Travel isn’t just an opportunity to take in new sights and experience different cultures. It’s also a chance to try on a whole different life for a few days. You get to ditch your regular routines, step into a different version of yourself, and imagine what life might look like somewhere else. And if I’m trying on a new life for size, I want it to feel just as dreamy as a Nancy Meyers movie. My real life may not be nearly as picturesque, but on vacation, I can absolutely be the type of person who wakes up early to stroll through the farmers market, stops by a local bakery for a leisurely afternoon coffee and pastry, and winds down in the evenings with a chilled glass of wine and a seaside view.
This summer, I’m dreaming of a trip that can transport me straight into the breezy, relaxed elegance of the Nancy Meyers cinematic universe. If that sounds like exactly the kind of vacation you’ve been craving, here’s everything you need for a trip that feels straight out of a Nancy Meyers movie.
1. Choose a dreamy destination
The first step in planning any trip is picking a destination. And for a Nancy Meyers-inspired trip, choosing the right locale is key to nailing the vibe. For an easy blueprint, you could go straight to the source material and pull a destination directly from one of her films. A visit to the Hamptons, Napa Valley, or the English countryside, for example, could make you feel like you’re living out your favorite scenes IRL. But the actual settings of her films aren’t the only destinations that offer that signature Nancy Meyers charm.
What you need is a place that captures the atmosphere of her films: beautiful homes, good food, walkable neighborhoods, charming shopping districts, and a slower pace of life. Although proximity to the coast is a huge bonus (hello, morning walks on the beach and lingering waterfront dinners), you can find plenty of charming towns with a Nancy Meyers feel all over the country.
Here are a few dreamy destinations that will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a Nancy Meyers movie:
- Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Door County, Wisconsin
- Kennebunkport, Maine
- Mackinac Island, Michigan
- Nantucket, Massachusetts
- Newport, Rhode Island
2. Book accommodations that fit the vibe
Beautifully designed homes are a through-line in all Nancy Meyers movies. From the sprawling Santa Barbara ranch in It’s Complicated to The Holiday‘s cozy English cottage to the Something’s Gotta Give Hamptons beach house, the dreamy set designs are a key part of the appeal. That means that any vacation modeled after her films must include equally dreamy accommodations.
When shopping around for a hotel, pay attention to the aesthetics of the place in addition to important factors like price, ratings, and location. Nancy Meyers interiors are notoriously cozy, welcoming, and elegant without feeling stuffy, and that’s exactly what you should look for in your accommodations. Design elements like slipcovered seating, woven textures, and thoughtfully curated accessories are a key part of the Nancy Meyers aesthetic and can help you feel like you’ve stepped onto a film set when you key into your room.
On a recent trip to Cape Cod, for example, I stayed at Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club, which is centered around a Gilded Age mansion situated right off Cape Cod Bay. With stone fireplaces and rich wood paneling, the mansion’s interiors are basically a mix between the coziness of The Holiday’s cottage and the grandeur of the London townhouse in The Parent Trap. My own room in one of the mansion’s guest wings was decorated with rattan furniture, patterned wallpaper, and soft lighting, which immediately set a cozy tone for my trip. How your hotel room is decorated may not usually be a top travel priority, but on a Nancy Meyers trip, it’s a detail you shouldn’t overlook.
3. Pack a chic travel capsule wardrobe
An impeccable wardrobe is a signature of any Nancy Meyers character, and I highly recommend dressing the part during your trip. Nail the effortlessly polished look with a suitcase full of oversized button-downs, linen pants, simple striped tees, breezy midi dresses, and neutral cardigans. As a bonus, many of these pieces are ideal for layering, which means you can pack lighter while still having plenty of different outfit combos to choose from. Accessories like silk scarves, a woven tote, a wide-brim hat, and timeless gold jewelry can go a long way in dressing outfits up or down. For footwear, choose chic yet comfortable options like leather slide sandals, boat shoes, or ballet flats—perfect for strolling through the farmers market, browsing boutiques, or maybe even hopping on a bike to cruise down to the beach.
4. Keep the itinerary relaxed
This is not the kind of trip where you want to pack your itinerary full of activities from morning to night. A Nancy Meyers vacation should feel leisurely and relaxed, not rushed or tied to a strict schedule. You’ll want to give yourself the wiggle room to linger over coffee in the mornings, pop into a cute store that catches your eye, or order another glass of wine at dinner so you can continue taking in the view. Planning just one or two activities for each day will leave plenty of room for those small, unexpected moments, which often end up becoming some of the most memorable parts of a trip.
5. Plan one special experience
I like to think of this as the “main character moment” of your vacation. Any good Nancy Meyers-inspired trip needs at least one memorable experience that makes you feel like you’re living in your own personal rom-com. It should be something special that you wouldn’t otherwise do at home: a sunset sailboat tour around the bay, a cooking class with a local chef, or a whole day dedicated to pampering spa treatments. It could even be as simple as a splurge-y meal at a fancy restaurant with an incredible view. Build something special into your travel itinerary to help you fully embrace the Nancy Meyers state of mind. With any luck, it’ll become the highlight of your whole trip.
Jessica Friedhoff, Senior Lifestyle Editor
Jessica Friedhoff is the Senior Lifestyle Editor at The Everygirl, where she oversees the Home & Living category of the site. She writes and edits stories across a broad range of topics including decorating, food, entertaining, travel, and more. With a pulse on the latest trends, she uses her eye for detail and design to create timely, inspiring content for our readers.
