Best last-minute Labor Day weekend getaways for 2023

08.08.2023 - 15:31 / lonelyplanet.com / Art

The end of summer is coming fast, so it’s time to start planning your last hurrah for 2023.

Whether you want to tackle Utah’s hiking trails or escape to a Caribbean beach, these destinations are easy last-minute Labor Day weekend getaways.

Plan a drive on America's most iconic road trips

Most come to Minneapolis for its art, parks and diverse food scene; many stay for the Minnesota Nice. This Labor Day weekend count up all the "have a nice days" you receive while experiencing the Midwestern metropolis’ magic.

Peruse the exhibitions at the Walker Art Center, which has a fantastic collection of 20th-century art and photography from around the world. For a slice of real Midwestern Americana, make sure to check out the Minnesota State Fair, which wraps up Labor Day weekend. It’s the largest state fair in the US by attendance.

Best places for live music in Minneapolis

By late August and early September, Salt Lake City is winding down from summer and patiently waiting for winter to arrive. The kids are back to school and the skis are still stowed away in attics. That means hotel rooms are discounted and hiking trails are virtually empty.

You might be surprised at the variety of Utah-brewed beers available these days but check out the Bayou, where there are about 300 local and international options on the menu. Then grab dinner at one of downtown's many great restaurants. Just outside the city, take a hike up into Neff’s Canyon for sweeping views of the Wasatch Mountains and SLC below.

The best of Salt Lake City's great outdoors (and indoors)

Seattle shines during the summer when the chance of rain is low and the warm weather gets Seattleites outside and on the trails. Labor Day heralds summer’s swan song, but it’s still a great time to visit the Emerald City. The weather has cooled from peak summer highs, and the same goes for tourists: September is generally a quieter time of year.

That means the city highlights like Pike Place Market and the Space Needle have all their Seattle delight without the crowds. Labor Day weekend also sees Bumbershoot, Seattle’s annual music and art festival – and one of the largest in the country.

The 11 best beaches in Seattle

For a taste of France without the long flight and pricey airfare of going to Europe, head across the border to Montréal for the long weekend. It’s easy to get a feel for the joie de vivre in this cosmopolitan city where the first-language is French but most people speak at least some English. 

Take advantage of summer weather and the long days with patio dining all over town, especially in the atmospheric Old Port (Vieux-Port de Montréal) neighborhood, along the St. Lawrence River, where the streets are lined with cobblestones below and