Enjoy Some History, Outdoor Recreation and Wine This Spring or Summer
Between the long lines at the airport and rising gas prices, it’s been an unpredictable travel season. So why not pack up the car and head out to explore some entertaining spots off the beaten path? The Southwest is full of quiet but enticing destinations worth your time when planning a spring or summer getaway.
Solvang, California
This cozy Southern California community is often referred to as the most European town in America. Just northwest of Santa Barbara, Solvang was founded by Danish settlers in 1911. It continues to draw attention for its Scandinavian-style architecture, from windmill landmarks to the Elverhøj Museum of History & Art, and the Round Tower, which is modeled after a 17th-century observatory in Denmark. Just outside of the city is OstrichLand USA, a 32-acre park that is home to more than 150 ostriches and emus with a few other critters running around.
Solvang is incredibly convenient and walkable. The town has more than a dozen wine-tasting rooms showcasing Central Coast vineyards. Authentic Scandinavian bakeries like Birkholm’s Bakery & Cafe and Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery draw crowds for butter cookies, danish and kringle, an oval-shaped pastry made with buttery, flaky dough, filled with fruits, nuts, or cheeses and topped with icing. No visit is complete without an order of aebleskiver, or pancake balls, at the Solvang Restaurant.
You won’t see a lot of chain stores here; independent shops dominate the city’s retail options. Grab a holiday decoration or two at Solvang’s Christmas House, Jule Hus, which is open year-round. Learn about one of the world’s greatest children’s book authors at the Hans Christian Andersen Museum on the second floor of the Book Loft boutique.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is so charming, it’s easy to forget that it’s actually the capital city of New Mexico. The walkable Historic District is subject to strict preservation regulations, especially in the central Plaza area, where adobe buildings share a common Pueblo Revival style. You’ll also marvel at the beauty of the San Miguel Chapel, the oldest church in the continental United States.
The architecture reflects a fierce appreciation of art that’s felt throughout Santa Fe. Pop-up markets frequently sell turquoise jewelry and other items made by Indigenous craft makers. The Georgia O’Keefe Museum displays paintings by one of the city’s most famous residents.
Stroll Canyon Road and browse more than 80 galleries within a half mile. Then enjoy dinner at the warm and inviting Geronimo, a cozy restaurant located inside an 18th-century adobe home. Mingle with the locals in Midtown, where Meow Wolf turned an old bowling alley into the House of Eternal Return, an interactive art installation that pokes fun at the traditional American family home.
Williams, Arizona
Just south of the Grand Canyon, Williams is considered a gateway town to one of America’s most famous and largest landmarks. But the community is worth a visit all by itself. The old frontier town evolved to become a prominent stop on Route 66, and continues to celebrate mid-century road trip culture—experience it for yourself at Pete’s Gas Station Museum.
Historic buildings that used to be brothels and saloons have been repurposed into hotels, restaurants and other businesses. The town has its quirks, including the come-as-you-are Miss Kitty’s Steakhouse. But local gems await discovery as well, like the homemade pies from Pine Country Restaurant and craft beer at the Grand Canyon Brewery.
See animals up close at Bearizona drive-through sanctuary or Grand Canyon Deer Farm, where deer can’t help but follow visitors around the park—buying food to feed them is highly recommended. A short away drive is the Grand Canyon’s south entrance, but taking the Grand Canyon Railway is even more fun, especially if you book the luxury cabin, which includes comfortable seating and a private bar.
St. George, Utah
St. George, the largest city in southwest Utah, is a fast-growing community with easy access to the great outdoors. It’s less than an hour’s drive to Zion National Park but even closer to smaller state parks with more immediate eye-catching visuals. Snow Canyon includes a scenic drive and hikes through sandstone hills and canyons, while Sand Hollow is a reservoir surrounded by red sand. Visitors can also take a dip in the tree-lined waters of Quail Creek or Gunlock, a more remote reservoir.
The history of St. George is impossible to miss: The shops and restaurants in Ancestor Square, which includes the relics of an old brick jailhouse and sheriff’s office, to Thomas Judd’s Store Co., which dates back to 1911 and continues to sell candy and ice cream. The art scene is well represented with street sculptures throughout the downtown area. Pay a visit to Kayenta, an isolated art village with galleries, dining and live performances. The 2,000-seat Tuacahn Amphitheater regularly hosts Broadway favorites against the red rocks of Snow Canyon.
Cottonwood, Arizona
Cottonwood is a small destination in the heart of Northern Arizona’s Verde Valley wine country. See what it’s all about in charming Old Town, where there’s a tasting room on every corner. Merkin Vineyards, founded by Tool lead singer Maynard James Keenan, has its own hilltop restaurant with fresh farm-to-table Italian food to balance out all that wine.
Winding roads lead to the high elevation of Jerome, an old mining town that continues to reflect the spirit of the Wild West. Although believed to be haunted, the Jerome Grand Hotel is worth paying a visit. Another relic from the past is Douglas Mansion, which was converted into a museum and is now part of Jerome State Park.
Travel even further back in time to the Tuzigoot National Monument, which preserved Pueblo ruins from a thousand years ago that were excavated in the 1930s, proving that the most dramatic pieces of history are often hiding in plain sight.
