Luxury Weekend Getaways in the U.S.
Best luxury vacations in the U.S. include relaxing spa getaways, golf resorts and beach destinations.
Sometimes, the best answer is to disappear somewhere beautiful, just for a weekend. These luxury getaways weren’t about grand gestures or bucket lists. They were about rest wrapped in detail: a window that opened to the sea, a handwritten welcome note, a meal that slowed us down without asking. At each of these places, I felt not just pampered but present. I traveled with my husband, and together we found stillness stitched into comfort, elegance softened by warmth.
Best Luxury Weekend Getaways:
Chateau Du Sureau, Oakhurst
“I haven’t felt this quiet in years,” I told my husband as we stepped into the ivy-wrapped courtyard. Château du Sureau felt like it had been waiting just for us, tucked in the Sierra Nevada foothills, wrapped in roses and tall cypress trees. There was lavender in the air and soft classical music echoing through arched hallways. Just minutes from Yosemite, but it could have been Provence.
What I Loved Most: Our room had a carved four-poster bed, French antiques, and tall windows that opened to mountain air. One afternoon, we sat beneath wisteria vines with glasses of iced tea and didn’t speak for nearly an hour, just listened to the wind and birdsong.
My highlights? Dinner at Erna’s Elderberry House on-site was a story all its own. I had the spring lamb with garden peas and rosemary jus, it came fragrant and tender, paired with baby carrots that tasted like earth and sun. The bread was warm and crisp, the butter faintly sweet, and dessert, lemon soufflé with a sugar-dusted crust, was light enough to vanish on the tongue. Everything felt balanced, restrained, and deeply thoughtful.
Plan your stay:
- Location: Oakhurst, California – ~1 hour north of Fresno
- Vibe: European, romantic, secluded
- Best For: Couples’ retreat, Yosemite escape, culinary-focused weekends
- Cost: ~$600–1,000/night depending on suite
- Amenities: Fine dining restaurant, spa, manicured gardens, curated wine cellar, custom picnic baskets for day trips
InterContinental Washington D.C. - The Wharf
“This doesn’t feel like D.C., it feels like somewhere we never knew we needed.” The river glinted outside our window, and boats rocked softly against the Wharf’s edge. The InterContinental stood quiet and sleek among the buzz, glass-fronted, sun-warmed, just a few steps from the Potomac and still a world apart from the city’s monuments and motorcades.
What I Loved Most: We walked the waterfront boardwalk in the late morning, stopping to watch paddleboarders drift beneath bridges. There was a breeze, the scent of grilled seafood on the air, and the hum of a city enjoying its pause.
My highlights? Dinner at Moon Rabbit just off the lobby. I had caramelized claypot fish with pickled mustard greens, it was rich and silky, cut through with tart heat. The aroma rose before the plate hit the table. We ended with coconut panna cotta that tasted like velvet, served beside a cup of dark coffee as the lights from boats reflected across the glass.
Plan your stay:
- Location: The Wharf, Washington D.C. – ~10 minutes from the National Mall
- Vibe: Urban, stylish, waterfront calm
- Best For: Modern luxury, walkable escapes, city lovers who crave a quiet edge
- Cost: ~$300–600/night depending on room and season
- Amenities: Rooftop infinity pool, spa, riverside terrace, upscale dining, direct access to The Wharf promenade
Historic Hotel Bethlehem
“It feels like this place remembers everything,” I told my husband as we walked through the marble lobby beneath crystal chandeliers. Historic Hotel Bethlehem wrapped us in quiet grandeur, stories carved into woodwork, portraits lining the walls, light spilling through tall arched windows. The town outside was cobbled and hushed, the hills soft and green with spring.
What I Loved Most: The view from our corner room, where we watched the sun rise over the Moravian steeples. Bells chimed every hour. The air through the window was cool and smelled faintly of old stone and fresh-cut grass.
My highlights? We had breakfast at the hotel’s 1741 on the Terrace. I ordered the crème brûlée French toast, thick slices caramelized at the edges, with berries that burst and warm maple syrup that smelled like vanilla and brown sugar. It was sweet, rich, and just the right kind of indulgent to start a slow day.
Plan your stay:
- Location: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania – ~1.5 hours from Philadelphia or NYC
- Vibe: Historic, elegant, small-town charm
- Best For: Architecture lovers, couples, literary retreats
- Cost: ~$250–450/night depending on room type and season
- Amenities: Fine dining, on-site bar, live jazz in the lounge, boutique shops, walking tours of historic downtown
The Betsy in South Beach
“It feels like the art deco energy paused right here to exhale.” The Betsy stood poised at the quiet end of Ocean Drive, its colonial-style façade a soft contrast to the pulse of South Beach. Inside, it was all polished wood, original art, and the hush of cool air and distant piano keys. From the rooftop, we watched the waves come in and thought, this is what elegance looks like at the edge of wildness.
What I Loved Most: Reading on the rooftop deck while my husband dozed beside me. The breeze lifted the scent of the ocean, mingling with rosemary from the planters. Below us, the beach buzzed. Up here, it felt like another world.
My highlights? Dinner at LT Steak & Seafood, tucked just inside the hotel. I had seared scallops with citrus beurre blanc, served with roasted corn and tomato. The scallops were silky and warm, and the sauce tasted like sunshine. We lingered for a flourless chocolate cake, dense, bittersweet, and dusted with sea salt, while music played from the lobby bar like a secret we were meant to overhear.
Plan your stay:
- Location: South Beach, Miami – On Ocean Drive, near 14th Street
- Vibe: Artistic, refined, tucked into the pulse of the beach
- Best For: Creative couples, culture-seekers, design lovers
- Cost: ~$350–650/night depending on room and season
- Amenities: Rooftop pool, library, live jazz nights, spa, beach access, artist residency program
The Jacquard, a Luxury Hotel in Denver
“I didn’t expect the mountains to feel so close to fashion,” I said as we stepped into Cherry Creek’s clean-lined calm. The Jacquard rose like brushed steel against a blue Colorado sky, its lobby bright with modern art, its rooftop high above red-tiled roofs and boutique windows. It felt sharp, confident, but still warm, like Denver in a perfectly tailored suit.
What I Loved Most: Sunset from the rooftop pool deck. The Rockies turned purple as the city lights flickered on below, and the hush up there made everything feel cinematic.
My highlights? Dinner at Narrative, the hotel’s contemporary restaurant. I ordered the Rocky Mountain trout, pan-seared with lemon, paired with roasted root vegetables and a smoky romesco. The fish was buttery and fresh, the sauce just enough heat and tang. We shared a warm skillet cookie for dessert, its edges crisp and center soft, finished with melting vanilla bean ice cream.
Plan your stay:
- Location: Cherry Creek North, Denver – ~10 minutes from downtown
- Vibe: Modern, elevated, artsy
- Best For: Urban escapes, shoppers, design-forward couples
- Cost: ~$300–500/night depending on season and room
- Amenities: Rooftop pool and bar, fitness center, valet parking, art-focused dining at Narrative, complimentary bikes
Westglow Resort and Spa in North Carolina
“It feels like the mountains are whispering,” I said as we stepped onto the veranda, wrapped in a soft morning mist. Westglow sat high above Blowing Rock, a white-columned manor overlooking forests that stretched into silence. The Blue Ridge Parkway curved just below us, but up here, it felt like time had folded inward.
What I Loved Most: Wandering the sculpture garden at sunrise, dew clinging to grass, clouds drifting just below the ridge. We didn’t say much that morning. We didn’t need to.
My highlights? After a massage at the Life Enrichment Center, we had lunch in the airy Rowland’s Restaurant. I ordered pan-seared mountain trout with lemon caper butter, it arrived fragrant and crisp, served beside sautéed greens and wild rice. The flavors were delicate and local, and the meal felt like an extension of the landscape itself.
Plan your stay:
- Location: Blowing Rock, North Carolina – ~2 hours from Asheville or Charlotte
- Vibe: Restorative, elegant, mountain calm
- Best For: Spa retreats, nature lovers, couples seeking quiet
- Cost: ~$400–800/night; spa packages additional
- Amenities: Full-service spa, fitness and yoga studio, hiking trails, fine dining, art installations, afternoon tea
L’Auberge Carmel in California
“It feels like a storybook here,” I told my husband as we stepped through the arched wooden doorway. L’Auberge Carmel sat quietly among the bougainvillea-draped cottages and stone-paved lanes of this coastal town, its cream-colored walls and flower-filled courtyard humming with old-world charm. A short walk from the beach, but it felt like we’d traveled much farther.
What I Loved Most: Mornings began with the distant sound of waves and a breakfast tray set beneath tall windows. Fresh pastries, soft cheese, and the smell of brewed coffee, it all arrived like a small ceremony.
My highlights? Dinner at Aubergine, the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant. I ordered the tasting menu, each course more delicate than the last, local abalone, spring peas with lemon verbena, and a duck breast so tender it barely needed a knife. The room smelled faintly of herbs and warm brioche, and dessert, a quenelle of sorbet on a lavender biscuit, tasted like early summer.
Plan your stay:
- Location: Carmel-by-the-Sea, California – ~2 hours south of San Francisco
- Vibe: Romantic, European, tucked-away elegance
- Best For: Culinary getaways, quiet coastal escapes, anniversary weekends
- Cost: ~$600–1,000/night depending on room and dining package
- Amenities: Courtyard breakfast, in-room spa treatments, valet parking, evening turndown, walking distance to shops and the ocean
Delamar Greenwich Harbor in Connecticut
“I didn’t expect the harbor to feel this still,” I said as we stepped onto the balcony. Delamar Greenwich Harbor sat right on the water, its cream-colored walls wrapped in ivy and quiet elegance. Yachts swayed gently below us, and beyond them, the Sound shimmered in the afternoon light. The whole scene felt like it had exhaled just in time for the weekend.
What I Loved Most: Strolling the harbor path after dinner, the sky a soft navy, the lamps warm. The night smelled of salt, magnolia blossoms, and something like old wood from the dock.
My highlights? We dined at l’escale, the waterfront restaurant on-site. I had pan-roasted halibut with artichoke purée and lemon vinaigrette, it was light, bright, and beautifully balanced. The citrus cut through the buttery finish, and we ended the meal with a tart apple galette, served just warm enough to release its spice.
Plan your stay:
- Location: Greenwich, Connecticut – ~1 hour by train from New York City
- Vibe: Coastal, refined, quietly romantic
- Best For: City breaks, anniversary weekends, harbor views without the crowd
- Cost: ~$400–700/night depending on room and season
- Amenities: Spa services, complimentary bikes, waterfront dining, yacht marina, pet-friendly rooms, wine on arrival
Conclusion: A Weekend Well-Lived
Each of these places reminded me that luxury isn’t about how far you go, it’s about how deeply you rest once you get there. Whether it was breakfast by the vines in Napa, a rooftop sunset in Denver, or a harbor breeze in Connecticut, I came home from every weekend with something rare: a sense that time had stretched. These escapes didn’t just pamper, they grounded, restored, and invited me to breathe a little deeper alongside someone I love.
