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We've been offered free trip anywhere in N.America - WHERE?

We've been offered free trip anywhere in N.America - WHERE?

Old May 27th, 1999, 02:13 PM
  #1  
leslie
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We've been offered free trip anywhere in N.America - WHERE?

Where should we go? My husbands company is sending us away for 4 day weekend to anywhere in U.S. or Canada (we live near Toronto, Ontario) and pay our expenses/hotel. We just DON'T KNOW WHERE TO PICK! The holiday is scheduled for July 1 - 5th and we have to pick quick!

We were hoping for Caribbean (our fav!) but have to choose somewhere in N. America. Any place resembling the TROPICS (other than Hawaii-too far for 4days)? We really just want to enjoy an ocean, sit on a beach, relax and eat great food out on the town. Not into Vegas style holiday........where should we go.

I'd love to hear your advise.... we just don't have any idea where to go.
 
Old May 27th, 1999, 02:18 PM
  #2  
Monica Richards
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Not tropical, but I would go either to the California wine country, or San Diego. San Diego has the beaches you crave and a lot of other stuff too. The wine country is beautiful, and four days is a good amount of time to spend there. Both of these are sufficiently far from your location to make it worth it considering someone else is paying!
 
Old May 27th, 1999, 02:21 PM
  #3  
cherie
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Beverly Hills is a ghost town around the 4th of July. You can walk into the top restaurants; Shop, relax poolside at a decent hotel....hit some museums.
 
Old May 27th, 1999, 02:47 PM
  #4  
Owen O'Neill
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Although it has a moderately Carib feel, I'd rule out Key West because the beaches are nearly non-existent and it's brutally hot in July (I was there last year on July 3-5 and it was unbearable). I'd vote for San Francisco if the beaches aren't crucial but San Diego does seem a good choice. Coronado Island is nice and others can recommend good beaches in the area. Lots of good dining to choose from in the gaslight District and elsewhere.
 
Old May 27th, 1999, 03:17 PM
  #5  
Beth
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Maybe somewhere in the Outer Banks in North Carolina. The beaches are great, and lots of nice restaurants. A very relaxing place to spend a few days.
 
Old May 27th, 1999, 04:04 PM
  #6  
Howard
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The Outer Banks is a good suggestion. You also might think of Hilton Head, S.C., if you want beaches.
Of course, you may have trouble getting reservations over the holiday weekend!
 
Old May 27th, 1999, 05:10 PM
  #7  
Nancy
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You don't want to spend all weekend traveling, and the west coast is a long flight from Toronto! Otherwise I'd vote for San Diego. Bermuda is considered North America, is an island, and is probably not as far. I haven't been there, but thought I'd suggest it. Outer Banks, Hilton Head are both great ideas too. I might be wrong, but the Bahamas are not part of the Caribbean so they must be part of North America.
 
Old May 27th, 1999, 05:24 PM
  #8  
Mary
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San Francisco would be my first choice.

San Diego is also a good thought.

Florida is TOO tropical at that time of year (I've lived there for the past 23 years); although, since you are Canadian it might not bother you. We do have great beaches and lots of fun things to do. Good luck.
 
Old May 27th, 1999, 06:15 PM
  #9  
Ruth
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I agree with the previous post that you don't want to spend three out of four days traveling and getting rid of jet lag. (west coast)

I suggest for the July holiday period:

Coast of Maine...not blistering hot!

Mackinac Island, Michigan...for a carless, clean ...unique long weekend. You can bike/horse buggy everywhere. Stay at the big resort there and have a romantic time.

I would not go to the Carolinas or Florida as it is way to humid. Very hot.

Would stay up north. Maybe a cool, clean lake in NH. Vermont? New England and the northern Michigan lakes region would be my choice for the summer.

That weekend is so crowded and I can't imagine doing it on the beach with a zillion others.

I would prefer a more remote, less traveled spot.

In fact..Canada sound right to me!!!!





 
Old May 27th, 1999, 06:18 PM
  #10  
Bob Brown
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If I had my pick I would do this:
fly to Calgary, drive to Lake Louise, and stay as long as I could at Chateau Lake Louise, hopefully with a room that looks west! I think that gorgeous view of the lake, particularly early before the tourist mobs arrive, is one of the most beautiful sights I have seen.
There is a lot to see in the area that is pretty, particularly a drive along the Icefields Parkway.
 
Old May 28th, 1999, 09:32 AM
  #11  
elvira
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I'd vote for somewhere northerly, too. Coast of Maine; Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts; Newport, Rhode Island; Ventnor/Margate, New Jersey. Maine's beaches can be rocky; Massachusetts' beaches are narrow; New Jersey has great wide beaches with white sand. Anywhere you go, you'll get great seafood and local produce (corn, tomatoes, squash, peppers). Newport has some very upscale restaurants, and you can visit all those mansions if the weather doesn't hold up.
You'd love Florida, New Orleans, Atlanta...but not in humid hot sticky nasty ugly summer!
 
Old May 28th, 1999, 11:59 AM
  #12  
Brian in Atlanta
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Having read your post a second time, I don't think you're too worried about the heat as you say you want something tropical.

If that's true, I'd second the recommendation of Hilton Head. The beaches are great, the food good and while it will be hot, you won't melt. You can fly into Savannah, spend a night there, then it's a 45 minute drive to Hilton Head. Reserve early, it will be crowded.

Do not stay at the Holiday Inn on South Forest Beach. There's nothing wrong with that beach, but that's ground zero and you'll be fighting for beach space over a holiday weekend. We stay at a Four Points Sheraton a half mile up the road. It's nothing special, but it's right across the street from the beach and is close to lots of places to eat/drink/shop. If you stay on a Plantation, you'll be a bit more secluded but also a bit more confined. Good Luck!
 
Old May 28th, 1999, 12:00 PM
  #13  
lisa
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Hi Leslie -- I remember your name from the Caribbean forum (I think we are the two biggest St. Lucia fans, so maybe we have similar taste in vacations)! I take it you enjoy hot weather so I wouldn't really worry about anyplace being too hot, including Florida or the Carolinas -- especially since if you're at the beach, you can always cool off in the water!
My first choice would be Key West. I had a great time there in November 1997. You will hear lots of people say there aren't any beaches there, but it's just not true. There are beaches (topless ones, in fact). They just aren't as big as the ones in the Caribbean, and there aren't as many of them, but they are there and they're not bad! There is a small beach on the southernmost point of the island which I went to almost every day; nothing fancy but they do rent out nice beach chairs ($5/day) and have a waitress who'll bring you frozen drinks or whatever you want. Key West is the only place I've been in the U.S. that really FEELS Caribbean. Four days is about the perfect amount of time for exploring Key West and there are tons of fun restaurants and bars and there's good snorkeling nearby too. Plus, it is normally very expensive to fly into Key West if you have to pay for it on your own, so the fact that the company's paying really makes it worth it. I stayed in a B&B when I was there but there are several nice, large resorts (one in particular I can't remember the name of, but the address was Zero Duval Street -- and it had a nice spa for massages and other pampering services too). Check out www.keywest.com

If not Key West, then I would go to South Beach in Miami and see if they'll put you up at the Delano which is supposed to be gorgeous. I loved South Beach but it may have a little more activity than you're looking for...lots of fantastic restaurants and nightlife.

You also might want to think about somewhere near Charleston, SC -- there are some nice beaches nearby and the city itself is charming.
I personally thought Hilton Head was nothing special. And the Outer Banks are nice but if you're looking for tropical, this isn't it.
The coast of Maine is lovely and I would highly recommend that, but again, it's not tropical.
If you are willing to forget about beaches and tropics, then I too would recommend the Canadian Rockies. If you haven't been to Banff, you really owe it to yourself -- it's so gorgeous! And there's that one fabulous hotel there that I can't remember the name of...

Also, if you're willing to settle for a different kind of ocean experience, you might want to think about someplace on the California coast. It's not tropical, but San Francisco is fantastic. In fact, my boyfriend and I are spending our July 4th holiday in Los Angeles and then driving up the coast and staying in Big Sur -- there are two hotels there that are supposed to be unbelievable and if you can get the company to foot the bill you ought to consider it: Ventana Resort (www.ventanainn.com) and the Post Ranch Inn (www.postranchinn.com). Or think about a nice beach resort in southern California.
Those are my suggestions. Don't go to Mackinac Island, it's cute but not what you're looking for, trust me.
I envy this dilemma of yours -- have a terrific time!
 
Old May 28th, 1999, 12:15 PM
  #14  
hot tub johnny
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Go to San Diego, being from Toronto Florida's kind of silly for you.
 
Old May 28th, 1999, 10:50 PM
  #15  
SDSam
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As a native of San Diego, I have to vote for San Diego. It wasn't named "America's Finest City" for nothing. Actually I think that we named it that but that is neither here nor there.

In any event it is a great city and fine area to visit. Hopefully the June gloom will be over by the time you arrive.
 
Old May 30th, 1999, 05:49 AM
  #16  
Elaine
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Great suggestions from other posters. You only have four days. Have you considered Amelia Island, FL. The Ritz Carlton is right on the beach. Also, Naples, FL...also the Ritz Carlton. We have stayed at both properties and would return. If you had more time, most definitely San Fran. or San Diego. I don't think there are direct flights to Hilton Head/Charleston from Toronto. I'd opt for a direct flight, wherever you decide to vacation.
Hope this helps.
Elaine
 
Old May 30th, 1999, 05:19 PM
  #17  
leslie
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Thanks everyone for all your terrific suggestions. Too bad we could only pick one place. Key West it looks like!!!!!
Thanks again..........

Lisa your email isn't working so I'll post my message to you here:
Yes I remember you from our St. Lucia chats. Its Leslie from Canada and we have pretty much decided on Key West for our trip........it does sound very nice. If we decide to stay in a hotel/ resort (company's expense) which one would you suggest (sheraton, bestwestern, etc.......anything nice and on a good beach with restaurants and shopping close at hand.) Re: flying into Key West, we were told the closest airport is Miami - 4 hours away! Is there an airport closer that you know of?
What are some great restaurants and bars(pub type or patio style) you would suggest? We love seafood/ lobster and crab and all different types of food. What in Key West should we Not Miss!? We plan on relaxing mostly during the day, but I'm up for some excursions (I definetly think we will take the Catamaran trip to Tortuga island for snorkeling,etc) and I'm dying to swim with dolphins (i heard there was a place close by to keywest)?
Any advice or insights you can give us would be terrific. I guess we will probably have to rent a car if the airport is that far away.... otherwise do you really need a car to get around in Key West?

Can't wait to hear from you. Leslie.
 
Old Jun 1st, 1999, 03:23 AM
  #18  
Kaja
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I went to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands some years ago, and it is as close to paradise you can get. I don't think you will be to hot, because there is always a breeze there.
The Virgin Islands is a part of the USA, so I guess you could go there.
Kaja
 
Old Jun 1st, 1999, 05:12 AM
  #19  
Brian in Atlanta
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There is an airport on Key West, but it can only handle planes that are so big, so you have to fly to Orlando, Miami or Tampa and connect. Once you're on the island, there's no need for a car - bikes are all you need.

For info regarding our recent trip to Key West, check out my "Key West Trip Report" on this forum.

Have a great time!
 
Old Nov 28th, 1999, 10:23 PM
  #20  
Noah
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So, Leslie, where did you end up going?
 

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