9 Weekend Getaways for Your Summer Vacation

Yes, Palm Springs is in the desert, and yes it does get very hot in the summer. However, The Parker Palm Springs Hotel offers a very cool weekend getaway with interiors designed by Jonathan Adler, a chic outdoor pool, and hip scene at Norma's all-day diner. Nearby Palm Canyon Drive is lined with shops and restaurants -- the city is a major draw for Hollywood celebrities escaping Los Angeles. For hiking and horseback riding, Joshua Tree National Park is less than an hour away from the hotel.

Make like the rich and the beautiful and escape the humidity (and odors) of New York City in the summer for a weekend visit to The Hamptons. We suggest leaving early to avoid as much traffic as possible and checking in to Gurney's Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa for one of the area's best beachfront locations. If you're more into the spa than the sand, the resort provides a free indoor pool and Roman bath. It's just a five-minute drive to Montauk Village for restaurants and shopping. Surfer beaches and bike trails line the coast for more summer fun.

Not everyone needs beach access on a summer vacation. If you care more about music, eating, and bar hopping than you do about tan lines, then New Orleans is the city for you. The Chateau Hotel is in a restored 18th-century mansion in the heart of the French Quarter, two blocks from Jackson Square. Imbibed too much on Bourbon Street the night before? No problem. Free breakfast can be delivered directly to your room, and there's a small outdoor pool for a refreshing dip before hitting the Big Easy again.

The Blue Palms is a retro-inspired, family-friendly beach hotel with two heated pools and an almost unbeatable location (for these low rates) one block from the beach and Wildwood boardwalk. Simple rooms can include kitchenettes and bunk beds, so there's space for the whole family to have a quick breakfast before taking free bikes and chairs to the beach for the day. The surrounding neighborhood is filled with casual pizzerias, ice cream shops, and stores selling beach gear, making the Blue Palms an easy breezy weekend getaway that doesn't require too much planning.

Downtown Portland doesn't get the attention it deserves. The thriving downtown scene is home to waterfront parks, boutique and chain shops, and an extensive foodie scene. Book a room at the Hotel Monaco Portland -- a Kimpton Hotel for a true taste of Portland's quirky flavor. Guests can borrow a goldfish for their room or participate in the evening cocktail hour that includes canvases and paints. Whimsical rooms showcase local art and locally made goodies in the minibars.

Door County is sometimes called the Cape Cod of the Midwest. The peninsula juts into Lake Michigan, providing for epic coastal scenery and beach-style communities that mostly go into hibernation during the state's epically cold winters. Everything comes alive in the summer at the three-pearl Newport Resort, a lovely casual boutique option in the Egg Harbor area. The apartment-style rooms come with full kitchens and some whirlpool tubs. The location is especially appropriate for golfers and families who want to visit Potawatomi State Park for biking and swimming. Bikes and breakfast are both free at the hotel.

Cape Cod is arguably the most iconic summertime getaway in America. Seafood shacks on the beach, historic lighthouses, and miles of sand and bike trails have drawn weekend vacationers to the cape for many decades. There are a plethora of hotel options to choose from, but we like Chatham Bars Inn Resort and Spa for its location on 25 acres overlooking Pleasant Bay, and vast selection of amenities that include everything from a beach to private chartered boats, tennis courts, and a spa. Cape Cod-style cottages with ocean views are available for a truly New England experience.

The Outer Banks are a group of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina. Getting there requires a long drive, but the OBX (how the locals lovingly refer to the area) is definitely worth the trek. Sanderling Resort stretches from the Currituck Sound to the Atlantic Ocean and provides guests with a long sandy beach. Summer activities include kayaks and paddleboards, s'mores at the fire pits, and live music in the evenings. One of the restaurants is housed in an old lifeguard tower.

Okay, so it's pretty much always summer weather in the Florida Keys, but we love Tranquility Bay Beach House Resort for its private beach and huge array of water sports activities. Sightseeing tours leave from the resort’s private marina. The waterfront tiki bar is a glorious place to take in ocean views and sip cocktails. Victorian-style homes are divided into suites with porches furnished with Adirondack chairs, and most suites have nice water views.  


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