It is his first apartment, and the thrill has not worn off. There is a steady stream of takeout containers coming through the door—he is 23, and not yet a cook—but not a drop of stray grease or red sauce has made its way into the plush fibers of the new wall-to-wall carpets. Pets are permitted, and he’s thinking of adopting a puppy or maybe a cat. He takes his time picking out the furnishings, but at the top of his list is a DVD player. He’s a bit of a movie buff, or at least aspires to be, and has a list of films, mostly horror, that he’s been meaning to catch up on.

The apartment—a comfortable place in the Northeast, though a little far from Center City if you don’t have a car—is financed, in part, by a program offered through the city’s AIDS Activities Coordinating Office that assists HIV-positive people in securing stable housing.

Alvarez (who requested that we did not use his full name) contracted the virus in 2009 when he was homeless—something he’ll never be again.

“They pay the rent for the rest of your life—I will have this apartment for the rest of my life. I won’t ever worry about being homeless again,” he says, his naturally bright eyes narrowing a bit. “Being infected with HIV? It’s both a gift and a curse to me. It’s a curse because it’s HIV. But it’s a gift because of the fact that I can take care of myself so much better.”

According to a report by the Children’s Work Group, one of every 94 youth in Philadelphia experienced homelessness in 2009. A 2007 study by Philadelphia Safe and Sound and the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition found that 36 percent of homeless youth identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual.

Alvarez didn’t leave home because he identified as queer; he was taken from his mother, a drug addict, when he was only three years old. And even though he wasn’t out, growing up in residential treatment facilities—a type of self-contained group home for youth who are identified as having “special behavioral needs”—was torturous.

“They always asked if I was gay, but I always said no. I knew if I was out I would have gotten it so much worse, but it was obvious—that’s why they always came to me,” says Alvarez, who was abused by both staff and fellow residents. “I had sex with adults in those systems, and honestly not all times was it by choice. It was for being protected.”

When he turned 18, Alvarez left the system and became homeless after attempting to move back in with his mother. Before moving into his apartment, he spent nights in shelters and on benches in LOVE Park. He knows the physical pain of not eating for three days, and has checked himself into Hahnemann Hospital’s emergency room with fake symptoms in hopes of getting a meal.

It isn’t supposed to work like this.

Growing Up and Aging Out

Gloria Casarez is the director of the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs, a department created by Mayor Michael Nutter in 2008 to improve access to city services for LGBTQ residents. Youth who age out of care without a plan, without job skills, without a bed—such as Alvarez—are among the many issues Casarez is addressing with the help of Connect to Protect, a coalition of youth service organizations that act as her homelessness advisory board.

“There’s data on the end that says more of the young people who are homeless after aging out of Department of Human Services care are LGBT youth,” says Casarez. “You can receive certain services technically in our care until you’re 21. But you have to ask for it. If you don’t ask for it, you’re done at 18. What we hear on the back end is, ‘I didn’t know I could request a board extension until it was already too late.’”

Carrie Jacobs is executive director of the Attic Youth Center, a nonprofit social-services provider for LGBTQ youth. While she’s happy that the city acknowledged November as Runaway and Homeless Youth Awareness Month, the problem has been clear since the center opened 18 years ago.

“LGBTQ youth often do not feel safe in the child welfare system because many times child welfare workers aren’t trained to address their unique needs and may have their own biases,” she says. “Gay kids have always reported feeling more safe on the streets. This is what I saw from the day we opened the Attic. Back then, housing was really one of the primary issues. Now, here we are, and guess what? Housing continues to be the issue for LGBTQ youth. It’s kind of like bullying—while you see a lot of attention on it, it’s certainly nothing new. It’s certainly great that people are talking about it, and hopefully it brings some dollars, because that’s what we need.”

Currently, there are only 14 crisis beds for youth not under the care of DHS in Philadelphia. Around nine years ago, the Attic tried to launch its own housing program based on the needs of the homeless youth who stop by—for company, for condoms, for a meal, for video games in the Center City space’s welcoming hangout area—but the money wasn’t there.

 

 

1. Jen Hess
If Patti Smith could pass her torch to someone in Philly, it would be Hess, 42, a singer-songwriter who first found her sound as a kid on a set of drums. Since then, she’s written more than 2,000 songs on her guitar, inspired by everything from folk to rock operas, Hair—and girls. She has two records under her belt and regularly sells out the Tin Angel and has been on stage at Sisters. Once, after she played the famed Bowery Ballroom, Michael Stipe told her she has great command of the stage. Listen here.

2. Sgt. Sass
“This scene is not what it appears to be. And that seems to be the fire that is motivating me. I came to see some change. I came to change the game,” rap DeShawn Seymore, 27, and DaQuan Motley, 29, who make up hip-hop duo Sgt. Sass. They’ve been performing together for five years, weaving the queer black experience into elaborate rhymes inspired by everyone from Lil’ Kim and Jay-Z to the Banshees and Bikini Kill. Their album, Black Nail Polish, comes out later this year. Listen here.

3. Shara Dae
Her soulful sound follows in the footsteps of Phoebe Snow and Norah Jones. Dae, 35, is working on her first LP, but she started singing with her mom as a kid. Between gigs at The Fire and World Cafe Live, the chanteuse is also busy writing songs, learning piano and sharing the stage with acts including the Disco Biscuits, Taylor McFerrin and Gravy. Listen here.

4. Aiden James
It all began on a Muppet Baby keyboard on the back porch. That’s when James, now 29, got his first taste of music at age 4. “So many things around me inspire me,” he says, “walking home up Walnut Street, a first date or that inside joke that doesn’t get old.” James has toured the country and abroad, sharing a bill with stars including Andy Bell of Erasure, covering Gaga, and writing and producing a new album, Trouble With This (his third). “It’s a heavy vocal pop, rock, electronic record,” says James, “with a strong singer-songwriter element.” Listen here.

5. Dena Underwood
Raised in North Philly, she stands out behind the piano at Tavern on Camac. “As a teenager I used to walk past Tavern, and I would think to myself ‘I would like to play here someday,’” says Underwood, 36. Inspired by jazz greats like John Coltrane and Miles Davis, she has sung on Wade in the Water by Jim Wade and Room 323 with the Temple University Jazz Ensemble. “Growing up, everyone in my family had some type of music talent,” she says. “And there was always a piano in our house.” Listen here

This season, it’s all about contrasts: Some designers showed minimalist, all-white looks, and other played up patterns with wild abandon. Color was no exception: There were bold, highlighter-like neons and whisper-soft pastels. Right now, we’re feeling the latter—subtle, sorbet-hued pieces that feel more warm spring than blazing summer. Here, eight of our faves.

There are the volumes that we stash in bookshelves, and there are the dogeared paperbacks we stow in desk drawers. But some books beg to be displayed, like artwork, in all their glossy grandeur. Here are some of the best worth keeping out—and opening up.

 

Dog-sledding in the Poconos! Golfing in Bermuda! Barhopping in Nashville! You don’t need a ton of time for a great getaway—you only need a night or two (or three) and our guide to all the trips worth your time. Here, we present 52 inspired weekend escapes—that’s a whole year’s worth totally do-able vacations—that you can take anytime the mood strikes. Wouldn’t you rather be in Mexico this weekend?

Best Weekend Getaways

Washington, D.C.

Save the heavily scheduled D.C. trip for a long weekend when you can Smithsonian to your heart’s delight. This time, take it easy, and leave a little room to wander off the beaten path.

Get details about quick weekend getaways to Washington, D.C.

St. Michael’s, Maryland

You can’t swing a dead crab in this quaint Colonial town without smacking into a historically landmarked building—but if U.S history isn’t your bag, this peaceful pocket-sized village and its prettiest inn offer any number of other amusements … and, of course, the Chesapeake.

Get details about quick weekend getaways to St. Michael, Maryland.

Montreal, Canada

In this romantic food-and-arts-loving city, there’s really nothing better to do than eat and explore, explore and eat. (Sleep will just have to wait.) By foot, you’ll stumble across countless cultural amusements, and meals at the city’s meat-centric restaurants­ will reenergize you for the next round of exploration.­  

Get details about quick weekend getaways to Montreal, Canada.

Litchfield, Connecticut

Get comfortable with blissfully unscheduled days in this secluded town. Trust us: You won’t want to be tethered to a timetable as you enjoy all the traditional rural New England activities (kayaking, biking, antiquing … ). 

Get details about quick weekend getaways to Litchfield, Connecticut.

Paris, France

Yes, it is extra-extravagant, jetting off to Paris for just three nights, but what better place for extravagance than the City of Lights? You’ll sleep on the plane and wake up in one of the most beautiful places in the world, ready for breakfast croissants and dinnertime views of the Arc de Triomphe glowing in the night. A few days is enough to soak in the magic; you’ll come home a little happier, with Ladurée macarons for your jealous friends. 

Get details about quick weekend getaways to Paris, France.

Riviera Maya, Mexico

Lush green jungle, white sand beaches, azure waters and plenty of margaritas. What else do you need to know? 

Get details about quick weekend getaways to Riviera Maya, Mexico.

 

Quick Weekend Getaways

One-Night Trips From Philadelphia

From Charlotte to Connecticut, the perfect destinations for an overnighter.

Get details about the best weekend getaways and one-night trips from Philadelphia.

Two-Night Trips From Philadelphia

Charleston, Bermuda, and other weekend getaways you haven’t done a million times.

Get details about the best weekend getaways and two-night trips from Philadelphia.

Three-Night Trips From Philadelphia

Cape Cod! Aspen! Asheville! How to make the very most of your long weekends.

Get details about the best weekend getaways and three-night trips from Philadelphia.

 

Kayaking through the Bermuda Triangle

Travel time: Just under 4 hours by plane.
You’ll love the vibrant colors and the views at Old San Juan’s intimate convent-cum-hotel El Convento; you’ll love the Latino/Caribbean locale even more. (The rum! The rainforest!) But by far the most magical memory you’ll make in Puerto Rico will be kayaking, at night, in the nearby Fajardo Bay, home to a certain type of dinoflagellate that makes the water bioluminescent: Truly, it glows when you touch it. $$

Museum-Hopping in Chicago

Travel time: 2 hours by plane.
Chagall at the Art Institute. T-Rex at the Field Museum. Telescopes at the Adler Planetarium. Sharks at the Shedd Aquarium. The only things standing between you and a complete culture blitz in Chi-town are food and sleep breaks. For the first, go to Matt Fisher’s buzzed-about Bistronomic on the Gold Coast—but also get a flaky-crusted deep-dish pie at the beloved Lou Malnati’s. For the second, we like the übermodern James Hotel, mere steps from Michigan Avenue shopping. And try to visit that other cultural gem, Second City, the improv club where our own Tina Fey got her start. $$

Riverboating Down the Mississippi

Travel time: 3 hours by plane to St. Paul, Minnesota, where the trip begins and ends.
And now for something completely different: Watch the river roll by your stateroom window aboard a Mark-Twain-style steamboat in an Americana-soaked round-trip sojourn that includes a night’s stay in a St. Paul Hilton, three days aboard the steamer American Queen, shore tours, and meals in the grand saloon. $$$

Taking the Air in the Berkshires

Travel time: 5 hours by car.
You think you won’t call the staff by their first names, but within minutes of entering Blantyre—the century-old ivy-covered Tudor manor in Lenox, Massachusetts—you will. And yes, you may even find yourself playing croquet (how dignified of you) on the manicured grounds, and pushing yourself away from the table after canapés on the terrace, and scheduling a rose-scented manicure in your free time, thinking, “So this is what it feels like to be aristocracy.” $$$

Sailing in Cape Cod

Travel time: 1 hour by plane into Boston, followed by a 1.5-hour car ride.
At the idyllic Chatham Bars Inn overlooking Pleasant Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, it’s tempting to simply set up shop with a bucket of littlenecks on your private patio—but you’re on Cape Cod: Time to pop your collar, strap on those Sperrys, and hit the high seas. You’ve got options, depending on whom you’d like to work the mast: Book a private charter on the Inn’s Nantucket Indian wooden sailboat so you can focus on the seals bobbing off the starboard side, or sign up for private instruction and they’ll, er, show you the ropes as captain. $$

Ziplining in Western PA

Travel time: 5 hours by car, or 1 hour by plane into Pittsburgh, then 90 minutes by hotel shuttle.
On the 1,060-foot-long you’d-better-not-have-a-heart-condition Fatbird Flyer Zip Line at rural Fayette County’s luxe Nemacolin Woodland Resort, you’ll soar 300 feet above the earth at about 60 mph—which may not feel fast when you’re driving, but is basically the speed of light when it’s just you and a sling. Accommodations at the property are varied, from the basic rooms in the family-friendly Lodge (from $255) to more luxurious suites and estates (up to $3,000). One zip is $30. $$

Romancing in the Big Easy

Travel time: Just over 2 hours by plane.
With all the debauchery that goes on (and we’re not even talking about Mardi Gras), New Orleans is no place for the kids. So don’t bring ’em. Spend a totally grown-up weekend with a Sazerac in hand, listening to jazz at Snug Harbor and eating oyster loaf from Casamento’s. Stay at the classic, quaint Soniat House, tucked in a quiet residential area of the French Quarter, or—for more modern comfort—the nearby International House. Both are close enough to the city’s star restaurants (Cochon, Emeril’s, etc.) that you won’t need to call a cab … or even put down your drink. $$

Leaf Peeping in Asheville

Travel time: No nonstop flights; 3.5 hours by one-stop flight.
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville puts on a fall foliage show that rivals any seen in New England, and offers a wildly diverse range of other delights, from the opulent architecture of the Biltmore Estate to quality microbreweries to the cool indie bookstores and quaint boutiques in town center. Other things we love: The old Woolworth building, with 160 artist booths; the modern Southern fare at Tupelo Honey Café; and Louisa’s Porch, an unfussy B&B with soft beds and a killer breakfast. $

Skiing in Aspen

Travel Time: No nonstop flights; around 4 hours into Denver, then 45 minutes to Aspen.
Sure, we can shop at Prada and Gorsuch on the way to sushi at sexy Matsuhisa, but we’ve also sipped local beers at the chill Aspen Brewing Company clad in hat hair and beat-up snow boots, and felt utterly contented. Aspen—glamorous hot spot/cozy little ski town—is whatever you want it to be (well, it’s first and foremost about the skiing; see aspensnowmass.com for passes, rentals and lessons), and we’ve found that at Limelight Lodge, the mink types mingle easily with skiers in Gap loungewear. $$$

Hiding Out in Maine

Travel time: 1.5 hours by plane into Portland, then 25 minutes by water taxi.
Really looking to get outta Dodge? Consider Chebeague (that’s "shuh-BEEG"), one of the 222 islands off Portland’s coast. It’s quite small—just 3.5 by 1.5 miles—and the sumptuous Greek Revival-style Chebeague Island Inn only offers 21 sunny rooms, with nary a TV or phone in sight. You’ll spend your time walking the rocky coast, kayaking between sun-dappled neighboring islands, and slurping lobster stew at the inn’s restaurant, a favorite of Saveur. $$

Wine-Tasting in Sonoma

Travel time: Roughly 6 hours by plane.
Wine-country tips: 1. Stay at the storybook-perfect Sonoma Farmhouse cottage, which has a kitchen as well as beauçoup adorable restaurants nearby. 2. Whatever else you do (bike to Napa; bop around cosmopolitan Healdsburg), book a private tour via Beau Wine Tours. A chauffeur will cart you to up to five premium wineries —Gloria Ferrer, Ravenswood, Château St. Jean—and you’ll get a gourmet picnic lunch. $$$

Cooking in the Caribbean

Travel time: About 4 hours by plane to St. Martin, then a half-hour ferry ride.
The kitchen might seem like the last place you’d find yourself in sunny Anguilla, but at a resort called (and owned by) CuisinArt, you’d be remiss to skip the entertaining cooking class taught by the so-charming resident French chef. You’ll eat and drink quite well here (grilled lobster night rocks, as does the private wine tasting), but you must still venture off-site to Scilly Cay, a wee island with nothing on it but one tiny beach restaurant with the best barbecued chicken known to man. When you’re not gorging, there’s a cool tour of the hotel’s hydroponic farm, the spa’s unique warm seashell massage, and some of the bluest waters in all the West Indies. $$$

Surfing in the Hamptons

Travel time: A little more than 4 hours by car.
So yes, the main reason to spend three nights here is that you’re going to need time to unwind after the Hamptons traffic. It’s worth it, though: Montauk has the hands-down best surfing on the East Coast; you can grab a board, a wet suit and lessons from Air & Speed Surf Shop. Gurney’s Inn is a sprawling resort with comfy rooms and cottages that sleep eight, should you bring a crew; there’s also the smaller, chicer Sole East, with 61 bright bungalow-style rooms. You should also know about Lobster Roll in nearby Amagansett, where the seafood’s good and the star-spotting, excellent. Gurney’s: $$; Sole East: $

Getting Skinny in Utah

Travel time: 5.5 hours by plane into Las Vegas, then 2 hours by hotel shuttle.
One Philly Mag staffer refers to the place as “Biggest Loser meets Canyon Ranch”: You’re not going to drop three sizes in just a few days at Red Mountain Resort, but the retreat packages are a darn good start. You’ll eat three healthy low-cal meals a day, take an unlimited number of fitness classes, go on guided hikes in the splendid Red Mountains, attend cooking demos, and have access to everyone from nutrition and detox specialists to life coaches. The rooms are nice, too—but nothing compared to the natural beauty around you. $$

Swimming With Stingrays in Grand Cayman

Travel time: almost 4 hours by plane.
There’s no shortage of water sports with which to amuse yourself in the Cayman Islands—the upscale Westin Casuarina Resort & Spa has a ton to choose from on its private beach—but if you’re in the Caymans, you simply must smooch a stingray. Check in with the concierge to arrange a cruise to Stingray City, where you’ll stand waist-deep in water to pet, feed and kiss the friendly rays. (They feel like silk!) Mingle with more sea creatures during dinner at the Wharf, where you’ll feed the thrashing schools of tarpon between courses of conch fritters and Caribbean lobster tail. $$

 

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>>> Quick Weekend Getaways: One-Night Trips From Philadelphia

>>> Quick Weekend Getaways: Two-Night Trips From Philadelphia

 

 

Golfing in Bermuda

Travel time: About 2.5 hours by plane.
Bermuda’s 21 square miles hold eight golf courses —including the Roger Rulewich course at the rococo Tucker’s Point Resort, where you can play, stay, lounge on pink sand beaches and try the spa’s tricked-out shower with 18 heads. (Best end to a round ever.) Locals swear by the off-site Hog Penny Restaurant & Pub for its rum swizzle, the national cocktail. (How can you not love a country with a national cocktail?) $$$

Ogling Mansions in Newport

Travel time: About 1 hour by plane to Providence Airport, or 5 hours by car.
The historic summer homes in Newport make Longport look like Trenton. Even the lived-in homes in this tony town are impressive —and the folks at the Chanler at Cliff Walk Inn (another vintage mansion!) will happily shuttle you about to see them. More Chanler perks? The esteemed Spiced Pear restaurant and the namesake Cliff Walk, which offers a prime view of both the sunset and the Vanderbilt estate. $$ with the "Chanler Celebration" package; $$$ without.

 

 

Fly-Fishing in Hot Springs, Virginia

Travel time: About 90 minutes by plane into Roanoke, then 90 minutes by hotel shuttle.
You may be partial to the healing waters at this mountain town’s namesake hot springs, but you’re really at the Homestead Resort to learn to fly-fish like Brad Pitt in A River Runs Through It—and you’ll be much closer to your goal after a day-long class with resort instructors. Celebrate your prowess with dinner and dancing in the smart (jackets required!) dining room. Should prowess escape you, there’s always Homestead’s three golf courses. $$

Off-Roading in the Green Mountains

Travel time: About 1 hour by plane to Albany, then 1 hour by car.
Going to the Equinox Golf Resort and Spa in Manchester Village, Vermont, is like going to camp, if camp had a resplendent spa and rack of lamb in the mess hall. Activities include snowmobiling, fly-fishing, shotgunning, even falconry —but the coolest draw at this majestic mountain retreat is the Land Rover Experience driving school, where you learn to off-road in the rocky (sometimes snowy!) Green Mountains. $$

Driving Sports Cars in Vegas

Travel time: 5.5 hours by plane.
Bored of the craps table? Try cranking up the g-forces at 200 miles per hour in a Ferrari. Red, of course. Exotics Racing will set you up with training, a professional track, insurance, your screaming-hot wheels and, oh yeah, a helmet, starting at $300 for five laps. (Naturally, you’ll want to tack on the $79 for the dashboard-camera video.) If you’re tired of the whole Venetian and Bellagio scene, sleep at the year-old, $4 billion center-Strip Cosmopolitan, where you can score a bed for $160. $

Spring Training in the Gulf

Travel Time: 3 hours by plane.
In between trips to Bright House Networks Field to check on Ryan Howard’s Achilles tendon, relax by the pool at Clearwater’s Sandpearl Resort, a big, cushy eco-luxury resort right on the Gulf. You can do the massage/kayak/beach thing here, sure, but if you’re in it for the baseball, all you really need is the spa’s “sun wrap” (with aloe) for when you stay out too long sussing out Papelbon’s arm. $$

Admiring the Architecture in Western PA

Travel time: 5 hours by car, or 1 hour by plane into Pittsburgh, then 1.5 hours by car.
If seeing Fallingwater isn’t on your bucket list, it should at least be on your to-do-one-slow-summer list, and you should also visit nearby Kentuck Knob to make a Frank Lloyd Wright weekend of it. Stay at the historic Summit Inn Resort (check out the $482 Wright package); it’s no Wright masterpiece, but it’s cozy, and there’s considerable draw in the history and the sweeping views of the valley below. Plus, there’s horseshoes. $

Skating in the Hudson Valley

Travel time: 3.5 hours by car.
The Mohonk Mountain House is less “house” than “magnificent Victorian castle,” perched high on the cliffs of upstate New York’s Hudson Valley. Take a guided nature hike or a Western-style trail ride through the lush acreage, or—in wintertime—glide serenely around the resort’s lovely open-air ice rink. (Warm up with afternoon tea and cookies, part of the $199-per-night three-night seasonal package.) $

Clay-Shooting in Charlottesville

Travel time: 1 hour by plane to Albemarle Airport, or 5 hours by car.
Not far from Thomas Jefferson’s historic Virginia home sits Keswick Hall at Monticello, a 48-room manse where you’ll get fried green tomatoes at lunch and vinotherapy in the spa (i.e., shiraz body scrubs, pinot noir facials). And here’s something new: For $120, they’ll give you a gun and ammo (you are in the South), and you’ll learn to shoot clay pigeons against the movie -set backdrop of the Dixie hills. $$$

Downward-Dogging in New York

Travel time: About 3.5 hours by car.
It’s no-cell-phones-allowed at the Omega Institute, the peaceful yoga retreat planted in the heart of the Hudson Valley. (They interfere with nirvana—and reception’s bad anyway.) Here, yogis of all levels choose workshops, pick one of the daily open courses, canoe on the lake, get a little acupuncture, or have a tarot card reading (if they’re that kind of yogi). Food is local and—yep—vegetarian. $$for a two-night stay.

 

 

Polka-ing in Pittsburgh

Travel time: 1 hour by plane or 5 hours by car.
National Geographic thinks Pittsburgh circa 2012 is one of the best destinations in the world. We think the Phils open the season next month at PNC Park. The boutique Priory hotel is less than a mile from the ballpark and a 10-minute walk from the Andy Warhol Museum. Another must: Hofbrauhaus Pittsburgh, a church-turned-bier-hall, for steins of brew, shot-skis, and a polka band specializing in pop rock covers. When it’s busy, the pews are for standing. $

Horseback Riding in Charleston

Travel time: An hour and 40 minutes by plane.
Ride (horse) back in time along the trails of Middleton Place, a gracious former plantation teeming with oaks draped in Spanish moss. You’ll stay at the eponymous inn, an architecturally modern and yet surprisingly homey retreat where you can learn to ride, kayak in the Ashley River, and get you some she-crab soup from the restaurant. Got kids? Look into the Nature Family Fun Package. $

Dog-Sledding in the Poconos (Really!)

Travel time: 2 hours by car.
Everyone who’s gone to the Poconos has flung himself down a hill on skis, a snowboard, an inner tube, a toboggan, a sled or a snowmobile. But how many can say they’ve screamed “Mush!” at the top of their lungs to an eager pack of Siberian huskies? From the toasty confines of Mountain Springs Lake Resort’s opulent log cabins, make your way over to the Skytop Lodge, where teams of gorgeous, frisky Snow Caps Sled Dogs will wind you through white-coated trees and frozen-mid-gush waterfalls. $$

Farming in Vermont

Travel time: 1.5 hours by plane to Burlington, then 1.5 hours by car.
The best country- style breakfast you’ll ever eat is included in the $98-a-night fee at Rochester’s beautiful Liberty Hill Farm. A nice family called the Kennetts have been accepting guests on their working dairy farm for a quarter-century: You’ll sleep in their 1825 farmhouse, milk cows, feed calves from a bottle, and remember what a good night’s sleep feels like. $

Jazzin’ in Miami

Travel time: Almost 3 hours by plane.
Free the weekend of March 17th? Hang out with Patti LaBelle, Doug E Fresh, Mary J. Blige and Jill Scott at Miami’s 7th Annual Jazz in the Gardens music festival, and stay (and drink sidecars) at the Gatsby-fab Betsy in glam South Beach, where you’ll probably bump into the talent after-hours. $$$

Tapping Into Your Inner Southerner in Savannah

Travel time: 2 hours by plane.
Ah, Savannah: the town Sherman spared because it was just too darn pretty to torch. One promenade down oak-tree-lined streets and your Philly heart will melt (seventy degrees in March!)—and that’s before you even get fried okra at The Lady and Sons (a.k.a. Paula Deen’s restaurant) or blue crab at chichi Elizabeth on 37th. Take Sixth Sense Savannah’s ghost tour for a fascinating look at the city that spawned Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, then bed down at the Hamilton Turner Inn, a mansion that’s one of Savannah’s ritziest—and most centrally located—bed-and-breakfasts. $

 

See more of Philadelphia magazine’s travel content.

>>> Quick Weekend Getaways: One-Night Trips From Philadelphia 

>>> Quick Weekend Getaways: Three-Night Trips From Philadelphia 

 

Barhopping in Nashville

Travel time: 2.5 hours by plane.*
Nashville’s neon-lit nightlife is the antidote to your staid and seedy Atlantic City escape: You’ll walk from one honky-tonk to another for quality (and often free) live music; pop by Robert’s Western Worldfor more music, drinks and boots; and sup at Puckett’s on real-deal fried chicken. For sleeping: Affordable, respectable chain hotels abound, but for one night, live it up at the so-posh Hermitage Hotel, with the cushiest beds in town. $$

Shopping in Narrowsburg

Travel time: About 3 hours by car.
Don’t knock it, you big-city shoppers: This rural New York hamlet has been lauded by Travel + Leisure and New York magazines as a star small-town browsing destination. A former Vogue editor runs Nest, a sophisticated lifestyle boutique with amazing furniture, and several cool galleries make for a solid shopping day. The homespun rooms of Pennsylvania’s Woodloch resort are 20 minutes away. $ 

 

Tubing down Bear Creek Mountain 

Travel time: 90 minutes by car.
A fun silver lining in the gray winter clouds: Bear Creek Mountain’s 1,000-foot-long tubing park. (There’s also skiing and snowboarding for $50 per four hours on weekends.) Lodge-style rooms at the attached resort are restful and affordable, the lobby’s stocked with board games, the pools are heated, and the beer flows freely at The Grille. What more could you want an hour and a half from home? $

Tubing Down the Delaware

Travel Time: An hour by car.
  Is this the most underrated summer activity ever? Whether you pair up in a two-person tube or float solo, Delaware River Tubing’s four-hour river jaunts feature gentle Class I rapids … and a riverside hot-dog stop. Dry off at the decidedly ritzier Inn at Lambertville Station, then tromp to darling Main Street for window shopping and a big plate of chicken parm at the red-sauce joint Rick’s. $

Chocolate-Bathing in Hershey 

Travel time: A little over 90 minutes by car.
  Forget the park. You’re here for the Spa at Hotel Hershey, and the chance to spend the day in something called a whipped cocoa bath, followed by a fondue wrap. (See: the Chocolate Escape Package.) The hotel is equally decadent … and you can just imagine the caliber of dessert served at the restaurants. $$

Bonding with the Dog in Vermont

Travel time: About 1 hour by plane into Burlington, then 40 minutes by hotel shuttle.
It’s either a sign of the end times that something called “Rover Reiki” exists, or an extreme example of the lengths the folks at Stowe’s Top Notch Resort and Spa will go to to make sure every guest is happy. Join little Buster in one of the amazing chi balancing massages, then enjoy teatime (where there are treats for both of you)—just call the resident dog-sitter before you hit the tennis courts. $$$

Spa’ing in Boston

Travel time: 1 hour by plane.
The spa at the plush Mandarin Oriental hotel is one of New England’s best—and if you’ve got the ducats (about $600), you should book the full-day package of coffee-and-frankincense scrubs, massages, facials and more. Or do just a couple of hours of, say, underwater hydrotherapy massage—then spend what you’ve saved at the hotel’s wildly sophisticated Mizu hair salon. You’ll only need to leave this luxe Mandarin cocoon for fancy cheeses and seasonal fare at the lauded L’Espalier, just next door. $$$

Biking Through Bucks County

Travel time: 1 hour by car.
Yes, Stockton’s Woolverton Inn is a B&B, but relax: There’s not a doily in sight. No, here it’s all Jacuzzis, Egyptian cotton, and the sort of warm, easy hospitality that makes you reconsider life amongst city folks. Tack $195 onto the cost of your room (from $150) and you’ll get a four-course picnic lunch, a map, and two rental bikes (plus helmets) for pedaling those country roads. $

Drinking in Charlotte, North Carolina

Travel time: 90 minutes by plane.
September 29th is this walkable city’s massive Oktoberfest, for which national and international brewers all show up for five hours of festive (read: bring your lederhosen) drinking. The best hotel in town is the Dunhill—just lose the beer-wench costume; it’s more a Scotch sorta place. Breakfast is next door, at the Harvest Moon Grille, for biscuits and gravy, local sausage, grits … the works. $

Whale-Watching in Cape May

Travel time: About 2 hours by car.
Like the Discovery Channel in real time, the Cape May Whale Watcher sails April through December on, um, three-hour tours—and the captain virtually guarantees sightings. It’s also a chance to indulge yourself at the opulent Congress Hall hotel and the less opulent Mad Batter in the morning for corned-beef hash. $

Getting Away in Fogelsville

Travel time: 1 hour by car.
If a place called Fogelsville doesn’t exactly say “vacation” to you, it’s only because you haven’t been to the Glasbern Country Inn. (Emphasis on the "country.") This bucolic sanctuary sits on 130 acres of Pennsylvania farmland (it grows most of the greens in your salad; it’s home to the pigs that become your supper) and is loaded with cozy amenities like Jacuzzis, steam showers and fireplaces. Outside on the porch swing, look up: You can see all the stars. $$

Dining in Greenwich, Connecticut

Travel time: 2.5 hours by car.
For those who’ve dined at all the best restaurants: Thomas Henkelmann’s eatery at the Homestead Inn ought to be your next reservation. The acclaimed chef runs the Victorian property with his wife, and the magic combination of his food (gratin of Maine lobster, Roquefort terrine with foie gras) and her perfect hospitality (Fili D’Oro linens, hand-drawn walking maps of the neighborhood) is simply too memorable —and too close—to pass up. $$$

Splurging in Manhattan

Travel time: About 1 hour by Amtrak.
Glossy, grand and right off Central Park, the Carlyle is New York the way it ought to be done at least once before you die. You’re right on Madison Avenue, and thus just steps from other NYC classics: Hermès, Oscar de la Renta, Vera Wang, etc. Other musts for a blowout weekend: a lunch break at Nello for people- (celebrity-?) watching; tickets to see Ricky Martin in Evita; and dinner at the Upper East Side’s Post House, which the Times deemed “the paragon of a New York steakhouse.” $$$

Saving in Manhattan

Travel time: About 2 hours by car or Bolt Bus.
Rates for the arty Gershwin Hotel start at $159, and its Flatiron address means that the Museum of Sex, the Fifth Avenue (window) shopping district, the Chelsea art galleries, chef- and celeb-packed Union Square Greenmarket, with local foods galore, and—most importantly—the life-altering burgers at the Shake Shack are all right there. $

Beaching in Rehoboth, Delaware

Travel time: 2.5 hours by car.
When Avalon feels stale, a fresh swath of beach and boardwalk at so-charming Rehoboth awaits—as does the Dogfish Brewpub, with casks full of Delaware’s best. (Snacks, too!) The Bellmoor is a comfy resort with two pools, a spa and a free breakfast, and DelMarVa Board Sport Adventures offers a hilarious-sounding Stand Up Paddling Yoga that’s worth a shot while you’re at a beach where nobody knows you. $

 

 

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