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

ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK CITY

The Copperhood Inn & Spa

SHANDAKEN, N.Y., 135 MILES NORTH

Trade in the rush and noise of the Big Apple for the laid-back feel of the Catskills in this 15-room inn with a European feel.

Get outside With miles of mountain trails just steps away, daily hikes are always on the menu. ("It's cooler than the city and there aren't any bugs," says Elizabeth Winograd, the owner, who notes that Basha and Kasha, the Inn's two pet goats, often like to tag along.) Choose from a challenging two-hour uphill climb or a leisurely foraging walk, where a guide teaches you how to identify wild edibles, like mushrooms, then helps you prepare them for dinner. The hotel also provides complimentary road and mountain bikes as well as tennis rackets (the courts are located on a private island adjacent to the hotel).

Rainy-day options Choose from one of 30 spa choices: More adventurous types can try the Scotch Hose ($115), a one-hour circulation-boosting treatment during which you're massaged with jets of alternating hot and cold water. But more traditional options, like a hot stone massage ($160) or herbal wrap ($115), are also available. Later, meditate in the sunlit yoga studio, do laps in the 60-foot indoor pool or take a free hour-long class, like African dance or tai chi. The gym also features a 15-station weight circuit. And if you hate to be away from e-mail, don't worry; there's wireless Internet access in each room.

Details Fall foliage season, especially Columbus Day weekend, is always packed, so book at least a month in advance at this time of year. But a last-minute reservation is usually doable during the off-season (November and December, or February through May). Rates start at $299 per person and include all meals, daily hikes, classes and a $45 daily spa credit (845-688-2460, copperhood.com).

ESCAPE FROM DALLAS

Driskill Hotel

AUSTIN, TEXAS, 200 MILES SOUTHWEST

The relaxed urban vibe in Austin is decidedly different, and more restful, than fast-paced Dallas. The upscale 188-room hotel features a few classic Texas-style touches, like cowhide sofas and cattle horns, amid the otherwise elegant decor.

Get outside Centrally located downtown, the Driskill is five blocks from Town Lake, where you can do a loop or two on the 10-mile dirt jogging and biking path. After your workout, head over to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, where you hike past 650 species of native wildflowers. At the end of the day, cool off with a dip in the Barton Springs Pool, a three-acre, spring-fed natural pool with chilly 68-degree water.

Rainy-day options There are two main indoor attractions in Austin: live music and Tex-Mex dining. Pick up a copy of the weekly Austin Chronicle to scope out shows at the 150-plus live-music venues; maybe you'll stumble across the next Shawn Colvin or Dixie Chicks, who got their start in Austin. Before the show, indulge in Tex-Mex--Guero's Taco Bar is a favorite of locals and celebrities alike--or head to the hotel's much-lauded Driskill Grill to dine on dishes like wild striped bass with an artichoke-potato ragout. Fortunately, the hotel's 24-hour fitness center, which includes treadmills, bikes and elliptical trainers, machine and free weights, two steam rooms, and massage services, will be waiting for you the next morning. So go ahead, order the caramelized banana cake without an ounce of guilt!