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13 Weekend Getaways You’d Be Crazy Not To Book With Your Tax Refund
Tax refund season is here, and with it comes the ultimate question: splurge on something practical like new tires, or treat yourself to an adventure that doesn’t involve the local supermarket? Spoiler… it’s option two.
Why? Because life’s too short to spend all your extra cash being “responsible” when you could be gallivanting across destinations that are as easy on the wallet as they are on the soul. Who needs another boring widget when you could be hiking through emerald forests, stuffing your face with street food, or relaxing somewhere that doesn’t scream “cubicle”?
Got a place everyone needs to hear about? Drop your genius insights down in the comments about where you suggest people go, or where you are going yourself.
Willamette Valley, Oregon
If sipping Pinot Noir in a rolling vineyard sounds like your kind of therapy, then Willamette Valley has your back (and your taste buds). This serene countryside feels as if you were stepping into a living wine label, complete with cozy tasting rooms that whisper, “Stay a while.”
Dubbed the heart of Oregon wine country, it started wooing palates back in the 1960s. Today, it’s a haven for slow mornings where time drips as leisurely as the wine into your glass. Who needs chaos when you can laze here, watching hills glint in the golden hour?
Ojai, California
Ojai is like that artsy friend who’s always calm but knows all the best spots for everything. Located between dreamy mountains, this Southern California city serves up boutique spas, quaint galleries, and sunsets so pink they’d make cotton candy jealous.
Its Chumash name means “moon,” and it feels like everything here lives in sync with the universe’s chill setting. Whether you’re here for wellness treatments or to sip a lavender latte at a charming cafe, you’ll feel the weight of the world lift… or at least move gracefully to the back burner.
Cumberland Island, Georgia
Ever wanted to share a beach with wild horses? On Cumberland Island, it’s not just possible – it’s expected. This barrier island serves untouched beauty like it missed the memo about development. We’re talking miles of secluded beaches framed by moss-draped oaks, with history to match.
History, like the Carnegie mansions from the Gilded Age, that still linger here like ghosts of extravagance past. You’ll step off the ferry feeling like you’ve stumbled into a secret nature reserve. Think calm waves, wild creatures, and not a shred of corporate noise in sight.
Driftless Area, Wisconsin
Forget flat fields and cheese cliches – Wisconsin’s Driftless Area is here to blow your Midwest expectations out of the water. This pocket of rugged hills and valleys somehow dodged ancient glaciers, leaving behind ridiculously scenic bluffs, winding rivers, and hikes with views that’ll ruin you for treadmills.
Canoe through a river that snakes like a punctuation mark through green hills, or retreat to a cabin so quiet that the silence feels loud. It’s the Midwest…but elevated (literally).
San Juan Islands, Washington
Ferry rides, forested trails, and kayaking beside orcas – all without the ferry terminal chaos you’d expect. The San Juan Islands are the chill cousin of Washington’s mainland, offering forest retreats where every corner is frame-worthy.
History buffs can wander century-old lighthouses, while adventure seekers can paddle through waters as glassy as a philosopher’s stare. Oh, and the seafood? It’s so fresh you’ll wonder if the crab signed a non-compete agreement with flavor.
Hot Springs, North Carolina
Hot Springs is the kind of place where you accidentally forget what day it is (and you’re fine with that). This riverside Appalachian gem is known for its natural mineral springs, first discovered by Native Americans centuries ago and now cherished by anyone needing a long, warm soak.
Pair that with some riverside trails and a night under the stars, and life feels notably less complicated. Bonus? The small-town charm comes with zero pretension. This is relaxation without the frills… you know, just the way nature ordered it.
Cambria, California
Cambria feels like a coastal secret – like someone finally figured out how to bottle serenity and put it in a village. Tucked between pine forests and the dramatic cliffs of the Pacific, this town is perfect for slow strolls by tide pools or recharging with a glass of Central Coast wine.
Its roots go back to the 19th century when it was a mining hub, but today it traded blacksmiths for artisan shops and cozy inns. The rugged bluffs here? A perfectly moody backdrop for daydreams.
Talkeetna, Alaska
Talkeetna might be tiny, but it’s got more charm than your eccentric aunt’s antique collection. Situated in the shadow of Denali, this laid-back village feels like it wandered out of a snow globe and decided to stay.
Once a supply stop for gold miners (because who doesn’t need sustenance on the way to striking it rich?), Talkeetna now buzzes with quirky gift shops, homemade pie, and riverside trails that beg for exploration. The landscape? Equal parts postcard and humbling.
Tularosa Basin, New Mexico
Over in Tularosa Basin, it’s all about swapping the noise of daily life for the symphony of desert silence – punctuated by the crunch of gypsum sand between your toes, of course. White Sands National Park, with its miles of blindingly white dunes, feels like a dreamscape you might wander through after a really intense taco dinner.
The area has Native American and Spanish roots, but honestly, most people come here to stare in awe and maybe sled down the sand while pretending it’s snow. No judgment. Just know that sledding is harder than it looks if you are an adult… ask me how I know.
Cedar Key, Florida
Cedar Key is where “Old Florida” hangs out when it wants to reminisce about the good ol’ days. No neon lights or ritzy beach resorts here, just quaint cottages, fishing boats, and sunsets that look like they escaped from a watercolor painting.
In its heyday, it was a bustling port for shipping cedar wood (hence the name). But this Gulf Coast city now offers kayaking adventures, seafood so fresh it practically swims to your plate, and a refreshing escape from, well, pretty much everything.
Molokai, Hawaii
Tired of crowded beaches? Meet Molokai, the underdog of the Hawaiian Islands, where life moves at the pace of a relaxed sea turtle. Here, you’ll find more salt-of-the-earth charm than tourist traps, and the stunning Halawa Valley looks like a movie set.
Molokai still embraces its ancient Hawaiian traditional roots but also offers uncrowded beaches, waving palm trees, and sunsets that’ll make you slightly emotional (even if you’d never admit it). There’s no other way to say it – it’s paradise.
Palouse Region, Washington & Idaho
Rolling hills as far as the eye can see. Sounds boring, right? Wrong. The Palouse is like a giant, green piece of abstract art brought to life in wheat and barley. Somewhere between Washington and Idaho, this region is idyllic enough to make you question whether skyscrapers were a mistake.
The whisper of the wind through the fields is poetic, and the sunsets? Dramatic enough to make storm clouds blush. Perfect for anyone looking to enjoy quiet drives and contemplate life… or just nap in the safety of endless farmland.
Marfa, Texas
Marfa feels like what happens when a ghost town gets an artsy makeover – think unassuming desert vibes with an avant-garde twist. Once a modest railroad water stop, it’s now a haven for minimalist art installations and wide-open spaces that seem to stretch forever.
That famous Prada store that’s not really a store? Yep, it’s here. The magic of Marfa lies in its stark contrasts – silence interrupted only by the occasional tumbleweed, and skies so big they never end. It’s remote, quirky, and perfect when you need a good dose of “middle of nowhere.”
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