The Best Staycation in Every State

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

JeremyMasonMcGraw.com / Getty Images

 

VIEW MAP
ADDRESS
Eureka Springs, AR, USA

 

The curious and the afflicted were some of the earliest arrivals in Eureka Springs, drawn by the legends of miraculous healing waters veiled beneath the isolated wilderness of Northwest Arkansas. Today it’s the adventurous and the hungry who come seeking memorable experiences in this quirky Victorian town, where sequestered stairways provide passage to the eccentric eateries and artist-owned shops hidden throughout its steep, winding streets.

 

Only the bravest of souls stay the night at “America’s Most Haunted Hotel,” the 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa, while a recently renovated motor lodge, The Wanderoo Lodge, offers the liveliest accommodations with an onsite adventure outfitter. A day hike out to Tea Kettle Falls will help work up an appetite for the mammoth burgers at Sparky’s Roadhouse Café or the sweet treats at MJ’s Macaron’s & More.

 

For dinner, hit up The Gravel Bar for live music and craft beer, or head underground for a romantic candle-lit experience inside the Grotto Wood-Fired Grill and Wine Cave. Eureka Springs Coffee House serves locally roasted coffee-to-go, perfect for fueling an early morning fishing trip on the White River or a mountain bike adventure through the Trails at the Great Passion Play. —Kristy Alpert

San Luis Obispo, California

Charles O'Rear / Getty Images

 

VIEW MAP
ADDRESS

San Luis Obispo, CA, USA

 

WEB :Visit website

 

California’s Central Coast boasts some of the most stunning views and famous sights in the Golden State. And, since the city of San Luis Obispo is almost completely equidistant from both San Francisco and Los Angeles, a staycation there almost always includes an epic coastal road trip along beautiful Highway 1.

 

For a quaint-yet-convenient accommodation option, the Apple Farm Inn is located near downtown with a farm-to-table restaurant attached. Or, experience the world-renowned (and certainly unique) Madonna Inn, with its fairytale-inspired rooms and incredible bakery.

 

San Luis Obispo has it all, from the historic Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa and Spanish-style downtown buildings to award-winning wineries like Biddle Ranch Vineyards and Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards. For outdoor lovers, Pismo Beach is just a 15-minute drive away, while nearby Oceano Dunes offers horseback riding, camping, and even driving on the beach. For sweeping views of wildflowers and massive ocean bluffs, spend the day exploring the 8,000-acre Montaña de Oro State Park just west of the city. —Katherine Gallagher