Very Demure, Very Mindful, Very Cutesy Travel Destinations

It’s not just a TikTok trend—it’s an aesthetic—Travel DMC,
if you will. These destinations and hotels in North America underline this
calming, pleasant aesthetic in contrast to the bold, flashy destinations that
sometimes get a bit more attention. Escape to any of these for days spent
thoughtfully holding cups of warm beverage, taking cute selfies, or quietly
enjoying quality quiet time in a serene hideaway. 

Aspen/Snowmass, Colorado

Whether going to historic Aspen or the neighboring cutesy
resort of Snowmass, the aesthetic starts right at the diminutive Aspen Airport,
where the tiny terminal opens right out into the woods and mountains. In Aspen,
cozy up in the campus-style Aspen
Meadows Resort or check out the fabulous rooftop at the chalet-style,
mountainside W
Aspen. Wrap up in cozy provided blankets at Michelin-starred Bosq and sip soup made from
locally-foraged forest bounty, or head over to Snowmass and check into the Limelight Hotel with
adorable lodge-style rooms overlooking a courtyard summer and winter outdoor
games, just steps away from the cute Crêpe
Shack by Mawa’s Kitchen. 

Newport, Rhode Island

Fans of The
Gilded Age can head to Newport to live their best Team Mrs. Fish lifestyle.
The summer vacation spot for the real-life new-and-old money of the era,
visitors can check out some still-standing mansions or take in the
seaside with a sunset
sail (corset optional). Want to mix in a bit of cottagecore? Summer and
autumn visitors will find plenty of orchards
and self-pick farms to roll with that vibe. If relaxing in an oceanfront
lounger is more your speed, check into The
Chanler at Cliff Walk. 

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Sometimes, all you need is a
white sweater and a round of golf. At Hilton Head Island, it’s classic
coastal small town, but with luxe accommodations and Southern charm. Take a
boat into the tidal estuaries and see rare porpoises, bald eagles, or perhaps
pluck oysters right out of the banks for a boat snack. At the end of the day,
there’s nothing more demure than peeping out from under a beach umbrella at The
Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa.

The Don Cesar, St. Pete Beach, FL

What’s more cutesy than a pink hotel? Not only is The Don Cesar pink,
but it glows on the white sand of St. Pete Beach, with expansive views of the
Gulf of Mexico waiting. This 1928 vintage hotel has been a celebrity hideaway
since its early days, and it’s built in that grand but understated Jazz Age
style—perfect for living out a Gatsby fantasy (which isn’t hard as author F.
Scott Fitzgerald was reportedly a regular guest here). Relax in rooms with
plush linens and art deco pink flamingo wall art. 

Sitka, Alaska. (Photo Credit: Joni / Adobe Stock)

Sitka, Alaska

Sitka may not be as
cutesy as it looks in the film The Proposal (which was shot mainly in Maine),
but it’s cutesy. Nestled at the foot of tall wooded peaks on the shores of
Alaska’s Baranof Island, the small-town charm is everywhere, from the small
boat harbor (look out for bald eagles!) to cozy coffee hideaways, shops selling
Russian art and handicrafts and Instagram-worthy Russian Orthodox Church,
belying the town’s earliest European visitors. Check into the Westmark Sitka
for cozy views of the harbor and head next door to Sitka Pel’meni to warm up
with a plate of Russian-style dumplings. 

Hana, Maui

Hana lies at the end of a scenic winding road and is
isolated on the far eastern tip of Maui, making it an excellent place to watch
the sunrise (you can fly into Hana if you don’t fancy the winding road). Many
visitors come on trips just to experience the road, so the town is most demure
in the mornings and evenings after the throngs have departed. Check into Hana-Maui
Resort not for glitz and glam but for a taste of The Valley Isle at its
most Eden-like. 

The Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas, Texas

What’s more cutesy than an actual Renaissance revival
mansion? The
Mansion, as it’s colloquially known in Dallas, is a destination for fine
dining and plush stays in what used to be the residential spaces of one of the
city’s early cotton kings. Today, the spaces are decorated with the design
aesthetics of the Old World—think stained glass arches, marble staircases, and
cathedral doors, and there are modern touches like a decadent spa and
Instagram-worthy pool deck. 

Cayucos, California

Taking DMC on a roadtrip? Check out Highway 1 Roadtrip – the Scenic
Byway-designated stretch of Highway 1 in San Luis Obispo County. In Cayucos,
reach peak DMC with The Pacific Motel, a refurbished motel modernized with fire
pits and a food truck. Walk down the oceanfront promenade to sample some
habit-forming brown butter cookies,
or venture onto the beach for a chill morning with a cup of coffee from the
garden hideaway Luna Coffee Bar.

Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve, Puerto Rico

There is a demure oceanfront hammock calling your name, and
it’s under a large shade tree at Hyatt
Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico. While much of the island is bold and
brassy, this demure resort is all about the vibe, with cutesy poolside cabanas
with curtains that cocoon all around, expansive guest rooms, and a spa you’ll
want to write home about. The hidden gem? Molido, a coffee bar tucked away by
the Reserva pool, serves local Gusto brand coffee.

Fredericksburg, Texas, welcome sign. (Photo Credit: Fotoluminate LLC / Adobe Stock)

Fredericksburg, Texas

Ask anybody in Texas—it doesn’t get more cutesy than Fredericksburg. This central
Texas town, founded by Germans (the local paper was published in German until
1946) long ago, decided to keep its high street businesses local by city
ordinance. Find some jams at Das
Peach House, a family-owned maker of preserves, jellies, and other treats,
fall in love with Texas wines at Barelle
Vineyards, or take a selfie with a giraffe at Longneck Manor.

Sea Island, Georgia

What’s more demure than willow trees thick with Spanish
moss? Those, along with a collection of oaks, were planted by US presidents and
other heads of state, including Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. Stay at The Cloister at Sea
Island’s graciously appointed guest rooms and take afternoon iced tea,
lemonade, and cookies, take a long walk on the beach, or participate in the
dressiest bingo game to be found in the South. Guests can even bring the cutesy
for their dogs with the new Dapper
Dogs amenity program.

Quebec City, Quebec

Look no further than Quebec
City’s Old Town for cutesy—it’s just down the hill from the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac.
Wander through the adorable, historic French Canadian-styled streets, eating
croissants from chic eateries like the riverfront rooftop Chez Muzzy, or wander out
to Île d’Orléans and try the strawberries and raspberries in season at Ferme
François Gosselin or a chocolate-dipped ice cream cone at Chocolaterie de l’Île d’Orléans. 

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