8 Best Northern United States Towns For A Weekend Trip
The Northern United States stretches from Washington in the west to Maine in the east, and there is a lot to see in between those borders. When it comes to weekend trips in these states, some of the most common places to go include New York City, Portland, Oregon, Boston, Massachusetts, and other big cities. However, there are also small towns hidden away in the Northern United States with just the right amount of activities for a weekend trip.
For example, visitors can explore a 235-foot-tall sea stack, see Abraham Lincoln's boyhood home, walk by magnificent mansions along a seaside cliff trail, explore the edge of the Rocky Mountains, and much more.
Read on to learn more about the eight best Northern United States towns for a weekend trip.
Cannon Beach, Oregon
Oregon is most well known for the trendy city of Portland, but there are other incredible places to visit in the state, such as Cannon Beach. This Pacific coast town is most well known for Haystack Rock, a 235-foot-tall sea stack that can be reached on foot during low tide. There are multiple state beaches one can visit to see the rock from, including Ecola State Park, which also offers views of the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse.
Within the town, there are several cute museums and other attractions, such as the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum, which is noteworthy for its Native American Longhouse replica, and the DragonFire Gallery, which sells affordable arts and crafts ranging from paintings to ceramics. For the best place to stay at Cannon Beach for your weekend trip, go to the Hallmark Resort & Spa Cannon Beach, which sits right in view of Haystack Rock.
Decorah, Iowa
Iowa doesn't typically make lists for vacation getaway destinations due to a misconception that the state is boring and flat. In fact, Iowa has many beautiful towns with hilly landscapes and rich culture, such as Decorah. It sits within the Driftless Region, named as such because there were no glaciers that drifted through the area during the Ice Age, so there are many cliffs and hills still standing.
Many of these natural environments can be found in parks in Decorah, such as Barbara Barnhart Van Peenan Park, which winds through rocky ravines and pine forests. This park connects up with the 200-foot waterfall at Dunning Springs Park and the Decorah Ice Cave State Preserve, a cave that is filled with ice almost all year round.
Decorah also has a rich cultural heritage that comes from its Norwegian immigrant population and famed residents, which you can learn about at the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum & Folk Art School or at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Park and Museum, the home of the author of the Little House on the Prairie series. For a spot to stay at, try out Hotel Winneshiek.
Lake George, New York
Nestled in the Adirondack Mountains, Lake George, New York, calls itself the birthplace of the American vacation. Whether true or not, Lake George is a profoundly beautiful place in the state. Exploring around this 32.6-square-mile lake, one can see many scenic views, such as the Prospect Mountain Hiking Trail, which follows an old cable railway up 2,030 feet. Another popular trail is the Rush Pond Trail, a 2.6-mile stone trail that is great for hiking, running, or snowshoeing during the winter.
As for exploring the water itself, there are several options, from taking a boat tour with Adventure Boat Tours & Watersports or sitting by the lake to fish for largemouth bass, salmon, and other species. Golfing is also a popular activity, with Lake George being known as the Mini Golf capital of New York. Visitors can try their hand at one of the fun courses, such as Goony Golf or Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf. You can stay right on the lake during your weekend trip at the Georgian Lakeside Resort.
Santa Claus, Indiana
For anyone coming to Indiana, Santa Claus is sure to make any holiday or weekend trip special. It is a holiday here with its locally owned amusement park, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari. This park has free soft drinks and sunscreen alongside massive wooden roller coasters and a water park. Santa Claus also features cute Christmas attractions like the Santa Claus Christmas Store or the Santa Claus Museum & Village, featuring the 1880 Santa Claus Church, a 1935 Santa Statue, and an 1856 Post Office where visitors can drop off letters to St. Nick.
Lastly, history buffs can see Abraham Lincoln's boyhood home via the nearby Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, which features artifacts, historic sites and a living history pioneer village. Enjoy the festivities and history from the comfort of Santa's Cottages or the Lincoln Pines Lakefront Resort.
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island, is an ideal spot for those wanting to explore historic architecture. During the Gilded Age, it became a hot spot for business magnates looking to build mansions. These include opulent mansions like the Marble House, a 50-room 1892 Beaux Arts style structure designed to look like the White House from the front, and The Breakers, a 1890s Renaissance Revival Style structure that sits above the cliffs overlooking Easton Bay.
One great way to experience these mansions is to go on the 3.5-mile Cliff Walk, which will take you right along the roaring waters of the Atlantic with many of the mansions right along the trail. Another historic building is the Fort Adams State Park, which preserves the 1841 fortification and offers swimming on the Atlantic beach. Newport has many unique places to stay, such as a lighthouse that doubles as a bed and breakfast at the Rose Island Lighthouse B&B.
Whitefish, Montana
Located within the Northern section of the Rocky Mountains is Whitefish, Montana. This town is one of the best-kept secrets of the state, due in no small part to its close proximity to Glacier National Park, a more than one million-acre paradise renowned for its more than 130 lakes, rich wildlife, including mountain goats, and mountainous terrain. The trails within this park include the Rocky Point Nature Trail, which goes out to a rocky peninsula by the shores of Lake McDonald, and Huckleberry Lookout, a lookout station that gives you a great view of the Livingston Range.
Within Whitefish itself, there are many fun activities, from the Alpine Theatre Project, which puts on musicals, plays, and concerts, to the Cawdrey Gallery, an art gallery featuring the best in contemporary Western Art. To get away during your stay, spend the weekend at the Bar W Guest Ranch on Spencer Lake.
Mystic, Connecticut
This historic town used to be the center of the shipbuilding industry. From 1784 to the early 1900s, more than 600 ships were built here in Mystic, Connecticut. Due to this legacy, Mystic has one of the best maritime museums in the US: the Mystic Seaport Museum. Here you can see the last wooden whaleship in the world: the Charles W. Morgan, go for a ride on the Mystic River, or see a recreated 19th-century seaside village.
Other water activities in Mystic include the Mystic Aquarium or Williams Beach Park on the Atlantic. For those looking for a hike, explore Colonia-era farmland at Haley Farm State Park or journey through hiking trails in Pequot Woods Park. For a place to stay, try out a local inn such as Taber Inn or Inn at Mystic.
Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio
This Ohio town's name is easy to understand. It sits right on the southern shore of Lake Erie on Ohio's northeastern border. Just over 900 people call this resort town home, but they still make it welcoming for the many visitors that come through. Many folks come here to get a nice outlet onto Lake Erie via the Breakwater Beach at Geneva State Park, which also features a dog-friendly area. Visitors can use the Geneva State Park Marina to take a boat out onto the lake.
This resort town offers dinner, a show at the Nobel Art Entertainment Dinner Theater, and thrilling adventures at the Adventure Zone, which offers golf, zip lines, bumper boats, go-karts, and more. While exploring this community, you can stay at a cute cottage via Abigail's Lakeside Cottages or Ahoy Cottages.
When going on a weekend trip, there are several factors to consider. You need great landscapes, intriguing attractions, and good places to stay. These small towns in the Northern United States all fit the bill.
You can enjoy Lake Erie in Geneva-by-the-Lake while staying in a cottage or learn about maritime life while relaxing at a local inn in Mystic, Connecticut. These are just a few examples of these small towns' activities and places to stay. When booking a weekend trip in the Northern United States, try these destinations.
