NOHOME
PowerDork
3/20/17 6:06 a.m.
Mazdax605 wrote:
Montreal, or Quebec City is my vote. Wait for the warmer weather though. Not that you can't enjoy either city this time of year, but it's better when you don't have to wear a parka and toque. It's like going to Europe sorta, but you can drive there.
Was about to post the same thing. If you are going to go on a vacation make it seem like an adventure. Quebec city is nicer than Paris and more manageable with limited time.
Course, I assume everyone has a passport and that might not be the case.
As a new option, I would toss out Newfoundland.
I love the Williamsburg area and think you'd have a great time down here. Colonial Williamsburg is full of history, and there are a few great craft breweries recently opened in the area. If you're into running/biking, there's a bike path that connects Williamsburg to Richmond, 50 miles in total. There's also Virginia Beach just another hour or so down the road.
With that said - with only three days and you guys being based up in New England, I can't recommend Williamsburg for you for a long weekend unless you're flying into the area - I think it's just too long of a drive for a long weekend to be enjoyable. I'd try to keep it to within 2-3 hours travel time of your house, 4 at the absolute outside. My wife and I do long weekends like this once a year, and we are always happiest when we keep the travel to/from our destination under 3 hours.
EDIT: how do you and the missus feel about a wine tour? Are you within reasonable driving distance of the Finger Lakes wine region in upstate New York?
SECOND EDIT: Nope, not within reasonable driving distance of the Finger Lakes. How about Portland, ME?
Ok, so neither one of us have passports right now, so traveling outside the US is out of the question unless we get them. I mentioned Martha's Vineyard and a few other local places, as well as some day trips based out of our house. There are a few museums that she has been wanting to go to, so those are on the list.
She says she's "done Maine", and Cape Cod is just miles away and we go a few times a year, so that doesn't count. She wants to do something new. Williamsburg is just something she threw out there. If we went, maybe we'd stretch it to a week.
She has also wanted to do Disney with me since we met. Her family goes almost every year, and we never go because it's pretty expensive. I don't really do rides, so she says it would be a waste of money if I went and didn't go on the rides. If we did go, there would be other family with us that would do the rides with her. I think we have a tentative plan to go when the Star Wars park opens, but that's not for a couple years.
As you can tell, she's the adventurous one, while I'm content to do the same few things that I like to do.
I found Colonial Williamsburg to be fascinating, but I am the guy who reads every plaque at the museum. As has been said, there are plenty of places nearby to go to as well, including taking a tour of the Naval Base in Norfolk. (I also recommend heading out to Fort Monroe if you are looking to just tour around the area. Neat place.)
As for the drive, why not make it part of the adventure? Stop in NYC for lunch, grab a pretzel and a cheesesteak in Philly, and then stay at the Hyatt for a night.
6 years without a vacation? Yeesh. If I were in your shoes and only had 4 days, I would take the train up to Boston and relax in the city for 3 nights. See some history, drink some drinks.
If you really want to do Williamsburg, BOS-RIC flights are ridiculously cheap. I've seen them as cheap as $140 RT. Rental cars out of Richmond are super reasonable as well, $30 or so for a weekend.
Once you clear NJ,Cape May, take the Ferry to Leowes, DE. Lots of small towns and beaches as you travel south. Bridge and tunnel to VA and Williamsburg. If you have enough time visit the outer banks. Kitty Hawk etc.
NOHOME
PowerDork
3/20/17 11:24 a.m.
914Driver wrote:
Windjammer Cruise?
My mother used to be a travel writer and I recall that she really liked this outfit.
I am very anti-all inclusive resorts...My other suggestion was going to be Puerto Rico and be a real free range tourist. Fly in to San Juan and chill at the Water And Beach Club Hotel. Wife and I have done it twice and it is a great place to get pampered and you have old San Juan to explore. No passport needed English works fine and so do the greenbacks. Probably get two people there and back for under $1000 airfare..
https://ca.hotels.com/ho186605/san-juan-water-and-beach-club-carolina-puerto-rico/
I wouldn't call Disney World a waste just because you don't do rides. I don't either , but I thoroughly enjoyed it .There is plenty to see and do without any stomach wrenching rides.
Since I was born and raised in Quebec I'd advocate getting your passports and go. Wait for warmer weather, it'll be more pleasant if you are walking around downtown Montreal or Quebec. Take in the Gilles Villeneuve Museum in Berthierville for a car fix.
92dxman
SuperDork
3/21/17 10:21 p.m.
I'd say get your passports and head to Montreal. I went a few years ago and it's in the top 5 of my vacations.
This might sound left field but what about Lake Placid, NY? I bet seeing all the Olympic sites would be neat.
there are some mountains and gorges near placid that are neat. Take the plane ride over the high peaks.
Coastal Maine. Start at the top and drive down all the way to CT.
914Driver wrote:
Windjammer Cruise?
Man, that looks a LOT like a boat I sailed out of Chatham and out to Nantucket one day. Neat boat, and it was my first (and sadly only) time sailing out of sight of land.