Photo by Steve Adcock for Pixabay
There's a new sense of urgency to travel these days after losing two years to the pandemic, and older adults especially are feeling like they should travel while they're healthy, Stephanie Papaioannou, vice president at Abercrombie & Kent, a luxury travel company, recently told CNBC.
If you're looking for ideas for a quick summer getaway, we've compiled a list of nearby "summer splurges" that can work for families, couples and friends for a week or just a day or two.
GLAMPING IT
Cue the s'mores and songs around the campfire. Love the idea of camping but need an assist? How about an iconic Airstream that Superhost Shanell will set up for you at the campground of your choice (within 60 miles of Fort Belvoir)? The "glam" part of the camping equation includes air-conditioning, shower, stereo, microwave, stove/oven, coffeemaker and much more. Pets are allowed. Rates are approximately $189 per night for a week. Visit the Airbnb website and look for "Camper/RV Hosted by Shanell."
SWEET SURPRISES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Photo courtesy Hersheypark
If you're like us, you love chocolate and a visit to Hersheypark this summer promises plenty of the good stuff. The park offers a new thrill ride dubbed "Candymonium," a rollercoaster that features a 210-foot ascent and speeds up to 76-MPH. Candymonium is located in the park's new Chocolatetown, which includes a new restaurant, The Chocolatier, with a lengthy dessert menu. The park is currently offering a two-day "stay and play" package that includes admission to the park, two nights' stay and breakfast each morning. Concerts at Hersheypark Stadium this summer include Lady Gaga, Rod Stewart and Santana. Get the details at hersheypark.com.
CBD-INFUSED MASSAGE, AT THE BEACH
Grab your girlfriends and head to the Outer Banks, N.C. to the spa at one of our favorite getaways, The Sanderling Resort in Duck, N.C., where the latest treatment is a CBD-infused massage. Enhance your experience with a powerful blend of 400mg of broad-spectrum CBD, active botanical ingredients, a luxurious blend of nutrient-rich oils and therapeutic plant extracts. This treatment will "elevate your mind, relax the nervous system and help to provide immediate relief from aches, pains, arthritis and inflammation." Afterward, enjoy the new summer menu at Kimball's Kitchen next door and watch the sun set over the Currituck Sound. Save room for roasted marshmallows and ghost stories at one of the resort's fire pits! Visit sanderling-resort.com.
CALLING ALL HISTORY BUFFS!
The Virginia Museum of History and Culture, 428 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd. in Richmond recently completed a $30 million renovation that includes exhibition spaces, an immersive orientation theater, an interactive learning space for families, a new cafe and more. Afterward, be sure to check out Hatch Local Food Hall, a curated collection of local food vendors on the ground floor of The Current at 400 Hull St., in Richmond's Manchester neighborhood. The food hall, which opened in March, features restaurants specializing in tacos, fried chicken, burgers and fish. There's also juices and smoothies as well as a coffee bar and desserts. Visit virginiahistory.org.
GOLF, SPA TREATMENTS + DINNER IN WILLIAMSBURG
The Forbes 5-star ranked Williamsburg Inn offers golf, spa and a tasty summer menu. The Spa of Colonial Williamsburg is a Forbes 4-star ranked property, offering treatments that hearken back to its 18th-century Colonial Williamsburg roots. The Golden Horseshoe Golf Club offers tee times and lessons for all levels and you do not have to be a guest to play. Visit colonialwilliamsburghotels.com.
MIDDLEBURG 'FAMILY REUNION' CELEBRATES CULINARY DIVERSITY
Tickets are on sale for a three-night, four-day culinary event hosted by Food & Wine and Sheila's Johnson's Salamander Hotels & Resorts in Middleburg. The event, dubbed The Family Reunion, is presented by Los Angeles-based James Beard winner chef and author Kwame Onwuachi. A contestant on "Top Chef," he was named Rising Star Chef of the Year by the James Beard Foundation. He is the author of the book "Notes From a Young Black Chef." Onwuachi has been named one of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs, Esquire Magazine's 2019 Chef of the Year and is a 30 Under 30 honoree by both Zagat and Forbes. He's also been featured on Time's 100 Next List and has been named the most important chef in America by the San Francisco Chronicle. The enriching programming is highlighted by some of the industry’s top talent including Carla Hall, Rodney Scott, Nina Compton, Gregory Gourdet, Mashama Bailey, Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Pierre Thiam and several surprise guests. Visit salamanderresort.com.
