Get out of your weekend rut! The best way to do it: with one of these quick getaways—all for less than $300 a night

Shape, August, 2006 by Dimity McDowell

What are you doing this weekend? If you can rattle off your to-do list without a moment's hesitation--grocery store, gym, movie--your routine needs a detour, right out of town. We've tracked down five spots across the country that offer a balanced dose of activity and relaxation. The best part? They're all reasonably priced (less than $300 a night) and located within a three-hour drive from a major city. Whether your dream weekend involves horseback riding, kayaking or just kicking back on a blanket or in a hammock, we guarantee you'll return rejuvenated--and ready to take on a new week of challenges.

ESCAPE FROM SAN FRANCISCO

Hotel Pacific

MONTEREY, CALIF., 115 MILES SOUTH

Each of the 105 fireplace suites features handmade tiles, hardwood floors and feather beds. The private balconies look out upon lush courtyards and fountains.

Get outside The Pacific Ocean is your playground: Walk past lighthouses and beaches on the 29-mile-long Monterey Peninsula Recreation Trail, or ask the concierge to help you arrange a paddling trip along the coast, where you'll spot sea otters and seals. Up for a real adventure? Take a scuba-diving lesson in the 5,320-square-mile Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, home to 365 kinds of fish and kelp beds.

Rainy-day options If you prefer to see the wildlife from a little farther away, go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where you'll spot penguins, a giant octopus, glow-in-the-dark jelly-fish and just about anything else aquatically imaginable. At nearby Cannery Row, within walking distance from the hotel, there are piers, outlets and gourmet restaurants. And 30 minutes away, you'll find 34,000 acres of vineyards, where you can sample the local merlots and pinot grigios. Of course, you can always just curl up in front of the fireplace in your room.

Details Make reservations two to three weeks in advance. Rates begin at $209 a night (831-373-5700, hotel pacific.com).

ESCAPE FROM CHICAGO

The American Club

KOHLER, WIS., 145 MILES NORTH

Originally constructed in 1918 to house laborers who worked at Kohler Co., this 240-room Tudor-style building is now one of most luxurious hotels in the Midwest. Located in the center of a charming village, it offers plenty of restaurant picks and prime shopping.

Get outside Although this resort is golfing nirvana--the on-site courses at Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run both regularly show up on national rankings--there's plenty to do if you don't know a putter from a driver. Start your morning with a jog on the two-mile paved trail through the village's lush botanical gardens. In the afternoon, head to the nearby River Wildlife, a 500-acre nature preserve, where you can canoe on the Sheboygan River or hike/horseback on 25 miles of trails.

Rainy-day options The hotel's sprawling 85,000-square-foot gym houses a pool, tennis courts and state-of-the-art exercise equipment. Take one of the 10-plus classes a day ($16.50 each), like Treading (a group treadmill class) or power yoga. The spa specializes in water treatments, such as the Riverbath ($95), a 50-minute mineral-infused soak followed by a shoulder massage with pulsating water.

Details Getting a last-minute room during the summer isn't hard; getting a golf reservation is (nonguests can reserve tee times too). If you have to golf, plan a few months in advance. Otherwise, calling early in the week for the upcoming weekend is fine. From $293 a night (800-344-2838, destinationkohler.com).

ESCAPE FROM ATLANTA

Beechwood Inn

THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS NEAR CLAYTON, GA., 110 MILES NORTHEAST

Wildflower gardens blanket the grounds of this rustic seven-room inn--built around a 19th-century log cabin--in the middle of Georgia's wine country.

Get outside Once you've peeled yourself out of impossibly soft 600-thread-count sateen sheets, it's time to multitask, outdoor style: Three state parks, five lakes and three major rivers lie within a short drive. Start with a four-mile round-trip hike to the top of 4,696-foot Rabun Bald, in the Chattahoochee National Forest, where fresh blueberries line the trail. Next, get wet. Grab a paddle and raft through Class V rapids on the Chattooga River, or turn the adrenaline down a notch and float the calmer sections in an inner tube.

Rainy-day options Catch up on your reading and enjoy a glass of wine from the inn's extensive wine cellar while lounging in a rocking chair on the grand covered front porch. Afterward, hit the antique shops and folk-art galleries in the nearby town of Clayton. Either way, plan on a decadent five-course meal on Saturday night at the Inn, which typically has a culinary theme, like "Evening in Provence," with a variety of French wines to accompany the courses. Don't worry--you'll burn off those calories on tomorrow's hike!

Details Because of the popularity of the Saturday night meals, it's best to book your getaway at least a month in advance. But sometimes a last-minute call on Thursday can net a room for the weekend. Rates start at $159 a night (706-782-5485, beechwoodinn.ws).