We will travel again...
When we’re allowed back on the road again… this could be the summer for that long-dawdled domestic road trip. With the travel landscape more uncertain than ever, your larger summer vacations may be on hold, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still plan a mini getaway with these routes closer to home. From the East- to West Coast and even the Midwest, I teamed up with the the membership-based travel company, Essentialist, to inspire a few routes that will grind you back into gear (for when the time is right).
Aren’t familiar with Essentialist? The members-only, luxury, bespoke travel planning service relies on a network of travel experts to curate itineraries with insider access and experiences unique to their members-only database. Your membership fees cover all necessary time from Essentalist’s travel design team, as well as editors, journalists and travel experts, to curate a truly personalized itinerary. Though Essentialist works across all seven continents, we’re staying relatively local in this newsletter to emphasize what you can access at your fingertips, and with little planning time, to help you, and the travel industry, climb out of the post-Covid-19 slump.
Here are five road trips you can take from five major US cities, with a peek into Essentialist’s insight on special access items you’d gain only by curating an itinerary with them.
New York City to Finger Lakes, NY
Drive time: ~ 4 hours (I-81 N)
Stay: If you’re seeking an intimate and cozy getaway, Quinta Rosa Estate’s bed and breakfast is idyllic. The five-bedroom barnhouse from 1901 was meticulously restored to offer guests a comfortable, farmhouse experience. For a more opulent retreat (maybe some spa time included) check-into The Del Monte Lodge, where the Renaissance-owned property goes above and beyond to spoil every guest.
Activities: Spend a night or two away from the concrete jungle and immerse into the neat rows of the Finger Lakes’ vineyards. The region is recognized as one of the top wine producing regions in the U.S. with wineries like Silver Springs Winery and Keuka Spring Vineyards as fan favorites. Not necessarily a wine enthusiast? The Finger Lakes are also home to breweries like Bottomless Brewing and Steuben Brewing Company. So grab a group of friends and drive on up.
Essentialist perks: As the ultimate food and wine-lover’s getaway, Essentialist can work with your preferences to arrange private tours and tastings at the wineries, culinary experiences with local chefs and guided tours of local markets.
Washington D.C. to St. Michaels, Maryland
Drive time: under 2 hours (US-50 E)
Stay: Picture the prominent aspects of a country club and a beach house, and that's the Inn at Perry Cabin. The charming 79-room boutique dates back to 1812, presenting guests with a BnB history, yet with all modern amenities in tow.
Activities: Summer is an ideal time to visit this quaint harbor town on the Miles River. Though it’s renowned for its crab festival on August 9th of this year, a visit to the “heart and soul of Chesapeake Bay” during any warm-weathered month calls for indulging in the local delicacy. Balance out a weekend of eating and drinking (there’s a rum distillery and local winery) with museum hopping and relaxing on the riverfront.
Essentialist perks: To showcase the town’s nautical spirit, Essentialist can arrange private sailing classes with maritime pundits or a full day out on a boat in the Chesapeake Bay.
Dallas to Austin
Drive time: ~ 3 hours (I-35 E, I-35 S)
Stay: The Otis Hotel is the first Autograph Collection Property in Austin and one of the city’s newest hotels, having just opened at the beginning of 2020. The signature luxury-lifestyle ethos of the brand embraces all artsy Austin has to offer from its yo-pro-centric bar upon entrance up to its 4000-square-foot rooftop (pool included!).
Activities: Prepare for jam-packed days: food, art and music. How can you go wrong? Visit one of the food truck parks and bring your appetite. Wander in and out of the boutiques on South Congress or West 2nd. Be moved by some of the young talent in the prolific music and arts scene.
Essentialist perks: Get artsy with a well-known, Austin-based contemporary painter or mixed media artist, or check-in with an Austin insider to take you around artists’ private studios and galleries.
Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky
Drive time: ~ 4 hours, 45 minutes (I-65 S)
Stay: 21c Museum Hotel - Surrounded by restaurants and only a short walk or drive to all of Louisville's attractions, this hotel-museum hybrid is a can’t-miss for art-lovers and trendsetters, alike. With a rotating collection of modern art, and its top-tier craft cocktail bar, you’ll want to carve out some time to enjoy the entirety of the hotel’s unique amenities.
Activities: Famed for its Bourbon and the racing track at Churchill Downs, host to none other than the Kentucky Derby, Louisville ensures one hell of a rowdy time. You may not want to pick this as your ‘relaxation’ getaway, but instead, saddle up for mint juleps, tours of world-famous distilleries and southern comfort food that will leave your mouth watering for more.
Essentialist perks: Let industry experts organize a private distillery tour or a city food/bar crawl with a local insider.
Los Angeles to San Diego
Drive time: ~ 2 hours (I-5 S)
Stay: If you’re in the mood for a mixture of beach and downtown lights, The Pendry offers the best of both worlds with its sleek interiors and mod-buzzy bar all within walking distance of the area’s must-hit beaches. For complete beachside immersion, Hotel del Coronado serves it all up on a silver platter, from beach yoga, sweeping sea views from your room and a withdrawn pool for the sand-hesitant guests.
Activities: Though San Diego allures guests with an easy-going beach vacation, a number of wineries surround the city, and are less hectic than some of their northern counterparts. The baja vibe spices up the area’s cuisine, so be sure to bop around when you’re not seaside lounging.
Essentialist perks: Let Essentialist introduce you to these wineries through a local expert or introduce you to well-known chefs in the area.
Xo,
J