15 Places to Go for A Great Weekend Escape

Imagine it's Friday afternoon. Your friend/partner arrives to collect you from work, your suitcase packed and passport in his / her hand. You're going away for a surprise weekend holiday. Where would you want to go?

That was a question posted by Trippy user Maria O’ Dwyer.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could occasionally get away to a destination, do whatever you want and enjoy the activities that you love? The once a year vacation may fix a tired soul, but are few and far between. Trippy user Maria knows that a surprise weekend getaway to enjoy leisure activities will do wonders to a stressed out person, or anyone tired of the daily grind and mundane lifestyle.

To help you plan a great weekend escape, we’ve gathered 15 places recommended by Trippy users that are affordable, accessible and suitable for all season:

1. Sedona AZ


Trippy user Theresa Christine from California suggested Sedona:
For just a weekend, I'd probably want to go to Sedona. I've never been, and it looks beautiful. There are oodles of other places on my list, but for a short weekend trip, I think this would be perfect. A nice mix of getting out of a big city, nature, gorgeous views, and desert landscape, which I love. :)

It takes less than an hour to fly from Los Angeles, where Theresa lives, to Phoenix. And it is about a two-hour drive from Phoenix to Sedona. Enjoy the mild climate and plan a fun trip using the 100 Things to Do in Sedona by VisitSedona.com. I suggest taking a Peace Tour visiting Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, Chapel of the Holy Cross and The Peace Garden.

2. Twin Lakes, Alberta


Trippy user Rasto Elgr from Edmonton opted for a camping trip close to his home. He said:
For a great weekend escape, I don't want to fly anywhere and waste one day just going through the airport security and all that hassle associated.

To escape city life, I would simply mount my kayak on a truck and went to one of the great campgrounds around to enjoy kayaking, fishing and staring at night into a campfire with coyotes howling in the background and beer in my hand. :-)

During summer you can go boating, fishing, camping, hiking, kayaking, swimming, wildlife viewing, birding and horseshoeing. In winter, Twin Lakes is suitable for snowshoeing and ice fishing.

3. Colorado Springs, CO


Angelina Brown dreamt of Colorado Springs:
I would love to visit Colorado Springs if it is a surprise weekend trip. I like the colored mountain and lovely ways to spend the weekend with my loved ones. I always book my tickets from http://www.asaptickets.com/as I only find this platform very reliable when it comes to last minute booking. It would be a total fun weekend.

Angelina lives in Chicago and has easy access to Colorado Springs. United Airlines flies directly from Chicago to Colorado Springs with a flying time of around two hours.

Colorado Springs sits at the foot of Pikes Peak, one of America’s most famous landmarks. This picturesque city with red rock formations and snow-capped Pikes Peak is attractive year-round and is suitable for the adventurous and culture connoisseurs.

Experience a scenic drive, hike or ride the Pikes Peak Cog Railway to the peak.

4. Puerto Rico


Living in New York City gives me a lot of options to vacation in the Caribbean. Bermuda is just a two hour flight away. But for a weekend getaway, I’d choose Puerto Rico.



Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States, meaning it is part of the US. Flying to San Juan Puerto Rico is hassle-free and is considered domestic travel for American citizens. It’s like flying into any city within the United States.

It takes around three hours 42 minutes to get to San Juan from John F. Kennedy Airport in NYC. United Airlines, Delta, and JetBlue offer non-stop flights to the island daily. I liked the historic sites of Old San Juan, coffee plantations in the Cordillera Central and enjoyed Puerto Rican food while I was there for 72 hours.

Adventure seekers may want to go zip lining over a high forest canopy or paddle through a glow-in-the-dark bioluminescent bay.

5. Crystal Cove State Beach, CA


Fritzi Lareau from San Francisco shared:
I love the beach. For a surprise weekend getaway, we could go to Crystal Cove State Beach near Newport, Ca. We would stay in a restored cottage right on the beach. The other two possibilities are Catalina Island or The Big Island, Hawaii. Love to swim with the sea turtles and bask on the black sand beach.

Crystal Cove State Beach is a federally listed Historic District with 46 vintage rustic coastal cottages and a 3.2-mile beach. It’s located off the Pacific Coast Highway between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach. It’s less than two hours for Fritzi to get to the beach from San Francisco.

6. Negril, Jamaica


Kim Dayman from Canada picked Negril. She said:
For a surprise weekend away with my husband hands down I'd pick Negril Jamaica. Beaches, reggae, goat curry, and sunsets. Pure bliss :)

Negril’s 7-Mile Beach is powdery white, calm and warm. The environment will instantly melt every stress away. Located 53 miles west of Montego Bay, Negril is also ideal for snorkeling and diving. It’s just under four hours to fly direct from Toronto to Montego Bay.

7. Antigua, Guatemala


Gina Czupka from Minneapolis preferred Antigua:
For me, it's Antigua Guatemala, a place that has a white-knuckle grip on my heart and my husband's, too. It's a short flight from the U.S., no jet lag to deal with, and it's just one of the most drop-dead beautiful small cities in the world. It's perfect for strolling, relaxing in a cafe or hotel courtyard, sitting in the Parque Central or, my preferred activity, disappearing beneath stacks of beautiful textiles.

8. Napa, Valley, CA


Ashley and Ryan R from Calgary would choose New York City or Napa Valley. They wrote:
Since it's only a weekend escape, somewhere that isn't too long of a flight so I'd say New York City or Napa Valley.

When in Napa Valley Debbie Lee suggested wine tasting and fun at the following places:

Wine tasting:
• Artesa Vineyards & Winery
• Domaine Carneros
• Domaine Chandon

For fun:
• Take a walk in downtown Yountville on Washington St. Search for The French Laundry in your GPS and go from there. There's a beautiful garden/park adjacent to the restaurant and that's a good place stop off for a walk and take some pictures. This is also where Domaine Chandon is located.
• Old Faithful Geyser: Grab a picnic lunch and head here to see the geyser. Good spots to grab lunch to go are at Buster's Southern BBQ or Palisades Market close to the geyser in Calistoga, or if you're coming from Napa, go to Genova Delicatessen for some sandwiches.
• Downtown St Helena is also great to walk through for some shopping. Great boutiques and little specialty food stores.

9. Big Sur and Monterrey, CA


Rylee Daniel from California prefer a trip close to home:
For just a weekend wouldn't want to deal with airport security. I would head up to Northern California to Big Sur and Monterey Bay. They have the biggest aquarium in the California also Good hikes, and the weather is beautiful. A good place to get out of the city/ suburbs and get back to nature.

There are plenty of day hikes available in Monterey, Big Sur, Carmel, and Salinas. SeeMonterey.com listed the following:

10. Pagosa Springs, CO


Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer from Colorado would choose Paris in a heartbeat, but for a weekend getaway, she chose Pagosa Springs. She said:
So right now I'd say Pagosa Springs, Colorado because a good soak in a hot springs pool at The Springs Resort & Spa sounds amazing.

Located in the Colorado Sunbelt, Pagosa Springs is 35 miles north of New Mexico border. The town is surrounded by national forest and wilderness areas. Most people go to the hot springs and the historic sites when visiting Pagosa Springs.

11. Barbados


Another Caribbean island I chose for a weekend getaway was Barbados. It takes four hours 40 minutes to fly directly from New York to Bridgetown Barbados. While I was there, I stayed at the Fairmont Royal Pavilion in St James Parish, a perfect resort for a quiet stay by a white sandy beach. I took a full day guided tour visiting highlights like Harrison’s Cave, Flower Forest, Bathsheba, and St Nicholas Abbey. St. Nicholas is a 17th-century plantation house where we had rum tasting.



I recommend going to Oistins Fish Fry if you’re there on a Friday. That’s when you can join the locals and tourists for a beer and fish fry.

12. Oaxaca, Mexico


Trippy user Tiffany Weber from Oregon would go to Oaxaca:
A whim could take me anywhere... but, at the moment, I'd fly to Oaxaca to eat some mole, peruse the Mercado 20 de Noviembre and the Mercado Benito Juárez, and then head off to Monte Alban for a hike. If time allowed, I'd go to Tlacolula de Matamoros to visit friends and buy some new carpets in Teotitlan del Valle.

Oaxaca is rich in culture and history. Besides visiting archaeological sites and colonial buildings, you can take a day trip to a coffee plantation, take a tour of the Mazunte mangroves or go surfing in Mazunte.

13. Galway City, Ireland


If you live in Dublin like Declan Meenagh, you may want to go to Galway City. Declan wrote:
I've spent some good weekends in Galway City. There's lots of stuff to do, aquarium, visits to the island, food and also great nightlife.

Galway City is also doable if you live in Boston or New York City. A direct flight from New York City to Dublin is just under seven hours. The drive from Dublin to Galway is under three hours.


14. The Bahamas


Trippy user, Ellen Mckinney from Naples FL preferred the Bahamas. She would have to take a two-hour drive Miami and then a 52-minute direct flight to Nassau. The Bahamas offers plenty of hotel options for every budget.

15. Key West


Trippy user Melissa McCaffrey from Massachusetts would go anywhere in the Caribbean, Mexico or Key West:
Right now, living in New England where it doesn't seem to want to warm up? I'm dreaming of sunshine - someplace close enough that you could actually enjoy the weekend without spending the whole time in transit - Tulum, The Bahamas, San Juan, Key West.....I'll take anyplace warm!

Key West is the southernmost point in the United States. It has the Caribbean vibe, and there's no need to take a flight if you don't want to. Take a road trip from Miami and enjoy the Overseas Highway, also known as the "Highway to Goes to the Sea."

The Overseas Highway is on the old Florida East Coast Railroad, built by Henry Flagler, and was in operation from 1912 to 1935. Cross 42 bridges and cruise through the keys on the highway to the southernmost point.

While you're in Key West, relax at the beach, visit the historic sites like Ernest Hemingway's house or hang out at one of the bars and cafes on Duval Street.

Have a question on planning your weekend getaway? Become a Trippy user. Get your question answered.

Article and photos by Claudia Looi




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