Best Underrated Foodie Destinations in the US for a Girl’s Weekend
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Girl’s Weekends usually revolve around three main themes: wild, relaxing, or delicious. While they are all equally nourishing (in one way or another), you gotta mix up the vibe every once in a while and rotate between the three! So, it’s probablyyyy time for your next foodie adventure with the gals! And if you’re based in the US, you’re automatically thinking: DC. Chicago. NOLA. Austin. Napa Valley. Or even swinging by the city that never sleeps for one of the famous New York City food tours.
Don’t get me wrong, those are all FANTASTIC cities for stuffing your faces. But chances are 1) you’ve already been there or 2) you crave something new, exciting, and totally uncharted. No sweat chica – I’ve got you. Here are the BEST underrated foodie destinations in the US for your next girl’s weekend getaway!
Tell everyone to pack their elastic waistband bands because we are going INNNNN.
Charleston, South Carolina – by Michelle from The Wandering Queen
One of the best underrated foodie destinations in the US to visit with your girlfriends is Charleston, South Carolina. This cute and charming city is filled with colorful pink and yellow pastel-colored houses, yummy seafood, and incredible southern hospitality.
First things FIRST – go out to eat with your girlfriends. Specifically, you gotta try the outstanding seafood and unique specialty drinks. Don’t miss restaurants such as Edmunds Oast, Prohibition, Magnolias, and Husk. It isn’t easy to get a reservation at some of the more popular restaurants, so make sure to reserve in advance, especially for groups larger than four!
If you need something to do during the day that doesn’t involve eating, take a pleasant stroll through the town to snag some Instagrammable photo ops. With or without your new food babies! The architecture is charming and cute, and many of the houses have wonderful gardens. One of the cutest areas is called Rainbow Row. Don’t forget to visit the famous Pineapple fountain located in the waterfront park! Then, in-between meals, check out Marion Square Farmers Market, King Street shopping center, Historic Charleston City Market, Battery Park, and White Point Gardens.
Sonoma, California – by Sierra from Free to Travel Mama
Who says wine isn’t a food group??
One of the best underrated destinations in the US for a girls’ trip is Sonoma County, California. I mean, with its picturesque views, outdoor adventure, and heavenly opportunities for wine and food lovers, you’ll keep wanting to come back! Plus, being lesser known than its famous neighbor named Napa, Sonoma offers wineries just as delicious – but with a side of charm, unique sweetness, and smaller crowds.
Wine tasting opportunities are numerous, with some of the most popular lying along Highway 12 through Kenwood (Ledson Winery, Chateau St. Jean, and Benziger Winery to name a few). The Dry Creek Valley in Healdsburg is a quainter option with gorgeous views of the hills and valley and inexpensive wine tasting menus at places like Ferrari Carrano and Truett Hurst. In fact, your group NEEDS to have an iconic picnic at Truett Hurst. Trust.
But you can’t just survive on grape juice. Sonoma offers more than you will have time to enjoy, with its talented chefs and farm to table fresh ingredient restaurants on every corner. Girl and the Fig and Bird in the Bottle are local favorites, while some come to visit the area just for the drinks at Russian River Brewing Company. Costeaux’s is a favorite for brunch with an early ice cream dessert at Noble Folk on the Healdsburg Plaza.
When you’re stuffed on fresh food and quenching wine, you can stroll along the vineyards at John Ash or explore the vast redwoods trees at Armstrong Redwoods Nature Preserve. It’s even close enough to both to coast and the mountains that you can splash along at Bodega Bay, tube down the Russian River, or hike to waterfalls at Sugarloaf State Park or Taylor Mountain!
Durham, North Carolina – by Stella from Around the World in 24 Hours
The most famous landmark in Durham, North Carolina is Duke University.
And like any good college town, Durham knows how to bring the party! Especially when it comes to food. So, that makes it one of the best underrated foodie destinations in the US for any gal pal getaway!
Start your foodie day right at a local bed and breakfast like the Blooming
Garden Inn. They make your morning meal made-to-order – FRESH. If your
group is big enough, you might even be able to rent out the entire bed
and breakfast!
In-between main meals, downtown Durham is full of great shops, art galleries, and places to snack! If you have a sweet tooth, stop into Monuts for amazing donuts or The Parlour for incredible handmade ice cream. For lunch, check out Parker and Otis for sandwiches with classic Southern ingredients like pepper jelly and pimento cheese. After lunch, go shopping at the nearby stores in Brightleaf Square. This glam shopping center is housed in gorgeous brick buildings that used to be tobacco warehouses!
~ Late Night Muchies ~
In the evening, Durham really comes to life! Start with drinks with a
view at the rooftop bar of The Durham. Then have a decadent meal of
Southern tapas at Mateo or Asian tapas at Juju Durham. Both restaurants
serve amazing cocktails as well. For entertainment, you can take in a
movie at the Carolina Theater, where movie stars like Katherine Hepburn
used to come when they toured Durham. Or if the Durham Bulls are in
town, catch a Minor League baseball game. It’s the only baseball team
that has Susan Sarandon as one of its mascots! Before leaving Durham,
stop at the famous Durham Bull statue for a photo. It will be the
perfect memory of your amazing girls trip in the Bull City!
Louisville, Kentucky – by Emily from Em’s on the Road
It might come as a surprise for some, but a weekend in Louisville, Kentucky has just as many delicious and boozy activities for your girlfriends as any of the more popular foodie cities.
In fact, for bourbon lovers, there is no better city to explore the native spirit. Start your weekend at one of the historic distilleries like Bulleit or Jim Beam to get your bourbon education started. For a really swanky bourbon experience, check out the Rabbit Hole, the newest on the scene. They have an informative distillery tour that ends with a guided tasting in their beautiful rooftop bar with a mid-mod vibe that would make Don Draper proud.
Don’t forget to indulge in some delicious Southern food while you’re in town too. If you’re craving barbecue, head to Feast BBQ. They have the classics, but the plate of BBQ topped tater tots is exactly what you need after an afternoon of bourbon tasting. Royal’s Hot Chicken is equally delicious and casual. It’s a Kentucky classic food item! For something a little more upscale, check out bar Vetti for Italian handmade pasta and wood-fired pizza with Southern flare that are easy to share.
When you need to take a break from bourbon, see some truly incredible Victorian mansions with a walking tour by Old Louisville. Or check out the funky NuLu district for some unique shops like Mahonia (floral and gifts) and Revelry (affordable local art).
Hudson Valley, New York – by Taima from Poor in a Private Plane
Grab your girlfriends, because we are going to the Hudson Valley. Located under 2 hours outside of New York City, the Hudson Valley makes for one of the best underrated foodie destinations in the US!
With wineries, breweries, distilleries, and miles of hiking (if you’re into that thing), Hudson Valley is definitely a great place to visit anytime of the year. In the summer, enjoy a bottle of wine on the deck at places like Nostrano Vineyards, with views overlooking the vineyards and nearby Hudson River.
If wine is not your thing, try your hand at some river-tubing or even just lounge on the shores of the Hudson River. In the Fall, opt for a hike on one of the many trails while admiring the fall foliage. Or visit any one of the many farms for apple cider donuts, live bands and -of course- spiked apply cider. YUM.
And in the winter, cozy up in a cabin by the fire place while watching the snow fall outside. Stock up on some fresh local produce at the supermarket, pick up an amazing wine or beverage of choice, and spend the weekend having a two-day pajama party overlooking the snow capped mountains.
Charlottesville, Virginia – by Michaela from Well Balanced Adventures
Charlottesville, VA is a college town located 2 hours from Washington, DC and 1 hour from Richmond, VA. While Charlottesville is known to be home to the University of Virginia, the area is also home to more than 20 wineries with stunning views. Charlottesville has a well-established gastro and wine culture, which makes it one of the best underrated foodie destinations in the US! First, wine! There are wineries of all different sizes and vibes:
Best selection of wine: Wisdom Oak or Glasshouse Winery
Best views: Pippin Hill, King Family Winery or Afton Mountain
To best enjoy wineries in the Charlottesville area, one should rent a party bus (for large groups) or consider using Charlottesville Hop on Tours for groups under 6. Ubers are also readily available in the city, just be careful when going to a winery that is more than ~20 minutes away from the city!
But what about the food??
To soak up all of that wine, check out some local favorites like the Downtown Grille (Midwestern), Burger Bach (New Zealand), Red Pump Kitchen (Mediterranean), Maru (Korean), and BBQ Exchange (Southern)! And to top it all off, visit Kilwins for a homemade dessert!
Right around the corner from those great restaurants, history buffs will enjoy visiting Monticello (Thomas Jefferson’s estate) and Montpelier (James Madison’s home). And for hiking enthusiasts, Charlottesville is located right around the corner from the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Appalachian Trail – allowing for great hikes of varying difficulty levels. Some top Charlottesville area hikes include: Humpback Mountain, Old Rag and Crabtree Falls.
Best Underrated Foodie Destinations in the US – Conclusion
Dang. Okay, now I’m hungry. Unfortunately, this round-up of the best underrated foodie destinations in the US has come to a close. But, I’m hoping at least one of these bomb cities tickled your fancy! Well, maybe even all of them! However, before you start booking tickets and accommodations, make sure to have THE TALK with your gal pals. That means sitting down and discussing everyone’s budget, sleep schedule, and food allergies.
You don’t want to book a non-refundable reservation at a Brazilian steakhouse or Chinese restaurant and suddenly discover you have a vegan and gluten-intolerant person in your party. I’m speaking from experience.
Verify in your group chat that everyone is happy with the itinerary BEFORE you leave.
Other Girls’ Trips in the US
Once you’ve visited some of the best foodie destinations in the US with your squad, consider branching out! For example, maybe the crew wants a relaxing spa getaway. Or, they want to be drunk on CULTURE and enrich their understandings of their surroundings. Potentially, they might want to unleash their inner hipster. Don’t worry, I still gotcha covered! Check out my other US city suggestions for groups!
Also, don’t be afraid to just book the cheapest ticket to a new city you’ve never explored! Half the fun of girls’ trips are in exploring the unknown. And, well, finding hot men to take body shots off of.
Wait, did I say that out loud?
Regardless, I hope you make traveling with your girlfriends a priority this year! There’s nothing quite like having a solid group to celebrate when you’re up, and lift you when you’re down. And also – IT’S A GREAT EXCUSE TO TRAVEL! Do you already have your favorite foodies in mind? What kind of food do y’all want to eat?
Love it? Share it with your squad!
Girl you had me at the wine comment! All these places sounds so good. I’m vegetarian but I’m sure they all have amazing vegetarian options as well. I’ve never visited the United States (other than when I was 6) but I will definitely think about this post if I do visit the US!
Ooo specifically for vegetarian, I would highly recommend the west coast! LA and Portland have a huge number of veggie and vegan restaurants!
There’s always good food at every city. You just need to know where to find it and that’s why it’s always great to speak with locals. They know the good stuff. My favorites are always the hole-in-the-walls.
TRUE THAT!
This is a really great list! I’d never heard of the Hudson Valley before and it’s only a 5 hour drive from where I live. I’m so excited for a road trip there this summer for those delicious sounding apple cider doughnuts!!
Please go and let me know how magical those donuts are!!
yum! I shouldn’t have read this post during lunchtime! great destinations I’ll have to add to my list!
Omg you have to! It’ll change your LIFE!
Great list! My group of my friends always go on a trip every year or so. I’m going to show them this list to choose from on our future trips. EAT, DRINK and SLEEP!
YESS!! AND BE MERRY!!