Ever feel the need to escape from modern life? We’re talking about trading traffic jams for cobblestone streets. For professionals living a busy life, there’s something about a place where time seems to slow down, and we’re bringing you just that. Come and plan your holiday trip, or maybe a quick weekend out of town, for these 10 US cities that seem to be stuck in the past (in a good way).
10. Deadwood, South Dakota
In the heart of the Black Hills Gold Rush in Deadwood, there’s a town that has maintained its Wild West roots. In fact, Deadwood’s entire historic downtown is already a National Historic Landmark, where you can walk the streets feeling like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. The city features Gold Rush-era architecture with saloons and brick-paved streets. Their commitment to their history is so strong that they have five unique museums dedicated to their town’s story.
9. Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe, which was founded in 1610, is the oldest state capital in the US, so expect that the city still maintains its traditions. You’ll notice the Pueblo-Spanish architectural style that’s unlike any place in the country. There’s also the Palace of the Governors, which was built in 1610 is the oldest occupied building in the United States. You can also pay a visit to the San Miguel Chapel with walls dating back to the early 1600s. Walking in the Barrio de Analco Historic District feels like stepping back in time, where the city was a remote Spanish outpost.
8. Galena, Illinois
85% of Galena’s buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which will make you want to explore the city. It was actually a former lead-mining boomtown located in the rolling hills of northwest Illinois. The place features a Main Street that still mirrors the 1850s. Galena was also the busiest port between St. Paul and St. Louis, as it had fifteen steamboats docked in the riverfront. The town’s most famous resident was Ulysses S. Grant, with his pre-Civil War home that’s preserved.
7. Newport, Rhode Island
Newport will give you a glimpse into life during the Gilded Age, which is a period of wealth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They’re famous for their “cottages,” which is a term preferred for palatial mansions of America’s wealthiest families as summer homes. The Breakers is the grandest of them all, which features a 70-room Italian Renaissance-style palazzo owned by the Vanderbilt family. You can also walk around the Cliff Walk while seeing the crashing waves of the Atlantic. Many mansions are open to the public as museums where visitors can explore the interiors of these summer homes.
6. Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg offers an experience of 18th-century America. It’s the world’s largest living history museum with its 301-acre historic area of restored and recreated buildings during a time when it was the capital of colonial Virginia. Check out the restoration of the Williamsburg Bray School, which is said to be the oldest surviving building in the US for the education of Black children that opened in 1760. You can walk on the original 1760s floorboards and learn about the lives of the enslaved and children who were educated there. The area will be brought to life by interpreters with costumes who practice historic trades.
5. Savannah, Georgia
The charm of Savannah lies in a unique city plan, which is a grid of 22 historic squares where each is a small park surrounded by historical homes and churches. It was all laid out in 1733, with its oak trees that are draped in Spanish moss. Its preservation was actually championed by a group of seven local women in the 1950s who saved the Davenport House from demolition. The act sparked the preservation movement that saved hundreds of buildings and maintained the city’s charm.
4. New Orleans, Louisiana
What’s a list of historic cities without New Orleans? It features a unique blend of French, Spanish, and Creole cultures. Visit the French Quarter, which is the historic heart of the city, and it will make you feel like in a European city with its wrought-iron balconies and hidden courtyards. You can still ride the St. Charles Streetcar, which is the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world, as it has served the city since 1835. There’s also the cities of the dead, which a historic above-ground cemeteries. You can also head to their Garden District to check out the grand antebellum mansions.
3. St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine was founded by the Spaniards in 1565, and it holds the distinction as the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the US. You can see the Spanish influence everywhere, from the Renaissance architecture of Flagler College to its historic district. Many of the city’s historic buildings, like Castillo de San Marcos, are constructed from coquina, which is a local stone made with compressed seashells. Walk around St. George Street to feel like you’re in a Spanish colonial village with its history of pirate attacks and centuries of Spanish rule.
2. Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is truly a city where time has stood still. It has a historic district that is the oldest in the country, with its preserved collection of cobblestone streets and pastel-colored antebellum houses. The city has a nickname of “The Holy City,” which comes from its history of religious tolerance and its skyline with historic churches like St. Michael’s. Visit the South of Broad neighborhood to see historic mansions if you’re someone who likes looking at them.
1. Mackinac Island, Michigan
If you really want to step away from city life, then Mackinac Island is your best choice. It’s a small island located in Lake Huron that banned “horseless carriages” for over 125 years. It’s their way of life to preserve the island’s Victorian charm. The island is home to the only state highway in the US that’s completely car-free. Check out the Victorian architecture, like the grand dame of the Grand Hotel, which opened in 1887. The entire island is actually a National Historic Landmark. Don’t forget to sample fudge from one of the island’s 13 historic fudge shops!