I Need a Vacation Suggestion!

[CyberJCM]

My wife tells me this morning that she needs a getaway. Shes truly been working her butt off at work. Her hospital took on the task of creating and implementing an Electronic Medical Records system and she was part of the team responsible for building the software and teaching everyone to use it. Being the OB nurse on the team, she took care of all the needs of her specific dept. They "Go Live" as they say this week and as soon as that's over, she wants a break. Well I want to give it to her!

Problem is.... I'm stumped where to go!

Her stipulations were:

• Someplace new (which rules out San Fran, Vegas, San Diego, DC for us)
• Not too expensive (this typically means $500-$1000max for us)
• NO CRUISES (she wasn't big on the idea before that Carnival SNAFU in the Gulf. Now...)
• Travel in May/June
• Easy on the driving(she has to do the driving, I can't)
• Not International this time(just not feasible. This rules out Mexico, no thank you anyway!)

I can think of names of many places but I can't be spending hours of time online trying to figure out whats worth doing or seeing. This is where you fellas come in! Can anyone suggest a nice getaway that can fit within the above for us? Please "sell it to me", meaning tell me all about whats worth going there for. If it helps to know, we live in and would be coming from Southern CA.

I can't wait to read what you guys suggest! I want to give her the break she deserves, and would love to discover new places we may enjoy visiting!

Thanks!

 

[xraygun]

My thought is that is a good time of year to visit a non-coastal or central US area.
Laguna and Newport are lousy in May and June for instance. Seattle is raining then, is best late July-October.
Someplace that has a nice Spring feel to it that may be too hot to go to in Summer.
Perhaps an Arizona destination?
Maybe some locals from Colorado or Wyoming could chime in here with what those lovely states are like that time of year.

 

[smalltank]

South America and the Carribean....

 

[DC_MPA]

You live in California - I'd head north to Oregon or Washington.

 

[CyberJCM]

My thought is that is a good time of year to visit a non-coastal or central US area.
Laguna and Newport are lousy in May and June for instance. Seattle is raining then, is best late July-October.
Someplace that has a nice Spring feel to it that may be too hot to go to in Summer.
Perhaps an Arizona destination?
Maybe some locals from Colorado or Wyoming could chime in here with what those lovely states are like that time of year.

That could be onto something Ray... Love the mountains. Should be warming up right?

You live in California - I'd head north to Oregon or Washington.

Considered that route, what's up that way worth doing?

 

[xraygun]

Coastal and Puget Sound Washington areas will undoubtedly be rainy (I live there). I *think* Oregon is the same. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
I think May is probably too cold for actual mountains. Maybe June.
A place like Scottsdale which is super hot in Summer might be nice to visit in May/June.

 

[Saxman11290]

I haven't been there, but I considered a trip to one of my favorite wine regions, the "Columbia Valley" over in Washington. I bet if you look around, you could find a nice bed and breakfast deal that offers tours of some vineyards and the like. Go rent some bicycles and have a picnic. That's what I would do if I was already located in California and wanted to get away / relax a bit.

 

[tnevy4]

montana is nice

 

[Mick]

Head out of L.A on US 1.

some of the nicer places (if you want to do tourist stuff). Solvang (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solvang,_California) and the Anderson Pea Soup in Buellton (http://www.peasoupandersens.net/). San Simeon (http://hearstcastle.org/). Castroville: May is the artichoke festival (http://www.artichoke-festival.org/).

If you make it to S.F. Continue on US 1

Point Reyes north of S.F. (http://www.artichoke-festival.org/). Ft. Bragg / Willits you can take the Skunk train (http://www.skunktrain.com/)

when you get to Eureka, turn around and head back down US 1

this should keep you busy for the next couple of years

 

[DC_MPA]

Not sure what's north in Oregon or Washington but I've heard by so many how breathtaking it is up there.

 

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Head to San Antonio - Alamo, river walk, food and not hot yet.

 

[CyberJCM]

Does anyone know anything about Idaho? The wife mentioned how nice it looks this afternoon.

 

[cb91710]

Carlsbad Caverns, you can't drive I'm assuming disability, and most of the main room trail is ADA/wheelchair-friendly. One loop at the back end is not accessible, and there is a bypass for it.
Inexpensive and something everyone should see.
June, you can return at dusk and watch the bats leave to find for food.

Zion, Bryce... they are also beautiful, but Zion is not so ADA friendly, and the two parks are a fair distance from each other (1/2 day or so).

$500-$1000 is going to be a bit tough though, with lodging and sit-down meals pushing close to $100/day.

 

[cb91710]

Does anyone know anything about Idaho? The wife mentioned how nice it looks this afternoon.

Craters of the Moon... but if you're going that far, just keep going and see Yellowstone. Should be able to find affordable lodging in Jackson Hole. Nothing inexpensive in the park.

 

[bodistaffa]

Napa! Is great this time of year

 

[DonN]

well Cyber , from your introductory post I'm thinking relaxation rather than "things to do" would be appropriate - and being on the East coast my knowledge base and recommendations are out here - I have 2 that quickly come to mind , both requiring a flight & rental car - the first is Cape Cod flying into Boston , very laid back and relaxing in May , gets busy June-August , vrbo works well - the other is Fripp Island , South Carolina , condo rentals via the Fripp resort or through independent owners registered with vrbo also - gated island right on the ocean - long walks along the beach , 2 golf courses , biking , close to Beaufort and great restaurants - these could also be options for a future trip if the distance is too far at this time - you also mentioned electronic medical records - my previous doctor's medical group went this route a little over a year ago - great idea - very now - but I found that a critical component of this system was the timeliness and accuracy of the medical information that was input still manually by people , i.e. APRNs , technicians, nurses, etc. - very important component but IMO the weak link in the process.

 

[rearviewmirror]

John, as a member of many of these project teams, I had to laugh at your wifes thought that she'll be free to leave a week after the system goes live! That's when the work really starts!

 

[CyberJCM]

Carlsbad Caverns, you can't drive I'm assuming disability, and most of the main room trail is ADA/wheelchair-friendly. One loop at the back end is not accessible, and there is a bypass for it.
Inexpensive and something everyone should see.
June, you can return at dusk and watch the bats leave to find for food.

Zion, Bryce... they are also beautiful, but Zion is not so ADA friendly, and the two parks are a fair distance from each other (1/2 day or so).

$500-$1000 is going to be a bit tough though, with lodging and sit-down meals pushing close to $100/day.

Thank you Rich! I appreciate the thoughtful suggestions! You are correct about a disability, but its visual. The eyes arent good enough to drive. Love the outdoors and natural wonders, so I'll do a bit more looking into this!

well Cyber , from your introductory post I'm thinking relaxation rather than "things to do" would be appropriate - and being on the East coast my knowledge base and recommendations are out here - I have 2 that quickly come to mind , both requiring a flight & rental car - the first is Cape Cod flying into Boston , very laid back and relaxing in May , gets busy June-August , vrbo works well - the other is Fripp Island , South Carolina , condo rentals via the Fripp resort or through independent owners registered with vrbo also - gated island right on the ocean - long walks along the beach , 2 golf courses , biking , close to Beaufort and great restaurants - these could also be options for a future trip if the distance is too far at this time - you also mentioned electronic medical records - my previous doctor's medical group went this route a little over a year ago - great idea - very now - but I found that a critical component of this system was the timeliness and accuracy of the medical information that was input still manually by people , i.e. APRNs , technicians, nurses, etc. - very important component but much more prone to error than electronic circuitry .

You got it Don, relaxation! Southwest does have a "reasonable" flight out to Boston, but it's starting to look like flying anywhere out of state or further than right next door is going to be too costly. But we'd love to see that area sometime in the future! I know exactly what you mean about the human error factor in the EMR shes doing. I hear all about this stuff everyday, I feel like I'm on the project too! LOL But yea, her hospital has resisted the EMR thing for a long time, and they are definitely going to have growing pains. Apparently its been tough training alot of the people to change. But its potential is pretty neat. I saw its potential at the hospital my grandpa was in recently with the rolling computers and instant access to all the patients info. Pretty cool!

John, as a member of many of these project teams, I had to laugh at your wifes thought that she'll be free to leave a week after the system goes live! That's when the work really starts!

LOL Jason! They are going live like...right now! I talked to her this morning and she's in The Command Center. Sounds all important and badass lol. She doesn't have any false hopes of getting out of this anytime soon, in fact she doesn't know when she can go back to being an RN again. The hope for a little getaway is for a month or two from now, not next week!

 

[CyberJCM]

Head out of L.A on US 1.

some of the nicer places (if you want to do tourist stuff). Solvang (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solvang,_California) and the Anderson Pea Soup in Buellton (http://www.peasoupandersens.net/). San Simeon (http://hearstcastle.org/). Castroville: May is the artichoke festival (http://www.artichoke-festival.org/).

If you make it to S.F. Continue on US 1

Point Reyes north of S.F. (http://www.artichoke-festival.org/). Ft. Bragg / Willits you can take the Skunk train (http://www.skunktrain.com/)

when you get to Eureka, turn around and head back down US 1

this should keep you busy for the next couple of years

Turtle, I'n familiar with all of that central coast area, and its one of my favorite places. I havent been North of SF though...someday! I'm thinking if I can talk her into doing just what you are suggesting, maybe only going as far up as Morro Bay, I think we can have a great time. I'm going to look into the Solvang area today, see if there are any festivals going on. I remember as a kid, one of those towns in that area has a Strawberry Festival or something. We shall see! Thanks for the great reminder

Napa! Is great this time of year

Napa was actually the first place I looked. It may actually be feasible. I was hoping for an easy planning trip though, and it looks to me anyway that trying to figure out what to see, taste and eat up there can be tough. Do you have any suggestions to narrow it down for me?

 

[ackvil]

Napa! Is great this time of year

+1. The wine country is beautiful and fun. And if you get out there two special places to visit: the Sterling Vineyards in Napa and the Ledson Winery in Kenwood CA.