Wonderful Weekend Getaways Across the United States
America’s Most Iconic and Engaging Areas to Visit
Sometimes you need to just getaway for a bit, remove yourself from the old daily grind for a long weekend and lose yourself somewhere new. Taking the best weekend trips in the US may be a great option. Plus, you can find plenty of wonderful places to visit in just two or three days, provided you know about them! Have you ever wondered about the best weekend trips in the US?
We have compiled a list of six of the best weekend trips in the US we avoid big-name cities such as Chicago, New York, or Austin. While they are all truly wonderful destinations, most people know about them. Instead, we focus on smaller (yet still intriguing) destinations you can quickly get to and enjoy before needing to pop back into the office. Be forewarned, though, one person’s regional escape might be another’s cross-country trip. Make the appropriate pick for your location.
Best Weekend Trips in the US
In no particular order, some of best weekend trips in the US include:
Savannah, Georgia
History. The arts. Incredible dining. Family-friendly activities. Romantic escapes. This ancient American city contains picturesque and practical entertainments aplenty. Stroll the 22 public squares in the downtown area and peering up at the Spanish moss-swaddled oaks as they provide a canopy. Explore Forsyth Park, made famous by Clint Eastwood’s cinematic adaptation of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Or, give your feet a rest and take a tour in a horse-drawn carriage.
Not interested in old-timey stuff? Enjoy the high-end boutiques at City Market. Check out the Savannah College of Art and Design, a nationally recognized art school. Then, visit the home of Flannery O’Connor, the renowned literary author.
Black Hills, South Dakota
If you live in the west, the Black Hills section of South Dakota offers incredible road trip opportunities. However, understand you will not be able to enjoy this area to its fullest in just one weekend. Still, three or four days will give you ample time to check out Mount Rushmore National Memorial or perhaps Crazy Horse Monument. Consider camping out in Badlands National Park where rocky peaks form a unique geographical wonder.
Another great attraction is Rapid City, which can serve as a refuge if you do not want to venture too much into the outdoors. Enjoy lots of museums, cowboy dinners, amusement parks and the free South Dakota Air and Space Museum.
There are plenty of things to do in Romania, the issue will be trying to include them all in one trip! This country is brimming with possibility.
Amelia Island, Florida
On the other extreme, this is one of the sunshine state’s simultaneously posh and natural escapes. Visitors can relax at the five star accommodations of the Ritz Carlton and play golf on its half-dozen courses. Foodies can make a long weekend entirely out of high-end eateries like Burlingame (modern American), Cucina South (Italian), Le Clos (French) and Timoti’s Seafood Shack (local fish). No wonder readers of Travel + Leisure named it one of America’s top islands.
For outdoor lovers who prefer sand, sun and wildlife to room service and golf balls will also find a lot to like. Book a kayaking tour of Talbot Island State Park, go for a horseback ride on the beach at Amelia Island State Park, or visit the civil war Fort Clinch State Park.
Cannon Beach, Oregon
Consistently praised as one of the world’s best beaches, Cannon Beach in the beaver state does not disappoint. Nine miles of surf smoothed sand recedes into monolithic off-shore rock formations that rise out of the surf. This is Haystack Rock, a towering formation that thrusts up from the waters like some kind of primordial tooth.
There is plenty to do away from the beach, too. Clatsop Trail will have you retracing part of Lewis and Clark’s famous journey while granting you great views of the surrounding landscape. The town itself features lots of charming bistros and restaurants. Those who would like to try their hand at whipping up gourmet grub should check out EVOO Cooking School, which offers classes so engaging that they call them “dinner shows.”
Sedona, Arizona
Speaking of stunning, rocky sights, Arizona’s Sedona unfolds before you in an otherworldly panorama of terraced stone formations and copper-colored scree. Hikers and photographers find themselves in paradise with plenty of trails to tackle and stunning vistas to capture. It is hard to go wrong if you start with Cathedral Rock in Red Rock State Park. To get the most bang for your proverbial buck, drive the Red Rock Scenic Byway, making sure to stop at Chapel of the Holy Cross, a Catholic church that seems mysteriously melded with a rocky ridge.
For ages, Sedona has been popular with those interested in alternative religions and 1960s lifestyle. Bohemians will find lots to like here. Go shopping at The Hangin Tree, rent a room at the aptly named Dragonfly Sanctuary and motor out to ancient ruins with Pink Adventure Tours.
Kansas City, Missouri
The is the closest destination to a big city on this list. Kansas City, Missouri, is surprisingly cosmopolitan. More than one travel guide will boast that the city has a greater number of fountains than Rome and more boulevards than Paris, but no one comes here for the water or roads. Instead, visitors traditionally flock to the Heart of America for the live jazz venues clustered throughout the Vine Historic District, the city’s distinctive barbecue and the multiple gambling-centric riverboat cruises.
Kansas City also has a highly cultured side to it, one that is not immediately evident to many travelers. The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is home to the city’s professional symphony, opera and ballet company. You will find world-class Asian art at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, while the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art boasts pieces by Georgia O’Keeffe and Willem de Kooning. Not only will the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library Museum draw political buffs, it also offers a unique peek into wartime American history.
In fact, like many of the cities on this list, Kansas City has a wealth of sights to offer. The only thing you need is a little knowledge, a sense of adventure and an unplanned long weekend!
