Hubby wants to thaw out from Chicago winter at a nicer hotel in mid-April. Want to minimize travel time, since getting to some Carribean and Mexican locations can take up the better part of a day. What about somewhere in the U.S.? We'd be departing Thursday morning and returning Monday evening, and leaving the kiddies at home (yay!). He loves to bass fish, and I'd consider a fishing destination, but weather has got to be warm. He doesn't enjoy hanging at the pool all day, so excursions or something to do, places to explore are important. Actually was looking at Galveston, TX? Any other suggestions?

MIami/Ft Lauderdale area IMO.

New Orleans? And points south? Average high in April is 78. Considering it's January 21st and the high today is 72 - there's a good chance of it being quite a bit "warmer" than 78 in April! As for fishing, you would probably have to go a little further south out of NOLA, but can do some great off-shore fishing (tuna, wahoo, cobia) out of Venice, Cocodrie, Grand Isle, etc. Maybe he would like to try something different? Though, check the wind, the waters can be a little rough at times in April!

If you want HOT, it needs to be the desert IMHO. Vegas, Phoenix, Palm Springs. The only potential fishing from that group is likely Lake Mead. I would think that Galveston may be a good long days travel.

Florida may have some possibilities but there is no guarantee on hot. You could possibly mention Lake Okeechobee in FL and get his bass fishing juices flowing.

I was going to first it but I'll instead 2nd the idea of Lake Okeechobee. Stay in West Palm Beach, you're real close, less than an hour away. There are plenty of places to stay in LO area, the nicest probably the Clewiston Hotel which I stayed in many years ago. Old Florida place. There are also marina hotels.

Also north of Tampa in Lake Panasofflee and Lake Apopka areas. Lots of bass fishing, beautiful lakes. Finding decent accomodations might be hard but then as the wife of a bass fisherman, you're probably used to this.

I appreciate your ideas! I don't know why, but when I think of Miami, I think of trendy, hip, spanish food, and DH is too darn traditional for that (will have to go their with my friends sometime, since I think it looks fun). We love New Orleans and always have a great time there, but want to try someplace new.

Vegas (been there, not into gambling), Phoenix (I loved Scottsdale's Phoenician Hotel and Camelback Mountain last year!) and Palm Springs...hmmmmm...haven't hit that spot yet. We will be in Santa Cruz, California this summer for niece's wedding so will probably skip CA in April. Whew, I'm just a bunch of objections, aren't I? I really do appreciate the suggestions, though, and will keep considering them. Lake fishing for bass in April, at a destination I can enjoy restaurants, historic places, poolside--tricky, huh?

I have been to both Palm Springs and Phoenix in March and April and both were wonderfully hot!

Love them both and would go back in a heartbeat!

If you choose New Orleans, you can do a fishing charter with Cap't Nick's Wildlife Safaris. We did a swamp tour with them and had a great time and they picked us up at our hotel in the French Quarter.

http://www.captnicks.com/fishing_new_pics.html

Lake Okachobee, huh? I just ran into that recommendation on a bass fishing site, too! I'm heading over to check out your suggestions Tandoori . I'm trying to get into fishing too, since when our kiddies grow up I want to spend a little time with my hubby! Someone else suggested Hot Springs Arkansas. Any input about traveling there? Keep the great ideas coming, and THANK YOU ALL!!

arkansas has some good bass fishing opportunities however your requirement of HOT gets in the way. Arkansas should be warm and improvement over the midwest but not HOT. I still maintain you need to find a desert or southern Florida or perhaps southern Texas if limited to the 48.

We are in the same situation, except we live on Long Island, NY We love the caribbean too, but don't feel like doing that kind of schlep right now.

We are going to Naples, FLA in April..with the help fo this board we decided on La Playa Beach resort. I also found a fishing charter company...they also do shelling trips and restaurant trips their website, if interested is www.daystarcharters.com.

Naples and LaPlaya fit the bill perfectly for us--beautiful beach, calm gulf water, sunsets, great food, beachfront hotel, perfect, relaxing location with great shopping. My Kind Of Town!

We have never been to Naples (we went to captive/sanibel a few years ago and loved it) but we were also looking for a warm, relaxing 5 day trip. We are not into the Hip and Trendy or the night club scene so South beach was completely out for us.

The Keys.

They do have SEA bass in the Keys. A friend of mine goes bone fishing in the Bahamas, says it is a great sport. But I have no idea. Why would someone fish for a bone?

Arkansas will most likely not be HOT in April. You should probably consider south TX, i.e., Corpus Christi, South Padre Island. I've been to Hot Springs AR. Nice but it's main theme is the water... would your DH enjoy that?

You are truly a great group and a wonderful resource. And funny, too. Off to check out South Padre...yeah, you're right Ark. won't be hot enough probably...got a tip for Chateau on the Lake in Branson, MO on Table Rock lake, but won't be warm enough (but worth a future look)...and Naples could be worth a check out. The Keys is one of the itineraries I priced out on Expedia--sort of a long time to get there with connection in Miami. Still searching and I'll post back. Thanks for the links and tips.