Where to take anniversary vacation?
 

My husband and I would like to celebrate our 15 year wedding anniversary somewhere fun, but with young kids that family will need to watch for us, we don't want to go too far or too long. So Europe is probably out since we may have only 4 days or so, but we'd be open to anywhere in the US. We are not people that love to lie on the beach - we prefer places with things to see. Any suggestions?


Thanks

*New York
*New Orleans
*San Francisco
*Charleston and Savannah
*Las Vegas with a side trip to the Grand Canyon.

It would help to know the time of year and your departure point.

HTTY

Good point - time of year will likely be either May or September, and we will be departing from NYC.

*Yellowstone National Park! That'd be my first pick. Stay in the Old Faithful Inn.
*Erie PA. is a close second. Right on Lake Erie, nice beaches to dip your toes in, but water is cold. Ships to tour, and little cruises into old German villages with lots of shops.
*Grand Canyon - Definately! Takes your breath away!
*Canyon Lands National Park or
*Arches National Park in Utah. Other breath taking sights! I've been all over the US, so it would also help to know what you like to do.

If you never got to Montreal, I'd say go from NYC and take the train up to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. Take the Maid in the Mist Tour, check out the area, then, catch the train up to Montreal. Or Toronto. Or Quebec City.

You get a combination of the fun and the romantic.

Start in South Beach and drive down the keys to Key West... good food, interesting shopping, people, and lots to do...

Fly to New Orleans and stay at The Ritz Carlton. Have lunch at Galatoire's, Mr. B's and Bon Ton. Have dinner at Stella, Emeril's, Bayona and Irene's. Go to Commander's Palace for lunch.

Fly to Charleston, SC and stay at The French Quarter Inn. Have dinner at Charleston Place, McCrady's, High Cotton and Husk. Have lunch at Amen Street Seafood and Pearlz Oyster Bar.

Or fly to Quebec City and stay at Chateau Frontenac.

We went to Key West for our 10th Wedding Anniversary last year. No lying on the beach for us there. We did lots of sightseeing and ate in really great resturants. Did a bar hop and sailing on the water. It was a great vacation.

I agree with Las Vegas and New Orleans also. Great sightseeing and food.

We going to Seattle and an Alaksan cruise this year. Though the cruise might be more than what you are looking for, we found lots of things to see and do in Seattle for the 4 days we will be there.

If your interested, check out our picture site. We've been to many destinations and it might give you an idea.

http://community.webshots.com/user/kvrlvn

I don't think I'd go to New Orleans in September. I'm pretty sure it's really hot, and I'm not sure what's going on at that time of year.

Key West will be hot as well, but, smaller city, and you should have sea breezes.

I've only been to the Grand Canyon in March, guessing it would be hot as well.

In other words, if you're heading to a warm weather destination, I'd go in May.

We went to Savannah in mid-September and enjoyed good weather. Stay at the Ballastone Inn (ballastone.com) which is a very romantic B&B, well located in the Historic District. A wonderful breakfast is included, tea is served each afternoon, and hors doeurves each evening. Sherry and Port and biscotti (or some sort of sweet) after return home from an evening out.

Eat at the Olde Pink House (http://tinyurl.com/4tq95ya). Have lunch at Mrs. Wilkes (www.mrswilkes.com). Visit the tourist center and tour their museum, take a city tour, walk along River Street and stop at the candy store. Visit the Telfair Museum, tour an old mansion.

It's a wonderful city and I think a perfect place to celebrate an anniversary. I have a file I put together when planning our trip there. If you'd like a copy, e-mail me: [email protected]

I would trust HTTY's picks. For me I like fly to Las Vegas, rent a car see Zion or Bryce and maybe Death Valley.
Take one of the tours from Las Vegas to the south rim of the Grand Canyon to avoid a long drive going or coming back in the dark.
For our 30th, my DW and I went to Whitefish MT/Glacier NP.
For our 35th, we went to Yosemite NP from Fresno.
On both of those trips, we arrived by Amtrak and rented a car.
With only 4-5 days maybe you should stay closer to home.

Traveling anywhere west of the Mississippi will pretty much whack two full days for travel; I think you'd be better off staying closer.

My picks would be Quebec City, Memphis and the Delta, Charleston, Portsmouth NH, or maybe Austin/TX hill country.