9 Reasons to Book a Midweek Vacation

Who says being a business traveler means you have to skip the sights? Turn that midweek business trip into a (working) vacation! These nine cities have loads of weekday charm and plenty of activities—like cocktails in the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and jazz performances in New Orleans’ historic Carver Theater—to keep any traveler happily occupied outside of weekend and work hours. (Pro tip: Choice Privileges offers extra benefits for midweek stays.)

Blanket Bingo at Market Square Park (Houston, Texas)

If you time your trip just right, you can soak up live music and good ol’ fashioned fun from April through September at one of these monthly bingo games. The $10 admission price gets you nine games, and the entry fee goes to a good cause: Proceeds benefit Market Square Park and the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, a nonprofit organization that cares for a 10-mile stretch of Houston’s Buffalo Bayou.

One midweek stay could earn a Choice Privileges member: 500 Choice Privileges points.

Open mic night at Douglas Corner Café (Nashville, Tennessee)

The Douglas Corner Cafe welcomes tomorrow’s Music City stars to the stage every week. Photo Credit: Douglas Corner Cafe

Show off your vocal chops after business hours or simply admire up-and-coming talent at the open mic at this legendary local music venue. Hosted by the charming Donnie Winters on Tuesdays at 8 p.m., you’ll hear Music City songwriters sing their hearts out—a perfect midweek vacation for music lovers.

One midweek stay could earn a Choice Privileges member: 100 airline miles from participating carriers.

Cocktails in the Garden at the Atlanta Botanical Garden (Atlanta, Georgia)

Toast Atlanta’s beauty while you sip on cocktails from the cash bar, play yard games and groove to live music on Thursdays from 6 to 10 p.m. Don’t miss The Curious Garden, a collection of 11 installations that highlight the garden’s plant collections. Tickets are $21.95 for nonmembers, and the event runs from May through October.

One midweek stay could earn a Choice Privileges member: $2.50 Amazon.com credit.

Adler After Dark at the Adler Planetarium (Chicago, Illinois)

Even if you’ve been to the Windy City a million times, the Adler After Dark series, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month, gives you the chance to experience Chicago in a whole new way, with one of the city’s nighttime skyline views—especially at night. A $20 ticket includes access to the museum and the planetarium’s Doane Observatory, plus lectures, live entertainment and educational programs. The series changes themes each month, so this 21-and-up event is never the same twice.

One midweek stay could earn a Choice Privileges member: $2.50 Uber discount.

Free nights at the Mint Museums (Charlotte, North Carolina)

In addition to free admission, Charlotte’s Mint Museums plan panel discussions and yoga sessions on Wednesday evenings. Photo Credit: courtesy of the Mint Museum

There’s more to Charlotte than banking and NASCAR. You can browse stellar collections of American art and design for free at both Mint Museum locations—one’s in hip Uptown Charlotte and the other’s on Randolph Road in the city’s Eastover neighborhood—on Wednesdays from 5 to 9 p.m. If you’re Uptown, you can also hit up Yoga at the Mint ($10 for nonmembers) with NC Yoga Bar before heading into the galleries.

One midweek stay could earn a Choice Privileges member: $0.20 per gallon in Fuel Rewards savings at Shell or other select fuel stations.

Midweek Jazz Series at the Historic Carver Theater (New Orleans, Louisiana)

Embrace the best of New Orleans’ musical culture at this historic venue in the city’s famous Tremé neighborhood. Every Wednesday, a different group of musicians plays some of the best jazz in town. Doors open at 7 p.m., and shows start at 8 p.m.; entry is $10.

One midweek stay could earn a Choice Privileges member: $5 coffee card.

Bat Tuesdays on Lady Bird Lake (Austin, Texas)

Make like a local and see Austin’s infamous Congress Avenue Bridge bats on a boat cruise around Lady Bird Lake with the Austin Tour Company. From 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays, enjoy music from a DJ, snacks, cocktails on the boat’s roof deck and, of course, bat sightings. Admission is $35.

One midweek stay could earn a Choice Privileges member (Canadian residents only): $5 Tim Hortons Gift Card.

Free admission to the Harry P. Leu Gardens (Orlando, Florida)

Skip the theme park scene and enjoy free admission to this 50-acre botanical garden on the first Monday of every month. Located a few minutes from downtown, the gardens feature more than 50 different species of bamboo, a tropical stream garden and a butterfly garden—plus lots of opportunities for stellar selfies.

One midweek stay could earn a Choice Privileges member (Canadian residents only): $5 coffee card.

Free Sweat Sessions at the 14th Street Park (New York, New York)

Want to break a sweat when the workday’s over? Catch one of the free 45-minute fitness classes held on Tuesdays at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. at Hudson River Park’s 14th Street Park. There are a number of different classes, including yoga, boot camp, dance cardio, boxing and Pilates.

One midweek stay could earn a Choice Privileges member: 500 Choice Privileges points and 100 airline miles from participating carriers—even if you aren’t a resident of Canada or the U.S.

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