Top Three Weekend Escape/Getaway Packages

We all need to escape sometimes, and several weekend getaways await you in the southeast, so if you live here or plan to visit, you must move your hips to Savannah, GA. Full of history, ghosts and fun, it's the perfect trip to get you out of a rut.

What to Do

River Street is a must. Don't dare go to Savannah and skip out on this historic cobblestone street on the Savannah River because there are many restaurants, gift and candy shops, and yes bars. As if you doubted! The first thing I noticed about Savannah on my first trip there was the people. From babies to grandmas, from families to couples, everyone enjoyed a stroll down River Street.

Indulge your sweet tooth at River Street Sweets, which was established in 1973 and is Savannah's oldest candy store. You can even watch as they make mouthwatering sweets and baked goods right before your eyes, and best of all, they offer free samples.

If it's Saturday in Savannah, there must be a festival. Indeed, each Saturday in the good old summertime "First Saturday on the River" is celebrated on River Street from 9 am to 6 pm. It's perfect for families and features arts, crafts and entertainment. It's also free and open to the public.

When it's time to kick back, belly up to the bar at Spanky's Riverstreet and enjoy Happy Hour-last time I was there they had beer for a buck. The restaurant is also known as "Home of the Original Chicken Finger," so be sure to give those a try. If a mug of beer is not to your taste, Wet Willie's, which touts itself as "Home of the World's Greatest Daiquiris," offers the beverage in flavors and colorful shades of all sorts, and you can even carry them out to drink by the river.

Activities

If you've read "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," or seen the movie, try taking a bus or walking tour. You can make reservations at "The Book Gift Shop," also known as Savannah's Official Midnight Headquarters." Other tours at Savannah Tours include carriage rides, the Paula Deen Tour, and the Savannah Riverboat Dinner Cruise, ranging in price from $22 to $64.35. I've been on a few of the tours, but none were as strange as the one involving a ride in a hearse through a cemetery at dusk!

City Market, a few blocks from River Street, offers a taste of history, art, dining, shopping and entertainment. Get an ice cream cone and find a bench on one of Savannah's squares amongst the live oak trees. The city squares were neatly laid out and designed to be an integral part of downtown. And of course, the view is free.

Best Time to Go

If you don't mind being in the middle of a crowd, you might want to attend the St. Patrick's Day Festival (start making plans for 2011), the July 4 "Fireworks on the River", and Oktoberfest, which is held October 2-4 this year. Bear in mind that Savannah in the summer can be hot and sticky, and that rooms cost more during the height of the tourist season.

Overall Cost

You can spend a little or a lot or somewhere in between. Everything is less expensive in winter and you can sometimes find great deals at hotels through Travel Zoo (www.travelzoo.com). As it stands now, a weekend in June at East Bay Inn, right in the heart of the historic district, nets a room with a queen bed for $169 per night, with two queen beds starting at $199.

At the Baymont Inn & Suites Garden City/Savannah, which is three-and-a-half miles from the historic district, a king size bed can be had for $72. If you do drive into the historic district, bear in mind that getting a prime parking spot is not a given, and the traffic rules are enforced (read ticket).

Little Switzerland, NC

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, rising 4000 feet in the air, Little Switzerland is truly a picturesque weekend getaway. The views of Mount Mitchell, Table Rock, Hawkesville, and Grandfather Mountain will simply put you into another world, when in fact you're only an hour away from Asheville, NC. To get there take Exit 334 off the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.

What to Do

It's April-and you're just in time for Little Switzerland's opening season. During the winter most businesses close with the exception of The Big Lynn Lodge and Little Switzerland Christmas Tree Farm. Shopping is a must because this small town has plenty of it. You'll find eight shops within the city limits, including Trillium Gallery, The Gem Shoppe, The Swiss Ice Cream Shop, Hearthside Handmades, Simple Pleasures, Switzerland Inn Gift Shop, The Switzerland General Store, and Little Switzerland Bookstore.

Take it easy and slow with a walk around town or spend hours in Little Switzerland Bookstore, discovering all the nooks and crannies there. If you're love books, watch out-it's easy to spend half a day or more browsing the store. On my one and only visit there, I didn't have as much time in the bookstore as I wanted, so I feel a tinge of regret there.

Activities

If you have some little panhandlers in your family, take them to Emerald Village, the #1 gem mining attraction in North Carolina. The NC Mining Museum offer tours of a real underground mine and allows visitors to search for gems, and guess what! Finders Keepers! You can keep what you find and have your stones cut and mounted in jewelry. There's also a Music Museum, a model railroad display, and the Old Company Store. Gift shops, snacks and indoor/outdoor picnic tables are available.

For those who like to keep moving, please go take a hike. Crabtree Falls is three miles south of Little Switzerland in the Crabtree Meadows Recreation Area at Milepost 339.5 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Hike the 2.5 mile loop trail, described as "moderate" and you'll be rewarded with a 70-foot waterfall.

Overall Cost

If you prefer to sleep outdoors, then the Bear Den Campground is for you. It covers 400 acres, has camp sites for tents and RVs, and cabins that sleep up to 6 people, all amongst hiking trails, waterfalls, and of course, the view. Depending on the time of year, prices range from $35 to $95 per night.

Or you might choose to stay at the gorgeous Switzerland Inn, often a venue for weddings, and where prices range from$60 to $200, or the Alpine Inn, which offers Lodge rooms for $80, Balcony rooms for $95, and Mountain suites, with kitchen and fireplace, for $150. The Big Lynn Lodge, which is open year round, offers rooms ranging in price from $105 to $160, and includes dinner and breakfast for two people.

For more assistance, check with Little Switzerland Vacation Rentals and Timberline Vacation Rentals.

Best time to go

If you want a Christmas tree or a room on a cold winter's night, Little Switzerland Christmas Tree Farm and the Big Lynn Lodge will fix you right up. The rest of the village awakens in April, where you can dine, shop or browse the bookstore to your heart's content, in addition to hiking or searching for gems in the mine.

Oak Island, NC

If you want a beach trip, but just can't put up with the crowds and hullabaloo in more populated areas, give Oak Island a try. The island, which consists of Caswell Beach, Yaupon Beach and Long Beach is located about 30 miles south of Wilmington in Brunswick County.

What to Do

Naturally, you'll want to play in the sand and surf a bit, whether you're swimming, wind surfing, or just relaxing under an umbrella with a good book. You can also fish off the pier, surf fish, or charter a boat for a day of deep sea fishing.

If you don't want to cook what you hook, satisfy that seafood craving at The Fish House Restaurant, and Captain Stanley's Seafood Restaurant, among others. There's also fine dining at Island Way, casual dining at Beana's Grill, and barbeque at BBQ House.

Activities

Get a bird's eye view of the island and surrounding area with an air tour at Oak Island Airport, or if you prefer, keep your feet on the ground and play golf, hunt shells, or shop. When the kids get enough of the beach, take them to Oak Island Skate Park, or ride into Southport, just a few miles away, and hop aboard the Southport-Fort Fisher Ferry to Fort Fisher Aquarium in Kure Beach.

Fort Fisher Aquarium is a wonderful diversion for younger children, and allows them to touch a sea star, see a shipwreck, meet a sea turtle and watch a stingray swim. They probably won be ready to leave when you are, but just remind them of the ferry ride back to Southport and they'll change their minds.

For the big kids, there is the annual King Mackerel Tournament, which usually takes place in October. Community leaders came up with the tournament idea over two decades ago, and it now attracts almost 500 boats and offers a top prize of $25,000 for the largest king mackerel.

Overall Cost

When it comes to accommodations, take your pick. Rent a house on the beach for a few days or a week. Lucky Duck, a three bedroom Oceanfront house, is available through April for $845. The price jumps to $1895 at the end of June and during the month of July. A good source for just the right house is www.rentalsonthebeach.com.

There are hotels, including the Ocean Crest Motel, which offers a variety of options ranging in price from $102 to $157 per weekend night. Weekday stays are cheaper, and all prices vary depending on the time of year.

So there you have it--three weekend getaways that won't break the bank, but will give you a break. I , for one, have Little Switzerland and the bookstore by the same name on my mind.

www.oak-island.com
www.littleswitzerland.com
http://www.riverstreetsavannah.com/