Pike Place

Seattle in September

THE SPLURGE (weekend starts at $2,943)

LODGING
• Lotte Hotel A 44-story glass tower within a mile of Pike Place Market and the Seattle Art Museum; $609

DINING
• Canlis A multicourse tasting menu alongside views of the city, Lake Union and the Cascade Mountains; $180 (full meal)

FUN
• Viator excursion to Mount Rainier National Park Includes a mile-long hike to picnic next to a glacier; $179

• The 5th Avenue Theatre Open since 1926 and the birth site of nine Broadway-bound works, including Hairspray and Memphis; $199 (center orchestra)

ON A BUDGET (weekend starts at $950)

LODGING
• Staypineapple University Inn Four blocks from the University of Washington and surrounded by restaurants and shops; $279

DINING
• Marination Ma Kai Hawaiian-Korean tacos, margaritas and views of the city skyline; $10

FUN
• 2.8-mile Loop Trail at Discovery Park Overlooking Puget Sound, with views of the Cascade and Olympic mountains; free

• Space Needle At the time of its completion, the tallest U.S. building west of the Mississippi, with an observation deck 520 feet up; $46.50

Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi

Early Fall in Santa Fe

THE SPLURGE (weekend starts at $3,277)

LODGING
• Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi Located in Santa Fe’s cultural center and featuring a mix of Native American, Hispanic and Anglo furnishings; $883

DINING
• Geronimo Global eclectic dining in a 250-year-old art-studded adobe building; $50

FUN
• Glass Experience Class at Liquid Light Glass An opportunity to create original pieces (blown or shaped) in a 1½-hour class; $338 total

• Routes Bicycle Tours’ art and history ride A two-hour outing covering 10 miles at a leisurely pace; $95

ON A BUDGET (weekend starts at $828)

LODGING
• The Sage Hotel Motel style with a bohemian flair; $222

DINING
• The Shed A 1692 adobe hacienda with three patios; $14

FUN
• Self-guided walking art tour A visit to the Canyon Road galleries, Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe Plaza and Railyard Arts District; free or up to $22

• Meow Wolf Immersive, interactive large-scale art installations; $45

Ambra

Holiday Season in Philadelphia

THE SPLURGE (weekend starts at $3,888)

LODGING
• Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia On the top 12 floors of the city’s highest building, with an infinity pool and spa; $820

DINING
• Ambra A three-hour multicourse modern Italian tasting menu with wine pairings; $300 (full meal)

FUN
• Adrenaline private helicopter tour A 30-minute sunset flight above the city at 1,500 feet; $534 total

• Handel’s Messiah The masterpiece performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra and a choir; $147 (first tier)

ON A BUDGET (weekend starts at $589)

LODGING
• Club Quarters Hotel Rittenhouse Square Steps from historic sites and shopping; $187

DINING
• Dalessandro’s Steaks and Hoagies Iconic, award-winning cheesesteaks; $14

FUN
• Independence Mall Home of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, among other historic attractions; free

• U.S. Mint A tour of coining operations and artifacts at the nation’s first mint; free

French Quarter

Spring in New Orleans

THE SPLURGE (weekend starts at $3,084)

LODGING
• Windsor Court Views of the Mississippi River or city skyline from private balconies and bay windows; $775

DINING
• Commander’s Palace Creole cuisine in a Garden District landmark restaurant that opened in 1893; $40

FUN
• New Orleans Yacht Experience cruise City views during a private two-hour Lake Pontchartrain charter on a 47-foot yacht; $399 total

• Doctor Gumbo food and cocktail walking tour A stroll between restaurants, bars and landmarks for a history lesson and tasting tour of local specialties; $140

ON A BUDGET (weekend starts at $851)

LODGING
• Maison Dupuy In a quiet section of the French Quarter, near Louis Armstrong Park; $259

DINING
• Camellia Grill Quintessential po’boys at this landmark uptown diner; $14

FUN
• Frenchmen Street A hot spot for live music and local art; free or up to $20 per person

• St. Charles Avenue Streetcar ride Views of early-1800s mansions in the city’s historic Garden District; $3

Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe, California, in June

THE SPLURGE (weekend starts at $3,305)

LODGING
• The Landing Mountain and lake views steps from a privately owned beach; $601

DINING
• Edgewood Restaurant Visible from your table: Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada range; $57

FUN
• Lake Tahoe Balloons ride Sunrise hot-air ballooning with views of the surrounding wilderness; $399

• Lake Tahoe Boat Rides tour Two hours on the lake in a powerboat at sunset; $590 total

ON A BUDGET (weekend starts at $800)

LODGING
• Station House Inn Boutique hotel a short walk from the lake; $242

DINING
• Sidellis Brewery Bar food plus a selection of home brews; $14

FUN
• Emerald Bay State Park Hiking, fishing, swimming and picnicking against a background of blue water, towering trees and granite cliffs; $10 per vehicle

• Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City Locomotives, model trains, railroad history and a 40-minute ride on a steam-powered train; $18

Greenspot

Summer in Montreal

(Prices are in U.S. dollars)

THE SPLURGE (weekend starts at $2,262)

LODGING
• Ritz-Carlton Among the highlights: afternoon tea in a palm court and a saltwater pool; $576

DINING
• Chez Delmo An Old Montreal gem for nearly a century; $40

FUN
• Bota Bota Spa-Sur-L’eau massage A 90-minute therapeutic treatment with a balm on a boat-turned-spa in the city’s old port; $143

• Local Montréal Food and Drink Tour A three-hour walking and tasting trek in Old Montreal; $84

ON A BUDGET (weekend starts at $702)

LODGING
• Le Nouvel Hotel A short walk to the shops on the famous Rue Sainte-Catherine; $212

DINING
• Greenspot Burgers, hot dogs and 27 variations on poutine, including the classique preparation with gravy and cheese; $10

FUN
• Mount Royal Park Woods and meadows on a hilltop in the middle of the city, ideal for walking or picnicking; free

• La Grande Roue Views of the city from a Ferris wheel with climate-controlled cabins rising to 200 feet; $23

Karen Hube is a veteran financial writer and a contributing editor for Barron’s.