Great Getaways

Not all travelers are created equal, which is why not every weekend getaway is the same. Whether you’re looking for your toes in the sand or music to tap your toes to, there are several styles of getaway for the foodie, family, adventurer and more. Here are a few with convenient flights and a plethora of activities — or the opportunity to laze the day away in style.

FOODIE | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Forget the cheesesteak! Some of the country’s most creative and exciting restaurants reside in Philly, thanks to chef-owners drawn to one of the last bastions of affordable rents. Plan ahead to get a spot at Top Chef winner Nick Elmi’s 22-seat Laurel, or cozy up at his creative cocktail palace, ITV, next door. Stroll through this funky Brooklyn-like neighborhood or stick closer to the area where most of the hotels are, downtown at 13th Street. There, stick-to-your-ribs fare comes in spades thanks to Chef Marcie Turney and her partner, Valerie Safran. Their nine restaurants and boutiques turned the area into a trendy village with plenty of people-watching and shopping (try their tucked-away artisanal chocolaterie Marcie Blain).

No weekend is complete without one of James Beard king Michael Solomonov’s outfits and his eye-opening Israeli cuisine at Zahav. Bonus for mushroom lovers and vegetarians: The borough of Kennett Square — where more than half the nation’s crop is harvested — lies less than an hour away and makes a particularly tasty excursion; make sure you plan for an hour or two at Longwood Gardens, the Versailles of Pennsylvania, as well.

Philadelphia is American Airlines’ hub, so plenty of direct flights travel in and out of the East Coast.

BEACH | Bermuda

It’s easy to see most of this 21-mile-wide island nation in a weekend and still get a chance to relax at low-key yet high-brow beaches. This British territory gained some steam recently as a honeymoon spot thanks to its Zika-free shores, but sailors have also buoyed the local economy for centuries, and the 2017 America’s Cup brought a bout of hotel refurbishments that put new shine on the penny. New The Loren at Pink Beach offers chic seclusion — and an unforgettable, three-course, shore-side cabana brunch on Sundays. Fairmont Hamilton Princess’ $100 million renovation included the addition of Marcus Samuelsson’s new Marcus’ (specializing in seafood, of course), and several craft cocktail bars and restaurants tempt visitors all along the capital’s Front Street just a couple of blocks from the hotel.

It’s easy to get around by bus or zipping around via Twizy, cool electric cars with docking stations conveniently spread across the island. One is at the Royal Naval Dockyard, a one-stop shop for anyone with just a couple of days to spare; it houses the National Museum, Bermuda Rum Cake Company & Glassworks, Dolphin Quest and glass-bottomed boat tours. Whether you’re departing during the day with kids or living it up on a night sailing, each includes a complimentary rum swizzle.

Both Delta Air Lines and JetBlue offer direct flights of less than two hours from Boston (BOS) and New York (JFK).

FAMILY | Washington, D.C.

Free is always the right price for families, and many attractions in the nation’s capital — such as the Air and Space Museum, National Zoo and the new-ish National Museum of African American History and Culture — are complimentary. Aim for an April departure and you’ll not only beat the summer heat, but also you might get lucky enough to catch the iconic cherry blossoms. The annual festival celebrating the pink blooms is timed around when they’re best predicted to open (typically mid-March through mid-April) and includes a kite festival, musical acts, fireworks and food trucks.

Stay at the Willard InterContinental just a few blocks from The White House, and in April you’ll not only enjoy some of the city’s biggest rooms (starting at 375 square feet), but you’ll also maximize your chances to see Millie the mallard, the hotel’s unofficial mascot who’s fond of laying her eggs in the courtyard. Guests delight at seeing her and her ducklings milling about in spring. The hotel’s kids’ concierge schedules programming honoring the history of the hotel and 200-year-old property; all youths who check in get sugar cookies in the shape of Millie.

Three airport options and easy Metro transportation to and from them make D.C. an A-plus for parties of three or more.

ROMANTIC | Maine

It’s not called Vacationland for nothing, and there are plenty of places to take your “Maine” squeeze on a rustic yet refined getaway featuring the best coastal dining. Kennebunkport’s a hotbed of posh seaside hotels; and if you’re looking for an aphrodisiac, you’re in luck — many feature their own restaurants, so the world is your oyster with bubbly and bivalves sans driving. Earth at Hidden Pond serves up farm-to-fork cuisine, and you can feast outside under the stars just a few feet from where lettuce and heirloom tomatoes are grown before you head back to a cottage nestled in 60 acres of birch forest. Get froufrou with French at Cape Arundel Inn & Resort’s Ocean restaurant, featuring Chef Pierre Gignac’s inspired takes on Maine’s most famous export — lobster — and a coastline feast for the eyes.

At Relais & Châteaux luxury property Grace White Barn Inn & Spa, the restaurant’s tasting menu features rich foie gras, lobster tortellini and caviar, all aglow in candlelight. All massage services can be offered as a dual treatment in the Couple’s Spa Suite, or cuddle up in front of the fireplace available in most of the 26 rooms.

It’s just as nice in fall, when you can find some of the country’s best leaf-peeping while driving just 90 minutes up the coastline from Boston’s Logan International Airport.

ADVENTURE | Colorado

Some consider being two hours away from civilization adventure enough, but for anyone who grew up watching Billy Crystal, roping a steer is on the bucket list. Broadmoor Resort’s City Slicker Experience offers up just that in the heart of the Colorado wilderness, where 3,200 acres teeming with canyons; wildflowers; pink-granite cliffs; and pine, spruce and aspen surround all-day adventurers learning how to drive cattle like the most experienced ranch hand. Afterward, turn from rugged to refined in one of just 10 cabins, each with its own fireplace, and communal chef dining. The get-away-from-it-all experience can continue at Broadmoor’s Fly Fishing Camp, with Orviscertified professional guides and its own private five-mile stretch of the Taryall River stocked with rainbow trout and more. Bonus? You can recuperate with a day reveling in luxury at the 779-room main resort, celebrating its 2018 centennial with a number of refurbishments. There’s a spa, a couple of pools, golf and fine dining.

Getting here is easy, too, when you fly directly into Colorado Springs Airport. A Broadmoor shuttle desk sits just in front of baggage claim (one-hour shuttle service is available from the Denver International Airport, too).

MUSIC | New Orleans, Louisiana

Music is as much a part of life here as jambalaya and po’boys, and there is indeed dancing in the streets almost every weekend. Come with an appetite to party, since some of the best free entertainment is tableside: The saints come marching in — again and again — at jazz brunches throughout the city. Get your fill at some of the most iconic (Commander’s Palace or Brennen’s, or spice it up with the burlesque shows at SoBou) before heading to the New Orleans Jazz Museum.

You’ll discover plenty of festivals throughout the year dedicated to what grooves you (Satchmo Summer Fest, Jazz & Heritage, Voodoo, Music & Arts, Blues & BBQ), but the city sparkles with long happy hours and live nightly shows year-round. Hotels like Monteleone (with its funky carousel bar) and clubs including Preservation Hall and Tipitina’s keep the party going long into the wee hours.

A new airport terminal scheduled to wrap in 2019 will make it even easier to travel here, thanks to more gates and flight options. Plus, a plan to expand the food court with local treats including Café du Monde beignets will have visitors whistling a happy tune.