Architectural Digest published its 10 most sensible “emerging luxury cities” in October. Its criteria (activities, properties, catering, annual revenue, diversity, and protection) are all geared towards residents. But what do these cities have for visitors during an exceptional stay?holiday?
As it turns out, there are a lot of them. From hotels and spas to wineries and distilleries, here are 10 cities vying to be on America’s luxury map and an explanation of why to plan a visit.
Tourists pass directly through Irvine, long known as a sleepy network of dormitories that stretches between Orange County’s beaches and theme parks, on their way to Newport’s pristine waterfront near the waterfront. Locals know that the Jack and Shanaz Langson Institute and the California Museum of Art are Irvine’s hidden gem. Every ultra-wealthy city desires a wonderful art gallery, and the Langson Institute and Museum is unlike any other: a tribute to the art of historic California, through Californians for Californians. It’s a visual and culturally varied delight, allowing for occasional glimpses of the California experience through its history. Previous exhibitions have focused on the generation of the Spanish project and the works of “California Impressionism” spanning three centuries.
Located on this tranquil waterfront between Los Angeles and San Diego, Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara brings a touch of luxury to Carlsbad. Designed for long-term visitors, rooms range in length from 425 to 1,670 square feet. Its spa includes 3 remedies rooms, a fitness center, and a yoga/Pilates studio. In addition to the property’s indoor and poolside dining options, visitors can request to be provided with curated pieces in their private kitchen prior to arrival. Carlsbad’s popular Legoland theme park is best for travelers with kids, while its beaches are popular with surfers.
Located just across the border from Tijuana, Chula Vista’s culinary scene is unexpectedly the most productive source of Mexican cuisine in this aspect of Mexico. Here is Texcoco is so original that one of its two sister sites is in Tijuana itself. The place to eat is in an unpretentious corner of a mini-mall near the Chula Vista marina, where you’ll find an unexpected array of meats. The roast lamb, grilled quail, and rabbit go beyond typical casual Mexican cuisine, while the grasshopper dish (served with avocado, as a side dish or main aspect) is an adventurous touch. The appellation is a bit misleading: the Texcoco region is closer to Mexico City, at the southern tip of Tijuana, but the dining experience is unforgettable.
Anyone who said malls were dying had to stop at Victoria Gardens, the pinnacle of the 21st-century suburban mall. Built in 2004, Victoria Gardens bills itself as “a regional outdoor lifestyle hub,” the natural evolution of the project began. through Reston Town Center in Virginia. Al like Reston’s relationship with Washington, D. C. , Rancho Cucamonga rose from the sparse desert near Los Angeles into a coveted network of dormitories. Victoria Gardens is not only a self-contained, walkable network with all the brands you want, but it’s also close to Ontario International Airport, which is best for a weekend layover.
Frisco, Texas, voted one of the top 10 luxury cities by Architectural Digest. Traffic on the Highway Array. . [ ] accompanied during the sunset
The National Video Game Museum is the culmination of an ambitious project: “to document first-hand as much data as imaginable about the creation and evolution of the video game industry and to maintain as many physical artifacts as imaginable for generations to come. “Although it’s a treasure trove of arcade consoles and interactive PC games, the museum is a place to stay informed about the evolution of gaming software and hardware and the people who designed them. Of course, players of a certain age will also find it simple to get lost while playing, while all newcomers will find the area open and visually inviting, unlike a damp arcade or your parents’ basement.
The sun rises over Lake Lewisville, Texas, voted one of Architectural’s Top 10 Luxury Cities. . . [ ] Digest.
Old Town Lewisville is a quaint slice of American culture where modern artwork blends with 19th- and early-20th-century buildings. A new vision of the Texas afterlife is also the driving force behind Bendt Distilling Co. , where visitors are greeted through whiskey. barrels stacked on top of a physical sales room. Whiskey culture in Texas dates back to the 19th century, but has recently been revived. Founded in 2011, Bendt distills and bottles its whiskeys in-house from locally sourced grains. Visit the tasting room for an extensive cocktail menu that’s seasonally adapted, and be sure to sample the delicious whiskey cakes. It’s a hidden gem tucked away in a network of dormitories a 30-minute drive north of Dallas.
Ten miles west of Raleigh sits The Umstead Hotel and Spa, the only Forbes Five-Star Hotel in North Carolina. The property occupies 12 acres on the edge of suburbia and the verdant woodlands of an eponymous state park. Its ultra-modern aesthetic appeals to urban out-of-towners, while its idyllic location whisks all comers away from the trappings of a big city. Between a signature 5-star restaurant (Herons) and a luxury spa inspired by Eastern traditions, guests at The Umstead will have little reason to wander into the surrounding suburbs.
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, with a population of 125,109, making it the third-largest city in the state. Stamford has one of the highest concentrations of business in the country and is one of the top 10 most sumptuous cities according to Architectural Digestion.
Part spa, part wellness center, and part network center, Haute Healing Oasis powers the human engines of Stamford’s many businesses. (Four Fortune 500 corporations and nine Fortune 1000 corporations are headquartered in this city of 135,400 people. )Each of its six personal spa rooms has an infrared sauna. Learn about their patent-pending NORS (Negative Ion, Oxygen, Red Light, Salt) therapy, which combines several complex wellness techniques. Even an undeniable 60-minute massage will make any booking worthwhile.
A roadway and bridge fills the foreground leading back to the main building of Temecula City Hall … [+] with clouds and blue sky above, California
No visit to the Temecula Valley is complete without wine tasting, and the Baily Winery and Vineyard is the perfect place to start. Its grapes are harvested from one of the valley’s oldest vineyards, planted in 1968 (it’s a new-money town). The focus is on reds, though you’ll be able to sample their limited selection of whites and rosés in the tasting room. Named the region’s best winery by Food & Wine Magazine, Baily also features a restaurant on-site, making it the ideal spot to spend an afternoon in the California sun.
Murrieta Hills, Murrieta, California, has been voted one of the ten most sensible luxury cities, according to ArchitecturalArray. [ ] Digest
We’re cheating a little here: A Grape Escape’s personal hot air balloon tours are technically located in Temecula, which has a common border with Murrieta in the hills and valleys between San Diego and Riverside. You will see the hills, the valleys and the vineyards. , Temecula, Murrieta, all while traveling in your hot air balloon. A personal vehicle will take you and your visitors to the release point just before dawn. The 60- to 75-minute flight includes champagne, orange juice and sparkling cider. , and enough insights to fill your Instagram feed for a year. Packages are available for teams of up to 16 people – the ultimate adventure for friends, family and loved ones. From most sensible to most sensible and away!