The Southwest U.S. is home to seven national parks, incredible deserts, world-class vineyards and distilleries, and some of the most beautiful cities in the country. So there’s no shortage of dreamy getaways in the Southwest United States.

Top Vacation Homes in the Southwest

From outdoor adventures and epic road trips to dreamy coastal towns and desert retreats, I’ve got the perfect destination for you.

Here are the best getaways in the Southwest United States!

Sedona

Known For: Red Rocks and vortexes – swirling energy centers for healing, meditation, and self-exploration.

Come Here If You Want To: hike, do a wellness retreat, bike, reconnect with nature, go on scenic drives.

Best Accommodations: Enchantment Resort (my favorite), Sky Rock Inn of Sedona (luxury), Arabella Hotel Sedona (mid-range), A Sunset Chateau (bed and breakfast).

Top Activity Recommendations: drive the Red Rock Scenic Byway, pack out a meal to have at the Crescent Moon Picnic Site, taste your way along the Verde Valley Wine Trail (my favorite wineries are Page Spring Cellars, Javelina Leap, and Oak Creek Vineyards), go on an off-road jeep tour.

Know Before You Go: most trailheads have limited parking, so arrive as early as possible to beat the crowds (and the heat).

San Antonio

Known For: The Alamo, the River Walk, Spanish colonial missions, Tex-Mex, BBQ.

Come Here If You’re A: foodie, history buff, snowbird, city lover.

Best Accommodations: Menger Hotel (luxury), Hotel Havana (boutique), Hotel Emma (romantic).

Top Activity Recommendations: visit The Alamo, have a picnic in Breckenridge Park, stroll along the River Walk, visit the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, explore the Natural Bridge Caverns, go up in the Tower of the Americas.

Know Before You Go: the entire River Walk is pedestrian-only for walking and biking. But if you’re here in the peak travel months (May – October), then you can take a boat tour along the River Walk to avoid some of the crowds. 

Waco

Known For: the HGTV show Fixer Upper, Baylor University, food trucks.

Come Here If You Want To: enjoy great food and wine, do outdoor activities, shop, enjoy small-town America.

Best Accommodations: Hotel Indigo, Hilton Waco, Aloft Waco Baylor, Bed and Breakfast on White Rock Creek.

Top Activity Recommendations: visit Magnolia Market, Walk across the Waco Suspension Bridge, tour the Dr. Pepper Museum, bike the Waco Riverwalk, take a day trip to Valley Mills Vineyards.

Know Before You Go: when you visit Magnolia Market at the Silos, plan to spend at least half a day here shopping, exploring the property, taking pictures, and eating.

Taos

Known For: historic adobe buildings, art galleries, museums.

Come Here If You Want To: escape it all, enjoy small-town America, get inspired.

Best Accommodations: El Monte Sagrado Living Resort & Spa (eco-lodge), The Historic Taos Inn (boutique), The Lodge at Angel Fire Resort (ski-in, ski-out).

Top Activity Recommendations: drive across the Rio Grange Gorge Bridge, visit the Taos Pueblo, drive the Enchanted Circle Drive, tour the Millicent Rogers Museum, visit the Earthship Visitor Center, tour the Taos Art Museum.

Know Before You Go: Taos is sunny most of the year, but Winter has below-freezing temperatures, and you’ll want layers for the mornings and evenings year-round.

Dallas

Known For: the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza commemorating the site of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, urban sculpture gardens, art galleries, its food scene.

Come Here If You Want To: explore a big city, go on food tours, visit galleries and museums.

Best Accommodations: The Statler Dallas (it has the best rooftop bar in the city), Rosewood Mansion On Turtle Creek (luxury), The Joule (boutique), Omni Dallas Hotel (downtown on a budget).

Top Activity Recommendations: tour The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, visit The Chapel at Thanks-Giving Square, spend some time in the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, go up in Reunion Tower, visit the Dallas Museum of Art, find the Traveling Man statues in the Deep Ellum neighborhood.

Know Before You Go: If you’re in Dallas in April, then you’ll want to spend half a day driving the Bluebonnet Trails in Ennis – one of the best flower displays in The United States!

Santa Fe

Known For: galleries, historic adobe buildings, being home to one of the country’s largest art markets.

Come Here If You Want To: experience an incredible food scene, shop, enjoy art galleries, do outdoor activities.

Best Accommodations: Four Seasons Resort Rancho (luxury), Hotel Santa Fe (historic), Inn and Spa at Loretto (romantic).

Top Activity Recommendations: explore the Canyon Road neighborhood, tour the Palace of the Governors and the New Mexico History Museum, visit The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, take a day trip to Bandelier National Monument, do a food tour.

Know Before You Go: Santa Fe is sunny almost every day of the year, but Winter has below-freezing temperatures and snow (this is a popular ski destination), and the mornings and evenings are cold year-round.

Tucson

Known For: Saguaro National Park, rooftop restaurants, the University of Arizona.

Come Here If You Want To: enjoy spectacular views, do outdoor activities, explore a historic city, eat and drink.

Best Accommodations: Graduate Tucson (my favorite), Miraval Resort (wellness retreat), Arizona Inn (boutique), JW Marriott Tucson Star Pass Resort & Spa (luxury).

Top Activity Recommendations: visit Saguaro National Park, bike around the historic city center, see the views at Sentinel Peak Park, drive the Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway, visit Mission San Xavier del Bac, do a self-guided craft beer tour – my favorite breweries are Crooked Tooth Brewing Co., Barrio Brewing, Ermanos Craft Beer and Wine Bar, Dragoon Brewing Co., and Iron John’s Brewing Company.

Know Before You Go: Saguaro National Park is divided into two sections that give you very different experiences. I recommend spending at least half a day in each side of the park. The park sections are about an hour from each other, and the mornings are always better for beating the heat. So you’ll want to visit the east and west sides of the park on different days.

Austin

Known For: its music and food scenes.

Come Here If You Want To: eat and drink, listen to live music, do outdoor activities.

Best Accommodations: Hotel Saint Cecilia (Victorian-era mansion), Miraval Austin Resort & Spa (wellness retreat), Four Seasons Hotel Austin (luxury), Kimpton Hotel Van Zandt (music-themed).

Top Activity Recommendations: attend a concert or visit a music club, take a day trip to the Texas Hill Country, hike, bike, swim, or boat in one of the cities many parks and lakes.

Know Before You Go: accommodation and airline prices are double or triple the normal amount during Austin’s major festivals (SXSW, F1, and ACL). So if you don’t want to attend these festivals, don’t travel on these dates. This will let you save a lot of money and avoid the biggest crowds of the year.

Known For: the Sonoran Desert, resorts, spas, shopping, outdoor activities.

Come Here If You Want To: rest and relax, wine and dine, explore one of the most beautiful deserts in the country.

Best Accommodations: The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa (my favorite), Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale At Troon North (luxury), The Phoenician (boutique).

Top Activity Recommendations: go on a sunset horseback ride through the Sonoran Desert, spend at least half a day exploring Papago Park, hike Camelback Mountain, have a spa day, explore Old Town Scottsdale, sample local wine at a couple of vineyards – my favorites are Merkin Vineyards and Caduceus Cellars, LDV Winery, Salvatore Vineyards, Carlson Creek Vineyard, and Aridus Vineyards.

Know Before You Go: these desert cities are next door to each other, so it’s easy to visit them both in one trip.

Galveston

Known For: beaches, Moody Gardens, Galveston Island State Park.

Come Here If You Want To: be a beach bum.

Best Accommodations: The Tremont House (luxury), DoubleTree by Hilton Galveston Beach (beach-front), Hotel Galvez and Spa (mid-range).

Top Activity Recommendations: explore Moody Gardens, visit the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier, have some beach days, bike, hike, fish, or paddle in Galveston Island State Park.

Know Before You Go: Galveston is in the hurricane belt, so always have trip insurance and a plan B if you’re planning on coming here in the Fall.

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