Domestic Crisis - need family vacation ideas...

GaryE · Dec 16, 2005

Hazmat,

I have been fortunate enough to have been to almost every location mentioned on this thread either for business or vacation and many more. But I have to tell you the most enjoyable place I have EVER been has to be Glacier National Park. One of the most spectacular places I have ever been.

You can either ruff it in a tent or stay in one of their many lodges. If you have the time, you could fly into the Yellowstone area. Spend a day there and drive to Glacier. It is a days drive, but one worth taking. You can spend a week between Glacier and the Canadian counter part and never see it all.

If I had only one last vacation left, this would be my choice! Biased, I sure am! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Hope you enjoy whatever your choice.

Gary

EddieWalker · Dec 16, 2005

Since you mentioned the midwest, I recomend the Black Hills of South Dakota. It's truly an amazing part of the country unlike any other area that I've been to.

Kind of a combination of everything the Rockies have to offer all in one area. Spring time would be amazing, but my favorite time is fall, September and October.

Mr. Rushmore is unblievable!! Much more impressive in person. Custer State Park is full of animals that you'll see just driving through. Pronghorn, Bison, Elk and Deer are very common. Bighorn Sheep and Mt. Goats are also there.

Wind Cave State Park also has the animals, but the cave is worth seeing to. There's another cave close by that I haven't been in, but will on my next trip.

Deadwood is an old west town famous for Custer's last stay before going to the Little Bighorn allong with all sorts of history. Kevin Costner owns one of the hotels there too. Sturgis is close by, but be sure to check when the big Harley Davidson Ralley is, just in case that's not your thing.

There's a really nice drive through zoo near Deadwood that I really enjoyed.

Devils Tower is just across the border in Wyoming. It's famous from the movie Close Encounters of a Third Kind. It's also the first National Monument ever enacted.

On the other side of Wyomoing is Yellowstone. It's nice, but beside Old Faithful, the Waterfalls and Mammoth hot springs, there's not much there that the Black Hills doesn't have.

On the way to Yellowstone in Cody, is the Buffalo Bill Museum. I believe they have the larges firearm collection in the world. It's just a really great museum.

If your interested in this area, look up the state of South Dakota and order there tourist booklet. It's very imformative with loads of ideas and attractions. You can also look up just about every state and order their tourist booklets. Lots of good ideas in each one I've ever ordered.

Eddie

Bird · Dec 17, 2005

( I have been fortunate enough to have been to almost every location mentioned on this thread )

Me, too, Gary. But I was only in Glacier National Park one day and didn't get to see much because the fog was so thick I could barely tell where the road was. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Sigarms · Dec 17, 2005

Only advice is to keep it simple.

More people, more chances that some won't be happy with what will be planned.

In your shoes, I'd probably pick a city that you guys haven't been to and go exploring.

San Francisco, Charleston, Savanah, Dallas, Santa Fea (sp?) Torronto. Vancuver all come to mind.

If you look at National Parks, GO EARLY and know the weather conditions.

Try to come back a day early so you all can "decompress" so to speak after what might be a hectic time.

Have fun together.

Egon · Dec 17, 2005

Why not try Nova Scotia.

Think of taking the Alaska Marine Highway.

Private Chalet near Stowe

Zermatt

Vienna

Egon

NSBound · Dec 17, 2005

( Why not try Nova Scotia. )

 

Hazmat, Egon & I may be somehwat biased, but Nova Scotia is beautiful in the spring and summer. The Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island is one of the world's top drives, with beautiful scenery and resorts. It takes a couple or 3 days, depending on how many times you stop and if you want to see Fortress Louisburg, a fully restored 1800's fort that changed hands many times between the British and the French. And then you could head for Digby on the Bay of Fundy Shore, and go whale-watching. The Bay of Fundy gets lots of big whales as it's a natural feeding area for them. Prince Edward Island is also beautiful. You take the 9-mile bridge to the Island, (or a ferry) and can see beautiful sand beaches, the home of Anne of Green Gables (great for the kids) and some terrific golfing too, if you are so inclined.

GaryE · Dec 17, 2005

the fog was so thick I could barely tell where the road was. 

Bird,

You need to go back again…. “The going to the Sun Road” which runs through the park has got to be one of the most spectacular drives in the country. If you ever get the chance, do a second take.

Gary

Alan L. · Dec 18, 2005

Unless you are into night life and malls, Dallas wouldn't be much of a vacation. I spend every day looking forward to getting out of there, what with the terrible traffic.

Eddie described a trip that included the black hills, devils tower and Yellowstone. We have done that, all in one vacation back in the early 90s. It was all very nice but Yellowstone was by far the highlight of that vacation.

It all depends on what you like to do, or if relaxation is part of the deal. A vacation to me is going to the mountains of Colorado or New Mexico and just enjoying the weather and scenery, and not doing much at all. Except in the winter time we do ski a couple of days and relax the rest of the time.

Sigarms · Dec 18, 2005

Only spent three days there for a wedding, but loved it for the short time /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Came up to where JFK was assisanated (sp?) and was "amazed" at what a "short shot" Osweld (sp?) really took. After seeing all those movies about the location, was somthing else to actaully be there.

Interesting history and Market street was fun in the evenings.

That to me is the difference between being a "tourist" and actually living there.

When you visit a location, it's usually for the first time, new experiences, and your on vacation. But...when you have to live there, all those things that you first found amazing can start to be taken for granted and you have the "daily grinds of life" to deal with that can take away from your experiences when your on vacation.

Now, that being said, if you love outdoor activities, there is somthing great living in an outdoors state such as Colorado, Utah, Idaho, W.V or Vermont /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif You can explore so much and know the area so intimate, plus you usually know when the tourist show up and can avoid them /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bird · Dec 18, 2005

Alan, you and Sigarms are both right. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Like you, I can't imagine Dallas as being a "vacation" spot, but apparently it is for many. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif