Help us pick a vacation... (strange post, probably)

[Anne34]

If you're wine people, you can't do much better than Napa/Sonoma. My DH and I just got back from a trip to San Francisco with day trips to Napa and the Pacific coast. While I loved San Francisco, the day we spent visiting the redwoods in Muir Woods followed by driving along the Pacific coast was my favorite of the trip. We visited four wineries, including a couple of neat small ones. San Francisco has a little bit of everything -- shopping (which we're not into), Chinatown, Little Italy, Fisherman's Wharf, Haight Ashbury, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate bridge, great museums and galleries, etc.

I was going to suggest this or New Orleans. Since I've already been to NO - this would be my top vote!! Lots to do and lots of good food & wine.

ETA: New Orleans does have a really cool ghost tour at night. Fun & creepy all at the same time. Sounds right up your alley.

 

[Molly Meow]

It feels like I know you! Sounds like we have all the same interests.

If you do come to CA, you HAVE to go to the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose. Totally awesome.

http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/

I thought it was good and creepy.

As far as where to go, I can't really help you. I would take the WDW trip - I've never been.

Oh! Have you been to Universal? You could do a split stay - check out the hotels you've never been to at WDW, then high-tail it over to Universal for Harry Potter.

Good luck in your decision! I know you'll have a blast.

 

[NotUrsula]

Um, by "outside the US" are you really including Canada? (since you live where you live, and all, most folks I know who live in that area don't really count Canada as "foreign" in the usual sense.)

For our honeymoon DH and I took a rail trip across part of Canada -- it was REALLY nice. (Canadian rail travel has its issues, but on the whole it's lightyears better than AmTrak for cross-country trips.)

BTW, I'm from NOLA; you can certainly pull out ALL the stops there and spend $4K, but generally NOLA isn't that expensive unless you are a gambler (or are planning to stay quite a while) In NOLA you'll end up spending most of it on food, which your mother would not be able to "book ahead" for you. If she's really determined on that, I'd suggest having her put the food money on an Amex "Be My Guest" card. For your hotel, I'd recommend one of the guest cottages at Maison de Ville -- very romatic and quite expensive. (Don't stay in the main hotel; it's too close to Bourbon, but the Audubon Cottages are very quiet.)

 

[Principessa1284]

DL and Vegas for sure!!! This is my dream trip that we were supposed to take for my birthday next month, but had to cancel due to finances

Depending on how much time you can take off, you could do DL (and whatever you like in LA), Vegas AND Napa. They're all in the general area, and if you're taking a cross-country flight, might as well!!

 

[krcit]

I love California!! I haven't traveled much but have been to both San Diego and San Francisco. SF is so great!! Alcatraz would be right up your alley and Muir Woods is so cool. I say do something different while you have the chance....trust me, I wish I had done more traveling when I was younger. Now I have 3 kids and just can't afford it. Can't wait to hear what you pick...what a generous gift!

 

[goofy's friends]

Did you know they have a night tour of Alcatraz??? You'd love that! If you have a week, there is soo much you could do in CA and you may never get another opportunity, where you probably would get another opportunity to go to Disney if you love it that much. Just my 2 cents. San Francisco is really cool and very unusual. Then, you could do Napa. Spend a day driving down and do Disneyland--the drive is amazing.

 

[rie'smom]

Thanks all.

I guess my only concern with doing Napa is that we know we would not be able to take anything home... I just don't trust the airlines with nice wine. It's dumb that we can't ship it home, but that's MA for ya. But still, it sounds like such an amazing place to visit.

NOLA during Halloween sounds amazing, but I'd be worried about the noise. If you've been during this time, where did you stay and was it loud (in the hotel)?

We were just in New Orleans the weekend before Halloween. I took my daughter and 3 of her friends. We stayed on the 14th floor of the Monteleone Hotel- the 14th is the haunted floor. That night, we closed the bedroom curtains because we wanted to sleep late. The next morning, the curtains were open! We took the haunted carriage ride tour and the walking tour. Both were great. The Monteleone is on Royal St a block from Bourbon. We heard no noise. When we asked the doorman about hauntings in the hotel, he told us a couple of his own personal stories. It was great!

 

[Planogirl]

I love haunted places and I wouldn't be able to decide between California and New Orleans based on your posts. California is so lovely and diverse and has lots of haunts but New Orleans is kind of the mecca for such things.

How much time will you have? Could you do both?

 

[kristina87]

I stayed at the GF for 8 days in May and it was wonderful! You mentioned you like food and wine, so I would definitely recommend Victoria & Alberts, just as a one time thing, especially since your parents are so kind to give you enough to be able to afford it. Stay a day or two and then go to the BC or wherever else you like. I also like the Disneyland idea and while you're in CA you could do a ton of the haunted tours, like that one house that has like 100 rooms and staircases going nowhere, super fun! Good luck choosing something special and congrats on getting married!!

 

[christiane]

If I had been any one place 36 times (including Disney World!), I would definitely be going somewhere new! So many amazing places in the world to explore...

I think New Orleans at Halloween sounds great for you. All the history, cemeteries & voodoo. All Saints Day (Nov 1st) is also an important day down there. If you don't stay in the heart of the French Quarter, noise won't be a problem.

I know NYC isn't that far from you, but $4K could really give you an amazing time there even if you've been before. The music scene, clubs etc. It also has a lot of haunted sights & an underground tour there is very cool.

I don't think rail travel is ideal for someone who is very noise sensitive. The rails are noisy & even in a private compartment you can easily hear the noise in the corridors.

Your parents have given you an awesome gift, have fun whatever you do!

 

[klacey1]

I think the Disneyland/Vegas idea sounds great! We went to Vegas this past summer and LOVED it-- just strolling around the hotels, eating at amazing restaurants, etc. We didn't see a show and barely gambled and had a great time (if you do go to Vegas, I suggest setting a small amount of money to gamble with. It's Vegas-- you have to play a couple of slots, even with just $50, it's part of the fun!). I also love DL-- so fun. It's really something special to walk in the house that Walt built. Plus, if you live in MA, the plane prices to the West Coast are SO high, you might as well go to the farthest point to really maximize your $4000!
We stayed at Caesars Palace in Vegas and never heard another person at night!

 

[GoldieSaysMeep]

You guys are amazing. Now I want to go to all of these places too.

DH & I read through the replies and some travel sites last night.

We will have 7 or 8 days (or less) and we have narrowed the choices down to Disneyland, NOLA, WDW, and several stops over a few days driving through CA.

Still so hard to choose. The only place DH wasn't excited about as much as the others was Vegas. Vegas might be a tough sell.

 

[NotUrsula]

When considering CA, be careful not to underestimate the size of the state or the driving conditions. That is one dang BIG state, and it can take a very long time to get from place to place via the scenic routes. (Because who wants to visit CA and spend the whole time on a freeway?)

 

[jsmith]

I guess my only concern with doing Napa is that we know we would not be able to take anything home... I just don't trust the airlines with nice wine. It's dumb that we can't ship it home, but that's MA for ya. But still, it sounds like such an amazing place to visit.

I didnt read the whole thread-work got busy-but you can purchase-at the winery-wine shippers-they are boxes with special liners that keep the bottles stable-they come in 3 6 9 and 12 bottle configurations.. you then seal the box and check it as luggage-i do this frequently as i travel a good deal for work and collect boutique wines.. i have never had a bottle break and since they are tape sealed-never had a box opened..i have even had luggage delayed (thats a story in and of its self) and all six bottles were intact when it was delivered to me several days later.

 

[disneybound2010]

A very good friend of mine and his then GF did a route 66 trip which was unbelievable. They spent two weeks driving and seeing sites that have long been forgotten(some of his pictures I could place as inspirations for Cars) They stayed in some amazing places, had some great mini adventures on their trip and ended it with going to Las Vegas for a couple nights(tho, you cou,d end it anywhere.) It might take a little planning on your part, but it could be something truly special for you.

The other thing that stuck out for ME was that you are both music fans and very much in Japan. You could always plan a trip to Seattle to check out the music scene. Some of Japan's best in the JROCK scene have been coming to Seattle(they need to head out east here!) My BFF has had the chance to see Miyavi and Dir en Grey repeatedly now. That alone makes me want a vacation there Good luck in whatever you decide!

 

[bookgirl]

Fly to Chicago do the route 66 road trip, then once you're in California go to DisneyLand then fly back home.

Will they give you part of the 4k for gas and food and hotels on the road?

 

[donaldduck352]

Just wanted to add my 2cents.You both love halloween,rock music and quiettimes like a day spa (For the lady I hope)Here is what I would do.

Fly into Orlando and rent a car.Universal has the best hollween event in the country.Book2 or 3 nights at the on-site resort Hard Rock and do Halloween Horror Nights.I do the R.I.P Tour and its great.After that drive to Tampa and stay at the Hard Rock Casino.Do Hallow'Scream VIP Tour and check out the beaches of Clearwater,Caledesi Island,HoneyMoon Island etc.Then fly home out of Tampa.

That,in my eyes would be a great vacation!!

Halloween scares,spa treatments,alittle gambling and some of the whitest sand beaches to be found in the US!!!

 

[kems28]

I'm originally from NOLA, and if you're into creepy stuff it's definitely the place to go. It's one of the most haunted cities in America, and there are a TON of ghost tours. They even have haunted swamp tours! I would also recommend going to The Myrtles plantation. You can spend the night there. My aunt did it once, and although she didn't see any paranormal stuff, she had a ton of fun. Also, if you're going to tour the cemetaries, DO NOT go by yourself. Criminals like to hide behind the vaults and jump out and rob people. Always go with a group.

Having said all that though, my personal choice would be California. I went on a trip where we traveled all around Northern California, and it was my favorite vacation I've ever taken. It's incredibly beautiful and there is no shortage of things to do. We went to San Francisco and the redwood forest and all that, but my favorite thing we did was actually driving around in the rural area. It's a part of California that you never really hear about, but it's so incredibly gorgeous. Whatever you decide though, you're bound to have an amazing time. What a great gift!

 

[js]

Do you live near a cruise port?
I would choose a cruise, although I do love them and go once a year or every other year.
It is the best of both worlds. You can be together or apart but still meet up for drinks, dinner, sightseeing, etc.
If you dh wants to do something on the ship, you and your mom could do something else and meet up with him.
If you have to fly, fine, if you are by a port, you can drive there.
Just a thought.

 

[Planogirl]

If you go to New Orleans, don't forget the nearby River Road and the many old plantation houses (some haunted) all along the way.

I sympathize with how difficult this is.