Help!

We have a few days off (babysitter taking the kids) and were planning on going to the Caribbean via direct flight. Unfortunately, options are pretty limited and not of that much interest to us. We are now considering a US trip and are looking for suggestions (US or elsewhere).

Parameters:

-direct flight preferred (short trip and don't want to lose 2 full days in travel)
-warmer weather and not a mud pit (doesn't have to be swim weather)
-we like city, beach, dining, shopping, outdoor activities, music (location does not have to include everything)
-Places we've been to and liked - San Francisco, Seattle, NYC, Turks and Caicos, Bermuda, London, Paris, Sedona AZ, Banff, Jasper, Hawaii

Thanks in advance!

New Orleans should have decent weather then - as does much of FL - for adults I would do MIami.

Southern FL, either coast, farther south will be warmer, but if swimming in the ocean isn't a priority then look for good flights and go for it.

Gulf Coast of Florida, Puerto Rico (about 3 hours non-stop on JetBlue). I am starting to sound like a broken record on Puerto Rico, but was there last January by default - had only 5 days so not long enough for a smaller island. Additional advantage - same money, no passport, non-stop flights, reasonably priced hotels, cell phones work without international roaming charges or arrangements, decent health care in emergency. Sun, beach, history, some interesting sites. San Juan area is nice, but southern coast (Ponce) is a couple hours drive and beaches are nicer but less to do.

Key West is also nice, but involves flight to Miami and then drive.

You mean you are leaving Boston in the wintertime for warmer climate? Hmm, wonder how many others! Yes, Puerto Rico is possible...been there several times. I'd look into various locations (besides San Juan, Ponce) for many interesting vacationing locales...wonderful beaches, e.g. Also maybe other Caribbean Islands? gail, aren't there direct flights to Key West but not as many?

No matter how you look at flying anywhere (because of security, check in time, etc.) will take up most of two days.

If it were me I'd head out to Cape Cod and spend the entire time there. The weather won't be tropical for sure but should be Spring Time conditions.

Spring Time conditions on Cape and Islands = no flowers, no leaves on trees, water temperature about 48 degrees, windy, most places closed, but good walking if you are tough, good birding.

Wouldn't be my choice. I live on Nantucket but we are going to Marco Island the first full week in March!

Thanks for your input Ackislander....

I happen to enjoy the Cape anytime of the year and by the end of March they will be spring flowers, leaves budding and lots of places that will be open for dining, etc. Much more enjoyable than the mad-house summer.

Have you checked whether you can get a direct flight to Aruba? We did a four day weekend there last year and loved it (as an adults only trip, we preferred the low-rise end of the island). We've also done most of the places suggested above as long weekends, but we fly out of Newark. New Orleans and San Juan stand out as particularly good suggestions. Some other possibilities for you might include Charleston, Ft Lauderdale, or Washington DC.

No matter how you look at flying anywhere (because of security, check in time, etc.) will take up most of two days

What are you talking about?

To the OP: Florida is an option, and JetBlue flies to many destinations in the Caribbean, though the timing to the Caribbean can often mean you have to leave mid-day in at least one direction.

Time wise they might be an hour away from the airport and need to have at least 3 hours at an airport to get through security and check in 2 hours prior to flight...then let's say they are flying to Florida, that is a few hours from Boston....that adds up to at least 7 hours out of one day...then they would have the flight back....almost 2 days traveling.

Time wise they might be an hour away from the airport and need to have at least 3 hours at an airport to get through security and check in 2 hours prior to flight...then let's say they are flying to Florida, that is a few hours from Boston....that adds up to at least 7 hours out of one day...then they would have the flight back....almost 2 days traveling.

Why would you show up 3 hours early for a domestic flight? Seriously, that is just crazy. For a flight to Florida from Boston, there is no reason to arrive more than one hour prior to departure and even that leaves time waiting around.

Indeed, BOS to FLL gets in at half past ten if you take the first flight of the day at 5:55 on Jet Blue, and nothing happens before 5 as far as security checks go there in any case. That gives you the best part of the first day for vacation.

It seems to me like Barcelona or Lisbon is calling your name. You may not be able to get a direct flight, however, but it seems to me like they would have just about everything you want. Both are wonderful - you can't go wrong.

There are few places in the Caribbean to which one can go non-stop (often confused with "direct" - not the same thing) from Boston.

I have made many trips to south Florida for a 4-day weekend. Leave early on day 1. Leave late afternoon on day 4. Still better than being in Boston in dreary, raw, wet March.

I still say go to Puerto Rico.

There are few places in the Caribbean to which one can go non-stop (often confused with "direct" - not the same thing) from Boston.

While some of the service is seasonal and not necessarily every day, JetBlue serves something like 15 destinations in the Caribbean or Bahamas.

JetBlue does serve many Caribbean locations - I have only found a small number of non-stop (Puerto Rico, Santo Domingo, DR, Jamaica, Nassau)

JetBlue does serve many Caribbean locations - I have only found a small number of non-stop (Puerto Rico, Santo Domingo, DR, Jamaica, Nassau)

There are a lot more that run at least seasonally.

We just got back from St. John USVI. It was a 5 night trip so with 4 days maybe St. Thomas would be better (no ferry after your flight).

We flew direct with Jet Blue in under 3 hours. Great weather, perfect beaches and we did nothing but relax.