Before A Rush and A Push, Where Is the Land Ours?

June 17, 2009 10:03 AM

Where can we go for a relaxing, four-day vacation involving warm water, not heavily touristed beaches and decent food before the baby arrives?

Our first baby is due in December and we're desperate to have one last vacation to ourselves before the academic year starts in late August. As a pregnant woman, the idea of floating/swimming in the Atlantic sounds wonderful to me. Neither of us are the resort type and would enjoy a place with relatively close access to cultural sites and vegetarian dining options. Mexico was on the docket but the midwife suggested staying domestic. We'll be departing from Minneapolis and would like one stop or less.

posted by thenewbrunette to travel & transportation (13 comments total)

Have you looked into North Carolina's 'Outer Banks'?

I was a kid the last time I was there(early 80's), but I remember having a great time, and don't remember it being incredibly crowded.
posted by spirit72 at 10:08 AM on June 17

I might recommend Miami, if you're looking for culture + beaches and lots of good stuff to do. Not sure how that fits with the crowd-levels you're looking for.
posted by jquinby at 10:12 AM on June 17

Not quite domestic, but not quite not domestic, I recommend Puerto Rico. Very relaxing in the summer as it's the off-season.
posted by milarepa at 10:25 AM on June 17

We just got back from Kiawah Island near Charleston S.C. and it was great. Not cheap though.
posted by Justin Case at 10:33 AM on June 17

I also thought about PR, although as a vegetarian you're going to be somewhat limited unless you eat fish. We've done it as vegetarians, but cooked mostly where we were staying (which was lovely, Amirage). We often stay in rincon which has a surfer vibe and some restaurants with decent vegetarian food.
posted by These Premises Are Alarmed at 10:40 AM on June 17 [1 favorite]

Nice post title :-)

I also recommend the Outer Banks. Truly lovely.
posted by pinky at 10:41 AM on June 17

Isle of Palms (South Carolina)

Vieques (Puerto Rico)
posted by scblackman at 10:56 AM on June 17

Saint Augustine's kind of interesting, a bit touristy, has beautiful beaches, very hot in August. Atlantic waves might feel too powerful for a pregnant woman- I can't remember, my baby is 33. Sarasota or St. Pete maybe.
posted by mareli at 11:26 AM on June 17

Thanks to all for the wonderful suggestions so far! Based upon the great ideas, I'm wondering what people might recommend if we open up to the West Coast? The Atlantic seemed like the best option for swimming due to water temps, but in July/August, maybe we'd get lucky in the Pacific?
posted by thenewbrunette at 1:09 PM on June 17

I used to visit Oregon beaches in the summer and it was cool but swimmable in June, so July and August should be fine. Cannon Beach (slighly quieter, prettier to walk) and Seaside (busier, possibly better for swimming) were the two we went to often. Both are about 90 minutes from Portland. I'm not sure of the dining options, culture.
posted by ejaned8 at 2:42 PM on June 17

Thanks to all for the wonderful suggestions so far! Based upon the great ideas, I'm wondering what people might recommend if we open up to the West Coast?

Well, you'll be hard pressed to find warm water north of San Diego, but Tofino, BC and the Pacific Rim National Park (Canada) is just about my favorite place on the planet. Primeval old growth forests and snow covered mountains of Vancouver Island stretch out to wide sandy beaches that go on for miles. Bald eagles, whales, sea otters, sea lions -- endless wildlife. Great restaurants, and accomadations that range from kayaking out to camp on uninhabited islands all the way up to 4 star resorts. Sunlight past 10 pm this time of year. You'd fly into Vancouver, BC then either take a seaplane or rent a car, take a 2 hour ferry ride and another hour and half drive across the island.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 4:53 PM on June 17

If you're considering the Pacific I think the only real option for warm water is San Diego, but that's a great option.
posted by crinklebat at 10:42 PM on June 17

I would recommend St. Simon's Island, Georgia. Close to Savannah if you need a city-fix. If you go, stop by the Georgia Sea Grill. They get full quick, so reservations might be in order.

Best vacation ever.
posted by bach at 9:28 AM on June 19