As a part of our upcoming festival guide, we’re rounding up some events that double as both a vacation and a music festival, because no matter what we think, it’s not always about the music. While most festivals take place in an isolated field out in the middle of nowhere, some are cultural Meccas worth the trip. In these cases, it might be a little easier to convince your reluctant loved one who has kept you company at dozens of festivals if there are some additional perks. These selected festivals aren’t just about the music: great sights, culture, history, museums and beaches, among other incentives that’ll convince those unenthusiastic friends to join you.

Urban Festivals

Outside Lands
San Francisco, California
http://www.sfoutsidelands.com/

Who has played Outside Lands?
Muse, Phish, Arcade Fire, Deadmau5, the Original Meters, STS9, The Black Keys

Why go to San Francisco – aside from the music?
San Francisco was the epicenter of the counterculture in the 1960s and 1970s, home to the Grateful Dead, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Hot Tuna, Jefferson Airplane, Steve Miller, Santana, and more. Check out the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood and see where the Grateful Dead called home for a few years (710 Ashbury), bike over the Golden Gate Bridge, shop at vintage boutiques, and enjoy the free spirited vibe that still lingers from the Summer of Love.

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
New Orleans, Louisiana
http://www.nojazzfest.com/

Who is playing this year?
Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Foo Fighters, The Beach Boys, Zac Brown Band, Eddie Vedder, My Morning Jacket, and many other heavy hitters

Why go to New Orleans – aside from the music?
The Crescent City has bounced back beautifully from Katrina, and is as vibrant as ever. The food (crawfish, po’boys, gumbo, beignets, and everything Cajun…), the quaint architecture, and beautiful weather are among many reasons to head down south for Jazz Fest.

MusicFest NW
Portland, Oregon
http://musicfestnw.com/

Who is playing this year?
Band of Horses, Iron and Wine, Explosions in the Sky, Blitzen Trapper, more

Why go to Portland – aside from the music?
It’s like being at a great indie-rock festival and in an episode of Portlandia at the same time.

Winter Jazzfest
New York, New York
http://winterjazzfest.com/

Who has played?
John Medeski, Vijay Iyer Trio, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Mischief & Mayhem, Ravi Coltrane, Marco Benevento, Nels Cline Singers

Why go to New York – aside from the music?
The venues are just as crowded as they are for CMJ, but with a more specific focus and more critical curators. Winter Jazzfest delivers a much higher standard of quality in its performances, while also centralizing the venues around the Bleecker Street area of Manhattan, as opposed to spreading shows all over the city a la CMJ. There’s much more to NYC than just this music, though: endless restaurants, shops and sights across the five boroughs can keep you occupied for ages.

Festivals on Beaches

The Hangout Music Festival
Gulf Shores, Alabama
http://www.hangoutmusicfest.com/

Who is playing this year?
Dave Matthews Band, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jack White, String Cheese Incident, Wilco, more

Why go to Gulf Shores – aside from the music?
Following the BP oil spill a few years ago, the tourism in the Gulf Shores was hit pretty hard. However, the beaches are clean and safe now; making The Hangout one of the premier festivals this summer because not only is the lineup great, it’s on a beach. There also isn’t any camping, so you’ll be staying in air-conditioned condos with kitchens and showers and real beds.

Mayan Holidaze
Mayan Riviera, Mexico
http://mayanholidaze.com/

Who played this year?
Umphrey’s McGee, STS9, The Disco Biscuits, Big Gigantic, and more.

Why go to Mexico – aside from the music?
It’s on a beach in Mexico at an all-inclusive resort – the definition of a VIP experience. From activities at the resort (like beach volleyball, yoga classes, ‘Guac Off’ hosted by Umphrey’s Jake Cinninger and golf tournaments) and excursions in the Caribbean (scuba diving a ship wreck, exploring the ancient fortress in Tulum and zip line through the Mayan jungle), Mayan Holidaze has enough activities to keep you busy during the day and raging at night.

International Festivals

Lollapalooza
Santiago, Chile
http://lineup.lollapaloozacl.com/

Who is playing this year?
Foo Fighters, Bjork, Arctic Monkeys, MGMT, Thievery Corporation, Band of Horses, more

Why go to Santiago – aside from the music?
Santiago is a hotbed of Chilean culture: delicious South American food, crazy nightlife and 16th century Spanish architecture, not to mention wine country a little farther out of the city limits.

Sonar
Barcelona, Spain
http://www.sonar.es/es/2012/

Who is playing this year?
The Roots, Fatboy Slim, Deadmau5, Lana Del Rey, more

Why go to Barcelona – aside from the music?
This legendary dance music festival held in Barcelona, Spain, draws native Spaniards as well as foreigners to visit this beautiful Catalan city and revel in the hard-hitting nightlife. The tapas, wine, architecture (Antonio Gaudi’s Parc Guell and apartments), museums (Miro and Picasso), las ramblas and the beach are all reasons Barcelona is one of the most vibrant cities in Europe.