Travel Trends 2021: 10 Different Places to Travel in The U.S. to Escape The Crowds

Bloomington, Indiana, is our 10th less trendy destination in the U.S. And some hotels there have a way of making you feel instantly home. Graduate Bloomington is one of those. It overflows with affectionate nods to the university—whose grand Sample Gates are just next door—the beloved Hoosiers football team, and homegrown musical stars like R.E.M. Even non-locals will feel the warm, welcoming embrace. Hunker down in one of the oh-so-pretty bedrooms, with cute vintage decor, elegant private bathrooms, and fridges so you can stock up.

Downtown Bloomington is equally charming, with university museums, independent galleries, and historic buildings hewn from locally quarried limestone. It’s also a launchpad to exploring wide-open spaces and inhaling fresh, clean air. Use the hotel’s free-to-use bikes to pedal to Monroe Lake, whose shores are laced with beaches. Or hike the trails at Griffy Lake, a wooded nature reserve and reservoir close to downtown.

Lexington, Kentucky, is not only known for its craft distilleries and breweries, but also for cute accommodations and relaxing atmosphere. Lyndon House is that rarest of B&Bs: a place with equal, generously poured measures of private space, historic charm, and modern comforts that also happens to be in the perfect location. Each room in the elegant, 19th-century mansion feels like a small apartment with separate sitting areas and private bathrooms.

It feels like a country estate but is actually just a short walk from downtown Lexington. The northern Kentucky city’s abundance of racetracks and ranches has earned it the nickname “The Horse Capital of the World,” and it revels in its reputation with riding schools, shows, and history exhibits at the International Museum of the Horse.

The 8th place goes to Boise, Idaho. And if you always fancied spending the night in a lighthouse, how about sleeping near the savannah on safari, or perhaps dozing off in the heart of the forest? You can experience any of these—and more—at The Anniversary Inn. Go here to truly escape the crowds and (in the best possible way) reality.

Generous suites are individually, eccentrically themed, from the net-strewn Fisherman’s Wharf to flower-filled Country Garden, whose ceilings are painted with cloudless skies. All have private bathrooms, some with whirlpool baths, while fireplaces add to the cozy sense of escapism.

It’s a short walk to Boise State University, whose campus is arranged on the banks of the Boise River. Its bloom-filled grounds are lovely to stroll around. Downtown Boise—set against the Boise Mountains—is walkable from the B&B, too, and packs in public art, riverside parks, and craft breweries with outdoor seating.

If you want a different place to travel in 2021, don`t miss Salt Lake City, Utah You could rent a log cabin or book a B&B. Or you could be greedy and enjoy the best of both at Engen Hus. Its cute alpine design belies the cozy-chic interior, with high ceilings, curved staircases, stone fireplaces, and a blend of vintage and modern furniture. There are only four rooms, each en suite, and the cabin is so spacious that it feels like a private rental. But with someone else cooking breakfast.

Salt Lake City itself doesn’t look real. Its downtown is dominated by an imposing granite Mormon Temple and surrounded by mountain views so perfect they resemble stage backdrops. They are real, though, and easily accessible for adventures in the crisp, clear air.

Away from the crowds, Williamsburg, Virginia, is worth a visit in 2021 – especially if all you want is to relax. There’s little need to stray beyond the wooded grounds of 18th-century The Historic Powhatan Resort. Accommodation isn’t in rooms, exactly: more like apartments, or perhaps royal quarters. Everything you could need is on hand. Cook up a storm in your full-size kitchen, lounge in the private sitting room, or just sit on the patio and absorb the peace.

You may want to venture out a little to explore Williamsburg, which revels in its past at the immersive living history museum, Colonial Williamsburg, and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.

What could be nicer than sleeping in a cute and cozy cottage in a relaxing city like Fredericksburg, Texas? Right in the heart of wine country, Vineyard Trail Cottages are surrounded by vineyards just off Fredericksburg’s wine route, Highway 290. Each has one or two bedrooms and everything you need for a self-contained break: in-room bathrooms, well-equipped kitchenettes (with fridges for wine-chilling), and private porches to soak up the vine-striped views.

Fredericksburg is one of those places that crams in just the good stuff: boutiques filled with covetable homeware, jewelry, and crafts, antiques stores that are also cafés (and sometimes bars), and—of course—wineries, with downtown tasting rooms in addition to vineyards flanking Highway 290. The city wears its German heritage proudly, too, from cultural displays at the Pioneer Museum to restaurants serving traditional dishes with modern twists.

In Branson, Missouri, there is no lions. No tigers. Just bears (and, thankfully, not real ones). The gloriously quiet and spacious Bear Mountain Cabin lives up to its name with grizzly motifs dotted around the three bedrooms and living spaces, from lampshades and framed photos to cushions and ornaments. It’s all part of the property’s abundant charm. Tucked in the woods, it feels wonderfully secluded and has pretty much everything you need, including a whirlpool bath and a dreamily huge kitchen.

Despite its remote feel, the cabin is actually within easy walking distance of Tanger Outlet Mall and the city’s theater district, home to museums, shows, and restaurants. Outdoor adventures are easy to find, too, from woodland trails right outside the cabin to fishing, boating, and beach-combing at Table Rock Lake.

Founded in the 16th century, St. Augustine, Florida, claims to be the oldest in the US – and it`s in our bucket list of top different places to travel in 2021. Rooms at The Collector Luxury Inn & Gardens are spread throughout a cluster of 18th-century buildings, themselves nestled among landscaped grounds dotted with fat palm trees, stone statues, and clusters of colorful blooms. It whispers of quiet, stylish luxury from the soft trickling of the water features to the fine period furnishings in the cozy rooms. Yet this serene hideaway is close to St. Augustine’s historic downtown.

The city has several examples of Spanish-colonial architecture, including 17th-century stone fortress, the Castillo de San Marcos. It’s the location, though—hugging a stretch of Florida’s northeast coast—that really makes this a joy. Its Atlantic-facing beaches are famously broad and biscuit pale, and it’s easy to find your own spot on the sand.

Waking up to gentle sea breezes, sun-streaked skies, and seemingly infinite ocean views is the vacation dream for many – and you can find this experience in St. Simons Island, Georgia. At these apartments on St. Simon’s Island, it’s just everyday life. The beachfront two-bed, two-bath condos could only be closer to the beach if they were sinking into the sand. A boardwalk runs from a shared pool down to the sand, while private balconies capitalize on the coastal views.

One of Georgia’s gloriously (and appropriately) named Golden Isles—barrier islands off the coast close to Savannah—St. Simons packs up the classic Southern charm the state is known for and takes it on a seaside vacation. Marshes and moss-draped live oak trees surround the beaches, whose creamy, honey-hued sand is strewn with whisperingly white driftwood logs.

In Scottsdale, Arizona, some hotels are so pretty you have to pinch yourself. Take the Bespoke Inn, located in Old Town Scottsdale’s arts district. It oozes serene luxury. At its heart is an elegant, twinkly-lit courtyard, whose intricate tiles and butter-yellow walls surround plenty of plush seating, fire pits, and an infinity pool. You might never want to leave. Until, that is, you see the rooms, each individually designed with claw-footed bath tubs, enormous beds, and private patios.

This Sonoran Desert City bursts with its own boutique charms, too, yet it’s often miraculously crowd-free. Old Town streets are shaded olive trees and lined with steakhouses, art galleries, and shops selling Native American jewelry and crafts. Go hiking or cycling at McDowell Sonoran Preserve, where trails weave up hills strewn with rock formations and studded with cacti.