Help me with my vacation

[Brodirt]

The last few years we have been out of the country for vacation so we are looking to stay in the US and are looking for relatively inexpensive.

An additional option has been the in-laws who are willing to pay for the whole shebang in exchange for my chauffeur services, something that I am not at all opposed to.

The Grand Canyon/Yellowstone/Mt. Rushmore idea that I favor is out since its a bit too difficult to deal with either my older in laws or my 7 and 10 year old girls. An Alaska cruise could be the most likely.

My wife and I were leaning toward some American history concept since my older daughter just studied it this past year, but that leaves us with a car trip on the east coast and that will be a last minute fall back.

We all love San Francisco/Napa/Sonoma and would be glad to go back and I would love any place that has a cycling destination where I could take half a day and ride an epic mountain or road or view.

Anyway, your help is appreciated.

 

[DunEdinRanger]

The Maine Coast. You have historic lighthouses and famous ones, like the most photographed one at Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

Fantastic scenery. You have to make it to Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, and if your adventurous, Baxter State Park up in Millinocket. Baxter is a 200,000 acre Wilderness Preserve featuring Katahdin, the mountain of the people of Maine.

After hiking Mr. Rockefeller's trails, you need to visit Jordan's for blueberry pancakes that are worth the trip.

As for history, Baxter was donated to Maine by former Governor Percival Baxter who bought the land himself and deeded it to Maine with the provision that it be held as a Wilderness Preserve.

Need a tour giude?

 

[strat1117]

I assume you are talking about a summer vacation? I would suggest Snowbird, Utah, for a ski destination in the winter, or even Aspen/Vail, Colorado. I can't help you much with summer destinations, although I suspect that any destination ski area would be a mountain biker's paradise in the summer. Also, my experience on the east coast (primarily Vermont) has been that they are so desperate for summer visitors that they practically give away the lodging (that's why, for example, Mt. Snow Golf School was such a great bargain before it became super popular).

Good luck, and enjoy!

 

[Chicken Enchilada]

The Grand Canyon/Yellowstone/Mt. Rushmore idea that I favor is out since its a bit too difficult to deal with either my older in laws or my 7 and 10 year old girls. An Alaska cruise could be the most likely.

In the future if you ever plan on doing the national park thing I highly suggest Zion, and Bryce Canyon. They are not far from Grand Canyon, and are absolutely epic! Canyonlands, and Arches are amazing as well. Utah is always overlooked, but IMHO they have the best national parks (and skiing ).

Given your circumstances, I'd probably go the San Francisco route. We just got back from a trip there ourselves and had a good time.

 

[Sluggo]

I say make them go on a Shave-cation. You could go to NW Wisconsin to see Mama Bear and her new store, and then south to meet Sue at SCS. You could also stop at every antique store you see looking for cased razors. Fun for the whole family!!

 

[Brodirt]

I assume you are talking about a summer vacation? I would suggest Snowbird, Utah, for a ski destination in the winter, or even Aspen/Vail, Colorado. I can't help you much with summer destinations, although I suspect that any destination ski area would be a mountain biker's paradise in the summer. Also, my experience on the east coast (primarily Vermont) has been that they are so desperate for summer visitors that they practically give away the lodging (that's why, for example, Mt. Snow Golf School was such a great bargain before it became super popular).

Good luck, and enjoy!

Sorry...yes summer vacation.

 

[aodenkou]

My son and daughter in law just came back from an Alaska cruise. They liked it but they were disapointed in the quality of the food on board. My son is a bit spoiled I grew up in the food service business and have taught cooking classes my kids grew up eating a bit different from meat and potatoes.

I digress - they waited till the last minute and booked their vacation at the last minute to get the best deal. They did not care where they went but just wanted a good deal. They got their flight from TX and the week cruise for the both of them for under $1,000 which I think was a good deal.

Depending on the time of the year Orlando can be good, and there is a lot more to do than Disney. We took an airboat trip, baloon ride, and did an alagator farm - good fun and did not have to go to Disney.

But my vote goes for a Jan cruise in the Carabbian sun.

 

[Chicken Enchilada]

I would suggest Snowbird, Utah, for a ski destination in the winter,

Where else can you get off the plane and be skiing neck-deep cold smoke in 35 minutes? Best ski trip in North America.

 

[rickw]

River boat cruise on the Ohio/Mississippi. If your in-laws are 63(?) and go with you through the national parks/monuments get a Golden Eagle Pass. One small payment and good at all of the parks. Don't forget Badlands.

Last summer, I moved my wife's work residence from Pittsburgh to Salt Lake City. We did the northern route past Rushmore, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Badlands etc. Quite a ride.

If you go to Bar Harbor, don't miss the ;lobster rolls.

Alaskan Cruises are also great. I recommend September. That way, the whales are coming south through the inland passage with you.

 

[GregB]

Hey - if you end up on an alaska cruise, let me know. They often leave from seattle and I could give you a few tips!

 

[BrightFutur]

In the future if you ever plan on doing the national park thing I highly suggest Zion, and Bryce Canyon. They are not far from Grand Canyon, and are absolutely epic! Canyonlands, and Arches are amazing as well. Utah is always overlooked, but IMHO they have the best national parks (and skiing ).

Given your circumstances, I'd probably go the San Francisco route. We just got back from a trip there ourselves and had a good time.

+1 On southern Utah's national parks. If the government would let me, I would live in a little tent in the middle of Arches for the rest of my life. Canyonlands is often overlooked but probably my favourite. Zion is beautiful as well. Mesa Verde in Colorado is also awesome.

But I would say that it is only worth it if everyone is physically able to go hiking all day. Not a problem for younger children at all, but I know my parents found themselves pretty exhausted when I took them to Canyonlands.

 

[gregorykicks]

I went on an Alaskan cruise about 5 years ago, and it was amazing! The scenery it awesome, and there are some cool things to do. I went on a glacier hike in Juneau and it was the coolest thing I've ever done in my life. Took a helicopter ride, landed on the glacier and basically mountain climbed on this glacier... it was sooo cool.

 

[Wendy]

My son and daughter in law just came back from an Alaska cruise. They liked it but they were disapointed in the quality of the food on board.
Very dear friends of our family had the same experience on their Alaskan cruise a few months ago as well. Besides the extremely high cost of the trip the food was poor quality.

 

[blackfoot]

St. Augustine, Florida. I have been there a couple of times on family vacations when I was a kid and once with my wife. It is a beautiful town. It is the oldest city in in the United States. It has a nice French Quarter, beaches, Castillo De San Marcus, etc. It is awesome. There is one restaurant I remember that is out over the water with little port-type things you can open up and drop food out of to feed the fish and birds below. Just a suggestion.

 

[FreezerBurns]

Astoria Oregon, mouth of the Columbia River: History- Fort Clatsop/Lewis and Clark, Fort Stevens/Battery Russel, the wreck of the Peter Iredale, beach, short drive to mountains (Mt. Hood, St. Helens).

 

[Mrs. Chip]

Maui would work. We went last summer and are still talking about it! We are thinking about when to go again.