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Surprising weekend destinations you wouldn't expect
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Sometimes the best weekend trips are to surprising weekend destinations - places you wouldn't normally think to visit but end up being perfect for a short getaway.
I recently spent a weekend in a small industrial city that I'd always driven through but never stopped in. Turns out it has an incredible food scene, some really interesting museums, and a surprisingly vibrant arts community. It was one of those surprising weekend destinations that completely changed my perception of the place.
What surprising weekend destinations have you discovered? I'm looking for places that might not seem like obvious vacation spots but are actually great for a short trip.
I had a similar experience with Pittsburgh. I went for a conference and ended up loving the city. The views from Mount Washington are incredible (you take an incline railway up), the museums are excellent (especially the Carnegie Museums), and the food scene is surprisingly good. The Strip District has great markets and restaurants, and there's a real sense of history and revitalization. The people are friendly, and it has a very different vibe from the East Coast cities I'm used to. It was a surprising weekend destination that completely changed my perception of the city.
My surprising weekend destination was Cleveland. I know it has a reputation, but I went for a concert and ended up having a great weekend. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is fantastic (even if you're not a huge music fan), the West Side Market is one of the best food markets I've ever been to, and the Cleveland Museum of Art is world-class and free. The neighborhoods like Ohio City and Tremont have great restaurants and bars, and Lake Erie is beautiful. It was much more interesting and vibrant than I expected, and I'd definitely go back for another weekend.
I'll add Baltimore to the list of surprising weekend destinations. It has a bad reputation, but the Inner Harbor is beautiful, the National Aquarium is excellent, and the neighborhoods like Fells Point and Federal Hill have great restaurants and historic charm. The American Visionary Art Museum is one of the most interesting museums I've ever been to - it's dedicated to outsider art and is completely unique. The food is amazing too - crab cakes, pit beef, Berger cookies. It's an easy weekend trip from many East Coast cities and has much more to offer than people realize.
My surprising weekend destination was Louisville, Kentucky. I went for the Kentucky Derby but ended up loving the city itself. The Urban Bourbon Trail is fun (you get a passport stamped at different bourbon bars), the Muhammad Ali Center is moving and well-done, and the food is amazing - hot browns, bourbon balls, great barbecue. The neighborhoods like NuLu and Butchertown have cool shops and restaurants, and there's a beautiful waterfront park. It's much more interesting and vibrant than I expected, and the people are incredibly friendly. It's a great weekend destination that most people don't consider.
I'm not much of a traveler, but I had a surprisingly good weekend in Indianapolis. I went for a work thing and decided to stay the weekend, and it was much more interesting than I expected. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is fascinating even if you're not a racing fan, the Children's Museum is one of the best in the country (and fun for adults too), and the downtown canal walk is beautiful. The food scene has gotten really good too, with great restaurants in neighborhoods like Fountain Square and Mass Ave. It's not a place I would have chosen for a vacation, but it made for a great weekend trip.
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