Many places offer great weekend getaways. One of my favorites Wilmington, North Carolina. Just a couple of hours drive from Raleigh, Wilmington has a certain allure that makes it such a great pit stop. Not only do you have a symphony, theater groups and tons of live music clubs, there are festivals from the Azalea festival in the spring and the celebration of jazz music it gives to many a late evening. The riverwalk in the downtown features a reclamation of old warehouses converted to shops and restaurants bringing new life to the older commercial areas.