The Best Staycation in Every State

Williamsburg, Virginia

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ADDRESS
Williamsburg, VA, USA

Located in the state's southeastern corner, Williamsburg is a short drive from both Richmond and Washington, D.C. To experience a living time capsule first-hand, head to Colonial Williamsburg, a 300-acre historic site with pristine gardens, acclaimed art museums, taverns, and shops, and regular demonstrations of 18th-century blacksmithing, farming, weaving, and other crafts. Just 7 miles away, the Jamestown Settlement is also worth a visit, particularly for its newly renovated permanent exhibition galleries, which feature artifacts, dioramas, films, and interactive displays that chronicle 17th-century life in the country’s first colony.

 

For a contemporary excursion, make your way to Williamsburg Winery for a tour, tasting, dinner at one of its two on-site restaurants, or bike the scenic 23-mile Colonial Parkway, which connects the area’s “historic triangle” of Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown. Stay at the Williamsburg Inn, whose onsite spa and three world-class golf courses earned the property AAA’s Five Diamond Rating. —Laura Scholz

Walla Walla, Washington

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ADDRESS
Walla Walla, WA 99362, USA

WEB :Visit website

With the state’s highest concentration of wineries, creative Pacific Northwest cuisine, and an inviting vibe, epicureans and outdoorsy types will feel welcome here.

Book a room downtown at The FINCH, Walla Walla’s newest hotel, which has design elements from Northwest artisans, locally-inspired infographic artwork, and pet-friendly rooms. Use the services of Tesla Winery Tours to embark on a tasting excursion at wineries now offering outdoor and “open-air indoors” tasting experiences like Canvasback, Browne Family Vineyards, Spring Valley Vineyard, and Caprio Cellars; or grab a tasting kit to-go from The Walls Vineyards or L’Ecole No. 41 and swirl and sip back at the hotel’s courtyard firepit.

 

Snag a patio table at Hattaway's on Alder, which fuses Northwest and Southeast cuisine, or tote take-home snacks and meals-to-go from gourmet purveyor TMACS Epicurean Kitchen or the new AK’s Mercado, with fresh tacos, smoked meats, housemade tortillas, and a full market and bar. Fresh air pursuits include a stroll at Pioneer Park, birdwatching at Bennington Lake, snowshoeing in the Blue Mountains, or skiing at Bluewood. —Kelly Magyarics