Help me find a perfect weekend getaway!
Sep 5th, 2003, 10:51 AM
#22
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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.....
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.....
Sep 6th, 2003, 08:52 AM
#23
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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!
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!
Sep 6th, 2003, 09:33 AM
#24
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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!
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!
Sep 6th, 2003, 11:47 AM
#25
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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.
Sep 11th, 2003, 06:48 PM
#28
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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.
Sep 18th, 2003, 03:31 PM
#30
Join Date: Apr 2003
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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.
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