3 Spectacular Weekend Trip Destinations

Everyone needs vacations on a regular basis, even if not to necessarily have fun, but merely for rest and relaxation as well as providing a break from the monotony of work and family obligations. Unfortunately, not everyone has the time or funds available to take a week or two off work to go on a full vacation, but weekend trips can be just as enjoyable. If you're looking for the perfect mini vacation destination, the following places would be perfect for taking a trip for the weekend.

Jacksonville, Florida

There's nothing like visiting this beautiful palm tree covered city. Being a large metropolitan area, there are an abundance of activities to participate in, even if it's simply relaxing at one of the many beaches right on the Atlantic Ocean. If you're going to Jacksonville to enjoy the beaches and other outdoor activities, summer is the prime time to go, since it can become quite cool in Northeast Florida, preventing you from completely enjoying the beach, fishing, and other outdoor fun. Vacationing in Jacksonville, Florida and having a great time over the weekend can cost as little as $500, including lodging, eats and entertainment, if you're on a budget. If money is not object, you can take full advantage of what the area has to offer, but by no means will a person on a budget have any less fun because of lack of money. There are too many free activities, low-cost restaurants and budget lodging for money to be a factor.

If you enjoy dining at various restaurants, you'll definitely have your choice in Jacksonville, Florida. The Morton Steakhouse, Bistro Aix, and Clark's Fish Camp Seafood Restaurant are just a few of the enormous amounts of choices available. It doesn't matter if you desire seafood, steaks, Italian, Chinese or some other dish, you'll find what you want and more in the Jacksonville area. And the southern hospitality is one thing that you will enjoy in addition to the great taste of the food.

There are many hotels, motels and resorts and other lodging possibilities in the Jacksonville, Florida area. There is the Hilton Garden Suites, the Hyatt Regency, which is right on the riverfront downtown, the Embassy Suites and many more. For more budget options, there are various extended stays and well as nice but economical hotels/motels. Also, vacationing in Jacksonville, like other areas, on holiday weekends will result in higher hotel rates, so if you're on a budget you'll want to choose non-holiday weekends.

Cedar Point: Roller Coaster Capital of the World

If you're a big roller coaster fan, you'll definitely want to take trip to Cedar Point this year, which is located in Sandusky, Ohio. Grab your comfortable walking shoes, because this amusement park is enormous, and due to the massive amount of attractions that the park has to offer, it would take a full weekend for you to spend an ample amount of time enjoying everything. One day admission into Cedar Point is $29, or $38, which includes admission to Soak City, but if you're going to be staying the entire weekend, you'll probably want to take advantage of the 3-day tickets which cost $83.99 per person. Summertime is the best time to go so you can take full advantage of the many water rides the park has to offer as well as spend time at the water park. While at Cedar Point, you'll want to be sure and ride the Maverick, The Magnum XL-200, The Mantis, Wicked Twister, and the other very popular and very thrilling roller coasters. Even if you're not a big roller coaster fan, you can still have a great deal of fun at this exciting amusement park. You can ride some of the less extreme rides, if you choose to, play golf, watch exciting live shows, or even play some of the many games offered at the huge park.

If you choose not to take a picnic lunch to Cedar Point, which you of course can if you choose to, there is a great deal of food to purchase from the park. Midway Market is a buffet-style restaurant for approximately $15 per person and includes a huge selection of American and Italian dishes as well as dessert. Game Day Grille serves chili, hamburgers, flavorful chicken wings and more. There is also a Chick-Fil-A on the premises, a Subway, as well a Panda Express and many other delicious restaurants to choose from.

When lodging at Cedar Point for the weekend, you can choose from the 6 exclusive hotels/resorts that the park has to offer. You'll experience all of the amenities that you expect from a luxury hotel, including beautiful views, on-site exercise facilities, spas, and more. And if you're on a budget, there's no need to worry, because there are room choices to fit every budget.

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Not far from Knoxville, Tennessee, this popular tourist destination is a great place to visit for a weekend vacation, especially in the spring before temperatures become too unbearably hot to spend time outside. For a weekend of fun in Pigeon, you can expect to spend approximately $500, which includes everything. If a fun-filled weekend is what you want, Pigeon Forge will definitely provide this for you. There are an abundance of activities to choose from in Pigeon Forge, even indoor activities in case or excessively hot or inclement weather. Some especially fun attractions in Pigeon Forge are: indoor skydiving, the Elvis museum, helicopter tours, Dollywood Amusement Park, magic shows, horseback riding, and a great deal more. If you don't want to drive to each and every attraction, there is a trolley available that can transport you to and from as many destinations on the five-mile radius of the popular parkway that you want. One Pigeon Forge attraction that my family and I plan on revisiting is Great Smoky Mountain Murder Mystery, which is allows you to consume a spectacular meal while watching a very interesting and well-acted murder-mystery show simultaneously.

Just as there is no shortage of activities and attractions in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, there is also no shortage of places to lodge, either. There are an abundance of luxurious cabins, hotels and lodges in the area. Many of the private cabins contain hot tubs, various areas to fish and enjoy wildlife, as well as many other amenities. Prices for lodging in the Pigeon Forge vary greatly depending on where you're looking to stay, but average about $100 each night. Even if you're on a budget, you can find accommodations to meet your needs for less than $100 a night.

You can easily overindulge at the many restaurants in Pigeon Forge if you're not careful. There are numerous restaurants to choose from, with Alamo Steakhouse, the winner or the best steaks in the county, Bennet's Pit Barbeque, winner or best ribs and barbeque, as well as Geno's, who sells the "best pizza in town." And for those with a sweet tooth, there are shops offering delectable homemade fudge, funnel cakes, ice cream and other treats.