Peaceful places to go to unplug from election stress

If you could use a mental break from the onslaught of political ads on TV and spam texts clogging your phone as the U.S. heads into the final weeks of the 2024 presidential election, you’re not alone.

According to the American Psychiatric Association’s annual mental health poll, 43% of U.S. adults say they feel more anxious in 2024 than the year before — up from 37% in 2023 and 32% in 2022. Nearly three-quarters of adults are particularly anxious about the 2024 U.S. election.

So it’s no surprise that searches on Pinterest for “quiet places” and “calm places” in the past year have increased by 50% and 42%, respectively, according to the visual discovery engine’s 2024 Travel Report. People are specifically seeking out nature: Searches are up year over year for national parks (250%), forest walks (30%) and cabins in the mountains (180%) as well.

“We continue to see travelers who are seeking out destinations, places and properties to soothe their soul and escape stress and uncertainty by seeking tranquility and silence,” Carolyn Addison, head of product at luxury tour operator Black Tomato, said.

Maybe you’re seeking a full digital detox at an off-the-grid hotel with no Wi-Fi or TV. Maybe you’re simply hoping to put your phone on airplane mode somewhere peaceful. Regardless, here are eight places that feel remote but aren’t that hard to get to for a last-minute getaway before the election.

Big Sur, California

About a three-hour drive down the scenic Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco, Big Sur clings to the cliffs at the continent’s edge, where the redwood forest meets the ocean. Since the 1960s, when the Esalen Institute opened there, people have been flocking to the coastal community to meditate and concentrate on wellness.

Hyatt acquired one of the area’s most luxurious resorts in 2018, so it’s now possible to redeem points for a relaxing retreat in Big Sur. In addition to going all-inclusive in 2020, the 54-key Alila Ventana Big Sur also offers morning tai chi and yoga classes, plus access to Japanese hot baths and an infinity hot tub that are perfect for relaxing after a long day of hiking. The hotel’s all-day restaurant, The Sur House, serves California classics like Dungeness crabcakes, plus local Fogline Farms chicken and Big Sur foraged mushrooms. For prime ocean views, request a table on the outdoor terrace. A separate glamping tent resort is located down the hill from the main hotel.

“Words can’t describe the beauty of the property. Everywhere you turn, you’ll be awed by the views and reaching for your camera’s shutter button,” TPG reporter Zach Griff wrote in a 2021 review of the Alila Ventana Big Sur. “And though you’ll be taking pictures with your phone, don’t expect to immediately share your shots. There’s very limited cell signal in the area.”

Ventana does offer free and fast Wi-Fi throughout the property, but why not just put your phone in airplane mode for a few days?

TPG tip: This fall, rooms at the Alila Ventana Big Sur are bookable for as few as 45,000 World of Hyatt points per night (a steal, considering cash prices start around $2,000 per night). The World of Hyatt Credit Card is currently offering a welcome bonus of up to 60,000 points. You’ll earn the bonus in two parts: 30,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 more bonus points by earning 2 bonus points total per $1 spent in the first six months from account opening on purchases that normally earn just 1 point per dollar on up to $15,000 spent.

Fogo Island, Newfoundland

Off the coast of Newfoundland, Fogo Island is a 90-square-mile island of tranquil fishing villages that remains relatively accessible, considering its remote location. From the East Coast, it only takes about five hours — including transfers in Toronto or Montreal — to reach St. John’s in Newfoundland. To get to Fogo Island from St. John’s, you can either take the fast way (a 1.5-hour helicopter ride for a bird’s eye view of the coastline’s rocky shores) or the slow way (a 4.5-hour drive from St. John’s to Farewell and a 45-minute ferry ride to Fogo Island).

Fogo Island has seven micro-seasons; many locals consider “berry season” (Sept. 1-Oct. 31) their favorite. In addition to ample opportunities to go berry picking (marshberries, partridgeberries, blueberries and raspberries are easily found), several festivals happen during these weeks, including the Fogo Island Partridgeberry Harvest Festival (Oct. 12-13).

Fogo Island is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream, with more than 100 miles of trails to hike and bike. Plus, during these months, you can find the island’s resident caribou herd snacking on berries near the roads. Whale watching typically wraps up by September, but birders can spot Atlantic puffin colonies up to November on the Little Fogo Islands just north. Should the weather turn rainy, head indoors and take a private pottery-making class at Fogo Clay Studios.

TPG tip: Stay at the legendary Fogo Island Inn, known for its modernist architecture and its hyper-local approach to everything from its food to its decor. All-inclusive rates this fall at Fogo Island Inn start at $1,975 Canadian dollars (about $1,467) per night and include all meals, land-based excursions, on-island transportation and more. The 29-key inn closes for the season on Nov. 1.

Greenough, Montana

All-inclusive resort The Green O gets its name from the small township of Greenough, Montana, about a 40-minute drive from Missoula Montana Airport (MSO). This adults-only property offers a romantic retreat in the woods of the Blackfoot River Valley. (Its sister property — the family-friendly Resort at Paws Up — is next door if you want to bring the whole family.)

The Green O has 12 Scandinavian-style “hauses” in four design styles: Tree Hauses, Round Hauses, Green Hauses and Light Hauses. Each is slightly different but features light-filled spaces, wood-paneled floors and outdoor hot tubs. Even though accommodations include complimentary Wi-Fi and Samsung Frame TVs for entertainment, you’ll be tempted to leave your phone indoors and head outside to go stargazing each night instead.

“My favorite way to end the evening was by climbing into my personal hot tub, located just outside the tree haus, with a glass of wine in hand and my head tilted up to the stars,” TPG hotels editor Ellie Nan Storck wrote in a review of The Green O. “And Montana certainly lived up to its nickname as the Big Sky Country — each night was like catching a celestial show.”

TPG tip: Because The Green O is not part of a points or loyalty program or a credit card program like American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts, booking directly on the hotel’s website is best. All-inclusive rates hover around $4,000 per night but can be closer to $3,000 during off-peak periods (like early November).

Related: The best US glamping resorts for an outdoorsy getaway

Castle Hot Springs, Arizona

Castle Hot Springs is another all-inclusive resort that is a destination unto itself. There has been a hotel at this oasis in central Arizona’s Bradshaw Mountains since 1896, but its current iteration opened in 2019 after a massive renovation.

Built around three natural hot springs set among thousands of Saguaro cacti, the spa hotel feels remote despite being only an hour’s drive north of downtown Phoenix. “But it’s really the last seven miles [down a] bumpy dirt road that sets the stage for entering a world that is far away from your daily life,” Annie Fitzsimmons said. Fitzsimmons is a Scottsdale native who included this iconic property in her upcoming book, “100 Hotels of a Lifetime: The World’s Ultimate Retreats,” out Dec. 3. “Looking at the twinkly stars in the desert night — the Sky View cabins have telescopes — you feel disconnected to the chaos of life but connected to yourself and whoever you’re with.”

The rooms have no TVs, but you’ll want to spend most of your time outdoors anyway. As an all-inclusive property, the daily rates include food and gratuities, access to the natural hot springs and activities like guided meditation, hiking and yoga.

Spa treatments and some more adventurous hikes, like the Crater Canyon Exploration, require an additional fee — but they’re worth it.

“One of my favorite experiences during my stay was the Crater Canyon Exploration hike, which takes you down a trail to a slot canyon and a ropes course that requires a harness and carabiner setup,” TPG senior editor Becky Blaine wrote in a review of Castle Hot Springs. “It was equal parts challenging and fun and jaw-droppingly beautiful. It ended up just being three of us — another female resort guest and our guide, Lexi.”

TPG tip: Although Castle Hot Springs is affiliated with SLH, it is unfortunately not bookable using Hilton points. The resort is, howver, part of American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts. If you have an eligible card, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express, and book a stay through Amex Travel, you’ll receive guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout plus other perks like noon check-in and room upgrade upon arrival, when available. All-inclusive rates start at $1,450 for one person or $1,650 for two people per night this fall.

Aspen, Colorado

If your idea of peace is cozying up in a robe at a stylish hotel or breathing crisp mountain air on a hike, head to Aspen. Even though this ski town in the Colorado Rockies is known to be pricey, there may be deals in the weeks between peak fall foliage in mid-October and the opening of the area’s ski resorts in late November.

“For the uninitiated, ‘mud season’ is a somewhat drizzly period — well, for Colorado — that occurs on either side of ski season, in both fall and spring,” Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, the Colorado-based author of the new mountain design guide “Alpine Style,” said.

“While some local restaurants shutter during those weeks, it’s a perfect time to score a deal at Hotel Jerome, a hotel so luxe the marble lobby desk is heated,” O’Shea-Evans said of the 1889 Auberge Resorts Collection hotel that is also an American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts member. (Rates start at $713 per night in the fall, a deal compared to peak ski season rates, which can go up to $3,775 per night in January.)

Plus, there’s still plenty to do outdoors in Aspen in the fall: You can go for a hike, go biking or go fly-fishing at scenic spots like Cathedral Lake and Hunter Creek. Wildlife lovers can sign up for an Evening Elk Walk in October to observe the annual Rocky Mountain Elk Rut with local guides.

TPG tip: Prefer to use your points? There are also several points hotels in town that offer lower-than-usual points and paid rates this fall, including the W Aspen (rates start at $391 or 59,600 Marriott Bonvoy points per night) and St. Regis Aspen (rates start at $734 or 88,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night).

Related: From ski-in, ski-out access to a great value on points: 9 of the best places to stay in Aspen

Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Though it may not be warm enough to hit the beach anymore, shoulder season is a great time to visit Cape Cod’s charming small towns and enjoy long walks on the beach in the sweater weather. Prolong your time outdoors by glamping in one of the 108 stylish Airstream trailers, cabins and safari-style tents at AutoCamp Cape Cod, which stays open year-round in Falmouth. Just a 1.5-hour drive south of Boston, AutoCamp Cape Cod offers access to an 8,100-square-foot clubhouse and plenty of opportunities to get cozy around indoor and outdoor fire pits.

“The property’s prime location right off the 10.7-mile-long Shining Sea Bikeway — named for the iconic song ‘America the Beautiful,’ which was written by Falmouth native Katharine Lee Bates — means novice bikers and avid cyclists alike can easily explore the area’s salt marshes, cranberry bogs and lush woodlands,” Caroline English, TPG’s director of social media and brand, wrote in a 2023 review of AutoCamp Cape Cod. “During our short stay, we saw countless birds, including American goldfinches and gray catbirds, while out and about. We even had a rabbit come up and nibble on the chicory right outside our door.”

What could be more relaxing than that?

TPG tip: Hilton’s partnership with AutoCamp is now live, which means Hilton Honors members can earn and redeem points at all eight glamping properties across the U.S. This fall, rates at AutoCamp Cape Cod start at $189 or 51,000 Hilton Honors points per night through Hilton’s direct booking channels this fall. The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card currently offers a welcome bonus of 165,000 Hilton Honors points after you spend $3,000 on the card within your first six months of card membership. This offer ends Jan. 8, 2025.

Costalegre, Jalisco, Mexico

Costalegre translates to “cheerful coast” in Spanish, and it’s easy to see why. One of TPG’s top destinations of 2023, this scenic stretch of Pacific coastline between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo is home to secluded beaches, dramatic cliffs and mostly untouched jungle.

The Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo is one of the region’s newest resorts. It opened in 2022 on a 3,000-acre private nature reserve with 157 rooms, including cliffside suites with private infinity pools as well as beach and garden rooms closer to the pools and restaurants. Go on guided birdwatching hikes, take photography workshops with National Geographic photographers or simply relax on the beach while your children enjoy Caramelo, the Kids for All Seasons program.

A global brand name may be attached to the resort, but its local owners put Mexican talent at the forefront of the project. Mexican architects LegoRocha designed the hotel’s brutalist structures to recall the tiers of a Mexican pyramid. The property’s main restaurant is run in partnership with famed Mexican chef Elena Reygadas and uses ingredients from the on-site farm.

Driving from Puerto Vallarta takes roughly four hours. Instead, fly into Manzanillo Playa de Oro International (ZLO), just an hour from the Four Seasons. It has direct flights to Houston (on United Airlines) and Los Angeles (on Alaska Airlines) year-round and seasonal flights to Atlanta (on Aeromexico) starting Nov. 2.

TPG tip: This fall, rates at the Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo start at $1,087 per night for international guests and $580 per night for Mexican nationals. The hotel offers perks like complimentary daily breakfast for two and a $100 food and beverage credit for The Platinum Card® from American Express cardmembers who book through the American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts program.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming and Montana

Fall offers a peaceful alternative to the summer crowds that descend upon Yellowstone National Park. Plus, an October visit means peak fall foliage and opportunities to spot black and grizzly bears raid berry patches at lower elevations to prepare for winter. Even though it gets darker earlier, that means more time to enjoy cozy nights by the campfire.

If your favorite form of escapism is watching fictional drama play out on screen, Black Tomato’s new Yellowstone: “It runs in the blood” itinerary is closely inspired by the eponymous Paramount Network series, which is airing its final season this November. The six-night trip (from $29,280 per person) through Montana and Wyoming features a sunset cattle drive, horsemanship lessons from a real-life horse whisperer and a private exploration of Lamar Valley to spot its wolf pack, which becomes more active as the temperatures cool.

TPG tip: Most major U.S. airlines offer nonstop flights to Montana’s Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) from cities like Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago and more. While there are no points hotels to book within Yellowstone itself, the Kimpton Armory Hotel Bozeman is just an hour’s drive from the park’s north entrance and is an affordable option if you’d rather DIY your Yellowstone trip. (Rates start at $170 or 34,000 IHG One Rewards points per night. This falls within the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card‘s annual free night certificate worth up to 40,000 points that cardholders receive each year after their account anniversary.)

Related: Where to stay when visiting Yellowstone National Park: Best hotels and lodges

Bottom Line

Whether you’re looking to bury your head in the sand in a coastal location or avoid doom-scrolling in the mountains with little cell service, these remote getaways offer a nature-filled antidote to election stress.

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