Need help planning weekend trips: Georgia, Chicago, Tennessee, Alaska?!
Dec 22nd, 2014, 06:54 PM
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Need help planning weekend trips: Georgia, Chicago, Tennessee, Alaska?!
I have a goal to start traveling internationally starting in the beginning or middle of 2016! Before I do that, I would like to visit as many states in the U.S. that I possibly can in 2015 and possibly the beginning of 2016. I can only do this on weekends (including long weekends).
I am on a pretty tight budget and can do 1-2 states per month. I am looking for truly unique, interesting and some out of body experiences (which I can also find in simple things) but budget friendly.
I have been doing research and so can find something interesting about almost every state. I am going to Texas next month then maybe Georgia..? After that, I would like to see places like the Grand Canyon and other great and extremely unique things. Chicago, New Orleans, Oregon, Alaska, San Diego, Tennessee,Kentucky, Hawaii, Vermont are places that are of sincere interest to me for different reasons.
I love exotic, scenic, interesting and different things, music, culture, theater..overall, JUST GREAT EXPERIENCES! Love seeing different animals for the first time...etc! Guess I just need help narrowing down the list of places to go to. I will be traveling a lone and I am very open to new things so any helpful suggestions please!
I am on a pretty tight budget and can do 1-2 states per month. I am looking for truly unique, interesting and some out of body experiences (which I can also find in simple things) but budget friendly.
I have been doing research and so can find something interesting about almost every state. I am going to Texas next month then maybe Georgia..? After that, I would like to see places like the Grand Canyon and other great and extremely unique things. Chicago, New Orleans, Oregon, Alaska, San Diego, Tennessee,Kentucky, Hawaii, Vermont are places that are of sincere interest to me for different reasons.
I love exotic, scenic, interesting and different things, music, culture, theater..overall, JUST GREAT EXPERIENCES! Love seeing different animals for the first time...etc! Guess I just need help narrowing down the list of places to go to. I will be traveling a lone and I am very open to new things so any helpful suggestions please!
Dec 23rd, 2014, 01:32 AM
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For Chicago, you can arrange for a free neighborhood tour with a City Greeter. Arrangements need to be made ahead of time and there are a variety of neighborhoods to choose from.
I love gardening so I try to schedule a couple of garden tours each summer. Usually it's a charity fundraiser and sometimes the gardens aren't all that great but it only takes one very special garden to make it worthwhile. Last summer we went to Open Garden Days in Vermont sponsored by the Nature Conservancy. From what I have seen, these are the ultra special gardens. I tend not to like gardens that require a professional designer and maintenance crew but there was one country mansion that was fascinating. Tour included the barn where dh spotted a door being constructed from solid oak. The website gives a schedule of Open Garden Days around the United States.
VT is wonderful. Great place to go for a great 4th of July parade (Bristol and Brandon are both great). With wonderful farmers markets. Strolling of the Heifers parade is in early June/Brattleboro. And, darn, we missed the recent lighted tractor parade in St. Albans. Still need to see the giant puppets on parade. And, just outside of Bristol there's a swimming spot on the river with a small waterfall. I'm too old and too chicken to jump off ledges into deep pool but it was fun watching the teenagers do it. You can also splurge with a baking class at King Arthur Flour (Norwich).
I would suggest subscribing to different local newspapers to get a local view of things and look for the possibility of a volunteer opportunity. Do you belong to any organization like Toastmasters International which would provide the opportunity of visiting a local chapter meeting? Thanks to a volunteer I met on Fodors, I got to visit a national rose society show in San Diego last spring. I've also visited a local quilt show in Alaska and an Anchorage neighborhood garden tour. The craft fair at Alyeska around 4th of July was wonderful and almost provided me with a close-up experience with a black bear. (I heard the yelling and saw the bushes move but didn't actually see the bear who they think was attracted by the food smells.)
Good luck on your quest.
I love gardening so I try to schedule a couple of garden tours each summer. Usually it's a charity fundraiser and sometimes the gardens aren't all that great but it only takes one very special garden to make it worthwhile. Last summer we went to Open Garden Days in Vermont sponsored by the Nature Conservancy. From what I have seen, these are the ultra special gardens. I tend not to like gardens that require a professional designer and maintenance crew but there was one country mansion that was fascinating. Tour included the barn where dh spotted a door being constructed from solid oak. The website gives a schedule of Open Garden Days around the United States.
VT is wonderful. Great place to go for a great 4th of July parade (Bristol and Brandon are both great). With wonderful farmers markets. Strolling of the Heifers parade is in early June/Brattleboro. And, darn, we missed the recent lighted tractor parade in St. Albans. Still need to see the giant puppets on parade. And, just outside of Bristol there's a swimming spot on the river with a small waterfall. I'm too old and too chicken to jump off ledges into deep pool but it was fun watching the teenagers do it. You can also splurge with a baking class at King Arthur Flour (Norwich).
I would suggest subscribing to different local newspapers to get a local view of things and look for the possibility of a volunteer opportunity. Do you belong to any organization like Toastmasters International which would provide the opportunity of visiting a local chapter meeting? Thanks to a volunteer I met on Fodors, I got to visit a national rose society show in San Diego last spring. I've also visited a local quilt show in Alaska and an Anchorage neighborhood garden tour. The craft fair at Alyeska around 4th of July was wonderful and almost provided me with a close-up experience with a black bear. (I heard the yelling and saw the bushes move but didn't actually see the bear who they think was attracted by the food smells.)
Good luck on your quest.
Dec 23rd, 2014, 07:16 AM
#4
Where are these weekend trips coming from? Which state or country?
What type of budget or job do you have?
It would be much more efficient to take a 3-4 week vacation and see about 20 states before heading for home/job.
What type of budget or job do you have?
It would be much more efficient to take a 3-4 week vacation and see about 20 states before heading for home/job.
Dec 23rd, 2014, 07:59 AM
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I don't think Alaska is realistic as a long weekend trip. You're looking at a minimum of 12 hours for traveling from the East Coast, that will take up 2 days just to fly there and back. I suppose if you want to just visit and say you've been there it would work, but it would make a lot more sense to budget a longer trip.
Dec 23rd, 2014, 05:09 PM
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Thank you all so much!I had a feeling that Alaska and maybe Hawaii(for the expense) may be a little far reaching for the time and budget. WhereAreWe and charsuzan, I agree and will put those off for now.
tomfuller, to answer your questions, I am from Massachusetts. I would like to stick to $500 max per trip (so I am open to couchsurfing and hostels as long as they aren't completely nightmarish). I wish I could take 3-4 weeks and do what you recommend but I most likely won't be able to do that until late 2015 or the following year. I would like to start doing small trips now due to my urge to travel so I guess i'm looking for recommendations about where I could go domestically and have great impactful experiences in short periods of time (Grand Canyon...national parks...exotic animals, music, culture, theatre)...
dfrostnh Thank you so much for your detailed response.I love your idea for Chicago and I will definitely sign up for that. Toastmasters is actually big at the corp. I work for so I will be joining that as well. Is there a specific volunteer org that you could recommend? There's so many!
tomfuller, to answer your questions, I am from Massachusetts. I would like to stick to $500 max per trip (so I am open to couchsurfing and hostels as long as they aren't completely nightmarish). I wish I could take 3-4 weeks and do what you recommend but I most likely won't be able to do that until late 2015 or the following year. I would like to start doing small trips now due to my urge to travel so I guess i'm looking for recommendations about where I could go domestically and have great impactful experiences in short periods of time (Grand Canyon...national parks...exotic animals, music, culture, theatre)...
dfrostnh Thank you so much for your detailed response.I love your idea for Chicago and I will definitely sign up for that. Toastmasters is actually big at the corp. I work for so I will be joining that as well. Is there a specific volunteer org that you could recommend? There's so many!
Dec 23rd, 2014, 05:48 PM
#9
$500 won't get you many places, even couch surfing, since airfares even relatively short distances can eat up 1/2 to 100% of that.
Maybe think of places w/I driving distance for your short trips. $500 is not realistic for a 3 day trip most anywhere if you have to fly or take a long distance train.
Maybe think of places w/I driving distance for your short trips. $500 is not realistic for a 3 day trip most anywhere if you have to fly or take a long distance train.
Dec 23rd, 2014, 06:47 PM
#10
Depending on airfares from Boston, there are two trips that I think you could make in a 3 full day weekend.
Fly Boston to Chicago (Friday). Spend all day Friday in Chicago and then take the City of New Orleans out of Chicago about 8PM.
You arrive in Memphis sometime between 6:30 and 7AM Saturday on Main Street across the street from the Arcade restaurant which was an Elvis hangout. Spend the whole day in Memphis including some time at Graceland. You can find an OK hotel without going to the expense of staying at the Peabody. Head to the airport on Sunday and fly back to Boston.
Another one that would work would be to fly to New Orleans and spend a day and night there. You have to get up early to take the Amtrak Crescent (7AM depart) as far as Birmingham. Spend some time in Birmingham before flying back home.
Fly Boston to Chicago (Friday). Spend all day Friday in Chicago and then take the City of New Orleans out of Chicago about 8PM.
You arrive in Memphis sometime between 6:30 and 7AM Saturday on Main Street across the street from the Arcade restaurant which was an Elvis hangout. Spend the whole day in Memphis including some time at Graceland. You can find an OK hotel without going to the expense of staying at the Peabody. Head to the airport on Sunday and fly back to Boston.
Another one that would work would be to fly to New Orleans and spend a day and night there. You have to get up early to take the Amtrak Crescent (7AM depart) as far as Birmingham. Spend some time in Birmingham before flying back home.
Dec 23rd, 2014, 06:48 PM
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I have been doing some research and considering what I found and what you've mentioned it may make more sense to leave many of the States/cities off my list until later in my ventures.
In my research though, I have been seeing some relatively inexpensive tickets (between $130-$300)to places like DC, Chicago, Tennessee, Atlanta, GA, New Orleans etc. so maybe I can start with those. Any recommendations on those? Are there any other cities/states I can add to this list?
Not my intention to come off scattered but I am pretty open and willing to start small and expand later on. Just trying to figure out the best course of action.
In my research though, I have been seeing some relatively inexpensive tickets (between $130-$300)to places like DC, Chicago, Tennessee, Atlanta, GA, New Orleans etc. so maybe I can start with those. Any recommendations on those? Are there any other cities/states I can add to this list?
Not my intention to come off scattered but I am pretty open and willing to start small and expand later on. Just trying to figure out the best course of action.
Dec 23rd, 2014, 07:08 PM
#12
Try a flight to Charlotte NC on Friday. Get on the Amtrak Crescent about 2:45AM Saturday morning (Could be late). The Crescent is scheduled into Atlanta between 8-9AM. Spend the whole day and night before heading to Hartsfield airport on Sunday.
Dec 23rd, 2014, 07:22 PM
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tomfuller - thank you! The Amtrak seems ideal for what I want to do, this way I am able to visit multiple states/cities in one trip. I will respond with trip report(s) after my trips at the end of this month, mid January and February.
Thanks everyone. you all have been very helpful!
Thanks everyone. you all have been very helpful!
Dec 24th, 2014, 03:03 AM
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I wonder what the plans are for the international travelling are and what that budget will look like for that!!
There are a lot of fabulous trips from Mass. by car (if the OP has one) or by public transit. The "plan" to spend a budget of $500 for a weekend somewhere that you spend $300 getting to indicates a naivete that may indicate not much experience in travel or a bit of leg pulling!!
The "budget" to the middle of 2016 for this "plan" is about $1500. Think about it.
There are a lot of fabulous trips from Mass. by car (if the OP has one) or by public transit. The "plan" to spend a budget of $500 for a weekend somewhere that you spend $300 getting to indicates a naivete that may indicate not much experience in travel or a bit of leg pulling!!
The "budget" to the middle of 2016 for this "plan" is about $1500. Think about it.
Dec 24th, 2014, 04:50 AM
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Perhaps $500 is the average so since VT is on her list and she lives in MA, that could be a day trip or one overnight leaving more money for a trip to a more distant location. Did anyone calculate when she might reach a FF award for a free ticket? Sure, might be naïve but at least this might have been a good starting point.
TiaStevens: TMI can be a fun organization or not depending on the local chapter. The chapter I used to belong to was known for friendliness and laughter. Local clubs compete, then winners go to area competition. See requirements to be a judge at speech competitions. You are free to visit other clubs and I found speeches at meetings to be very interesting sometimes funny esp if someone was working on the Humorous Speech workbook. Club members usually carpooled to regional competitions.
I get two free trips a year but it's an elected position for a large organization. If you have a special interest/hobby, start cultivating it. ds has gotten some free tickets to do volunteer work for friends (they have lots off FF miles) in a distant state. You have to be good at what you do. Different organizations look for volunteers, start locally to build a reputation and references. Follow your interests to expand your horizons. We used to volunteer on trail crew for an outdoor event. No special talent required just ability to be outdoors most of the day in winter but it was more fun manning a checkpoint than being a spectator. If you are a Toastmaster you can probably volunteer to judge 4-H speech competitions but start locally. May sound dreadfully boring to some but we have listened to some terrific speeches and demonstrations (demonstrations tend to be more interesting). Take a look at all the events/competitions throughout the region and look into volunteer opportunities. A friend has volunteered at mountain bike races at Mt Snow in VT.
TiaStevens: TMI can be a fun organization or not depending on the local chapter. The chapter I used to belong to was known for friendliness and laughter. Local clubs compete, then winners go to area competition. See requirements to be a judge at speech competitions. You are free to visit other clubs and I found speeches at meetings to be very interesting sometimes funny esp if someone was working on the Humorous Speech workbook. Club members usually carpooled to regional competitions.
I get two free trips a year but it's an elected position for a large organization. If you have a special interest/hobby, start cultivating it. ds has gotten some free tickets to do volunteer work for friends (they have lots off FF miles) in a distant state. You have to be good at what you do. Different organizations look for volunteers, start locally to build a reputation and references. Follow your interests to expand your horizons. We used to volunteer on trail crew for an outdoor event. No special talent required just ability to be outdoors most of the day in winter but it was more fun manning a checkpoint than being a spectator. If you are a Toastmaster you can probably volunteer to judge 4-H speech competitions but start locally. May sound dreadfully boring to some but we have listened to some terrific speeches and demonstrations (demonstrations tend to be more interesting). Take a look at all the events/competitions throughout the region and look into volunteer opportunities. A friend has volunteered at mountain bike races at Mt Snow in VT.
Dec 24th, 2014, 07:57 AM
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Considering Alaska is 8-10 hours from New England, the notion of a "weekend" trip there is a bit nuts. And I dunno how you can even RT to Alaska for $500, even in the dead of winter. Ditto Hawai'i (even in August).
Dec 24th, 2014, 08:31 AM
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FF ticket--are you kidding!! LOL They have made it about as hard --and costly in miles--as possible.
I think it's great that she wants to see the US. I said there is a LOT very near her, which hopefully, in her words, could be of sincere interest to her.
I think it's great that she wants to see the US. I said there is a LOT very near her, which hopefully, in her words, could be of sincere interest to her.
Dec 24th, 2014, 10:07 AM
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I agree with janisj that $500 all inclusive for a weekend is really low budget - and nearly impossible for a 3-day weekend. Transportation and lodging will eat up at the very minimum 3/4 of it.
TiaStevens, if I might make a suggestion for you...Start your explorations in concentric circles from your home and expance from there. Go to the states which are the closest to you first and then expand to those destinations which are within/about 4-5 hours fly time next.
You have to leave some of the very best things until you can spend sufficient time to appreciate them.
When I see some of these very limited budgets and really tight time schedules, I always wonder why people just don't wait until they have a little more time/money and do it right.
TiaStevens, if I might make a suggestion for you...Start your explorations in concentric circles from your home and expance from there. Go to the states which are the closest to you first and then expand to those destinations which are within/about 4-5 hours fly time next.
You have to leave some of the very best things until you can spend sufficient time to appreciate them.
When I see some of these very limited budgets and really tight time schedules, I always wonder why people just don't wait until they have a little more time/money and do it right.
