Find your ‘whycation’: Inside 4 travel trends for 2026

It’s the start of a new year and, with that, 12 new months of adventures to plan for — and vacations to book. So how are people looking to travel in 2026?

Hilton Hotels & Resorts surveyed more than 14,000 travelers from 14 countries to understand travel trends in 2026 and coined the term “whycation,” which aims to encapsulate the current traveler’s search for meaningful experiences, whether for feelings of deep relaxation, experiences of awe, learning something new, building deeper connections or something else.

This story is based on a recent Denver Post article about the “whycation” — a neologism describing purposeful and intentional travel more focused on the “why” than the “where” — with lots of recommendations for ways to do so amid the Rockies.

We found destinations a bit closer to home here in Northern California, from natural wonder sightings to digital detox retreats, sustainability-minded travel and soul-searching road trips. Here are four ways to find your “whycation” and some ideas on where to go to fulfill those travel urges.

See natural wonders

Chase Travel put out a list of “26 Trips to Take in 2026,” which includes an August 2025 survey that identified some current travel trends. For instance, 87% of respondents want to travel to “chase natural phenomena,” such as watching a whale migration, pursuing the path of totality for a solar eclipse, witnessing the Aurora Borealis and seeking other fleeting moments of magic.

There’s an upcoming total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026. As the San Francisco-based Exploratorium notes, the path of totality for the solar eclipse will be visible from parts of Russia, Greenland, Iceland and Spain.

Looking to travel a shorter distance? Find a really good spot for stargazing. Explore Worldwide’s travel trends report lists astrotourism — traveling to places with low to zero urban light pollution to observe celestial events — as a reason for 2026 travel. More than 200 places have been certified by DarkSky International as having good night-sky viewing, because of efforts to reduce light pollution.

In California, Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Anza Borego Desert State Park and the nearby communities of Julian and Borrego Springs are designated Dark Sky places, certified for their efforts to combat light pollution and protect starry skies. You’ll also find excellent stargazing in the Sierra Nevadas and can find stargazing tours, such as one by Rush Creek Lodge in Yosemite National Park.

Consider seeking out dark skies to align with an upcoming meteor shower. While the Quadrantids just peaked, they’ll be active through Jan. 12, and the Lyrids are set to peak April 21-22. The most popular meteor shower, the Perseids, are set to peak Aug. 12-13, which aligns well with the new moon on Aug. 12 this year for optimal viewing conditions, according to the American Meteor Society.

Another natural wonder you can find near the Bay? Bioluminescence. The phenomenon occurs when shore waters glow blue when a high concentration of dinoflagellates — single-celled phytoplankton — are disturbed at night via waves, wind or other sea creatures. It’s most likely to be seen between June and October, and can occur in the waters of Tomales Bay, Santa Cruz County, Pacifica and Moss Landing among other spots, according to KQED. Look for kayak tours offering guided bioluminescence experiences.

Want to see the Northern Lights, waving green, pink, red and even purple lights in the sky at night? Thanks to solar storms in the past couple of years, there have been a few occasions where it’s been possible to see the Aurora Borealis from the Bay, but you’ve got a better shot by heading farther north – like to Alaska or Iceland. Hotel Ranga, an hour from Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, has wakeup calls for guests so they can rush outside in the middle of the night rather than wait for the sky to light up.

Find some peace and quiet

No matter what you call it — “hushpitality,” “unplugging” or taking a “digital detox” — people want to get away from their devices, messages and news alerts when they travel. Hilton is calling this trend “hushpitality” in its 2026 Trends Report, stating that its survey found people are “seeking silence” as well as meaning on their trips.

Hilton’s research found that 56% of its respondents are seeking rest and recharging, really putting the “leisure” in travel. They found that 37% want to spend time in nature, 36% want to improve their mental health and 20% want “me time.” And, perhaps surprisingly, reading was listed one of the top three anticipated leisure activities for travelers, with 68% expressing interest — just above the 67% seeking nature immersion retreats, 60% with interest in spiritual retreats and 60% seeking silent retreats.

You can find retreats throughout California, from well-known spots like Big Sur’s Esalen Institute to the up-and-coming trend of reading retreats. For instance, Sacramento’s Wild Sisters Book Company is hosting a retreat March 12-15, 2026, in Ferndale, Calif., that offers both quiet reading time and group activities including bookshop tours, workshops and opportunities for local exploring.

Travel sustainably

Virtuoso, a network of luxury travel advisors, has identified two additional travel trends: traveling sustainably and avoiding overtourism. According to Jessica Hall Upchurch, Virtuoso’s vice-chair and sustainability strategist, sustainable travel is more than just booking an eco-friendly hotel. Ways that travelers try to protect destinations, she said, include “avoiding overtourism by choosing shoulder season or less-crowded places and embracing experiences that give back.”

“Sustainability is about slowing down, spending thoughtfully and leaving a positive mark rather than just ticking the ‘green’ box,” Upchurch said.

For something to be sustainable means that current needs are met while not compromising or impacting future needs being met, too. Overtourism is defined as “a situation in which too many tourists travel to a popular destination, causing the place to suffer negative environmental, economic and sociocultural impacts.” So perhaps try a place you haven’t seen on social media?

In California, being a sustainable traveler might mean taking a train instead of driving your car to a destination to help minimize traffic. Train travel is considered sustainable due to lower carbon emissions. Consider taking the Amtrak California Zephyr to Tahoe, or the Coast Starlight from Oakland, Emeryville or San Jose north to Klamath Falls or Seattle or south to San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara or Los Angeles.

Embark on an epic road trip

Before there were interstate highways, there was Route 66, stretching from Santa Monica, Calif., to Chicago, Ill. Cars traveled across the “Mother Road” — or “Main Street of America” — stopping along the way in parts of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois.

Both Chase Travel and Hilton’s travel reports listed the Route 66 centennial in 2026 as a top trend. Each state will have commemorations of this 100th anniversary, with the majority in New Mexico. Visitors can go on self-guided tours of the historic neon signs in Albuquerque, or make a weekend of it with Route 66-related music and art festivals.

Many of the places along Route 66 went from boom to bust when the road became less traveled, so head for places like Grants, N.M., to practice avoiding overtourism.

Mindy Sink is a freelance guidebook author and travel writer based in Denver. Find out what she’s up to at www.mindysink.com.