Sherman's Travel

This year’s July 4th holiday falling on a Wednesday has a lot of Americans grumbling about a missed opportunity for an extra short vacation. So what can you do? Here are five suggestions for making the most of your midweek day off.

1. Explore your hometown. Is there an obscure local museum you’ve never been to? How about a new restaurant you’ve been meaning to check out? You don’t have to travel far to discover new experiences.

2. Take a day trip. Spend the day in the country, or make a day of it in the closest big city. If you can, avoid the well-known, popular beaches since everyone else will be there hogging the sand.

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Celebrate America’s birthday in serious style next week with this three-night package at The Joule, one of Dallas’ poshest hotels and a Starwood Luxury Collection property. Travelers who stay for two nights in a row score the third night on the house, and get complimentary tickets to the July 3rd Midnight Pool Party, complete with a live DJ set by Foster The People and noshes from Chef Scott of the hotel’s Charlie Palmer restaurant. The rooftop pool itself is a stunner (we rated it one of our Top 10 Urban Hotel Pools) that cantilevers some eight feet off the edge of the building’s 10th floor.

THE VALUE: Regular room rates start at $249, but this offer slashes the average price to just $166/night. Plus, tickets to the midnight fête cost $45 each – a $90 savings with this package, based on double occupancy.

THE CATCH: You must book this package for three nights.

THE DETAILS: The deal is only available June 30 through July 5; to reserve, call 866-716-8136, and ask for rate plan “BOGO.”

WE’VE GOT MORE: See our Dallas Travel Guide for general trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights, packages, and more travel deals.