Yesterday I got the itch to start planning our next road trip, but sadly, we don't know where to go! So I thought (naturally) the smartest thing to do would be to gather your input. After all, you're very smart and have given us some great ideas in the past.
As you know, we have a tradition of taking a birthday trip sometime in the late spring or early summer, and this year, one of us has a rather significant birthday coming up. ME! IT'S ME!!!!! So this means one of two things for our travel plans.
We can either:
* take a very special birthday trip that is a bit on the longer/bigger side, ultimately chosen by ME!!! Because I'm turning 40!!!!
* or we can take a long-weekend-kind-of-trip for the birthday trip, and then we could choose something a bit longer later in the year as our official family vacation.
Here are our parameters:
* If we do a long weekend birthday trip, we need it to be preferably no farther than five hours from our home, because we don't want to spend half the weekend in the car.
* For any late spring traveling, we would really, really, really like to go somewhere warmer, which means absolutely NO Michigan destinations, unless we wait until June to go. (You've fooled us twice, Michigan...)
* We have already been the following places on a birthday trip: The Creation Museum...Holland, Michigan...Gatlinburg, Tennessee...Chilton, Wisconsin...Saugatuck, Michigan.
* If we go on a bigger trip, whether as a birthday trip or as a vacation later in the year, we are open to going farther than five hours from home.
(Just so you know, my top pick for a dream 40th trip is Prince Edward Island, but we're going to need someone to show us how to win a contest for that, so if you know of one, TELL ME!)
So there you go! Any suggestions for places we can visit? We'll take all suggestions and keep those we can't use this year!
14 comments:
I know it's more than 5 hours...but come to Boston!!!!
The Rocky Mountains in Colorado- several cites/ state/ national parks abound; the Wisconsin Dells area in Wisconsin; Atlanta; Michigan's UP (to be visited ONLY in the summer, lol (probably don't need to tell you guys that :))).
Charleston SC for a longer trip shorter trip Amish Country in PA
My first thought for the big 40 is a cruise!! There are so many choices of great places to visit: The Great Smokey Mountains (Dollywood, etc.). We love the Holmes County area and Hocking Hills, Ohio for shorter trips.
So many places so little time. Nashville, Tn is a beautiful area. I know you said you have been to the Creation museum, but what about the Ark? Columbus Oh has a great zoo.
For longer trips. I love the West ! A flying trip to California would be nice.
Lancaster County PA is beautiful. Sight and Sound, hiking, covered bridges, so much to do.
San Antonio, TX is a great place to visit as is the Finger Lakes in NY mixed with a trip to the Adirondack Mountains, the Catskill Mountains. Short trip visit Cleveland (lots to do there) and then to Ohio covered bridges in Ashtabula County with a fun stop in Geneva-on-the-Lake.
Gaylene
I forgot to add St. Louis- I'm guessing it's a little under five hours from where you live. The Arch is iconic and cool to go up in. You can also do river boat tours on the Mississippi. There are a number of neat, free activities to do in STL including the St. Louis Zoo, Grants Farm and a couple of museums. The hotel chain Drury Inn is based out of STL and there are a number of Drury's in STL. They aren't the cheapest hotel by a long shot BUT they serve a complimentary evening buffet so you wouldn't have to go out for dinner unless you wanted to. They also have popcorn available ALL THE TIME and the pop machine is available for breakfast. I know you love your coffee but I'm a Diet Coke with a huge breakfast buffet kind of gal...
St. Louis! The zoo is the best one I’ve been to. Can’t pass up Ted Drewes frozen custard either! They have some nice outlet malls if you want to shop. The arch and a Cardinals baseball game are staples when I visit there as well.
Vegas? Find a cheap flight and good hotel deal?
Joplin, MO. We have a lovely coffee shop. Also, your ENTIRE wedding party lives here. And I guarantee none of your other friends are going to such a cool place. Granted we have no ocean and no mountains. But we do have a man made waterfall. Plus we are in the middle of no where, but half way to everywhere. So you could journey on in any direction.
I'm officially going to be all nerdy and make a spreadsheet of your suggestions! I am pretty sure we need to be able to just quit and travel full time so we can go to ALL of these. (I did not know about some of these places, so I'm excited to explore new places online.) Let the planning begin!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know you said no Michigan, but please consider the Grand Hotel at Mackinaw Island. Very special place for your fortieth. You can watch the movie "Somewhere it Time" before you go and then recreate the last scene by the tree on the island. (very romantic)
I turn 40 this year too and we plan to go to the Smokey Mountains for a week (I was going to suggest this, but I think you said you have been to TN). I agree with anonymous who said PA (sight and sound, Hershey park, lots of fun touristy places). Also I second the Holmes County, OH idea.... quaint bed and breakfasts, tons of fun shopping and delicious food!!
Kelly
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