Top 5 weekend getaway destinations in the US

Sometimes the pressures of the working week can become too much, and a couple of days at home or out with friends feel like they won’t be enough to relieve this stress. Taking a quick weekend getaway after five days at work can feel like bliss – and the best thing is that you won’t have to use up any vacation time to go on one! Check out this list of the top five weekend getaway destinations to give you some ideas.

1. Long Island, New York

Long Island offers something for everyone, and is a great destination for those living in the greater New York Metropolitan Area. Featuring all sorts of attractions, from historical whaling ports to pristine beaches, Long Island really does have something to suit all tastes! Special events are also happening on Long Island all the time – races are the most popular, with what is being raced varying from horses to cars.

2. Bimini, Bahamas

OK, this one isn’t exactly in the continental United States, but being located just 50 miles from Miami makes it close enough! The Bimini Islands are a group of islands located north of the main islands of the Bahamas, and the residents of the islands offer an unparalleled level of hospitality, generosity and friendliness. The islands are famed for their beaches, but also offer something for beach going tourists of all persuasions – whether you like secluded beaches or developed areas, the Bimini Islands most likely have a beach for you.

3. Galveston, Texas

Although Galveston, Texas, was once dubbed the Southwest’s version of New York’s Wall Street, today’s reality is quite different to the town’s heyday of the early 20th century. If you’re a history buff, you’ll love Galveston. What remains of the Victorian-era buildings in Galveston provides historical tourists with hours of exploration, and those who are interested in civic planning will enjoy discovering how the town recovered in the aftermath of a devastating hurricane in 1900.

4. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

If you’ve got a car and a driver, this weekend getaway destination could be a perfect next vacation for you. Despite being close to a few major towns and cities, the views of pristine landscapes in this national park are second to none, and experiencing the ‘smoke’ that gave the Mountains their name will be something you will never forget. Although this perpetual smoke is really nothing more than fog created as a result of cooling air from the nearby Gulf of Mexico.

5. Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Here’s another one for the history buffs – Sturgeon Bay not only offers countless natural attractions through its pristine beaches and limestone shores but also antiques and collectables shops as far as the eye can see! Sturgeon Bay also features two maritime museums, a reminder of the area’s past as a fishing and shipbuilding community. Perhaps the biggest drawcard for photographers and artists is the stunning views that have become iconic of the area – something not to be missed!