8 Spots for the Perfect End-of-Summer Weekend Getaway

Aug 20, 2015

Hear that “oooophhh” noise? That’s the sound of an entire nation sighing as the end of August rapidly approaches — and with it comes the unofficial end of summer. But don’t fret quite yet — you’ve still got time to squeeze some summer travel adventures in. Time to pack your bags and head off for one last summer road trip.

1. Seattle to Willamette Valley: Pacific Northwest wine lovers, rejoice: Willamette Valley is this region’s must-visit spot for must-sip wine. Located in Seattle’s neighbor to the south (yep, we mean Oregon), the valley is home to nearly 200 wineries, many of them serving up some of the best glasses of pinot noir in the states. Make sure you “cheers” to the end of summer with an incredible wine tour that’s just a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Seattle. (Photo via Don Hankins)

2. San Francisco to Sausalito: Ever wonder what sits beyond the Golden Gate Bridge? Head over to postcard-perfect Sausalito to find out. Get a little sweaty by hiking through Muir Woods, then cool off with a dip at Stinson Beach. Don’t forget to explore the cute town of Sausalito itself! At only an hour’s drive from San Francisco, this is definitely a quick end-of-summer getaway worth taking. (Photo via Michael Theis)

3. Chicago to Lake Geneva: This classic lakeside resort town in Wisconsin is just a one-and-a-half-hour drive from the Windy City, but you’ll feel like you’re worlds away once you arrive. If you get in enough beach time and want to try something different, hop on a historic boat cruise around the lake, or visit the area’s many mansions to ogle at how the other half lives. (via Adam Simmons)

4. NYC to Rehoboth Beach: Yes, Delaware’s Rehoboth Beach is a bit of a hike from the Big Apple (it’s just under four hours away by car), but heading further south past the packed beaches of the Jersey Shore will give you a way more ocean-side solitude, with a funky retro feel to boot. Spend one of your last summer weekends hitting up the classic wack-a-mole games and other carnival rides at Funland, a classic beach boardwalk amusement park. Then shop for some new-to-you vintage baubles and quirky dresses in classic cuts at Downtown Cowgirl so you can head back to the city in style. (via Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce + Visitors Center)

5. Nashville to Lookout Mountain: Impress your friends when you post photos of yourself at the top of Lookout Mountain, where you’ll be privy to a view of seven different states (yep, seven!). Just two-and a-half hours from Nashville, Lookout Mountain is the perfect outdoorsy escape for nature lovers and adventure seekers. Not the rugged mountain-climbing type? No worries, the Incline Railway has got you covered — the super cute train service will take you from the shops and restaurants in St. Elmo to the tip top of the mountain, no hiking involved. Ride the train up and hike down to experience the best of both worlds. (Photo via Rob Shenk)

6. L.A. to Santa Barbara: Escape the hustle and bustle of L.A. for the 1930’s architecture and beautiful beaches of Santa Barbara, where the mountains meet the sea. You can “ohh” and “ahh” over Santa Barbara’s pretty red-roofed courthouse while taking in a movie there — the courthouse hosts movie nights every Friday throughout the summer. Santa Barbara is less than a two-hour drive from L.A., though we recommend you tack on a half hour of driving time to your trip and take the scenic route up the Pacific Coast Highway. (Photo via Michael Theis)

7. Atlanta to Savannah: Ready to get your southern drawl on? Head to Savannah for a magical weekend beneath sprawling southern oaks. This gem of a city combines amazing southern eats (check out the riverwalk for prime pickings) with beautiful public squares and breathtaking historic homes for one unforgettable weekend getaway. Savannah can get blazing hot during the summer, so take the half-hour trek to nearby Tybee Island to beat the heat at the beach. (Photo via Jeff Gunn)

8. Boston to Cape Cod: It’s the classic Boston weekend escape for a reason. With clapboard-sided houses, wavy fields of long grass and miles of soft sandy beaches, Cape Cod is the ultimate “relax and unwind” destination. To change things up a bit, skip the crowds at Provincetown and head to Truro, a tiny town that’s the perfect, peaceful place to while away one of the last weekends of summer. (Photo via Massachusetts Office of Tourism)

Where will you be heading on your end-of-summer weekend getaway? Tell us in the comments below!

Chad Michael Murray Has The Perfect "One Tree Hill" Reunion Idea

Without a doubt, my favorite episode in all of television is the season seven finale of One Tree Hill. It's got all my favorite things: drama, intrigue, romance, and somehow, the episode also has all of my favorite songs from the show. This teen dramadoes an amazing job throughout its 10-year run of embracing life's beauty in the face of horror and, admittedly, unrealistic danger (remember when Nanny Carrie ran around a corn field with an axe? Because I sure do). And I'm not the only one who would love to see our favorite Tree Hill Ravens back onscreen. Chad Michael Murray and the rest of the cast do too!

What has Chad Michael Murray said about the One Tree Hill reunion?

In a Today Show interview for his new rom-com Mother of the Bride, Chad Michael Murray talked about his dream One Tree Hill reboot plans, and how grateful he is for streaming. "I'm meeting 13, 14, 15-year old fans who are enamored by the show — they weren't alive when we started shooting!" he says.

"I feel like that show, it's needed," he continues. "They could do, like, a Tree Hill Generations and deal with all the trials and tribulations the youth are going through today, you know? Dealing with social media and discrimination and everything else that's out there in the world that we could bring to light so these kids could learn to say, 'Hey! I identify with this and that.' That's what was great about the show was everyone had someone to identify with.

Are Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton friends?

Image via Noam Galai/Getty Images for Netflix

Yes, Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton are still friends! Most recently, the actresses and activists showed up to the NYC premiere of our new TV show obsession: Girls5eva. Both women wore black blazers while Hilarie rocked knee high boots and a pop art purse, and Sophia paired her leather suit with strappy heels. I need these besties onscreen again ASAP!!

Will there ever be a One Tree Hill reunion?

Image via The CW/The WB

"I just can't see a world where something won't happen," Chad tells E! News. "Something will happen. Whether we get everybody together and do a live reading of the show, or we create a new fictional future episode, I don't know what it will be."

"If there wasn’t some sort of like spinoff or something, I would be so surprised," Barbara Alyn Woods says in an Entertainment Tonight interview. "Because we’re all on board, we’re all friends, it would be the most fun show anybody has ever been on."

"I feel very fortunate. Not only has the show had this major resurgence – I actually think it’s bigger now than it was when it aired," she continues. "We just need to keep going, this thing is not going to die."

I'd love to see what everyone's life looks like in 2023, especially all of the main characters' kids. It'd be like One Tree Hill: The Next Generation! Would Jamie still play basketball? Would Brooke's twins take an interest in design? I have so many questions.

Is there a One Tree Hill next generation?

Image via Fred Norris/The CW/The WB

The end of One Tree Hill sees our favorite Tree Hill Ravens happily celebrating a new chapter in life. They're all adults, and the majority of them are married with children! If we were ever going to get a One Tree Hill next gen, the series would probably focus on Jackson and Lydia (Nathan and Haley's kids), Sawyer (Lucas and Peyton's daughter), Jude and Davis (Brooke and Julian's twins), and hopefully Jenny (Jake's daughter from season one!).

Does the cast of One Tree Hill still talk?

Image via The CW/The WB

The cast has found other ways to celebrate the show, and their relationships. Sophia Bush, Hilarie Burton, and Bethany Joy Lenz (who played Brooke, Peyton, and Haley, respectively) host the Drama Queens rewatch podcast, while different members of the cast have teamed up for Christmas movies like The Christmas Contract and (my personal favorite) A Christmas Wish.

They also recently reunited for the show's 20th anniversary in Wilmington, North Carolina, where the show was filmed! "Got to hang out with some great humans this weekend," Austin Nichols (who played Julian) posted on Instagram. "Old friends. Old stories. Lots of laughs. And made a bunch of new friends. Thank you to everyone who made this happen!"

"I spent 6 years on OTH. I’ve spent 14 years celebrating what comes AFTER with these people," Hilarie Burton says in her Instagram post. "They’ve heard me. Healed me. Humored me. I’m just really really grateful that we get these magical little moments to be together."

Sophia Bush also celebrated with a simple, "Honestly? Obsessed with us." Me too, Sophia. Me too.

Will Mark Schwahn be involved in a One Tree Hill reunion?

Image via Angela Weiss/Getty Images

After the female cast members of OTHpublished a letter expressing they had been manipulated and harassed by creator Mark Schwahn, male cast members like Chad Michael Murray and James Lafferty expressed their support for the women. The cast has since said they'd be open to doing a reboot — but it sounds like it's more likely to happen if Mark is not involved.

Where can I watch One Tree Hill?

Image via The CW/The WB

All episodes of One Tree Hill are streaming on Hulu now!

What would your dream One Tree Hill reunion look like? Let us know in the comments and check out our Facebook for more pop culture news!

Lead image via The CW/The WB

This post has been updated.

This Is My Dream Sydney Sweeney & Billie Eilish Sister Movie

When Sydney Sweeney showed up to the Met Gala red carpet rocking a jet black bob, the entire Brit + Co team thought she was Billie Eilish — and I immediately started daydreaming about these incredible women playing sisters! We know from Anyone But You and SNL that both Sydney and Billie can balance humor and heart, and I am convinced they need to headline a sister comedy, like, right now. I asked AI to write the plot of a (very hypothetical, unconfirmed) Billie Eilish and Sydney Sweeney movie so, for now, we can daydream even more!

Billie Eilish And Sydney Sweeney's Sister Roadtrip Comedy

Image via Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

Sister Vibes

In Sister Vibes, Sydney Sweeney would star as Ruby opposite Billie Eilish's Lily. These two sisters might have opposite personalities, but they're both at a crossroads in their lives. Ruby is a meticulous, Type-A oldest daughter who's always played it safe in the corporate job she hates. Lily is a free-spirited artist struggling to find her place in the world, and although she dreams of making it big, she's afraid of losing her authentic self.

Feeling totally stuck and unsure about their futures, the sisters decide to go on a big roadtrip to fulfill their desire for adventure. As they make their way across the country (snacks in-hand and roadtrip playlist at full volume), they learn more about their dreams, themselves, and each other than they could have hoped for. And it wouldn't be a comedy without a memorable cast of characters Ruby and Lily encounter along the way! Pedro Pascal? Ayo Edebiri? Lindsay Lohan? (It's a trick question because I want to see all of the above!)

In their journey, Ruby and Lily encounter mishaps, unexpected detours, and some seriously profound self-discovery. From mistaken identities and spontaneous dance parties to moments that take their breath away, Sister Vibes would capture the essence of what it's like to be a young woman in 2024 with authenticity and relatability.Through the ups and downs, Ruby and Lily's bond as sisters is tested, but it always comes out stronger on the other side.

Image via Amy Sussman/Getty Images

In this Billie Eilish and Sydney Sweeney movie, their characters discover that their greatest adventure is simply accepting who they truly are and supporting each other no matter what. As cheesy as that sounds — it's so important (and actually more difficult IRL than it sounds!).With its blend of comedy, heart, and vibrant wit, this contemporary comedy would celebrate the strength and resilience of women today. It explores themes of self-acceptance, authenticity, and the importance of meaningful connections in a digital age.

Would you see a movie starring Billie Eilish and Sydney Sweeney? Because I would be all over this! If you love daydreaming about your favorite stars in new movies, check out 5 Leading Ladies We'd Love To See In A Paul Mescal Rom-Com!

Lead images via Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue/JC Olivera/Getty Images

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Nicole Kidman Is Officially Back For "Nine Perfect Strangers" Season 2

There's something appealing about an anthology show. You know, the ones where we get a new cast every season but the location or the themes remain the same (hello White Lotus and American Horror Story!). Your next TV show obsession is right around the corner because Hulu just announced the full lead cast for Nine Perfect Strangers season 2 and it's literally almost too good to be true. Keep reading for everything you need to know!