Domestic Vacation Ideas

[Scott M]

Wifey has been talking about vacations lately. She wants to start planning for 2013 as we won't be going anywhere this year. We can't seem to come up with any really strong candidate destinations....looking to go March or April but it's all negotiable.

We have a little girl born late last year and plan to add to the family down the road, so some places we've elected to save for "family trips", e.g. Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Washington, D.C. We're saving Alaska and Hawaii as bucket list trips.

We'd like to go some place new, although we certainly can't rule out repeat trips. We'd like it to be domestic or at least some place where airfare is reasonable. We like warm weather I like to spend a day or two out of a vacation week fishing. Together we enjoy culture, art, outdoors exploration, theme parks, shopping, any sort of attractions really.

She's been to: NY, NC

I've been to: TX, AZ, CA

Together we've been to: FL, Bahamas, CO.

We really like Florida, but it's starting to become cliche (although the Keys would be fun). I was thinking Louisiana, anyone have experience down there?

Have you been some place you absolutely loved? Any good recommendations out there?

[Eric Wettschreck]

I've been to New Orleans. Not a place I'd take my family.

DC is awesome, but if you want to see everything just plan on moving there. There's a lot of stuff. Guided tours are plentiful but they seem to rush you around. I'd love to go back, but I want to do it on my own terms. If you've never been there I highly recommend it.

Here's something the wife and I have wanted to do for many years.......Follow Route 66, what's left of it, from start to finish and see all the cool things on "Americas highway."

One place I've been and would love to go back to with the wife is the Pacific NW area. Puget Sound, Seattle, Bremerton area. Pretty cool up there.

Yous guys are more than welcome to spend some time in Avoca. Lots to see and do here.

[pushbutton]

The Keys were the first thing that came to my mind when started reading. Certainly weirdos down there, but they are happy drunk weirdos. Next thought, similar to Eric, and although not as warm, was Port Townsend Wa area. Just freaking awesome scenery in the northwest. Not a huge fan of the east coast type thing, but the outer banks are pretty cool. A good local trip would be Door county or Traverse City areas.......and, yes, Avoca.........

[Antero]

Port Aransas Texas has all of your requirements. Weather is warm in April, the beach is flat and deep water is far out so the kid will be safe. A water theme park is near, there is some good fishing, surf, jetty, party boats and private quide charters. Corpus Christi is about 20 miles away with many museums, shops and such. The Alamo and the San antonio Riverwalk is about 3 hrs up the road and that is a great place to spend a day.

Check out Beachgate Condos, #231, right on the beach, very reasonable, great view, 2 pools and near everything.

[DARK30]

Washington DC plus 1

Might be better after November tho

[ted4887]

Yous guys are more than welcome to spend some time in Avoca. Lots to see and do here.

Growing up in the area, this made me laugh out loud.

I'd hit the Florida Keys. It's by far my favorite place to spend a week. Although, March-April is spring break time and that area will be packed. If you do the keys that time of year, look to the middle keys. I'd avoid staying in Key West if you want some semblance of quiet.

Marathon would be my go-to area, and has been in the past. About an hour or so to get to Key West. A perfect distance. Amazing food in the area, plus a ton of things to do. You might be able to rent a house for a reasonable price in the area. Most homeowners in that area will belong to different clubs which you should have access to (manicured beaches, chairs, and most importantly: fully stocked bars).

If you end up in the area, you have to try the Barracuda Grill. Their Shrimp Scampi and Key Lime pie are amazing.

[Scott K]

Why not tkae a Bahama cruise? I have done it, and it was a blast! You have many options for entertainment, from fishing to arts, dancing, lots of food, etc..

Another one of my favorites was Myrtle Beach. Lots of history in the area, great seafood, and shark fishing was a blast, and farily inexpensive.

With that said, because of lack of money this year, I am planning on a couple closer to home trips this year. One on the North shore, then the other camping in the Black Hills. With mining tours, trout fishing, and horse back riding in the mountains, and of course Mt Rushmore.

[toughguy]

I would recommend Glacier Nat'l Park (while there are still some glaciers left) or Yosemite. Glacier won't work for that time of the year but it would be worth waiting for. I'm not sure if Yosemite is open then. San Francisco is fairly close to Yosemite for some "culture" too. I've always wanted to go to the San Diego and Palm Springs areas too. I love Rocky Mtn Natl park and Denver in the early summer also.

[nofishfisherman]

Looks like some of my suggestions have already been mentione

Key West is fun but it depends on what you are looking for. I was there for my honeymoon and it was fun but you can run out of things to do. If you want to lounge on the beach then Key West isn't for you since there is no natural beach on Key West. Closest decent beach is up at Bahia Honda which is easyily drivable but its not right in Key West so its a day trip. We did do a kayaking trip that was a lot of fun plus snorkeling. I know there are plenty of fishing trips out of the keys as well.

The Texas coast is pretty nice. I've been to Corpus Christi and on down to South Padre Island. You may want to check your trip dates against the spring break schedules though since every college kid in Texas floods the coast for Spring Break. It can be a fun atmosphere but not entriely family friendly. The beaches all up and down the coast are really nice if you get out on Padre Island. Again lots of fishing trips available up and down the coast as well as some dolphin watching trips.

If you can hold off on a trip until June or July I'd fully recommend the Pacific Northwest. I've been to Seattle countless times and I'd usually do some sort of excursion out of the city. Been down the Oregon Coast, up to Whidbey Island on the northern edge of Puget Sound, over to Wenatchee State Park on the east side of the Mountains and many points in between including Mt Rainer. Never once was I disappointed. The entire area is awesome and an outdoor lovers dream. If you like a little adventure I can suggest a white water rafting trip on the Wenatchee River that is an absolute blast. There are also tons of fishing options of all kinds. Ocean trips, inland trips you name it you can do it. You can also go down to the Columbia River and go after some walleye. You can also do whale watching trips which would be fun for a family.

If I had to pick one option from this list I'd for sure go to Seattle. Flights are usually affordable if you shop around and plan ahead. You can also rent a car and travel a couple hours in any direction and find something amazing to do.

[titelines]

I'd toss in a vote for Memphis. My wife and I stopped there on our way home from TX a few years back and had a blast. The weather would be nice and attractions include: Graceland, the Civil Rights Museum, Mud Island, the Lorraine Motel (where MLK was killed), great walks along the Mississippi, Sun Studio (Elvis etc.), a great Zoo and many, many more. There's a few very good fishing lakes too. Throw in some of the best BBQ in the country and a couple nights down on Beale Street going from club to club listening to some awesome live music, and it's a great place to spend a few days.

[Black_Bay]

VEGAS BABY, VEGAS!

[B. Amish]

napa valley

[Scott K]

VEGAS BABY, VEGAS!

Where are you going to fish in Vegas??

[Scott M]

Where aren't we going to fish, knowwhuddamean?

Good suggestions all. Yellowstone and Glacier N.P. and Wash., D.C. are likely future "family" trips. We can get a timeshare for cheap just about anywhere. I want to be in the Keys when the tarpon are going if we go. I didn't mention this, but I have been pushing Pacific Northwest. Texas is intriguing. We'll have to see what develops, keep the suggestions coming.

[pushbutton]

Don't know the time off year the crabs are around the Puget, but saw a show about a halibut and crab combo trip .... that would just be cool......don't know if your ladies would as interested though.

[nofishfisherman]

If you do the Pacific Northwest you should for sure look into the different seasons before you go becuase I remember there being a lot of different seasons for different areas and some where rather short so timing would be important.

Most of the fishing I did was up in the mountains on alot of the streams and rivers. YOu do have to pay attention to the regs as he section of the river has different regulations about when you can fish and what you can fish with.

The mountain streams are beautiful though and worth looking into. I fished off and on for a couple days and didn't have anything more than a few follows and still had a great time. Nothing beats wading your way down a beautiful secluded mountain stream, doesn't matter if the fish are biting or not.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I want to be in the Keys when the tarpon are going if we go. I didn't mention this, but I have been pushing Pacific Northwest. Texas is intriguing.

Soooooooooooooooooo, Avoca is out of the question, then?

[Scott M]

Nah, Avoca's not out of the question considering the amount of class and history in the area, and the charm of the people. I hear there is some good bullhead fishing and if I timed it right they have ditch parrots too. And I hear they have duty free PBR. I might want to take some home to give as gifts if they are marked Avoca Pub.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I can't say the PBR's are marked Avoca pub, but iffin you roll the dice juuuuuuuuuuuust right, you may get a few pub chips. Or, maybe not. However, they sell Avoca pub can coolers for a couple of bucks. Makes a perfect Christmas gift.

Plenty o bullheads for yous out-o-towners.

Or take your family to DC. It's prolly the better option.

[Scott M]

Well, it's not domestic, but we had a shot at a nice place in Cancun and we put in for it. We'll see if we get it. Would be a spring-time, non-spring break trip. If we get it, I'm gonna start planning the fishing and let wifey handle the rest.

[leechlake]

my wife and I have traveled a lot and last Winter we spent four days in San Franscisco, I'd never been there.

I loved it. I'm am not a big site seer but I got sucked in. You can walk to a lot of areas, there is China Town, Fisherman's Wharf area, which is like a street carnival, Alcatraz, and it's a short bus ride to Napa or Senoma. Street car stuff.

I had told my wife last night I'd like to take the kids who are 12 and 14. It is a great area for a 3 day long weekend.