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I feel we need to take a short trip somewhere--a sort of weekend getaway, but to where?
We are a couple in our early 60's, not yet retired, with a ton of vacation days to burn. Just due to a lot of pressure, boredom, family squabbles, etc we feel a need to just clear out for a few days. Here's our criteria:
Short trip---3 nights 4 days max
Single destination, not a driving around trip
No camping--we're not into that
Probably fly
Prefer to stay in our country
We've thought of:
Las Vegas we haven't been there in years and I understand much has changed. They now charge you for parking, so its no longer as easy to casino hop. Everything is more expensive, but still, might consider
San Francisco--never been. Perhaps rent a car and check out surrounding areas?
Train ride through---? Canadian Rockies? Ok, not "our" country, but close enough
Las Vegas we haven't been there in years and I understand much has changed. They now charge you for parking, so its no longer as easy to casino hop. Everything is more expensive, but still, might consider
Not all properties charge for parking at this time (Treasure Island, Tropicana, Hooters, for example, do not). You could park at one that doesn't and take the monorail. Or, even easier, pick one that doesn't charge to park, book a room there, and take the Deuce bus, or stay downtown and do the same (downtown hotels do not charge for guests to park). You can get a 24 pass for $8 and it takes you up and down the strip and downtown, with many stops along the way. Much less hassle than walking to the parking garage at the massive strip properties to get your car every time you want to go down the street!
If you can go Sun-Thursday there are lots of deals to be had, rooms around $30 a night at many places.
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Keep in mind the heat! Granted, if you go to Vegas you'll probably be inside gambling, so if that's your thing....
Train ride through the Canadian Rockies would be nice, if you like train rides. (I don't.)
But you could fly to Banff, then rent a car and drive, or fly to Jackson or Cody, WY and rent a car to tour Yellowstone and the Tetons. I wouldn't go there (Jackson) around the solar eclipse, however, as it'll likely be over-crowded. But I like the Rockies in the heat of the summer. There's nowhere I'd rather be, and you don't have to camp to enjoy the cool air and beautiful scenery.
Well, we just want a quick trip to get out of the house for a few days. We live near Austin, TX. We prefer a flight under 2-3 hours.
Our idea of fun is night life, restaurants, scenery, not too crowded, but not isolated.
Sounds like Las Vegas mid-week.... or, maybe, I've wanted to go "home" back to Michigan, for awhile. All my family is gone and friends are scattered. I wouldn't go near Detroit, where I'm from. I've considered using E Lansing as my base, since I went to MSU, then just drive around from there. But, I know, I'm not keen on a driving vacation.
I'm starting to think perhaps San Francisco. We could stay in a hotel near, but not actually in, the tourist areas, and just check things out.
Or, maybe.....not for now. Perhaps schedule a "trip home" to MSU around the Fall, when the weather is cool. The pacing item is boarding the cats, they book up way in advance. I would never trust a pet sitter again.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Since we are 'early retired' and have 'companion pass' in SWA... we take 'short vacations' nearly every weekend.
Fortunately our farm cats and dogs can manage the place on their own. (they prefer that...)
Very fun, very fast, interesting places to see.
We travel via guest homes ($free to $20 / night worldwide) Hospitality exchange - Wikitravel
rent cars $10 - $20 / day
Eat local / grocery ($10 / day for 2)
'short trip' Favorites: (fair weather seekers)
SF (Oct - May)
San Diego / La jolla (Winter)
San Antonio / Austin / Hill Country, TX (Fall - Bluebonnets)
Estes Park, CO (Summer)
Knoxville / Nashville / Ashville (Fall and spring... leaves and flowers)
DC / Baltimore (Spring)
Cape Cod / Providence / Boston (Fall and Spring)
Chicago (occasionally) (Spring)
Madison (Spring)
Tampa (Winter)
New Orleans (winter)
Pensacola (winter)
Tucson / Tombstone / Sierra grande- Winter
Nearby main home... (cool PNW summers)
BC / Vancouver / Victoria / Vancouver Island / Mt Rainier / North Oregon Coast
Daily... Columbia Gorge / Portland (Very nice weekend destination during Wildberries (now) / fresh Salmon (now) / Wine season (Soon) / tours Home* |* Columbia Gorge Wine Country)
Too many places... not enough time
look up events / concerts and go take a quick trip!
For SF I usually do not get a car (parking is a pain and expensive) or... I stay at Ft Mason Hostel (free Parking and VERY close to most of SF)
Enterprise has $9.99 cars on 'off-airport' sites / weekends
Last edited by StealthRabbit; 08-09-2017 at 02:20 PM..
Las Vegas, San Francisco, NYC, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, Washington, DC
Each of the above places can be done without any driving. Just fly in and take public transportation to your hotel, and use buses and trains during your stay. I find it is much more relaxing that way. For a Canadian train trip, you should allow a couple of weeks total for the journey and sightseeing in cities at either end.
I haven't been to Vegas for ten years and don't really miss it. They changed out the slot machines from coins to tickets and I haven't enjoyed it since. (I had a system to keep money.)
I personally enjoy the mountains. I like the Durango Silverton train and Great Sand Dunes. A weekend in Taos or Santa Fe would be nice. I would love another trip to Yellowstone. I don't know what you like to do, but all of these places should offer a little relief from the heat.
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