The holidays can be stressful. In fact, that stress can cause you to miss out on the joy of the season. So here are three ideas from my mom, my sister, and I for a quick weekend away where you can forget the things you have to do, and spend time doing things you want to do.
Savannah, GA
@beckypbarber–My Mom
A weekend in the charming town of Savannah, GA is just what you need to slow down and soak up the holiday spirit. For a picturesque stay, book a room at the Riverfront Inn which is the perfect location to enjoy the views and be close to all the activity of the city. To start the festivities, we went on a trolley ride through the city which included some historical information with a holiday twist, as well as an opportunity to snuggle up and enjoy the Christmas lights. On Saturday, we spent the morning strolling down River Street and checking out all the shops including the Savannah Candy Company for some pralines. And of course, we couldn’t resist popping into the cozy Book Lady Bookstore and the stunning Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. The shops were also a great opportunity to pick up some last-minute Christmas gifts.
Then we enjoyed the afternoon with a river cruise on the iconic steamboat, The Georgia Queen. The music, jolly atmosphere, and harbor views were just what we needed to encourage us to sit back, relax, and enjoy the season. There are so many great places for southern comfort food in the area. For dinner, we decided to go for a true southern meal at the classic Pink House. Not only is the food delicious, but every room is decked out in old southern charm and character. Just make sure to get a reservation in advance. We finished our evening with what we really came for, a Christmas Market experience. This trip to Savannah really provided a lovely opportunity to sneak away from the hustle and bustle of this time of year and take a few moments for ourselves.
San Antonio, TX
@tyler.garcia711–My Sister
San Antonio makes a perfect weekend getaway during the holiday season. My husband and I went for a weekend; landing on a Thursday night and flying home early Sunday morning. Two full days were more than enough time to enjoy this spectacularly lit up city as well as include some relaxation time at our hotel. We especially enjoyed all the activity around the iconic River Walk. The downtown portion of the River Walk is a great central spot to stay and explore. The entire area is a 15 mile stretch which you could explore on a bike ride. Don’t skip out on the $10 boat ride either. We stayed in a hotel located along the river in the downtown area. In December, the River Walk is covered in thousands of Christmas lights and makes for a great night-time stroll or boat ride. We enjoyed wandering the area each night and stopping at Boudros for prickly pear margaritas.
Some of the other highlights that are easy to hit during the day are the Alamo (you really can’t go to San Antonio without checking out this historical sight) and La Villita and Historic Market. This is a square full of artisan shops, restaurants, and a large Mexican market. The Pearl, a food hall, is a great place to stop for lunch followed by the San Fernando Cathedral as an evening stop. On certain nights of the week, there is a light show projected on the cathedral that shouldn’t be missed. Between visiting these few special sites, sipping hot and cold beverages along the River Walk, and enjoying all the festive lights, this was a perfect mini getaway to squeeze in some relaxation during the busy holiday season.
New York, NY
@danastone08–Me
Christmas in New York….does it get any more holidazy than that! There are always flight deals to the city that never sleeps. If you’ve never been to NYC, I don’t recommend a short weekend visit as your first trip if you want to hit all the tourist sites. I’ve been to New York several times, so this trip was purely for walking, looking, window shopping, and eating. To stretch that holiday budget, consider staying outside of town and near a subway station. My fiancé and I arrived late Friday night and woke up early on Saturday to start our city walk at the south end of the island making our way north. For a trip like this, I can’t and don’t really want to give you an itinerary. Just walk. Everywhere! There is so much to see on every street and it’s really hard to go wrong. Stop anywhere that looks interesting. We popped into all kinds of eclectic stores, random popups, and several Christmas markets. Honestly, we just enjoyed the energy of the city and all the decorations. If you do need some type of guide, just follow Broadway making your way north and stop at any of the neighborhoods that intrigue you. If you get tired, you can always hop on the subway to get to your next area of interest (don’t stress about the subway and just use Google Maps). I also wouldn’t plan for meals. We sampled and shared so many random foods along our walk that we never felt the need for an actual breakfast or lunch. And for “dinner” we tried several items from a Christmas market near Madison Square Park. We finished the first day exhausted but loving every minute of the city’s holiday energy.
For day two, we got another early start but headed to the West Village for a quiet morning stroll. Our feet were tired, so we rode the subway a lot more today. We hit some of our favorite locations (some for a second time) like Chinatown and then Central Park followed by the Fifth Avenue area where we of course spent some time wandering through Macys. This day is a special memory for me because Eric and I went to the garment district to look at rings. And while I didn’t know it at the time, we met the guy who ended up creating my engagement ring. After a leisurely day of strolling, we went back to Little Italy where we met up with some friends for dinner. Then we headed back to Fifth Avenue to see the lights show on the side of the Macy’s building and the tree and skaters at Rockefeller Center because, after all, you’re in New York. This was not the most relaxing trip, but it left me bursting with holiday spirit!
