Ottakee Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Dh and I were talking tonight about where we might want to go on a trip just the 2 of us. Ireland was top of the list but airfare makes that not very likely. Las Vegas also came up. We are in West Michigan and I can get free plane tickets to many places with my credit card air miles. The thing is, we are not fancy, get dressed up and party people. We don't drink or gamble. Would Las Vegas appeal at all to us? Any other great ideas for areas that are cost reasonable, have great nature areas, easy to navigate and generally safe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 The thing is, we are not fancy, get dressed up and party people. We don't drink or gamble. Would Las Vegas appeal at all to us? Um...is there anything else to do in Las Vegas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalmia Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Red Rock Canyon and The Valley of Fire are very close to Las Vegas. http://www.vegas.com/traveltips/top-10-las-vegas-recreation-spots/ 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 I love Vegas, but I drink, gamble, and like to sit by the pool and people watch. while drinking. If that isn't your speed, then no. Don't do Vegas. How about a dude ranch type thing? Or you could come down to Florida, maybe? St. Augustine, or if you like looking for shells there are beaches on the west coast for that. Or maybe Charleston? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesertBlossom Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 I have no desire to go to Vegas because I don't enjoy that either. I'd rather find a Bed and Breakfast close to a National Park or some other scenic area instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 I've been to Las Vegas a few times. I despise the place. Hoover Dam was interesting, I can say that. The pool at the hotel was nice but I am not much of a pool person. Cheap food and drinks are nice but not enough reason for me to go back there. For reference, I've also been on one cruise and I mostly despised that too. For some reason I feel compelled to suggest the San Francisco area to you. I don't know how safe it is anymore. Reasonable cost? Probably not compared to Vegas. But it is close to a lot of natural beauty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nan in Mass Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Yes. What you do is rent a car at the airport and drive straight to Zion or one of the other national parks to go hiking and not go back until you have to check in for your flight home. Las Vegas is a great destination if you do this, especially from someplace up north. : ) Nan 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 I love Las Vegas and don't drink or gamble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HS Mom in NC Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 I had to go to Vegas every year for my teen daughter's archery competitions. I don't drink or gamble and I hate the smell of cigarette smoke which looms in every building in the city. Some people, like my brother and SIL, go to Vegas for the shows, aquarium, rides and themed restaurants. They only stay a few days at a time. Be aware that on weekends, when walking down the strip, you'll be handed fliers advertising the other things people go there for. Most people drop those fliers on the ground, so you'll see plenty of images some people have objections to looking at. We couldn't take the archery team of teenagers to the front entrances of the restaurants and malls on weekends because of it, so we had to sent a parent to find a way into those restaurants and malls through the parking garages. It was a hassle, but as long as we avoided the strip entrances, it was fine. The hotel we stayed at was basically a city so they could compete, bowl, choose from several restaurants, see the trade show, go to the movie theater and swim inside the hotel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbgrace Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 I don't think you'd enjoy Vegas so much. But Hoover Dam is within a close drive. There are Nat Parks with longer drives. Sedona is one of my favorite vacations--just beautiful hiking/scenery. It would quite a bit further, but you could drive there. Though it would be a long day. Comparable to driving to the canyon I imagine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah CB Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Be aware that on weekends, when walking down the strip, you'll be handed fliers advertising the other things people go there for. Most people drop those fliers on the ground, so you'll see plenty of images some people have objections to looking at. We stayed at Circus Circus one night in the RV with the kids on our way back from Arizona. We thought it would be fun to take the kids to Caesar's Palace for the buffet. The walk from CC to CP with three boys (I think they would have been 13, 11, and 7) was horrible. One of my boys said, "My eyes are burning!" One questioned why a parent would ever take their child to the strip. One couldn't figure out where to look - he saw a truck go past with a big billboard, so he looked to the side where he saw a row of magazine boxes with racy images, so then he looked down where he saw the cards. My middle boy said he was going to tell all his friends never to go to Las Vegas. We don't tend to be ultra-conservative, but this was sensory overload for the boys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted November 1, 2015 Author Share Posted November 1, 2015 Sounds like we might need somewhere else. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Dh and I were talking tonight about where we might want to go on a trip just the 2 of us. Ireland was top of the list but airfare makes that not very likely. Las Vegas also came up. We are in West Michigan and I can get free plane tickets to many places with my credit card air miles. The thing is, we are not fancy, get dressed up and party people. We don't drink or gamble. Would Las Vegas appeal at all to us? Any other great ideas for areas that are cost reasonable, have great nature areas, easy to navigate and generally safe? Vegas does not meet your criteria. We hate Vegas. I used to go there at least once a year when we lived in LA. Our work conferences would be held there some and then DH's family would come in Feb. to get away from their winters. We would drive out and meet them. We don't drink and hate gambling. I used to find it depressing to see people drinking and smoking and gambling at 9am. Yuck. We would not go there by our own choice. By the way, for conferences we stayed at the strip usually, paid for by our employers. Otherwise, we chose a Marriott off the strip that had a pool. DH would take the kids golfing, we would all go swimming, and we would tour the hotel lobbies. That was about it for fun in Vegas. We did circus circus once and I left with the worst headache I think I have ever had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hikin' Mama Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Yes. What you do is rent a car at the airport and drive straight to Zion or one of the other national parks to go hiking and not go back until you have to check in for your flight home. Las Vegas is a great destination if you do this, especially from someplace up north. : ) Nan This is what I would do if I had to fly to Vegas. I've only driven through, but it is absolutely not my cup of tea. I don't mind drinking, I don't like that kind of gambling (I like to bet at the live horse races in the "big city" about 120 miles down the freeway. And I'm a big spender with my $2 bets. Ha ha!), and I don't like crowds. Every time I've driven through there are about a kajillion people milling about. Is Portland, OR on your list? Fly there and drive to Seaside, OR on the coast. So very beautiful! There are many things to see and do in the area and if you don't go at a peak time, prices on lodging are pretty good. No matter where you choose, I hope you and your hubby have a great trip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 I tagged along with DH to Vegas about 5 years ago when he went for a trade show. I don't drink or gamble. And I will admit to being a straight-laced prude. So you can take my evalutIon from that perspective. I did go out a couple times by myself and explore a bit but spent the majority of the time in the comfy chair in our room watching tv,which was great for me. Some of the Casinos were pretty "wow" just to look at and enjoy . The Venetian was cool, as were some of the others. However, the pervading culture of the city is drinking, gambling and "other things". We stayed at the Hilton. The hotel across the street had an enormous marquee advertising "tople$$ girls" so we got to see that every time we left the hotel. When I went out walking there was always some shady looking character handing out flyers to various "str/p shows" and such. We were having ice cream in the ice cream shop in our hotel one night and kept seeing "working girls" pass by. So that was my impression of Vegas. However, that was just the Strip. Perhaps there are other things to see and do to keep you occupied. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiguirre Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Las Vegas is a convenient place to fly into to drive to several national parks. Other than that, hell on earth is not a hyperbole. It's so hard to walk along the Strip because of the hoards of people and it's hard to drive because of the gridlocked traffic. The casinos all have malls attached to them, so you've got miles and miles of malls one after the other. It's not pleasant for strolling or window shopping at all. The shows are very expensive compared to what they cost when they tour to large cities. Cirque de Soleil, rat pack imitators, Blue Man all cost twice as much as they do in Houston. There are some great restaurants but they're pricy. If you want to stick to a more modest budget, it's the same old chains as everywhere else. I'd use my miles for just about any other city before I'd go back to Las Vegas. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 I've been to Las Vegas once. It was during the city's attempt to re-brand itself as a family-friendly destination. I really expected to enjoy it, even though I don't drink, smoke or gamble beyond losing a roll of nickels in a slot machine now and then. When we lived in New Jersey, we used to go to Atlantic City every year or so, and I always had a good time. I figured Las Vegas would be the same, but bigger and cooler. However, I hated it, and I have no plans to return. I just found it depressing. And hot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Dh and I were talking tonight about where we might want to go on a trip just the 2 of us. Ireland was top of the list but airfare makes that not very likely. Las Vegas also came up. We are in West Michigan and I can get free plane tickets to many places with my credit card air miles. The thing is, we are not fancy, get dressed up and party people. We don't drink or gamble. Would Las Vegas appeal at all to us? Any other great ideas for areas that are cost reasonable, have great nature areas, easy to navigate and generally safe? Probably not. Vegas is sensory overload. It's seedy and loud and gross. We went to see Garth Brooks, and that was totally worth it, but there is nothing about that city that I inherently enjoy. What about San Francisco? It's gorgeous and there is so much to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Went to Vegas last year. We hated it. This was our experience: It is CROWDED. I mean, just constant, non-stop crowded. The pool was packed with people, the sidewalks were packed with people. It gets overwhelming. Food is no longer cheap. At all. It used to be, but now it's astronomically priced. I mean, gasp-in-disbelief-not-cheap. We ended up eating at McDonalds for lunch and heading a bit away from the strip to CiCi's pizza for dinner because we simply couldn't afford anything else. (Maybe someone else had better luck, but we didn't.) The smoke. Oh, the smoke! We stayed at Caesar's Palace. I'd been told that kids can't go in the casinos. That's not true. There is no door leading to the casino. The hotel IS the casino and there is smoke everywhere. My DH and DS12 hacked up their lungs for a week. It was just terrible. They hacked and hacked and hacked. There was no where to go to get away from it. We all slept badly--them from hacking, me and DS10 from hearing them hack. People told us that the hotels were beautiful and told us we'd be impressed. But the problem is that we go to a lot of museums. We go to our state's capitol building, which is the 3rd most beautiful in the nation and is literally dripping with gold leaf. We've seen real antiquities by some of the greatest artists the world has ever produced and architecture that has endured. The hotels reminded me of visiting a themed mall. They were clean, sure, and had their little theme, but we were spoiled on real art and real architecture and it was a major let down for us. Perhaps if people hadn't gone on and on about the décor we wouldn't have been so disappointed. But it's like comparing Disney Land to your local fireman's carnival. We went thinking we were going to see Disney Land and it was just the carnival. I made the mistake of wearing new shoes. Turns out that my new shoes had a thinner sole that I'd expected. My feet were in a great deal of pain from all the walking. The way the hotel was laid out, if you needed to get to your car, you had to walk through the hotel part of the hotel AND the casino and all of it is huge. Each time I had to go to the car, it was the equivalent of walking from one end of the mall to another. It was soooo irritating when you realized, "Oh, I left my whatever in the car..." and it would take you 20 minutes to get to the car and back to retrieve it. And everything else was expensive. I had the notion we'd go to see a show, but when I looked at prices for the 4 of us it would have been hundreds of dollars. Perhaps if a person is prepared for the expense, it's ok, but I was naive. And I'm of the camp that if I'm going to spend hundreds on something, it'll be something more than just a show. Shows aren't that important to me. Now...we went to Hoover dam, because it's about 20 minutes from Vegas and we all loved it. It was real, it was history, it wasn't painted with fake gold paint. The boys just adored it. We visited the scenery nearby. And later on the trip, we went into Arizona and saw the Grand Canyon and Pueblo ruins. We loved those things, just loved them. With all that said! If you love crowds and gambling and smoking and the nightlife, you'll love Vegas. If you're bookish and love history and reading and nature and saving money, you won't. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storygirl Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 So, why were you thinking about Vegas? If you were thinking about going to the shows, you could try Branson, MO. I have not been there, but family members have, and they have enjoyed it. Or maybe Gatlinburg, TN, or that area? You'd get a good combo of nature and theater opportunities there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Add us to those who really dislike Vegas. We went on one of our western trips because so many people told us we just had to see it... that we'd love the lights, etc. We came to Vegas from Death Valley and proceeded on to the Grand Canyon. All 5 of us wish we had spent more time at Death Valley instead (only spent one night there and loved it). The only thing we liked about Vegas was seeing Bellagio's fountains, and honestly? We could have lived our lives just fine without seeing that in person. We're not anti gambling or drinking. Vegas just wasn't "us." No casino is to be honest, but then add crowds, people pushing the n_ked ladies, high costs, pickpockets, smoke, etc, and it was just "yuck." Places we loved "sort of" in the area include Bryce, Zion, the Grand Canyon, Chaco, Mesa Verde, Hoover Dam, Death Valley, Sequoia NP, etc. We missed Red Rocks. If we're in the area again, that's a must hit for us. What time of year are you looking to travel? That makes a huge difference for my recommendations. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 We go to our state's capitol building, which is the 3rd most beautiful in the nation and is literally dripping with gold leaf. OK, you can't just drop a snippet like that on the WTM boards without providing a reference to such a list. Inquiring minds want to know! (And incorporate into curriculum!) As for the OP, if you tell us what you DO like to do, I bet you'll get a lot of good recommendations in this thread for a perfect-for-you vacation, not just a merely OK one. Also, rough idea of budget, when you want to go, and how long would be helpful. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SemiSweet Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 DH and I went for our first vacation together, we both drink and he gambles and it was fun to see everything, I'm pretty sure we can have fun anywhere, but the only way I'd ever go back is if someone else was footing the bill. I actually had a dream that we were planning our next vacation and he wanted to do Vegas again and I was so mad at dream him, but real,him took me to Italy instead, so it worked out fine. :) We like going out for fancy meals, so if you like getting dressed up and wasting hundreds on meals, there is plenty of that to do there too. Honestly, I probably wouldn't even go back if someone else paid haha. One time was good forever. I completely agree with the suggestions of San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle though, there are some incredible things to see and do there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HS Mom in NC Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Once at an archery competition in Vegas we struck up a conversation with a bare bow archer because that was an interest my daughter had then. When I asked if he'd been there before he said he lived in Vegas in the 1970s. He was a paramedic who did rescue for all kinds of situations including out in remote mountainous and desert areas. He said Vegas was better back in the 70s when it was run by the mob. According to him you could walk with kids down the strip and no one would hand out the kinds of things they do today. No one was propositioned for "services" in public. All of that was going on just as much as today, but it was behind closed doors. Huh. Go figure. The down side was that he recovered bodies in the desert that were obviously mob hits execution style. So...ya know...pros and cons and all that. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 OK, you can't just drop a snippet like that on the WTM boards without providing a reference to such a list. Inquiring minds want to know! (And incorporate into curriculum!) As for the OP, if you tell us what you DO like to do, I bet you'll get a lot of good recommendations in this thread for a perfect-for-you vacation, not just a merely OK one. Also, rough idea of budget, when you want to go, and how long would be helpful. You know what? I can't find a list that has the building on it. Hmmmm... I was just going by what the tour guide said. Maybe that tour guide was making things up!! But it is a gorgeous building, nonetheless. Everywhere you look you see gold. It's not gold paint. It's actually gold. They don't mind if people wander all around the building. The first time we went there, we wandered for a couple of hours looking at all the nooks and crannies (and there were lots of them.) It honestly felt like exploring Hogwarts to us. We had a blast. Pennsylvania capitol. I googled images for it, but the pictures just don't do it justice. At all. OP: I agree with the others: what do you want from a vacation? Price? Length? I'll bet we could come up with the Best Vacation Ever for you! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 As the sole poster who actually enjoys Vegas, i agree with everything everyone has said. I love to people watch, and it was almost like an antrhopological excursion, lol. But I'd kind of forgotten about the smoke. That was gross. And yes, food was expensive. We ate at Denny's a lot. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK_Mom4 Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 I just spent a week at the MGM Grand for a business conference. I don't smoke drink or gamble., but it was a great conference. We ate at some really good restaurants that were reasonably priced (compared to home). Pool was closed while I was there, but if it was open I think I could have spent days just hanging by the pool. I left the hotel only once for a drive to see the desert and driving by the hotels on the strip from an air conditioned car is definitely the way to see them. I would not go there on a vacation, but it was a nice place for a conference. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 You know what? I can't find a list that has the building on it. Hmmmm... I was just going by what the tour guide said. Maybe that tour guide was making things up!! But it is a gorgeous building, nonetheless. Everywhere you look you see gold. It's not gold paint. It's actually gold. They don't mind if people wander all around the building. The first time we went there, we wandered for a couple of hours looking at all the nooks and crannies (and there were lots of them.) It honestly felt like exploring Hogwarts to us. We had a blast. Pennsylvania capitol. I googled images for it, but the pictures just don't do it justice. At all. OP: I agree with the others: what do you want from a vacation? Price? Length? I'll bet we could come up with the Best Vacation Ever for you! The Wisconsin capitol building is like that- on Saturday mornings it's crowded with people wandering around, lying on the floor to look up at the dome and the beautiful statues. There's a gorgeous view from the top and you can go outside up there. Multiple levels, ornate bathrooms, beautiful stuff! And they give tours even on weekends. No lines or cost to get in, no metal detectors or signs not to bring in food. It's just beautiful. I've been there many times and I don't even live in Wisconsin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 I just spent a week at the MGM Grand for a business conference. I don't smoke drink or gamble., but it was a great conference. We ate at some really good restaurants that were reasonably priced (compared to home). Pool was closed while I was there, but if it was open I think I could have spent days just hanging by the pool. I left the hotel only once for a drive to see the desert and driving by the hotels on the strip from an air conditioned car is definitely the way to see them. I would not go there on a vacation, but it was a nice place for a conference. You know what? I think you're right that it's a great place for a conference. If the company is paying and you have just a little bit of time to hit a highlight or two, it would be great. When I visited last year, we were only there because my DH had a conference for work there. We tagged along for the 4 days of the conference, and then headed to Arizona for our real vacation with family. DH didn't hate Vegas as much as the kids and I did. I think it's because he was there for work and he got a stipend for a great lunch and most of his time wasn't spent jostling with the crowds. The hacking cough wasn't fun, but otherwise, he didn't hate it as much as the boys and I did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busymama7 Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 I live in Vegas and I say no way. Go somewhere with beauty or history. New york city? DC? Anywhere but Vegas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 I'm not the OP but I appreciate all the replies. We have a regional airport near us and the flights to Vegas are dirt cheap and I've often thought dh and I should go...but we don't drink, gamble, smoke, or visit topless bars.g I've been thinking we can just rent a car and see the Hoover Dam, drive to the Grand Canyon, etc., but you guys are making me realize that the cheap flight is not helping all that much...we still need a rental car, a place to stay that's not too tacky, and a plan to stay out of Vegas and visit other places....so maybe we just need to go somewhere else. It finally dawned on me that we'd be flying to Vegas but then spending all our time not in Vegas. Thanks, guys. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 It finally dawned on me that we'd be flying to Vegas but then spending all our time not in Vegas. Vegas can still be a very convenient, inexpensive airport for exploring that part of the country. There's no law that says you have to go to the strip. ;) It's kinda like everyone flying to Orlando, FL isn't necessarily going to Disney World. They're just taking advantage of the cheap flights. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 Vegas can still be a very convenient, inexpensive airport for exploring that part of the country. There's no law that says you have to go to the strip. ;) It's kinda like everyone flying to Orlando, FL isn't necessarily going to Disney World. They're just taking advantage of the cheap flights. But if we fly in and rent a car and have to drive everywhere, is everything far away? As in have to sleep in a different place every night? We'd love to do just a three or four day getaway - is there enough nearby to make it possible? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted November 2, 2015 Author Share Posted November 2, 2015 But if we fly in and rent a car and have to drive everywhere, is everything far away? As in have to sleep in a different place every night? We'd love to do just a three or four day getaway - is there enough nearby to make it possible? I would like to know too. Then again, I think our airline miles would get us to Seattle or maybe San Francisco. Which is a better option on a budget? We like state/national/local parks, people watching, beaches (not sunbathing but walking, just sitting and relaxing), good local food----more the local type, not fancy type meals. If I could wear my jeans and a hoodie the entire time i would be happy :-) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 I would like to know too. Then again, I think our airline miles would get us to Seattle or maybe San Francisco. Which is a better option on a budget? We like state/national/local parks, people watching, beaches (not sunbathing but walking, just sitting and relaxing), good local food----more the local type, not fancy type meals. If I could wear my jeans and a hoodie the entire time i would be happy :-) Your idea of a good vacation matches mine almost exactly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 I would like to know too. Then again, I think our airline miles would get us to Seattle or maybe San Francisco. As far as free trips from frequent flier miles go, don't all domestic flights cost the same? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 Just remembered, one of my dream vacations is to go to the mountains in Tennessee and stay in a mountain cabin. They have amazing ones there for great prices...some have hot tubs, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 For a weekend, it would be fine if seeing skin doesn't upset you. I mean, airfare is cheap, it's WARM, you can eat, watch a show, and walk around looking at free stuff like the weird hotels and the fountain show thing. The strip isn't long, so you don't need a car. We went for a wedding once. We rented a car and it was overkill even with a kid in a wheelchair. Walking would've been fine once we got to our hotel. Nobody will remotely care about what you're wearing. I can see it getting old quickly or not wanting to take your kids, but for a one-shot couples weekend I'm sure you can keep busy. You don't have to look too hard to find decent food. The M&M store amused me for a good half hour. I'd guess the hotels are cheaper than D.C. and the shows are cheaper than New York. Feeling sun on my skin in January was really nice. Not having frizzy hair was an interesting life experience for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halftime Hope Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 Branson might fill the bill for you. We spent a week in Branson with a whole crew of extended family, and only part of the family went to a show or two. Most of us spent the majority of the week doing really beautiful nature stuff and enjoying the abundance of good local food at reasonable prices. Table Rock Lake is nice and there are many beautiful streams and waterfalls within a couple hour radius. We went canoeing as a family, and I don't think anyone will ever forget it, since it poured on us. Ha--family memories are made of such! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vida Winter Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 I'd go to Disneyland or World, but that 's me. Compared to taking multiple kids it would be a bargain. Austin, TX is fun to visit, espec. if you like live music. Do you ski? The ski resorts are fun even if you are an ultra-beginner (you can take lessons). Sun Valley, Alta, Breckenridge - lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 But if we fly in and rent a car and have to drive everywhere, is everything far away? As in have to sleep in a different place every night? We'd love to do just a three or four day getaway - is there enough nearby to make it possible? Either Death Valley or Zion are roughly 2 1/2 - 3 hours away (different directions). Hubby and I can easily spend a relaxing 3 - 4 days at either place, but that's us. We love hiking and relaxing. There are nice lodges at both parks (Death Valley's is private I believe). So I guess it all depends upon how much driving you consider too far. We meander (taking more than the minimum hours) and find interesting things along the way even if they are slightly off our shortest path. FWIW, google says Vegas is the closest major airport to Zion... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 Not having frizzy hair was an interesting life experience for me. LOL! Yes, I spent the time I was there marveling over my perfect hair!!! It was amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 For shows, music, and food what about New Orleans? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 I'd never been to Vegas before last spring, and thought I was going to hate it! We had to go for a relative's wedding. Honestly, I was dreading it so much, I paid for one of our college aged kids to come too so that at least we could have some nice, "family" time there. It ended up being a hoot! Granted, the weather was gorgeous, and we were coming from a winter climate. We were only there for three days, and spent almost the entire time just walking the city, poking our heads into the nicer, grand hotels from time to time. We completely avoided the gambling part (except for about 15 minutes once, just to see what it was like), and enjoyed sightseeing in Venice, New York, and Paris. :) (the hotels were really quite amazing, built to look like those cities) If you stay away from the casinos, we found the whole effect to be more like Disneyland. We also enjoyed the roller coaster at the New Yorker. :) I don't think I ever need to go again, and if I thought about it anymore than I did, I wouldn't like it. I guess we just closed our eyes to a lot of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 Another option is Reno. My DD is in a program that has events in Reno, and DH and I have ended up spending quite a bit of time there. There are a lot of nice places to hike and explore, hotels are pretty cheap most of the year, and you're a short drive from Tahoe, and only a few hours from San Francisco. Slot machines are everywhere, but you can avoid the casinos without a big problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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