Would you please help me decide where to go on a family trip?

[sorriso]

I love trying to round up my "kids" (presently 26, 24, 22) and do a family vacation. I'm stuck in a time warp when they were all under my roof and this helps merge reality with fantasy!

We are looking at approximately one year from now, late August. Best idea would have been the Swiss Alps for hiking and fabulous scenery but I'm not even putting myself on the search list with RCI because of airfare. Next choice is the Rockies. My husband and I live in Maine where the kids grew up, they are now located in New Hampshire, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC area. None of us have been to the Rockies. Other options would be Arizona, New Mexico and Alaska or Hawaii but the latter two destinations start rivaling Europe with the airfare cost. My husband and I spent a week in Sedona this past January, other than that just the LA son who drove from Maine has ever been near any of those regions.

We would like to be active outside. The lure of the Alps made me think we could just walk out the door and access hiking trails (not rock climbing or anything crazy). The guys all like to fish. Spas are a definite NO. We don't need fancy restaurants but do enjoy a good meal. We all like historical interest sites but this isn't a necessity. I would love to take them to a nicer resort type timeshare. Life's been fairly frugal for all of us and it would be nice to switch things up a bit.

Tell me your suggestions, go wild!

Thanks,
Linda

 

[Steamboat Bill]

Check out Whistler, BC Canada as this place rocks!

 

[sorriso]

Thank you! I hadn't even thought of Canada even though I have heard about Whistler...can you recommend a particular resort?

 

[Carol C]

My hubby and I went last summer to Washington state and Vancouver Island...it was great. We had our base camp at a beach resort in WA state, and we made day trips from there. We spent a full day in Olympic National Park and wish we had spent two days there...an overnight would have been worth "wasting" a timeshare night. Then we headed north in our rental car,crossed into Canada via ferry, and we spent a few nights there. We loved Buchart Gardens in Victoria, and the best part of the trip was a fantastic orca whale watching trip off the harbor in Sidney BC. We did get in plenty of hiking, btw. Then when we drove back we spent a full day and one night in Seattle, which your 20-somethings will love because there's a cool SciFi museum and Rock and Roll museum near the Space Needle. We also spent a few hours in Tacoma WA because we love Chihuly's other-worldly glass sculptures, and since he's based in Tacoma there's a lot of his glass in public spaces. If you go to Seattle you can buy a 6 attraction pass at the Space Needle, and you can get out on the water on a boat tour as well as hit the Space Needle and their cool museums of popular culture.

There are some highly regarded timeshare resorts in BC on Vancouver Island. Pacific Shores gets high marks and is in RCI...hard to get so hope you have super trade power. Here's the resort website:
http://www.pacific-shores.com/

Whatever you decide to do...have fun!

 

[Passepartout]

Everyone should see Yellowstone in their lifetime. One can hike, fish, bond, and there's not a spa anywhere close.

 

[elaine]

you can fly to seattle for Whistler

it's 2 hrs or so from Seattle to Vancouver and 2.5 hrs Vancouver to Whistler. Sometimes NWA runs REALLY good airfare deals to Canada--they send out little coupons in the money mailers (or you can buy the coupons on ebay).
But, if you don't land a decent airfare, then you can fly into Seattle--which you can get for very decent $ if you fly SWA, or at least airports that SWA serve.

We did this exact trip 8 years ago--its was great.

We all flew into Sea-Tac from different places and met at an airport hotel (taking the free shuttle). Then headed out the next AM for Olympic Penisula.
You can also take a car ferry (make a reservation) over to Olympic Peninsula and stay for a few days--very inexpensive hotels and condos. My husband and son went fishing out of Olympic Peninsula and caught a 60 lb Halibut.

Vancouver is a really interesting city and makes a good stay for 1 or 2 nights.

You can also car ferry over to Victoria/Vancouver Island from Vancouver area---very British and sort of neat.

The drive from Vancouver to Whistler is one of the most breathtaking views I have ever seen---think poor man's version of Alaska cruise.
You could also bypass all of the detours and just spend night #1 at Sea-Tac airport hotel, then drive straight to Whistler in about 5 hours.

 

[Laurie]

There are many beautiful areas and national parks in both US and Canada, but for scenery and hiking that rivals the Swiss Alps, I don't think you can do better than Glacier National Park. Many people think it's the most beautiful place they've ever seen (I'm trying to convince some that the Swiss Alps are just as beautiful!)

Banff NP would also be a great choice, and the other NP's adjoining it: Yoho, Jasper, etc.

I haven't yet been to Rocky Mt NP, but if you're looking for alpine hiking - which IMO is the most beautiful there is - and want to avoid airfare costs, you couldn't go wrong with either of those.

 

[BevL]

I am so pleased that many of the suggestions are for my neck of the woods. If you are thinking of Whistler, it's not a difficult trade, especially for the end of August. If you can tack on a few days and include Vancouver for a few nights in a hotel downtown, it would be the perfect urban/outdoor vacation. Whistler, while not the Alps, has sort of a European ski village feel to it, definitely.

As for resort recommendations, WhiskiJack has a strong presence there and many of their resorts are really nice. The only ones I would be leery of are ones that have warnings about late night noise - they really mean it as the partyers go until about 5:00 a.m. there!! But there are many quiet areas as well.

I would definitely suggest flying to Seattle and driving up - the taxes for flights to/from Canada are the reason we only fly from Vancouver if we're using FF points and not paying.

Bev

 

[DaveNV]

There are so many choices...

The San Juan Islands in Washington are amazing. Summer here is awesome.

Southern Utah red rock country - Arches National Park, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park - the list goes on and on. Hiking, fishing, all of it - best outdoor vacation in the nation.

The Oregon Coast - anywhere. Indescribable.

And as has been mentioned, the Yellowstone area would be great.

Taos, New Mexico. Even the name has magic in it.

Dave

 

[bellesgirl]

I second Glacier

We just came back from Glacier National Park and I second the recommendation. It is a beautiful area with lots of hiking (which we did) and fishing (which we did not do). We also went to Waterton in Canada and visited Big Fork and Polson, which are scenic and have wonderful restaurants. We stayed at Glacier Wilderness Resort and it was terrific. I thought it might be too rustic, but it had everything we needed and the hot tub on the deck was very welcoming after a long day of hiking. August is the perfect time to go. Glacier has a free shuttle now which makes it easy for your group to be together when you want and apart when you need some away time.

Last year we went to Estes Park near Rocky Mountain NP, and stayed at Rams Horn Village. That is also a terrific area with lots to do.

We have been fortunate enough to go to Yellowstone, Yosemite and Whistler as well. You can't really go wrong with any of them.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Yellowstone is really a wonderful trip. We also love Summit County in Colorado. We are biased, since we have lived in Colorado most of our lives. We own at Val Chatelle in Frisco, in SC and love it there. Breckenridge is very close to Frisco and is a favorite amongst TUGgers. There are many nice resorts in Breck. Vail is also pretty close to Breck and both places have great things to do.

Winter Park in CO has a really great Alpine Slide. You ride the ski lift up to the top and ride a sled down a fiberglass trail. So much fun, though slightly dangerous if you don't keep your body weight centered on the sled around the curves. You got to let the sled take you and not try to control it in anyway, except to brake, which you might have to do, when you go too fast.

Winter Park is not far from Rocky Mountain National Park. Some disagree with this, but we took a day trip from WP a few times and got back by the end of the day, easily. Estes Park was already mentioned. It is a very nice area, very crowded most of the time with Denver visitors for a day. We are going up there next week to shop and eat somewhere. In two weeks, we are going up to Breck for a day with Rick's mom. Very fun shopping and restaurants in Breck. We are going to eat at Bubba Gump's and fondly reminisce on our Hawaii trip together, just the three of us. We love taking Mom to Hawaii, but that is a different thread.

Although I don't know of any (maybe one) timeshares in South Dakota, the Black Hills are really something special too.

 

[Steamboat Bill]

We are going to eat at Bubba Gump's and fondly reminisce on our Hawaii trip together, just the three of us. We love taking Mom to Hawaii, but that is a different thread.

*** Warning - My opinion inserted here ***

I have been to two different Bubba Gumps and they have the WORST shrimp I have ever had in my life. This place makes the Red Lobster look gourmet. I was so upset as the movie made such a big deal about shrimp and they only had these very small popcorn shrimps...no jumbos. Everything else there was pretty good, especially their special drinks....just avoid the shrimp!

I think the real forest gump would be dissapointed.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Bill, I agree completely. I usually don't have the shrimp, but we have only been to the restaurant on Maui and loved it.

 

[sorriso]

Wow, thank you all for your thoughts! Am I correct that there are no RCI timeshares in Montana?

After posting last night I flipped through the RCI catalog and then did a little computer follow-up on Purgatory Village Condominium Hotel at Durango Mountain Resort (just kind of rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?). Anyone familiar with the resort? the area? It doesn't sound exactly easy to get to.

Linda

 

[Elan]

I would agree with Laurie's rec of Glacier National Park. It is so stunningly beautiful, it will bring you to tears. I've seen the Swiss Alps, and Glacier has to be the closest thing we have here in the continental US. There is a very nice RCI resort in Columbia Falls (MeadowLake & Nenestako -- same property), and some further away in Whitefish (Ptarmigan Village and Crestwood - probably others). Also, there's a timeshare in Bigfork (Marina Cay, IIRC). These in addition to the aforementioned Glacier Wilderness Resort.

I would also agree with the recommendations of Yellowstone and Whistler. Both awesome places.

P.S. If you decide on Glacier, there are quite a few VRBO house rentals typically available in the Whitefish area. A big house right on Whitefish Lake would be awesome for a family get-together, IMHO.

 

[sorriso]

Okay, I found Montana in the book (anyone care to go on a hike in the woods with me ?).

I just looked at Trip Advisory for the Purgatory timeshare. It appears that what the website offers for rooms and what people have experienced ("Hello 1980!") are two different things; imagine! I don't want that this time.

 

[anteween]

Check out Whistler, BC Canada as this place rocks!

I went to Whistler last year in June. It was awesome. We stayed at the Club Intrawest timeshare. We had a 2bd which was plenty big enough. The resort is located in the upper village, has a small movie theater, small mini mart, two swimming pools. One is adults only. There is also an area downstairs, like a den for adults only.

We brought our 13 year old son and his friend. They have bike trails, walking trails, you can mtn bike down the ski slopes, atv riding, zip lines (the best, Hawaii didn't compare) small lakes and a lot of places to eat in the general vicinity.

We flew from SF to Vancouver. The drive is a little long with all the construction on the road. They are trying to get ready for the Olympics.

 

[labguides]

I'd head to Breckenridge CO and stay at Grand Timber. So much to do outdoors, good restaurants. Summit County CO is my idea of paradise.

 

[Judy]

I just returned from Estes Park, Colorado. It's only a couple of miles from Rocky Mountain National Park. The park is beautiful, has lots of hiking, Alpine tundra, and wildlife. In our four days there, we saw moose, deer, a coyote, elk, and a big horn sheep.
We stayed at Worldmark Estes Park. It has a great location, but there were things I didn't like about it. I submitted a review yesterday. There are several other timeshares in Estes Park as well.

 

[PStreet1]

I think Fairfield, Pagosa Springs, Colorado, offers everything you are looking for--and the resort usually isn't too difficult a trade. If I were going there, I'd fly into Denver and rent a car and drive from there, or possibly Albuquerque. It's not a bad drive from either. From Pagosa Springs, you can go drive the Million Dollar Highway (named by Terry Rosevelt because it bankrupts the English language), Native American ruins at Chimney Rock, Mesa Verde, fantastic hiking (this area of Colorado is the most concentrated 14,000 ft. peak area), ride the Durango/Silverton steam train, golf, go to the hot springs, which are really nice (maybe 20 different springs, all at vastly different temperatures and labeled at the town bath house; you can take a lunch and stay all day if you want), and the resort itself has activities.