View Full Version : Vacationing close to home
Having spent over 17 of my last 20 years in some sort of state of either moving, travelling or on deployment, I really enjoy vacation either at home or within a reasonable amount of mileage.
1. Affordability- we pick the nicest hotel w/spa and enjoy a 2 night stay with all the bells and whistles for far less that the cost of an average plane ticket.
2. I can pack 1 bag for each of us.
3. The drive is usually 2 hours or less.
I have no stress of rushing off to an airport or hours and hours of driving to get somewhere. No huge mounds of clothing to wash when we get home and no having to completely close up the house (turn off water, make sure lawn gets mowed, mail, etc)
While I would like to see Italy and the Caribbean, I am not in a hurry. I really enjoy our short trips. One thing in Texas, you can drive 2 hours, and still be in Texas. ;)
Anyone else like a simple vacation?
Our family vacation for years has been in Vermont (well, we did one year in Maine). We rent a house and we have stayed for one week, and sometimes we have stayed for 4 weeks. We love Vermont--and because of our family vacay experiences, three of my kids now live in Vermont.
Our vacations are pretty simple (although the dynamics of 6-12 people sharing a house are never THAT simple). We have the same "meanders" that we have done for years… Grafton, Weston, Ludlow, Manchester, West Townsend for the Grace Hospital Fair, Stratton for golf, etc. We go to Lake Bomoseen and rent pontoon boats and speed boats and have lunch at the Lake Inn. We play Taboo at night and we pass the guitar around and do sing-songs. We do grilling on the porch and Honestly, there's nothing better.
That sounds lovely Catherine. I would like to find "that place" down by the coast for us, that can hold those memories. Just a little cottage, nothing spectacular but so full of life and living.
We swing on down to Rockport near Corpus. Nice getaway and slower pace for a weekend.
IshbelRobertson
4-27-15, 5:08pm
Travelling in Europe seems so simple in comparison to many other countries. Cheap inter-European flights help! We often take long weekend trips to Paris, Lisbon, Bruges and other cities.
We also take city breaks in the UK. Favourites are London ( half hour flight), Bath, Inverness, York.
I just feel grateful when we can spend some time away on vacation---no matter how near or far. It sounds like you've all found what works for you.
We recently did a stay-cation at a local Best Western during the kids' spring break from school. The place is a bit down at the heels overall, but the pool is really neat -- you enter inside but most of the pool is outside; it is heated so that the pool is open year-round despite our cold climate. Kids loved it and the price was right!
Well, one thing about Zurra: you can drive no more than 250 miles m/l,, and be in any one of 8 other states: Ia, Il, ky, tn, Ar., Ok., Ks. ,Ne. How do you like that?
Some of the best vacations I've ever been on were close by. It is possible to really get away even though you're not that far from home. It is, I think, one element of cabin culture here in Minnesota (many people own/share time on/rent a cabin by a lake somewhere. Even if the cabin has running water and air conditioning, it's still a very different environment than home).
I have a running joke now with the neighborhood after the many months gone. I am home now to the Vacation Hotspot of the USA. Why would one ever want to leave. We all laugh, but that is how I feel. I want to go no farther then my bicycle will take me. I feel like I am on vacation every day now:cool:
Well, one thing about Zurra: you can drive no more than 250 miles m/l,, and be in any one of 8 other states: Ia, Il, ky, tn, Ar., Ok., Ks. ,Ne. How do you like that?
That's actually impressive for a Central state!
For NJ, I actually get 10 according to www.freemaptools.com/radius-around-point.htm:
NH, NY, CT, VT, PA, MA, MD, DE, VA, WV (actually 250 mile radius just snags a bit of WV)
Gardenarian
5-9-15, 3:48pm
I'm really looking forward to exploring more of Oregon this summer!
I live in a tourism area so every once in a while we play tourist locally. We get a lot of local discounts and sometimes free tickets to shows or events or activities. Otherwise I'm on the lakes a lot and that is always a good break from normal daily routine.
Simplemind
5-12-15, 12:28am
We used to go on significant vacations every year. In 2012 DH had a stroke which left him with vertigo. For over a year he couldn't be in a car for more than 20 minutes or go faster than 34mph. That made our world very very small.
He has been doing better this past year so we decided to take baby steps and start out on a driving vacation. It was "simple" due to there being no itinerary and no end date. We were going to go as far as he felt he could manage. We started up at the top of the Oregon coast and worked our way down. We made it to Cambria California and were missing home so we came back. Although a very rough start, it set him free. That was last September. In March we flew down to San Diego (to test him in flight and to save time) rented a car and came up to where we left off. I am usually a total pre planner. This was very simple and liberating to just stop and go whenever we wanted.
Love these ideas. I have off in the summer so my girlfriend and I have a weekly standing date all summer long to take a day trip somewhere--max 2 hours each way. It's great fun.
One thing in Texas, you can drive 2 hours, and still be in Texas. ;)
Oh my God, you can drive two days and still be in Texas. ;)
It is really interesting to see the landscape evolve east west, and even north south. And Palo Duro State Park is one of my favorite places, it's like diving from the moon into the grand canyon.
Tussiemussies
5-19-15, 1:47am
Well we been vacationing in our home for the last seventeen years and will do it again this year. We live a nice life but we just cannot afford it. We live as frugally as possible for us. In the future though I would like to travel. The only way I would go somewhere is if we had our own camper. I just as t don't feel comfortable with hotels anymore....
Texas is a great place to travel around. There is a show on PBS called day tripper and he goes to different Texas towns, lots of good ideas on things to do.
Yes, getting out of Texas is always a head banger for us. Minimum six hours driving just to reach a northern border. We are planning our annual Colorado trek and the thought of flying, car rental vs driving is a hard one to make. Flying is such torture these days for the most part. We are wondering if it might not be more restful just to stay home.
It's funny but living in South Florida our "go to" simple nearby vacation tends to sound really exotic and expensive to people who live in other areas. A Caribbean cruise.
During the off season it is not unusual for us to find cruises for $60 to $70 per day. Considering that it includes all meals, lodging, transportation and entertainment it is an incredible bargain for those of us who live near a cruise port (we are within driving distance of 4 of them). Particularly if you have some flexibility in scheduling.
During the off season it is not unusual for us to find cruises for $60 to $70 per day. Considering that it includes all meals, lodging, transportation and entertainment it is an incredible bargain for those of us who live near a cruise port (we are within driving distance of 4 of them). Particularly if you have some flexibility in scheduling.
I have some friends who moved to Miami (a few years pre-retirement) this year for that very reason.
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