
here.

Where to stay: Enchantment Resort


Milwaukee

Wisconsin

Best for: Urban explorers with a more-is-more
mentality

Long overshadowed by Chicago, this Midwestern city could be
coastal for all the jet-skiers and kayakers that skim the sandy
perimeters of Lake Michigan. You’ll find us hanging out in the
refurbished warehouses of the Historic Third Ward, where a bunch of
the city’s most exciting galleries are clustered, or eating our way
through the plant-based menu at Strange Town. Arrive on Friday and
head straight to one of the city’s infamous Friday Fish Frys. What
started as an old Roman Catholic tradition has been turned into a
proper shindig in recent years, with locally caught fish served to
the accompaniment of a live polka band and local craft ales,
followed by dancing.

Where to stay: Kinn Guesthouse

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