Need August Travel suggestion
 

I need a suggestion of where to take my 19 year old nephew on a vacation for a week this month (August). I'm in my mid-40's so anything is doable. Only problem is that he does not have a passport...so we must stay in the U.S. Your suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Let me add that we live in the NYC metropolitan area...

Does the nephew have any ideas? Can you fly somewhere? How much money do you have?

1. Chicago. See a baseball game, visit the blues venues, eat the pizza, enjoy the big lake nearby.

2. Coastal Maine. Hike and kayak, look at the tide pools, enjoy the scenery. Eat lobster. Drive from scenic town to scenic town.

3. San Fransisco. Visit Alcatraz, ride the trolley, eat the seafood.

How about Seattle area, visit the Music Experience, Mt. Rainer, Olympic Nat. Park and Mt. St. Helens...also great food, water activites, good hiking in the parks.

Does he have an ID? Driver's license? If yes, he can fly, so bring him here: San Francisco. We have everything a teenager can wish for!

Checking the flights, flying into OAK (Oakland) may be cheaper then SFO. Then, depending on the hotel's location and time of the day, take BART or shuttle.

Yes, sorry, I see now how vague I was in my initial entry.

My nephew can drive and does have a license, so we can fly. I'm really not so concerned about the $$ as I want him to be somewhere new and different and excited about traveling and leave him feeling curious about the world. This is a young man whose parents didn't take him anywhere while he was growing up. So flying somewhere would be great.

I thought perhaps maybe we could visit the Grand Canyon. Fly somewhere close and drive. But we may be too late since we need to do this in the two weeks. Tell me if I'm wrong.

San Francisco is a great idea! I traveled there for business several times. Again, I may be wrong, but isn't the best time to be there in September ot better yet October? I was there last July one year -- and I was shocked at how cold it was.

What about Bermuda? Is that a place to be in August?

He'll need a passport for Bermuda (new rules).

I was thinking about the Grand Canyon but think one week might be a little short to see everything. And August is way hot.

What about going to see the giant redwoods? Or signing up with one of those canoe outfitters in the Minnesota thousand lakes area?

Take him to Hawaii. Certainly the multi-cultural mix in Honolulu would be interesting.

He will need a passport for Bermuda. It is not in the USA.

If you are concerned about the Grand Canyon (and I have heard you need reservations in advance for the best places to stay), you might want to consider Maine, as another poster suggested.

It has so much for young people to do. We just came back from a holiday there with our family of teens/early twenties. Hiking, kayaking, great food that 'kids' like, night life and shopping (Freeport esp.).The scenery is spectacular along the coast.

If you think about the area around Bar Harbour, there is a lot to do that appeals to all ages.

I think you should consider Boom-boom's suggestion of Seattle/Pacific Northwest. Seattle has things I would think a teenage boy would find interesting (Experience Music, the Sci Fi Hall of Fame, the Underground tour). And a ferry trip and visit to Olympic National park, or a day trip to the Boeing musuem, or Mount Ranier would all be interesting.

August in San Francisco is better then not going to San Francisco. Bring another sweater, what's a big deal? He's 19 not 90!

Haight-Ashbury, Castro, Chinatown, Japantown, Mission St, North Beach - it's like going to different countries in the same city!

Spend a few days in the city, then rent a car, drive to South Tahoe, Yosemite.

And by the way, did he express any interest in going somewhere?

FainaAgain -- you've made me chuckle!

I know he's not 90...we're just looking for a summer vacation spot - meaning warm weather - but not excessive heat and humidity; we have enough of that here in NYC.

Seriously, the last time I was in SF was July 2005. I vividly recall the trip because I had to go out and buy a coat...that's how cold the nights were. One night my hosts, who lived in the area, came to meet me. It was hilarious. They were bundled up -- coats, scarfs and gloves. My suitcase had nothing but tank tops.

When I arrived back home from the trip I read one of Mark Twain's famous quotes, "The coldest winter I ever spent was summer in San Francisco." HA HA HA...it's true.

Okay, all kidding aside, SF is a great idea. If we can find a hotel in Union Square hangout a few days, then rent a car and head out to Yosemite, or maybe Carmel/Montery, I think we just might have what we're looking for.

And to your last point, he expressed an interest in traveling to Vancouver or Bermuda - both of which require a passport. Hopefully he'll have taken care of getting him so next summer we can travel to London, Paris, Rome and everything in between!

I think SF is a great idea. I also think Maine would be great. August is the perfect time there.

Thanks everyone for your great suggestions. We've decided on beautiful SF and surrounding areas; I am excited. This will be my nephews first real trip anywhere and I'm thrilled that it's in such a picturesque part of the country. I hope it whets his appetite for future explorations for many, many years to come.

BTW, have you all read Barb's reports on her trip to Italy with the Divas? PRICELESS.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34698212

Speaking from experience: not New Orleans! (young and stupid) :)