Columbus and Pittsburgh.

Folks, I have never been so swarmed by mosquitoes as I was when visiting the North Shore of Lake Superior!!!

LOL, true indeed Missypie, the only caveat, avoiding sunrise and sunset aids in this battle. Bug spray is yet another allie.

Tiff, I have never anywhere else been swarmed by mosquitoes in the middle of a bright, sunny day. Every single store was out of bug spray. We were hiking and paid a guy a buck to spray our legs.

AuntAnnie & Tiff - you love the same places we do. We love Grand Marais and go to all the same spots as you. The drive up the North Shore is beautiful every time - and we have gone up there a lot of times. We are heading up there in about 10 days and can't wait. We too have friends in S. MN who have never been to N. MN and have friends here in CA who don't think it is worth going east of Las Vegas!! They have missed so much.

Spokane, WA.

Davenport Hotel, Boo Radley's, Clink's, Riverfront Park (liberty fountain, carousel), Catacomb's Pub, Nordie's, Onion......the list just goes on and on!

I whole-heartedly agree with Spokane and Northern Idaho. I could spend weeks there and find things to do - wait a minute, I have done that!

marcy:

lucky you, I've never really liked traditional overcrowded tourist areas. Mackinaw Island sounds great.

I believe most people can have a blast doing day or 1-3 night trips within their hometown radius of 100-150 miles. I live 16 miles west of Pittsburgh, 36 miles from the Fiestaware factory in Newell, WV. I also live not far from the Amish Ohio country. There are many many people who don't go into OH and every friday in Rogers OH there is a huge flea market. There are a few chocolate factories around where I live that have factory tours which I want to go to. There is also many free admission state parks in PA that people miss out on. It is their loss that they think to only have fun is to travel 600 miles or more on vacation.

Spearfish, South Dakota.

We LOVED that town/city, near the western border and north of the Mt. Rushmore area. Black Hills National Forest is a wonderful, peaceful place to drive around or have a picnic. The lodge there offers an excellent lunch, too. (Cannot comment on accommodations at the lodge.)

Just a nice place. Period.

Vermonter

It is the Marcy part of Marcy and Tim I'm from Pittsburgh so it is nice to see it pop up. You always see New York or DC or Hawaii but it is interesting to see the little corners that when you mention your vacation to someone else they say I've never been there!

Sometimes the little tidbits are the most interesting. I remember on of the best parts of going to DC one year was actually seeing a show (Kudzu) at Ford's theatre. It was so interesting to see a production there.

I should also throw in Gettysburg. It is a cute little town and they really do a nice job with the history.

Sorry for all the typos, I guess I'm a little tired.

Tiff: Sorry, haven't been to Cove Point Lodge. It looks like a great spot. My friend swears by Bluefin Bay. We tried Lutsen this Summer. We had good food in the dining room and the lodge is charming but in need of some elbow grease and paint...looking a little weary. When I was a teenager we stayed there a lot and it was in much better shape. The dining room and lobby still warrant a look. Ahhhhhh. Wish I was there now. I have to say, I haven't had bad luck w/ the mosquitoes in Grand Marais. Now....the BWCA...THAT'S another story!!
Cali: My MN brother who is an LA transplant called me from the LA freeway all homesick one day...he was following a car with a Gunflint Trail bumper sticker and a bobblehead moose on the dash. It wasn't you, was it??! Ha!

lol, that was cute, AuntAnnie, Cali was that you with the bumper sticker???

I do feel badly for missypie, but I can relate. Mosquitoes seem to love certain people and I am one of them, so I always take precautions. In addition to that, and I am sure AuntAnnie will agree, there are some years that are worse, such as the years with more rain.

Again thanks Marcy for allowing us to reminisce about the North Shore!

I agree about Gettyburg, wanted to add it yesterday but never got around to it.

Also I know a lot of people think of Alaska as too far or too cold but it really is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Big Bend National Park in early Spring or late Fall.
Agree with Natchez/Vicksburg, MS and Natchitoches, LA.
M

Definitely! I live in St. Louis and we take many road trips a year, mostly to destinations within 5-6 hours of us. Here are some of my favorites:

Southern Illinois - Most people only think of Chicago when they think of Illinois, but there is much more to my state than that! I live near St. Louis, and I know how flat Illinois is between St. Louis and Chicago, but if you head a few hours south you will be in for quite a treat. The area is quite hilly, with beautiful bluffs and interesting and quaint towns. This is also the regious for several great Illinois wineries, most producing wonderful fruit wines. Great B&Bs are in abundance, and it just makes for a great getaway weekend.

Kansas City - I lived in St. Louis all my life and only visited KC for the first time about 5 years ago. What a great city!

Madison, WI - We visited for the first time over the long 4th of July weekend and had a great time. The city is lots of fun, in a beautiful location, and had a great farmers market. And now that I have discovered the joy that is garlic cheese kurds, I'm sure I will return many times!

Tracy

AuntAnnie and Tiff - No it wasn't me with the Gunflint Trail bumper sticker but I do wish I was there when I see any bumperstickers from N. MN. I am counting the minutes til we head out net week. I also haven't been bothered by mosquitos in Grand Marais or anywhere on Lake Superior for that matter - but up the Gunflint is another story. Some years seem worse than others. Have you ever been to Chez Jude? We are going while we are there. My Mother and my sister both loved it so will try it too. Also, if you get up the Gunflint Trail to Gunflint Lodge (about 50 mi up) they have a wonderful Dining Room. Always make a trip up there too. They have added a more casual place now too but haven't been there yet.

I have to second a couple of those mentioned before I add a new one...

Pittsburgh and Gettysburg are very high on my list. MN North shore bordering Voyager NP (Canadian park only accessable by boat) is great, skeeters, black flys and all!

Here is an out of the way idea: Dubuque, IA. Very pretty river town. See the National River Museum, has a dog trac and casino if you are into that. Head to Timmermans on the IL side of the river for a great dinner with fantastic bluff views. Along the same lines: Lacrosse, WI and Winona, MN

another for big bend np. the least visited national park in the US...absolutely magnificent.

Canoeing the AuSable River in Michigan during the fall. It's been about 30 years, but it remains one of my favorite weekends of all time.

Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho remains another favorite, and I rarely hear anything about it.

I'm heading to Couer d'Alene in two weeks. It's a great area, as is Sandpoint and Lake Pend O'Reille.