Look on the bright side, starrs--now that the world knows Asheville as the humidity capital of America, you might have it all to yourself.

I don't live there. I'm 81 miles south - at lower elevations - but just as wonderfully pleasant and not muggy. I actually live in a temperate rainforest. Kind of like WA and OR - but in that "horribly muggy" southeast US :-)

Another "bright side" to all of this NewbE. You now know that if you need a place in the SE to spend some delightful, non-muggy time, Asheville NC fits the bill perfectly! :-)

Gosh ..... and I was thinking about going to Asheville, but now I think I'll go to the amazon in July - which is probably less muggy. ;)

I wanted to go to DC this summer, but I understand they don't have enough museums to keep one busy. ;)

Bloom, use kayak.com to compare flight rates from your airports. It's a great tool to see the flight options at which fares.

BTW, Asheville is less than $300 for each of you in August. It is absolutely delightful despite today's concerns :-)

Awright, awright!

I grew up in DC. I know muggy. And you, Asheville, are no(t) muggy!

Although I was in Asheville in August last year, and it was rainy and...you guessed it!
0:-)

Asheville muggy you say??? I don't think so. You want muggy in the summer. Come to Baltimore in July and August. That's what "mugginess" is all about!

How about Williamstown, MA in the summer? can you both fly into Albany, NY ?
Williamstown would give you B & B's, Williamstown Theater Festival if you want to see a show at night, (which also offers aside from the main show, smaller show by new directors and actors), a quaint downtown with shops and restaurants, nearby the Mass MOCA museum -

Or for summer destinations, some college town areas are often a good choice for what you are looking for - the colleges like Skidmore, which has a great downtown with what you are looking for plus the summer arts and performances -

Middlebury VT ( can you fly into Burlington? Burlington and the hour drive to Middlebury, lots of B & B's, restaurants, quaint downtown Middlebury, magnificent views of lakes/mtns and some museums -

I think I would pick Philadelphia, then maybe Baltimore.

Why not Atlanta? Cheap flights, great shopping and restaurants. Botanical garden, History Center, High Museum are lots of fun. Stay in Buckhead or Midtown.

This mugginess debate has me cracking up. My parents and seemingly half the population of South Florida move to Asheville every summer to escape the Florida heat.

Regardless, dew point is a much better indicator of how muggy the air feels (http://tinyurl.com/2zvfp). When the dew point gets above 60, most people will feel the air is humid; above 70 and they feel uncomfortable. Here are the averages for Asheville: http://tinyurl.com/32pkes.

But how about Chicago?

It's true, you're at the start of hurricane season (or at least the most active part) in September. On the upside, you can get much better rates than usual to Bermuda...on the downside, you'd probably want travel insurance. But I've read that Bermuda is only brushed or hit by a hurricane every three seasons. 'Course, the odds mean nada if you're the one whose vacation gets washed out! :P

sweet 16 mother /daughter weekend.
instead of making big sweet 16 parties. my daughters childhood friends 9 in all and all the mother's went on a 3 day sweet 16 weekend to Universal Orlando.
it was fabulous!!!and a time we will all remember!!

Huh?

What about San Francisco. No "muggiest" problem. Lots of great shopping and restaurants and places to bike or walk.

A couple of year ago I needed a 3-4 day get away. (Three sons in high school and jr high had just completed a season of many, many sport events...my mom couldn't go) I decided I needed to go somewhere on my own.

My criteria was: I wanted to eat some good seafood, small airport, feel comfortable on my own.

I flew into Providence, RI - great airport, easy to get to rental car, etc. Cost was about the same as any other destination I looked into. Drove to Newport and spent 4 days, 3 nights. I visited a couple of the "mansions", had wonderful food, walked around town and by car did a little antique and fun shopping.

I would highly recommend this trip.

By the way, I have been to Asheville and I had a very nice time in Sept...but it was HUMID.

Mother/daughter visits are so very nice...take advantage any time you can.

have fun
loveyblue

Bloom

If you're looking at a larger city with cheaper airfare, consider the neighborhood of Georgetown in Washington DC in September (but not July!!). We have three airports to choose from & for flight comparisons I suggest www.sidestep.com To keep your visit low-key, stay at a hotel in Georgetown, and walk to nice cafes and shops. Stroll along the C&O canal for some greenery. The weather is pleasant in September. I know you said no museums, but there are some (about 10) nice low-key small museums in Dupont Circle area, the Textile museum for example. Quite the opposite of the Smithsonian. There is convenient public transportation via Metro. I would also recommend the neighborhood of Old Town Alexandria, VA (again, in September not July), you can walk to everything: hotel, nice restaurants and interesting shops. Metro is nearby and even connects to Reagan National Airport.