Walk-Friendly Weekend Getaways To Boost Creativity

It's easy to get restless in the city. Venture to an incredible weekend destination such as a charming village at the base of a mountain or a bustling city with a lot of options for thrilling quests and a bustling cultural scene.

Artists and writers have long been drawn to the wild beauty of upstate New York's Adirondack Mountains and its renowned 46 High Peaks. Guests at Whiteface Lodge, an all-suite resort inspired by the Adirondack Great Camps of the Gilded Age, have access to numerous hiking trails of varying lengths and challenge levels in the surrounding woodlands, then retreat to the comfort of a cozy suite with cast-iron fireplace to put pen to paper. Whiteface Lodge's concierge can recommend the best trails to match guests' interests and ability.

Ancient caves and a sandstone rock formation dubbed the Praying Monk add intrigue and creative inspiration to a hike on the challenging trails of Scottsdale's Camelback Mountain. Guests who book the Hike-Tech package at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa can document their adventure on their own GoPro Hero Session. The package features a two-night stay for two, daily breakfast, a guided hike, GoPro Hero Session to keep, and a 60-minute spa service per person at the exclusive Sanctuary Spa – the perfect reward for a day on the trails.

From their gift for storytelling to their love of music, the Irish have an undeniable creative streak. Perhaps it has something to do with the remnants of ancient and medieval cultures that add a sense of magic and mystery to a simple walk through just about any Irish town or countryside. CIE Tours International's Irish Myths and Legends tour includes several inspirational walks within its eight-day itinerary, including guided walks through Galway and along the Shannon River in Limerick as well as time to self-explore the towns of Kilronan in the Aran Islands, Kinsale and Blarney.

Guests can step right out to the sand from Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa, located on its own private beach on Florida's Gold Coast. Considered one of the top five beaches in Palm Beach County, this 4.7-mile stretch is among the most important nesting beaches in the U.S. for loggerheads, green sea turtles and leatherbacks. March and April are the ideal months for a nighttime stroll to observe turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs, while September and October invite morning strolls to see hatchlings make their way to the water's edge. Beachcombers will also find excellent shelling during the morning's low tide.

Just steps from the historic Harbor View Hotel in Edgartown, Lighthouse Beach beckons with gentle waves and serene scenes of fishing boats and sailboats straight from an artist's canvas. This seldom-crowded stretch of sand is just one of nearly 20 beaches on Martha's Vineyard that invite enlightenment and quiet contemplation. And farther inland, a number of wildlife sanctuaries and preserves offer miles of trails where guests can wander through woodlands, past ponds, and along salt marshes and shorelines.

California's Pebble Beach Resorts is rightfully renowned for the visionary design of its championship golf courses, but some of its greatest treasures are the work of Mother Nature. Guests seeking an inspirational ramble will find more than 27 miles of trails that meander through the dense Del Monte Forest, open meadows and along the rugged coastline – at any moment offering a glimpse of Monterey wildlife from deer and raccoons to foxes and coyotes. Pebble Beach Company maintains all forest trails and is committed to their protection and restoration. 

Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail stretches 18 miles along the Central California coastline from Castroville south to Pacific Grove along the route of the old Southern Pacific Railway. Along the way, walkers with literary aspirations will recognize settings from Steinbeck's beloved novel Cannery Row, from Doc's Lab to Hovden's Cannery (now the Monterey Bay Aquarium). The newly renovated Embassy Suites by Hilton Monterey Bay Seaside is just two blocks from the beachfront and offers direct access to the trail.

Guests of Marriott Syracuse Downtown are living history with every stay at this hotel – a stunning restoration of the former 1924 Hotel Syracuse. And now a Living History Package encourages visitors to put on their walking shoes and explore the rich legacy and current renaissance of New York's "Central City." The package includes a choice of two self-guided tours that lead guests through two centuries of growth and change in downtown Syracuse, including dozens of historic, architectural and cultural points of interest.

Just minutes from Charlotte, North Carolina, downtown Concord's Historic District offers a self-guided walking tour showcasing the beautiful Queen Anne and Colonial Revival homes of some of its most influential residents as well as architecturally significant commercial buildings dating back to the Civil War. After strolling Concord's tree-lined streets, visitors can stop by the Cabarrus Arts Council, housed in the historic former courthouse – itself an architectural gem – where they can draw further inspiration from  four galleries of curated artwork. Highlighted artists change every eight weeks, ensuring fresh creative fuel with every visit.

With the highest concentration of top-tier research universities in the U.S., there's no doubt that Beantown inspires breakthrough thinking. Green-from-the-ground-up Element Boston Seaport and forward-thinking Aloft Boston Seaport both offer visitors a strategic Seaport District locale just minutes from the best of the city. From either hotel, guests have easy access to the Harborwalk, a near-continuous 43-mile park with breathtaking views of Boston Harbor and the Boston skyline, and the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile, red-lined route that wends past 16 historically significant sites dating back to the American Revolution.