Vacation Quandry

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

or, Help Miss Davis Get Away From It All
Sometime this year I am going on vacation if it kills me. The last time I went anywhere good for more than a weekend was 1996, when I met Keith Richards (or someone posing as him) in California for a few days. Anyway, it’s been far too long, and I’m looking for a break to plan, enjoy, and remember fondly. The only problem is, where should I go? Funds are somewhat limited, maybe $800 for a week, but I could stretch it, and I do like to travel on the cheap whenever possible anyway.

I’m leaning towards a week in DC or thereabouts, so I can go to the museums and lounge about on the Mall unencumbered by time restraints. Another fun thought is a driving tour of lighthouses of the lower Atlantic Seaboard, from Virginia down to Savannah or something. Or a camping holiday in the Sierra Nevadas.

So you see, I’m pretty undecided. I’m also open to suggestions. Any of you guys been anywhere fun lately? Or do you live someplace that would be great to visit for a week? Give me some fabulous ideas, or tell me where not to go if you had a horrible experience.

Take my advice, or I’ll spank you without pants.

2

Why not start a thread about whether you should go to Sicily or Sardinia? I can assure you that you’ll be roundly ignored!

Given the general geography you’ve hinted at, I would recommend a week in Charleston, SC. It’s a stunningly beautiful city, and not over-touristed. You can always jog down to Savannah if things get dull, but MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL ruined THAT place.

Charleston and Savannah are like the Boston and New York of the Old South…they were great economic centers, and had their economic validity crushed by the War. Charleston shares Boston’s thrown-together quality; it’s all jumbled together at the bottom of the peninsula. Savannah, like Manattan, is laid out on a grid system. Charleston is a walking town; in Savannah you’re better off on a bicycle.

3

Come to Nebraska!!

Reasons:
It’s really not that bad.
Football season is over.
Letterman home office in Wahoo.
Carhenge (self-explanatory).
See one of the first buildings Hitler wanted to have when he crushed the US (NE state capitol).
NO TOURISTS!
It’s really cheap.
Good meat.

Sweet Basil

4

Fly to Chicago and then rent a car and drive up along Lake Michigan into Michigan. I guarantee you, you’ll be amazed at how great it is. Email me if you want particulars! Happy to oblige!

Just call me the Michigan Goodwill Ambassadress! (or Ambassadpants, since I don’t have on a dress today)

5

Hey, Uke, you feelin’ OK?

Two positive things about something Southern. :eek:

You might wanna check that temperature.

However, it is accurate. I visit both places several times a year, and never get tired of them.

To respond to the OP, other places to consider: About 75 miles south of Savannah, you have St Simons and Jekyll Island. Jekyll was where a lot of “the rich” had winter homes in the early 1900s. St Simons is a little bigger, but neither is overly-developed. If you’re into biking, both have biking trails.

GA doesn’t have a whole lot in the way of beaches. Pretty much you’re limited to Tybee (Savannah), St Simons, and Jekyll. Tybee is a 20 minute drive from downtown Savannah.

Downtown Charleston, SC doesn’t have any beaches nearby, but they are similarly only a 20 minute drive or so away.

I was in Destin, FL (for the first time) over New Year’s. I liked it. It’s pretty quiet, and has some of the whitest sand you’ll ever see. Ft Walton Beach is nearby, and Panama City and Pensacola are hour-or-so road trips.

My favorite place currently (you know how things change) is Hilton Head. Although it has the (deserved) reputation of being a ritzy enclave, there are modestly-priced accomodations available. And (this is extremely important for me) LOTS of great restaurants. It helps if you’re into golfing or tennis (which I’m not), but it also is great for biking.

As for lighthouses, weeeeeell. . . .

There’s a lighthouse at St Simons. The next one up is Tybee (90 minutes to the North).

Then, there’s Hilton Head (90 minutes north of Savannah).

Hunting Island (Beaufort, SC), 90 minutes north of Hilton Head (by car).

Sullivan’s Island (Charleston), 90 minutes north of Beaufort.

I don’t know where the next one is until you get to Bald Head, NC (4 hours to the north). There might be some smaller ones, but I don’t know about them.

Oh, well, I’ve rambled enough. Have fun, whatever you decide.

6

If you’re thinking about coming up to D.C., this time of year is probably the best for it. Tourist traffic will be pretty low compared to summer vacation or spring break. And it’s a lot nicer to wander through Washington when it’s cold than during the summer when it’s 90-some degrees and so humid that you think about jumping into the pool in order to dry off.

If you do decide to come up here, do not stay at a hotel in D.C. proper. Room rates jump up a good 15-20% or more inside the city limits, and it’s not necessarily any more convenient for tourism. Instead, take a look at hotels in the suburbs- Rockville and Silver Spring, MD; Fairfax, Arlington, and Alexandria, VA, for example. Plan to take the Metro into town (and, therefore, make sure that whatever hotel you stay at is Metro-convenient). It’s easier than driving into town, and a heck of a lot less expensive (yeah, a Metro trip is $3-$4 round trip, but parking in D.C. is likely to run you $10, not including the half-hour hassle of trying to find a parking lot with space in it).

JMCJ

This is not a sig.