Vacations were a thing, as were resorts. Bath, in the UK, is one example of an early-modern era vacay spot and there is evidence that people went there for rest, relaxation, and healing at least as far back as the Roman period.

In the United States, healing springs were extremely popular throughout the 19th century. Famous resorts include Warm Springs (modern location of the Homestead, and the 1761/1836 Jefferson Pools), White Sulphur Springs (now the Greenbrier), Sweet Springs, Blue Sulphur Springs, Saratoga Springs, and others.

These springs and spas became a bit of a social nexus as well, drawing the same groups of upper-class people year after year. It was considered healthful to leave more urban environs for the mountains in summer, both because it was cooler and because disease epidemics were most common in summer- this is also the era when modern epidemiology was just getting started. And, of course, it's the agricultural slow season. So wealthy people would pack up, clear out, go have fun for a month or two in the mountains, then return to their plantations and businesses in September. Possibly with a marriage arranged or a new business deal negotiated.

For more details on two such resorts- Blue Sulphur Springs and Jefferson Pools, see these articles:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/travel/escapes/032499.

http://exhibits.hsl.virginia.edu/springs/blue/

Some of the early 19th century beauties in Virginia and West Virginia were destroyed, damaged, or simply never recovered from the War. They still exist, but are hidden in lonely spots far from main roads and the state SHPOs aren't really sure what to do with them. Blue Sulphur's marble pool and pavilion are all that's left, the hotel was burned by the Yankees, and it's out in the middle of some hayfield in East Bejesus, WV. Obviously this kind of situation presents some preservation problems, but they're really an amazing part of American history that should be saved.