Top 10 easy summer weekend getaways

How: Fly direct to O'Hare International Airport (ORD) from New York (American; 2.5 hours), Los Angeles (American, United; 4 hours), or Newark (United; 2.5 hours).

6. Jackson
Located at the doorstep of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, Jackson is better known for its proximity to wide-open spaces than for its gallery spaces — but this Wyoming resort town’s chic wild-west reputation is getting a major boost from a new multidisciplinary Center for the Arts, an up-and-coming international film festival, and a 500-seat performing arts center that opened in March. Not that you can’t still dust off your chaps and saddle up, either at the celebrated Million Dollar Cowboy Bar (the barstools are made from saddles) or by horseback riding at the nearby National Elk Refuge. Yeehaw!

How: Fly direct to Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) from Chicago (United; 3 hours), Denver (United; 1.5 hours), and Salt Lake City (Delta; 1 hour). Set at the base of the Grand Teton Mountains, the airport is only 10 minutes from town.

7. Juneau
It may be the 49th state, but Alaska’s natural scenery, awesome outdoor adventures, and rich cultural heritage are second to none. Juneau, the state’s capital, is a metropolitan hub with a small-town feel: a quirky place where politicians hob knob with fishermen and colorful Victorian houses speckle the streets. But if you’ve come to Juneau in search of the great outdoors, it’s always close at hand. Early summer, with some 18 hours of daylight, is the best time to visit and explore the temperate rainforest, towering mountain peaks, glistening glaciers, and beaches teeming with marine life. Can’t get enough? Just 60 miles away is striking Glacier Bay National Park, one of Alaska’s premier spots for whale-watching and glacier viewing.

How: Non-stop flights to Juneau (JNU) from the continental United States are exclusively available from Seattle (Alaska; 2.5-hours); factor in additional flight time to Seattle from all other cities.

8. Niagra-on-the-Lake
Niagara-on-the-Lake is enchanting all year long, but this quaint southern Ontario waterfront town really ripens come summer, when abundant wineries open for tastings and tours, premier theater troupes take to the stage during the much-anticipated Shaw Festival (through October 28 in 2007), and the annual Niagara Peach Festival comes to town (in August). Outdoor enthusiasts delight in mild temperatures — perfect for boating, fishing, and swimming — while history buffs relish touring Fort George, a restored late-1700s redoubt complete with costumed guides. Plus, it's all within easy reach of thundering Niagara Falls.

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How: Fly direct to Toronto (YYZ) from New York (Air Canada; about 1.5 hours), Chicago (American; 1.5 hours), Atlanta (United; 2 hours), and others; Niagara-on-the-Lake is 1.5 hours by car from the airport. You can also drive from Buffalo, New York (1 hour). Niagara Falls is just 20 minutes away.

9. Ojai
On the run from summer’s triple-threat of smog, traffic, and hundred-degree heat, Angelenos have long escaped to southern California's idyllic Ojai Valley for its cool collection of New Age spirituality centers and luxe spa facilities (highlighted by the famed 31,000-square-foot spa village at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa). Factor in sparkling white Spanish architecture, fragrant citrus groves, and a heavenly Mediterranean climate (the ocean is only 20 minutes away) and you have the perfect recipe for a relaxing and rejuvenating retreat. Fire up your pocket lighter in August for the Ojai Classic Rock Festival, with tributes to such legends as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and the Grateful Dead.

How: Fly direct to Los Angeles (LAX) from Denver (Alaska, Frontier, United; 2.5 hours), Phoenix (United, US Airways; 1.5 hours), Seattle (Alaska, American, Northwest, United; about 3 hours), and many other cities. From Los Angeles, drive north along Route 101 toward Santa Barbara to the Route 33 north exit (about 70 miles) and proceed 14 miles to Ojai.

10. Reykjavik
If you’re always saying that there just aren’t enough hours in the day, head to Iceland this summer, when the sun shines at midnight – you'll have no excuse but to get out and explore Reykjavik and its unique natural surroundings. Once you've arrived in this Nordic capital, spend the weekend discovering hot springs, spouting geysers, waterfalls, mountains, and glaciers – plan on teeing off at midnight and taking a dip in the fabled Blue Lagoon. If you’re more of a city-slicker than nature-lover, Reykjavik itself is equally dynamic, with cultural institutions that showcase the island’s Viking culture and a legendary nightlife scene rife with trendy pubs and clubs.

How: Direct flights to Reykjavik, Iceland (REK) are available from Boston (5 hours, Icelandair) and New York (5.5 hours).

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