Getaways on a Time

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There’s nothing worse than feeling rushed on vacation. But in our 9 to 5 world, sometimes you have to keep your eye on the clock — even when you’re off it. When vacation need is high but hours are few, these five quick escapes are all doable in a couple of days. And to combat the stress factor, we’ve designed an itinerary for each destination, so you won’t even have to waste precious minutes planning. 

[Boston’s South End]

Newbury Street and swan boats aren’t all Bean Town has to offer. Right now, one of Boston’s coolest attractions is an entire neighborhood: the South End. An influx of artists and a thriving gay scene first put this edgy urban area on the map. Then came the yuppies, a real estate boom, and stinky cheese and smoked beef tongue (courtesy of Boston’s top toques). So forget about Fenway (at least for a weekend) and join the uber-hip in the South End.

—Lisa E. Harrison

FRIDAY

1 p.m.
Sausage Fest
Wine bar meets European charcuterie at The Butcher Shop, a sleek, shoe-box-sized eatery/market and the brainchild of Boston’s star chef Barbara Lynch (of No. 9 Park fame). Grab a coveted seat at the soapstone bar and order a meaty Cotes du Rhone to wash down the vegan-be-damned house specialties like the rich foie gras terrine ($19) or the hot dog a la maison — a spicy bratwurst smothered in melted gruyere ($14). 552 Tremont Street, 617-423-4800, thebutchershopboston.com.

3 p.m.
A Night in Jail
Check in and stow your car at Jurys Bos-ton Hotel. Though the address is technically fashionable Back Bay, it’s just a few blocks from the South End. Jurys, which opened in 2004, has a storied history — as the former Boston Police headquarters. Amenities are anything but jail-like, however: the windows actually open, the towel rack’s heated and the two-headed shower has water pressure reminiscent of a good Swedish massage. 350 Stuart Street, 617-266-7200, jurysdoyle.com/boston-hotel, $185- $475/night. 

4:30 p.m.
A Walk on the City Side
The only way to truly appreciate the South End is to hoof it — admiring block after block of gorgeous red brick row houses with decorative wrought-iron railings, huge bay windows and flower boxes that would make Martha jealous. The whole area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but two of the most scenic streets are Union Park and Rutland Square. Even if you can’t swing the half-million-dollar-plus price tag for a two-bedroom condo, it’s still fun to peek in the windows and imagine where you’d put the sofa.

8 p.m.
Taking the Bull by its Horns
Chef Ken Oringer made his name with tasting menus at his upscale Clio in Bos-ton’s Back Bay, but it’s his casual, at times raucous, tapas joint, Toro, that’s now drawing huge crowds. They don’t take reservations here, but the grilled corn with aioli, lime espelette pepper and aged cheese — the hands-down house specialty — is alone worth the hour wait. And so is the braised short rib with armagnac-soaked prunes and Vidalia onion puree. A bold Spanish red pairs well with anything on the menu, though many here seem to go the tequila route. Tapas average $6 to $12 each. 1704 Washington Street, 617-536-4300.

SATURDAY

10 a.m.
Caffeine and Butter
Linger with a mocha latte and a copy of the Globe at the South End Buttery. It’s only a year and a half old, but this tiny bakery/ cafe already feels like a neighborhood institution. It’s known for the cupcakes — named after the owner’s three dogs, Madison, Simon and Harriet — but the country breakfast sandwich (scrambled eggs, sharp cheddar and smoky bacon on a home-made buttermilk biscuit) is a better way to ease into the day. 314 Shawmut Avenue, 617-482-1015, southendbuttery.com.

11 a.m.
What’s in Store
Trek through the South End and visit the smattering of trendy housewares boutiques. Some favorites: Voila (1315 Washington Street, 617-542-1190, voila-inc. com) for European-inspired home accoutrements like fine linens and tableware; Lekker (1317 Washington Street, 617-542-6464, lekkerhome.com) for mod white plates and loft-style furniture; and Hudson (312 Shawmut Avenue, 617-292-0900, hudsonboston.com), a hip home furnishings shop run by an interior decorator.

1:30 p.m.
Find Out What a Gigamoto Is
Even if you don’t do raw oysters, B&G Oyster, the Butcher Shop’s sister restaurant (literally located across the street), is a worthy destination. The subterranean space (it’s in the basement level of a brownstone) is small, the atmosphere sleek, and the food — try the buffalo shrimp with Great Hill blue cheese ($11) or the Maine lobster roll ($25) — which all comes out of a super tiny open kitchen, is divine. 550 Tremont Street, 617-423-0550, bandgoysters.com.

4 p.m.
Urban Arts
You can’t miss the Boston Center for the Arts. It’s huge, eating up an entire four-acre city block. The BCA’s centerpiece is a giant, domed rotunda (a former cyclorama) built at the end of the nineteenth century that originally housed a panoramic painting of the Battle of Gettysburg. Now the space is the city’s hub for dynamic creatives — there’s an ever-changing calendar of music, theater and visual arts. 539 Tremont Street, 617-426-5000, bcaonline.org.

8 p.m.
Brotherly Love
“The Family Feud” meets “Iron Chef” at Sibling Rivalry as brothers David and Bob Kinkaid go head to head in the kitchen. The gauntlet (or ingredient) is thrown down — for example asparagus, bacon or duck — and each chef creates his own dish. The cooks do battle with twelve ingredients each season, so the menu features two dozen choices. The diner always wins. Entrees range from $25–$30. 525 Tremont Street, 617-338-5338, siblingrivalryboston.com.

SUNDAY

11:30 a.m.
Market Watch
Every self-respecting South Ender (and wannabe) turns out on summer Sundays at the South End Open Market. Where else can you pick up farm-fresh heirloom tomatoes, a hunk of aged cheddar, a pair of vintage jeans and a chic handbag by an emerging designer — while mingling with the artisans and artists that make it all happen? (Lucky us — a satellite location is now open on Saturdays in Providence.)  540 Harrison Avenue, 617-481-2257, southendopenmarket.com.

[North Adams and Williamstown, Massachusetts]

The Berkshires are best known either for roughing it (hiking and camping) or for doing the exact opposite (indulgent spa weekends). But this two-hour-away haven isn’t just for the great outdoors enthusiast or shiatsu-inclined. Case in point: North Adams and Williamstown. The natural beauty that defines this area is still, of course, a draw. But in these neighboring towns — one industrial, one collegiate — you can also get a major culture fix in the form of three of the Eastern Seaboard’s finest museums.