TGIF, thank goodness for that, however you want to go get out of the town for a couple days and have no idea where to go and what to do. On top of that money is always tight so you are looking for a cheap getaway plan. I have three great weekend escape places for you that will not break your wallet.
1. Panama City Beach, Florida – www.thebeachsloversbeach.com
This has to be my all time favorite beach location. It sits right on the beautiful white beaches of the Gulf Coast. I am craving going there right now as I think about it. My family usually makes this our summer vacation spot, but it is also a great weekend getaway.
First you need to find a great place to stay. There are so many condos on the beach that will end up costing you a pretty penny, however in PCB there are still a few mom and pop hotels that are really decent and a great price to boot. Check out www.ospreymotel.com for many different room types such as a double room, king room and even a one bedroom suite. There rooms are reasonably priced, it just depends on what time of year and what month your weekend falls in. Check out their website for all the room information such as cost, and also on their site they do have a link for many specials they offer.
You will need a great place to eat at and boy do I have the place for you! I think it is so good that you will end up eating there for the whole weekend! The Barefoot Beach Club is an open aired restaurant that offers great seafood, wings, salads and sandwiches. I was really shocked the last time my family of four ate there. We usually end up paying $60 a meal at a restaurant in PCB, however the night we ate at the Barefoot Beach Club, my family walked away with only paying around $35. You can not be that. Also, their fish and chips plate is a must have if you go there!
So all you need now is what to do. HELLO, you are at the beach, what else do you need to do other then plop your beach chair in the sand, kick back with some nice calming music and dig those toes as far down as possible. Listen to those beautiful waves crashing and smell the warm salt air! Now, if you do like to live it up at night then head down to Pier Park where they have many concerts being held, shops to look through and bands playing in the open aired bars! It is a place where you will never want to go home. Click on the site above for more information about Panama City Beach, Florida for more activities and events in the area. Also on that site will be direct links to the hotel, Pier Park, and The Barefoot Beach Club!
2. Pigeon Forge, Tennessee – www.mypigeonforge.com
Most people think about going to the Smokey Mountains only in the winter, however they have so many great deals in the Spring and summer that you really need to check it out!
Lets start off with your accommodations. The Ramada in the Music Road area, www.pigeonforgeramada.com is a great hotel for your money. I picked this place one weekend for our family getaway to the mountains and was surely pleased with the layout. The have a lovely indoor pool and also a sauna to relax in. The complimentary breakfast was really amazing with warm biscuits and country gravy, yum! Also the price was a great deal with rooms starting out around $50 a night and going up to around $160. Check out their site for all the pricing information and availability!
Now onto what to do and where to eat. I have you covered for both. Lets just say we can knock out two birds with one stone. The main thing that you will want to do while you are in the Smokey Mountains is hit up a dinner and a show. The Black Bear Jamboree has to be the best around. We went there the last time we visited the Smokey Mountains and trust me, it was so wonderful that we are going back this Fall! Over at www.blackbearjamboree.com you will catch a wonderful two hour show of music from decades past until now. It also has sections of the show that are dedicated to gospel and songs about America. The cast and crew of this show do so many different dance moves that once you start watching them your feet start their tapping kick and you want to get up and dance as well!
Now onto the food, the dinner at the Black Bear Jamboree is to die for! A heaping load of food that will have you full for weeks! Southern style chicken, BBQ ribs, corn on the cob, fresh veggies, potatoes, bread, an AMAZING creamy soup (and this is something you will crave long after you leave there) a signature mouse dessert and all the drinks you can stand! Didn’t I tell you this meal was to die for! If you are going to take your children there, feel at ease because there is a children’s menu available as well. Also kids are free at the Black Bear with a paid adult. Don’t think your child would like to see something like this, think again. I was worried about my 5 year old when we went to this show. I thought he would not care to see it, however he loved it and NEVER took his eyes off the stage. There was even a point in the show where they got all the kids on stage and he was just tickled pink to be up there!
Remember to check out all those site for Pigeon Forge for any information you will need for your weekend getaway!
3. Pine Mountain, Georgia – Callaway Gardens – www.callawaygardens.com
I am picking this last weekend getaway because it is right down the road from me and there is so many lovely places to venture out to that you will find yourself needing more then a week to catch all the sites.
There are so many different places to stay at while you are visiting Callaway Gardens. First they have a hotel called the Mountain Creek Inn. It is a 323 guest room hotel that provides an on site restaurant and fitness center. Now Callaway Gardens also has more personal accommodations such as a Luxurious Lodge and Spa, one to two bedroom cottages, and one to four bedroom villas. It really just depends on how much you want to spend and how you plan on staying there. I suggest a cottage because it is more rustic and reminds you of a lodge in the mountain then a hotel would. A one bedroom cottage will cost you about $150 a night. Search the site above for more pricing information on which accommodations would be best for you!
Now lets get out and explore the town! Head on over to Callaway Gardens for the actual attractions of a Butterfly exhibit where you will stand in their own natural environment as they fly around you! Then head on over the Birds of Prey exhibit where a man will tell you a story about survival and the wildlife. After the story is over the feathered friends will put on a live show for the group. If that is not enough then take yourself hiking through the many natural trails of the park, rent a boat for a day on the lake of Robin Lake or even soak up the sun on the beach of Robin lake. You can also enjoy a famous 18 holes and the golf course, tennis and even bicycling. Once you enter the gates of Callaway Gardens you will pay around $18 per person for admission (of course their are discounts available) and that is all that will come out of your pocket for the park. The other shows are free once you get inside. There is a concession stand in case hungry stomachs start to linger and the food ranges anywhere from hot dogs to pizza. Make sure you check out their site again for all this information at your finger tips!
