Pleasant Aesthetic Destinations in North America

Photo credit: jdcross75, Adobe Stock

These destinations and hotels in North America underline this calming, pleasant aesthetic in contrast to the bold, flashy destinations that sometimes get a bit more attention. Escape to any of these for days spent thoughtfully holding cups of warm beverage, taking cute selfies, or quietly enjoying quality quiet time in a serene hideaway. 

Aspen/Snowmass, Colorado

Whether going to historic Aspen or the neighboring resort of Snowmass, the aesthetic starts right at the diminutive Aspen Airport, where the tiny terminal opens right out into the woods and mountains. In Aspen, cozy up in the campus-style Aspen Meadows Resort or check out the fabulous rooftop at the chalet-style, mountainside W Aspen. Wrap up in cozy provided blankets at Michelin-starred Bosq and sip soup made from locally-foraged forest bounty, or head over to Snowmass and check into the Limelight Hotel with adorable lodge-style rooms overlooking a courtyard summer and winter outdoor games, just steps away from Crêpe Shack by Mawa’s Kitchen. 

Newport, Rhode Island

Fans of The Gilded Age can head to Newport to live their best Team Mrs. Fish lifestyle. The summer vacation spot for the real-life new-and-old money of the era, visitors can check out some still-standing mansions or take in the seaside with a sunset sail (corset optional). Want to mix in a bit of cottagecore? Summer and autumn visitors will find plenty of orchards and self-pick farms to roll with that vibe. If relaxing in an oceanfront lounger is more your speed, check into The Chanler at Cliff Walk. 

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Sometimes, all you need is a white sweater and a round of golf. At Hilton Head Island, it’s classic coastal small town, but with luxe accommodations and Southern charm. Take a boat into the tidal estuaries and see rare porpoises, bald eagles, or perhaps pluck oysters right out of the banks for a boat snack. At the end of the day, there’s nothing more demure than peeping out from under a beach umbrella at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa.

The Don Cesar, St. Pete Beach, FL

What’s more cutesy than a pink hotel? Not only is The Don Cesar pink, but it glows on the white sand of St. Pete Beach, with expansive views of the Gulf of Mexico waiting. This 1928 vintage hotel has been a celebrity hideaway since its early days, and it’s built in that grand but understated Jazz Age style—perfect for living out a Gatsby fantasy (which isn’t hard as author F. Scott Fitzgerald was reportedly a regular guest here). Relax in rooms with plush linens and art deco pink flamingo wall art. 

Sitka, Alaska

Sitka may not be as picture-perfect as it looks in the film The Proposal (which was shot mainly in Maine), but it’s pretty nonetheless. Nestled at the foot of tall wooded peaks on the shores of Alaska’s Baranof Island, the small-town charm is everywhere, from the small boat harbor (look out for bald eagles!) to cozy coffee hideaways, shops selling Russian art and handicrafts and Instagram-worthy Russian Orthodox Church, belying the town’s earliest European visitors. Check into the Westmark Sitka for cozy views of the harbor and head next door to Sitka Pel’meni to warm up with a plate of Russian-style dumplings. 

Hana, Maui

Hana lies at the end of a scenic winding road and is isolated on the far eastern tip of Maui, making it an excellent place to watch the sunrise (you can fly into Hana if you don’t fancy the winding road). Many visitors come on trips just to experience the road, so the town is more placid in the mornings and evenings after the throngs have departed. Check into Hana-Maui Resort not for glitz and glam but for a taste of The Valley Isle at its most Eden-like. 

The Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas, Texas

What’s more pleasant than an actual Renaissance revival mansion? The Mansion, as it’s colloquially known in Dallas, is a destination for fine dining and plush stays in what used to be the residential spaces of one of the city’s early cotton kings. Today, the spaces are decorated with the design aesthetics of the Old World—think stained glass arches, marble staircases, and cathedral doors, and there are modern touches like a decadent spa and Instagram-worthy pool deck. 

Cayucos, California

TCheck out Highway 1 Roadtrip – the Scenic Byway-designated stretch of Highway 1 in San Luis Obispo County. In Cayucos, check out (or better yet, check in to) The Pacific Motel, a refurbished motel modernized with fire pits and a food truck. Walk down the oceanfront promenade to sample some habit-forming brown butter cookies, or venture onto the beach for a chill morning with a cup of coffee from the garden hideaway Luna Coffee Bar.

Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve, Puerto Rico

There is an oceanfront hammock calling your name, and it’s under a large shade tree at Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico. While much of the island is bold and brassy, this elegant resort is all about the vibe, with poolside cabanas with curtains that cocoon all around, expansive guest rooms, and a spa you’ll want to write home about. The hidden gem? Molido, a coffee bar tucked away by the Reserva pool, serves local Gusto brand coffee.

Fredericksburg, Texas

Ask anybody in Texas—it doesn’t get more cutesy than Fredericksburg. This central Texas town, founded by Germans (the local paper was published in German until 1946) long ago, decided to keep its high street businesses local by city ordinance. Find some jams at Das Peach House, a family-owned maker of preserves, jellies, and other treats, fall in love with Texas wines at Barelle Vineyards, or take a selfie with a giraffe at Longneck Manor.

Sea Island, Georgia

What’s more classically Southern than willow trees thick with Spanish moss? Those, along with a collection of oaks, were planted by US presidents and other heads of state, including Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. Stay at The Cloister at Sea Island’s graciously appointed guest rooms and take afternoon iced tea, lemonade, and cookies, take a long walk on the beach, or participate in the dressiest bingo game to be found in the South. Guests can even participate, along with their dogs, in the new Dapper Dogs amenity program.

Quebec City, Quebec

Look no further than Quebec City’s Old Town for a medieval throwback vibe—it’s just down the hill from the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Wander through the adorable, historic French Canadian-styled streets, eating croissants from chic eateries like the riverfront rooftop Chez Muzzy, or wander out to Île d’Orléans and try the strawberries and raspberries in season at Ferme François Gosselin or a chocolate-dipped ice cream cone at Chocolaterie de l’Île d’Orléans.

This article originally appeared in TravelPulse.