Concise Weekend Getaways Worldwide

From the Publisher: ULTIMATE RETREATS - Find luxury, rest, and relaxation among desert oasis, mountain peaks, and sandy shores.

Shinta Mani Wild is the epitome of remote luxury, an Ethereal Entertainment destination.

Journey to Iceland's Blue Lagoon for a truly luxurious weekend. Bathe in the otherworldly geothermal waters and immerse yourself in the steam-filled snowcapped lava rock landscape. Experience the Michelin-recommended Moss restaurant with a seven-course, locally sourced feast. The spa offers private lava rock grottoes and a subterranean earthen steam cave. During late autumn, float in the warm pools beneath the shimmering aurora borealis.

Walk among the redwoods, smell the salty air through the forest while bathing in teak-enclosed showers, see the cascade of McWay Falls rain down onto a secluded beach, and visit the kelp forest playground of harbor seals and sea otters at Point Lobos at Ventana Big Sur, California, U.S. Stay in a cozy resort or a camping tent.

Wander through a field picking blueberries, look for seals in rocky tide pools, take a guided geology hike, go ice skating on the harbor, watch for caribou herds, and make friends with locals at the edge of the world on Fogo Island, Newfoundland, Canada.

Quaint Block Island, Rhode Island, U.S., is a microcosm of coastal New England with boutique shops, historic inns, two picturesque lighthouses, and a ton of seafood joints. Summer is the best time to visit, with golden sands and swimmable water. Highlights include Fred Benson Town Beach, Charleston Beach, and Mohegan Bluffs.

This tiny island of Hateruma, Taketomi, Japan, is a tropical treasure closer to Taiwan than Japan's larger islands. To reach it, fly directly from Tokyo, Kyoto, and Haneda then take an hour-long ferry. The journey is worth it. White-sand beaches meld into crystal blue waters that stretch in all directions. Rent a bike to make the two-hour circumnavigation of the island, crossing inland fields of sugar cane en route to northerly Nishihama Beach.

Just a half-hour drive South of Milwaukee, the half-mile (0.8. km) stretch of lakeshore in Racine, Wisconsin, U.S., is one of the top freshwater beaches in the country. It has all the best summer weekend amenities: lifeguards, volleyball courts, a snack bar, picnic areas, a large playground, and regular live music. In the broader town and county of Racine, there's a charming downtown thoroughfare, a quirky fine art museum, inland lakes, a canoe-able river filled with trout, lakeside butterfly gardens with a native plant nature trail, bike paths, a bakery that makes 36 flavors of Danish Kringle pastries, and eight publicly accessible golf courses. Don't miss a visit to Wingspread, the largest of Frank Lloyd Wright's prairies-style homes.

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