Hi Debit,

I would also recommend Park City, Utah if you have never been here. Hiking, golf, & the Arts Festival (outstanding) - come first weekend in August. Skiing - come end of Feb/early March. Fall colors - come last week Sept/first week Oct. It't a perfect getaway for 3-4 days of variety and excellent restaurants.

Two places I've really enjoyed during longer vacations, but would return for a getaway -

Port Townsend, WA - fly into Seattle, ferry to Bainbridge Island and drive from there. Charming old town and we had some great meals.

Manzanita, northern OR coast - rented a lovely vacation home here and loved the tiny, funky beach town. Good for doing day trips from, but not touristy like Cannon Beach (much bigger).

Let me know if you want the specific rental info for the vrbo listing. It was great and the owner is great too.

Have fun planning!

If going toSeatac, how about Olympic National Park AND the San Juan Islands...very refreshing in the summertime...

I would recommend New England in the fall to catch the changing of the leaves. For food, you could come to RI as your base and visit Newport Mansions, then head to Boston which is 45 minute drive tops.

I am so appreciative of all your replies and great suggestions! Thanks and I will use all of these ideas in helping us plan our getaways!

(Still seeking ideas, so feel free to pitch an idea! )

Minneapolis, late September/early October. Go during the week, take a couple days to drive up beyond Duluth to the North Shore of Lake Superior. Great scenery and hikes up there, great restaurants and plenty to do in Minneapolis. If you go, I'd add an extra day because of the drive up north.

I know San Francisco is on your "been there, will return" list, but what about the Monterey Peninsula and Monterey Bay? We just drove down there a few days ago and spent 4 days in the area, just the sort of length of time you're looking at. Fly into San Jose or Oakland, then a one or two hour drive.

And as for when, <i><b>now,</b></i> or at least by the end of the month.

Why so soon?

1. It's gorgeous this time of year - not warm, but everything's green, including the hills between Monterey and Salinas. The coast... 'nuff said.

2. Elephant seals at San Simeon. Two hours down Highway 1 (past Big Sur and all that glory) are many thousand elephant seals on the breeding/birthing beaches at Piedras Blancas. Battling bulls, bleating babies, cranky cows... amazing. But they're only there in the winter.

3. Butterflies at Pacific Grove. A few bazillion Monarch butterflies hanging around or fluttering by. Gone by spring.

4. Jellyfish, jellyfish, jellyfish. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is remarkable.

5. Eat, eat, eat. An awful lot of good restaurants per capita.

6. Cheap and uncrowded. Lodgings are reasonably affordable in Monterey, Pacific Grove and even Carmel, and the weather is fabulous (most days.) Skip the $10 baksheesh to take the 17-mile drive and just hang out at Lovers Point, or Point Lobos.

Photos from the past couple of weeks:

Pacific Grove from Lovers' Point park:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58865367@N06/8445782794

Big Sur coast:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58865367@N06/8399407464

Elephant seals at San Simeon:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58865367@N06/8444694219
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58865367@N06/8398323255
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58865367@N06/8399408100

Butterflies at Pacific Grove:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58865367@N06/8416481427
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58865367@N06/8413177420
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58865367@N06/8413177538

Jellies at Monterey Aquarium
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58865367@N06/8399420880
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58865367@N06/8398336299

Elephant Seals closer to the Bay Area, just north of Santa Cruz, guided walks this time of year:

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=523

Grady, we just did that trip in August, great one at that! We have seen the elephant seals at Ana Nuevo, amazing!

I would vote for Austin, Texas. Fun city, really interesting restaurants. Check out Barley Swine! ACL festival is in October & this year it will last 2 w/e instead of 1.

If you get bored, drive over to San Antonio for a completely different experience. Austin is best Feb-April & then again in mid October-December. Summers are too hot!

I used to live in New Orleans. If you don't do humid & hot, then you don't do jazz fest. It's the last w/e in April & 1st w/e in May. In the 10 years I lived there, only once was it cool. NO is a great city to visit about the same times as Austin.

Austin! One of my favorite cities in the entire WORLD. Amazing food, pretty...pup-friendly, cool music and cool vibe! 100% Austin!

Eavesdropping, just in case...

Dave - :)

Maybe we will be seat mates !

I second Amy's Philadelphia suggestion. Except unlike she who's such a Philly fan that she was lauding every time of year, I'd definitely go with May. Second choice, September/October. I would not recommend Jan., Feb., July or August.

The new Barnes Museum is incredible! Of course, tons of other museums and overflowing with history. Fairmount Park System, largest urban park in the country. Gorgeous hikes just outside the city, too. And oh, the food! Besides Amy's thread, which I hope you looked at, so many other terrific byob's (what Philly's known for, and no corkage fees!). All kinds of great live music. And a little secret we don't often share as we like Washington D.C. to get the crowds...we get tons of gorgeous cherry blossoms here, too.

If you chose Philly, would be happy to share details of any of above. And participate in a gtg if that were of interest and not when I'm in France!

Cape Cod in September

The magic list:

Feb: FL
Mar: SC
Apr: NOLA
May: CHI
Jun: CO
Jul: WA
Aug: MA
Sep: SFO
Oct: NC
Nov: TX
Dec: SD
Jan: AZ

For Jazz New Orleans.
It will be awesome.