Diana ✨ Weekend Travel ✨ Northeast

Skip Disney this winter. These 5 tropical countries will change your kids’ brain chemistry. 🌴 Latin America is rich in culture, incredibly inexpensive, and they love kids like they are their own. The flights are about 2 hours longer than getting to Florida. The whole trip costs less than a single day at Disney. Let that sink in. I have traveled to every single one of these and never felt unsafe once. I did get some sunburns though. 😂 Here’s where I’d take my kids this winter ✨ ✨ Belize — English speaking, welcoming, and there’s a reason Madonna sang about San Pedro (La Isla Bonita!) Go in January. ✨ Costa Rica — The OGs of ecotourism. Road trip it. DM me for our full 2 week itinerary. ✨ Guatemala — Hike an actively erupting volcano. Roast marshmallows over lava. Release baby turtles at Monterrico. One of my favorite countries in the world. ✨ Colombia — Cartagena is one of the most alive cities I have ever been to. The music, the dancing, the people. And then there are the San Bernardo Islands. I went and I am still trying to get back. Santa Cruz del Islote is the most densely populated island in the world — the size of two soccer fields, over 1,000 people, built from coral and rubble, no crime, no police, no mosquitoes. We also visited an abandoned resort that was taken over by the mafia and is slowly being revived. Oh and Pablo Escobar owned property here. You genuinely cannot make this up. 🏝️ ✨ St Lucia — French Riviera of the Caribbean. All inclusive in the north. Day trip to the Pitons. Non negotiable. 🌋 @royaltonsaintlucia is my pick! Disney will always be there. Your kids need to know the world is big, beautiful and safe to explore. Show it to them. 🌍 Save this and actually plan the trip. 📌 Drop which country is calling your name 👇

✨SO psyched to start this series, thanks to everyone for voting!!! 3 Hour Weekends from CT ✨ First up: the Berkshires This is one of those trips that actually feels like a reset without needing PTO ✨ Why go Art in the middle of nowhere — MASS MoCA (@massmoca ), The Clark Art Institute (@clarkart ), Tanglewood (@tanglewoodmusiccenter ) Kripalu energy without fully committing — Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health (@kripalucenter ) It forces you to slow down — no scene, no rush, long meals, slow mornings ✨ Where to stay Tourists (@touristswelcome ) — modern, outdoorsy, fire pits Little Cat Lodge (@littlecatlodge ) — chic, great restaurant built in Canyon Ranch Lenox (@canyonranch ) — full wellness reset The Red Lion Inn (@redlioninn ) — classic New England, walkable ✨ What to eat Prairie Whale (@prairiewhale ) — always solid Café Adam (@cafeadamgb ) — easy, elevated dinner Picnic + wine at Tanglewood (@tanglewoodmusiccenter ) > trying to fight for a reservation Brunch + coffee in Great Barrington ✨ The plan Friday: drive up after work, check in, easy dinner Saturday: Naumkeag (@thetrustees ) or hike Mount Greylock, slow afternoon, picnic + show at Tanglewood Sunday: brunch + drive back ✨ Hot tips Book dinner + hotels early Pick ONE main activity per day Gas up before you get in Less plans = better weekend ✨If you loved this simple guide, follow along and tell me where to go next!!! 🩷🩷🩷

Let me influence you that a really good day trip can feel like a vacation! Because we all know I’m out of days off 😂😂😂 ✨ These are all about 2 hours or less drive from CT, of course keeping in mind the summer traffic !!!! 🛕 BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir @bapsusa One of the largest Hindu temples outside India and honestly one of the most impressive buildings on the East Coast. Intricate hand-carved marble everywhere — it genuinely feels like you teleported continents. Wild!💕 🏰 Bannerman Castle kayak tour @bannermancastletrust Paddle out to a ruined castle sitting in the middle of the Hudson River. One of the most surreal landmarks in New York and a surprisingly peaceful kayak trip through the Hudson Highlands. Use @stormkingadventuretours for the guide!!! 💕 🚣‍♀️ Indian River Marina → Cedar Island paddle then wine at Chamard Vineyards @indrivmar @chamardvineyards Kayak through quiet marsh channels with ospreys and herons, paddle out toward Cedar Island, then reward yourself with wine and crème brûlée 💕at Chamard after. 🚲 Fishers Island @fishers_island_ferry Take the ferry from New London, rent bikes, and ride around the island. Quiet beaches, coastal views, and the kind of old-school New England summer vibe that feels far away from everything. 🌿 Grounds for Sculpture @groundsforsculpture A massive sculpture park where art is hidden throughout gardens and landscapes. Walk through a life-size Monet painting, explore whimsical installations, and have lunch at Rat’s Restaurant ✨any sound cool to you?!?

✨ Y’all in in love with Vermont. 🩷Episode 5 of #3HourWeekends and southern Vermont is the one that requires the least planning and delivers the rest. Mountain air, historic roads, the cutest towns you have never heard of, and rentals so good you will not want to leave the property! 🏡 The Stay: @farmhouse2skiokemo : 10 minutes from Okemo, game room, jacuzzi fit for a party, gorgeous lawn. This house has thought of everything! @vacationinvermont : Design meets luxury. Their game room will ruin every other rental for you. 10 min from Mount Snow, 20 from Stratton. @vermontcabin : A classic A-frame where you will spend most of your time staring out the window like I did!!! 😂 @thelandgrove : All the charm, delicious food, fantastic hosts, and they have a full on art studio and retreats. This place has serious historical energy and you can feel it in the creaks! We fell in love with the wooden beams and common areas! 🍽️ The Food: @thehatcheryvt - Best breakfast in Ludlow. Go early. @blueduckdeli - Chef-driven, creative, one of the best things in Ludlow. @trail_87 - Farm-to-table near Mount Snow. This is your dinner spot. @snowrepublicbrewery - stay for an extra, super family friendly!! @equinoxresort - If you can find a brunch there, don’t miss it! We had oysters 🦪 for Mother’s Day brunch among a million other items!! 🔥 @vermontcountrystore and @crowleycheese , and a picnic by a stream. 📅 The Plan: Friday: Pick up provisions, hot tub, sunset drinks. Saturday: Coffee, chilll and @thesparklebarnshop thesparklebarnshop first — I would go back just for this. Oh wait I did 😂Mount Equinox Skyline Drive, Hogback Mountain viewpoint, picnic on the rocks by a stream. Sunday: Buttermilk or Hamilton Falls, @blueduckdeli for lunch, drive home late through some of the most beautiful scenery in New England. 🔥 Skip I-91 if you are coming from CT or NY. Take Historic Route 7A, the Molly Stark Byway, or Route 100 instead. So much prettier!!! Save this. Send it to the person who needs a forced reset. Follow @the_long_weekender for more 3-hour weekends that are not overbooked. 🏔️

POV: You found the perfect dream home … and you’re not leaving! @farmhouse2skiokemo by @empire_escapes is the one for me! Use code LONGWEEKENDER for a discount! 👇 / ✨4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, sleeps 9, 10 minutes from Okemo and 25 from Killington. We went for Mother’s Day weekend and had a blast in all that space! The details that got me staying (sorry Heidi it was a struggle to leave!) ✨ 8 person jacuzzi hot tub with towel warmer and Sonos speakers ✨ Solo Stove fire pit for après ski s’mores (buy the fire color changing throw in, kids will love it! ✨ Gear dryer in the mudroom for all your ski gear ✨ Rooftop balcony off the primary suite with breathtaking views ✨ Wraparound porch and an embarrassing amount of wine consumed 😂 ✨ Arcade machine with all the games! ✨ Stunning kitchen: we barely ate out ✨ 6 acres of wooded land and total privacy ✨ You know I love Vermont winters and fall… but summer here was such a reset, forced chilling and all that green mountain air… changes your brain up! Link in bio to book, DM me for questions and use my code LONGWEEKENDER for a discount!!! Save this for the group chat. 🏔️

✨ The Social Reset was the perfect afternoon of creating, sweating and of course having a little sweet treat! @maeveinct put together a creator event that checked every single box: great people, great brands, and a wellness concept that everyone can get behind! @wellnessparknewhaven in New Haven with @dryypsauna is starting a wellness culture movement and I am so there for it. 👌👌👌 @borabora_newhaven (and @borabora_us )brought the 🍍 and the energy…. My pick - coconut bowl! 🥣 @omniawellnessco had us energized B12 shots (props to an incredible APRN!!!) ✌️ @fizzsocialsoda tasted exactly like Fanta and gave a little extra boost to my afternoon! 🥤 @mvmt_withmadi - outdoor Pilates or bust for any future workout! 💪 @interlinkedct gave us permanent jewelry because why not. @thebranddaily - your summer drop design is buttery soft and inspiring me to try some of your fits! 🛍️ ✨ Thank you @melissastephensphotography and @stephxbphotos for the gorgeous shots !!! 📸 @maeveinct , @thebrandhaus.marketing & you created something really special here. This is what creator community looks like when it’s done right! We had plenty of goodies from @adore.salon.ct @blocanton @beem.westhartford.ct @thechesapeakeshell 🐚🛍️🛒

Need inspo for next weekend? Here’s of the best Memorial Day road trips from the Northeast: all within driving distance, all absolutely worth it. PS- help me choose which one, I still haven’t planned my weekend!!! ✨ @acadianps : The Beehive Trail, Cadillac Mountain at sunset, a sandbar that disappears with the tide and puffin season is officially open. ✨ Vermont: Historic Route 7A through the Shires of Vermont. Adorable towns, historic homes, farm stands and Green Mountain views the whole way. Bring your mama, I did! ✨ @stormkingartcenter and the Hudson River Valley: Beacon, Cold Spring, world class outdoor sculptures, Bannerman Castle by kayak @taigarestaurantnyc in Hudson for the most unique dinner you will have all year.. drive up here. A Siberian wild kitchen in a cozy candlelit room. Trust me on this one.☝️ ✨ Cape Ann, Massachusetts: Rockport, Gloucester, Hammond Castle perched on the cliffs and the best seafood of your life. ✨ Lake George, New York: Classic Americana, a Memorial Day parade with the Adirondacks as your backdrop and a lake that will stop you in your tracks. Swipe for the full breakdown on each destination. Save this for the weekend you finally stop talking about it and actually go. Drop your questions below or DM me. ✨​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

You asked, I got you! Here’s the EXACT 14 day Costa Rica itinerary that we did twice. And I NEVER go back to the same place twice! ✨Land in San Jose or Liberia, pick up your all wheel drive rental (non negotiable) and go. Download Google Maps offline before you lose service. You will lose service. ✨ La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano: 3 days. Find a lodge with Arenal Volcano views: they are everywhere and you do not need to spend a fortune on the big names. Soak in the natural hot springs, eat all the fruit, hike the volcano, go horseback riding. ✨ Places to stay in La Fortuna: @hotelsecretolafortuna @las_orquideas_la_fortuna , Hotel Los Lagos 🔥Look for a farm stay or a property with animals here or Monteverde: we stayed at a gorgeous spot with its own animal walk and it was one of the highlights of the trip (can’t remember the name!) ✨ Monteverde Cloud Forest: 3 days. 2.5 from La Fortuna on winding roads that are worth every turn. Lots of different lodges, farms and hotels up here. Walk the hanging suspension bridges through the mist, do a night tour, a coffee or chocolate tour if you want to slow down. Bring layers. ☔️ ✨ Guanacaste: 7 days. Four to five hours from Monteverde with sketchy service. @reservaconchal is a luxury gated community with private Airbnb style homes alongside the Westin and W Hotel. Drive five minutes to the beach club (they have fun things for kids!) at Playa Conchal: isolated and stunning. Spend time in Tamarindo for surfing and nightlife. The expat community here is incredible… they even have an International school. You’ll want to move. ✨ Fly in and out of Liberia (LIR) if you can: it saves you the entire drive back to San Jose. This trip works on any budget, any travel style, any family size. You just have to plan it out. 🔥Hot tip: There’s plenty of other spots for beaches in CR. We just fell in love with this one. Manuel Antonio is next. Buy groceries and eat from local shops! ✨Look up: Alligator bridge and @haciendaalsacia ✨Drop your questions below or DM me. I try my best to get back to everyone, but if I haven’t please feel free to DM me again, I probably just didn’t reply right away. 🇨🇷 Pura Vida. ✨​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Hot take: You don’t HAVE to “earn” nature with an exhausting hike 🤷🏻‍♀️ Traveling with young kids or adults on a mission to chill 🧘‍♀️? … Then SAVE this post for easy adventures your group is sure to enjoy. 👍 #vacation #familytrip #outdoors #familyvacation #vermont Hiking | vacation | outdoors | outdoorsy | family vacation | waterfalls | hikes | adventure | explore | outdoor kids | outdoor families | summer vacation | New England | Vermont

✨ Block Island is 90 minutes from New London and it will ruin every other weekend destination for you. I’m obsessed. @blockislandferry & @blockislandexpress will get you there in comfort & with wine on board! 😂 🌊 The bluffs are dramatic, the beaches are hidden, and the energy is just soft and free 🏨 Where to stay: @springhousehotel : History, haunted, and a wraparound porch that will not let you leave. @1661resort : Aesthetic plus a farm?!? Kids will love you. @blockislandbeachhouse : The party starts the second you get off the ferry. @theatlanticbi : Best sunset view on the entire island. Non-negotiable. @hotelmanisses : Garden dinner with live piano. Book it before you even pack. 🍽️ Where to eat: @persephoneskitchen : Best breakfast on the island. There will be a line. Get in it. @theoar_bi : Mudslides, painted oars, harbor views. A Block Island institution. @hotelmanisses : Romantic garden dinner you will think about for weeks. @theatlanticbi : Sunset dinner on the porch. See above re: non-negotiable. 🚲 The Plan: Rent a bike. Ride to the tip of the island where the seals are. Find a hidden beach and picnic! 🧺 Take the sunset ferry home. Trust me on all of this. 🌊 Save this. Send it to your person. Follow @The_Long_Weekender for more 3-hour weekends that are not overbooked!!!

✨ Can I just tell you that hiring a chef for a weekend away is SO epic, relatively inexpensive, AND lets you get to know a local and about local traditions and cultures?!! ✨@chef_israel_gonzalez was warm, prepped and had the best communication from start to finish! He came with food prepped, had everything piping hot for us and cleaned up as if he was never there. Totally add this onto any special trip you’re planning in the future! 🔥 Hot tip: I use Airbnb experiences to get ideas but then I’ll find the chef /photographer / on from their Instagram, website or another site! ✨ Tell me, would you try a local chef experience ?!?

Episode 4 of #3HourWeekends from CT and it might be the one I keep coming back to. Literally. Day trips to Block Island are my summer love language. 🩷 @blockislandinfo feels like Pacific Coast Highway met Nantucket and there’s only 100 people that know about it. The bluffs are dramatic, the energy is magical, and if you find a hidden beach to yourself… you’re in for life (eep that’s me!) 🛥️ Getting there: @blockislandferry from New London, CT about 90 min, or Point Judith, 30 or 50 minutes. Book parking ahead, it gets packed fast. Bring your own bike on the ferry. Bring a cooler. Trust me. 🏨 The Stay: @springhousehotel : Oldest hotel on the island. Haunted. Wraparound porch. All the stories. @blockislandbeachhouse : First thing you see off the ferry and the party has already started. @1661resort : Old school charm, an actual farm, kids will lose their minds. @theatlanticbi : Best sunset view on the island. Go even if you’re not staying. @hotelmanisses : Most bougie, most proper, garden dinner with live piano. Book it. 🍽️ The Food: @persephoneskitchen : Best breakfast on the island. There will be a line. Get in it. @theoar_bi : Mudslides, painted oars, harbor views. A Block Island institution. @deadeyedicks : Frozen drinks, waterfront, no overthinking required. @theatlanticbi : Sunset dinner on the porch. Non-negotiable. 🔥 Picnic on a bluff. please! 📅 The Plan: Friday: Arrive, sit outside immediately, island time baby. End the night with Block Island Ghost Tours. Saturday: Bike the long loop. Seals at the tip. Bluffs, lighthouse, @1661resort farm. Sunset cocktail at @theatlanticbi . Sunday: Mohegan Bluffs, find a hidden beach, take the sunset ferry home. The boat at golden hour is my Roman Empire (is that will a phrase we use instagram?!?) 🤦‍♀️ Save this. Send it to your person. Follow @The_Long_Weekender for more 3-hour weekends that are not overbooked. 🌊