You've got the perfect playlist. A kick-ass new pair of shades. And the wide open road to explore. Now for the escape plan. Chelsea Bengier maps out the quickest driving getaways, from California's West Coast to New York's East End.
As if you needed another reason to look forward to Friday.
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Ojai, CA: 83 miles from LA
A quick 90-minute jaunt from LA, this California Shangri-la has all the essentials: palm tree-dotted landscapes, Spanish Revival architecture and a laid-back local culture. Recharge with a mud cleanse or an outdoor yoga class at the Mission-style Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, which overlooks the rolling green Topatopa Mountains. For lunch, try the garden fresh plates at Suzanne’s Cuisine or the Mexican-inspired dishes at Farmer and the Cook, where the organic ingredients are grown at the owners’ 16-acre farm. The Ojai Farmers’ Market (open Sundays) is the place to score regional gourmet goodies – get yours to go and have a picnic while watching the sunset from Meditation Mount.
Montauk, NY: 117 miles from New York City
Montauk is the antithesis of see-and-be-seen Hamptons: The relaxed surfer haven has fewer crowds and a low-key boho-chic vibe. Shack up at Sole East resort, which has a chill garden of fire pits, hammocks and Adirondack chairs as well as outdoor yoga and live acoustic music on Sundays. If you didn't bring your own wheels, rent one of the hotel's ZipCars and grab an Aloha smoothie (fresh pineapple, coconut, mango and banana) to-go from Joni's Kitchen before driving to Ditch Plains to hang ten with the surfer dudes and Montauk Point Lighthouse for a killer Instagram shot. Eat dinner al fresco at The Crow's Nest— we love the blue crab claw tagliatelle and the Montauk striped bass — or nosh on mouthwatering sushi (the tuna, crispy calamari and avocado roll is a must) at Inlet Seafood Restaurant, the best spot to watch the sun set over the water. Later in the evening, head across the pond (to the other side of Fort Pond, that is) to check out the The Surf Lodge's preppy party scene.
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Charlottesville, VA: 116 miles from Washington, D.C.
Beyond the capital lie the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains filled with pine and oak trees and bathed in a dark blue hue. Your base is Charlottesville, a town cloaked in Colonial charm and known for its former presidential residents, James Monroe and Thomas Jefferson. Although Jefferson’s Monticello estate is top of the sight-seeing list, set time aside to stroll the Historic Downtown Mall, a brick pedestrian hub in the heart of C-ville that’s a foodie paradise: there’s the Spanish small plates at Mas Tapas, Southern soul food at Ace Biscuit & Barbecue, and upscale French cuisine at Fleurie Restaurant. Some of Virginia’s best vintages are produced at the area’s more than 20 wineries. Among those worth a visit: Barboursville, Pippin Hill and White Hall. Prefer hops? Don’t miss South Street Brewery on the Brew Ridge Trail.
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