Guys' Weekend Getaways

Choose to reconnect with the great outdoors, unwind with good food and drink or live it up in a big city. It's time to call up your best buds and head to one of these awesome weekend destinations.

Yosemite, California

With one of the most rugged landscapes in North America, Yosemite National Park belongs on every guy's bucket list. A little over an hour north of Fresno, the park is home to iconic rock climbing sites like El Capitan and Half Dome, along with hundreds of low-key hiking trails that explore lush alpine valleys and groves of towering sequoias. Tons of quiet lakes and streams are ideal for a swim or doing some trout fishing. You can also relax among the eateries and bars at Yosemite Village.

New Orleans, Louisiana

The Big Easy has taken countless guys' weekends to the next level, and the city's famed French Quarter offers endless possibilities. For many, Mardi Gras is the obvious time to party in New Orleans, but you can beat the crowds by visiting during a quieter season and still have plenty of excitement. You'll find countless places to grab a drink and listen to live music, from the laid-back Funky Pirate's Blues Club to iconic Preservation Hall. When you want to take a breather from the city, explore the bayou country at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve.

Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia

Weekend vacations in the Blue Ridge Mountains go one of two ways: on foot or by car. You can hoof it on the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail— along with hundreds of shorter trails in Virginia's Shenandoah National Park or turn it into a road trip. Skyline Drive, one of the best scenic driving routes in the U.S., follows the crest of the Appalachians to some of the best trails, picnic areas, waterfalls and scenic overlooks in the region. It's not too far from Washington, D.C., making it one of America's most accessible wilderness adventures.

Louisville, Kentucky

Kentucky is the bourbon capital of the universe, and right at the heart of it all is the city of Louisville. On the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, you can visit up to nine distilleries. You'll learn about the scientific process behind this uniquely American drink and, of course, sample the final product. Naturally, there are plenty of things to do in Louisville that have absolutely nothing to do with bourbon, like taking in a horse race at the legendary Churchill Downs racetrack or indulging your passion for baseball at the Louisville Slugger Museum.

Ready to travel? Find your hotel near Fresno, New Orleans, Washington, D.C., Louisville.