Weekend Getaway Ideas in the Southern US

Sometimes, you just need to get away from it all, but you don't have the time off or the money to take a full vacation. That's when a weekend getaway can afford you the stress relief you so desperately need, but you have to plan it carefully. Your destination must not only be somewhere you want to go, but also somewhere you actually can go in only a few hours, so that the majority of your time isn't wasted on travel.

If you live in an area which still offers passenger train service, why not take advantage of that rustic means of transport for your mini-holiday? You may have to drive a couple of hours to reach the station, but you and a friend could travel from Memphis to New Orleans and back for around $200, plus your hotel room. While traveling, you can dine, visit the lounge and sleep, all without stopping, so the 18 hours of round trip riding won't really eat into your trip, since the train ride is a part of the whole experience. The ability to sleep on the train will free up more time to take in the night life of New Orleans on your first day, when you will arrive in the late afternoon. You may have to take one vacation day, as currently the trains only run the right directions on Saturday and Monday.

If you live in Austin or the Texas hill country, 2 great ideas for weekend escapes are historic Fredericksburg, just a couple of hours west of Austin, or San Antonio, home of the Alamo, only a couple of hours to the south.

Fredericksburg is great for those who like a little retail therapy, as they have enough unique shops to fill an entire weekend. Their proud German heritage means there is lots of excellent food and beer to be had, and it's all contained within a mile or two. If you live nearby, you can avoid the cost of hotels by driving there and back each day. If your car gets decent mileage, you can probably do the whole weekend - gas, meals, plus shopping cash - for under $300.

San Antonio is more expensive if you plan to spend the night, but the view at night is worth the extra expense. The River Walk, the Alamo memorial, and late night bicycle cabs around the cobbled streets are sure to relax and delight. For a good hotel nearby and upscale dining, expect to spend in the neighborhood of $500 for a full weekend. The Riverwalk is free and the Alamo and bike taxis run on donations, so if you only want to make a day of it, you can take in the sights of San Antonio for slightly more than the price of 2 meals.