I have done quite a few 2-3 hour cross country flights since I passed my PPL in September. The most memorable was a flight to the Orkneys from Inverness. A local taxi driver took me on a tour of the island and asked the time of my flight back to Inverness. Telling him that I was the pilot and I could leave any time I pleased was one of the coolest things I have been able to say ever!
Force of financial circumstance means I can only really afford to fly an hour or less a month, so it's a case of being creative with local options. I flew from Stapleford to Elstree with my partner on one occasion. We had a lovely Sunday lunch at the new restaurant and then walked in the nearby country park. Panshanger, North Weald, Andrewsfield and Clacton are nearby airfields which I still plan to visit. Damyns Hall too - although those powerlines on final approach seem daunting.
I agree that one generally gets much more experience per hour on short hops rather than long hauls.