Unique Weekend Getaways in the USA

Miami Beach, Florida

Miami Beach, Florida is known around the world for its decadent Art Deco architecture and vibrant cultural nightlife, perfect for a weekend getaway for those traveling to Florida's Atlantic Coast.

• The city, which is connected to mainland Miami via a bridge, showcases stunning 20th-century architecture within its gorgeous Art Deco Historic District along scenic Ocean Drive.
• Visitors can enjoy a plethora of shopping, dining opportunities and sunbathing throughout South Beach, known as a popular celebrity hotspot.
• Beautiful Lincoln Road Mall offers open-air shopping experiences, including some of the city's top upscale boutiques and international chains.
• Cultural attractions include the Wolfsonian-FIU Museum, which showcases artifacts dating back to the Industrial Revolution.
• Each year, the city hosts the acclaimed Art Basel event, one of the nation's premiere yearly art shows.

Boulder, Colorado

Boulder is known as America's happiest city, home to some of the state's most beautiful natural wonders and top-tier culinary destinations. The city, which is located against the backdrop of the gorgeous Rocky Mountains at an elevation of more than 5,000 feet above sea level, is the home of renowned attractions like the Fiske Planetarium and the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, located on the campus of the University of Colorado-Boulder.

Stunning natural wonders like the iconic Flatirons craggy rock mountain formation are open to the public for outdoor recreation, along with beautiful observational sites like the overlook at Flagstaff Mountain. After a full day of exploring, visitors can dine at legendary restaurants like the Flagstaff House or peruse cultural districts like the city's Twenty-Ninth Street retail district.

The city hosts spectacular annual special events such as the Colorado Music Festival, drawing top-name international acts, and the holiday Polar Bear Plunge.

San Diego, California

San Diego, California is one of Southern California's largest cities, known as the "Birthplace of California" due to its connection to the state's Spanish pioneer era. The city, which sits just north of the United States-Mexico border at the Baja Peninsula, is known around the world for its stunning Pacific Ocean waterfront, which showcases more than 70 miles of pristine beaches offering chances for swimming, boating, and watersports opportunities throughout the year. Massive Balboa Park, one of the nation's largest and most acclaimed urban parks, is home to renowned attractions such as the world-class San Diego Zoo. The city's historic Gaslamp Quarter is home to some of its liveliest cultural attractions, along with some of the Pacific Coast's top dining destinations. Families can enjoy attractions such as SeaWorld San Diego, known for its aquatic shows and high-thrill theme park rides.

Savannah, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia is the oldest city in the state of Georgia, dating back to the state's colonial era.

• Today, the city preserves one of the United States' largest urban historic districts, showcasing uniquely designed town squares laid out by Georgia colonial founder James Oglethorpe.
• Visitors can explore a plethora of historic attractions throughout the city, including the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the United States' oldest public museums, and the Juliette Gordon Low Historic District, which preserves sites connected to the birthplace of the founder of the Girl Scouts.
• Cultural attractions abound, including the delightful Savannah Theatre, the Savannah Ballet Theatre, and the Savannah Orchestra.
• The Savannah City Market, which dates back to the 18th century, showcases shopping and dining experiences in restored warehouse buildings.
• Charming cobblestone streets are lined with gorgeous live oak and Spanish moss trees, offering horse-drawn carriage rides and spectacular photo opportunities.

Galena, Illinois

Galena, Illinois is one of Illinois' most picturesque small towns, named as the home of one of the United States' top All-American Main Streets. Visitors can explore a plethora of preserved historic buildings within the National Register of Historic Places-listed Galena Historic District, which showcases stunning Victorian-era architecture. The Chicago Athenaeum houses design art exhibits, while the West Street Sculpture Park features two acres of landscaped grounds showcasing three-dimensional artwork. Nearby, beautiful Horseshoe Mound preserves the site of a former indigenous ceremonial mound.

Sequim, Washington

Sequim, Washington is a charming town in Clallam County, located at the base of the majestic Olympic Mountains along the banks of the Dungeness River. The town, which is nicknamed "Sunny Sequim" due to its gorgeous year-round climate, is known throughout the world for its commercial production of lavender, on display at unique attractions like the renowned Purple Haze Organic Lavender Farm. Visitors can explore the stunning Dungeness Wildlife Refuge, home to protected populations of native wildlife and gorgeous preserved historic structures like the New Dungeness Lighthouse.

The city's Museum and Arts Center showcases cultural and natural exhibits, including displays of mastodon fossils uncovered in the area. Each year, the city hosts the annual Sequim Lavender Weekend, held the third weekend of July.

Plan ahead for these Sequim events:
- Irrigation Festival in May
- Sequim Lavender Weekend in July

Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis, Tennessee is a delightful western Tennessee city on the banks of the gorgeous Mississippi River, home to some of the United States' top attractions connected to the history of American popular music. The city is best known as the former home of rock and roll legend Elvis Presley, whose Graceland estate has been preserved as a living history museum.

In hip Beale Street district, visitors can view the legendary Sun Studio recording studios, which launched the careers of international icons like B.B. King.

Cultural attractions abound, including family-friendly museums like the Blues Hall of Fame and Stax Museum, the Peabody Place Museum, and the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.

Unique outdoor attractions include Mud Island River Park, which recreates the historic terrain and ecosystem of the Lower Mississippi River Valley, and the Memphis Zoo, which showcases one of the only panda exhibits in North America.

If you are interested in music, watch this quick video of Memphis highlights.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe is the gorgeous state capital of New Mexico, located within the foothills of the picturesque Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Stunning Pueblo and colonial architecture abounds, ranging from the historic San Miguel Chapel, constructed in the 17th century, to the Acoma Pueblo, designated as a National Historic Landmark to protect the United States' longest continually inhabited dwelling site. Cultural attractions include the vibrant Santa Fe Plaza market, the Museum of International Folk Art, the New Mexico Museum of Art, and the gorgeous hilltop Santa Fe Opera House. The region's natural wonders are showcased at Hyde Memorial State Park, known for its hiking and camping opportunities, and the gorgeous Randall Davey Audubon Center and Sanctuary.

Seattle, Washington

Seattle is the Pacific Northwest's liveliest major city, known as the home of world-renowned tech companies like Amazon and Apple. You can explore iconic attractions like the city's Seattle Great Wheel, one of the largest observation wheels in North America, and the Space Needle, preserved from the 1962 World's Fair. Hip clubs throughout the city have broken some of the world's biggest rock and jazz bands, including Nirvana and Pearl Jam. The vibrant Pike Place Market is home to hundreds of vendors, including the original location of famed coffee chain Starbucks. Couples traveling with children in tow can explore family-friendly attractions like the Woodland Park Zoo and the renowned Seattle Aquarium or frolic at the city's many public parks, which offer direct beachfront access along the Puget Sound.