If you’re having a meltdown and Googling “last-minute wellness retreat,” we recommend you take a deep breath and close that browser tab. According to world traveler and TV host Samantha Brown, the key to a truly relaxing vacation isn’t booking the fanciest spa or mastering downward dog in a far-off rainforest. The real trick? “Look for places where the locals already have a high quality of life, where wellness is sort of baked into the cake,” says Brown. Translation? If a city or town has public parks, good food, walkability, and general vibes of contentment, odds are you’ll feel better just being there — no juice cleanse required.
So if you’re planning a trip and desperately need time to unwind, think less about hot-stone massages and more about clean air and great coffee shops. The best part? You don’t need a passport or tons of money: Plenty of rejuvenating destinations are right here in the U.S., quietly thriving without the hype.
Whether you’re overdue for some soul-restoring solitude or just want a weekend with your partner that doesn’t leave you more tired than when you left, here are suggestions from Brown for how to book a trip where you can truly decompress.
The “quality of life “ travel rule (and why it works)
Some places just feel good the moment you arrive. That’s the beauty of Brown’s quality-of-life rule: You’re not chasing wellness, you’re stepping into a place where it already exists, confidently, and without the need for branded bathrobes.
“These lesser-known destinations don’t require overthinking or booking a year in advance, like a bicycle retreat or one of those wellness getaways,” says Brown. “Those are great, too, but the trips where I can just enjoy everyday life, not micromanage my family, and have a free-roaming vacation? That’s when my brain really relaxes.”
Brown points to Traverse City, Michigan, as a perfect example of an inherently relaxing place. “You’ve got Lake Michigan, a national lakeshore with dunes, an amazing food and wine scene, and people who love where they live. That, to me, is better than a spa.”
According to the travel veteran, part of the ease you’ll feel includes knowing your experience isn’t wildly out of sync with the lives of the people who actually live there. “I don’t feel comfortable going to a place where poverty is high, but I’m having a five-star experience that’s so vastly different from the everyday local,” Brown shares. “I love places that already have a great, built-in quality of life for their residents.”
How to find travel destinations with a high quality of life
So how can you find places that have good energy before you even get there? You don’t need to spend hours scrolling through TikTok or travel vlogs: Just check out places where the locals are already thriving. U.S. News & World Report’s annual ranking of the best U.S. cities for quality of life in the U.S. is a great starting point — they’re based on how satisfied residents are with things like community, green space, healthcare, and overall day-to-day living.
A few top picks this year? Bethesda, MD; Chapel Hill, NC; Cambridge, MA; and Austin, TX. (All places where wellness isn’t a “curated” experience.)
According to Brown, once you’ve zeroed in on a destination, there are a few simple signs that’ll tell you you know you’re in the right place:
- Walkable streets: If you can wander aimlessly without needing a car or GPS, you’re already halfway to relaxed.
- A local food scene: Think farmers’ markets, independent cafés, and restaurants that list where their greens or meats are raised.
- Public parks and trails: Green space = built-in serenity. Whether it’s on a stroll, a hike, or at a playground, being among trees gives your brain a break.
- Community energy: A bustling town square, an ice cream shop with a line of locals, a band playing in the park — they’re all examples of an engaged community. People want to be there, and soon, so will you.
The bottom line
You don’t need a luxury resort to feel recharged, you just need to pick the right destination. So if you’re craving a real break, skip the trendy (and often touristy and pricey) destinations, and seek out a place where daily life already feels easy and balanced. As Brown puts it, “A place doesn’t have to brand itself as ‘luxury’ to be fulfilling — it just has to make you feel good.”
