Traveling abroad is an incredible experience, but if you don’t have the time or budget to spend a week on the Amalfi Coast or Champs-Élysées, there are plenty of fantastic weekend trips to do right here at home. We asked our travel advisers to put together 3-day itineraries in their favorite cities from the California coast to New York City, see their ideas below.
San Francisco
By Matt Thompson, Digital Marketing Manager at TravelSmith
San Francisco skyline at night
Photo Credit: Rex Boggs
Famous for its hilly terrain, counter-culture and foodie scene, San Francisco is a top destination for many travelers. Though three days isn’t nearly enough to experience everything, here are some personal favorites for a long weekend in the “City by the Bay.”
Friday
Drop off your bags at the Palace Hotel, located downtown at 2nd Street and Market. Established in 1875, the Palace was San Francisco’s first luxury hotel and the largest in the world at the time of its completion. The Garden Court, recognized as one of the most beautiful hotel rooms in the world, features an ornate, stained-glass domed atrium and Austrian crystal chandeliers. Over the years the hotel has retained its classic, elegant charm while adding all of the modern conveniences.
Garden Court at The Palace Hotel
Photo Credit: Lyn Gately
Insider Tip: Don’t rent a car if you’re planning to stay in the city. Parking is a nightmare in just about every neighborhood and there’s more than enough Uber, Lyft and cab drivers to get you around with ease. Muni bus lines can also get you around town, but can be time consuming and sketchy in some areas.
After you’ve checked in to your room, make your way over to Foreign Cinema in the Mission district for dinner and drinks. The food is amazing and the ambiance is as unique as it is romantic. If you can, try to get a table outside where foreign films are projected against a brick wall. After dinner, take a walk and explore the vibrant streets of the Mission, then pop into Trick Dog, El Techo or ABV for a nightcap.
Saturday
Get an early start and make a beeline to the Ferry Building in the Embarcadero: one of the best foodie destinations in the country. Begin your culinary adventure with a cup of coffee at Blue Bottle, brewed one cup at a time, accompanied by a challah roll from Cowgirl Creamery (arguably the Bay Area’s best cheese producer). Because it’s Saturday, you’ll be able to head outside for the weekend Farmer’s Market. After you’ve had your fill of food, head west down the Embarcadero for amazing views of the Bay Bridge, financial district and (on a sunny day) across the bay to Angel Island and Marin.
Cheese selection at Cowgirl Creamery inside the Ferry Building
Photo Credit: Class V
Less than a mile walk from the Ferry Building, Coit Tower—famous for its distinctive design and 360-degree panoramic views—stands tall on Telegraph Hill. (The hill is steep with lots of stairs, but the view is worth the hike.) The tower has been a fixture of the San Francisco skyline since 1933 and is a tribute to the city’s Fire Department (the design was inspired by a firehose.) For the best views and to learn about its history, take a guided tour to the top to see the murals.
Just in time for lunch, nearby North Beach delivers some authentic Italian fare. Tony’s Pizza Napoletana has the best pies in the city, wood-fired at 1,000-degrees. Original Joe’s is another good choice, offering a classic San Francisco dining experience and home-style entrees like lasagna and broiled strip steak.
Afterwards, return downtown to experience the new Museum of Modern Art. Reopened in early 2016 after a three-year renovation, SFMOMA is bigger and more incredible than ever. It’s a popular spot, so purchase tickets ahead of time and skip the lines. It can take two to three hours to see everything, so plan to spend most of your afternoon here. Because you’re only a few blocks from The Palace, head back to your room and relax a while before venturing out for dinner.
There are literally hundreds of acclaimed restaurants in town, but our favorite hidden gem is Nob Hill Café, located two blocks from the Mark Hopkins at the top of Nob Hill. No reservations are taken so there’s often a 30-45 minute wait, but you can order (or bring) a bottle of wine to enjoy at their outdoor tables. Once inside, enjoy homemade pastas and daily specials like grilled octopus or rack of lamb. The ingredients are fresh, everything is made from scratch, and its small size gives the place a cozy, welcoming feel.
For a nightcap head to Top of the Mark, inside the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins hotel. Located on the top floor, enjoy music from a live classical ensemble and sip a martini while you gaze down on the city. If you’re looking for a little more entertainment, catch the 9pm show of Beach Blanket Babylon, the iconic pop-culture musical revue.
Sunset view from Top of the Mark
Photo Credit: Alex
Sunday
Start with brunch in the Garden Court at The Palace Hotel, basking in the light from the stained glass atrium above. Afterwards, jump in an Uber (or Lyft/cab) to experience the city’s most famous attraction: the Golden Gate Bridge.
Plan to get to the bridge by 10am if you want to beat the crowds at the Visitor Center, and on the span. If you have time, walk across to the Marin side and take in some of the best views of San Francisco and the surrounding bay. Make your way back across the bridge for modern Mexican food at Tacolicious on Chestnut Street, a short cab ride away. If you have the time, pop into one or two of the nearby Marina boutiques before wrapping up your San Francisco weekend fling.
View of Golden Gate Bridge from Crissy Field
Photo Credit: Matt Thompson
Houston
By Erin Deinzer, Senior Copywriter & Editor at TravelSmith
Sunset view from Top of the Mark
Photo Credit: Katie Haugland
You’ve probably heard the expression, “Everything is bigger in Texas.” Big hair. Big football crowds. Big ranches. So let’s roll with that “big” theme and create a jam-packed weekend in the fourth-most populous city in the U.S.
Friday
Following the adage of “Go big or go home,” check into the Hotel ZaZa Houston. Located in the city’s Museum District (which will come in handy tomorrow), it’s packed to the gills with unique decor and decadent indulgance. Animal prints vie for attention alongside gilded furniture, crystal chandeliers and bold-colored walls. If it’s in your budget, book one of their over-the-top accommodations like the Rock Star Suite: a 2,160 sq. ft. space that features a fireplace and amazing city views.
Head out in time to watch the amazing sight of 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats emerging at sundown from underneath the Waugh Drive Bridge. There’s an observation deck in Buffalo Bayou Park, or view the spectacle from a pontoon boat on the 2nd and 4th Friday of the month, March-October.
Wrap up the evening at The Grove, a two-story restaurant located at the south end of Discovery Green. The uber-modern design and downtown location belie its back-to-the-earth sensibilities; they grow greens for the kitchen on a rooftop garden and bottle their own distilled water inhouse to reduce their carbon footprint.
The Grove restaurant in downtown Houston
Photo Credit: Ed Schipul
Saturday
Grab a quick bite at the hotel, then start your day with a nod to The Big Bang theory. Dubbed “the big draw” by USA Today, Space Center Houston has more than 400 things to see and do. At the Space Gallery, you can walk inside the massive Skylab Trainer Module (used for training astronauts for life in space), or touch a moon rock. The NASA Tram Tour will take you behind-the-scenes for a look at Rocket Park, home of the Saturn V rocket.
Here on Planet Earth, you can’t get much bigger than our world’s combined rivers, lakes, oceans and streams. Discover what’s inside them at your next stop, the Downtown Aquarium – An Underwater Adventure, where you can step inside the sunken hull of a 17th century Spanish galleon, explore the lush environment of a tropical rainforest, or watch an electric eel, pufferfish and lionfish overrun the Sunken Temple. Set aside some time for lunch at their onsite restaurant, where you’ll be seated around a 150,000-gallon aquarium.
Fountain in front of Downtown Aquarium
Photo Credit: Katie Haugland
To wrap up the afternoon, pop over to the Historic Market Square Park, the cultural heart of downtown Houston. (If you happen to be traveling with a furry friend—Hotel ZaZa is dog friendly, but they charge a hefty fee—there are also two dog runs.) At the park, you’ll be seeking out the oversized; this time, by way of art. Created by artist Malou Flato, the mosaic fountain and benches are decorated with 2,000 handpainted ceramic tiles, while “Points of View” is a 25-foot tall sculpture crafted from wood and steel.
No doubt you’ve worked up an appetite again, so enlist yourself for service at The Pastry War: named for a real-life event involving an angry French baker and some unpaid expenses he incurred in Mexico. The cuisine is Mexican with un peu French touches throughout the bar. How does that tie into our “big” theme? They serve dozens of different mezcals and tequilas in their mezcaleria.
Sunday
Begin your day with a surefire way to work off that tequila hangover by grabbing a cuppa Joe and a bagel, then walking it all off in peace and tranquility. Hermann Park is a 445-acre urban park with a Japanese Garden that celebrates its 25th next year (the park itself is over 100 years old). A staggering 6-million people are estimated to visit Hermann Park each year.
Japanese Garden in Hermann Park
Photo Credit: faungg’s photos
Your wrap-up for the weekend is lunch at Demeris Bar BBQ. It may seem a bit surprising to find a Greek family doing barbeque, but that just shows you what an enterprising spirit can accomplish in the Lone Star State. Try their babyback ribs, jalapeno sausage and beans, then order some of their original BBQ sauce to take home with you—which, because it is Texas—is available by the gallon.
Now that’s big!
Chicago
By Lynne Martin, author of Home Sweet Anywhere, How We Sold Our House, Created a New Life, and Saw the World
The Bean in Millenium Park
Chicago, America’s vibrant “Second City”, welcomes almost 52M visitors annually, drawn by its gorgeous architecture, dramatic lake setting, world-class museums, music, dining and art scene. Chicago’s opportunities for entertainment and enlightenment are virtually endless, but I’ve narrowed them down to an action-packed three-day weekend itinerary. And thanks to the city’s excellent public transpiration system, getting around will be easy.
Insider Tip: Look into purchasing a Fast Pass before you go, which offers admission to the Art Institute of Chicago’s permanent collection and other area attractions at a discounted rate. The tickets are good for nine days.
Friday
The Architectural Foundation runs a River Cruise, which allows guests to see how Chicago grew from a settlement into one of the world’s largest cities in less than 100 years. Voted the “top tour in Chicago and one of the top 10 tours in the U.S.” by TripAdvisor users, your docents onboard the ship will interpret over 50 buildings along the Chicago River. It’s an unforgettable 90-minute introduction to the city and a great lesson in American architecture.
After the cruise, a trip to the famed Art Institute of Chicago Museum is bound to delight. You’ll also want to enjoy fabulous Millennium Park, located next to the museum. Just ten years old, this portion of Grant Park—which was once an industrial wasteland—offers an unprecedented combination of stunning architecture, sculpture and landscape design.
Fine art exhibit inside Art Institute of Chicago
Photo Credit: vladimix
The Jay Pritzker Pavilion presents free concerts as well as big-name attractions in a fantastic setting. There are Segway and bike rentals available, plus food trucks and a beer garden to satisfy the appetite you’ll work up after all that walking.
That night, relax and laugh at the famed Second City Theatre, where such comedic favorites as Tina Fey, Chris Farley and Bill Murray all got their start.
Saturday
A trip to Chicago wouldn’t be complete without some dedicated shopping time, so a morning excursion to the Andersonville section is an excellent way to start your day. The charming area, with its Swedish roots, is a mecca for home furnishing collectors and its eclectic stores like the Women and Children First Book Shop can keep you browsing for hours. Before you drop while you shop, take a break at Hop Leaf, a gastropub with an enthusiastic following.
Craft brews at Hopleaf gastropub
Photo Credit: Bernt Rostad
If antiques are your thing, find your way to Belmont Avenue where you can browse for hours in its diverse collection of stores. Or ogle high-end brand-name fashions on the Magnificent Mile (aka Michigan Avenue) and stop at the Hancock Tower along the way to see Chicago from its 94th-floor tilt-out window.
Afternoon is the ideal time to visit the Museum Campus: 57-acres on Lake Michigan where the Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum—all dedicated to natural science—are found.
That evening, plan to dine at one of the many rooftop restaurants that are all the rage. Soho House is a lovely spot for Italian food, and a prime example of great dining with a view.
Sunday
The eccentric and wildly talented architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, created a unique design style; his buildings are some of Chicago’s most beloved treasures. You’ll need to book ahead to take a tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park.
Craft brews at Hopleaf gastropub
Photo Credit: Bernt Rostad
Nearby is the Hemingway House, birthplace and childhood home of acclaimed writer Ernest Hemingway. After taking a tour, enjoy an elegant Sunday brunch at the Hemingway Bistro. In the afternoon Lincoln Park Zoo and its neighbor, the Lincoln Park Conservatory, offer a tranquil escape from the bustle of the city.
If you can squeeze in one more evening in Chicago, choose from any of a variety of theatrical and musical events. Round out the evening by dining at one of the Theater District’s bustling restaurants either before or after the show.
New York City
By Lee Abbamonte, the youngest American to visit every country in the world
Commute hour in New York City
I’ve lived in New York City, Manhattan specifically, for 17 years; so I like to think I know my city pretty well. If you’re thinking about taking a bite out of The Big Apple, here’s a quick guide for a 3-day weekend getaway in New York City.
Friday
Check into one of the chic rooms at the Bowery Hotel in the East Village. Located in the heart of the Bowery near Cooper Union, it’s well within walking distance to everything and several subway stations to get to anything that isn’t. The Bowery also has an excellent hotel bar which features plush velvet couches and Middle Eastern tile work, and a restaurant—Gemma—that shouldn’t be missed.
Roam around the East Village, then walk west to Washington Square Park, the heart of Greenwich Village. This is the best spot for people-watching in New York City, where the eclectic meet the straight and narrow, and all get along swimmingly. Snap photos of street performers and the great views up and down Manhattan to share with friends and family.
View of Washington Square Park from NYU
Photo Credit: Doc Searls
Pizza is my favorite thing to eat in New York and all my favorite places are in a small area in the West Village centered on Bleecker Street and Carmine. Joe’s Pizza is the quintessential street slice and I’ve literally eaten there 3000+ times. Right around the corner is the original John’s, where the sausage can’t be beat and shouldn’t be missed. Across the street is a relative newcomer that has taken the Village by storm. Keste, a Neapolitan-style pizzeria, brings Napoli to New York. Try the Pizza Del Re; you’ll thank me later!
After satisfying your pizza cravings, stick around the Village and plan to bar hop a bit. Grab an early drink at Wilfie & Nell in the West Village for a dignified cocktail, then head west to White Horse Tavern—a classic New York institution where writers and poets have been drinking for 150 years. It’s definitely no frills but it’s got a lot of character. Walk a few blocks north to end the night on the rooftop of the Gansevoort Hotel for overpriced cocktails, beautiful people and amazing Manhattan views.
Saturday
Get up early and head down to the new World Trade Center to visit the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. I used to work in the World Trade Center and these are must-sees for any American visiting New York. Both are extremely well done and really give you a sense of scale and what it was like before, during and after the attacks. If you’re up for it, head to the World Trade Center observation deck for great views of Manhattan looking Uptown; plus views of New Jersey, the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn.
Inside the National September 11 Memorial & Museum
Photo Credit: Alex Z
Make your way over toward Wall Street and walk up Broadway, also known as the Canyon of Heroes for it’s famous ticker-tape parades, up to the Brooklyn Bridge. Walking across the bridge may be cliché, but it’s well worth it for the views and some historical context. After exploring the Dumbo and Brooklyn Heights neighborhoods, grab a Citi Bike and ride across the Williamsburg or Manhattan Bridge and head back to the Village for a rest.
Make an early dinner reservation in the Theatre District before hitting a Broadway show. I recommend The Palm, a classic steakhouse, a branch of which is located in Times Square. Try to secure tickets to Hamilton, the hottest show in town. If you can’t find them (or afford the astronomical prices), fear not; there are plenty of other amazing shows to watch.
After the show, have a late night cocktail and stroll around the crossroads of the world: Times Square. As a local I rarely go there, but when I do I am still mesmerized by the “bright lights” of Broadway.
Times Square at night
Photo Credit: James Willamor
Sunday
Wake up early and start walking north towards to Union Square—my other favorite public area in Manhattan. Have a coffee and brunch at Coffee Shop on Union Square West, then walk up Park Avenue South to Grand Central Terminal. Hop on the 4 train and head out to Yankee Stadium to catch a Yankee game at the Big Ballpark in the Bronx. Start with an overpriced beer at Stan’s across the street and see the real fans getting ready for the game.
After the game, save some room for an Italian feast on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. Most visitors never head to this part of the Bronx but it’s one of my favorite things to do in the city. Eat at Dominick’s. There’s no menu, they just tell you what they have and then start bringing things to your table. You might have a tough time remaining vertical after eating there, but you’ll be happy as a clam.
Dominick’s Italian restaurant in the Bronx
Photo Credit: James Willamor
Grab a cab or Uber to drop you at Rocco’s on Bleecker Street for coffee and dessert. For my money, they have the best pastries in New York and the best cannoli’s I’ve ever tasted anywhere in the U.S. From there it’s a short walk back to the hotel to either pass out into a food-induced coma, or check out and head to the airport. Either way, you’ve had a hell of a weekend in the greatest city in the world!
Orlando
By Christine van Blokland, award-Winning TV Host and TravelSmith Brand Ambassador on HSN
Dominick’s Italian restaurant in the Bronx
Photo Credit: James Willamor
Friday
It’s almost sacrilegious to go to Orlando without going to any of the Disney parks. Keeping that in mind, start your 3-day weekend with a visit to Epcot. Book your stay at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. With its vintage carousel on the inside, the lobby alone is worth a visit. Your room overlooks a Coney Island-style boardwalk, complete with Surrey bikes to rent.
Lake Eola in downtown Orlando
Photo Credit: Peter Dutton
Insider Tip: After you’ve checked in, take the boat to the back entrance of Epcot to skip the long lines. Go to dinner at Monsieur Paul in the France Pavilion and order la mille-feuille for dessert. C’est bon! Then enjoy Epcot’s nightly fireworks show.
Saturday
While Orlando is known for its theme parks, there’s plenty of arts and culture here too. Grab a quick breakfast at the BoardWalk Bakery, then check out of your hotel and make your way to 45-acre Loch Haven Park. Spend your morning at the Orlando Museum of Art, the Orlando Science Center or the Mennello Museum of American Art. Whatever your pick, you can’t go wrong here.
The entrance to the Mennello Museum of American Art
Photo Credit: Matthew Kaiser
Next, head over to historic Winter Park with its quaint sidewalk cafes. My pick is 310 Park South, which is the perfect spot for people watching. After lunch, walk to the Morse Museum to view the most incredible piece in their collection: a chapel with an interior by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Created for the 1893 World’s Columbian Expo, it was carefully moved to Orlando piece by piece and reassembled within the walls of the museum.
Check in at the Eo Inn, a restored 1930s boutique hotel on Lake Eola. Take a short stroll to SoCo, where the special on Saturday is shrimp and grits. But don’t fall into a carb-coma just yet, because it’s time for a Broadway show. Anything from Wicked to Blue Man Group to Opera Orlando performances are offered year-round at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
Sunday
Steps away from your hotel is the Eola Sunday Farmers Market. Grab a light snack at the market and enjoy it on the banks of Lake Eola while you watch the graceful swans glide by.
For a uniquely Florida experience, your afternoon should include a Boggy Creek Airboat Ride in Kissimmee. (An airboat is this crazy contraption that looks like a 10-foot tall fan attached to the back of a rowboat.) You simply can’t leave Florida until you’ve seen some ‘gators, so be brave and climb aboard. At the end of the tour, the captain likes to do a “hockey stop” to scare his passengers. It’s all in good fun, and exhilarating to say the least.
Boggy Creek Airboat Ride
Photo Credit: Smart Destinations
If you’ve flown in, en route to the airport be sure to look for a giant orange, a giant ice cream cone, or even a giant alligator eating a car. These are the vestiges of those wonderful circa 1940s Florida Roadside Attractions. Wrap up your three-day getaway by snapping a selfie next to one!
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