Dallas, Greenville, Vero Beach. These vibrant “detour destinations” — hidden gems just beyond the reach of major city hubs — are having a moment, drawing in travelers looking to shake things up with a quick escape to somewhere fresh and full of character.
In fact, according to Expedia, 63% of travelers say they’re likely to visit a detour destination on their next trip. And honestly, we’re all for it. Why settle for one city when you can squeeze a little extra magic out of your journey? One plane ticket, two adventures. It’s efficient and exciting.
These side trips may just steal the spotlight from your main destination. (Photo Credit: @gabestej)
So go ahead — double up on culture, cuisine, and a change of scenery. Make time for a pop-over to one of these unforgettable detour destinations. You might just love the road slightly less traveled.
Fort Worth, Texas — Day Trip from Dallas
How to Get There: 35-minute drive from downtown Dallas
Why Travelers Love It: Diffusing the very essence of Texas, Fort Worth packs in a whole lot of Western fun, while still offering dining and entertainment options on par with other great US cities. Don your boots and step into the West at the Fort Worth Stockyards.
Fort Worth is just 35 minutes from Dallas but feels a world away. (Photo Credit: Fallon Michael)
Nothing embodies Western heritage better than this national historic district, where visitors can interact with live animals in historic wooden corrals and on horse and bull rides, retrace the footsteps of cowboys, watch a real cattle drive, and even learn to line dance. When you’ve had your country western fill, head to the beautiful Fort Worth Botanical Garden, the Kimball Art Museum, or the Amon Carter Museum of American Art.
Where to Eat & Drink: il Modo, which is known as Fort Worth’s best Italian restaurant, or Billy Bob’s Texas for live music, line dancing, and local brews on draft.
Welcome to Kimpton Harper Hotel. (Photo Credit: @theharperfortworth)
Where to Stay: Kimpton Harper Hotel
Huntington Beach, California — Day Trip from Los Angeles
How to Get There: 54-minute drive from LAX
Why Travelers Love It: That laid-back California slow-burn culture everyone loves is alive and well in this part of Orange County, and, most of the time, the weather can’t be beat. Borrow a beach cruiser and pedal down the paved Huntington Beach Bike Path from Huntington Beach Pier to nautical Newport Beach Pier. It’s a 6-mile cruise south (where you can return your bike) or 12 miles out and back, and we recommend lunch on the water at The Rusty Pelican in between.
Cruise along the coast of California all the way down to Huntington Beach. (Photo Credit: Caleb Bennetts)
Huntington Beach is the definition of California cool. (Photo Credit: @shorebreakresort)
Let the laid-back surf culture put you at ease as you pop into surf shops along the Pacific Coast Highway. Then, end your evening with s’mores by the fire pit at your hotel or a beach bonfire.
Where to Eat & Drink: Pacific Hideaway, a chic eatery with a patio near the Huntington Beach Pier.
Where to Stay: Kimpton Shorebreak Resort
Greenville, South Carolina — Day Trip from Charlotte, North Carolina
How to Get There: About a 2-hour drive from Charlotte
Greenville, South Carolina is a slice of tranquility just two hours from Charlotte. (Photo Credit: Elijah Lopes)
Why Travelers Love It: A cultural oasis in the Carolinas that packs plenty of scenic beauty, this charming city was ranked #4 by Condé Nast Traveler in the 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards for the Best Small Cities in the US. A town for foodies, Greenville has “a farm-to-table scene that continues to rise in the ranks, and its craft beer scene is seeing a similar explosion.”
As a former industrial hub, the city has reinvented itself into the perfect blend of hip and unpretentious. Walk or run along the Swamp Rabbit Trail, stopping on the suspension bridge to take in views of waterfalls. Sip cocktails and craft beer in creative spaces, and explore an art scene featuring the world’s largest public exhibit of Andrew Wyeth watercolors at the Greenville County Museum of Art. A day in Greenville is a day well spent.
Immerse yourself in the lush, scenic beauty of the Carolinas. (Photo Credit: Jonathan Hanna)
Where to Eat & Drink: Keipi, an experimental dining restaurant specializing in Georgian (as in Eastern Europe) cuisine.
Where to Stay: Stay tuned for a new Kimpton hotel opening in Greenville in 2025
Todos Santos, Mexico — Day Trip from Cabo San Lucas
How to Get There: 1 hour 5-minute drive from Cabo San Lucas
Why Travelers Love It: Beloved by US and Canadian ex-pats and travelers alike, the Todos Santos area of Baja California is known for its artistic spirit and natural beauty — in fact, it’s a designated Pueblo Mágico area of Mexico. Here, desert vistas meet sand dunes and clear coastlines, often dotted with migrating whales in the distance.
Take a drive along the coast from Cabo to Todos Santos. (Photo Credit: Josh Withers)
Todos Santos is your Baja beach daydream. (Photo Credit: Asdrubal Luna)
Ways to spend the day include exploring the shops and galleries downtown, hiking beachfront mountain trails, surfing or stand-up paddle boarding, horseback riding, and eating at the area’s spectacular restaurants like Hierbabuena and Barracuda Cantina.
Where to Eat & Drink: Kahal, the beachfront restaurant at Kimpton Mas Olas.
Where to Stay: Kimpton Mas Olas Resort
Vero Beach, Florida — Day Trip from Orlando
How to Get There: 1 hour and 36-minute drive from Orlando
Vero Beach is Orlando’s quieter, cooler cousin. (Photo Credit: @cassandrahartford)
Why Travelers Love It: Lounging on the beach, catching your own seafood dinner, swimming in the ocean. Orlando’s great, but these are things you can only do at the beach. A nature-lover’s paradise, the Indian River Lagoon in the western part of town has an ultra-diverse ecosystem, where you can spot animals ranging from dolphins to great blue herons, sea turtles to snowy egrets.
Recently revitalized Downtown Vero is full of eateries, galleries, boutique shopping, and events. It has small beach town vibes and friendly locals, which makes it the perfect place to unwind after a few busy days in action-packed Orlando.
Savor the slow pace and fresh flavors of Vero Beach. (Photo Credit: @cobaltrestaurant)
Where to Eat & Drink: Cobalt Restaurant, a prime spot right on the beach.
Where to Stay: Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa
Milwaukee, Wisconsin — Day Trip from Chicago, Illinois
How to Get There: 1 hour 26-minute drive from downtown Chicago
Why Travelers Love It: Tons of good breweries, riverboat tours out to Lake Michigan, and palpable pride in the city (and its food scene and sports teams) that’s kind of infectious. Milwaukee is great for just about every type of traveler.
Milwaukee’s charm is just a short hop from downtown Chicago. (Photo Credit: @baileyfitz4)
Kimpton Journeyman Hotel is in the heart of Milwaukee’s Third Ward district. (Photo Credit: Tom Barrett)
For adults, dining and drinks at hip rooftop bar The Outsider, or brewery hopping around some of the most beloved indie breweries in the country — Lakefront Brewery is a must — is a great way to spend a day. Family travelers will love the Milwaukee Children’s Museum and the Harley Davidson Museum. Come nighttime, catch a pro sports game — the Brewers ballpark gives a hearty dose of Midwest Americana.
Where to Eat & Drink: Milwaukee’s historic Third Ward district has some of the best restaurants in town like Bavette la Bucherie and Tre Rivali.
Where to Stay: Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
