ashishahuja23

Hello All,

I am planning for a thanksgiving which is also my wife's birthday trip to somewhere in united states.
We live in Orlando and have seen ton of beaches in Miami, Clearwater and Key West. We want to go somewhere else where its not super crowded and may be we can have a chance to see snow.
Seeing snow is not mandatory, We have already been to puerto rico, portland maine, new york, smokey mountains, salt lake city and arches national park.

Please help me decide a place.

the places come to my mind are : san francisco, san diego, colorado (dont know which city ?), death valley national park, jackson hole

NewbE

I always vote for San Francisco and environs because, well, everything is wonderful there: food, drink, scenery natural and manmade, culture. No snow of course, and it might be rainy (although perhaps not yet), but it just can't be beat in my book.

ElendilPickle

How many days do you have for your trip?

San Francisco would be fantastic, or you might consider Santa Fe (there may be some snow there or around Taos by Thanksgiving).

Another thought, if you liked Arches National Park, is visiting some of the other parks in Utah.

Lee Ann

Tabernash2

For Thanksgiving and your wife's birthday, I think you'd love Devil's Thumb Ranch, in Colorado, between Winter Park and Granby. I'd happily stay there for a week.

Gorgeous buildings in a sweeping setting, cross-country skiing and hiking trails, horses, a pool & spa, a very good fine dining restaurant, the Ranch House, and a casual restaurant, Heck's Tavern. Food is excellent.

I recommend it highly. No, I don't work for them-- I just recommend the ranch a lot. No one is disappointed.

kleroux

If we have an El Nino winter, then it will start to rain in late October. So I'm not sure California is the right place for Thanksgiving. Why not consider the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and the Arizona and New Mexico deserts? Santa Fe, Taos, places like that. then, There is always Las Vegas for bright lights and craziness.

NewbE

Ooh, Santa Fe--yes, a great choice.

ashishahuja23

Thank you guys

I love the pictures of Santa Fe and Taos. It looks awesome. I will check out the tickets to Santa Fe or Albaquerque. I might just drive down from there to Santa Fe and Taos.
Is there something to do in that Area as in Hiking, Skiing or People Watching ?

@NewbE I love San Francisco too, I have been there just for a day though but i want to explore it more. If El Nino season is going to hit then yeah i wouldn't mind avoiding it.

@ElendilPickle I have total 4.5 days which includes the flights too.So i would say around 3.5 days of staying and i am travelling from East Coast so it take some time to travel. I am going to Arches and Canyonlands in Sept so i want to see something else for November but that was a great suggestion.

@Tabernash2 : I am going to check out that Ranch and see how much it costs and stuff. It does look awesome.

Guys, I just want to make my wife's bday a memorable one as it her 30th bday. So Thank you very much for Input. Please let me know if there is something i can do to make this trip awesome for her.

ElendilPickle

With 3 1/2 days, Santa Fe sounds perfect. Fly into Albuquerque for the lowest fares, then rent a car and drive to Santa Fe, which is an hour north of Albuquerque. You could take the RailRunner, but you'll need a car if you want to take a day trip to Taos.

If we have snow, a ski resort might be open. Google Taos Ski Valley as an example.

You can hike, shop, eat at some fantastic restaurants, visit a museum...lots to do around here!

Lee Ann

harrisonf

If you want to see snow, the best places around Thanksgiving will be in the Rocky Mountains. You might consider some places like Vail or Aspen, Colorado, which can be a bit pricey, or places like Breckenridge, Colorado which is not a pricey.

Big Sky Resort in Montana is another possibility or Snowbird in Utah.

All great places for a nice vacation and watch the snow fall on Thanksgiving.

Inakauaidavidababy

Why not Massachusetts? Where it all started?

http://www.plimoth.org/plan-your-vis...sgiving-dining

or another New England option. . .

https://www.osv.org/event/thanksgiving-weekend

Gretchen

No snow but a beautiful vacation--Charleston. If not now, soon. LOL

RVvagabond

Santa Fe - is a major-major art center.
Georgia O'Keef Art Museum and her home further north is well worth the visit

Kit Carson museum. Famous mountain guide. His grave is also located nearby. Capitol of Nevada named after him and many other landmarks

Taos rehabilitated village is a mandatory visit.

Albuquerque old town is where excellent Mexican food is served.

Visit ancient Pueblo Indian village of Acoma AFTER reading about its history and incredible cruel Spanish military occupation including their priests.

IF you are a photographer visit the famous Taos church made famous by Ansel Adams See:
http://www.hcc.commnet.edu/artmuseum...stfrancis.html

On and on

Vaga
PS: Elevation is over 7,000 feet above sea level.

ltt

bar harbour, martha's vineyard, new orleans (although it's hurrican season), boston, virginia beach - lucky you - so many options. p.s. san fransisco is very busy with conventions in october and hotel prices are very high. you want snow, come to canada - your dollar will go a long ways.

DebitNM

Check out Southwest, they fly non-stop from MCO to ABQ.

ABQ --
Bio Park {Zoo, Botanical Gardens, and Aquarium}
Hispanic Cultural Center
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
Albuquerque Museum of Art and History
Anderson- Abruzzo ABQ International Balloon Museum
Rio Grand Nature Center
Petroglyph National Monument

Santa Fe--
Bandelier National Monument [outside of SF]
Tent Rocks [on way to SF]
Opera House - amazing to see [out of town]
Museum Hill (especially International Folk Art Museum)
Canyon Road - art galleries
El Rancho de las Golondrinas [outside SF]
NM Museum of Art
Palace of the Governors
Shidoni Brass Foundry - really unusual , go on Saturday afternoon to watch them pour http://www.shidoni.com

Further Out --
Belen Harvey House Museum - Belen
Acoma Pueblo - about 1 hour west on I40

DebitNM

Don't fly on Wednesday before or Sunday after; awful; busiest time of year. Go Tuesday to Saturday.