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Summer Vacation. The time of the year when we put our brains on autopilot, break out the camera, Bermuda shorts and suntan lotion and set out for that well-deserved vacation. Sometimes it’s an intimate, romantic escape, and sometimes it’s full of the laughter of children relishing summertime freedom. Whether it’s clear across the country or only a few hours away, we all need that summer getaway. Here are a few choice destinations.

Couples

San Francisco

Mark Twain once said, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” Beat the Baton Rouge heat in San Fran among steep rolling hills, cable cars, eclectic culture and the natural beauty that comes from being perched along the Pacific coast.

Where to Stay:

The White Swann Inn (whiteswaninnsf.com) is a quaint bed-and-breakfast experience wrapped in European charm featuring crackling fireplaces, plush furniture and the laid-back romantic air of intimate familiarity. The Archbishop’s Mansion (thearchbishopsmansion.com), an inviting French chateau with whirlpool tubs, views of downtown and an intriguing history is also a great place to stay. If you’re looking for a bit of Old World charm coupled with modern convenience, then the Queen Anne Hotel (queenanne.com) is just right with its Victorian architecture and romantic draw.

What to Do:

Get a side-by-side massage and a sensual oil soak bath, facials and pedicures in the couple’s suite at Spa Fusion (spafusion.com). Embark on a romantic, picturesque sunset cruise around the bay and under the Golden Gate Bridge with Adventure Cat Sailing (800-498-4228). Buy a book from City Lights (citylights.com), the “banned book” store founded by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and frequented by Jack Kerouac back in the day. Take a walking tour of Pacific Heights with its famed Victorian row houses, famous mansions and beautiful gardens on the Victorian Home Walk Tour (victorianwalk.com). Cruise the ride-wine-and-dine tour with Napa Valley Bike Tours (napavalleybiketours.com) and experience a leisurely ride through the wine country with stops at wineries every four miles.

Where to Eat:

Incanto (incanto.biz), a restaurant with a rustic Italian setting whose cuisine honors many Old World cooking traditions and offers an incredibly diverse wine list is a great place for couples to dine. If dinner and dancing is more what you’re looking for, then Citiscape (415-923-5002) is just right with its romantic rooftop location offering sweeping panoramic views of the city, California contemporary cuisine and a romantic ambiance all its own. Try the Local Taste of the City Tour (localtastesofthecitytours.com), which offers a tasting tour of some of San Francisco’s best coffeehouses, bakeries and delis. Sample the food, meet the artisans and get the scoop on what makes these eateries so fabulous.

Martha’s Vineyard

Turn off the cell phone. Rent a bike. Live like kids for a week. A place unhurried by the pace of modern life, where nature still rules and good manners still count, Martha’s Vineyard is for couples to lose themselves in each other on a laid back vacation.

Where to Stay:

The Tivoli Inn (tivoliinn.com) is a renovated Victorian gingerbread house that exudes island charm with its cozy and comfortable atmosphere. The Thorncroft Inn (thorncroft.com) provides a more secluded setting and is a couple-oriented, romantic inn one block from the ocean. For a more classic homestyle bed-and-breakfast complete with large decks and sweeping porches, try the Hanover House (hanoverhouseinn.com).

What to Do:

Stroll through the campgrounds in Oak Bluffs to view the gingerbread cottages or rent bikes for leisurely rides from island to island enjoying the scenery around every bend. Hit the beaches for a relaxing afternoon in the sun, a refreshing swim or a long romantic sunset stroll. Catch one of the nightly outdoor gazebo concerts in Oak Bluffs that run throughout the summer (mvy.com).

Where to Eat:

The Homeport Restaurant (homeportmv.com) is the essential summer restaurant offering sunset views, delicious chowder, fresh seafood and a back door for takeout if a romantic picnic is more your style. The Zapotec Restaurant (zapotecrestaurant.com) is a Southwestern style restaurant loved by locals and visitors alike, offering mouthwatering Mexican and Southwestern food in a comfortable atmosphere. For a more sophisticated dining experience, try Détente (detentemv.com), a casual atmosphere featuring modern local food with a romantic candlelight outdoor terrace.

Families

Memphis

With its legendary Beale Street blues scene, famed zoo, traditional Southern cooking and wide array of museums, Memphis is a playland for kids and adults alike.

Where to Stay:

The Peabody Hotel (peabodymemphis.com) is an historic building, a luxurious hotel and home to some red carpet-walking ducks, who appear in the lobby twice daily. The Double Tree Hotel (901-767-6666) is a full-service hotel with spacious rooms and suites that provide the comforts of home in an elegant setting. For a nice combination of luxury and old Southern hospitality, try The Madison Hotel (madisonhotelmemphis.com), named one of the world’s best hotels by Travel & Leisure magazine this year.

What to Do:

Take in Mud Island (800-507-6507), which has a five-block river walk replica of the lower Mississippi River complete with historical events and geographical transformations along the way. Spend a day at the Memphis Zoo (memphiszoo.org) with its new Northwest Passage exhibit, featuring polar bears, black bears, bald eagles, seals and sea lions. For a fun and educational experience try the Children’s museum (cmom.com) where you can climb through the arteries of a giant heart, ride a bike on Mars and sit in a real airplane cockpit.

What to Eat:

Take a taste of the Blues City Café (901-526-3627), which is located on historic Beale Street. The café serves up barbecue ribs, Southern-fried catfish, broiled steak, homemade tamales and live music nightly. A place the kids are sure to love is Big Foot Lodge (bigfootlodge.net), which serves American food with a slight twist, provides a lodge-like setting complete with a life-size sculpture of Big Foot. For a unique experience try the basement barbecue of Rendevous (hogsfly.com), famous for its ribs and pork sandwiches.

Natchez

With an intriguing history, antebellum homes, old Southern charm and down-home cooking, Natchez is ideal for an inexpensive family vacation. Plus it’s a short drive, which should keep the are-we-there-yets down in the single digits.

Where to Stay:

Home of a 250-year-old magnolia tree, The Dunleith Inn (dunleith.com) is a true Southern plantation with over 40 acres of landscaped gardens and wooded bayous to explore. The Natchez Historic Inn (natchezhistoricinn.com) is an old antebellum home located in the heart of the historic district complete with expansive porches and rocking chairs. For views of the mighty Mississippi, try the Natchez Eola Hotel (natchezeola.com).

What to Do:

Take a horse-drawn carriage ride (601-442-2151) through the historic district viewing the significant landmarks and beautiful homes in Natchez. Visit the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians (601-446-6502), which features a museum, an Indian house, several ceremonial mounds and a nature trail. For a more unusual experience, tour the City Cemetery (natchezcemetery.com), a place rich with history, legends and lore as it is home to some local celebrities and colorful characters.

Where to Eat:

One of the oldest restaurants in Natchez’s Under the Hill historic section, Magnolia Grill (magnoliagrill.com) is a favorite of the locals serving seafood, steak, chicken and a variety of sandwiches as well as delicious homemade Southern desserts. Fat Mama’s Tamales (fatmamastamales.com) offers a unique blend of Mexican Cajun cooking and is very well known for its Knock You Naked margaritas. The Cock of the Walk (601-446-8920) is a great restaurant known for its catfish that comes fried with a side of river fries, coleslaw, hush puppies and skillet bread.