Ah, Summer Fridays. A few extra hours to pack up the car or grab an early flight and get a head start on weekend travels. Below are our favorite recommendations for easily accessible destinations that are just a short drive or flight from a number of major metro areas in the West!
Snowmass Village, Colorado
Snowmass Village is the perfect escape for Front Range families and adventurers looking to make the most of a long summer weekend. With stunning 360 degree views and hike-in/hike-out access to dozens of trails, Snowmass delivers ultimate fresh air freedom. A can’t miss experience is The Lost Forest, where zip lines, a climbing wall, disc golf and the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster offer hours of on-mountain fun for every age. Plus, the destination boasts an array of outdoor live music and events, including several festivals, a weekly rodeo and the Snowmass Free Concert Series, every Thursday evening on Fanny Hill.
Moab, Utah
Moab is Utah’s mecca for adventure, home to two iconic national parks – both International Dark Sky Parks – and a charming downtown with an abundance of local shops and restaurants. Perched on the Colorado River and framed by majestic cliffs, the newly renovated Red Cliffs Lodge Moab is a national park-inspired retreat that serves as a basecamp for exploration, home to the Moab Museum of Film and Western Heritage, Red Cliffs Ranch horseback riding, and one of just five Bronco Off-Roadeo drive schools in the country. Don’t miss Ember, Moab’s newest dining destination, where grill- and game-driven American fare is paired with an adjacent cocktail lounge offering cinematic views of the dramatic red rock landscape.
Santa Fe, “The City Different,” is the perfect destination for a quick weekend getaway that feels like you’ve been transported worlds away. Suitable for thrill seekers and culture junkies alike, travelers can find 250+ galleries, 20+ museums, more than 400 restaurants, 86 hiking trails ranging from beginner to expert, 1.6-million acres of Santa Fe National Forest for flyfishing, horseback riding, rafting, biking and more. La Fonda on the Plaza, the only hotel on Santa Fe’s historic plaza, offers plush accommodations steeped in Southwestern culture with a museum-quality art collection, rooftop dining, nightly live entertainment and off-site excursions for a seamless weekend getaway.
Frisco, Colorado
Tucked between the peaks of the Rocky Mountains and surrounded by National Forest, Frisco is a charming mountain town that offers free and accessible outdoor activities anchored by the five-square-mile Dillon Reservoir. Visitors can spend the day paddleboarding, fishing, or cruising on a pontoon around the lively Frisco Bay Marina. Frisco’s extensive trail network delivers hiking and mountain biking for every skill level, from the epic Peaks Trail to Breckenridge to the Frisco Peninsula Lakeshore Perimeter Loop. Coined the “Main Street of the Rockies,” Frisco’s pedestrian-friendly Main Street draws visitors in with more than 50 locally owned restaurants, breweries, bed and breakfasts, boutiques and coffee shops.
Lake Havasu City, Arizona
A vibrant desert oasis along Arizona’s sparkling Colorado River corridor, Lake Havasu City is a watersports haven with more than 400 miles of shoreline. The destination invites visitors to spend their days tubing across calm coves, paddling along scenic inlets or trying thrills like wakeboarding and jet skiing, On land, travelers explore SARA Park’s maze of hiking trails or join a guided off-roading outing along the Arizona Peace Trail, then unwind in the charming English Village with its red phone booths, boutique shops and views of the iconic London Bridge.
Situated along Orange County’s extraordinary coastline, Dana Point is a pristine beach town with unmatched access to marine life and home to nearly two dozen parks and miles of beach-side trails. The Americas’ first whale heritage site and trademarked the “Dolphin and Whale Watching Capitol of the World,” Dana Point offers unforgettable seaside activities, from one-of-a-kind whale watching excursions and kayaking tours, to surf lessons for all ages and live music harbor cruises. Dana Point is home to numerous oceanfront properties that provide comfortable accommodations, dining, pools, spa services, on-site amenities and off-site activity packages.
Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Pagosa Springs is the ideal weekend getaway to escape the hustle and bustle of Colorado’s busy mountain towns. Located five hours south of Denver, the scenic, southwestern Colorado mountain town is defined by its natural hot springs, year-round outdoor adventure and authentic character. Pagosa Springs is home to the deepest geothermal hot spring in the world, an unexpected art scene – dubbed the “Broadway of the Mountains” – and an award-winning culinary scene, and the town offers a range of accommodations, from geothermal resorts and boutique motels to scenic campgrounds and intimate bed-and-breakfasts.
