Not all vacations are created equal. The landscape you choose sets the scene for your holiday and offers different vibes, culture, and activities. Here is a roundup of three destination ideas that are close to home for most Americans, and will satisfy travelers who are craving a mountain getaway, urban escape, or coastal retreat.
A Romantic Getaway For Mountain Lovers: Mont Tremblant, Quebec
You don’t need to fly to Europe to experience the vibes of a French ski town: Mont Tremblant in Quebec, Canada has a European-style pedestrian village with cozy restaurants and trendy boutiques set against a nature’s playground of mountains, lakes, and forests. Before visiting, it’s a good idea to learn a little French, the official language. It’s less than an hour-and-a-half flight from New York City, and then an hour-and-half drive from Montreal. It’s a seven-and-a-half hour drive from New York City, and a seven-hour drive from Boston.
The mix of village and nature offers plenty of activities to do year round, from skiing to hiking to live music. Mont Tremblant makes for a romantic getaway for couples looking to combine nature adventures with intimate dining and spa experiences.
Where To Stay: Fairmont Tremblant
This ski-in ski-out hotel sits right at the base of Mont Tremblant next to the ski lifts, so staying here makes it easy to hit the slopes, take a break by a fire, and head back out on the mountain. The Fairmont Tremblant pool terrace faces the mountains and also has a bar with cozy pop-up igloos, making it an ideal spot for an apres-ski. It can get pretty crowded, especially if you want to go into the hot tub, so morning is the best time to go in the pool or hot tub if you are looking for more solitude.
The hotel has a variety of dining options, from the grab-and-go Ricochet Cafe & Terrasse that has coffee and sandwiches for when you just want to get to the slopes, to the upscale Choux Gras, a romantic dinner spot with stunning views of the mountains, French-inspired dishes with a twist, and live music. For unwinding after your outdoor adventures, the onsite gym also has steam baths and saunas, and you can opt for massages at the Moment Spa.
Address: 3045 Chemin de la Chapelle, CITQ 128365, J8E1E1, Mont Tremblant, Canada
What To Do:
Ski: Mont Tremblant is, of course, a ski destination. With more than 100 trails and 14 chair lifts, Mont Tremblant is suitable for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. My husband and I happened to visit in December during the famous 24h Tremblant, where teams of six to 12 people relay each other on the mountain for 24 hours straight by either skiing, snowboarding, walking, or running to raise money for children’s causes. There were big crowds celebrating all night long with a D.J., dancing, and glow sticks—despite the sub-zero temperatures. (After 11 pm I was content to watch the party scene from my hotel room wearing my warmest pajamas). If you’re not a skier, there are a variety of other outdoor winter activities: Visitors can also try snowshoeing, snow mobiling, dog sledding, and more.
Hike & Bike: This is a four-season destination, and traveling to Mont Tremblant in the summer means you might see athletes competing in the Ironman 70.3 Mont Tremblant. For the less competitive, there are plenty of hiking options in the Mont-Tremblant National Park in Lac-Supérieur, the oldest national park in the province (which has also scored an International Dark Sky Park certification for some amazing star gazing). Near the national park is Farouche Tremblant, which offers A-frame cabin accommodations and a variety of nature activities such as riding fat bikes, paddle boarding, and fly fishing.
Spa: Wellness experiences in nature are one of my most favorite things, so if you’re like me you won’t want to miss the thermal experience at Scandinave Spa Mont-Tremblant. Set on 72,000 square feet in the Laurentian Forest, this outdoor spa is a sanctuary for reflection and detoxing. The process involves spending 15 minutes in a hot tub, steam room or dry sauna to raise your body temperature, followed by a 30-second cold plunge in an outdoor cold bath or the river that runs along the property, and then 15 minutes in a relaxation area. The benefits include increasing blood flow, boosting the immune system, de-stressing, and more.
Where To Eat:
For a truly sensory experience, don’t miss eating at Maison de Soma, a family-owned restaurant nestled on a farm between Mont-Tremblant and Mont-Blanc. The scenic eatery was named one of the top 10 best new restaurants in Canada. The menu changes seasonally because the chef uses local ingredients sourced from the farm and foraged from the surrounding forests. On site is an organic vegetable garden, two greenhouses, an orchard of apples and small fruits, bees, poultry production, and a forest where wild harvesting is done. There’s also a boutique selling products made from their farm’s harvest, such as maple crispy chili oil and basil syrup. The design of the restaurant encourages connection and conversation, as there are large tables for gathering with other guests.
A Family-Friendly Vacation For City Lovers: Times Square, New York
The unparalleled kinetic energy of Times Square in the Big Apple is sure to keep even the most energetic kids engaged and tired after a day of urban adventures. The eclectic mix of people the city attracts makes it a cultural epicenter of creative expression, spanning from theater to art to dance. Indeed, Times Square is a destination for performance art unlike any other place, and even transforms into a massive art display every midnight with synchronized digital art across massive screens.
Where to Stay: New York Marriott Marquis
When it comes to corralling little ones on vacation, a convenient location is key so you can spend less time figuring out how to travel from place to place and more time enjoying the moment. The New York Marriott Marquis is in the heart of Times Square at 46th Street and Broadway, placing it near M&M World, Broadway’s top theaters, Central Park, Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, and a variety of dining and entertainment options for all ages. Of course, it’s also next to the subway so you can easily bypass the traffic and hop a ride underground if you must head uptown or downtown. The iconic hotel celebrates its 40th anniversary in September 2025 with newly renovated rooms, and has family connector rooms that let you put little ones to bed in a separate-but-connected room so the adults can enjoy some alone time.
Address: 1535 Broadway, New York, New York 10036
What To Do:
Theater: A destination for world-class theater, the Theater District in Times Square has more than 40 different theaters. For discount tickets, check out TDF, a non-profit dedicated to making performance art accessible for all. It also operates the TKTS ticket booth in Times Square where you can get same-day tickets for up to 50% off.
Immersive Experiences: The retail shops in Times Square offer engaging immersive experiences for kids, from The Disney Store to Hershey’s Chocolate World to M&M’s World. There is also the new RiseNY that includes a museum and flight simulation ride through New York’s five boroughs. Or if your kids are into ASMR, hop a subway ride downtown to the SlooMoo Institute, where kids can immerse themselves playing with slime in a variety of colors, scents, and textures.
Where To Eat:
There is no shortage of family-friendly restaurants in Times Square, from Juniors and their famous cheesecake to Carmine’s Southern Italian dishes served up family-style. But for a real wow factor, you might make reservations at New York’s only revolving restaurant aptly named The View. Located on the 47th floor of the New York Marriott Marquis, The View offers 360-degree views of the Theater District along with live music and craft cocktails and mocktails for a dining experience with an unforgettable backdrop.
A Mix Of Business And Pleasure For Beach Lovers: Santa Monica, California
For a SoCal vibe and fresh sea air, Santa Monica’s 22-miles of coast that is less than 30 minutes from the city of Los Angeles lets you experience beach culture with a laid-back urban flair. If you’re heading to Los Angeles for work, I highly recommend staying in nearby Santa Monica to take advantage of the seaside location and combine some business with pleasure. In between business meetings, you can take a break to join the throngs of people strolling along the pathway by the ocean. You’ll also see bikers, beach volleyball players, runners, skaters, and more, as fitness is a lifestyle in SoCal.
Where to Stay: Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows
For barefoot luxury, join the likes of Greta Garbo, Senator John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe who have stayed at the seaside Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows (‘miramar’ is Spanish for ‘view of the sea’). Built on about five acres on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the century-old, five-star oceanfront resort was originally the private estate of the founder of Santa Monica. Today it’s a sprawling oasis designed around a garden and a pool with nearly 300 guest rooms and 31 separate bungalows. Upon exiting the main hotel lobby, you’ll be greeted by the magnificent Moreton Bay Fig Tree that’s original to the property, and find walkable access to the beach and the Santa Monica pier, as well as the cafes and shops along Ocean Ave.
Address: 101 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, California 90401
What To Do:
Bike Tour: A fun and active way to get the lay of the land is to take a guided bike tour. Check out Pedal or Not’s guided electric bike tours (pedaling is optional) in Santa Monica and Venice Beach. The three-hour tour takes you along the Santa Monica Beach, past the pier and skate parks, and to the Venice Canals.
Hit The Pier: The Santa Monica Pier is a century-old wooden pier that juts out into the Pacific Ocean and is one of the most photographed spots in the world. A famous gathering place to stroll to the soundtrack of crashing ocean waves, you can also take a ride on the roller coaster or ferris wheel, find souvenirs like seashell necklaces from local vendors, or sample sweet treats like milkshakes.
Walk the Promenade: The Third Street Promenade encompasses three car-free blocks filled with a both designer and mom-and-pop shops and street performers, and makes for some fun people watching. It’s also a good spot for foodies, with staples such as Mel’s Drive-In. Pickleball lovers can hit some balls at Pickle Pop.
Where To Eat:
For local SoCal cuisine, try FIG Restaurant located at the Fairmont Miramar. Executive Chef Damon Gordon’s team sources ingredients from the local farmer’s market and the sea, so menus change depending on the season. You might find lemon ricotta pancakes for breakfast, or whole wood-roasted branzino for dinner. The space is filled with natural light and plenty of plants to mix the SoCal vibe with fresh ingredients.
Whether your travels take you to the beach, the mountains, or to a city that never sleeps, it’s interesting to think about how the landscape can impact the culture, and therefore, the vibe. I’d love to hear from you: How has a destination’s landscape shaped your experience of a place that you’ve recently visited?
