SteveL
Reged: 07/21/03
Posts: 400
Loc: Blacklick, OH (Columbus)
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My best friend and I get together for some sort of short, relaxing trip every year (we've done this for over 30 years and some day I'm going to write a book about the trips). We're tired of Vegas and I'm not up for a golf resort for some reason, although I haven't ruled that out. We like outdoorsy activities for the most part. I had a great idea, the Monterey Jazz Festival, but the timing wasn't quite right. There are no good festivals anyplace in the US the days we can go.
Although my list is getting larger, not smaller as I'd prefer, I'm not quite as excited about any of my ideas as I should be. We want to make this a fairly cheap trip (that's how we don't get flack from our wives).
So, I'd like any good ideas and I'd also like to ask two specific questions.
#1 - MikeR - what would you suggest for either a Colorado or NH trip based on the criteria I suggested? How is the weather in mid-September?
#2 - What are the FL Keys like? What is there to do, which key is the best for what we want, and how's the weather at that time?
Note that trips outside continental US or Canada are ruled out. I'd thought of Bahamas or Bermuda, but they were vetoed.
Consider also that I'll be traveling from Columbus, OH and he's traveling from Milwaukee.
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Go Badgers! Go Bucks! Go Brewers!
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15729
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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SteveL
Flaming Gorge in Wyoming/Utah border...its where we are going in Sept for a weekend..we love it....gorgeous country....look it up
Moab/The Arches Utah....great Sept weather..great biking..amazing scenery
Cape Cod after Labor day weekend....great weather without the crowds...fishing..hiking...beaching....plus you can partake in the most popular off season activity there with the locals....drinking
Colorado and NH can be pretty boring in Sept...no foilage yet...but....great weather, although you can see snow in higher elevations in CO in Sept...but hiking a fourteener would be fun and an accomplishment to be proud of...or hiking the Presidentials in NH and staying in Appalachian Mountain Club Huts along the way is great too....
Grand Canyon National Park....great weather in Sept and tons to do...and no crowds
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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SteveL
Reged: 07/21/03
Posts: 400
Loc: Blacklick, OH (Columbus)
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Thanks Mike! Excellent ideas. I've always wondered about that area of Utah and also figured that it was always either too cold or too hot! Kidding of course, but I wasn't sure when was a good time. Also really like the Cape Cod suggestion. Did not realize that it was ever good weather AND uncrowded. I'm going to look further into all your ideas.
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Go Badgers! Go Bucks! Go Brewers!
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andynap
Reged: 10/24/02
Posts: 12131
Loc: Philadelphia
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I went to Cape Cod 4 years ago right after Labor Day and it was crowded as hell. All the parents with their toddlers were there. Nantucket was just as bad.
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Andy -
St. Barts- where no day is ever the same and one day is not enough
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15729
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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Andy...then you ve got bad luck...because, when I lived there, the week after Labor Day you could have shot a gun down Front Street in P town and not worry about hitting anyone......
Edited by Mike R (05/24/04 12:33 PM)
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Maureenm
Reged: 03/19/03
Posts: 185
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Grand Canyon is fabulous, and Sept weather is perfect. Of course Iwent ten days after Sept 11 so it was really quiet, almost eerie. I also love Yosemite in Ca. and my favorite national park is Acadia in Bar harbor.
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15729
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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Acadia rocks and is an excellent idea....hike Cadallac Mt.....eat lots of seafood....go on a whale watch...
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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SteveL
Reged: 07/21/03
Posts: 400
Loc: Blacklick, OH (Columbus)
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Would Acadia be really croweded Sep. 18-23 with leafpeepers? I had Acadia on the list originally, but then thought it might be busy.
Yosemite is out, because we've been there pretty recently, but Grand Canyon is definitely still in as it has been a REALLY long time since I've been there and my friend has never been there.
Presumably Sep 16 is well past the Labor Day crowds on Cape Cod. Certainly the rentals are much less than high season at that time. BTW, where is a good place on the Cape to stay? Truro looked nice.
Had another idea (which I got from thinking about Cape Cod/Nantucket) - the San Juan Islands. Any thoughts re the San Juan Islands? Also, still wondering if anybody has thougts on the Keys.
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Go Badgers! Go Bucks! Go Brewers!
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SteveL
Reged: 07/21/03
Posts: 400
Loc: Blacklick, OH (Columbus)
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Also, if goping to Acadia and not camping, where's a good place to stay? Quiet, 2 beds, FP, nice, but not expensive.
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Go Badgers! Go Bucks! Go Brewers!
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15729
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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That should be too early, by a week, for leaf peepers...you want some killer good places to stay on Cape??.....Masthead in P Town is a good one....Chatham Bars Inn in Chatham is good but its old stuffy money which is a turn off for me...but it is very nice
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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Maureenm
Reged: 03/19/03
Posts: 185
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We were in Acadia area last October, October 16-19 to be exact. I think it was a late color season, but it was not even peak then. We stay at a lovely bed and breakfast in Northeast Harbour which is a quaint little town-- quiet and beautiful.
The place we stay at is Grey Rock Inn and they do have a website. It's not cheap but not outrageous. AFter what we spend in SBH, everything looks good. It is run by a British woman and her two sons and they know every trail in the park. They are wonderful people and will plot our trails for you if you are into hiking. Also they can recommend good restaurants like Cafe 151 in Northeast Harbour.
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SteveL
Reged: 07/21/03
Posts: 400
Loc: Blacklick, OH (Columbus)
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Maureen:
Very nice! Do you know if any of the rooms have two beds?
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Go Badgers! Go Bucks! Go Brewers!
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15729
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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Maureen...that was a late foliage season....we hit peak every year where we are in NH from around the 6th of Oct to about the 12th...and Bar Harbor is a little north of us.....but leaf peepers start coming last week of September...the bus tours really milk it...they go to the end of October when the only color you see is on the ground!
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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Maureenm
Reged: 03/19/03
Posts: 185
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Mike- I was surprised too. But those were the dates because we were celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary.
Anyway, Steve , yes while I am usually looking for a queen or king because I'm with my husband, I do remember staying in a room ( I think it was called the butterfly room) and they definitely had two beds. Not sure if that room had a fire place or not. Some do,some don't. Last year, we splurged but we got good rates because it was after Oct. 12 and stayed in the suite, which has two bedrooms and does have a fire place. If you are serious about going, call up there and you will get either Karl or Adam.
They have sent us on some wonderful hikes that probably would have taken us forever to locate ourselves,if at all.
Oh and the breakfasts are wonderful and included in the room rate.
Oh you are making me want to go back this year, but we have already booked Sicily for the fall, and Block Island for the summer. Block Island is another suggestion but I like Acadia much better because the hiking is so fabulous.
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JEK
Moderator
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 10718
Loc: Northern Virginia
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Back to the question: Plaza Hotel, Suite 1000.
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Carnaval 2009: Mardi 24 Février 2009!!!!
JEK
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Ed and Em
Reged: 10/09/03
Posts: 22
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My parents grew up on the Cape and we still go for weeks in June, July, and August. However, Sept would be my first choice if not for the start of school for the kids. Mid Sept would be beautiful- add biking to the list of activities- miles of "rail trails".
We live in Maine and I think Acadia would be starting to get pretty busy around that time, although you could still camp and have fewer bugs! Sounds like a great time for a vacation.
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SteveL
Reged: 07/21/03
Posts: 400
Loc: Blacklick, OH (Columbus)
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I've narrowed my list to 5:
San Juan Islands
FL Keys
Cape Cod
Acadia
Grand Canyon
All would be great, but I had to narrow or go nuts. The order above is my own personal preference and now I'm waiting to hear what my friend thinks.
Everybody's (well almost) help has been appreciated.
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Go Badgers! Go Bucks! Go Brewers!
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carolinacarmen
Reged: 09/13/03
Posts: 24
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Steve, I am an OSU Alum- I agree with your go Bucks sentiments. Two guys free for 5 days in Sept., break your rule and do Amsterdam. If not, the San Juans are great. We did them in July a few years ago and spent a whole day with Orca's swimming and mating just feet from our small boat piloted by a delightful scool teacher. Recommend a night outside seattle in Woodinville either your first night in or your last day before you leave if you are food and wine folks. Stay at the Willows Lodge and book dinner at the Herb farm restaurant. Better than the French Laundry. Before dinner you can sip wine across the street at Chateau St. Michelle winery and while walking back stop in the Redhook Brewery tasting room for a great sample of some of America's best suds. Finally get a massage at the spa. --Good Luck on your choice! (ps - we spent a week last year in Sept watching the aspen leaves from the back of a horse near yelllowstone staying at an ecolodge called Papoose Creek Lodge. Great riding, great scenery and great food. Fishing was fantastic on the gallatin and firehole rivers. Afew years ago we also had a great time riding, fishing and rafting in Driggs Idaho at Teton ridge Ranch on the backside ofthe the tetons about 30 miles as the crow flies from Jackson. Another great early Sept. trip is with Salmon River Outfitters on the Salmon River doing the river of no return wilderness with steve and his crew of great river guides who are also great cooks, best trip I ever took wih my son!)
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SteveL
Reged: 07/21/03
Posts: 400
Loc: Blacklick, OH (Columbus)
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If the wives wouldn't get unpleasant, I'd definitely do Amsterdam. I spent a weekend there with a couple of other guys a few years ago and it is such a wonderful city. But, best not to rock the boat.
Thanks for the Seattle/San Juan comments. Those all sound like great things to do.
Actually, I have been thinking about planning something with my sons and Papoose Creek was one of the candidates. Might not be until next summer though.
BTW, we actrually lived in Idaho (Moscow) for a couple years, although we never made it to Diggs (is that sort of near McCall?). I remember the name, but not much else. Idaho is so, so amazingly beautiful. That too is a really great idea.
BTW, there are many pretenders, but only one real Bucks. No Bucks in Pittsburgh, no Bucks in Tampa, and no Bucks in Columbus. That said, I applaud all Big Ten alums!
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Go Badgers! Go Bucks! Go Brewers!
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15729
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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I'd have a better chance wishing for world peace then I would getting my wife's blessing to go to Amsterdam with a friend......waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much stuff there to get in trouble with.......and given my history.....well...enough about that......Steve....based on the last two posts I read....give Flaming Gorge a look.....I think it will interest you....... we are heading there the last weekend of Sept.....
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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happydad
Reged: 07/21/04
Posts: 9
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I had a wonderful week on Lopez Island Washington.
Very quiet and pretty.
You can rent a house for less than $2000 a week.
Hope that helps.
Chris.
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wew71
Reged: 04/12/04
Posts: 48
Loc: Alpharetta, GA
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I've been diving in the Keys a few times in September - it's hurricane season and be prepared to be awoken at dawn by planes spraying for mosquitoes every day...If you like to dive or fish, the Keys are okay. The San Juans sound much better. Of course, you guys will have fun wherever you wind up. Good luck.
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SteveL
Reged: 07/21/03
Posts: 400
Loc: Blacklick, OH (Columbus)
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Just so anybody who cares knows, we're going to Orcas. We'll probably ferry to other islands too.
Thanks for all the always-excellent comments and info.
Steve
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Go Badgers! Go Bucks! Go Brewers!
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happydad
Reged: 07/21/04
Posts: 9
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I am very excited that you are headed for Orcas Island.
I have no doubt that you will have a wonderful time.
If you are renting a car - it would be worth taking it with you to Lopez ( if you go ).
Enjoy the trip!
Chris.
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