Rather than going on one or two long trips in a year, younger people are planning more frequent, short vacations, such as weekend getaways. Younger travelers are also looking for more affordable and spontaneous travel they can easily do with friends, like road trips. “Micro-cations” have become increasingly popular, providing a refreshing escape from the daily grind without requiring extensive time commitments. Below are a few of our favorite short vacations for 2024.
Joshua Tree by Luxury RV – Imagine the wind sweeping through your hair as you stand outside your own luxury RV, staring at an electric desert sunrise, your morning coffee in hand. Thanks to Blacksford Luxury RVs, this dream moment can become your reality. Equipped with a luxury RV rental and full vacation package including expert National Park guides, rock climbing, stargazing, delicious meals, and so much more, this is the ultimate 5-day Joshua Tree micro-cation. https://goodtripadventures.com/best-5-day-joshua-tree-itinerary/
Saddle and Paddle Yellowstone – Flying Pig Adventures’ 3-night Yellowstone tour gives guests the opportunity to experience the park like never before. The thrill of witnessing one of nature’s most iconic environments, tackling rough terrain on horseback, and battling Class III rapids cannot be found anywhere else. From fly fishing, to horseback rides, to Yellowstone whitewater rafting, guests will be talking about their unique experiences for years to come. https://www.flyingpigrafting.com/3-day-yellowstone-adventure
Wine Country Weekend Cycling – Just north of San Francisco, the winding Russian River meets the dramatic Pacific coastline, shaping if not sheltering a world all its own. Escape Adventures offers an idyllic 3-day road biking tour in this romantic landscape; quilted with a colorful patchwork of old growth redwoods, fruitful vineyards, historic towns, and beautiful gardens. https://escapeadventures.com/
Jackson Hole Tiny House Weekend – Wyoming’s Fireside Resort offers 25 luxuriously outfitted tiny house rental units designed by Wheelhaus just a short distance from Grand Teton National Park and the Jackson Hole ski slopes, making it the perfect weekend getaway. https://www.
Big Sky Micro-cation – In Big Sky, Montana, The Wilson Hotel serves as a basecamp for active adventures outside the northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park. Guests can hike through shaded forests and wildflower-filled meadows, raft or fly fish the clear waters of the Gallatin River, experience the adrenaline rush of lift-served mountain biking, and ski Big Sky Resort’s 5,850 acres of terrain in winter. And the natural wonders and wildlife of Yellowstone are a short drive away, with some trailheads closer. https://thewilsonhotel.com/
Cowboy Time in Wyoming – In the Bighorn Mountains of northern Wyoming, guests can immerse themselves in ranch life, explore the surrounding areas on horseback, fly fish, hike, and experience the natural world in this unique landscape. Accommodations are designed for guests to be as close to nature as possible, but with all the comforts of home. Large, safari-style tents are stylishly furnished with full-sized beds, bedside tables, dressers, and chairs. https://ranchlands.com/pages/explore-the-paintrock-canyon-ranch
Micro Amazon Adventure – Discover the secrets of the Ecuadorian Amazon on this breathtaking 4-day tour into the heart of the jungle. Meet indigenous families to learn the jungle’s cultural traditions and take guided walks to discover the abundant plant and animal life that call this part of the Amazon home. Awake to the exotic sound of birdcalls and discover the thrill of sleeping in this secluded spot deep in the Ecuadorian jungle.
Piedmont Mini Cycling Tour – The Langa and Monferrato regions of Piedmont are in one of the most important wine production areas in Italy and received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2014. The 5-night Piedmont Barolo cycling tour takes guests to the heart of these regions, over rolling hills covered with endless vineyards and past ancient castles and hidden hilltop hamlets. https://www.tourissimo.travel/
Antarctica Express – Short on time? An Antarctica Express Air Cruise with Adventure Life offers the opportunity to visit Cape Horn, cross the Drake Passage, cruise among ice-filled bays, land on the South Shetland Islands, watch for seabirds, penguins, seals and whales, then return by jet – all in six days. https://www.adventure-
Yellowstone Ranch Getaway – This summer, enjoy an all-inclusive three- or six-night stay at the Yellowstone Pop-up Ranch at Blackwater Creek Ranch. Set along Wyoming’s scenic Shoshone River between the cowboy town of Cody and the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park, the ranch offers horseback riding, hiking, archery, sport shooting, whitewater rafting, visits to the Cody Nite Rodeo and opportunities to explore the park. https://
Christmas Markets Cruise – See Europe’s Danube River in all its wintry splendor on a six-day Imperial Cities and Yuletide Markets voyage with Riviera River Cruises. On a December departure, cruise from Budapest, Hungary, to Bratislava, Slovakia, and Vienna, Austria, taking in castles, palaces, churches and cathedrals, and shopping in traditional Christmas markets along the way. https://www.
Best of Mont Blanc – Explore the highest mountain in western Europe – 4,800-meter Mont Blanc – using any of three Best of the Alps destinations surrounding the storied massif. In France, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is the birthplace of mountaineering and the Winter Olympics, while elegant Megève was put on the tourism map by the Rothschild family. To the east, Courmayeur offers the peak of Italian lifestyle. https://www.
Cruise and Walk Turkey – Spend a week walking and cruising through thousands of years of history along Turkey’s Lycian Coast with Peter Sommer Travels. Stay aboard a hand-built gulet and disembark each day to hike the ancient paths and roads of the Lycian Way, visiting an aqueduct, citadel, sarcophagi and more. https://www.petersommer.