Mini-getaway

If you had to shelve your very ambitious, very international 2010 vacation because of car issues and debt issues and, well, just issues, but you still wanted to take a (much) smaller, closer-to-home getaway, where would you go? Perhaps a city I'd never think of, or an area that never occurred to me.

To help you out, we've already been (together) to: Colorado, Connecticut, NYC, many parts of Northern California including Tahoe where we tied the knot, Southern California, the Virgin Islands, all over Florida, parts of Arkansas, Portland, St. Louis and Toronto. (Oh, and all around Texas.) Although we haven't traveled far and wide, we've certainly traveled, obviously.

Share your knowledge, globetrotters. I'd love to have you help us plan our 2010 (mini) vacation!

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Also, happy, happy birthday to my best friend, Natalie. 28 looks good on you!

Comments

[Camels & Chocolate]

Montana and Wyoming! Two places I've been DYING to go. Also, Nashville (of course) or Charleston, one of my most favorite cities.

[Tara]

You could head to a national park of some sort like Yellowstone to go hiking or to visit caves. If you're wanting to stay close to home you could visit Sea World or one of the many Six Flags parks in Texas. Another close to home option would be Alabaster Caverns near the split of the Oklahoma/Texas panhandles in Freedom, Oklahoma (but there's not much else to do in Oklahoma, so that one might be a bust). Big Cedar Lodge at Tablerock Lake in Missouri is a family favorite. You could go to Silver Dollar City (which actually has some great roller coasters if you and your husband like them), go hiking, cycling, horseback riding and walking (or running, depending on where you are in your half marathon training plan then) around the lake and swimming, water skiing, etc. on the lake, depending on what time of year you go. There are also some caves and mountians nearby in which you can go on walking tours.

[Becky]

I don't know how into the outdoors you are, but there are some FABULOUS camping or resorts on the lakes up here in Minnesota that make for very relaxing vacations. They cater to different types of activity; some are more "family" oriented, with nice swimming beaches and game rooms and stuff, and some are more fishing oriented, or if you want to get crazy you could try camping. That's something you could do closer to home, too. For a less outdoorsy option, any of the resorts along Lake Superior offer spectacular views and there are all kinds of little towns with touristy shops and stuff up and down the shore.
Not that I'm particular to Minnesota or anything. ;-)

[K]

Washington DC trip?
How about New England? I've never been (other than Connecticut also) but I've always wanted to go.

[Tessie]

A friend recently took a mini-vacation to Savannah and LOVED it. I don't know if you'd want to spend, like, a WEEK there or anything, but for a long weekend it sounds fun.

[jodifur]

Well, I would say DC to see me, but what about the VA wine country? There are some really nice VA wines and the Shenandoah is gorgeous. And you could do some hiking or horse back riding. And if you really wanted to splurge there is the $500 meal at the Inn at Little Washington.

[Raven]

Sedona, Az!

It's gorgeous and one of my favorite places on earth.

[Kallie]

My suggestion is more of a "weekend getaway"...
http://www.star-of-texas.com/
It's my aunt and uncles B&B in Brownwood, TX...so beautiful and peaceful!

[Gaby]

I'd recommend Chicago to anyone, but especially people who are looking for a variety of things in a vacation destination including: good food (pizza, steaks, hot dogs (!), and a ton of gourmet restaurants if you want to be fancy); arts/theater (many museums, including the M. of Science and Industry and the Art Institute, as well as tons of theaters both big and small); parks (Millennium Park, Grant Park, and many more); many beautiful hotels; and a lake front and skyline that can't be beat. I'm a huge fan of Chicago, and you guys might like it, too.

[Mrs. D]

I've been to Montana for many a vacation. It's beautiful any time of year. It's got amazing national parks, white water rafting, hiking, horse back riding, skiing (snow and water), and much more. Plus, you'd be surprised at how many truly delicious restaurants you'll find there. Seeley Lake, Whitefish, Big Fork, Bozeman, Missoula - all great places to visit.

On the other side of the country, you could try the Finger Lakes region in NY State. Really pretty in summer and fall. Lots of hiking and wine tasting to be had.

[Corina]

Oooh. I second the vote for Chicago. Chicago is a great city with lots of things to do in every price range and with two major airports, you can usually find inexpensive-ish flights. But if you still want to use your passports, Vancouver, BC is a beautiful option. New Orleans is always a great choice, and they could certainly use tourist revenue. I'd even suggest my little corner of paradise, the mountains in central Idaho, but it's a pain in the ass to get here.

[Kristabella]

I've never been to DC and have been itching to go.

I've also been to Atlanta 3 times in the last few months and am falling in love with it!

Or come to Chicago! In the summer though, not now.

[Laurie]

I second the Washington, D.C. recommendation. You can fly in & get around pretty cheap with a Metro pass. All the Smithsonians are free so that's some good, cheap entertainment. There's so many monuments, museums, etc. You will not run out of things to do.

Or, if you want a shorter flight & something you could do in a few days, why not visit New Orleans? There's so many amazing restaurants & so much history there. You could also go on a Riverboat cruise!

[Jane]

If it's in the summer, Chicago or D.C. maybe even northern MN. Chicago you could also drive up to Door County, WI...

[Heather]

My suggestions ...
1) San Diego (they usually have good flight deals for cheap)

2) Sanibel Island, FL - we went here a few years back for a long weekend and it was WARM in December and very relaxing.

3) Grand Canyon - a friend of mine just got back and they loved it.

4) Puerto Rico - still exotic/far away vacation but you don't need a passport

5) Some of our favorite travel website for good recommnedations/cheap deals are www.tripadvisor.com, www.kayak.com, www.airfarewatchdog.com

Have fun!

[natalie]

Any of the small islands off the coast of South Carolina or Georgia... flights to Atlanta from Dallas can be super affordable and it's beautiful there! Mmm, Atlantic Ocean...

[Anne]

I'll throw my vote in for Chicago as well. There is a ton to do here, and it isn't too far of a drive to more outdoorsy/door county kind of stuff in Wisconsin and Michigan if you want to add that in. Flights to Chicago are usually pretty cheap since every airline flies here.

[Elizabeth]

Honestly, I would go to Kansas City and eat fried chicken and bbq, but that's just me. Or I'd go back to Memphis, we went there on our honeymoon and we;ve wanted to go back ever since.

[rebecca]

knoxville, tn is gorgeous and cost-effective...look into pigeon forge and gatlinburg, the smoky mountains' answer to aspen.
DC is lovely, of course, but a bit on the pricey side. Everything you would want to do (museums, white house, etc etc) comes with admission fees. But well worth it.
Boston is one of my favourite's to visit...you can see boucoup history on the walking tours for free.
Atlanta is a fun city: The World of Coke, the Georgia Aquarium (Violet LOVES), Atlanta Zoo, Underground Atlanta, the Olympic Park, museums, historic plantations, Stone Mountain, plus 2 (TWO) top chef contestant restaurants.

[Melissa]

Only because I live in DC would I suggest it. (As have others, it seems).
Plenty of free things (actually, the Smithsonian museums are FREE along with the White House tour, monuments, Arlington Cemetary, etc--again, FREE). The eating is fantastic (always a plus in my book) and there is the VA wine country (also mentioned). Old Town Alexandria is great, too, and DC is very close to Baltimore (30 minutes)

[auntie]

after reading all the comments, I WANNA GO ON VACATION!! *ahem*

i'm going to echo a few others and say Chicago, if you want a big-city kind of weekend. i've been there once, but didn't get to experience nearly enough of the city.

one of my favorite places on the earth is Jackson Hole, WY, if you're in the mood for outdoorsy-ness and the most gorgeous mountains you can imagine. there's an outdoor breakfast place in Moose, WY (just outside of JH) that has the world's best sourdough pancakes. omg yum!!

depending on how far you go, it might be fun to check out some places that Guy Fieri has gone on Drive-In's, Diners & and Dives, if you're into gaining weight on vacation!

[Steph]

Sedona AZ
Scottsdale AZ
Taos NM
Ruidoso NM
Qeubec City, Canada
Boston

We're planning a trip for early spring and are trying to decide ourselves. I love Chicago but it's waaaaaaaay to cold and windy for me to enjoy the city this time of year. We only travel there during the summer.

[Katie]

I live in AZ, so I would second Sedona and Scottsdale. Sedona is prettier, but Scottsdale has great resorts, restaurants and shopping. Both are great spots!

[Jessica]

We really enjoyed a 4-day trip to Montreal and Quebec city. Hope you and Kyle and Mike and Molly had a wonderful Christmas!

[Pickles & Dimes]

We really liked Denver.

Minnesota is really beautiful too, but don't, I REPEAT, DO NOT come here until June. Or July, just to be safe.

[notylia]

I'll send or third Montreal and Quebec City, particularly Quebec City though it's an easy drive from one to the other. Or at least it was in the summer. Both were lovely, not terribly expensive to get to, and you could sort of pretend you were in Europe.

[notylia]

Also, because you're in TX like me, I'll add that we went in late August, the height of heat and misery, and the weather in Quebec was so so lovely and cool.

[Saymacnchz]

I will fourth (or maybe fifth) Chicago as a great destination (they have a McDonald's with an escalator inside! And the shopping!)... also since I already live vicariously through you, perhaps you could head to Louisville, maybe around Derby? They have about a month's worth of festivities leading up to the actual event including Thunder Over Louisville, a huge fireworks show that Kyle may or may not appreciate (hopefully the former). :)

[Tess]

On my list of places to visit still:
Banff in Alberta, Canada
Vancouver, BC
The Grand Canyon
Glacier National Park

Places I've been and loved:
Washington DC (all the main attractions are free!)
Yellowstone in the summer OR winter depending on your idea of what's fun in the outdoors
Black Hills in South Dakota
Bend, OR
Wallowa Lake in Joseph, OR (seeing a theme? I'm an Oregonian, and I love my state, what can I say!)
I know you're from CA, but San Luis Obispo/Pismo Beach or Santa Barbara could be nice trips...

[Christina]

My vote is for Charleston SC- We went there for a 4 day weekend several years back and it was amazing! (we drove- this was when we lived in NC) It's this incredible mix of the south and style- the shopping cannot be beat- it's all outdoors and there is an open air market that is to DIE for- also, we went on a home and garden tour of historic homes- OHMYGAH- and the food, the beach- yeah, Charleston!

[Katie]

Just thought of another spot...Seattle. Went on business a few years ago, and fell in love. That city is awesome!

[Blythe]

I'm a Montana native so I must support my homeland, especially if you are a camper. I am decidedly NOT outdoorsy but even I found Glacier Park breathtaking.

We're considering this kind of vacation this year as well. Ideas:
Vancouver, BC
New Orleans, LA
Seattle, WA

Washington DC is a great suggestion too. We took a relatively inexpensive trip there - stayed outside the district and took the Metro everywhere. It was great, and if you've never been there, it's a must-see.

[Jen]

Obviously, I should say Chicago because it's where I live now (and remarkably easy to get around on only public transportation if you are feeling that adventurous) but I want to throw Boston in the hat here. My dad's family is up there and it's always been one of my favorite places to visit. The summer is a great time because you'll get a reprieve from the heat. We went over July 4th last year and it was beautiful weather. I pricelined all our hotels and we were downtown for around $100 a night at some nice hotels. I'd recommend the Sheraton Copley Square. It's also really easy to get around on the T trains and you can visit Harvard Square, the JFK library and the Sam Adams Brewery. Also, take a duck tour... worth every penny and we don't have them in Chicago.

[Natalie]

Grand Canyon
North Dakota (report back that it doesn't exist)
Palo Duro Canyon
Big Bend, TX
Boston
Philadelphia
Maine!

[Rebecca]

Boston? Chicago? Vancouver? New Orleans?

[Beth Fish]

Chicago?

[Deanna]

If I could take a vacation right now, I can tell you I would be heading over to Charleston, SC, then down to Savannah, GA...stopping at a few of the tiny towns in between. We did just that a few years ago, and I can't wait to do it again!

[Heather]

Chicago is still on my list of places to go back to. I also highly recommend Boston, but hopefully you're coming in October! Nashville got mentioned, I saw...BEAUTIFUL. New Orleans would also get my vote. If you are looking to take a nice family vacation, I bet I could swing a condo for a week for you in Tampa, Florida! White sand beach!!!

[Raven]

I came back to mention that Az is SMALL. You can easily rent a car and drive from Sedona to Grand Canyon. We did that one year for my birthday trip and stayed in a kid friendly hotel (there is a bowling alley in it) outside the Canyon.

If you do go to Az, let me know, I have a lot of suggestions. Out of Africa Wildlife park will be awesome for your love of zoos.