FIVE DESTINATIONS FOR A LOW-KEY NEW YEAR’S WEEKEND
New Year’s Eve is notoriously a night for parties, champagne, and perhaps some neighborhood pot-banging. But a quaint, quiet, classy New Year’s can be quite underrated. For those of you who don’t want to hit the town for a night of outrageous prices, or for those who just want to get away for one last escape before January brings reality with it – here are five destinations for a New Year’s weekend that’s guaranteed to be low-key and lovely in every way.
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
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With historic inns, waterfront restaurants, and beautiful architecture, Charleston is an enchanting place to spend the final few days of the year. Walk through the cobblestone streets to adorably-named spots like Rainbow Row and Pineapple Fountain, visit scenic White Point Garden, or maybe even take a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride.
BOULDER, COLORADO
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A bit less crowded than nearby Denver, Boulder is a beautiful mountain town tucked in the Flatirons. Whether you’re into the great outdoors, the food scene, or shopping, there’s a little something for everyone here. Take to the Rocky Mountains for a gorgeous, no-fuss New Year’s getaway with just enough personality to keep it interesting.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA
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Head to Scottsdale for some ultimate leisure and relaxation. Check out the boutique shopping in Old Town, soak in the art scene, or just enjoy some good ol’ R&R at one of the desert city’s many luxurious resorts. Whether you’re hitting the golf course, treating yourself to a spa day, or just lounging by the pool in the still-warm weather, you’ll be so relaxed you won’t even know what year it is.
PASO ROBLES, CALIFORNIA
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Paso Robles is the perfect place for a delightful New Year’s weekend spent sipping on good wine, taking in rolling vineyard views, and exploring great restaurants and tasting rooms downtown. You can never go wrong with a little wine country, and this one strikes the perfect balance of laid-back and classy.
ISLAMORADA, FLORIDA
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Islamorada, the “Village of Islands” in the Florida Keys, is a bit of paradise tucked away in a quiet, tropical setting. Catch some fish in the sport fishing capital of the world, take a sunset cruise, or just enjoy the stunning ocean views. With its small-town feel and locally owned shops and restaurants, you can ring in the New Year from a true oasis.
by Carly Weaver
Carly, a New-Jersey-native-turned-Los-Angeles-local, has worked in digital marketing for the past decade doing everything from copywriting to creative production to brand strategy. But she’s always had three great loves: food, travel, and writing. That’s where Ogden Pacific comes in.
All-time favorite travel story? That time she slept in a drawer in a Florence hospital. All-time favorite meal? Well, as a decidedly unemotional person she’s been moved to tears by a single bite of food more than once...so let’s not even go there right now. All-time favorite destinations? The Jersey Shore for Springer’s Homemade Ice Cream and pure nostalgia. The British Virgin Islands for endless crystal clear seas and some of the nicest people on earth. Montana for that clean, crisp, mountain air and $2 Moose Drools enjoyed over dive bar shuffleboard. And Italy for literally...every...single...thing. Including that bite of burrata she cried over.
She’s here to help inform you, guide you, entertain you, and inspire you to find your next all-time favorite trip. (And also to help make sure you don’t end up in a drawer while you’re there.)