Getaway The Easy Way

Fancy a trip somewhere nice but not willing to venture out too far from home?

Everybody needs a holiday to de-stress from time to time, but planning a trip isn’t completely stress-free either. If you’ve been putting off that holiday because you can’t deal with the tediousness of getting your plans together, skip the stress and choose somewhere close to home.

Chatanooga is about a 3-hour drive from Atlanta. If you’re not doing anything during the weekend, this is a trip you can start on a Friday evening and end on a Sunday night, so you won’t have to use your precious leave days. Places to go sightseeing include the Teeneessee Aquarium which also houses an IMAX movie theater and is pet-friendly. And instead of spending the first night at a hotel, you can even arrange a sleepover at the Aquarium itself.

Before heading home, you should make it a point to experience the scenery at Lookout Mountains, and if you’re up for a bit of harmless adventure you can go cavern-exploring at Raccoon Mountain.

If you want something a bit more city-oriented, head over to Savannah. One of the oldest cities in the world, it attracts millions of visitors every year which will definitely be entertaining if you’re an avid people-watcher. History buffs will love the Historic District which features carriage rides, and cobble stone streets to give you that authentic Ye Olde Town feeling. If you’re taking the kids with you, they will be adequately entertained by the sights at the Savannah Wildlife Refuge which isn’t too far from the city center.

For those who can’t relax unless in close proximity to a beach: there is Jekyll Island, a little paradise just a 5-hour drive away. Other than breathtaking 10 mile coastline, you have the option of going for marsh eco-tours, dolphin watching and even walks with sea turtles at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.

So don’t fret if you don’t have the time to prepare for your European holiday just yet, a quick fix is just a few hours away. Leave the heavy-duty planning for those carefree days, perhaps while you’re lounging on the sands of Jekyll Island or enjoying the breathtaking views during a night at the Aquarium.