How to Plan Quick Trips to Escape the Daily Grind
By Suzanne Carmel
It's
back to the work grind, with not a warm day in sight for
many of us this time of year. Many working women find this a wonderful
excuse to hibernate in the office with piles of work, and a vow not to surface
until spring. If you're still recovering from the hassles of traveling over the
summer or holidays or getting the kids back to school, another trip may be the last thing on your mind — but it shouldn't be.
A long weekend getaway — three nights away from the daily routine — can do wonders
to revive the spirit and fortify the soul for the last few dreary winter months.
Wherever you live in the country, there is a quick getaway
you can set your sights on — so start planning to leave those
piles behind!
The
following five destinations offer vacations ranging from the great outdoors to
art and culture, sizzling nightlife or golf and spas. Best of all, you can get
a handle on these places within a three-night, four-day timeframe.
| South
Beach, Miami, Florida: |
|
 South
Beach, Miami is one destination where the days are hot and the nights even hotter.
These two square miles at the southern tip of Miami Beach are packed with trendy
hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and shops along a stretch of beach so wide there
is room enough for everyone to play in the sun. Stroll or drive through the revitalized
Art Deco District - over 800 colorful buildings listed on the National Register
of Historic Places. It's the largest concentration of 1920s and 1930s architecture
in the world. Take in the art collections at The Bass Museum or a performance
at the Jackie Gleason Theater. Browse boutiques along Ocean Drive or
shops in the Lincoln Road Shopping District. Just a short distance away,
you can visit the Miami neighborhoods such as Coconut Grove or Little Havana,
bike or hike the trails on Key Biscayne Island, or view the wildlife in the Florida
Everglades.
Suggested
accommodations:
Delano Hotel, 800-555-5001 or www.delano-hotel.com
;
The Hotel, 877-843-4683 or www.thehotelofsouthbeach.com;
Loews Miami Beach Hotel, 305-604-1601 or www.loewshotels.com,
Miami Beach Marriott at South Beach, 305-536-7700 or www.miamibeachmarriott.com;
The National Hotel, 800-327-8370 or www.nationalhotel.com;
The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, 800-241-3333 or www.ritzcarlton.com;
Sagamore, 877-242-6673 or www.sagamorehotel.com;
The Shore Club, 877-640-9500 or www.shoreclub.com
For
more information, contact the Miami Convention
& Visitors Bureau at 800-933-8448, or visit
the website at www.Miamiandbeaches.com
| |
| Adirondack
Mountains, New York: |
 The
mountains and waterways of northern New York lend themselves to leisurely drives;
hiking and biking trails; climbing a peak for a majestic view; swimming and fishing
in a serene lake; or retracing America's past at historic sites throughout the
Adirondack region. New York's Adirondack Park is larger than the state of Vermont
and is comprised of both public and private lands - the only park in the Unites
States to combine the two. Water is as much an attraction as the mountains. There
are over 3,000 ponds and lakes, 1,500 miles of river and many miles of stream.
Boating, sailing, canoeing, kayaking and whitewater rafting are all available
to visitors. There are also 2,000 miles of trails, some to hike, ski and snowshoe,
and others to snowmobile or horseback ride. There are over 40 public campgrounds,
but you can also stay in lodging ranging from cabins and cottages to upscale,
luxury inns. Within the park you'll see wildlife such as deer, fox, coyotes, black
bear, moose, beaver and otters. No matter the season, there is plenty to explore
in the Adirondacks.
Suggested
accommodations:
Hilton Lake Placid Resort, 800-755-5598 or www.lphilton.com;
Lake Placid Lodge, 877-523-2700 or www.lakeplacidlodge.com;
Mirror Lake Inn, Resort & Spa, 518-523-2544 or www.mirrorlakeinn.com;
The Point, 800-255-3530 or www.thepointresort.com;
Copperfield Inn, 800-424-9910
For
more information, contact the Adirondack Regional
Tourism Council at 800-487-6867, or visit the
website at www.adk.com
Photo
courtesy of Adirondack Regional Tourism |
|
| Santa
Fe, New Mexico: |
 At
7,000 feet above sea level, the crisp, clean mountain air of this third-largest
city in New Mexico is not the only thing that will surprise visitors. It's the
second oldest city in the United States (founded in 1607), and is considered the
highest and oldest capital city. Though peak tourist season is between April and
October, the city offers plenty to do year round. In the winter, visitors can
ski down 43 runs, cozy up in luxury accommodations, or take in a symphony or chorus
performance. You can also peruse exhibitions at nearby museums including the Georgia
O'Keefe Museum and the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, browse the many galleries
and shops, or linger over exceptional cuisine at a variety of renowned restaurants.
Warm weather brings everyone outside to the great outdoors, where you can hike,
bike, horseback ride, raft, fish and hunt. The city's more than 230 galleries
make for a great excuse to stroll around town, especially on Canyon Road.
Suggested
accommodations:
Eldorado Hotel, 800-955-4455 or www.eldoradohotel.com;
Inn of the Anasazi, 800-688-8100 or www.innoftheanasazi.com;
La Fonda Hotel, 800-523-5002 or www.lafondasantafe.com;
La Posada de Santa Fe Resort & Spa, 800-727-5276 or www.laposadadesantafe.com;
Ten Thousand Waves/Houses of the Moon, 505-992-5003 or www.tenthousandwaves.com;
The Bishop's Lodge Resort and Spa, 800-732-2240 or www.bishopslodge.com
For
more information, contact the City of Santa Fe
Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-777-2489,
or visit the website at www.santafe.org
Photo by Jack Parsons - courtesy santafe.org |
|
| Telluride,
Colorado: |
 Everything
to see and do in Telluride is packed into the tiny eight-by-12 block town, that
and the stunning landscape of mountains that make up the outdoor playground surrounding
it. People prefer to walk from place to place in town, so it's the perfect getaway
for those who would rather not drive. Free shuttles take guests between downtown
Telluride and the rest of the lodging, dining and shopping in Mountain Village.
One can almost picture the days when miners came here searching for gold and silver,
back when the town was founded in 1878. Mountain Village's modern luxury hotels
and upscale boutiques provide a nice contrast to town. Founded in 1987, the village
makes for a nice stop after a day of skiing in the mountains. Of course, there
is plenty to do here besides skiing. Winter activities include snowshoeing, snowboarding,
cross-country skiing, dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice skating and horseback riding,
which you can also do in the summertime.
When
the weather warms and mountains shed their winter white for greener hues,
visitors hike, bike, river raft, fly fish, jeep and tour the landscape, and attend
the many summer festivals.
Suggested
accommodations:
Hotel Telluride, 866-468-3504 or www.thehoteltelluride.com;
New Sheridan Hotel, 800-200-1891 or www.columbiatelluride.com;
Camel's Garden, 888-772-2635 or www.camelsgarden.com;
Ice House Hotel, 800-544-3436 or www.icehouselodge.com;
Inn at Lost Creek, 888-601-5678 or www.innatlostcreek.com;
Wyndham Peaks Resort and Golden Door Spa, 800-789-2220 or www.thepeaksresort.com;
Franz Klammer Lodge, 800-259-7424 or www.franzklammerlodge.com
For
more information contact Telluride & Mountain
Village Visitor Services at 888-288-7360, or visit
the website at www.visittelluride.com |
|
| Palm
Springs Desert Resorts, California: |
 It's
difficult to believe that the eight desert cities that make up Palm Spring Desert
Resorts are located on land settled by Cahuilla Indians about 2,000 years ago.
Today this oasis in the desert is home to about 10,000 palm trees, 111 golf courses,
30,000 swimming pools and 600 tennis courts - making it the perfect resort getaway.
In addition to golf, tennis, hiking, biking, horseback riding and swimming, there
are more unconventional pursuits such as hot air ballooning, polo, rock climbing
and tandem skydiving. With 350 days of sunshine annually you're almost guaranteed
to have clear skies during your trip - no matter how short. Attractions and activities
include shopping the boutiques in the exclusive shopping districts of El Paseo
and Palm Canyon Drive, visiting Joshua Tree National Park, trying your luck at
an Indian-owned casino or cooling off in the IMAX Theater. When the sun goes down,
nightlife runs the gamut from piano bars and coffee houses to sports bars and
disco clubs. After you've seen and done as much as you can fit in, relax with
a mineral bath or pampering trip to a spa.
Suggested
accomodations:
Desert Springs a JW Marriott Resort & Spa, 800-331-3112 or www.desertspringsresort.com;
Doral Desert Princess Resort, 888-FUN-INPS or www.doralpalmsprings.com;
Hyatt Grand Champions Resort & Spa, 800-55-Hyatt or www.grandchampions.hyatt.com;
Hyatt Regency Suites Palm Springs, 800-233-1234 or www.palmsprings.hyatt.com;
La Mancha Private Villas & Spa Resort, 866-673-7501 or www.La-Mancha.com;
Marriott's Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, 800-458-8786 or www.rancholaspalmas.com,
Miramonte Resort, 800-237-2926 or www.miramonteresort.com;
Westin Mission Hills Resort, 800-228-3000 or www.westin.com
For
more information, contact the Palm Springs Desert
Resorts Convention and Visitors Authority at 800-41-RELAX,
or visit the website at www.PalmSpringsUSA.com
Photo courtesy of Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism
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