Jump to section Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Copy URL Email The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. Not every great vacation requires taking a week off work. Sometimes all you need is a weekend, a direct flight and the right destination for your perfect getaway.
Whether your ideal escape involves hiking through dramatic landscapes, lingering over unforgettable meals, spending time with the kids, snuggling up with your loved one, exploring museums or relaxing on the beach , there's a weekend escape waiting for you.
Each of the destinations below is easy to enjoy in just two or three days. Just choose your travel style and we’ll supply all the details for a weekend vacation that’s sure to please.
Related: 18 best weekend getaways in the US
San Diego checks nearly every box for a fun, family-friendly getaway . Spend the morning meeting giant pandas, tigers and monkeys (just to name a few) at the San Diego Zoo. In the afternoon, explore the science or natural history museums at Balboa Park, or skip the indoor activities and opt instead for the old-school carousel and the miniature train around the leafy green park.
The next day, head to La Jolla to watch the boisterous sea lions and visit the kid-size aquarium or head to the USS Midway to tour a real-life aircraft carrier. Too much for the kids? Don’t worry, there are 17 miles of golden beaches where you can simply relax and play in the sand, too.
Where to stay: It doesn’t get more iconic than Hotel del Coronado , part of the Curio Collection by Hilton . Families, including mine, love its beachfront location, multiple pools, kids’ programming, bike rentals, fire pits and easy access to Coronado Island’s ice cream shops and wide, sandy beach.
Easy to navigate Chicago rewards travelers who love exploring a city on multiple levels. Start off with the Windy City’s famed museums, including the masterpieces at the Art Institute of Chicago and the dinosaurs at the Field Museum. Then schedule in some time to discover the only-here neighborhoods like the Andersonville, Lincoln Square, Pilsen and the myriad dining spots in the West Loop. Then head to the South Side, which now boasts the must-visit Obama Presidential Center , a hybrid of a museum, cultural center and neighborhood hangout that offers everything from outdoor movies to a vegetable garden to lectures and performances.
Add in some deep-dish pizza, Italian beef sandwiches, an architectural cruise (my favorite way to see the city) and skyline views from the Willis Tower Skydeck, and you’ll have no shortage of ways to fill a weekend.
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Where to stay: The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel, is one of our favorite boutique hotels in Chicago, and it…