Help me find a perfect weekend getaway!
 

Hi there, fodorites, I would love your assistance with helping me find a perfect city to spend a romantic weekend getaway with my hubby for my birthday. I want it all, from natural scenic beauty, with lots of fun things to do during the day, great shopping and fun and hip bars and restaurants at night! I do not want to have to worry about transportation, but be able to locate a hotel right in the middle of everything, so we can just stroll down the streets! Since its my birthday, I want 5-star accomodations! Is this asking too much? I live in Houston, TX and will travel anywhere, as long as we're not too too long in the "air".

What's this doing under Montana???

San Francisco? You wouldn't need a car to hang out in the City, and there are some pretty swank digs there (I'm a sucker for the Mark Hopkins Intercontinental, up on Nob Hill, for one suggestion).

Closer to where I live, I'd recommend La Jolla (Lodge at Torrey Pines is a AAA five-diamond property) or maybe Laguna Beach, but you'll need a car for either place.

Continental will get you to any of these places out of Houston on non-stops, won't it?

John
Excuse my ignorance, but what are you talking about when you ask about Montana? This is posted under United States. ????? Your question confuses me. ??????

This message was posted to the state of Montana. If you select Montana just above then all messages pertaining to the state will show. The romantic weekend in a perfect city is for the state of MONTANA!!!

Calalily
Las Vegas or New Orleans come immediately to mind.
VCL, who found this in New Jersey

This is really bizarre, I found it under CALIFORNIA!!

New Orleans would fit nicely except for the scenic beauty requirement although our drunken, naked people can be a sight and yes, natural it doesn't compare to say Mt. McKinley :)

I may have it and it wouldnt require flying at all from Houston... San Antonio! The natural scenic beauty might require a car though, damn... SF fits, but I dont know if the natural beauty is close enough to the other things on your list or not? Aspen, Colorado! High on the natural scenic beauty, but is the shopping substantial enough... hmmm well, boutique wise yes so this might work and the 5 star accomodation requirement is there as it is with SF too. If you went in Sept. Nantucket would qualify even though its a different kind of beauty than something Yosemite-esque, but lovely all the same, although Murrays Toggery while venerable isn't exactly Saks.

I dont know, the solution may well lie somewhere in California, but thats not my area of "expertise" :) LOL if you want Southern beauty or New England beauty I might be of help. :)

What time of year? What's your climate goal? I'm thinking: Quebec, SoBe, NOLA, even Philadelphia!

I found this under Florida? Now I'm confused. I've only been to Orlando in Florida. I hear Ft. Lauderdale is nice, so is Naples Fl, and Sanibel Island. If this helps. We are personally looking into a nice romantic Florida getaway ourselves!!

No scenic beauty, but what about Memphis? You can stay downtown at the Peabody, go to the civil rights museum and Graceland, party at night on Beale street, plenty of shopping down town, catch a concert at the Pyramid thing if you're lucky, and take a dinner cruise on the Mississippi. Oh, and don't forget about the great BBQ! There's a trolly system throughout downtown, so you wouldn't have to drive anywhere. You may not think it's "romantic", but my husband and I had a BLAST there together.

San Francisco or Seattle or Vancouver B.C. would be my choices in that order.

Are you talking about staying in Texas, or is anything within easy jet range in the ballpark??

If just in Texas, I'd agree with the suggestion to do San Antonio. Either that or Austin.

For easy getaways, I've always loved New Orleans. It's one of America's most distinctive cities and the food there is second to none! It's also been SSSOOOO easy to find good hotels there lately, plus I've been able to snag airfare on Continental as cheap as $79 RT on the weekend getaways.

Washington DC is always a favorite of mine. Partly because there are SO many first-rate museums, but also because the city is so upscale and sophisticated with lots of great restaurants and good hotels. Plus it's easy to get around on the Metro.

Of course, many of the great Mexican beach resort towns are only an hour or two flight from Houston, and it's hard to beat a weekend of loafing on a clean white beach, just watching the crystal clear turqoise waters...

Yep...possibilities are endless.

Have fun!
Mark
www.tiogringo.com

San Diego, Monterey/Carmel, and Lake Tahoe. I don't think that SF would qualify for the natural scenic beauty, unless you find concrete beatutiful.

Well - calalily either clicked on every state or she clicked "general/region wide". That is why it is showing up under every state.

calalily: There really wasn't any need to click on anything in that window. That is really for state-specific posts, and doesn't really add that much anyway.

Not knowing enough about what you want but mainly going with not needing to "worry about transportation" and wanting scenery - my best recomendations would be Seattle, San Francisco, or San Diego

Carmel won't work too well because you need to drive a fair bit to see Big Sur, Carmel valley, Monterrey etc.

Thank you everyone for a reply. I didn't mean to confuse anyone, I posted this message under each state, to get a wealth of information from those that know that State, as I'm open to visiting anywhere for a fun weekend getaway. San Francisco seems to be recommended quite a bit. Can anyone tell me more about it? New Orleans is great and what I'm looking for in terms of being able to just stroll down the streets, but I've been there and wanted to visit somewhere new. Can anyone tell me about Charleston? It's listed quite often in "weekend getaways". I'm wanting to travel during October by the way.

Thanks again!

Go to search and type in Charleston, you will find great info. there. I've been to Charleston twice and it's very stately and the epitomy of southern beauty. You would love it! Have fun whatever you decide.

Another thought is Santa Fe.

Whta about a bit more to the south - in fact, South Beach. It meets the needs you stated. And the weather in October will be spectacular. Daytimes on the beach, the main drags, people watching. Nights in great restaurants and bars, salsa clubs, people watching. It is art deco and european chich all the way! Plenty of good flights into MIA. Great hotels. And no need for a car!!!

Along the lines of delightful small cities such as Santa Fe and Charleston, how about Asheville, NC?

It's an architecturally gorgeous city in a stunning mountainous setting, with all that you requested -- great shopping (especially for jewelry, artwork, books, music, wine, furniture, antiques, and home decor), the aforementioned natural scenic beauty, hip bars and restaurants, plus the city is easy to get around in! Downtown is spectacular and easily walkable, and it's only a short drive to most other notable attractions such as the Biltmore Estate, the botanical gardens, the arboretum, and nearby attractions like Chimney Rock Park, Lake Lure, the spa in Hot Springs (or even the renowned spa right in town at the Grove Park Inn) and the numerous charming small towns that ring the city.

As far as five-star accommodations, Asheville has three four-star/four-diamond properties, and an elegant all-suite boutique hotel in the heart of downtown that might suit your needs, plus numerous three- and four-star, and a handful of five-star restaurants. Best of all, there are direct flights from Houston to Asheville, and I believe travel time is right around three or four hours.

If you perform a search here on Fodor's you'll uncover a wealth of information on Asheville, since it's such a popular resort city, or you can take a look at this website, which seems tailor-made for the information you're looking for.

www.romanticasheville.com

Charleston would be great - esp. in October. Sante Fe and Aspen, CO. are two other great choices. I love cities like San Francisco - but I'd pick one of these smaller towns for the romance part.

Seattle.

I've been to Charleston and Asheville recently and they are good ideas, but I like the San Francisco suggestion better.

You can hop in a car and drive a few hours down the Pacific Coast Highway to see some of the most breathtaking scenery in the country - perhaps rivaled only by Asheville's Blue Ridge Parkway.....

Calalily,

Here are some possibilities:

1. San Miguel De Allende, Mexico - This is supposed to be a beautiful colonial city and should be easy to get to from Houston, possibly even a nonstop flight to a neighboring city in Mexico. Weateher is supposed to be pretty nice year-round and Conde Nast Traveler lists the Casa de Sierra Nevada as its highest scoring property in "The America's", which includes Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America, and states the following about the hotel:

Real Mexican class" is the hallmark of the highest-scoring property in the Americas. A series of colonial buildings originally constructed as a private home in 1580, it's on a cobblestoned street near the town square. "Delightful staff" offer "anything you need without a hassle and with plenty of warmth." The "pretty courtyard pool" is "a great place to refresh." The restaurant serves "wonderful seafood in a very romantic setting of wood-beamed ceilings and candles." Rooms with "antique colonial furniture" and private patios are "simply and elegantly done." "We were ready to move in."
$$$; 33 suites; pool, spa

2. Santa Fe, New Mexico. This city scored as #5 in the Conde Nast Traveler Reader's Choice Awards for 2002. Here is the list:

TOP 10 U.S. CITIES
San Francisco 85.8
New York City 83.1
Charleston, SC 81.5
Chicago 80.4
Santa Fe 77.5
New Orleans 76.8
Boston 76.4
Honolulu 75.5
Washington, D.C. 73.9
Carmel, Calif. 72.7

3. Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. This may require a connecting flight, not sure (it did from Los Angeles when I visited last weekend). This is a really beautiful city, although it may be pretty chilly by late October. When in Old Quebec, you think that you are in Europe, and despite most of its citizens speaking French, in the tourist areas, English is spoken by most.

I stayed at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, the most photographed hotel in the world, sopposedly, for 3 nights in a Fairmont Gold Room. Fairmont has an excellent promotion of stay 2 nights get the 3rd night free when staying a Fairmont Gold Room. The rate was $549 Canadian per night (about $395 USD). However, by the time you add taxes, it is about $450 per night. However, with the third night free, it averages out to just $300 per night).

You can walk everywhere you need to go in town, even at midnight because the city is so safe. I did not see a single homeless person or panhandler the entire time and it is probably the cleanest city I have ever seen with a great choice of restaurants. It is right on the St. Lawrence River and is really a fascinating city.

I did stay my final night in a 4* Bed and Breakfast, a short 10 minute walk from Old Quebec, called Manoir Mon Calme, and it was only about $120 USD per night and, of course, included a homemade hot breakfast, which was the best breakfast I had during my stay. The rooms were spotless, tastefully decorated and our room, Room #3, had its own bathroom. The propertieor was a very nice woman that lived onsite and whom spoke fluent English. It is located half a block away from Loews Le Concorde Hotel, a nasty so-called 4* hotel that my wife checked into and out of within 15 minutes after finding Manoir Mon Calme for less than half the price. www.manoirmoncalme.com

I have stayed at all the usual suspet cities, including San Francisco (this last May at the Ritz Carlton), Chicago and being a Los Angeles native, I am very familiar with Laguna Beach and La Jolla. While those places are all very nice, if you want something DIFFERENT, then I would strongly consider one of my suggestions. While I have not yet been to San Miguel De Allende and Santa Fe, they are both high on my list for future visits.

Good luck!

Hi Calalily,

Chicago in the fall, especially October is wonderful.

Awesome restaurants, great hotels, and the Lakefront is spectacular. Very beautiful. You can shop the "magnificent mile". It's a great city for just about any flavor.

I live 50 miles north of Chicago, and my very favorite thing to do is spend an October weekend in the city, blues clubs on Saturday night, Bears game on Sunday!

Whatever you do enjoy!

I agree with the recommendation re: Quebec City -- romantic, beautiful architecture, European feel, can walk everywhere, natural beauty, good food, etc. I would also recommend Vancouver, which has it all -- great hotels, great shopping, incredible natural beaty, and hightlife, and is very walkable. I would spend more than just a weekend in Vancouver, though. Quebec City is perfect for a weekend.

Another vote for Quebec City - it's beautiful!!!

Monterey Peninsula fits your requirements perfectly. Fly into San Jose and in 1 and 1/2 hour drive you are in some great scenery. Stay at the Lodge at Pabble Beach and you have it all.

I vote for Santa Fe! Fly into ABQ and it is only an hour drive north. You can stay right downtown in the plaza and there are some wonderful hotels; La Fonda, Inn of the Anasazi, El Dorado, very unique and classy with great restaurants and nice shops. There are tons of restaurants, shopping, museums, historic churches that are all right there within walking distance. Also within walking distance is Canyon Road which is nothing but art galleries and restaurants in renovated homes. There is also the Railyard District nearby for shopping and restaurants. There are elegant restaurants as well as fun places where you can sit outside, have drinks and appetizers and some places have live music. It is a wonderful, romantic place for couples, not really many children. We have been there 3 times in the past four years. We fell in love with the city the first visit. You are also only 30 minutes from the top of the Ski Basin area which is a place to get away to nature and see aspens and pines, go hiking. The mountain ranges surround the city and the views are beautiful including an especially beautiful sky. We have been to NYC, SF, Vancouver, Victoria, Carmel, Lake Tahoe, Napa, Sonoma, Sedona, Asheville and I still love Santa Fe the most although All the other places were wonderful too. If you want a change in climate from the humid weather you have in Houston you will be in heaven, although it may be getting pretty cool in Santa Fe- ,mid to upper sixties right now. Good Luck.

I vote for Santa Fe as well because I LOVE IT! So, Calailily, tell us... what did you decide?

I just celebrated my 40th birthday with my husband in Key West, Florida. Everything is within walking distance because the island is 2x4. We went snorkeling (a first for me) and saw 2 nurse sharks which sent me straight back to the boat. The food was awesome! We stayed at the Ocean Key Resort which you can pull up their website and see how wonderful it is. At Mallory Square, which you can see from the hotel, is where they have the Sunset Celebration each night with performers, music, just really one big party. Also, the cruise ships dock there for the day. As far as the romance, everyone there seemed either to be on their honeymoon or either gay. Quite a awakening for someone from Alabama, but we had a great time and would love to go back. Hope this gives you another idea.