Hit the road: Easy weekend getaways for spring and summer

As the days grow longer and warmer months roll around, the itch to travel tends to resurface. And when it comes to finding the perfect weekend vacation, Carolyn Sandgren (Kempf), travel expert and owner of Elite Travel in Cape Girardeau, suggests giving all your options a chance.

"I like to take a lot of short trips instead of just one big trip, so I kind of consider it like a buffet of samplings. So if I really like a place, then I can go back," she says.

Not only do weekend trips lend the ability to take in a variety of locations, but they also cost less than a full-blown weeklong vacation.

"A shorter trip is going to be less expensive just because you don't have as many meals and mileage," Sandgren says.

Whether you're driving or taking the train, these weekend trip destinations will provide nonstop opportunities for great food, rich culture and family-friendly fun.

French Lick, Indiana

-- Distance: 248 miles, 3 hours and 51 minutes (by car, from Cape Girardeau)

From antique galleries and stores to the French Lick Scenic Railway, French Lick offers an array of historic sites, museums and hotels. Standout historic hotels include French Lick Springs Hotel and West Baden Springs Hotel.

For those who love jazz music, the Legend of French Lick Resort will host a Jazz Festival May 20 to 22 at the Abbeydell Convention Hall and will feature the area's best jazz artists.

Chattanooga, Tennessee

-- Distance: 333 miles, 5 hours and 12 minutes

Combine hiking opportunities like Lookout Mountain and Ruby Falls with the Tennessee Aquarium (the world's largest freshwater aquarium), historic museums and more, and you've got Chattanooga. The city offers a variety of activities for nature and city lovers alike. At the Chattanooga Choo Choo themed hotel, visitors can even sleep in a historic Pullman Train Car guestroom.

The annual Riverbend Festival is from June 10 to 18 along the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga, and will include a number of musical guests, including Heart, REO Speedwagon, Salt N Pepa, Thomas Rhett and many more.

Swinging Bridge at Rock City Gardens in Chattanooga, Tennessee. (photo courtesy of the Chattanooga Convention and Visitors Bureau)

Chicago

-- Distance: 371 miles, 5 hours and 38 minutes

Sandgren says most people don't think of bed-and-breakfasts in the same sentence as Chicago, but the city has a number of homey gems to consider. From The Sono Chicago in Chicago's historic Old Town neighborhood, to the Old Chicago Inn within walking distance to Wrigley Field, visitors can find comfort and accessibility in the Windy City.

The options for sightseeing are nearly limitless, and include Navy Pier, Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum of Natural History, Millennium Park, shopping on Michigan Avenue, the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Chicago Cultural Center and so on. For an alternative to the Willis Tower, the viewing room on the 94th floor of the Hancock Building offers all-around views of the Chicago skyline.

From July 6 through 10, the 36th annual Taste of Chicago outdoor food festival in Grant Park will feature all kinds of food, live music, entertainment and more, all with free admission.

Kansas City, Missouri

-- Distance: 349 miles, 5 hours and 8 minutes

Kansas City offers a number of historic museums, including the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, the World War II Museum, the Arabia Steamboat Museum and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and American Jazz Museum (located in the same building). The Gem Theatre also is part of the American Jazz Museum and hosts exhibitions, live concerts and more. The Kauffman Center is free and open to the public and offers tours, along with dining and concert options. Sandgren says the Country Club Plaza is a more touristy destination, with many restaurants and shops. Barbecue also is a must when visiting Kansas City, especially Arthur Bryant's, which has hosted famous names such as Harry Truman, Stephen Spielberg, Wilt Chamberlain and Jimmy and Rosalind Carter. Go for the history, stay for the barbecue. Another popular option is Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, located in an old gas station and rated the No. 1 barbecue in Kansas City from 2004 to 2013.

Jefferson City, Missouri

-- Distance: 234 miles, 3 hours and 33 minutes

For many weekend vacations, Sandgren recommends taking an Amtrak train out of Carbondale, Illinois, or any other nearby station. In Jefferson City, the train station is a block and a half from the Missouri State Capitol building and several other historic sites.

"What's cool about Jeff City is you can go over to the capitol, the governor's mansion sits right on top of the hill, so you can do that, they have a great downtown area," Sandgren says.

The city also is home to the Museum of Missouri Military History and the Cole County Historical Museum.

One of the biggest attractions in Jefferson City, Sandgren says, is the prison tours.

The Missouri State Penitentiary opened in 1836 and was once the largest prison in the United States. It closed its doors in 2004, and since then, the prison has reopened for an array of daytime tours and nighttime paranormal tours. Guests can choose the length and type of tour they wish to take, and can even stay overnight.

Branson, Missouri

-- Distance: 295 miles, 4 hours and 33 minutes

"Branson is our misunderstood and taken for granted [location]. People don't realize that people travel from all over the world to go to Branson," Sandgren says.

She says The Landing is a great place for a girls' getaway with shopping and restaurants, and there are a number of Las Vegas-type shows and performances on a regular basis. There is Silver Dollar City, Table Rock Lake, the Hollywood Wax Museum, Titanic Museum, historic downtown Branson and more.

Branson has something for everyone, and Sandgren says it's typically one of the more affordable weekend getaways.

St. Louis

-- Distance: 115 miles, 1 hour and 50 minutes

St. Louis is one of the most go-to weekend getaway options for those living in and around Cape Girardeau. From seeing a Cardinals game at Busch Stadium to catching a Blues game at the Scottrade Center or viewing the city from the top of the Arch, St. Louis is an easy drive away and offers fun options for those of all ages. Entertainment options include the Muny outdoor theater, the Fox Theatre, Powell Hall and the Peabody Opera House. For history and nature buffs, there is the Missouri History Museum, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Saint Louis Zoo, the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, Cahokia Mounds and more. Anheuser-Busch Brewery is open daily for tours, and Soulard offers live music and a vibrant nightlife.

Paul McCartney also will visit St. Louis on Aug. 13 to deliver a concert in Busch Stadium.

Hot Springs, Arkansas

-- Distance: 343 miles, 5 hours and 1 minute

History and nature combine in Hot Springs, Arkansas. With more than 15 spas and an array of richly historic bath houses, Hot Springs is the perfect spot for the laid back traveler. Visitors can take in the history of the Fordyce Bathhouse, Bathhouse row, the Gangster Museum of America and more. Sightseeing tours are available, and there are several parks for hiking, including Garvan Woodland Gardens, Ouachita National Forest, Lake Catherine State Park and the Grand Promenade. Situated on Hot Springs Mountain, the Hot Springs Mountain Tower also provides a sweeping view of the city and surrounding foliage.

Sandgren says historic hotels are an exciting draw due to their historic elements and gangster lore, especially The Arlington, which opened in 1875.

A plantation near New Orleans.Photo courtesy of neworleansonline.com

New Orleans

-- Distance: 565 miles, 8 hours and 1 minute

"You cannot rule out the easy eight-hour drive down to New Orleans and do the plantation tours," Sandgren says.

When it comes to accommodations, Sandgren recommends staying in the Garden District.

"That's where all the old historic homes are, there's art galleries there and there's a restaurant called [the Commander's Place], which is a very famous place to have lunch and it's right across from one of the most famous cemeteries," she says. " ... The cool thing is that again, this is a very inexpensive area to stay. You can take the trolley anywhere. If [you're] driving, parking is free in the Garden District, which is only 10 minutes from the center of sin city."

New Orleans also is home to Mardi Gras World, where all the old floats from past Mardi Gras parades are housed, along with the new floats currently under construction.

For those interested in history, Sandgren recommends going on a tour of four well-known plantations about 45 minutes to an hour outside of New Orleans.

Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

-- Distance: 421 miles, 6 hours and 45 minutes

Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are ideal destinations for those wishing to camp or stay in a cabin for a weekend. Nestled alongside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there is an abundance of nature trails and hiking options available. The area also provides entertainment beyond the trails, including the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium and Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. Notable stops include the Sugarlands Distilling Co., Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine, the Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook, Smoky Mountain Brewery and the Village Shops.

Gatlinburg also will offer its 11th annual Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales summerlong street performance festival with events daily from June 10 through July 30 in the downtown area.