My husband and I are looking to plan a 4 day getaway this April. Any suggestions on where to go? We live in Atlanta and can fly anywhere. We don't have a preference between hot/cold, just want to see a city or place with enough to do for 4-5 days around the area that would be a good couples destination. We are young and active so we don't mind driving a bit if needed (ex. San Francisco and Big Sur drive).

Philadelphia! There's art, shopping, a wonderful food scene, nature, and even day trips to the ocean or the Pennsylvania Dutch farmlands if you'd like. Four or five days can easily be spent in the city itself, though. http://missalg.tumblr.com/

If you only have 4 days total (including travel days to/from) you don't have enough time for your 'example' of SF/Big Sur. If you have 4 full days 'on the ground', then you could manage that but it would be a bit of a rush to visit SF/Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur in 4 days.

Perhaps tell us where you have visited in the past?

Yes, I was a bit worried about SF since that isn't much time. We have visited a lot of the northeast (Maine, Boston, Rhode Island, NYC) and plenty of the south, so we are interested in places mostly out west but are worried with only a few days if it is worth the time. Philadelphia is a good idea since we have never been there. Here are some ideas we have thought of:

- Seattle
- Niagara Falls
- California: San Francisco, Napa, San Diego
- Grand Canyon


Thanks for your help!

April--Charleston.

4 days including travel is great for just San Francisco. It is all the driving around to other bits of California you wouldn't have time for.

Same for San Diego.

Either if which would be a great 4 day-er and the weather should be lovely.

that's weird -- my post 'took' but it didn't update the thread list. maybe this topping will straighten that out????

I agree that 4 solid days on the ground plus two travel days make the west coast doable, but any less than that would just be difficult and frustrating.

So if it's 4-5 days total, how about New Orleans and surrounding areas?

Charleston came to my mind, too, as did Austin, Asheville, Chicago, Toronto and D.C. I wouldn't personally bother with the West coast or the Grand Canyon for just four days, as they require too much travel time. What kind of things do you like to see/do?

My thought was you said you've already seen 'plenty of the South' you have been to both New Orleans and Charleston. If not, then yes either would be good.

But w/ 4 days total you could do an easy SF trip. Likely arriving at SFO in the mid-morning, you'd easily have 2 full and two half days for the city (or at worst, depending on your flight out, 2.5 days). Enough for a nice first visit. No car required.

I think April in NYC is great - nice spring weather and not mobs of tourists yet - and still lots of hotel deals. But, be aware that the trees are not in leaf yet and there are few flowers - we get major green spring in early May.

Oh, NYC outside of hot summer is a great suggestion. And 4 days is just the right amount of time.