7 Ways to Make a Long Weekend Memorable

Looking forward to a 3-day weekend? Lucky you! It’s just the thing to refresh, recharge and renew your outlook on life … and not to mention it’s a lot easier to return to work when you have a great travel story to share. Why spend your extra day off catching up on Netflix when you could be catching rays in California? Or strolling the streets of Manhattan? Whether you’re heading to the nearest beach, a cozy cabin or a city-center escape, here are 7 ways to make your extended weekend one to remember:

Go on a Culinary Adventure

One cannot live on drive-thru burgers and fries alone. If you’ve passed by a new ethnic restaurant but never stopped in or skipped sushi night with your friends for fear of trying something different, make this the weekend you treat your taste buds to a vacation from the norm.

With extra time to spare, you can make that drive to a nearby town or even fly away to eat like a local — after all, doesn’t a deep-dish pizza in Chicago sound more appetizing than delivery again? Don’t fret; you can work off those calories as you shop the Magnificent Mile!

Step Away From Screens

Phone, laptop, tablet, repeat. If this sounds familiar, maybe it’s time to take a break from technology, at least for the weekend. Put up that Out of Office note on your email and mean it by turning off your notifications and stepping away from the computer.

Need a little extra encouragement? Book a cabin, find a treehouse retreat or go camping (or glamping for the perfect mix of luxury and nature) in a remote location that makes reliable cell phone service hard to come by. Those calls, texts and emails will just have to wait … sounds relaxing, doesn’t it?

Spend a Day at the Spa

Sometimes the best way to celebrate a three-day weekend is simply to chill out. For those who always find themselves on the move to the next meeting, event or appointment, use your extra day to enhance your well being by pressing pause for a moment and sinking into an indulgent spa experience. Find inspiration by checking in at one of these 10 luxury hotel spas, where minutes fade into hours of total relaxation and worries never stick around for long. Everyone deserves a little pampering every once and awhile!

Take a Plan-Free Road Trip

Vacation planning can get tiresome, but this is one getaway where spontaneity is rewarded. Grab a map — or better yet don’t — and hit the road to explore your surrounding area in a way you never have before. You might discover sights you had no idea were only an hour from your home, a local eatery that will become a new favorite or activities you hadn’t dared to try (hello, ziplining!) With an extra day to explore, you may even decide you aren’t ready to turn back, which makes the last-minute deal you scored at a nearby hotel even sweeter.

Explore a New City

Always dreamed of visiting Vegas? Is New Orleans on your mind? A three-day weekend is the perfect excuse to do some perusing around a city you’ve been meaning to get to … someday. Craft your itinerary wisely and you’ll have plenty of time to do some sightseeing and live like a local, returning with unforgettable memories. The key here isn’t in the distance but in the experience, so if you’ve never taken the time to stroll the streets of a nearby city, here’s your chance!

Spontaneous Staycation

You could spend your weekend cooking and cleaning … but wouldn’t it be nice to let someone else do the chores for a change? Skip the grocery store line and order room service instead, forget to set your alarm and sleep in and then vow not to make the bed during a mini-vacation in your own hometown.

Why let the tourists have all the fun? It’s easy to forget some of the best spa and dining experiences can be found in your own backyard, and now is the time to take advantage of them!

Give Yourself One More Day

A three-day weekend is nice, but here’s a little secret … four-day weekends are even nicer. Plan ahead and take an extra day off to extend your stay a little longer, without using up too many of those precious vacation days. With an extra 24 hours, you even could fit in a 3- or 4-night cruise!

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