Help--need suggestions for an anniversary trip
 

My husband and I are planning a 5-6 day anniversary trip in mid-September. We've just returned from a 30 day, 5 city European vacation with our 3 kids. Therefore, we'd like this trip to be very laid back and NOT in a large city. We enjoy good restaurants, quaint shops, walking and mild weather. We also like first rate lodging. <BR> <BR>We'd like to go somewhere we haven't spent a lot of time in or around. We have narrowed it down to the following and would appreciate any sugesstions on hotels, things to do, restaurants etc. We have free airline tickets to any of these cities and we'd prefer not having more than a two hour drive from the airports in these areas: <BR> <BR>Oakland (Napa?) <BR>Phoenix <BR>Spokane <BR>Baltimore <BR>Salt Lake City <BR>Seattle (San Juans?) <BR>Detroit <BR>Portland, OR <BR>Reno <BR>Chicago <BR>Providence, RI <BR>Tuscon <BR> <BR>So--what do you suggest? Thanks for your help.

No question her for me! I would stay at the Edgewater Hotel in Seattle and plan a jporney the the San Juan Islands. We really enjoyed Rosario Resort when we went.

Tucson or Phoenix...unless someone out there says that it's still too hot at the time of the year. Otherwise, either has a lot to offer. <BR>If you land in Phoenix, there is lots to choose from in Scottsdale or head up to Sedona.

The weather should be great mid-Sept for a trip to Providence RI. Providence is getting nicer and nicer, lots of good restaurants. The Biltmore is old but very nice. The Westin a block away is new and very nice. Quaint shops are plentiful in towns like Tiverton and Greenwich, just a short drive. We keep hearing Block Island is wonderful and laid back, but haven't visited yet. You have the advantages of a college town, ocean, and beautiful countryside. <BR>

Jayne, <BR> <BR>Your first post (identical to this post) yielded very informative replies. <BR>Fodorites seemed very helpful.

I'd consider Oakland if you're willing to extend your driving time just slightly, not for Napa, but for the coast around Carmel and Monterey. No big cities, mild weather, nice scenery, and in Carmel and Pacific Grove areas, lots of upscale lodging, quaint (or cute, anyway) shops, good walking areas, and good dining. Laid-back atmosphere, and short drives in various directions will get you gorgeous scenery and more upscale lodging/dining. It's also an ideal destination for an adults-only, i.e., romantic vacation, as an anniversary should be. You'd get the most out of this if you stayed a couple of different places for a few days each. If you're inteerested and you search "California Coast" or ask pecific questions, you'll net a lot of dining and lodging suggestions.

Or Oakland and then over to the Sonoma/Mendocino coast. Perfect time of year--lovely walks on pretty beaches, less fog than summer, good seafood, great wine, little romantic B&Bs--not as crowded as Big Sur and most of the tourists will be gone by then. Would plan the first night at the Madrona Manor in Healdsburg---perfectly romantic place to have a great dinner and lovely night--you might try for the honeymoon suite, although it's probably booked by now. Let us know what you decide!