OT: Need New Vacation Location

[bmattock]

As some of you know, I was planning on being in New Orleans Oct 5-15, and was soliciting advice on what to do / where to go. Obviously, that trip won't be happening.

We are now left with trying to select a new destination, or bagging the idea of vacation at all this year. "We" are two married couples - one in Denver, Colorado; the other in Wilson, North Carolina. We discussed the situation on the phone tonight, seems that the only suggestions anyone had off the top of their head was Florida, Outer Banks of North Carolina, and Wisconsin Door County. I later thought about Vermont - could be fun with the leaves changing, etc, in early October.

Our constraints are these - money is tight, we're not leaving the US/Canada, and we'd like to avoid further scrapes with natural disasters (I'm thinking even in October you could have a hurricane in Florida or North Carolina - lightning COULD strike twice). How tight is money? Well, let's just say that we looked at some compri-type tours in Canada at $1500 US per person - that's too much for us. Something less than that, if possible.

So, I'm soliciting advice - any thoughts on a vacation destination on short notice for four people who are coming from opposite ends of the US? We like nature stuff, but not strenuous hiking, we're not equipped or conditioned for camping or rock climbing, etc. Just your basic tourist-in-the-car-stop-and-take-a-picture kind of thing, please. Oh yes, and Denver and Raleigh are right out - we live in one of each, so no need to vacation there.

What's Canada like in October? Banf? We're not skiiers, so that might also rule out Canada. What about PEI or Montreal?

Personally, I wanted Chagrin Falls, Ohio, or Bisbee, Arizona. But I could get no support from my wife and friends. Hmph.

Any suggestions would be appreciated! What would YOU do in our place?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[jan normandale]

Bill Montreal is amazing if you are prepared for the French language. Not a lot of english spoken there my guess is the population is about 75 percent French speaking the other 25 percent is English or other languages. Of that half of the Anglo's speak french anyway. You get the drift.

If you are okay with that you will have a fantastic time. Remember most Montreal based people didn't grow up speaking English.

PEI is beautiful , make sure you have reservations though since there are not a large number of hotels. All of these destinations have formal municipal or provincial tourism bureaus to steer you to the areas you are interested in. Southern Ontario is also a possible. Colour should be good in mid October. Also a lot of fall fairs are around. The US dollar is still about 80 cents plus or minus. Niagara falls has wine tours, Casinos, the Lakes Ontario and Erie, Niagara Falls, then there is the Thousand Islands, and all the small towns around Lake Ontario and the cottage country of Kawartha and Rideau Lakes with historic sites.

The Maritimes(PEI, NB, NS) Quebec, Ontario are all pretty good bets at that time of year.

Jan

 

[back alley]

banff is gorgeous but very commercial. jasper is also very beautiful and less touristy.

october is an iffy month weather-wise. but mostly beautiful warm fall days and colder evenings. we often have a snow storm on halloween.
fall is a favourite month for many around here.

i don't really know prices but they get more expensive every year.

joe

 

[bmattock]

Bill Montreal is amazing if you are prepared for the French language. Not a lot of english spoken there my guess is the population is about 75 percent French speaking the other 25 percent is English or other languages. Of that half of the Anglo's speak french anyway. You get the drift.

Yeah, I spent about six weeks there working for Hydro Quebec. I love Poutine! And the beer is very good. But in October? What are your thoughts on that?

 

[bmattock]

banff is gorgeous but very commercial. jasper is also very beautiful and less touristy.

october is an iffy month weather-wise. but mostly beautiful warm fall days and colder evenings. we often have a snow storm on halloween.
fall is a favourite month for many around here.

i don't really know prices but they get more expensive every year.

joe

Tell me more about this Jasper of which you speak!

 

[back alley]

it's down the highway from banff, a short drive really.

i'll try to dig up some info, websites etc. and pass it on.

joe

 

[bmattock]

Joe,

I found this:

http://www.jaspercanadianrockies.com/home.html

I'll check it out some more in the morning. Gotta get some sleep now. Anyway, thank you very much!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

PS - Here's what I did today. I apparently can't golf.

 

[back alley]

website

another

travel & tourism

can't stop

even more

really must stop

time for bed...

 

[jan normandale]

Bill, weather will be much like Vermont in Quebec, similar in the Maritimes, and a bit warmer in ON. Fall is sweater weather in Ontario. Unusual to wear heavy coats at that time there. The maritimes are very pretty as are ON and QC in all honesty.

September / mid October are considered very pleasant months with temps about 65-70 daytime

Jan

 

[parks5920]

Anything and everything just north of San Francisco, it's amazing.

 

[RayPA]

Northern California. I'm biased, but the Monterey bay area (Santa Cruz, Capitola, etc.), San Francisco Bay Area and north to Marin, Napa, Calistoga, wine country, coastline, indian summer, the best weather going, and a whole buncha of RFF members. 😉 I'm sure you'll have fun wherever you go.

🙂

 

[RayPA]

Anything and everything just north of San Francisco, it's amazing.

i concur.

🙂

 

[richard_l]

From your location, I would take the relatively short drive to Swan Quarter, then the ferry to Ocracoke. Wonderful place. No Burger Kings or Wendys anywhere, but great seafood (if you like seafood) and beaches and opportunities for fishing (if that's your thing) and friendly natives who actually speak recognizable English (unlike the "hoi toid" dialect they used a few years ago).

However, you expressed concern about hurricanes, so my other choice would be the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains of NC or VA. Asheville is nice. Close proximity to Mt. Mitchell and Mt. Pisgah and the Smokies, and lots of things to see (and eat) just in Asheville itself.

Richard

 

[tpersin]

if interested in doing a joint Canada/US trip, fly to either Montreal or Burlington and rent a car/van for the week. You could tour a great deal or Vermont over a few days and then tour around Montreal/Quebec City/St. Lawrence seaway some. I was north of Quebec City a few hours drive and it's just gorgeous. I was just in VT/upstate NY and it was great.

 

[Nikon Bob]

You could give some thought to doing a circle tour of Lake Superior and you might catch some fall colours. The drive north from Duluth Minn. towarda Canada has always been a favourite of mine but only from the opposite direction. There are many spots to stop along the way and walk in and not difficult either. The weather is cool and can be a bit unpredictable but most bugs are gone.

Bob

 

[wierdcollector]

In the US you might look into the Black Hills in South Dakota. Mount Rushmore, Jewel Cave, Black Hills themselves and if you're so inclined Sturgis for the biker crowd.
In Canada, you can't go far wrong with Jasper, P.E.I. (check out Dalvay-By-The-Sea), or Nova Scotia (Halifax, Yarmouth, Lunenburg and of course Peggy's Cove) By the way if you do go to Peggy's Cove, don't get too near the surf tempting though it is. They lose a few tourists each year to huge wave action and monstrous undertow. We like ya here and just might miss ya.

 

[kmack]

A plug for the more mundane. Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Easy drive for day trips to Washington D.C, Gettysburg PA. Antetam MD, Shepardstown WVa. The weather that time of year is very nice. You have easy access to the C&O canal.

 

[Rob]

Lots of suggestions your getting, let me throw one in there. A lot of nature photographers have been passing on fall color shooting in New England and shooting in W. Virginia. I have
been there 2 times and was used to shooting in the Smoky mtns before with long lines of cars and a few overlooks to shoot from. WVA was totally different. Uncrowded, lots of state parks with photo ops, rustic scenes and georgeous colors.
http://www.wvtourism.com/spec.aspx?pgid=69

 

[bmattock]

Folks,

I was just able to get logged in and start reading your responses. Will be checking them out, thanks! Keep 'em coming!

 

[rover]

Bill, I am heading to Maine this weekend. Have a look at this hotel. Not a resort, but apparently a nice New England location.

http://www.shipahoymotel.com/

My brother has been going for years, my mother went once, this will be my first time there. It is very affordable and from what I have heard it is very nice. Right on the water. Maine is not "exciting" but I love New England in the fall. You will need a sweater, I am planning on nights in the 50s or maybe high 40s this weekend. I know there will be lots to do, but by October I wonder if the seasonal things will be closed?

I will scout things out this weekend. If you are interested let me know and I can provide a report to you.