These off-the-beaten-track spots across North America add personality (and serious bragging rights) to any meeting itinerary
Sure, convention centers and hotel ballrooms get the job done. But the most memorable moments of a conference often happen offsite — in places that surprise, delight, or make attendees feel like insiders. According to most industry metrics, these are the 10 most popular cities for meetings and events. That means a lot of your attendees have probably been there before. One way to cure destination fatigue is to jazz up your agenda with an offsite event at a unique location. Whether it’s sipping cocktails in a Prohibition-era speakeasy beneath the Mob Museum in Las Vegas, zip-lining over gator ponds in Orlando, or ping-ponging under neon light in Atlanta, these cities deliver quirky venues with stories to tell. We’ve paired each destination with two choices: one playful and one a little more polished — because sometimes your group wants funky fun, and sometimes it wants unconventional elegance.
Atlanta, GA
For playful offbeat energy, Ponce City Market Rooftop – Skyline Park delivers carnival-style fun with vintage boardwalk games, mini golf, and panoramic skyline views. It’s whimsical, colorful, and ideal for receptions that need to break the ice.If your group prefers a dramatic historic backdrop, the Swan House at the Atlanta History Center delivers 1920s mansion grandeur and gardens, famously featured in The Hunger Games.
Chicago, IL
Add a touch of mystery and vintage glamour at Untitled Supper Club, a sprawling River North venue inspired by Prohibition-era speakeasies. Its art deco interiors, live jazz, and themed lounges create an atmosphere that’s immersive, playful, and still polished enough for groups.For something more polished but equally unique, the Chicago Athletic Association Game Room channels old-world club life with billiards, bocce, and shuffleboard in a historic setting.
Dallas, TX
Truck Yard Dallas sets the stage for casual networking in a beer garden made of shipping containers and treehouses, complete with live music. For an atmospheric yet unconventional choice, Dallas Heritage Village at Old City Park brings groups together among historic Texas buildings and shaded outdoor grounds.
Las Vegas, NV
Think beyond the Strip with the Pinball Hall of Fame, where vintage pinball machines double as event backdrops. For something a touch more sophisticated but still unconventional, the Mob Museum’s Underground Speakeasy & Distillery delivers Prohibition-era cocktails beneath one of Vegas’s most fascinating museums.
Miami, FL
Groups with a creative streak will love Wynwood Walls, the outdoor museum of graffiti and street art that doubles as a colorful event venue. For a subtler, more refined choice, The Kampong offers a lush botanical estate on Biscayne Bay once owned by famed plant explorer David Fairchild.
FURTHER READING: HOW TO PREP ATTENDEES FOR CULTURAL CURVEBALLS
New Orleans, LA
Go interactive with Escape My Room, an immersive escape experience styled like a quirky New Orleans mansion. Or lean into the city’s layered history at the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, where antique apothecary bottles and courtyard receptions create an event unlike any other.
Orlando, FL
If your group is looking for something distinctly Floridian, Gatorland offers swamp barbecues, wildlife encounters, and zip-lines over alligator ponds. For a more refined atmosphere, the Dr. Phillips Center Rooftop Terrace delivers sleek skyline views above Orlando’s acclaimed performing arts hub.
Phoenix, AZ
Give your attendees a taste of firefighting history at the Hall of Flame Fire Museum, home to vintage fire engines and interactive displays. For something more stately, the Wrigley Mansion — built by the chewing gum magnate — offers fine dining and panoramic desert views.
San Diego, CA
For an evening with a supernatural twist, the Whaley House Museum offers haunted tours and event rentals in one of America’s most storied homes. A more elevated option is the Birch Aquarium at Scripps, with oceanfront terraces and dramatic underwater exhibits for receptions.
Washington, DC
For a dose of whimsy in the capital, the Mansion on O Street invites groups to explore themed rooms, hidden doors, and scavenger hunts. On the other end of the spectrum, Anderson House offers an elegant Gilded Age mansion setting, complete with gardens and history.
Any thoughts, opinions, or news? Please share them with me at vince@meetingsevents.com.
Photo by OpenAI’s DALL·E
