Fodor's Travel Names This Riverside County City 'A Top Place To Go' In 2026

INDIO, CA — Indio is a must-see city, according to an 80-year-old company that has long been a trusted resource for expert travel advice.

Last week, Fodor’s Travel announced it had selected Indio as one of just six destinations for its 2026 "Go List" of the top places to visit in the United States.

In addition to the Riverside County city, Fodor's Go List also included Buncombe County, North Carolina; Coupeville, Washington; Keene Valley, New York; Key West, Florida; and Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.

"Being named to Fodor’s Travel 2026 Go List is a tremendous honor for Indio and a validation of our city’s vision and hard work," said Indio Mayor Glenn Miller. "Our downtown revitalization was not a quick fix, it was years of dedicated collaboration, investment and belief in ourselves and community. We look forward to welcoming travelers who want to experience the heart of Indio and our thriving local businesses."

When the Fodor’s team visited Indio, they explored several local favorites and got a preview of the city's identity as a center of food, culture, and community energy.

"Let’s be honest: Indio has spent decades as an afterthought — an unassuming desert town overshadowed by its far flashier neighbor, Palm Springs," Fodor's wrote. "Of course, a few times a year, it’s conquered by Coachella marauders. But otherwise it’s a sleepy little hamlet, quiet enough that you might expect a tumbleweed to rumble on by.

"Or at least that’s how it used to be," Fodor's continued. "Something remarkable has happened along its main strip over the last few years: Indio has undergone a transformation. It’s not loud or self-congratulatory — but steady, confident. The once-sleepy corridor of Miles Avenue now hums with intention. Restaurants run by people who care deeply about their craft–and their city–have moved in. Bars and boutiques and cafes, too, all operated by similarly-minded stewards, line this desert stretch.

"Art installations that once towered over past festivals have found permanent homes here, standing tall in public squares," Fodor's wrote. "It’s a reminder of what the city has always been known for — but now it’s just the backdrop. The city itself has finally become the main stage."

Read the full Fodor’s Travel 2026 Go List.