Everyone share a vacation idea besides cruising

[skrufy]

Just now, beerman2 said:

Yes!

 

1 minute ago, beerman2 said:

Yes!

Do you vacation there regularly. We are planning to move to the Foley or Pensacola area in the near future. Miss the beaches terribly. One question, can you give me an honest opinion of the Gulf Shores area.

[TooManyWakeUpsTilWeSail]

Anywhere I’m not in sight of my mother-in-law is a priceless vacation.  For now, that is my rescheduled Horizon cruise in September, 2021.  The wife & I selfishly snuck out this weekend when restaurants opened for indoor dining this weekend for the 1st time since October (I think).  

[beerman2]

19 minutes ago, skrufy said:

 

Do you vacation there regularly. We are planning to move to the Foley or Pensacola area in the near future. Miss the beaches terribly. One question, can you give me an honest opinion of the Gulf Shores area.

Only be second time there, the deal we have for a Gulf Front Condo was hard to pass up.

 

Its probably been 10 years since we’ve been there.

 

We live in a tourist area so GS won’t be surprising to us. 
 

We will be leaving before the spring break arrive.

[Morebeer]

Hello All: Just want to highly reccomend a City Slickers experience. Small town of 500 people 2 hours south of Lake Tahoe, Bridgeport Ca. There's a family owned guest ranch there named Hunewill Ranch. Not cheap but if you love to horseback ride like the wife and I it's about as good as it gets. Were in our late 60's and going back this coming August for the first time in quite a while. There's no TV and very little to No internet just the old fashioned ranch activities put on by the family who owns the ranch. Just look at the reviews on Trip Advisor if your at all interested to read how much those of us who have visited this Hunewill ranch enjoy it. 

[skrufy]

25 minutes ago, beerman2 said:

Only be second time there, the deal we have for a Gulf Front Condo was hard to pass up.

 

Its probably been 10 years since we’ve been there.

 

We live in a tourist area so GS won’t be surprising to us. 
 

We will be leaving before the spring break arrive.

Sounds great enjoy.

[Kentucky816]

On 2/6/2021 at 9:20 AM, Theosprey247 said:

We will be going to Hawaii in July. However, I’ve always wanted the drive the Blues Highway (Memphis, TN to New Orleans LA).

Memphis is a neat town to see.  Quite a bit of history and things to see, Graceland, Sun Records, The Loraine Hotel ( Martin Luther King assignation), the Pyramid......the list goes on.  Only three hours from us and where some of the relatives live. 

[firefly333]

2 hours ago, skrufy said:

 

Do you vacation there regularly. We are planning to move to the Foley or Pensacola area in the near future. Miss the beaches terribly. One question, can you give me an honest opinion of the Gulf Shores area.

I've stayed there and love it. We went to gamble. I'm just looking to buy in florida instead 1. No state income tax. 2. Prices are still lower than where I currently live. 3. Picked cape Canaveral to be a uber ride from a quiet port, low crime, good area. 

 

Just for staying across or near a beach it's a lovely area. I drove thru gulf port just a week ago on my way to cape Canaveral.  But I've stayed there before. I've watched HGTV beach segments there. Lots of beach houses, I wanted a condo, which is more florida. When I stopped to eat the seafood buffets are tourist priced in gulf port. Top notch fresh fish. But even a fresh fish place $20 for lunch but so good. My hopes of a quiet tucked away cheaper place for fresh fish faded. 

 

It's a good place if you like to gamble and run up pts. The places to eat on the gulf where I ate long ago gone, from a hurricane, wiped out the gulf side.

[simplelife]

Our favorite beach getaway is 30A on the Florida Gulf Coat  (Santa Rosa/ Seaside Beach, between Destin and Panama City). My DD rents a large beach property there through VRBO (Location and size depending on which family members can go) and we have a multigenerational getaway.The beaches there as as pretty as any I've ever seen - powdery shite sand, and the properties we rent have private or limited beach access. We do this every year.

[skrufy]

7 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I've stayed there and love it. We went to gamble. I'm just looking to buy in florida instead 1. No state income tax. 2. Prices are still lower than where I currently live. 3. Picked cape Canaveral to be a uber ride from a quiet port, low crime, good area. 

 

Just for staying across or near a beach it's a lovely area. I drove thru gulf port just a week ago on my way to cape Canaveral.  But I've stayed there before. I've watched HGTV beach segments there. Lots of beach houses, I wanted a condo, which is more florida. When I stopped to eat the seafood buffets are tourist priced in gulf port. Top notch fresh fish. But even a fresh fish place $20 for lunch but so good. My hopes of a quiet tucked away cheaper place for fresh fish faded. 

 

It's a good place if you like to gamble and run up pts. The places to eat on the gulf where I ate long ago gone, from a hurricane, wiped out the gulf side.

We just sold a home in Deltona Florida, just a little south of Daytona. Would go back to Florida in a heartbeat but wife does not like central Florida and south, except she likes to cruise out of Miami and Port Canaveral.. Had to compromise with Pensacola or Foley Alabama. I get my beaches either way.

[simplelife]

41 minutes ago, Kentucky816 said:

Memphis is a neat town to see.  Quite a bit of history and things to see, Graceland, Sun Records, The Loraine Hotel ( Martin Luther King assignation), the Pyramid......the list goes on.  Only three hours from us and where some of the relatives live. 

This one is on our list.

[simplelife]

5 hours ago, logan25 said:

Seaside.  I visited relatives there many years ago.  Such an interesting community.  Lots of locals enjoying nightlife on their rooftop decks and balconies.

Love Seaside. We go every year

 

[Butterbean1000]

We have rediscovered road trips. Our next one is in 3 weeks. We're taking 8 days and driving down to the Keys.  Bonus is we'll be able to take our Border Collie with us.

[firefly333]

2 minutes ago, skrufy said:

We just sold a home in Deltona Florida, just a little south of Daytona. Would go back to Florida in a heartbeat but wife does not like central Florida and south, except she likes to cruise out of Miami and Port Canaveral.. Had to compromise with Pensacola or Foley Alabama. I get my beaches either way.

I picked a oceanfront condo in cape Canaveral because I can uber to the port.

 

I lived on the ocean in boca for 13 years but sold and moved to help my folks but I'm missing being where I can see the ocean, though this condo is not near what I had in boca, it's enough for a 2nd place and large enough I could move there some time. Idk what I'll be able to do but with prices rising 10% a year, wanted my piece of oceanfront. I might have to rent it out for a while. I do all my parents errands here, just didnt want to be priced out of the market. I wanted only ocean front.

 

I wouldnt want to live in orlando, too muggy, I need the ocean breezes at night. And love bugs, oh my. Not central florida. Lol agree with your wife.

[firefly333]

Just now, Butterbean1000 said:

We have rediscovered road trips. Our next one is in 3 weeks. We're taking 8 days and driving down to the Keys.  Bonus is we'll be able to take our Border Collie with us.

Have you driven to key west before, if not you will love it. I love the drive. I drove down during season during weekends with bumper to bumper traffic, but I loved driving over those bridges. Drove twice. Dont miss sunset in key west at the pier lol. Things you cant see from a cruise ship.

 

Covid imo I hope the traffic will be so much better and in 8 weeks should be even better, anytime after easter is better tourist wise. Hope you love it too.

[Butterbean1000]

10 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Have you driven to key west before, if not you will love it. I love the drive. I drove down during season during weekends with bumper to bumper traffic, but I loved driving over those bridges. Drove twice. Dont miss sunset in key west at the pier lol. Things you cant see from a cruise ship.

 

Covid imo I hope the traffic will be so much better and in 8 weeks should be even better, anytime after easter is better tourist wise. Hope you love it too.

Our first time driving down there. We are making a few stops along the way.  I am so looking forward to it.  The only times we've been to Key West were on cruises. 

Edited February 7, 2021 by Butterbean1000

[keywest1]

We are going to an Air B&B lake house with the kids and grands.  An hour from home with swimming, fishing, kayaks, and lots of room for the grands to run and play.  Not the cruise to Grand Cayman with the turtle farm that was cancelled last July.  But after a year of staying home, we are going to have an awesome time together.

[keywest1]

19 minutes ago, Butterbean1000 said:

Our first time driving down there. We are making a few stops along the way.  I am so looking forward to it.  The only times we've been to Key West was on cruises. 

We flew to Orlando and drove a rental car to Key West several years ago.  We spent a week in a bed and breakfast.  It was like stepping back in time.  It was the most relaxing vacation we have ever had.  So many things to see and do, or do nothing and enjoy that as well.  Sunset at Mallory Square was so much fun.  

[firefly333]

1 hour ago, keywest1 said:

We flew to Orlando and drove a rental car to Key West several years ago.  We spent a week in a bed and breakfast.  It was like stepping back in time.  It was the most relaxing vacation we have ever had.  So many things to see and do, or do nothing and enjoy that as well.  Sunset at Mallory Square was so much fun.  

Everyone claps for the sun going down. I assume there will be vendors there with lizards, stuff to sell like non covid times at Mallory square at sundown. I love the drive. But I love the ocean.

[Justmekaren918]

Booked a NH Winnisquam waterfront lake house for June & September B-days. We'll be able to drive around & hopefully in September things will be better & we could take the Mount Washington again. Dog can come! Sitting back at the house, grilling & listening for the loons. 

[beerman2]

13 hours ago, firefly333 said:

I've stayed there and love it. We went to gamble. I'm just looking to buy in florida instead 1. No state income tax. 2. Prices are still lower than where I currently live. 3. Picked cape Canaveral to be a uber ride from a quiet port, low crime, good area. 

 

Just for staying across or near a beach it's a lovely area. I drove thru gulf port just a week ago on my way to cape Canaveral.  But I've stayed there before. I've watched HGTV beach segments there. Lots of beach houses, I wanted a condo, which is more florida. When I stopped to eat the seafood buffets are tourist priced in gulf port. Top notch fresh fish. But even a fresh fish place $20 for lunch but so good. My hopes of a quiet tucked away cheaper place for fresh fish faded. 

 

It's a good place if you like to gamble and run up pts. The places to eat on the gulf where I ate long ago gone, from a hurricane, wiped out the gulf side.

Gulf Shores , Ala. doesn't have casino's, you may be thinking of Gulf Port which I believe is Mississippi where the Casino's are.

 

 

[beerman2]

13 hours ago, Butterbean1000 said:

Our first time driving down there. We are making a few stops along the way.  I am so looking forward to it.  The only times we've been to Key West were on cruises. 

Enjoy KW , it's totally different spending a few days there. We loved it.

[firefly333]

25 minutes ago, beerman2 said:

Gulf Shores , Ala. doesn't have casino's, you may be thinking of Gulf Port which I believe is Mississippi where the Casino's are.

 

 

You're right. I did have the names mixed up. 

[teknoge3k]

Last April we went to Florida to Tampa / Clearwater area. Then in May we went to Myrtle Beach. In June we went to Charleston SC. In July we went to Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic. We didn't go anywhere in August or September. In October we went to Florida again, to Miami. In December we went to Gatlinburg. We haven't been anywhere since December. 

 

This year, in April we're going to D.C.. In June, and July we're going back to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. That's all we have planned at this point.

 

It's been wonderful traveling since last year during Covid where things weren't as crowded and not a ton of lines everywhere, with the exception of Gatlinburg. We go to Gatlinburg every year and I have never in my life seen it as crowded as I did this year. It was absolutely crazy there. With the exception of Dollywood because they were limiting people. 

[my kids mama]

On 2/6/2021 at 10:02 AM, rs45thompson said:

Which resort?  I was looking at all inclusives but I don't really know much about them.  I heard Rui Palace was good  and I heard Sandal's was okay.

I have stayed at the RIU Palace and loved it.  Keep in mind that most restaurants are indoors and you need to use an elevator to go up to your room.  Cancun has more "high rise" type places.  

We just got back last week and stayed just a bit further south of Cancun, in Puerto Morelos.  It's only about 15-20 minutes from the airport. We stayed at a place called Now Sapphire.   Most things are outdoors, even the lobby was open air.  The food was great, the service was fantastic, and the pool in quite large.  No problem social distancing.  In fact, we practically had the place to ourselves.  I felt very safe. 

 

[honeybunches]

I love this thread.  Have wanted to do something else, particularly an AI in Mexico, just didn't know where to start.