Best long weekends?

[lawyerlee]

What are your suggestions for the best long weekend trips?

We've decided to take one in August, but I have *no* idea where the heck we want to go. Any and all suggestions would be most appreciated. :)

[bookworm]

From here (Boston), I'd say Maine or the Cape for beaches; NYC (drive) or DC (probably fly) for cities. For a splurge, Bermuda (it's a ~90 minute flight).

For an extended long weekend, Vegas is fun (surprised the heck out of me; I thought I'd hate it). Or wine country in CA.

In the winter, my extended long weekends are usually to London. It's far too expensive in the summer.

I realize not all of these would be convenient for you, but figured they fell into the "any and all" category :).

[lawyerlee]

I realize not all of these would be convenient for you, but figured they fell into the "any and all" category :).
Definitely! I figured these ideas might come in handy for someone else. :)

I like the Vegas idea. I'm sorta leaning that way, but I'm still considering. ;)

[amew]

Not sure how far you are willing to travel, and some of these places will be pretty toasty in August, but I could go for a long weekend in:

San Francisco/Napa Valley
Vegas
New Orleans
Charleston/Savannah (or an island off the Georgis coast)
NC/SC barrier islands
NYC
Chicago
Miami
Key West
Mackinac Island
Cape Cod
Aspen/Vail/Breckenridge/etc.
Santa Fe
Mexico
Quebec City
Montreal
Bermuda

[justHB]

My favorite long weekends are in Lake Tahoe and Wine Country, CA. I'm looking forward to our trip to Las Vegas in September. In January/February, we are thinking of going to Cabo or Maui for 4 days.

[BSBC]

Depending on how far you want to travel, Toronto, Montreal and Queubec City are really nice long weekend destinations. All three cities offer a lot to do.

If you are looking for something more rural, there is a beautiful Fairmont Hotel resort about 45 miles north of Quebec City. It is in a gorgeous area with lots of little art villages and a number of Canadian national parks.

[laura]

From Boston, we took lots of long weekends to the lakes region in New Hampshire. Very New England-y. We also went to Maine and Vermont some.

For "fun", weekend trips to Vegas are always good, but not very relaxing.

For relaxing long weekend trips, I hate to get on a plane b/c I think it is a time suck & it takes away some of the relaxation aspect for me. From here, I would enjoy a long weekend in Napa/Sonoma, Monterey, Santa Barbara, *maybe* a quickie flight to San Diego, Lake Tahoe, etc. Pretty much anything within ~4 hour drive (or 2 hours is actually preferable). I may at some point consider a spa weekend trip to Arizona, but that's on the 'someday' list more than the 'reality' list right now.

We do so much obligatory long weekend travel via plane it's hard for me to think beyond that. Though I would fly pretty much anywhere for a long weekend w/ "the girls"!

[lawyerlee]

For relaxing long weekend trips, I hate to get on a plane b/c I think it is a time suck & it takes away some of the relaxation aspect for me.
ITA. But since I don't live in very close proximity to anyplace I seem to want to visit on this proposed long weekend, I guess I'm going to have to suck it up and fly anyway. :rolleyes: ;)

[Dasha]

My husband and I just spent the most fabulous, romantic, revitalizing weekend in Santa Barbara, California. We flew from Chicago direct to Los Angeles and then rented a car for the 90 minute drive to our hotel. We stayed at a super luxurious, decadent resort, but there are accommodations in a variety of price ranges. We swam in the ocean, took long walk along the beach, rode bicycles along the oceanfront bike path, did some shopping, ate fabulous food, did some hiking, each had a massage and just enjoyed each other's company.
There are many wonderful wineries in the area. In fact the tourist bureau has organized "Sideways" tours in honor of the movie. There's a nice art museum, and several other tourist attractions.

I'd give it two definite thumbs up.

[lawyerlee]

I think we might go to Phoenix. Neither of us has ever been, and there are some nice resorts there that I've had my eye on. Plus, I'm a Frank Lloyd Wright fanatic, so I'd love to visit Taliesin West.

Santa Barbara is definitely going on my list, though. That sounds like an amazing trip to shoot for sometime in the near future. :)

[kalogrias]

Lawyerlee -- I went to Phoenix for a 4 day weekend about 6 weeks ago (from San Diego) with a friend. She and I stayed at the Phoenecian, which is incredible (and apparently the cushiest resort in the area -- who knew?), and then entire thing cost us (each) about $360 (including flights and the rental car) for 3 nights/4 days. We booked it through America West Vacations. The flight might cost more, depending on where you're coming from, and thus raise the price, but it shouldn't alter it too too much.

Highly recommended if you're looking at going to Phoenix! Really romantic, really relaxing, adn totally worth it :)

[lawyerlee]

Thank you so much for the information, kalogrias! That trip sounds like exactly what I have in mind. :)

[justHB]

Santa Barbara is definitely going on my list, though. That sounds like an amazing trip to shoot for sometime in the near future. :)FWIW, we were a bit bored in Santa Barbara last month. I wasn't all that impressed with the beaches, and there's only so much "exploring" you can do in a town that is wall to wall shopping. We did, however, enjoy going up to the Santa Ynez Valley which was about 40 minutes north of SB.

[Camdynlyn]

From NC, I would go to Charleston, SC (I have never been). I can't wait to go, though.

Hubby and I are taking a long weekend (Thurs-Mon) to NYC in Dec. Soooo thrilled.

[lawyerlee]

From NC, I would go to Charleston, SC (I have never been). I can't wait to go, though.

Hubby and I are taking a long weekend (Thurs-Mon) to NYC in Dec. Soooo thrilled.
Charleston is wonderful! I went by myself on a business trip last summer, but I can't wait to go back with Cliff sometime. :)

NYC would make a nice, active long weekend. I'm sure you guys will have a lot of fun. :)

[camberne]

My ex-boss does an annual trip to Napa Valley every year and comes back raving about how wonderful it is.

Everyone I know says that Vancouver is one of the most beautiful places they've ever been.

I'm always partial to B&B's in Williamsburg, VA. ;)

I love NYC for visits. When I spent my summers on Long Island, or even visited for a week's vacation, I'd always take the train into the city for a day or two. There's SO much to see and do.

Oh, and Charleston, SC is a lovely place. (didn't you go there for something work-related, though?)

I think a lot depends on if you want to DO something or if you just want to get away and relax.

edited to say: DUH, if I had read the whole thread, I would have seen your post about Charleston. :rolleyes:

[lawyerlee]

Oh, and Charleston, SC is a lovely place. (didn't you go there for something work-related, though?)

I think a lot depends on if you want to DO something or if you just want to get away and relax.

edited to say: DUH, if I had read the whole thread, I would have seen your post about Charleston. :rolleyes:

LOL. :) As soon as I got there, I was kinda bummed that Cliff couldn't go because it was during school. It is such a romantic place! :)

[wendalah]

My votes are:
Vegas
If you do Arizona, try Sedona--beautiful!
Santa Fe/Albuquerque

[justHB]

Next year we're hoping to take a trip through the South, stopping in Kentucky (family business to attend to) and then heading to Charleston and Savannah. I really need to start researching ...

[Katy]

My votes are:
Vegas
If you do Arizona, try Sedona--beautiful!
Santa Fe/Albuquerque

I love Sedona and highly recommend it (it's not as hot as Phoenix in the summer) and having lived in Albuquerque, I can definately recommend Santa Fe & Taos (the enchanted circle drive is beautiful). It would be very relaxing, good food and an awesome spa (ten thousand waves - I go every time I go back to visit).

[lawyerlee]

Well, we *finally* decided . . . we're going to Charleston, South Carolina! :D Cliff said he needed to be in the ocean on this trip, and I have to agree with him on that one.

I'm still researching hotels, but it looks like there are some really nice options. I stayed at the Doubletree last time, and it was OK and had a good conference center, but there are lots of other nice, historic, luxurious options I'm interested in.

This is the trip that Cliff seemed most excited about, and as I've said, I really want to go back, so it seems like the right option. I still want to go to Phoenix, Sedona, and Taos sometime in the not so distant future, too, but there will be plenty of time for that. :)