Any Suggestions For Domestic Vacation Destinations?

[Augie]

It looks like our trip to Italy/Croatia and the Windstar cruise in a few months is not going to happen. AGAIN! We first booked it about three years ago, and this will be the second time it’s been canceled. VERY frustrating! 

 

I don’t want to steer this in any direction by saying where we’ve been previously because I’m open to all options, but generally want to see new places. I just don’t want to have to deal with borders and getting stranded anywhere due to Covid. I will say, we like fairly nice accommodations and are not camping type people. I’m curious about any great cities, parks and/or resorts. Our son’s honeymoon had to go to Plan B as they couldn’t make Italy work either. They had a great time in a location I’ll withhold for now. 

 

Where have you been that you really enjoyed? I’m curious to hear all your thoughts. Thanks in advance. 

 

 

.

Edited December 28, 2021 by Augie

[TheCockSportif]

I really like Austin, TX.  I used to work there a lot as a sales engineer, and finally I bragged enough to my wife about the brisket and oddball culture that we went there for our anniversary in 2019.

 

Having written that, and no I'm not joking when I write this: Omaha, Nebraska.  Fun city, and food kicks ass.

[Augie]

24 minutes ago, TheCockSportif said:

I really like Austin, TX.  I used to work there a lot as a sales engineer, and finally I bragged enough to my wife about the brisket and oddball culture that we went there for our anniversary in 2019.

 

Having written that, and no I'm not joking when I write this: Omaha, Nebraska.  Fun city, and food kicks ass.

 

Interesting! My son went to a bachelor weekend in Austin earlier this year. Loved it! It’s actually a place that is on my radar as somewhere I’d like to see. I tend to like college towns as they generally have a cool vibe. If Nashville had better weather and looked like they could handle the growth, I’d consider moving there. Sadly, they don’t, and they don’t. 

[qwksilver]

Augie,

This is a great topic. This country is so vast in so many ways. I can't wait to see everyone's responses.

 

My vote, if you like wine, would be to spend 4 or 5 days in Napa and Sonoma County. world class wine, resorts and restaurants. We try to go every couple of years or so, but Covid has put a cramp into that plan. We love it!

 

Hawaii is on our to do list but each island is completely different plus not sure when that will happen.

[Augie]

1 minute ago, qwksilver said:

Augie,

This is a great topic. This country is so vast in so many ways. I can't wait to see everyone's responses.

 

My vote, if you like wine, would be to spend 4 or 5 days in Napa and Sonoma County. world class wine, resorts and restaurants. We try to go every couple of years or so, but Covid has put a cramp into that plan. We love it!

 

Hawaii is on our to do list but each island is completely different plus not sure when that will happen.

 

Ha! Hawaii was the default location for my son’s honeymoon! Damn! The boy is two for two on the first responses. I think he’s doing pretty well for himself! 

 

Did wine country, but decades ago. While my preference is somewhere new, it’s been so long and it was so great it’s a place I’d definitely do again. 

[TheCockSportif]

5 minutes ago, qwksilver said:

Augie,

This is a great topic. This country is so vast in so many ways. I can't wait to see everyone's responses.

 

My vote, if you like wine, would be to spend 4 or 5 days in Napa and Sonoma County. world class wine, resorts and restaurants. We try to go every couple of years or so, but Covid has put a cramp into that plan. We love it!

 

Hawaii is on our to do list but each island is completely different plus not sure when that will happen.

Awesome choice re: wine country.  In my drinking days, was a go to, as was Willamette Valley in Oregon.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

1 hour ago, Augie said:

It looks like our trip to Italy/Croatia and the Windstar cruise in a few months is not going to happen. AGAIN! We first booked it about three years ago, and this will be the second time it’s been canceled. VERY frustrating! 

 

I don’t want to steer this in any direction by saying where we’ve been previously because I’m open to all options, but generally want to see new places. I just don’t want to have to deal with borders and getting stranded anywhere due to Covid. I will say, we like fairly nice accommodations and are not camping type people. I’m curious about any great cities, parks and/or resorts. Our son’s honeymoon had to go to Plan B as they could’t make Italy work either. They had a great time in a location I’ll withhold for now. 

 

Where have you been that you really enjoyed? I’m curious to hear all your thoughts. Thanks in advance. 

my wife thinks I lack imagination, but I always love going to Miami Beach for an easy domestic trip. Easy flight;

stay in great places on the beach; awesome food. 

[Augie]

3 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

my wife thinks I lack imagination, but I always love going to Miami Beach for an easy domestic trip. Easy flight;

stay in great places on the beach; awesome food. 

We used to go there for a variety of reasons. We went to an Orange Bowl (still remember FSU vs Notre Dame), multiple times for the tennis tournament now (I think) known as the Miami Open which is a BIG one, and my wife’s work. The last trip was several years ago and I was surprised how much it had changed. Because I only spoke English I actually had to point to the menu at several places on South Beach. Great destination, I agree. 

 

As someone joked: you know the best thing about Miami? It’s so close to the United States! 

 

The good news about being in Atlanta is direct flights to almost anywhere. 

[billsfanmiamioh]

Sedona, AZ / enchantment resort was a cool place we spent a few days at when my wife was pregnant. They have a world class spa that has been undergoing a major refurb and I think is supposed to open back up later this year. 
 

Not sure what “type” of trip you’re looking for but if you like outdoor activities I’d also suggest Whitefish, MT as a bit of a under the radar place. Full disclosure, we bought a condo there a few months ago and do the Airbnb thing so I’m biased but it’s really a unique area! Very close proximity to glacier National park, lakes, a major ski resort and any outdoor activity you can imagine. The town of whitefish has some great shopping and dining as well (all local, no chains). Fly into glacier park international which is very easy. This hotel is very nice, has a spa and a great pool / tiki bar on the lake in the summertime. 
 

https://lodgeatwhitefishlake.com

 

Also been wanting to check this place out it’s about 2 hrs from whitefish 

 

https://www.quinnshotsprings.com

 

 

 

[Augie]

10 minutes ago, billsfanmiamioh said:

Sedona, AZ / enchantment resort was a cool place we spent a few days at when my wife was pregnant. They have a world class spa that has been undergoing a major refurb and I think is supposed to open back up later this year. 
 

Not sure what “type” of trip you’re looking for but if you like outdoor activities I’d also suggest Whitefish, MT as a bit of a under the radar place. Full disclosure, we bought a condo there a few months ago and do the Airbnb thing so I’m biased but it’s really a unique area! Very close proximity to glacier National park, lakes, a major ski resort and any outdoor activity you can imagine. The town of whitefish has some great shopping and dining as well (all local, no chains). Fly into glacier park international which is very easy. This hotel is very nice, has a spa and a great pool / tiki bar on the lake in the summertime. 
 

https://lodgeatwhitefishlake.com

 

Also been wanting to check this place out it’s about 2 hrs from whitefish 

 

https://www.quinnshotsprings.com

 

 

 

 

It’s funny, but our “type” is not something I can define. We are NOT rustic camping types. Beyond that, we are wide open. My wife hates heat, and I hate cold. In February we will be married for 38 years, so we make it work. I will be just fine if I never ski again, but I love ski trips. I can visit cold and I love snow as long as I have a flight home already booked. We lived very near the beach for 30 years and rarely went, but now I love walking the beach and listening to the waves. I like college towns, the wife loves the mountains to avoid summer heat. 

 

We are WIDE OPEN, but desperately want to replace the nixed Italy trip with something nice. It’s not like we haven’t’ been anywhere in the last year. Our son got married in Asheville, NC (Grove Park Inn, which is beautiful!), Chicago for a wedding, Buffalo for the Bills opener, Sarasota, FL while she worked and I played, Blowing Rock, NC for 3 weeks for her birthday, and I’m forgetting stuff. That’s pretty good for 2021, but none were that “special vacation”. They were more like long weekend things. 

[Augie]

2 hours ago, qwksilver said:

Augie,

This is a great topic. This country is so vast in so many ways. I can't wait to see everyone's responses.

 

My vote, if you like wine, would be to spend 4 or 5 days in Napa and Sonoma County. world class wine, resorts and restaurants. We try to go every couple of years or so, but Covid has put a cramp into that plan. We love it!

 

Hawaii is on our to do list but each island is completely different plus not sure when that will happen.

 

Way back when, on our visit to wine country, we did a winery tour. My sister in Rhode Island kept our young kids while we were out there. I’m not sure how many wineries into the trip we were when we decided to send them a case of nice wine we loved as a thank you for keeping the kids. Later, when sober and I realized how much we spent, I had to call and say “HEY! That’s not cooking wine!” Haha

 

My wifes favorite was Silver Oak Cabernet. I started getting her that for special events like anniversaries, birthdays, etc. We had a wine storage closet so I thought it would be fine. I saw a bit on the news that wine doesn’t last the way it used to. I went in and opened a bottle and sure enough…..it had gone bad! These things are like $100 each, and it went bad! We had a whole bunch of them at that point. We declared open season on the Silver Oak, and sure enough….the first one I opened was the ONLY one that had gone bad. We had some mighty fine wine for a while there! 

[Mr Info]

We are careful but have traveled quite a but this year despite Covid. C19 logistics can be a pia but just requires more planning. Less crowds at tourist spots are nice. We are in France now for 2 weeks and this is our second time in 2021. Also visited Portugal and went to Hawaii this year. Kauai is our fave in Hawaii for sightseeing, beaches, and hiking. We are not cruise people. My wife can speak several languages so travel anywhere is fine.  
 

US:

PCH highway trip. Book a couple nights at Deetjen’s in Big Sur. 
 

Chincoteague, VA: Small, cozy beach town whose beach, Assateague Island, is a park so no development (e.g., boardwalk, hotels). Avoid during the annual pony swim weekend. 

[ExiledInIllinois]

Yeah... Duluth, Minnesota in January. 

 

/EndThread

 

😉 😜 😘 

 

 

[muppy]

Oh My where to go in the USA....Americas Finest City of course! I may be biased but I'm not stupid. San Diego is the BOMB I likely don't need to illustrate all the why's

 

This is weather related but if it were me Id find a way to stay HERE.......destination vacation for a few days u like nice hotels. This one is more along the lines of iconic but its the Hotel Del Coronado on Coronado island across the coronado bay bridge from san diego.

 

https://hoteldel.com/

 

another thought when I think of Iconic US hotels would be the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.  Make sure you visit the Air Force Academy. Amazing place,  It feels like you are in a state park right up on the Rockies..I lived there in the 80's and loved it. Of course a mountain vacation any time is Primo.

 

https://www.broadmoor.com/

 

m

[plenzmd1]

I hear hell is nice this time of year.  

[SinceThe70s]

1 hour ago, plenzmd1 said:

I hear hell is nice this time of year.  

 

Yeah, but go before it freezes over on February 14 after the Bills win the Super Bowl.

[plenzmd1]

1 minute ago, SinceThe70s said:

 

Yeah, but go before it freezes over on February 14 after the Bills win the Super Bowl.

I was more suggesting where i think @Augie should go, but i know the boy and wont expect a response till after 11AM...he adheres to a very rigorous schedule

[qwksilver]

10 hours ago, Augie said:

 

Ha! Hawaii was the default location for my son’s honeymoon! Damn! The boy is two for two on the first responses. I think he’s doing pretty well for himself! 

 

Did wine country, but decades ago. While my preference is somewhere new, it’s been so long and it was so great it’s a place I’d definitely do again. 

Which island(s) in Hawaii? 

Napa County is a little more commercialized than it was on your 1st trip but Sonoma is still mostly farm country.

[Just Jack]

I liked Yosemite when I was there almost 7 years ago.  They do have hotels available in the park...

 

Yosemite Lodging Experience | Yosemite National Park CA | TravelYosemite.com

 

 

[LeviF]

I'll toss in Temecula. If you're a gambler the resort/casino there is fantastic. If not stay at the resort anyway and head out to wine country, golf, or detour to San Diego for a couple nights.  Maybe the resort will have a fight you can catch while you're there.