Not every great vacation requires taking a week off work. Sometimes all you need is a weekend, a direct flight and the right destination for your perfect getaway.
Whether your ideal escape involves hiking through dramatic landscapes, lingering over unforgettable meals, spending time with the kids, snuggling up with your loved one, exploring museums or relaxing on the beach, there’s a weekend escape waiting for you.
Each of the destinations below is easy to enjoy in just two or three days. Just choose your travel style and we’ll supply all the details for a weekend vacation that’s sure to please.
Related: 18 best weekend getaways in the US
For families: San Diego
San Diego checks nearly every box for a fun, family-friendly getaway. Spend the morning meeting giant pandas, tigers and monkeys (just to name a few) at the San Diego Zoo. In the afternoon, explore the science or natural history museums at Balboa Park, or skip the indoor activities and opt instead for the old-school carousel and the miniature train around the leafy green park.
The next day, head to La Jolla to watch the boisterous sea lions and visit the kid-size aquarium or head to the USS Midway to tour a real-life aircraft carrier. Too much for the kids? Don’t worry, there are 17 miles of golden beaches where you can simply relax and play in the sand, too.
Where to stay: It doesn’t get more iconic than Hotel del Coronado, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton. Families, including mine, love its beachfront location, multiple pools, kids’ programming, bike rentals, fire pits and easy access to Coronado Island’s ice cream shops and wide, sandy beach.
For city explorers: Chicago
Easy to navigate Chicago rewards travelers who love exploring a city on multiple levels. Start off with the Windy City’s famed museums, including the masterpieces at the Art Institute of Chicago and the dinosaurs at the Field Museum. Then schedule in some time to discover the only-here neighborhoods like the Andersonville, Lincoln Square, Pilsen and the myriad dining spots in the West Loop. Then head to the South Side, which now boasts the must-visit Obama Presidential Center, a hybrid of a museum, cultural center and neighborhood hangout that offers everything from outdoor movies to a vegetable garden to lectures and performances.
Add in some deep-dish pizza, Italian beef sandwiches, an architectural cruise (my favorite way to see the city) and skyline views from the Willis Tower Skydeck, and you’ll have no shortage of ways to fill a weekend.
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Where to stay: The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel, is one of our favorite boutique hotels in Chicago, and it happens to be part of Marriott Bonvoy. The property sits just off Michigan Avenue, putting the city’s top museums, shopping and restaurants within easy walking distance, and the elegant rooftop terrace is the perfect spot to cap off the day.
Related: The 17 best Chicago hotels
For beach lovers: Clearwater, Florida
If your perfect weekend is all about sun, sand and warm Gulf waters, Clearwater Beach is hard to beat. Consistently ranked among America’s best beaches, its powder-soft white sand and extremely calm, crystal-clear water make it ideal for swimming, paddle boarding or simply settling into a beach chair with a good book.
Take a dolphin-watching cruise or visit the Clearwater Aquarium, and don’t miss Pier 60 which has a sunset festival every single night with music and street performers. And what’s a beach getaway without a seafood feast? You’ll find fresh from the Gulf Coast grouper, shrimp, oysters and stone crab (in season) at waterfront favorites like Frenchy’s, Caretta on the Gulf or aptly named Crabby’s, just to name a few.
Where to stay: The JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa is one of the area’s top luxury hotels with spacious rooms and suites, a stunning rooftop pool overlooking the Gulf, a full-service spa and direct access to Clearwater Beach.
For music fans: Nashville, Tennessee
If you’re a country music fan or simply love discovering a city through its live music scene, Nashville delivers a weekend that’s perfectly in tune for weekend travel. Spend an afternoon touring the expansive Country Music Hall of Fame and the petite but fascinating Johnny Cash Museum to gear up for an afternoon (and ok, probably evening, too) hopping between the honky-tonks along Lower Broadway where live music pours out of nearly every doorway from morning until late at night.
The next day, take a tour of the Ryman Auditorium, the original home of the Grand Ole Opry. The venue now hosts a variety of touring acts and is a a great place to catch a show. For more live music, plan an old school Nashville night at the Grand Ole Opry’s newer digs in Music Valley (even if you don’t know a lot about country music, the show moves quickly and keeps the pace lively, one of the reasons it’s survived for a full century!). Or head to the Bluebird Cafe for an intimate singer songwriter evening.
To explore another angle of the city, cross the Cumberland River into East Nashville, where the vibe gets more eclectic. Stop for vinyl at The Groove, coffee at Barista Parlor and natural wine at Pelican & Pig before checking out smaller music venues like the Basement East or The 5 Spot, all of which offer a more laid-back setting than downtown’s Broadway strip.
Where to stay: Thompson Nashville, part of World of Hyatt, puts you in the heart of The Gulch, one of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods. The boutique hotel is within walking distance of top restaurants and nightlife, while its stylish rooms, rooftop bar and excellent service make it a favorite for a weekend getaway.
Related: The best hotels to book in Nashville for the full Music City experience
For foodies: New Orleans
Gumbo and jambalaya and crawfish, oh my! New Orleans packs enough mouth watering food into a single weekend to keep even the hungriest traveler satisfied.
There is only one way to start your trip, and that’s with beignets and cafe au lait at the iconic Cafe du Monde (be warned, you will definitely be covered with powdered sugar). Lunchtime, grab a po’boy from the legendary Domilise’s Po-Boy & Bar or a multi-layered muffaletta sandwich from Central Grocery.
Stroll until you hit Acme Oyster Bar, where you can knock back a few bivalves crowded around standing tables with fellow oyster lovers. Dinner you say? Spend the evening at iconic dining spots like Commander’s Palace, Cochon or GW Fins.
Between meals, sip a Sazerac at The Sazerac Bar (sip slowly, trust me on this) or sidle up the spinning carousel bar at the Hotel Monteleone. Need a break from all the food and drinks? Catch live jazz on Frenchmen Street and wander the French Quarter or Magazine Street for shopping, galleries and boutiques.
Where to stay: The Eliza Jane, Autograph Collection, occupies a series of beautifully restored 19th-century buildings which were once occupied by the Daily Picayune sits just outside the French Quarter in the trendy Warehouse District. All of the nearly 200 rooms here have unique layouts; the hotel’s lobby lounge, The Press Room, is full of antique typewriters and original architectural details; and Couvant, The Eliza Jane’s signature restaurant, serves French-inspired specialties in a dining room full of art from the Peychaud Cocktail Bitters factory that also once occupied the space.
Related: The best hotels in New Orleans, from the French Quarter to the Garden District
For outdoor adventurers: Moab, Utah
If your ideal weekend means swapping city streets for soaring sandstone arches, winding canyon trails and star-filled skies, Moab belongs at the top of your list. The adventure hub of eastern Utah is the gateway to both Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, making it one of the few places where you can experience two of America’s most spectacular national parks in a single weekend.
Start your trip early with sunrise at Delicate Arch or an easy walk to Landscape Arch, then spend the afternoon tackling scenic hikes or taking in panoramic views from Mesa Arch in Canyonlands.
Go horseback riding to take in the towering red cliffs, experienced mountain bikers can test their skills on the infamous Slickrock Bike Trail, and thrill-seekers can book guided rock-climbing excursions, canyoneering adventures or a whitewater rafting trip down the Colorado River. If you’d rather check out the scenery from behind the wheel, the drive along Utah Scenic Byway 128 is one of the most beautiful in the Southwest.
When the sun goes down, don’t rush indoors. Moab sits beneath some of the darkest skies in the country, there are three official dark skies parks here, making it an exceptional destination for stargazing.
Where to stay: Hoodoo Moab, Curio Collection by Hilton is an ideal base for exploring southeastern Utah. Located just minutes from downtown Moab, the resort features a large outdoor pool, hot tubs, a full-service spa and spacious rooms with views of the surrounding red rock landscape.
For culture hounds: Dublin
If you’re looking for a weekend that immerses you in a new culture, but is an easy jump from home, Dublin is a top option. From Boston and New York, it’s a quick six hour, nonstop flight. Plus Ireland isn’t using the EES system that’s currently plaguing other EU countries, and U.S. Customs pre-clearance means an especially easy journey back home, too.
Begin your trip to Dublin with a visit to Trinity College to see the Book of Kells. Then join the new Trinity Trails Literary Walking Tour that covers everyone from Sally Rooney to Oscar Wilde. After, pop into MoLI, the Museum of Literature Ireland (it’s especially interesting if you love James Joyce).
Art fans will want to spend at least an afternoon at The National Gallery of Ireland, which offers free admission and an outstanding collection of Irish and European masterpieces. Thirsty? A tour of Guinness Storehouse dives into the sudsy history of brewing in Dublin, and there are fabulous views from the glass enclosed Gravity Bar while you sip your free pint, too.
Where to stay: Spend the weekend at posh The Merrion Hotel, a member of Leading Hotels of the World, just a block away from the National Gallery, and you’ll be surrounded by the largest privately held collection of Irish art in the world. The property spans four historic Georgian townhouses that surround one of the loveliest private gardens in Dublin (a special treat even on a cloudy day). There’s an indoor pool, spa and the two Michelin Star Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud. Don’t miss the afternoon art tea, where the talented pastry chefs recreate and pay homage to the masterworks on display in the hotel in tiny teacake form.
For couples: Savannah, Georgia
Savannah feels custom built for a romantic weekend: Spanish moss drapes over centuries-old oak trees, horse-drawn carriages clip-clop past perfectly preserved squares and waterfront sunsets over the Savannah River create the perfect atmosphere for an unhurried evening together. The city’s walkable Historic District makes it easy to spend a weekend wandering between shaded parks, ornate ironwork balconies and hidden courtyards that seem made for lingering conversations.
Spend your days strolling through Forsyth Park and exploring the city’s 22 historic squares, each with its own personality and architecture. And don’t miss the galleries at SCAD Museum of Art, where you’ll discover a mix of up-and-coming and top American artists.
Stop for lunch at local favorites like The Grey, a restored Greyhound bus terminal turned modern Southern restaurant, or Vic’s on the River, where you can watch the water roll by on the river. In the evening, enjoy cocktails at The Olde Pink House, set inside an 18th-century mansion, or take a moonlit ghost tour if you’re in the mood for something a little more atmospheric.
Where to stay: The Perry Lane Hotel, part of Marriott’s Luxury Collection, is luxe boutique option in the heart of the Historic District, about a 10 minute stroll from the waterfront. There’s a rooftop pool and lounge where you can easily spend the evening watching the sunset with a wine or handcrafted cocktail.
Related: Southern charm and modern style: TPG’s guide to Savannah, Georgia
For wine aficionados: Napa Valley, California
Few destinations in the U.S. are as closely associated with wine as Napa Valley. Stretching from Napa to St. Helena and Calistoga, the region is built for slow, indulgent weekends centered around vineyard visits, cellar tastings and long, lingering lunches (accompanied by more wine, natch).
For an intimate tasting experience, I like to plan stops at Baldacci Family Vineyards in Napa for small-production Cabernet and Syrah in a relaxed setting; historic Larkmead Vineyards (circa 1895) in Calistoga for bold red blends; and Mi Sueño Winery, a family-owned producer of excellent Sauvignon Blanc. Together, they offer a snapshot of Napa beyond the most famous labels, with a focus on storytelling and laid-back sipping.
Between tastings, unwind in Calistoga’s mineral hot springs, bike quiet vineyard roads or enjoy unhurried meals in Yountville and St. Helena. Or, for something a little more elevated, pun intended, take a sunrise hot-air balloon ride for sweeping views of the valley’s tapestry of vines.
Where to stay: Alila Napa Valley, part of World of Hyatt, is one of wine country’s most sought-after stays. Set beside Beringer Vineyards in St. Helena, the adults-only resort features vineyard-view rooms and suites, a serene pool terrace and a standout spa program.
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