For most of us, spring is a welcome season as many are coming out of long winter months that were filled with lots of cold weather, and snow, too.
Sure, while winter may be the time of the year for many holidays and family gatherings, once spring comes along, everyone’s minds turn to travel.
Getting out and enjoying some nice weather is a great way to dust off the cold winter months, though many have families to deal with, so long vacations are out of the question. Enter in weekend getaways!
Some of the best memories for family and individuals are those special weekend getaways, sometimes planning, sometimes spontaneous.
Weekend getaways any time of the year can be simply wonderful, but spring just seems so much more appealing for many.
Why Is A Spring Weekend Getaway So Appealing?
Think about it.
For thousands of people, Spring means the end of a long, dark, cold winter. So, of course, a weekend getaway is a great way to break out of the norm and get out of that seasonal depressive disorder that’s been plaguing you for the past 3 to 4 months!
Spring is also a great time to visit many locations, such as forest preserves or beaches for those who want something a little warmer.
Honestly, there are countless numbers of options for amazing weekend getaways, so let's start the planning process, shall we?
A Buyer’s Guide To Planning A Weekend Getaway
When it comes to planning a fabulous weekend getaway, it doesn’t have to be some huge elaborate project. In fact, for the purpose of this article, we aren’t going to focus on planning for a big trip that takes a lot of time and effort to plan.
That being said, even a simple weekend getaway needs a little bit of planning, even for those that like to live in the moment. Sure, flying by the seat of your pants can be fun, but even those that choose to “live in the moment,” need to put a little time an effort into the planning ahead of time, so they truly have nothing to stress over later on.
Pick A Place And Save The Date
Even for those that want to be spontaneous, the best thing to do is to pick a place ahead of time and save that date in your calendar. Even if this is the extent of the planning, you should at least get this far.
Why? This is important because it gives you an end goal. You know you want to take this weekend to go here.
This not only gives you something to look forward to, but it also gives you a new sense of adventure. Like we said, even if this is as far as the planning goes, you at least know where you are going and when.
Plan Ahead Of Time
This may go against those spontaneous beliefs for those who like just to get up and go, but trust us, this can make or break some weekend getaways.
By planning things ahead of time, you are giving yourself different goals for your mini-vacation. This way you won’t just get there and twiddle your thumbs trying to figure out where to head first, what may be open for the season and what may no longer be in the area.
Even if its just places to stay and eat, having a plan gives you a sense of stability and an outline of your time spent away.
We do highly recommend doing some research ahead of time and seeing what your destination has to offer as far as attraction goes. Unless you are planning a writer retreat for one, you’re going to want to be out and about exploring the world around you.
Get Recommendations
Even if you aren’t looking to plan too extensively, ask around and get some recommendations from others! Especially if this is a new location you’ve never been to prior.
Having recommendations from friends and loved ones are the best way to go for many weekend getaways because it affords you the chance to share the experience with them on a different level, especially if they aren’t traveling with you. You get to explore what they have in the past, and they can share stories once you return!
Don’t have someone that’s traveled to your intended destination before? That’s okay! The internet is full of users with great suggestions and recommendations for those who want just to get up and go.
Have A Stash Of Cash
By stash of cash, we don’t mean have and travel with a wad of cash. That’s not entirely smart when you are traveling for the weekend. No, what we mean here is to save for the occasion simply. Weekend getaways are here and gone before you know it, so you don’t want to have to waste time worrying about how you are going to afford this or that.
Having a vacation fun is a great idea for those that like to be spontaneous and head out of town for the weekend, but it’s also a good safety net for those that have had their getaway planned.
Sure, living in the moment can be fun, but worry about money never is. Like we said earlier, plan ahead so you can truly live in your moment.
How We Chose Our Rankings
When we create our best of lists, we have one thing on our minds – the consumer. That being said, we do more than comb the internet for products.
When looking for weekend getaways, we not only check for locations, but the best seasons to visit and what has the most to offer as far as visitor attractions.
Because weekend getaways can range in prices depending on what a person or family decides to do, we decided to not use that as a factor. Instead, the items ranked in our list of top five weekend getaways are based on destinations people want to visit most.
Our Top 5 Pick For Great Weekend Getaways
During our research on our top five picks for great weekend getaways, we tried to keep in mind the weather during the spring season.
For many places in the Midwest and northeast, spring still can be a little grey and dreary, so our weekend getaways were aimed towards warmer, greener destinations.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Travelers don’t have to wait until summer to get out and enjoy a little beach time! Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is far enough south where springtime means the temperatures are warming up and a walk along the beach sounds just right!
The Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Boardwalk and Promenade is a great attraction that originally opened up in 2010. It is home to something for everyone in the family, including the Family Kingdom amusement park, to Ripley’s Believe it or Not attraction with all sorts of wacky things to intrigue the mind, and even to Ground Zero, a place where teenagers can hang out and have fun.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Sure, New Orleans is a wild place full of fun and parties, but did you know that a family weekend away can be enjoyed as well? That’s right, much like other “wild” cities, New Orleans has more to offer than sins and spooks.
In fact, the city of New Orleans has quite a few attractions to suit both the individual and families alike.
Families would enjoy attractions such as the Historic Carousel in Park City, a behind the scenes tour of Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World, and even the Big Easy Bayou Kayak Tour.
For those looking to get away and just emerge themselves in the beauty that is New Orleans, check out all that the French Quarter has to offer, including the Faulkner House Books store and the beautiful grounds of Jackson Square, which is filled with street performers and historic buildings.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. is a great weekend getaway option for individuals and the family for many reasons, and not only because it’s the United State’s capital.
Of course, there are the guided tours through the White House and other governmental landmarks, but there are other destinations for those who want to learn a little something on their weekend away.
From the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History to the variety of marquee art galleries and beautiful farmers markets, there is so much more to see in Washington than just the U.S. Capitol.
Some other fun destinations in the area include the U.S. Botanic Garden, the International Spy Museum and the National Air and Space Museum.
Sure, Washington, D.C. makes for a great weekend getaway, but one weekend may not be long enough to explore all that the city has to offer!
Las Vegas, Nevada
Vegas… Do we need to say anything more?
Actually, we do!
Sure, Las Vegas is known for gambling, but there is so much more to it. Yes, gambling is all the rage in Vegas, and so showgirls and impromptu weddings, but did you know that it is also home to the Mob Museum?
How fitting is it that the National Museum of Organized Crime & Law Enforcement is found in Las Vegas? A city of beauty and sin?
Of course, there is also plenty of family fun that can be had in the land of sin as well. From the High Roller Observation Wheel to Wet’n’Wild Las Vegas to the https://santorinidave.com/las-vegas-with-kids">Adventuredome amusement park! Las Vegas truly is a great weekend getaway for just about anyone!
Sedona, Arizona
Sedona, Arizona is frequently described as one of America’s most beautiful places, no matter what time of the year. Sedona is frequently visited during the months between March-May and September – November when the weather is warmer and drier.
This area is frequently visited by those that want to be stunned by nature, given that it features some of the most beautiful towering red rocks and jagged sandstone buttes in the country, and with over 100 hiking trails, there is no end to the nature fun. The area is also known for its many spas that include red clay wraps and blue corn body scrubs.
Use Your Weekend Getaway To Truly Get Away
Weekend getaways should be just that… away for an individual or family to truly get away for a few days and forget about whatever ails them.
That being said, an ideal weekend getaway is going to differ drastically between the individual or group. Some may choose to head out to nature to get away from everyone and everything. Other’s may simply choose to head out on the town and experience what life has to offer, whether it be theater, arts, or history.
There is no wrong answer when it comes to an ideal weekend getaway. So just go out and enjoy yourself!
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