Where do I want to Vacation?

[eeboater]

Looking for some input from the diverse crowd here at iboats...

My wife and I are looking to go on a long-needed vacation this summer during our 5 year anniversary. I'm wondering if everyone could provide me with some insight on great places to visit throughout the USA. Here's some info about us that would help us in our decision and your advice to reccomend your area...

- We like historic places (Civil, Revolutionary)
- We enjoy the water (obviously... haha)
- Something not insanely busy would be preferable
- Someplace in the USA (but would entertain Canada)
- Affordable; prefaced with we don't want to go out of control, however we're not planning on staying in a Day's Inn the whole time
- We enjoy our privacy, so a B&B is kind of out of the question
- We'd be travelling during the months of June-July

Thanks in advance for your advice!! Un-linked Links are appreciated!!

Sean

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Where do I want to Vacation?

Come to the Capitol. Endless civil war day trips. Plenty of water. See the fireworks from the water on the 4th.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Where do I want to Vacation?

Look at Yorktown, VA. All the Civil, Revolutionary War history you can handle. The battlefields are really cool.

It's right near the Bay,and check out Busch Gardens. I think they have a water park there now too. It's a neat place.

 

[i386]

Re: Where do I want to Vacation?

Washington DC if you never have. You can have a dinner cruise on the Potomac (sp?) too.

St Louis, New Orleans, Chicago, Chattanooga, to name a few.

Edit: Forgot to mention St. Augustine FL. Lots of water and history there.

 

[Laddies]

Re: Where do I want to Vacation?

Think about Northern Michigan, the straits of Mackinac and surrounding area 2 reconstructed forts and villages nothing is more historical than Mackinac island there is a reconstructed sawmill on the mainland that the timbers were cut for the forts and villages, it's still in use daily there is a 44 mile inland waterway from Cheboygan to Conway to cruise ck here. http://www.ferris.edu/htmls/academi.../MYWEB7/Personal/TOPINABEE/Topinabee Pics.htm if you enjoy outboard racing it is the site of the National Marathon Championship each Aug. Then there is Sault Ste. Marie site of the Soo locks and many other things, one of the oldest city's in North America. Just a few of our treasures here in the north. Got so excited I forgot to mention the Mackinac Bridge.

 

[Hoss the Hermit]

Re: Where do I want to Vacation?

Bringing your own boat? Want to rent one when you get there? Salt water or fresh? Wanna fish while you're on the water? Or just boat, tube, ski, etc? Or just swim and look at the water? Camp out? Cabin by the lake? So many choices, so little time.

 

[Bass Man Bruce]

Re: Where do I want to Vacation?

Lake Champlain area, Finger lakes, Green and White moantains of Vermont and New Hampshire. Fits a lot of your wants.
Can hit them all without to much travel.

 

[jsfinn]

Re: Where do I want to Vacation?

Although it doesn't match all of your criteria, my wife and I like to go on a cruise for our vacations.

For the price, you can't beat it. Shop around, you'll be surprised what you get for the money.

It's all inclusive (food and entertainment are included), you visit several places for a day so you see a lot of different things, and the accommodation are very nice.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Where do I want to Vacation?

Fly into Jacksonville, FL. rent a car, St Augustine, Orlando, Tampa, fly from Tampa to Key West, group or charter tours, fishing, snorkeling.

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Where do I want to Vacation?

Washington DC if you never have. You can have a dinner cruise on the Potomac (sp?) too.

The wife and I will take you on a dinner cruise.

 

[arboldt]

Re: Where do I want to Vacation?

There's a lot of considerations you didn't list, so here are some suggestions. Many echo Laddies' recommendations of northern Michigan.

In southeast Michigan (Detroit area) there's Greenfield Village if you like the history angle.

If you want a taste of Bavaria transplanted to the US, try Frankenmuth, a couple hours north on I-75. North of that is where true beauty begins. If you bring your own boat (or find a rental) take a two-day trip across the tip of the lower peninsula on Michigan's Inland Waterway (take a virtual cruise at http://www.fishweb.com/recreation/boating/boating.html -- there are virtual tours of other inland chains of lakes, also.

At the Straits, Mackinaw City, Mackinaw Island (5 miles into Lake Huron) both have revolutionary-era forts complete with period-era "hosts". You can also take a lighthouse tour -- one of the Island ferries tour past several lighthouses.

Further north at Sault Ste Marie are the Soo locks, complete with viewing platforms to watch the 1000' lake freighters cycle through. Across the upper peninsula are former copper and iron mine tours, incomparable backpacking in the Porcupine Mountains (or even Isle Royale in Lake Superior - national park reservations highly desireable).

Down the Lake Michigan side of the lower penisula, the Venetian Festival in Charlevoix, the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, and the Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven are 3 of the biggest. Several cities feature Great lake fishing charters for salmon and lake trout / steelhead.

There are several national state parks featuring huge dunes overlooking the Lake. At Silver Lake State Park, take one of the dune buggy rides.

If you want lots of sun and sand, almost anywhere from Frankfort to Michigan City Indiana features pristine white beaches on lake Michigan. I've body-surfed at several of them over the years.

If you're prefer water but not Big Water, there are thousands of inland lakes of all sizes. http://www.fishweb.com/recreation/fishing/lakes/index.html has downloadable lake maps.
For campground and forest information, start at http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10365---,00.html
Tofind a list of public boat launches in the state, go to http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/MRBIS/findlocation.asp

For my wife and I, during the summer we're lounging on either our small boat or a lakeshore somewhere, soaking up sun and relaxation.

You can go from major city to wilderness within a couple hour's drive.

Hope this helps.

 

[Skiuseme]

Re: Where do I want to Vacation?

The Iboats Round-UP? What a better place to visit

 

[thurps]

Re: Where do I want to Vacation?

Have some friends that bought Amtrack unlimited tickets. They went from coast to coast and said it by far was one of their best adventures.

 

[mscher]

Re: Where do I want to Vacation?

This is mostly Western and natural history, as well as clearly land-locked, but my family had a good time on this driving loop, which is about 700 miles total, which might be fun if you have never been there. Stretched out over several days, the driving is not overwhelming.

1. Start at Rapid City SD. A little touristy, but there is Mt Rushmore, which is what America is all about, plus other cool museums and attractions. Did not seem too crowded, even in July.

2. Devils Tower NM, WY. Pretty cool natural history.

3. Western Hertiage museum. Cody WY - World class museum in a tiny western town. The firearm wing alone has over 2500 guns.

4. Yellowstone Park - Nuff said. There is reasonable lodging in West Yellowstone WY. Never been crowded whenever I have been there (4 times).

5. Drop off car and fly out of Billings MT.

Nothing quite like the American West.

Regards

 

[roscoe]

Re: Where do I want to Vacation?

The Frozen Tundra of Lambeau field.

How much time do you have?
drive? fly?

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Where do I want to Vacation?

I would definetly stay north of the Mason-Dixon line that time of year.

 

[lorenbennett]

Re: Where do I want to Vacation?

Can't help myself. I think everyone should come and visit my area of the country during August. Laughlin, Nevada, Bullhead city, Arizona. Remember it's a dry heat.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Where do I want to Vacation?

Some of our "favorite" places have already been mentioned, but will mention them again ...

1. Williamsburg, VA. area - Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown, Jamestown ... lots of historic things to see and do, the pass to the local historic sites gives you a lot of bang for your buck and will keep you busy. Water Country USA is a cool water park. Lots of lakes, rivers, bay - water in general.

2. Washington D.C. Definitely cool historic and government sites. Smithsonian. Potomic River. (RF has never invited me for a dinner cruise )

3. Stowe, VT in the summer. The place is pretty empty. The temps are great. Not far from Lake Champlain. We loved staying at the Von Trapp Family Lodge (Think "The Sound of Music" - the Von Trapp Family still own this place - where they moved to after fleeing Austria and coming to the US. Really cool place and a kickin' trout stream down over the hill from the place - had it all to myself every morning before the family woke up). Ben and Jerry's factory, Lot's of Maple syrup places, gift shops, hiking, fishing, etc.

4. Central PA (Huntingdon, Blair, Bedford counties) if you like the outdoor scene. www.thealleghenies.com or www.raystown.org (And here, I can help be your guide, if you would like and I am on this side of the ocean.)

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Where do I want to Vacation?

Draper, Utah Visit iboats Headquarters!!!

 

[oops!]

Re: Where do I want to Vacation?

im not surehow far you want to travel.....
however, just above Seattle
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. is one of the most beauteful places in Canada,
over 200 years of British-Canadian-U.S.A history. from Fort rodd hill, gun implacements in the second world war, to the current national naval defence base, to the beautful inner harbour of Victoria. where, in bastion squair there is a working pair of 200 year old stocks where the convicted sailors were bound and whipped. the whole city is history. including the parlament building and grounds.
the inner harbour of victoria is just simply stunning, the majestic empress hotel, (200 years old) overlooks the harbour, to its right the massive parliment buildings, over a billion photos have been taken there.
there is so much to do and see. i lived there for 10 years and i didnt come close to seeing it all.
Victoria is on an island, so you have to take a large ferrie to get there. it is not uncommon to see a pod of killer whales smimming by the ferrie in the straight,
if you like fishin...when you catch the first one...told it by the tail....way up in the air...and wave it...make a screeching sound like an eagle....within seconds, an american bald eagle (really huge birds!) will swoop down from outta nowhere and rip it from your hand !
regular fishin there is 25 lb salmon, 100 lb halibut.....take a shot gun or it could sink the boat when you get it in the vessel.
the beauchart gardens is a once in a lifetime treat for any one. they have fire work displays every saturday nite....get there at noon to get a seat an the grass!
the view from the top of the mallahat mountain overlooking the gulf islands is, in my opinion, one of the most beauteful views on the planet.
for a rush you might go to clover point on a windy day.....go right to the cliff...put your toes on the edge....open your arms like a skier going off one of thoes really, big long jumps.....and lean way out over the cliff.....
your body will be suspended in mid air as the wind rushes off the ocean and up the base of the cliff....absolutly incredible...you can hang there with your body weight and total mass at 45 degrees over the cliff and just hang there for minits.
my girl and i travel there every few months and stay at the laurel point inn. we get a jounior suite and lay in bed in the morning with coffie, and thru the floor to celing windows we just lay there and watch the ships come in and the float planes take off and land. very relaxing.
we see barbra streisands yacht there all the time. joan collins has a HUGE house there.

oh and can you say GOLF???
i could write a book on the history and things to do and see in victoria, but someone allready has...hundreads of em!!!

grab a brochure....or better yet find a web cam overlooking the inner haurbour of victoria, bc, canada...it will shock you with its beauty.

the world will see it in 2010 during the olympics...however after that things will be three times more expencive....the population will also triple.

hope to see ya up here some time
cheers...and merry christmas
oops