Beach getaways allow for plenty of relaxation on a weekend, especially in the summer. Lake Tahoe is a freshwater lake known for soft sand beaches with a beautiful mountain backdrop and water too cold for most people to swim in. With 72 miles of shoreline and plenty of relaxing hotels, Tahoe is a great weekend retreat. Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, is another option to consider for Memorial day with beaches to fish, surf and tan at while enjoying history dating back to America's beginnings.
Wine not only helps most people to relax in general, but fully immersing yourself in the region it comes from can be a very relaxing experience. California's Napa Valley is home to plenty of family-owned vineyards that wind through plenty of terrain easily navigated by bike. Sonoma County and Mendocino County also have wine tours. In New York, tour the great wineries of the Finger Lakes or the south fork of Long Island. Close to Washington, D.C., is the "Blue Ridge WineWay," with 12 wineries that allow you to indulge in a day at the vineyards followed by complimentary wine.
There are several romantic vintage train trips you can take on a weekend. The Napa Valley Wine Train is a good way to indulge in a winery tour by way of train. When aboard the train, passengers experience gourmet dining along the way to several vineyards to taste some of the regions best wines. The Niagara Weekender is a three-day round-trip train trip from New York City to Niagara Falls.
Spend a night in a large fireproof tepee or a luxury treehouse. Cheyenne Reservation in Montana offers plenty of old-fashioned accommodations with modern appeal, while Cedar Creek and Teton Tree Houses offer luxurious retreats in natural lodges amongst the trees. Newport, Rhode Island, is home to the historic Rose Island Lighthouse you can stay in on foggy fall and winter weekends. Yurts equipped with wood stoves, saunas, and individual hut hosts can be a great way to get away from everything in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.
