Looking for mini-vacation ideas...

[Kathi OD]

DH just found out he has more PTO time available to use before the end of the year than he thought he had. We're thinking of taking Nov. 10-14 (Thursday-Monday) and going on a little vacation.

We live in NJ and don't want to be spending more than 2 or 3 hours on a plane to get wherever. WDW is out because we'll be there in 2 weeks. He won't do a Caribbean cruise or beach-y vacation.

Anyone have good ideas?

 

[dizluvah]

Depends of course on what you guys enjoy but a few suggestions off the top of my head:

Vermont - quiet B&B, country holiday

Las Vegas

Connecticut - casino (Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun) - Can we tell we like to gamble...

Washington DC - Smithsonians etc

 

[Disney Doll]

~Boston MA

~Outlet shopping plus other stuff to do:
Conway NH
Kittery ME
Freeport ME

~FL to somewhere other than WDW? Key West, the southern Gulf Coast...Naples, Sanibel Island, Marco island.

~New Orleans

 

[LuvOrlando]

Have you ever considered one of those short foliage cruises from NY up & into Canada and then back again?

Of course, there is always my all time favorite of a short stay in NYC at the Marquis with a Broadway show or just museums... LOVE the planetarium. Even though I live close there is just something about staying there that makes me enjoy it more. DH has a business trip in April and I am totally taking the kids out of school to stay the night and enjoy the day.

 

[Bren's Mom]

Myrtle Beach, but not on the beach. There are lots of fun shows, activities, shopping restaurants.

Boston, a bit colder but not unreasonable yet.

Washington DC, it's a perfect time of year for this. Not hot. Not too cold yet. I'd stay outside the city and utilize the metro.

Savannah, GA

 

[Kathi OD]

Have you ever considered one of those short foliage cruises from NY up & into Canada and then back again?

Of course, there is always my all time favorite of a short stay in NYC at the Marquis with a Broadway show or just museums... LOVE the planetarium. Even though I live close there is just something about staying there that makes me enjoy it more. DH has a business trip in April and I am totally taking the kids out of school to stay the night and enjoy the day.

Yes, we have considered on in the past. Not sure why I didn't think of it this time. Will it be too late for the leaves?

 

[Kathi OD]

We always seem to go to FL, so I want to try something new.

I like the DC suggestion, too. DH will never use the Metro. He's not a public transportation kinda guy (I know...weirdo).

I've also thought about Cape Cod, but think that might also be too cold.

New Orleans never even crossed my mind, but I like that idea, too.

I always think of golfing vacations when I think of Myrtle Beach. What else is around there?

How cold will Chicago be that time of the year?

 

[golfgal]

What is your DH's hang up with public transportation? The Metro in DC is VERY easy to use and it's clean . Way better than NY's subway system.

Chicago probably won't be any colder then what you see in NJ that time of year.

Are you "shopping" people? How about the Mall of America? You could hit a few museums, etc. too if that is up your alley.

St. Louis might be a good place to go too.

Not sure of flight times but how about San Antonio. Everyone I know that has been there has loved it.

 

[Kathi OD]

What is your DH's hang up with public transportation? The Metro in DC is VERY easy to use and it's clean . Way better than NY's subway system.

Chicago probably won't be any colder then what you see in NJ that time of year.

Are you "shopping" people? How about the Mall of America? You could hit a few museums, etc. too if that is up your alley.

St. Louis might be a good place to go too.

Not sure of flight times but how about San Antonio. Everyone I know that has been there has loved it.

No clue what his hangup is! Probably based on the fact that he has always lived in the suburbs, without easy access to public transportation.

Also like the idea of San Antonio. I've heard good things about there too.

Keep the ideas coming. We have all weekend to figure something out.

 

[7165red]

Luvorlando, I have been looking at the Marquis for so long now, it really looks beautiful. This xmas we may have only a couple of days to get away and I looked at the Marquis @ 600 per night. Would it be worth it. I havn't been to the city in such a long time so the thought of it feels good. To the OP I suggest Vegas or Foxwoods CT.

 

[Golf4food]

How about Charleston or Savannah. Both are beautiful towns full of things to do and eat and neither are right on a beach, though they are nearby.

 

[Malibustyle23]

Nashville with a stay and show at the Opry?

 

[PatsMom]

Yes, we have considered on in the past. Not sure why I didn't think of it this time. Will it be too late for the leaves?

November will be too late for the leaves. Peak foliage that far north would probably be late September. I'm in northern NH and ours are pretty much gone by mid-October.

But if you are into shopping, the outlet malls in North Conway offer some great deals around that time. Most summer attractions are closed but if the weather cooperates you can still do some sightseeing in addition to shopping.

 

[HeatherC]

Montreal or Quebec?

Williamsburg?

 

[MoniqueU]

I don't like public transportation either. Crammed in on a train hollding on for dear life while strangers bump into you? Umm no thanks. I won't be going to Europe again in part to this.

New Orleans is perfect IMHO. Great reasonable food, walking distance to all sights except the garden district pretty much. Gambling at Harrahs, Shopping, nightlife, quaint and romanitic.

You can get a non stop for a good price out of JFK on Jetblue. I am sure there are other flights out of newark as well.

 

[kacaju]

We flew from Nj out to AZ that time of year. it is at least a 5hourr flight. We went to the Grand Canyon

 

[Disney Doll]

Yes, we have considered on in the past. Not sure why I didn't think of it this time. Will it be too late for the leaves?

Probably...November that far north is more winter than fall....

 

[akhenaten]

Newport RI and the Mansions....

 

[akhenaten]

http://gonewengland.about.com/gi/o....vity/fallfoliage/usnormalfallpeaks_large.html

That is a map of the normal fall foiliage times..

A few years ago we did Newport in October (around the 17th) and the leaves were just beginning to turn... it can be so different every year!

 

[Kathi OD]

That's a cool map!

The NE cruise is out, as there aren't any that week. Moving the days is not an option as I'm locked into those days.

I mentioned DC last night. We could drive, so we would save on airfare. DH even mentioned that it would be best if we used public transportation there.

We also talked about going to Ellis Island (neither of us have ever been there) and then something else for a few days.

Thanks for the great suggestions! We have a lot to think about.