What's Your Summer Getaway?
To kick off the summer season, we're getting travel inspiration from some favorite writers, sharing a roadtrip-ready playlist, and offering a discount on an annual subscription.
Welcome to the weekend!
Memorial Day is in the rear-view mirror and summer is here — that means it’s time to hit the road. While we’re always traveling, summertime getaways are special. This year, we’re kicking off the season by asking some of our favorite food and travel newsletter writers about their favorite summer destinations. From the California coastline to Alabama’s Gulf Shores, you can take inspiration from folks who know a thing or two about good travel destinations and can help you pick the perfect summer trip. (If you need more ideas, check out our library of Field Guides, including our freshly updated six-day Field Guide to Charleston!).
This week, we’re also offering a summer discount on annual subscriptions.
This is one of only two sales a year: Now through Thursday, you can get 30% off 52 weeks of American Weekender. An upgraded subscription gets you all of our weekly newsletters, including our Weekend Getaway and Overnight Stay issues, which are exclusively for paid subscribers. You’ll also get free downloads of all our mobile Field Guides, along with access to the American Weekender Google Map, where we’ve marked every place we’ve covered in our newsletter and written about in guides. The map features over 750 locations and is growing each month. We’d love to have you join us!
Finally, when you’re ready to hit the road, check out our American Weekender Playlist on Spotify. We’ve filled it with songs that are perfect for a winding drive with the windows down or an early evening with your favorite drink and a beautiful view.
Thanks for reading!
Amy Cavanaugh & Kenney Marlatt
What’s Your Summer Getaway?
There isn’t much better than a summer trip. Whether you’ve been going to the same place for decades (like us!) or have recently discovered a new favorite destination (also like us!), a vacation filled with ice cream, lake or ocean swims, and long meals outside are what we dream of all year. We have lots of travel plans this summer, including California, New Orleans, and Michigan, with perhaps some shorter Midwest weekend trips scattered in there as well.
To help fuel your wanderlust, we’ve asked some of our favorite food and travel newsletter writers to share their own summer plans — and we’d also love to hear yours! Let us know where you’re heading this season in the comments.
Emily Wilson, The Angel
AMAGANSETT, NEW YORK
“My family has had a home in Amagansett on Long Island since 1999, when I was 6. It is undoubtedly the best Hampton — the beaches are gorgeous, the energy is relaxed, and the vibe is as cool as it gets out east. Since moving from New York to Los Angeles four years ago, I've spent less of the summer on the East Coast, making the time I do spend out there extra special. Most of the restaurants in the Hamptons are mid, so we like to shop at Balsam Farms and Amagansett Seafood Store (try the tuna salad), then cook at home. There are a few exceptions: Doubles for roti and smoothies (which, for transparency, is co-owned by my brother), John Papas Cafe for a grade-A Greek salad, and Goldberg's for the best classic New York bagels around. Cavaniola's Gourmet is an epic cheese store that sells housemade peanut butter cups, and Brent's General Store is the spot to take out fried chicken and bring it to the beach.” —
Matt Kirouac, The Gay Lane
EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
“Since moving to Oklahoma City, one of my favorite drivable go-tos is Eureka Springs, a quirky — and surprisingly queer — little town in the Ozarks of Northwest Arkansas. The downtown area is a ramshackle mishmash of steep roads, kitschy boutiques, historic (and maybe haunted) hotels, and wine bars in literal caves, like Grotto Wood-Fired Grill and Wine Cave. My husband and I visit often, in all seasons, but summer is our favorite time to hang out at the pool at Magnetic Valley gay resort, sip sunset cocktails at the rooftop bar of the Crescent Hotel, eat doughnuts at Harold’s Diner, listen to live music at Wanderoo Lodge, and share Sazeracs at Voodoo Lounge inside the New Orleans Hotel. In summer, especially, there are so many great trails and lakes in the area as well. It’s just such an unassuming oasis, and always a joy to revisit.” —
Meghan Splawn, Stir & Scribble
GULF SHORES, ALABAMA
“Gulf Shores has become our go-to beach getaway. While the Alabama beaches are beautiful for spring or fall break, June is our favorite time to visit — it's lively and not too-too hot yet. My 10- and 13-year-old insist on a few traditions each time we go: a morning run to Lickin' Good Donuts for kolaches and a stop at Foam for a coffee for the adults; a boat ride to Billy's Seafood (buy peel and eat shrimp for the ride back and get shrimp or fish for dinner) with a stop for burgers and Bushwackers at Pirate's Cove; and at least one dinner at The Beach House with Island Ice Cream afterward. We also love biking around Gulf State Park and having a beer at Big Beach Brewing. If you find yourself in Gulf Shores and do nothing else besides beach hangs, make sure you get a Bushwacker. This regional drink is essentially a boozed-up milkshake and is celebrating its 50th birthday this year. My two favorite Bushwackers are at Pirate's Cove and Tintop.” —
Laura Scherb, Page & Plate
CHAUTAUQUA LAKE, NEW YORK
“For as long as I can remember, Chautauqua Lake in Western New York has been my summer haven. A tiny lake off of Lake Erie, Chautauqua Lake offers a wide variety of locales for just about anyone: the Chautauqua Institution, where you can get your cultural fix with programming that includes everything from operas to lectures; Westfield, the former home of the Welsh grape empire and current hot spot for antiques and craft beer; Lily Dale, a community of spiritualists that features a pet cemetery; and Jamestown, a former furniture industry hub that's reimagining itself. Some of my favorite spots are 2 Ames, located within the Institution, Boxcar Barney's Ice Cream, Truffle Honey Eatery, and the original Southern Tier Brewery. Don't forget to stop by Haff Acres Farm Stand for fresh fruits and vegetables (and pie!) and The Lighthouse Point Grocery for fresh meats and deli items.” —
Brooks Reitz, A Small and Simple Thing
CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS + CALIFORNIA
“In July, we are visiting Cape Cod. We've rented a house from the Cape Cod Modern House Trust and will be exploring the beaches and markets, cooking at the house and relaxing. Then we are headed to California to explore the coast — from Los Angeles to Ojai to Los Alamos to Inverness, and ending with time in Sonoma. We are staying in a mix of hotels and houses so we can shop the beautiful markets in the region and take long hikes and cool swims in the ocean.” —
Hillary Dixler Canavan, The New Family Table
CAPITAL REGION, NEW YORK
“Every summer, my family heads to Albany to spend a month with my daughter’s paternal grandparents and my husband’s whole side of the family. My husband and I always plan at least one day trip or overnight trip from there to make the most out of having childcare courtesy of grandma and grandpa. We typically head to Hudson for quaint browsing and delicious eating. I am already looking forward to our lunch at Quinnie’s, and this summer I’m excited to check out Stissing House, too. Pro tip: Make sure to visit Talbott & Arding before heading back to NYC (or Albany). They have amazing breads, sandwiches, and prepared foods to set you up to have one last taste of Hudson when you get home. For family day-tripping, we love Saratoga Springs — no visit is complete without doughnuts from Darling Doughnuts and a new kids book from Northshire.” —
Miles Howard, Mind the Moss
THE BERKSHIRES, MASSACHUSETTS
“Imagine walking across a mountain range without a backpack full of musky camping gear — setting off from a coffee shop, spending the morning and afternoon winding through beech trees and moss, and calling it a day with pizza, a glass of pinot noir, and a killer view from your hotel window. You can realize this dream in the Berkshires by walking the High Road path from Pittsfield to Lenox this summer and fall, for a real deal ‘walking holiday’ experience in the U.S. You don't even need a car to hike it! With Amtrak service to Pittsfield and a local bus connecting the mountain city to Lenox, the High Road is a rare transit-accessible backcountry journey. A true American rarity.” —
Meredith Bethune, True North
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND
“I usually stay near home (within driving distance) this time of year. I'm still behind on planning this year's trips, but I'll be in Newport, Rhode Island, at least a few times during the next few months. I grew up there and still have family nearby. Whenever I go back, I always want seafood. I usually get clam chowder at the Black Pearl in Newport, stuffies at Anthony's in Middletown, and lobster rolls from Monahan's in Narragansett. Flo's has good food and excellent vibes. Both locations (Middletown and Portsmouth) are right by the water. And for drinks, you can't beat Castle Hill. The lawn is dotted with Adirondack chairs where you can have a cocktail while enjoying the absolute best waterfront view on Aquidneck Island.” —
More Summer Trip Ideas
A Gift: The American Weekender Playlist
Our Spotify playlist — which we’ve road-tested on some recent trips — will give you all the tunes you need to get from point A to B. Click here to add it to your Spotify library. We’ve filled it with songs that are perfect for morning drives or late-night hangs. The vibes are hopefully somewhat timeless, but music is very personal and our tastes are always evolving — this playlist will too. Let us know what songs or songwriters you think we should add to the mix.
Want more? Chat with us on Substack, download our Field Guides, check out our archives, or follow us on Instagram @americanweekender. We’ll be back next week.
Great recs!
Love this collection of summer recommendations!