It isn't too late to pull together an awesome trip for the long weekend.
If you think you'll go insane sitting in your home for three straight days over Labor Day weekend, wiling away the hours with Netflix, naps, and general laziness, hit the road. Even though you have less than a month to plan a mini-getaway, you can still throw together a last-minute trip that'll be the highlight of your summer, with plenty of sight-seeing, summer activities, and relaxation. No matter where you live, there's guaranteed to be an awesome destination within driving distance. Here are our suggestions of what to do and where to look for reservations.
Three-day weekends were made for drinking. Instead of booking a stay at a vineyard (although we endorse that, too), Labor Day Weekend calls for a beer trip. Breweries around the country have opened inns and hotels with programs catered toward beer lovers.
The Elizabeth in Fort Collins, Colorado, offers a Beer & Bike suite (pictured above) with beer pong, a beer tap, and other party-friendly features—all within spitting distance of Fort Collins' 20-plus breweries, including New Belgium and Odell Brewing. Dogfish opened an inn for beer (and nature) enthusiasts on Lewes Harbor in Delaware that makes it easy to stop by its Rehoboth Beach brewpub and Milton brewery. The historic Mother Earth Motor Lodge, an offshoot of Mother Earth Brewing in Kinston, North Carolina, embraces '70s-era neon and laid-back vibes with shuffleboard and mini golf.
So what if it's the end of summer and the days are still long, humid, and hot? Ski lodges often have offseason activities or summer skiing, and you're guaranteed that the scenery will be gorgeous.
Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood in Oregon (pictured above in summer) offers some of the best summer skiing in the U.S., thanks to the Palmer Glacier. If you aren't a skier, Timberline's Magic Mile chair lift offers stunning views, and there are plenty of biking and hiking trails to explore. Mohonk Mountain House in New York's Hudson Valley is great for families on Labor Day, with campfires, grilling, and other outdoorsy activities to keep everyone busy and happy. In Colorado ski country, Beaver Creek resort's offseason itinerary includes wine tours, hiking, 4x4 mountain tours, and golf—and there are plenty of lodging options in the mountains.
The coolest cities around the country aren't necessarily the biggest, brightest ones. Instead of heavily touristed hotspots like NYC and LA, pick a young-at-heart metropolitan area that you've been meaning to explore for awhile now—one with an emerging artist scene, plenty of exciting restaurants, and outdoor events.
Boise, Idaho (yes, the potato place, as pictured above), has a thriving nightlife and food scene that you can easily traverse by bike. Louisville, Kentucky, has a booming music scene for bluegrass and blues fans alike. San Marcos, surrounded by wineries and featuring an excellent river for tubing, has taken the Texas crown of cool from Austin.
Something about island living gives these secluded bits of land a perpetually calming vibe, even if they aren't smack dab in the middle of the Caribbean and covered in palm trees. Pick the island closest to you, whether it be surrounded by lake water or salty ocean, and find accommodations for the weekend.
The San Juan Islands off Washington's coast (pictured above) have Orca watching and kayaking; Tybee Island in Georgia (often called Savannah's Beach) gives you the complete beach town experience; and Madeline Island of the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin serves up serious small town vibes, along with beaches, boating, fishing, and golfing—plus camping, if that's your kind of thing.
When in doubt, reacquaint yourself with America's history over a weekend in Washington, D.C. In these politically fraught times, it can't hurt to dive into our past and remember what, exactly, we're fighting for. Make sure to stop by the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Newseum, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
We suggest renting out an Airbnb in Logan Circle, Capitol Hill, or DuPont to be within Uber or transit distance of the sites.