50 Great Destinations for a Long Weekend

So it's a holiday weekend or, even better, the boss gave everybody Friday off.

Now what?

In the immortal words of the boys from Animal House-"Road Trip!"

Whether you fly or drive, a long weekend away can be quite the elixir. From the obvious, such as big cities like New York and San Francisco, to the off-the-beaten-path, like time in the mountains in Asheville, N.C., here are 50 great destinations to get away to, in no particular order.

You could spend a long weekend just people-watching in Miami Beach. Check into one of South Beach's Art Deco hotels, eat among a collection of the most diverse restaurants around, see some of the most modern, eclectic art galleries and oh, hit the beach.

Sherman Avenue, in the heart of downtown, is the place to be for terrific restaurants and nightlife. But that's only after a day filled with golf and water sports on Coeur D'Alene Lake.

Welcome to Texas' best city (sorry, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio). The youthfulness of it being the home of the University of Texas certainly helps, but Austin is just flat-out hip with a great music scene and the annual SXSW Festival.

Picking just one of the fabulous resorts in Cabo San Lucas will be the most difficult part of your weekend. The rest-relaxing among the bluest waters around-should be a piece of cake. Which you can order, by the way, after a delicious dinner.

If you want a jam-packed weekend, especially with the kids, here you go. Universal Studios, SeaWorld and, of course, the mother of all theme parks, Walt Disney World. And if you do have the time, get out and explore the city.

It would take a bevy of long weekends to see it all in NYC, but that's OK. Choose your spots, or maybe a theme? Perhaps it's just a Broadway weekend. Or a museum weekend. Maybe landmarks, like the Statue of Liberty or the 9/11 Memorial.

Absolutely gorgeous, from the Gilded Age mansion known as the Biltmore Estate and the 8,000 acres it sits on to the artsy downtown and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. Asheville is also a thriving craft beer town.

Like any big city, it takes more than three days to truly see Chicago. But if we were pressed, we'd spend our time at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum, Navy Pier to pretend we were kids again and certainly make sure we did it on a weekend when the Cubs were home at Wrigley Field.

The beauty of the Hudson Valley is that it's far enough removed from New York City and far more rural, but close enough to be in the city after a 90-minute train ride. Visit towns like Rhinebeck, Millbrook, Woodstock (the hipster community) and Bethel (where they actually held the original Woodstock) and go antiquing, drink great local wines and eat at some fabulous restaurants.

Be the tourist. Hop on a cable car. Take a boat ride over to Alcatraz (try the night tour for real fun). Rent a car, drive over the Golden Gate Bridge and spend a day in wine country. Enjoy one of the trendiest cities in the country.

There are rental cottages right on the beach here, and the beach has 32 miles of glorious shoreline nuzzled up against the Gulf of Mexico. A long weekend here is among the most relaxing you will find.

On the far reaches of the eastern end of Long Island lies the Gold Coast, home to Billy Joel, Christie Brinkley and more hedge fund managers than you can shake a stick at. It's expensive, but the homes and the beaches are, dare we say, perfect?

Just an absolutely wonderful city to walk in, especially with that old-world charm feel. Go to the Notre Dame Basilica, visit the Botanical Garden and be sure to go to the top of Mount Royal for a tremendous view of the city.

Now, you're going to have to pick your time carefully because there has been many a time when pending hurricanes have forced mandatory evacuations. So just check with the National Weather Service ahead of time for no surprises and you'll be rewarded with some of America's best beaches on this barrier island.

Well, of course. You're not seeing it all in one weekend, but Vegas has something for everybody. Looking to get wet and wild? The Vegas pool scene at the hotels is second to none. Foodie? Some of the best chefs in the world are here. Entertainment? Not a better place on earth.

One of the best beaches in the country, especially for surfing on the east coast. And certainly one of the best-if not the best-surf shops in the world in RonJon. Play your cards right and you might even catch a rocket launch from the nearby Kennedy Space Center, a great place to visit even on non-launch days.

You could easily spend one full day alone visiting the Georgia Aquarium-the largest in the western hemisphere-and World of Coke, a history of Atlanta-based Coca Cola Co. Then there's the food and nightlife and, oh, that southern hospitality.

Visiting The Alamo should be a bucket list item anyway, but doing the River Walk is what San Antonio is all about. This is one of the nicest walking areas in the entire country.

Get a little bit of everything here. Outdoor enthusiasts will love the running and biking trails, history buffs will enjoy the antebellum feel of a true old southern city and foodies will be overwhelmed with homestyle southern food.

The beauty of Los Angeles is its breadth. Catch a Broadway show at the famous Pantages Theater while enjoying the downtown. Shop on Rodeo Drive. See where the stars live in Beverly Hills. And, by all means, go to one of the many incredible beaches.

If you're an outdoor enthusiast, the Canyon is your place. A perfect opportunity to hike and camp in one of the world's most incredible places. If you're not height sensitive, walk the Skywalk as it juts out over the Canyon.

Get caught up in the revelry of NOLA. This is foodie and nightlife heaven, especially the famous beignets at Café du Monde and the Sunday brunch at The Court of Two Sisters.

You know the saying R&R, for rest and relaxation? Well, this is it. Life is slow here, where the Bush family keeps its compound. The fishing is great, the beaches are spectacular and the village is old New England at its best.

Plenty of history here, including the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, where the U.S. flag that inspired the writing of our National Anthem was first sewn. In addition, there are great museums, a terrific aquarium, more Maryland Crab Cake dinners than you can shake a net at, the wonderful Inner Harbor and one of the country's great baseball stadiums at Camden Yards.

Grab your passport, cross the northern border and enjoy one of the most underrated cities in the world. Make sure to check out neighborhoods like Granville Island, hit Spanish Banks Beach in the summer or ski in the winter.

Go two hours north of Los Angeles to reach what many call "America's Riviera." This is a high-end town with great restaurants, a vibrant shopping area on State Street and yet another of Cali's great beaches.

Don't worry about spending too much on a hotel room because other than sleeping and showering you won't be there that much. This is a weekend best spent outdoors to hike, bike, check out Pike's Peak and Red Rock Canyon, along with the Garden of the Gods. The U.S. Olympic training center is also here.

Welcome to golf heaven. More than 100 golf courses are spread over the Myrtle Beach area, perfect for a long weekend of hacking your way around various courses. Just, you know, watch out for the hazards.

Famed for its gorgeous red rocks, Sedona is known for its plethora of hiking trails. But if you're looking to relax, this is also ground zero for spas and spiritual healing. Cap off your day with a little vino from the Verde Valley Wine Trail.

Located in central New York, far from the maddening pace of New York City, the Finger Lakes are aptly named for its plethora of lakes spread out like fingers. The area is known for its scenery, especially the fall foliage, not to mention is vibrant wineries and food scene.

Drive south from Miami and enter a whole new world. The 126-mile chain of islands is simply spectacular, starting from Key Largo and ending in Key West, the southernmost point in the United States. The seafood alone is worth the weekend.

There is a stretch of beaches in this tiny state that caters to families if your long weekend includes kids. From Lewes, Delaware, and traveling south through Dewey, then Rehoboth-where former Vice President Joe Biden keeps a summer home-to Bethany and finally to Fenwick Island on the Maryland border, the Quiet Beaches are aptly named for family entertainment.

Even the hipsters from Seattle need to chill once in a while, and this is where they go. An hour north of the city, Whidbey Island features Deception Pass State Park, the most-visited state park in the state. The seaside village of Langley offers everything from great restaurants to coffee chops and glass-blowing demonstrations. Also catch a whale-watching trip from here.

If you're looking for a weekend filled with country music, Nashville is your place, especially the legendary Grand Ole Opry. If you're looking for a weekend filled with hard rock, blues, dance and karaoke instead, Nashville is also your go-to.

Some people take long weekends for the food scene and, yes, there are some great restaurants in Louisville. Some people take long weekends for other reasons, and if one of them is to taste the finest bourbons in the world, this is it. A third of the world's bourbon originates in Louisville. Grab your Bourbon Passport at the Visitor's Center and accumulate stamps at local bars.

In the midst of some of the world's best live music and certainly some of its best barbecue, if you don't hit The Peabody Hotel for the daily March of the Ducks then you really haven't spent a weekend in Memphis.

Another of the great cities of the old South. Everything about Savannah screams romance, from the intimate restaurants and the boutique shopping to the old mansions and a walk through Forsyth Park.

Colonial Williamsburg is for those who appreciate history, and history in this country dates back here. Tour some of the oldest homes in the country and for real added fun, try to schedule one at night. Play your cards right and catch a Revolutionary re-enactment.

Welcome to the Jersey Shore. No, not that Jersey Shore. This one is the historic town of Cape May, with its slow pace and old architecture. The entire city was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1976. Take it slow and take it all in.

One of the great places in the country that is LGBTQ friendly. The beaches are impeccable, the restaurants are outstanding, the nightlife is top-notch and you can even squeeze in some history by visiting where the Mayflower Compact was written.

Go in the spring or summer when you can really appreciate things like Boston Common and the Duck boat tour (Google it, thank us later). Don't forget to catch a game at historic Fenway Park.

This is one of the oldest settlements in the country, founded in 1565. While it has great beaches, St. Augustine has a bevy of attractions including the Fountain of Youth Archeological Park and the St. Augustine Wild Reserve. Or grab a Sightseeing Pass and see them all!

Despite the complicated nature of politics, this isn't necessarily a town focused solely on partisan arguments. This is history, our history, and there's enough here to fill up a weekend and then some. And, this is a great walking destination.

Incredibly relaxing time that brings a little bit of everything for the entire family. You can hike, swim in the lake, zipline, check out the great downtown with its art galleries and terrific local theatre, the Peninsula Players Theatre. Oh, and don't forget the cheese at the Door County Creamery.

What a great city. The beaches are among the world's best. The culture-everything from art galleries to the world-famous San Diego Zoo-is plentiful. And the neighborhoods, from Little Italy to the Gaslamp Quarter, are terrific.

Michigan's Upper Peninsula, or the U.P. as they like to call it, is a fascinatingly beautiful place. Camp for a long weekend by the shores of the Great Lakes, hike, walk the shoreline and check out the 19th-century lighthouse.

If you can't make it all the way to Las Vegas, make it here. Though the city has gone through some rough times in the last decade or so and lost several hotels to closures, there's still enough casino resorts left to gamble, enjoy shows, have fabulous meals, walk the famous boardwalk and, of course, hit the beach.

You're not going to get much better than spending the weekend on the famed Seven Mile Beach. And in recent years airfares have come down with more choice and options. While here, you can swim, snorkel and even visit Stingray City to enjoy an encounter with these majestic fish.

OK, this is one-hour flight from Miami and two hours direct from Charlotte. There's no reason not to go so you can spend a weekend scuba diving, snorkeling or just relaxing on Cable Beach. Want everything-and we mean everything, from gambling to restaurants to a cigar lounge-in one place? Stay at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar.

You don't have to be close to Vail to go skiing in the U.S. Stowe is a great place to ski and snowboard at several different resorts. Make sure you take the gondola to Stowe's Peak for a culinary experience at the Waffle Cabin. In the summer, check out the balloon festival and make sure to hit the home of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream.