I love the convenience of a city with walkable neighborhoods, dining, attractions, and the energy to match, but there are also times when I find myself needing a slower-paced escape.
Taking a road trip to a small town where I can stroll a quiet street or surround myself with nature is often the nervous system reset I need to prevent burnout.
And luckily, it’s easy to do this near any major city, even if you have a limited budget and just a standard weekend to spare. All you need is a full tank of gas, a good playlist, and your favorite snacks.
If you’re ready to leave the noise and frenetic energy of the city behind and trade it for the open road and a change of scenery, here are five escapes that are drastically different from their closest metro hubs.
In this article
Boston to Provincetown, Massachusetts
Although Boston is one of my favorite cities in the country, I’m also partial to Cape Cod. A few times a year, my family flies into Boston, and we make the 2-hour drive to Provincetown for the weekend.
Also called “P-Town,” Provincetown is an idyllic beach town that sits at the very tip of the Cape Cod Peninsula. It’s known as an inclusive, LGBTQ-friendly vacation destination with a long-standing arts community; folks from all walks of life come for its natural beauty, galleries, resorts, dining, shopping, and nightlife.
To get a feel for the town’s personality, take a stroll down Commercial Street. It’s the heart and soul of town, and the bustling main drag is lined with boutiques, souvenir shops, art galleries, ice cream shops, cafes, bars, clubs, and many dining options. Tucked away on the second floor of Whaler’s Wharf, there’s even an independent movie theater.
My go-to souvenir is saltwater taffy and novelty candies. For those, I stop by Cabot’s Candy to grab a box and fill it with an assortment of flavors. Walk through to the back, and you’ll enter The Shell Shop, where you can also shop for shells, crystals, geodes, and jewelry. For a treat, stop by the Provincetown Portuguese Bakery for a pastel de nata, which is a sweet custard tart.
For cocktails, I like the lively outdoor bar at the Crown & Anchor or The Canteen, where you can order a frose, go outside, and find a picnic table on the sand. There’s also the Aqua Bar with a large deck overlooking Cape Cod Bay. Restaurants are a mix of well-established tourist-driven establishments, including the landmark Lobster Pot, known for its classic New England seafood, and places only locals seem to know, like Fanizzi’s, for Italian and American cuisine.
To explore the town’s history, visit the Pilgrim Monument. Although Plymouth gets all the credit, the Pilgrims actually landed on Cape Cod in 1620 first, anchoring in Provincetown Harbor, then continuing their journey across the bay to settle in Plymouth.
Just outside the town’s commercial district, Cape Cod National Seashore oversees two beaches in Provincetown: Herring Cove and Race Point. During the summer season, there is a fee, but that goes away in the off-season. You can also rent a bike and hit the paved Province Lands Bike Trail, an enjoyable yet challenging ride with hills past the beaches and through the rolling sand dunes.
If you plan to spend the night, book the retro-chic Harbor Hotel Provincetown, located directly across from a town beach, or the Land’s End Inn, an adults-only boutique bed and breakfast hotel.
Phoenix to Prescott, Arizona
I'm an Arizona resident, and weekend road trips are a big part of my life here. As long as it takes 2 hours or less to get there, we will leave mid-morning for a day trip and arrive back home by dinner. Or we set out for the weekend.
The Phoenix area has easy access to many wonderful spots that are wildly different from our desert environment. And when we’re in the mood for an Old West feeling, there’s no better place than Prescott.
Prescott is nearly 100 miles northwest of Phoenix, about an hour and 45 minutes away. Known as both “Everybody’s Hometown” and “Arizona’s Christmas City,” Prescott was founded in 1864 and served as the first capital of the Arizona Territory, long before Arizona became a state in 1912.
Today, it has a walkable downtown including Whiskey Row with its historic saloons. Across from Whiskey Row is the famous Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza, with its striking granite exterior and grassy grounds that make it feel more like a park than a government institution.
While strolling through downtown, stop by the independent bookstore, Peregrine Book Company, grab a coffee at Raven Cafe to enjoy its artsy vibe, and walk down to Bear & Dragon Cafe on the other end of Montezuma Street for a bite to eat and a cozy ambiance. For dinner, make a reservation at my top choice, Murphy’s Restaurant, located inside an 1890s mercantile and known for its prime rib dinners.
For hiking, fishing, and kayaking, take a 12-minute drive from downtown Prescott to Watson Lake Park. Two boat launches will get you out on the water, whether you brought your own watercraft or you rent a canoe or kayak on-site. Anglers can fish for largemouth bass, crappie, carp, and catfish. Those who prefer hiking can take the Peavine or Iron King Trail for views of the lake and the rounded boulders, known as the Granite Dells, that surround it.
For a base, try the historic Hassayampa Inn, a restored 1927 hotel in the heart of Prescott’s vibrant downtown, or The Grand Highland Hotel, another historic property, located on Montezuma.
Charleston to Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
While living in Charleston for a short stint, my favorite spot was Murrells Inlet, a peaceful and scenic unincorporated fishing village in Georgetown and Horry counties.
The drive from Charleston to Murrells Inlet is about 81 miles and 90 minutes, and it passes through Pawleys Island, where I would always stop for lunch at BisQit. Located in the Historic Hammock Shops, this family-friendly restaurant offers burgers, salads, and southern fare, including biscuits, of course.
Located in Murrells Inlet, Brookgreen Gardens is a sprawling 9,100-acre botanical garden home to an arboretum, a heritage farm, a nature center, the Lowcountry Zoo, children's play areas, a labyrinth, fountains, and sculptures. I really enjoy Live Oak Allee, where you can walk under a canopy of towering moss-covered oak trees planted over 250 years ago.
For more nature, head to the 2,500-acre Huntington Beach State Park. Take a walk along its 3 miles of sandy beach, hike along a flat coastal trail, enjoy a picnic, and go birdwatching. With 173 campsites, camping is certainly an option. You can also explore the Atalaya grounds within the park, which served as the winter home of scholar and philanthropist Archer Huntington and his wife, acclaimed sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington.
To get a feel for this historic coastal village, go for a stroll on the Murrells Inlet Marshwalk. This half-mile boardwalk trail has estuary views on one side and restaurants on the other. After your walk, grab a bite at Fire To Table, Hot Fish Club, or any of the other restaurants in town.
Chicago to Galena, Illinois
Providing an escape from the towering skyscrapers and bustle of city living, Galena is 163 miles and nearly a 3-hour drive from Chicago. Located on a tributary of the Mississippi River in the northwest corner of Illinois, Galena’s 19th-century appeal feels charming.
With its historic Main Street, home to over 125 independently owned shops housed in historic buildings, you could spend an entire afternoon shopping. A few popular shops include Galena Apothecary for unique goods, Strawberry Lane for retro-inspired clothing and gifts, and Galena Book & Paper for new and used books.
Cafes and restaurant options are also impressive. Log Cabin Steakhouse, a popular landmark option, has been serving steak dinners since 1937. For Italian-American cuisine, Fried Green Tomatoes is a highly-rated eatery with an extensive wine list, steak, seafood, and, of course, fried green tomatoes. For a caffeine fix, try Galena Roasters for single-origin coffee, or The Wired Rabbit Coffee House, where you can grab a pastry or breakfast with your chosen coffee order.
You can tour the Ulysses S. Grant Home and the Elihu B. Washburne House, where the former U.S. Congressman once lived. Check both site's for up-to-date hours and seasonal closures. The 8-mile Galena River Trail is walkable, or you can rent an e-bike to explore its entire length. The trail winds through the forest alongside the river, with views of limestone bluffs along the way.
If you decide to spend the night, the oldest continuously operating hotel in the state is the DeSoto House Hotel, located downtown and open since 1855. There’s also the boutique Irish Cottage Inn & Suites, which has an Irish theme and is home to Frank O’Dowd’s Irish Pub & Grill.
Los Angeles to Solvang, California
I lived in Los Angeles for many years and often found myself craving an escape from the traffic and crowds, especially after a long work week. L.A. weekend escapes were the best way to recharge my batteries before sitting in traffic on the way back to work on Monday. I’d often take a drive up the coast to Santa Barbara, but once in a while, I would trek farther and spend time in Solvang.
It’s a 2.5-hour and 128-mile drive from L.A., and once you arrive, you trade city life and bumper-to-bumper traffic for “The Danish Capital of America.” The drive itself is part of the experience, especially once you exit the 101 and take the scenic CA-154 for the last 30 miles through the Santa Ynez Mountains.
Solvang itself feels as though you landed in Europe, except you don't have to use your passport or take a transcontinental flight. It’s a little slice of Denmark, right here in Central California.
Throughout this Danish-inspired town are half-timbered buildings, Scandinavian windmills, flower-lined streets with Danish names, and even a half-scale replica of Copenhagen’s famous “The Little Mermaid” statue.
Authentic bakeries and restaurants are a huge part of the Danish culture here. Start on Mission Drive with breakfast at Olsen’s Danish Bakery for a Scandinavian cinnamon bun or a slice of Danish kringle, paired with a cup of coffee.
Solvang Restaurant is another option in town, known for dough balls, called Æbleskiver. For lunch or dinner, try the Copenhagen Sausage Garden, featuring a menu of sausages from around the world, including Denmark, along with wine and beer. And if you love wine, Solvang’s downtown has several tasting rooms; maybe you’ll discover a favorite Santa Ynez Valley wine.
Spend time exploring the galleries of Elverhøj Museum of History & Art, while book lovers will enjoy the Hans Christian Andersen Museum dedicated to the Danish author’s life and literary career. For Dambo Troll hunters, stop by the California Nature Art Museum, home to the state's first Thomas Dambo Troll. Named “Lulu Hyggelig,” this also happens to be the only indoor Dambo Troll in the U.S.
If you’re planning a weekend getaway in Solvang, book a room at the Vinland Hotel and Lounge, which features an on-site restaurant and a bar with a selection of local wines, or The Winston, a boutique hotel featuring 14 uniquely decorated rooms, digital access, and an honor bar.
The Shortcut
Boston to Provincetown: Two hours gets you to the tip of Cape Cod. Rent a bike for the Province Lands trail, but know the dune hills are no joke.
Phoenix to Prescott: Whiskey Row gets the attention, but save an afternoon for the boulders around Watson Lake.
Charleston to Murrells Inlet: Time the 90-minute drive so you hit Pawleys Island at lunch. You'll thank yourself when the biscuits arrive.
Chicago to Galena: The Galena River Trail runs 8 miles past limestone bluffs. Rent an e-bike if you want to cover the whole thing.
Los Angeles to Solvang: Exit the 101 and take CA-154 for the last 30 miles. The Santa Ynez Mountains beat freeway views every time.
