Pintxos

Hi, I am leaving a job for a new more exciting and also much more demanding job. I have a week in between and would love to do a quick getaway. I live in Seattle, my budget is not more than $3K. San Diego or San Francisco are my ideas but I am not terribly excited, for some reason, about these prospects.

My family cannot join me because of school and job obligations so I am likely to travel alone. There is a small chance that I will take my 7 year old with me but it will mean less of a relaxing vacation, since I will be the only parent and will have to be on the whole time.

Pintxos

My timeframe is early March, less than 1 week. Thank you!

Lilith

You don't say if you prefer flying, driving or trains . . .or any idea of what your interests are.

But if I had a week off and some $$, I'd check into all the places in the US where I have wanted to go - Florida Keys, Outer Banks, Mt. Rushmore, Cape Cod - and price out flights/hotels/vrbo rentals, etc.

Visiting a few national parks would be fun, like Bryce and Zion (close together), Grand Canyon, Yosemite and of course there are many others. Hawaii is an option, my husband and I did a week on the Big Island for less than $2500 for both of us (although, frankly, I didn't really like Hawaii all that much). Victoria BC is a gorgeous and relaxing place and there is plenty to do there for a week, particularly if you are taking it easy.

If you can give is some parameters of interests, hobbies, ways you like to relax, whether you prefer cities or open spaces, that would help.

Pintxos

Lilith,

Thank you for responding! I thought about being more specific but I also wanted to be broad in my parameters. I don't think I want to go far. My ideal vacation is always Paris but I am not going to fly there for such a short period of time. I don't like Las Vegas, casinos, smoking.

I am thinking of staying close to Seattle, because my husband will have to be alone with our 7 year old son while I travel, so I want to be able to fly back quickly, if necessary.

I like culture and sun. Hawaii is a bit far but I have a dear friend in Honolulu. Weather is a consideration for early March, so places like Bryce and Zion are not an option (I think). I am not a camper and I am a reluctant hiker.

I want relaxation and I want a reset. I have been in a job that I hated for the last 3 years so I am looking forward to getting out and starting fresh. The new job will be much more challenging and demanding but also rewarding, I hope.

Again, thanks for brainstorming with me.

Gardyloo

South - Head to Ontario or Palm Springs airport and visit Joshua Tree National Park, or fly into Vegas and head to Death Valley - it's a great time of year for the desert.

East - Take the train to Chicago and fly back; or fly to Charleston or Savannah, beautiful in the early spring.

North/off the wall - fly to Juneau and take the Alaska ferry back down to Bellingham. In the late winter the Inside Passage is magical.

Gardyloo

(Oops, posted at the same time...)

Other thoughts -

Santa Barbara - history, beauty, walkable, beaches (water's cold) great food...

Monterey Peninsula - beautiful scenery, butterflies in Pacific Grove, shops and cafes in Carmel, the Monterey aquarium, Point Lobos State Park...

Pintxos

Thanks, Gardyloo, Santa Barbara sounds enchanting. So does Carmel and Napa Valley. Sideways?

Gardyloo

Most people (me included) think Santa Barbara is one of the most beautiful small cities in California, if not the US.

Santa Barbara Mission (1826) - http://gardyloo.us/20110205_8a.JPG

jpie

We are from Seattle and have been renting in Palm Springs and San Diego to escape winter for the past 2 months. For my money if I were going to start a new more demanding job I might think spa treat. In Palm Springs I would stay in PS itself but go to Desert Hots Springs for the hot springs and massage and facials

http://www.dhsspa.com/

The hotel is fine but kind of funky and there is more to do in PS itself.

In San Diego Estancia La Jolla would be amazing:

www.estancialajolla.com/

or golden door

http://www.goldendoor.com/

The advantage of these is that you would spend much less on air fare and spend more on the hotel and spa experience. You are only a 3 hour flight away so a bit less worrisome if you needed to come back for some reason, plus you would get some sun and warmth-always a good thing when you are NW based. It could be even more fun if you have a friend you could convince to tag along

Another thought in the same vein would be to go Arizona. Tucson in particular seems like a good place for these kind of escapes and the are near Bisbee is amazing to explore. The Chiricahuas are really lovely

http://www.nps.gov/media/photo/galle...A3EF3D31F27DE6

If you want a bit more exotic-Alaska airlines makes it easy to go some place like Cabo.

wekewoody

"I want relaxation and I want a reset."

Fly to L.A.

Check into the Peninsula.

Go shopping.

tomfuller

The train option: Get on the Coast Starlight about 9:30AM in Seattle and ride to Santa Barbara. You and your son can have a roomette for less than $650 (meals included).
Taxis are available to go to your Santa Barbara hotel about 6PM. The Santa Barbara zoo is nice for kids and you should not miss the mission up on the hill.
Fly home on Alaska airline from Santa Barbara or Burbank.

suze

I travel solo and out of Seattle. My favorite getaways are Waikiki Hawaii or Puerto Vallarta Mexico. I can do 7-10 days either place for $1500-2000 total cost. Weather would be great both places this time of year. 6 hr nonstop to Oahu on Hawaiian Air. About the same flight time to PV, but harder to find a nonstop (often one change of plane typically at Phoenix, SFO or LAX).

Pintxos

Thanks all. I am still thinking of the various options. All suggestions are welcome and I am researching some of them right now. Gracias!

Pintxos

So, I think Santa Barbara is the place for me. I just wonder if the weather will be nice in early March, but it looks promising. I might even combine it with a trip to Palm Springs. Thanks, everyone.

jpie

I think the weather should be good-generally that is a reliable time of year. Rather than the extra distance to the desert, maybe you should consider re-creating the "sideways" wine trip up to the Solvang area. It is really handy from that area and the wines are amazing-especially the Pinots

Here's a link that describes the basic winery and restaurant info from the film: http://www.winecountrygetaways.com/s...-wineries.html

Pintxos

Oh jpie, that looks wonderful. I was thinking of recreating Sideways (just the itinerary, minus the negative stuff, the drinking and fraternizing with locals) and just going to Napa Valley. so many possibilities!

jpie

Yeah the sideways trip fits nicely with Santa Barbara-so if you decide to go there-it would be a fun way to split the time. Bew aware though that they actually predicting heavy rains in the LA area in the next few days-so watch your weather!The drive to solvang can get cut off by flooding in those conditions and it would be a drag to come to SoCal for seattle weather We spent 20 years and in Seattle and now we can only take it in the summers-pathetically I have grown into a weather wimp in my old age!

POlson

I like the idea of Santa Barbara for relaxing.

Another SoCal option - Laguna Beach. We used SGP points to stay at the St. Regis in Monarch Beach. Our kids loved the KidsClub - so you could still find some "me time" even if the 7 year travels with you. Terranea Resort is a nice option too (also has a kids club and a water slide at the pool), overlooks the ocean.

I sometimes take a getaway week at Red Mountain Resort & Spa in St. George (fly into Vegas, easy 1 hour shuttle to resort), for hiking, biking, meditation/wellness activities, fitness classes, and eating well. A really great way to decompress. Not suitable for the 7 year old.

Gardyloo

I might even combine it with a trip to Palm Springs.

We did a week combining Santa Barbara and Palm Springs in January a couple of years ago. Great weather, and we spent a day visiting Joshua Tree NP (an hour from PS) which is stunning. It's a great combination.

Pintxos

Alright, California is out now with the storms and flood warnings. I will stay put and will try to be a tourist in my own city of Seattle. Thanks all!