Time may be able to cure all wounds, but let’s be honest: distance may as well. Getting away can provide a welcome distraction as well as the opportunity to try new things, heal, and grow, whether you’re dealing with a love breakup or the end of a great relationship. Experts agree that it works.
However, not all places are made equal, so we’ve compiled a list of the five greatest spots to cure a broken heart while having a good time.
1. Jackson, Wyoming
It’s difficult to be sad when you’re flanked by wildlife and some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States. Jackson, a mecca for the jet-set, provides the ideal mix of outdoor activities and leisure, as well as a shockingly vibrant dining and nightlife scene.
In Grand Teton National Park, avid hikers can spend their entire trip alone with their thoughts on the park’s 200 miles of trails, while winter visitors can shred on Jackson Hole Mountain Resort’s more than 120 named routes.
Warm up from the cool mountain air at The Rose, Jackson’s first speakeasy-style bar, which was created by Jackson resident David Kaplan and Alex Days, founders of the legendary Manhattan bar Death & Co. A vibrant bar scene with a mix of tourists and foreigners may be found.
2. Sedona, Arizona
Sedona, a renowned tourist destination noted for its breathtaking red rock landscapes and thriving artists’ culture, is the ideal place to mend a broken heart.
Trails wind through canyon walls and pine trees in Red Rock State Park, providing excellent possibilities for picnicking and birdwatching. However, because of the popularity of this place, you won’t have to stress about hiking alone, which is a great bonus for relatives who are concerned about their safety.
Sedona has some of the top spas and resorts in the country if you need some sybaritic healing to soothe your aching muscles and heart. A vacation at the renowned L’Auberge de Sedona features a lovely lodge-style room as well as a rotating calendar of activities that include everything from environmental talks to photography lessons. When you’re ready to relax, L’Apothecary’s comprehensive choice of treatments, which include massages and facials, are inspired by Sedona’s natural beauty and use local botanicals.
3. San Francisco, California
After a little alone time in the Golden City, you’ll feel anything except blue, as Eric Clapton sang about the San Francisco Bay Blues.
With a temperate climate all year, the city is ideal for walking and wandering without a plan—start your day by photographing the dawn at the beautiful Palace of Fine Arts before getting on a sightseeing boat or watching the San Francisco Giants play at Oracle Park.
Then see the famous Ferry Building or take a cable car to North Beach, the city’s Italian enclave, for a huge bowl of cioppino at local favorite Sotto Mare. Plus, the nice bartenders will make dining alone a little less painful.
If you’re looking for some literary inspiration, City Lights, a neighboring bookstore founded by beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti in 1953, is one of the most renowned in the country, having sold thousands of titles since its inception.
4. Nashville, Tennessee
Book your flight to Nashville if music and alcohol sound like the greatest way to heal your heartbreak. This young Southern city has fantastic restaurants, spectacular new hotels (along with a few classics), and plenty of entertainment and nightlife to keep you entertained for weeks.
Sing your guts out at the famed Ryman Auditorium, which will celebrate its 130th anniversary in 2024, or see a show at the Grand Ole Opry before heading to Corsair Distillery for a sampling of their award-winning whiskeys, Nashville’s first since prohibition. If the brown stuff isn’t your thing, the distillery, which has two facilities in town, also creates superb pot-distilled gin.
Afterward, try some of Nashville’s famous cuisine. Long-standing classics like Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack are a sure bet. Newer restaurants, such as Lou, a low-key, natural wine bar offering California-inspired cuisine, are challenging preconceptions about Nashville.
5. Barcelona, Spain
Put on your walking shoes since Barcelona is one of the best cities in the world for aimless strolling.
Begin your journey by going through the Gothic Quarter and El Born, where you will be drawn in by apparently endless passageways surrounded by historical structures. Some of the top restaurants and watering spots are tucked away along these back alleys—ideal for meeting new people, sampling new foods, and imbibing Priorat, the rich red wine from the adjacent eponymous area.
Architects will love strolling through the city’s many Antoni Gaud-designed structures. The famous architect’s quirky Catalan modernism is on full show throughout the city—La Sagrada Familia is a must-see. Nonetheless, Casa Batlló, as well as the lesser-known Casa Vicens, is as stunning.
