10 Best Weekend Getaways Near Major Cities com
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Driving distance from New York City: 3 hours Experience summer meandering through historic small towns, shopping at farmers markets and unique boutiques, and exploring the great outdoors in these beautiful regions of the country. From theater and art venues to antiquing to rafting and biking, there is something for everyone to enjoy on a 3-day vacation at a relaxed pace. RobertLlewellyn/Photodisc/Getty Images
Driving distance from Washington, D.C.: 3 hours Home to 3 Founding Fathers who would become U.S. presidents, Charlottesville is steeped in history, and not just in museums. It’s woven into the fabric of the community. The sites include Monticello (Thomas Jefferson’s home), the grounds of the University of Virginia, historic Court Square and Michie Tavern, circa 1784. Historical and brewery tours also are available for a 3-day vacation, as are winery taste testings. RATE SEARCH: If you’re looking for a new , find the best rates today at Bankrate.com. HenrykSadura/Moment Open/Getty Images
Driving distance from Pittsburgh: 2 hours, 10 minutes Cleveland Museum of Art has 43,000 works of art, including pieces by Monet, Caravaggio and Goya. Two attracters to the museum are that it’s free and it’s in Cleveland’s University Circle area, where you’ll find other attractions such as the natural history museum and botanical garden. There’s dining, too. You won’t want to miss the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Housed in an I.M. Pei-designed building overlooking Lake Erie, it displays memorabilia such as Chuck Berry’s handwritten lyrics for “School Days,” John Lennon’s guitar and a sequined glove worn by Michael Jackson. J.Castro/MomentOpen/Getty Images
Distance from Chicago: 2 hours Lake Geneva is a quaint lakeside community with a walkable downtown with boutiques and restaurants, a beach and boating. Visit historic mansions surrounding the lake and stay at the Grand Geneva Resort — the former Playboy Club & Resort but now the choice of families and couples alike. Milwaukee is a large city with a plethora of tourist attractions. The Milwaukee 3rd Ward is the site of many historic buildings filled with restaurants and shops, while the Milwaukee Art Museum can brag about its innovative design by “starchitect” Santiago Calatrava. Glowimages/GettyImages
Driving distance from Atlanta: 3 hours, 45 minutes In Savannah, stroll through the beautiful squares draped in Spanish moss, and dine and shop in a quaint downtown. Savannah is one of only a few places in the country where you can walk around downtown with a beer or cocktail, as long as it’s in a plastic cup.
Driving distance from Atlanta: 3 hours, 30 minutes In Asheville, tour the Biltmore Estate and Gardens, the North Carolina Arboretum and the Asheville Pinball Museum, and drive through the mountains on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Hamid Khan / EyeEm/Getty Images
Flight time from Miami: 2 hours, 50 minutes (nonstop) Spend an afternoon exploring the architecture and shops of Old San Juan. Go climbing, rappelling, sailing or riding on a custom racing boat. Tour the Bacardi rum plant by day, gamble at the casinos by night. And a bonus: No need for a passport or currency converter.
Driving distance from Miami: 2 hours, 45 minutes Along Florida’s Gulf Coast, the beautiful beach community of Sanibel Island is renowned for its shelling beaches. You can sunbathe on the sand or take part in many outdoor and nature-based activities like boating, biking, canoeing and golfing. Peter Tsai Photography – www.petertsaiphotography.com/GettyImages
Driving distance from Dallas: 3 hours Austin is known for its great music, food and nightlife. You also can visit the LBJ Presidential Library, the Bullock Texas State History Museum, the University of Texas, the Blanton Museum of Art and the Harry Ransom Center. Or, tour Texas Hill Country on a weekend wine-tasting excursion. Rachid Dahnoun/Getty Images
Driving distance from San Francisco: 3 hours, 30 minutes Try Lake Tahoe for a weekend of hiking, learning how to stand up on a paddleboard and exploring this beautiful mountain escape. Gamble at the Cal Neva Resort & Casino, once owned by entertainer Frank Sinatra.
Driving distance from San Franscisco: a little over an hour Or, take a trip to Sonoma Valley for a more off-the-beaten path wine escape. Avoid the weekend crowds at some of the bigger wineries of Napa Valley and opt for the sipping-on-the-front-porch style of some of the smaller tasting rooms in Sonoma. RATE SEARCH: If you’re planning a road trip and need a new car, shop for the best rates today at Bankrate.com. Raquel Lonas/Moment Open/Getty Images
Driving distance from Los Angeles: 1 hour, 50 minutes Once the getaway for Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant and Liberace, it’s now a spot for R&R for Los Angelenos. Take Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to the top of Mount San Jacinto for the spectacular view. Play golf, or take in the Palm Springs Art Museum, with works by Frederic Remington, Andy Warhol and David Hockney, and visit the museum’s new architectural center. The Palm Springs Air Museum is home to one of the world’s largest collections of flyable World War II aircraft. Kids can learn to fly in simulators. Photo courtesy of @kpodadventures on Instagram
Distance from Seattle: A 90-minute drive to Anacortes, then a ferry ride to the islands Try the San Juan Islands for a weekend of quiet, nature-based activities on beautifully preserved islands. Rent a bike or kayak to make your way through the quaint towns and enjoy the abundance of wildlife while feeling worlds away from the city.
Driving distance from Seattle: 2 hours, 45 minutes Vancouver offers a great urban scene for dining and shopping, with tourist sites like the Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver Lookout and the city’s art gallery. You also can take in outdoor areas like Deep Cove where you can kayak among wildlife such as sea lions, or stroll the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Related Links: 6 categories where consumer prices fluctuated in 2015 10 best Mother’s Day gifts to wow millennial moms Related Articles: Money tips by age group SHARE: Stephen Pounds
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Two-thirds of U.S. travelers prefer short trips, according to a study by Enterprise Rent-A-Car. “It tends to be easier to get away for just 3 days with much less preparation for leaving work for an entire week,” says Jeanenne Tornatore, senior editor of the travel site Orbitz.com. “It also allows travelers to spread their vacation days out over more trips and is generally less expensive,” she says. With that in mind and with the help of Orbitz’s Tornatore, Bankrate.com came up with these quick-visit, 3-day vacations. RATE SEARCH: If you’re looking for a to your next trip, check out the rates today at Bankrate.com. Photo courtesy of Alex EfronFrom New York City
Driving distance from New York City: 3 hours Experience summer meandering through historic small towns, shopping at farmers markets and unique boutiques, and exploring the great outdoors in these beautiful regions of the country. From theater and art venues to antiquing to rafting and biking, there is something for everyone to enjoy on a 3-day vacation at a relaxed pace. RobertLlewellyn/Photodisc/Getty Images
From Washington D C
Driving distance from Washington, D.C.: 3 hours Home to 3 Founding Fathers who would become U.S. presidents, Charlottesville is steeped in history, and not just in museums. It’s woven into the fabric of the community. The sites include Monticello (Thomas Jefferson’s home), the grounds of the University of Virginia, historic Court Square and Michie Tavern, circa 1784. Historical and brewery tours also are available for a 3-day vacation, as are winery taste testings. RATE SEARCH: If you’re looking for a new , find the best rates today at Bankrate.com. HenrykSadura/Moment Open/Getty Images
From Pittsburgh
Driving distance from Pittsburgh: 2 hours, 10 minutes Cleveland Museum of Art has 43,000 works of art, including pieces by Monet, Caravaggio and Goya. Two attracters to the museum are that it’s free and it’s in Cleveland’s University Circle area, where you’ll find other attractions such as the natural history museum and botanical garden. There’s dining, too. You won’t want to miss the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Housed in an I.M. Pei-designed building overlooking Lake Erie, it displays memorabilia such as Chuck Berry’s handwritten lyrics for “School Days,” John Lennon’s guitar and a sequined glove worn by Michael Jackson. J.Castro/MomentOpen/Getty Images
From Chicago
Distance from Chicago: 2 hours Lake Geneva is a quaint lakeside community with a walkable downtown with boutiques and restaurants, a beach and boating. Visit historic mansions surrounding the lake and stay at the Grand Geneva Resort — the former Playboy Club & Resort but now the choice of families and couples alike. Milwaukee is a large city with a plethora of tourist attractions. The Milwaukee 3rd Ward is the site of many historic buildings filled with restaurants and shops, while the Milwaukee Art Museum can brag about its innovative design by “starchitect” Santiago Calatrava. Glowimages/GettyImages
Atlanta
Driving distance from Atlanta: 3 hours, 45 minutes In Savannah, stroll through the beautiful squares draped in Spanish moss, and dine and shop in a quaint downtown. Savannah is one of only a few places in the country where you can walk around downtown with a beer or cocktail, as long as it’s in a plastic cup.
Driving distance from Atlanta: 3 hours, 30 minutes In Asheville, tour the Biltmore Estate and Gardens, the North Carolina Arboretum and the Asheville Pinball Museum, and drive through the mountains on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Hamid Khan / EyeEm/Getty Images
Miami
Flight time from Miami: 2 hours, 50 minutes (nonstop) Spend an afternoon exploring the architecture and shops of Old San Juan. Go climbing, rappelling, sailing or riding on a custom racing boat. Tour the Bacardi rum plant by day, gamble at the casinos by night. And a bonus: No need for a passport or currency converter.
Driving distance from Miami: 2 hours, 45 minutes Along Florida’s Gulf Coast, the beautiful beach community of Sanibel Island is renowned for its shelling beaches. You can sunbathe on the sand or take part in many outdoor and nature-based activities like boating, biking, canoeing and golfing. Peter Tsai Photography – www.petertsaiphotography.com/GettyImages
From Dallas
Driving distance from Dallas: 3 hours Austin is known for its great music, food and nightlife. You also can visit the LBJ Presidential Library, the Bullock Texas State History Museum, the University of Texas, the Blanton Museum of Art and the Harry Ransom Center. Or, tour Texas Hill Country on a weekend wine-tasting excursion. Rachid Dahnoun/Getty Images
From San Francisco
Driving distance from San Francisco: 3 hours, 30 minutes Try Lake Tahoe for a weekend of hiking, learning how to stand up on a paddleboard and exploring this beautiful mountain escape. Gamble at the Cal Neva Resort & Casino, once owned by entertainer Frank Sinatra.
Driving distance from San Franscisco: a little over an hour Or, take a trip to Sonoma Valley for a more off-the-beaten path wine escape. Avoid the weekend crowds at some of the bigger wineries of Napa Valley and opt for the sipping-on-the-front-porch style of some of the smaller tasting rooms in Sonoma. RATE SEARCH: If you’re planning a road trip and need a new car, shop for the best rates today at Bankrate.com. Raquel Lonas/Moment Open/Getty Images
From Los Angeles
Driving distance from Los Angeles: 1 hour, 50 minutes Once the getaway for Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant and Liberace, it’s now a spot for R&R for Los Angelenos. Take Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to the top of Mount San Jacinto for the spectacular view. Play golf, or take in the Palm Springs Art Museum, with works by Frederic Remington, Andy Warhol and David Hockney, and visit the museum’s new architectural center. The Palm Springs Air Museum is home to one of the world’s largest collections of flyable World War II aircraft. Kids can learn to fly in simulators. Photo courtesy of @kpodadventures on Instagram
From Seattle
Distance from Seattle: A 90-minute drive to Anacortes, then a ferry ride to the islands Try the San Juan Islands for a weekend of quiet, nature-based activities on beautifully preserved islands. Rent a bike or kayak to make your way through the quaint towns and enjoy the abundance of wildlife while feeling worlds away from the city.
Driving distance from Seattle: 2 hours, 45 minutes Vancouver offers a great urban scene for dining and shopping, with tourist sites like the Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver Lookout and the city’s art gallery. You also can take in outdoor areas like Deep Cove where you can kayak among wildlife such as sea lions, or stroll the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Related Links: 6 categories where consumer prices fluctuated in 2015 10 best Mother’s Day gifts to wow millennial moms Related Articles: Money tips by age group SHARE: Stephen Pounds