Nestled deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Buncombe County is riding a renaissance. After weathering the challenges of 2024’s Hurricane Helene, Asheville and its surroundings have leapt into reinvention—with galleries reborn, murals unfurling, and nature more present than ever. The riverfronts are healing, the trails are quiet, and new lodging is helping spread visitors beyond downtown. The county’s creative pulse now stretches into Black Mountain, Weaverville, and the high-country corridor, making it equally a destination for art lovers, hikers, and seekers of soulful escape.

The Foundry Hotel Asheville offers thoughtfully restored industrial-chic comfort just steps from downtown’s galleries and breweries. Moxy Asheville opened in 2025, just off Biltmore Ave, pairing playful design with a central location.

Coupeville, Washington, made history as the second-oldest incorporated town in Washington state, but it’s now making a new name for itself as a destination for creatives. Located on Whidbey Island, about an hour and a half outside of Seattle, Coupeville boasts incredible outdoor activities such as kayaking along the cove’s shoreline or whale watching without the crowds of its busier neighbor Orcas Island.

But this unassuming town’s secret sauce is its artistic energy. Art galleries line the streets, perfect for browsing, shopping, or chatting with local artists about their showcases. Kingfisher Bookstore is a family-owned independent bookstore that specializes in the natural and human history of the Pacific Northwest.

Coupeville’s calendar is marked by the town’s colorful festivals, like the Coupeville Arts & Crafts Festival in August that has been a staple of the community for over 60 years, and Island Shakespeare Festival, which starts in July and operates a sliding scale fee structure to make the arts accessible to everyone. As a coastal town, oysters are practically a requirement, and the best place to get them is at the aptly named Oystercatcher, which prides itself on sustainability and fresh-caught seafood. Equally delicious is Molka Xete, only a few years into the scene and already cementing itself as one of the best restaurants in town.

With Coupeville as your home base, head to Fort Ebey State Park for dozens of scenic hiking trails and snag a pound (or three) of baby back ribs from Orlando’s BBQ on your way back to town.

The charming Anchorage Inn is located in the heart of historic Coupeville, offering understated luxury and convenience with numerous fresh seafood restaurants, boutique shops, and Coupeville Wharf all less than a 10-minute walk away. For a stay slightly removed from the main action of the town, Captain Whidbey offers a rustic getaway where guests can mingle in the shared library and tavern.

Let’s be honest: Indio has spent decades as an afterthought—an unassuming desert town overshadowed by its far flashier neighbor, Palm Springs. Of course, a few times a year, it’s conquered by Coachella marauders. But otherwise it’s a sleepy little hamlet, quiet enough that you might expect a tumbleweed to rumble on by.

Or at least that’s how it used to be. Something remarkable has happened along its main strip over the last few years: Indio has undergone a transformation. It’s not loud or self-congratulatory–but steady, confident. The once-sleepy corridor of Miles Avenue now hums with intention. Restaurants run by people who care deeply about their craft–and their city–have moved in. Bars and boutiques and cafes, too, all operated by similarly-minded stewards, line this desert stretch. 

Art installations that once towered over past festivals have found permanent homes here, standing tall in public squares. It’s a reminder of what the city has always been known for—but now it’s just the backdrop. The city itself has finally become the main stage.

Though Indio has plenty to offer, it doesn’t yet have the best hotel scene (though they’re working to change that). Though it’s a bit of a jaunt, the Parker Palm Springs is a perennial favorite, and made this year’s Fodor’s Finest.

Deep in New York’s Adirondack Mountains, you’ll find a place steeped in history, imbued with legacy, and serving as an enclave for outdoor enthusiasts. Welcome to Keene Valley in Essex County, upstate New York, a little over four hours from Manhattan by car. This hamlet is surrounded by some of the state’s highest peaks and best trails, making it a must-visit for those who love nature, enjoy hiking, and seek respite in the great outdoors. Originally settled in the 1700s, Keene Valley became one of the earliest artist retreats, a place where aspiring artists (many influenced by transcendentalism and inspired by nature) gravitated.

Over the years, it has become a destination marked by Adirondack-style buildings, like the Keene Valley library. But what truly makes Keene Valley worth visiting is its rugged beauty and loving community of hikers, many of whom have traded life in the city for the calm of the mountains. For hikers, easy trails like Cascade Falls and Owl’s Head promise a short and breezy walk, while others like the Roaring Brook Falls or Giant Mountain Ridge offer more challenging terrain. Tucked between mountains, this valley town boasts a slew of charming small businesses worth supporting. Grab breakfast at The Frenchman’s Bakery, stock up on gear for your hike at Mountaineer, then visit The Birch Store, which promises Adirondack-inspired artisan goods, gifts, and souvenirs, and grab dinner at the Ausable Inn after a long day spent outside.

The three-star Rooster Comb Inn is in the heart of Keene Valley, walking distance from many of the trail heads, while the five-star Lake Placid Lodge is only half an hour away by car, in its namesake town.

At the end of U.S. Highway 1 in the southernmost reaches of the continental United States, Key West has long lured dreamers, artists, and eccentrics in search of tropical escapism in a place that feels far more Caribbean than it does continental. It’s possible to arrive here on direct flights from major cities, but much of the joy in finding oneself in Key West comes from the drive south from Miami over 113 miles of the Overseas Highway, with watery views in every direction.

Compared to the sleepier islands and coral cays along the way, Key West, which has a thriving LGBTQ+ scene, greets you like a vibrant and welcoming mini-city. The island swaps skyscrapers for palm trees, its gridded streets lined with pastel-hued cottages, bars, souvenir shops, and restaurants galore. You can dive into history at places like The Hemingway Home & Museum (the author lived here in the 1930s) and at Civil War-era forts like Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park (also home to Key West’s best beach) and Forts East and West Martello. But what most people come to Key West for lies offshore, where shallow coral reefs shimmering with tropical fish delight snorkelers, and shipwrecks lure certified divers to gear up with Key West Scuba Diving. A sunset sailing cruise aboard the Schooner Appledore, a fishing charter, or an eco-paddling adventure through the mangroves with Lazy Dog Adventures are among the many other ways to get in a Key West frame of mind. At the end of the day, all roads lead to a dive bar like Capt. Tony’s, a drag show at Aqua Nightclub, or a waterfront spot to slurp oysters like the legendary Half Shell Raw Bar. If you’re looking for a good tropical time in a place that never takes itself too seriously, Key West nails it.

The island’s first luxury hotel, La Concha, was recently renovated and is a short stroll from Margaritaville. Pier House Resort & Spa has a prime location on the north end of Duval Street and a private beach guests love. You’ll feel like a castaway at Sunset Key Cottages, with a beautiful beach and oceanfront cottages accessible by a five-minute private ferry ride from Old Town.

Just a 45-minute ferry from Cape Cod but delightfully less developed, Martha’s Vineyard has a laid-back charm that’s undeniable. A calm northern shore, as well as the clay Aquinnah Cliffs to the west, plus bike-friendly trails, lighthouses, and quaint ice cream shops, make it a summer powerhouse, drawing the likes of Oprah, Carly Simon, and the Obamas. In Oak Bluffs, one of the country’s first historically Black summer resort communities, Victorian gingerbread houses and the oldest operating carousel in the U.S. supply nostalgia and family-friendly vibes.

And there’s more reason to plan a visit in 2026 than ever. New restaurants like Indigo, a modern, bright Indian restaurant (the only one on the island), Black Joy Kitchen celebrating flavors of the Black diaspora, plus The Ocean Club, with its seafood-heavy menu from seven-time James Beard nominee Chef Marc Orfaly, are bringing in fresh energy—and making it a destination not just for the summer, but for shoulder season, too.

For a waterfront location complete with lighthouse views and refreshed rooms, Harbor View Hotel is the 5-star choice to book in Edgartown. For walkability in town, Faraway Martha’s Vineyard is a boutique gem.