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Not timeshare - Suggestions for 5 old family members to meet for vacation

tombanjo

tombanjo

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As a group 3 retired, 2 still working, but can take week vacation. Looking for something that will give us all a chance to get together, but still have places to go, things to do. I think we ruled out foreign countries at this point. We mostly live on easy coast (I am a Floridian and have no desire for vacation here either)

I go to new york city a few times a year, and don't really want to repeat. One person lives outside of DC, so there is a lot there, but I think stuff like the Smithsonian would be difficult to get tickets for for a june - august (peak kid time off school time).

One idea I had was Charleston, SC. Another was start in Mystic CT, a few days in RI, then end up in Maine.

Any ideas, suggestions ? I want to make sure there are a varieties of things to do so we do not kill each other after a week in hotel. (For instance, I do not bike, but some have taken biking vacations, I don't care about laying on the beach, but some would like that, so if there are antique stores or museums, I can amuse myself while others roast on 138 degree sand)

Eating local and good food are appreciated by all.

Thanks
 
Charleston was a lot of fun when I was there a decade or so ago. I spent 5 nights I think. There were some neat parks where we saw alligators, there were lots of decent restaurants, we enjoyed the old town area where we stayed - lots of walkable shops, an oceanfront, and the like.

Mystic, CT was fun for a day - we split between the ship displays, the aquarium, and the little shopping village there. I think it was good for a weekend. I haven't done RI at all personally, but my sister enjoyed the coast there for hiking and the like. Maine has a great coast with Portland and further on Acadia which are both interesting. I preferred Acadia, but I was there for landscape photography and wildlife from a boat tour. So those are good ideas.

If you're into large natural parks, you could also consider the Adirondacks, especially the Lake George, NY area. They have the walkable town, the lake cruises, depending on your scheduling Warrensburg has a huge yard sale weekend. You have various (small) museums, hiking, etc. Fun drivable back roads with views, a "gem" mine you can go pay by the pound to get stuff out of, a cool shop there with various crystals for sale if you don't fancy sifting through stuff yourself. There's a lot of AirBnB in the area, some hotels, lots of motels (these can be scary though)... Marthas ice cream is an event in itself. There's some local amusement park too IIRC. Depending on your desire to drive, you can take day trips out to a canyon just over the Vermont border. Within the driving distance you mentioned for going Mystic to Maine, you could also drive from the Adirondacks to the Finger Lakes for multiple wine trails, waterfalls in local parks, and could end at Niagara Falls on the NY side for instance, with all there is to do there, though most is admittedly on the Canadian side you could still view the American falls and I think potentially ride an American launched Maid of the Mist.
 
Not knowing what you all like to do maybe Las Vegas or Branson might be a good choice. Easy to score extra vacation units in both locations.

Bill
 
I'm partial to DC, esp. if you could go early-mid June for decent weather. By end of June-Aug. it's very hot/humid. Many Smithsonian museums are free and do not require tickets. I'd think you could still get Spy Museum tickets, as well. There's a smaller Air/Space in DC and then a huge hanger-type building near Dulles. Both are quite good. I'd say you could easily fill 4-5 full days with 2 travel days. Mt. Vernon is very close and a good 1/2 day trip (need car). Old town Alexandria is also a good 1/2 day. A number of major battlefields and within a 2 hour drive.
I'd guess that Charleston will be hot/humid most of June/Aug. Although I do like Charleston, I also think DC has more to offer for an entire week.
We also like the Stowe, VT area. The weather is nice in summer. We did the easy 2 hour drive to Montreal (assuming all have passports) for the day. In the area (we were are Smugglers Notch) there's fly fishing, lakes for swimming (if July/Aug), hiking, walking, biking along an old RR trail, golf, good eateries, and quirky stores. I'm guessing there are other Northeast towns with similar.
 
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elaine said:
I'm partial to DC, esp. if you could go early-mid June for decent weather. By end of June-Aug. it's very hot/humid. Many Smithsonian museums are free and do not require tickets. I'd think you could still get Spy Museum tickets, as well. There's a smaller Air/Space in DC and then a huge hanger-type building near Dulles. Both are quite good. I'd say you could easily fill 4-5 full days with 2 travel days. Mt. Vernon is very close and a good 1/2 day trip (need car). Old town Alexandria is also a good 1/2 day. A number of major battlefields and within a 2 hour drive.
I'd guess that Charleston will be hot/humid most of June/Aug. Although I do like Charleston, I also think DC has more to offer for an entire week.
We also like the Stowe, VT area. The weather is nice in summer. We did the easy 2 hour drive to Montreal (assuming all have passports) for the day. In the area (we were are Smugglers Notch) there's fly fishing, lakes for swimming (if July/Aug), hiking, walking, biking along an old RR trail, golf, good eateries, and quirky stores. I'm guessing there are other Northeast towns with similar.
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Are there still "river cruises" to Mt. Vernon? It's been years but we enjoyed a springtime in DC and caught the cherry blossoms at peak blooming. It was especially warm and perfect for the boat ride down to Mt. Vernon for the day. Hot and sunny. Maybe 80 degrees. It was the better part of the day. We caught the boat in the morning after ducking into a c-store for premade breakfast sandwiches. We had lunch in Mt. Vernon. Perfect day to be on the water.
 
Passepartout said:
How about Williamsburg/Jamestown area. Lots of history. Good food, Biking is available for those who enjoy it. There's a big theme park for the roller coaster enjoyers. Norfolk isn't far for it's naval base and activities.
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Excellent recommendation with a day trip to Washington, DC .
 
My group of retired women friends spent a week in the area and split our time between Savannah and Charleston. There were 8 of us and we rented VRBOs in both cities. We did the tour of Ft. Sumter and another of the city, spent lots of time just walking to explore. The Charleston house looked out on a waterway so it was great for relaxing and the Savannah one was in the center of town so easy to walk to sites. We often split into small groups to explore things of different interests. I wouldn’t normally want to move locations on a week long trip but this worked well to give us new things to do.
 
Wllbg is very hot/humid mid-June thru early Sept. It seems worse than DC.
 
We love Gatlinburg
Something for everyone
Dollywood 20 minutes away
 
Sedona, Arizona. It's completely different than everywhere you named. You can do as much or as little as you want, activity-wise. There are excellent restaurants in the area, great shopping, and amazing scenery. Go during a shoulder season, when it's not too warm or cool, and it will impress you with all there is to see and do.

Worth considering, anyway.

Dave
 
DaveNV said:
Sedona, Arizona. It's completely different than everywhere you named. You can do as much or as little as you want, activity-wise. There are excellent restaurants in the area, great shopping, and amazing scenery. Go during a shoulder season, when it's not too warm or cool, and it will impress you with all there is to see and do.

Worth considering, anyway.

Dave
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Sedona is definitely one of our favorite places. Our last trip had us picking prickly pears and making prickly pear margaritas. It's definitely beautiful country with a good vibe.

Bill
 
elaine said:
I'm partial to DC, esp. if you could go early-mid June for decent weather. By end of June-Aug. it's very hot/humid. Many Smithsonian museums are free and do not require tickets. I'd think you could still get Spy Museum tickets, as well. There's a smaller Air/Space in DC and then a huge hanger-type building near Dulles. Both are quite good. I'd say you could easily fill 4-5 full days with 2 travel days. Mt. Vernon is very close and a good 1/2 day trip (need car). Old town Alexandria is also a good 1/2 day. A number of major battlefields and within a 2 hour drive.
I'd guess that Charleston will be hot/humid most of June/Aug. Although I do like Charleston, I also think DC has more to offer for an entire week.
We also like the Stowe, VT area. The weather is nice in summer. We did the easy 2 hour drive to Montreal (assuming all have passports) for the day. In the area (we were are Smugglers Notch) there's fly fishing, lakes for swimming (if July/Aug), hiking, walking, biking along an old RR trail, golf, good eateries, and quirky stores. I'm guessing there are other Northeast towns with similar.
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I was in DC over July 4th last summer. The heat & humidity was truly one of the worst weather I have ever experienced. Truly unbearable.
 
Here's another idea: The Berkshires in MA. The biggest draw is the Norman Rockwell Museum in Lee MA, they have all of his legendary artwork, and the workers there know everything about his life. Lee is a quaint small town, with art stores and antique shops.

TS
 
There’s a lot to do and see in New Hampshire as well. The Seacoast, the lakes region and the White Mountains. Plenty of history, and museums and shopping as well. You could rent an Airbnb maybe in the central region and do day excursions as the state is not that big and easy to explore.
 
simpsontruckdriver said:
Here's another idea: The Berkshires in MA. The biggest draw is the Norman Rockwell Museum in Lee MA, they have all of his legendary artwork, and the workers there know everything about his life. Lee is a quaint small town, with art stores and antique shops.

TS
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The Berkshires are wonderful in the summertime. Tanglewood is in full swing where you can pack a picnic lunch, sit on the lawn and experience the Boston Symphony orchestra. Jacobs Pillow has dance programs as well.
 
simpsontruckdriver said:
Here's another idea: The Berkshires in MA. The biggest draw is the Norman Rockwell Museum in Lee MA, they have all of his legendary artwork, and the workers there know everything about his life. Lee is a quaint small town, with art stores and antique shops.

TS
Click to expand...
Clark Art in Williamstown is amazing as well.
 
I am partial to Charleston, for many reasons (starting with #1 grandson was born there :)). But OY can it be hot in the summer!

Summer is such a nice time to spend on the east coast. Traveling up the coast from Salem, Boston, all the way up into Maine, and yes, inland to the White Mountains. That's if you want to drive some. So much history through there, too!

Berkshires is a great suggestion. Bentley Brook is a great home base for lots of to do in the area. Also not too far from Yankee Candle, Lake George, lots and lots to do around there.
 
We love New England for scenic fall drives and walking/hiking trails... the Kancamagus hwy in NH, Rt 112 through VT, stop at VT Country Store, Stowe, Smugglers Notch region, north to Lake Champlain region, cross over into NY Champlain ferry. So much more...
 
My vote would be New England. Some years ago, we had a great family vacation driving through Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, with our principal stays being in Stowe VT, Portland ME, and then Boston. After spending several days in Boston, we drove to NYC and spent a few days there before flying back home. Very memorable.
 
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