Trip Idea for Thanksgiving Break

Old Jun 22nd, 2016, 07:04 PM
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Trip Idea for Thanksgiving Break

I need some place to start to look for a 4 or 5 day trip in November. It's myself and my 18 year old son, we live in NC and want to go somewhere we have never been, on a budget. We are from Florida, so that's out. Willing to fly or drive. We like outdoorsy stuff and exploring new places and good eating. My son wanted to go to the west coast (Seattle, San Francisco) but the tickets would suck up our entire budget at that time of year and all the things we want to do is too much for that time of year, so we are planning on a longer trip there next year. Suggestions? We thought maybe a lodge type place where everything is on sight or nearby? Haven't planned an actual vacation that didn't involve visiting family in over 10 years, so I'm at a loss.
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Old Jun 22nd, 2016, 07:56 PM
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How about DC? Flights shouldn't be expensive, or you could drive, as long as you factor in the cost of parking, because you won't need a car while there.

Smithsonian museums (and the Smithsonian operates the vast majority of museums in DC), monuments, public buildings (such as the Capitol, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, Archives) are all free to visit. There are lots of opportunities for walking around outdoors, or, if you have your car, you could do day trip out of the city.

We always go at Thanksgiving and the weather varies from warm and sunny to cold and sunny to rainy...
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Old Jun 23rd, 2016, 03:38 AM
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Don't fly. It is the busiest flying weekend of the year.

Do you live in north, mid, or south Florida?

Have you been to Savannah? Charleston? Greenville, SC? Mobile? New Orleans?
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Old Jun 23rd, 2016, 04:07 AM
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We actually live in Charlotte, NC and moved from FL 3 years ago. We are back in Florida once or twice a year. New Orleans sounds interesting! I would love to go to DC, but he's got it in his head that it'll be boring. I might try and pull up some specific activities that he might enjoy.
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Old Jun 23rd, 2016, 04:54 AM
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If you could find a good deal on a flight to Las Vegas, then head immediately to Grand Canyon or Zion or Death Valley you might be able to have what you are looking for. If you avoid Thanksgiving week there might be deals there. Car rentals are generally less there too.
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Old Jun 23rd, 2016, 04:56 AM
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I know you are looking at Thanksgiving, but if you could tweak it a bit, you might find better deals.
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Old Jun 23rd, 2016, 05:31 AM
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DC would have the great advantage of being drivable; most other destinations - given your short overall window of 4 or 5 days - would put your budget in harm's way given the crush and high prices at Thanksgiving - if that's when you'd be traveling in November. (If some other part of the month, it's a different story, so please clarify.) DC is terrific for teens - museums, tours of the Capitol or Supreme Court... and coming right after a general election the town is usually buzzing. Stop in Colonial Williamsburg in one direction, in Charlottesville VA in the other - Monticello, the UVA campus...

Or along the same lines, do a tour of the Blue Ridge, all the way from Asheville to DC; depending on the weather there might still be some great fall color in the hills and Piedmont.

Does he like music? With both of you driving, you could do a round trip from Charlotte to Memphis via Nashville. Great food and blues in Memphis, not to mention Graceland, Sun Records, the Civil Rights and Rock 'n Soul museums... Drive down to Clarksdale (MS) to visit the Delta Blues Museum and have a half rack of ribs at Abe's. If he wasn't an expert on American music when he left home, he would be by the time he gets back.
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Old Jun 23rd, 2016, 07:04 AM
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We always fly the Monday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving and return on the Saturday after. Flights have never been astronomical (I buy 2-3 months ahead) and we have not encountered massive crowds.
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Old Jun 23rd, 2016, 07:40 AM
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Well if the boy thinks DC will be boring, he's never taken in the senses of amateurs hucking up and down Bourbon Street. The sight the sounds.
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Old Jun 23rd, 2016, 09:34 AM
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Don't come to Seattle in November. Save it for something when you can travel between May and September for better weather and longer day (light). Hotels are not cheap here.

suze, in seattle
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Old Jun 23rd, 2016, 10:34 AM
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We have taken a few trips to Chicago that week. We have typically driven or taken the train. I have had extremely good luck with hotels (cheap) that week, likely because there aren't any/many conventions. Weather can be a bit cold, but not necessarily too cold. The Christmas market is open, and there is a fun parade.
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Old Jun 24th, 2016, 02:17 AM
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Montreal?
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Old Jun 24th, 2016, 06:16 AM
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He thinks DC would boring, but you're considering staying at a "lodge"?

We may need to know a bit more about your and his interests.
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Old Jun 24th, 2016, 07:18 AM
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I was wondering that, too, vincenzo, but different strokes!

Montreal is wonderful!
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Old Jun 24th, 2016, 05:57 PM
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What are your actual dates? Almost anywhere that you fly is going to be a hassle on Wed - Mon over Thanksgiving. If you can fly out Thanksgiving afternoon and return on Tuesday you might have much better choices.
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Old Jun 25th, 2016, 02:26 AM
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Drinking age in Quebec is 18 - he will enjoy that.
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Old Jun 25th, 2016, 02:16 PM
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It sounds like he may just not like big cities, museums, or be interested in history. Because if he were, I can't imagine he would say it would be boring. So that's my guess, if he is bored by museums and history, you can't make him be interested.

So some outdoorsy trip, it sounds like.

I would think he might like New Orleans better, at least he isn't going to think it's too intellectual for him. I think that's a good idea.


Otherwise, I also would think of Nashville or Memphis. I would suggest some parks or the mountains, like the Smokeys, but at Thanksgiving, that may not be optimal. But you could easily get there and since you mentioned a lodge, maybe he likes the forest. You could also easily drive up to Virginia and the Shenandoah National Park. They have some lodging at moderate cost in that park near Skyline Drive.
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