Holiday help!

April 25, 2015 2:35 AM

Can any MeFites help two Brits pick the perfect North American holiday?

Mrs Albondiga has a business thing near Detroit, Michigan at the end of May. I am planning to fly out and meet her then for us to have about 2 weeks of holiday somewhere in the US / Canada afterwards and we are struggling with where to go!

We are more than happy to take numerous flights for the perfect place(s), but obviously bonus points for somewhere that can be reached in a direct flight from either Kalamazoo/Battle Creek or Detroit airports.

We are looking to find somewhere that we can mix up both some relaxing time (ideally with a beach) and experiencing some Impressive Nature (e.g. National Park), either from the same place or without too much travelling in between. Last year we managed this in Hawaii, with half the time at Waikiki and Kalua for relaxing on the beach and the other half on the Big Island for volcanoes. This was brilliant! We are leaning towards heading to California to try and recreate the same kind of thing this year but even narrowing it down to one state there still seem to be so many places to start!

Other salient information:
· We live in Britain, so would very much like somewhere with sunshine and warmth to go with our Impressive Nature
· Happy to split our time in urban and rural locales
· Culturally we’ve always been very intrigued by the American South, so would be very open to somewhere that way (New Orleans??)
· We are leftie liberal types
· Access to a beginner surfing beach would be nice to have
· We both like food and drink so any particular highlights on that front would be great
· Accommodation wise we prefer being self-catered so don’t need to be in big hotels, we have used VRBO.com successfully in the past
· We aren’t really into into crowds of people, museums, theme parks, guided tours or anything too ‘organised’ or touristy – but happy to take recommendations of anything we shouldn’t miss!
· Start of the holiday MUST have some non-strenuous downtime, e.g. beach or something, for at least a day or 2, due to $medical $issues – after that, things can be more active


All suggestions as to areas or specific places would be gratefully received, thanks in advance!

posted by Albondiga to Travel & Transportation around United States (25 answers total)

Quality beach in the United States is limited to the coastline from Florida to Alabama. Since you said you would like to go to the south. There will be many direct flights to Atlanta. I suggest flying to Atlanta and then flying into Charleston, SC and renting a car. Spend a few days there and drive to Hilton Head Island and then onto Savannah. You will be able to see the Port Royal Sound which is a very specific kind of nature unique to the southern United States. Savannah is probably the most classical and well preserved southern city in the US, because it was not burned during the Civil War. At that point you can easily drive to Florida and then take your pick of whatever beach you would like to stay at. You have an option to then fly or drive. It is a 7 hour drive from Jacksonville, FL to New Orleans. You can finish your trip with a few days in New Orleans. There are many plantations in the area. The nearest direct flights on a daily basis to London would be from Houston or Atlanta. That would probably be a fairly decent vacation based on what you asked for. The only warning I have for you is that it will be really hot, and if you cannot tolerate humidity then I would not do try outside of the end of March. I hope that helped! Have fun!
posted by skwint at 3:09 AM on April 25, 2015 [1 favorite]

You could do New Orleans for the tourist part, and then head to Destin for the relaxing beach part. Or, go to Puerto Rico, stay near Old San Juan, and you get beach/resort, city, and rain forest within an hour of each other.
posted by kellyblah at 3:31 AM on April 25, 2015 [1 favorite]

It sounds like you're struggling to decide between California and the American South. I have spent a lot of time (years) in the south and I strongly prefer California both in terms of culture and natural beauty of the landscape. Fly to San Francisco, have a look around, then hire a car and drive to the wine country (Napa or Sonoma). Also drive part of he Pacific Coast Highway, and go to Yosemite. There's tons to do out that way.

New Orleans is interesting, Savanah is okay (but being from the UK you won't be impressed with the age of the houses the way Americans are), and there's not a lot in Atlanta for tourists. Florida has some decent bits but is mostly best for either young kids or retirees I think, or serious Disney fans. Based on your description I think you'll prefer California. Yes the South is fine, it's interesting, and you could have an okay holiday there with a few highlights. But California is stunning with so much to see and do.
posted by hazyjane at 3:56 AM on April 25, 2015 [13 favorites]

I'm trying to think of somewhere other than California for impressive nature and beach. It might just be California. Fly into LA and drive up or down the coast. It's immense, the beaches will be lovely, and there's good food everywhere.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 3:59 AM on April 25, 2015 [3 favorites]

In a completely different direction - Acadia National Park?
posted by pintapicasso at 4:04 AM on April 25, 2015 [4 favorites]

I am adding to my earlier post. You could drive from Savannah to St. Augustine and stop there overnight. You can go from St. Augustine to just south of the Daytona Beach area where apparently there are quite a few low surf beaches. And when you are done you can simply leave the rental car and fly from Orlando to New Orleans. The major issue would be dividing how much time you spent where.

If you are interested in the American south, Charleston, Hilton Head, Savannah, St Augustine, and New Orleans will provide the most culture, history, and architecture.

Charleston - Hilton Head : 2 h
Hilton Head - Savannah : 45 min
Savannah - St. Augustine : 2 h 40 min
St. Augustine - Daytona Beach (area) - 1 h
posted by skwint at 4:09 AM on April 25, 2015

Check out the Florida Keys.
posted by amro at 5:08 AM on April 25, 2015

For two weeks, I would fly into LA, rent a car and drive up the coast. Stop at the Channel Islands or loop down to San Diego for beach before you head up Route 1. Swing around to Yosemite for a few days and through Sonoma (Napa is for tourists) or the Russian River for wineries. End in San Francisco.

Re: the south - I love Miami and Key West, but cruising around the South is not quite like heading up Route 1 in California - not nearly as dramatic, though great BBQ.
posted by Toddles at 5:27 AM on April 25, 2015 [1 favorite]

California is lovely (I grew up there), but you should be aware that if you are traveling at the end of May the beaches are not necessarily sunny and warm. In southern California this is the beginning of the June Gloom season in which beaches and immediate coastal regions are often shrouded in gloomy clouds all day. It is not frigid by any means whatsoever and it will not rain, but if I was looking for a sunny beach vacation I would go elsewhere.
posted by andrewesque at 5:47 AM on April 25, 2015

Re: the south - I love Miami and Key West, but cruising around the South is not quite like heading up Route 1 in California - not nearly as dramatic, though great BBQ.


Perhaps not, but the Overseas Highway (also a route 1) through the Keys is pretty scenic at parts. Have you ever driven over a seven mile bridge?
posted by amro at 5:50 AM on April 25, 2015

Do you want to be able to swim at said beach? The end of May, water is still really cold in places like Charleston.
posted by greta simone at 5:54 AM on April 25, 2015 [1 favorite]

By Doing Hawaii first, you have guaranteed yourself to be disappointed in N. American beaches forevermore! If you want to stay in the US, try New Orleans for an interesting cultural experience and good food, then Florida keys for laid-back beach relaxing.

If you want Hawaii-level beaches, head to the Caribbean (British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos are wonderful), or Bermuda.
posted by apparently at 7:01 AM on April 25, 2015 [4 favorites]

Tennessee is absolutely gorgeous, and it's a day's drive from Detroit. You could head down there through the gracious green farmlands of Ohio into the Smoky Mountains, drop by Graceland, the Lorraine Motel (where Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated - now a memorial) and go to William Faulkner's house all in one afternoon, and then head over either to the South Carolina/Georgia beaches or down to the Florida Panhandle, which has amazing aquifer-fed swimming holes, sugar-sand beaches, excellent Southern food and a very specific laid-back lifestyle. I lived in California for a long time and yes it is wonderful, but it's cold in the summertime, and the water there is not very swimmable (if at all). So I'd suggest going a little more off the beaten path. The South has great antique shops, Civil War history, food, and a culture all it's own, and it is stunningly beautiful in places. I would however stay away from New Orleans unless you want to spend your hard-earned money in a state whose governor just published a New York Times op-ed piece saying he thinks businesses should be allowed to not serve LGBT customers.
posted by hazleweather at 7:27 AM on April 25, 2015 [2 favorites]

I'd suggest Banff and/or Vancouver Island for stunning nature in Canada.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:47 AM on April 25, 2015 [1 favorite]

I like hazleweather's suggestions. I'm going to offer one that starts you off in a different part of TN.

Fly from Detroit to Knoxville then rent a car and stay at Blackberry Farm is a luxury hotel and resort in the Great Smoky Mountains. While they might not be as majestic as the mountains in California, they have their own charm and if you want a place to relax and see the south, I think that would be a good place to start.

After a few days there, drive to Nashville to do the touristy country music thing.

Then drive to Memphis. You can go to Shiloh National Military Park on the way if you want to and have time to drive.

In Memphis, Graceland and the Lorraine Motel. Eat lots of BBQ!

Then down to New Orleans and over to Destin for some beach time before you go home.

Hope you have a great trip!
posted by dawkins_7 at 9:22 AM on April 25, 2015

I'd definitely say California over the South. Maybe fly into LA or San Diego for the beach fix (SF has beaches, but will not be warm enough to really lay out for an extended time), then drive out to Palm Springs and Joshua Tree Nat'l Park. In Palm Springs I highly recommend the Ace Hotel - very hipster/laid back, amazing food (and coffee!), and mostly an over-30 crowd.
posted by melissasaurus at 9:22 AM on April 25, 2015

Some people may not consider this "The South" but I do. I often recommend a vacation in Virginia Beach when people ask for what you're looking for. Why? Because Virginia Beach is near many attractions, including Colonial Williamsburg -- even if you're not into American history, the shopping and the food in Colonial Williamsburg is pretty good, and it's just... quaint. There's also Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, which is more than just rides, there are shows and tours of the Busch factory (beer if you like beer). And Virginia Beach is just a few hours from Washington DC so you can always head up that way for a day. Then here's the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and surrounding wildlife preseves which are pretty cool. And going south you have the Outer Banks of North Carolina for even more beaches and for a change of pace there's the Great Dismal Swamp. And if you're up for a drive, you can alway drive the Shenandoah National park, skyline drive, which is an all day trip in the car, but it's beautiful. Also, the city and state parks are pretty awesome, or they were when I lived there... You can fly directly into Norfolk International Airport from just about anywhere.

The only major distraction is the jet noise. Hampton Roads (which is where Virginia Beach sits) is a major Naval Air station, so it gets noisy from time to time. However, the beaches are pretty awesome.
posted by patheral at 9:54 AM on April 25, 2015 [1 favorite]

I think you have good advice on some ideas for southern US or California-based vacations. However I wanted to share some other US travel advice:

I grew up in Michigan and now live in California, and travel between the two often. It is a 6-hour plane ride if you get a direct flight from Detroit to Los Angeles, can be up to 15 hours total if you have a transfers. Direct flights are much pricier ($200-500) than flights with transfers. Plus, there is a 3-hour time difference, so when you land in LA at 6 pm, it feels like 9 pm for your body. When I travel back and forth, I give up a whole day in transit at either end. If you really only have 7 days, I would not recommend California. (I am sorry if you knew this, sometimes people from outside just don't get how big the US is.)

Flying to Georgia, Florida, South Carolina is also ~5-hour flight from Detroit, but it has the advantage of being in the same time zone, and having more frequent flights and more direct flights from Detroit. I feel much less wrecked after a day of flying Detroit-->Atlanta than I do Detroit-->LAX.

Kalamazoo/Battle Creek is a tiny airport. Most of the flights from it are short, early weekday morning, tiny 40-person planes that serve as commuter lines to nearby bigger airports, and you will have to change planes there. Unless there is some major advantage, like the airport is right in your backyard (Battle Creek is 100 miles/2.5 hour drive from Detroit where your meeting is. Did you perhaps mean the Flint airport, Lansing airport, or Detroit City airport? These are all tiny regional airports slightly closer to Detroit, but all have similar "short commuter plane ride to nearby bigger airport" passenger plans) you will be better off leaving for any destination from the Detroit Metro airport.
posted by holyrood at 10:02 AM on April 25, 2015 [2 favorites]

I lived in California for a long time and yes it is wonderful, but it's cold in the summertime, and the water there is not very swimmable (if at all).

This isn't entirely accurate. Parts of the California coast can often be foggy and cool in the summer for part of the day, then sunny and warm(er) the rest of the day. This is definitely true from Big Sur north. (I don't have enough experience with Southern California beaches to speak with any authority on them.) Go inland, though, and it is warm to hot.

There is great, great beauty along the California coastline, but the weather is going to be a crapshoot. There is great, great beauty inland as well: Yosemite, Lassen National Park, Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Parks. But, "we aren’t really into into crowds of people" pretty much rules Yosemite right out, especially in the summer. Lassen is positively gorgeous, but it's really far away from anything, and if you're going to stay there you will either need to be camping or stay in one of their camping cabins. (Which are awesome, but they don't have electricity or running water, and you'd have to have gear to be able to cook your own food.) Kings Canyon/Sequoia are stunningly beautiful, aren't too crowded, and you won't find giant sequoia trees anywhere else (except for a few other pockets in CA.)

I'd suggest that you fly to San Francisco (or San Jose). Since your first two days require downtime, head to either Santa Cruz (a surfing town) or Monterey (a little less hippy) and spend a couple days on the beach there. I'd especially recommend that you consider staying in Pacific Grove, just south of Monterey, in one of the little places along Asilomar Avenue. From there, you can walk to Asilomar State Beach, which is both a nice big sandy beach and, on the northern end, a neat rocky beach with cool tidepools. The Monterey area can be foggy in the summer, but it seems to me that you can almost always drive the five miles down to Asilomar to find sun. There are a lot of surfers there, but I wouldn't consider it a beginner's surfing beach.

From the Monterey area, you could drive inland (east) to Visalia, and then up into Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Parks. There are lodges in the parks where you can stay. They're not fancy lodges, but they'll do, and the scenery around there is gorgeous. The parks aren't crowded; despite their scenery, they're kind of under-visited.

After doing your time there, you could drive back to San Francisco -- drive up into the wine country if you want -- or down to Southern California.

The Central Valley of California -- through which you would drive on your way to the National Parks, and also on your way to SoCal or SF -- isn't what you'd call scenic. It is pretty fascinating, though, because you will pass through the farmland that grows a good percentage of the food that you'll be eating. It's fun to watch the different crops whiz by. As you go further south, the crops change, and you start to see more citrus/avocados and stuff. That's a kind of tourism on its own.

I grew up in the South, and I've spent a good deal of time on the Gulf Coast. I live in California now, and there's no way I could recommend the South over CA. It's just so, so much prettier here. (And you're not going to find much lefty liberal there at ALL. It would be cultural tourism, for sure, but it might not be a *political* culture that you like. I sure don't.)
posted by mudpuppie at 10:18 AM on April 25, 2015 [3 favorites]

Oh, and since you're used to being self-sufficient, you might look into renting an RV. (If the German tourists haven't booked them all. German tourists are responsible for the RV-rental business's success in California, I think.)
posted by mudpuppie at 10:21 AM on April 25, 2015

If you're not dead set on warm and constantly sunny there are a lot of really beautiful things in Washington and Oregon as well, including coastal areas. The Olympic Peninsula and Olympic National Park are lovely. And there is Mount Rainier National Park. If you've got a couple of weeks you could comfortably drive down towards northern California (really, really old redwoods) and finish in San Francisco. Or you just stick to California but don't disregard northern California. It's all very pretty, I'm going back in September!

Having said all that lots of pretty desert in California as well. Joshua Tree NP is very pretty and Death Valley NP is just surreal. The coast is stunning but there is a lot of really cool stuff further inland as well. It just entails a bit of driving. In fact, irrespective of where you end up, be prepared for a fair bit of driving - the Hawaiian islands are all quite compact in comparison.

Not sure how far along your flight scheduling is but there are direct flights from the UK to all major cities along the west coast. It would cut your travel time down considerably if you met your wife at your holiday destination. Presumably she gets to do some of the travel on work's time and money whereas you don't and anything other than meeting at your holiday destination probably adds almost an extra day travel time each way, if you end up heading to the west coast.
posted by koahiatamadl at 11:27 AM on April 25, 2015

Wait, hazleweather would direct you to Civil War battlefield sites in the Deep South but warn you away from New Orleans because that jackass Bobby Jindal, the state governor said some dumb shit? Might as well stay out of the country entirely if you're going to follow that reasoning. NoLa is its own state of being.

California is great. You'll make a good holiday here with nature, beautiful locations and lots of great food. The traffic and distances can make for a challenge. In some ways it's less of the American feel than other spots. I think you could make a really good holiday in the American South but I think you have to be pretty interested and engaged to understand it.
posted by vunder at 1:56 PM on April 25, 2015

Yes, the weather at the beaches in Southern California can be a bit "june gloomy" at times--cloudy in the morning, sunny in the afternoon. That said, next week is going to be 73-79 at the beaches. I don't think it's too big of a gamble to come in late May and expect sunny beach weather. You can body surf in Santa Monica and rent surfboards in Mailbu. Lots of good food around--let us know what you're looking for.

Also, yes, if you're planning to hit a National Park, it will be more driving than Hawaii. If you love the desert and being hot (in late May, could be REALLY hot, over 100), people love Joshua Tree and Palm Springs. You can definitely get some good deals on hotels because it's the hot season. I'm personally not a desert person so the trip I would take is to Yosemite and then San Francisco. I think there's nothing like Yosemite, but yes, it will be full of people. It's just so wonderful and majestic though. I think it's worth staying somewhere in Yosemite Valley if you can. You can always rent one of these and camp. You MUST get a reservation for the campground in May. Then I'd drive to San Francisco because it's such a fun city filled with incredible food.

If you don't want to go all the way to Yosemite, I might drive up the coast through Big Sur to San Francisco. Very scenic drive, Big Sur is incredible, there's Hearst Castle, sea lions at Point Lobos, wine tasting in Paso Robles, Santa Barbara and many trails and beaches along the way.
posted by biscuits at 5:39 PM on April 25, 2015

Sounds like a slow trip across NC from the Outer Banks to Asheville and the Smokies would fit.
posted by dilettante at 7:32 PM on April 25, 2015 [2 favorites]

It wouldn't check off any boxes on your bucket list the way a trip to some of North America's most famous scenery would, but if your trip were occurring a little later in the summer I'd advise you to consider staying in the region you'll already be visiting and exploring some of the summer vacation towns along the west Michigan coast for a few relaxing days, then heading down to Chicago for art, architecture, and excellent restaurant options.

May is a little early in the season for best enjoyment of west Michigan's beach towns, however. The beaches are lovely and the wooded dunes very inviting but the water in the Great Lakes doesn't really start to become swimmable until significantly later in the season.

I'm mentioning it as an option anyway, because it would be an easy option from where you're starting and even many Americans don't realize that west Michigan has lovely (freshwater) beach vacation towns.

If you want more details feel free to MeMail.
posted by Nerd of the North at 3:37 PM on April 26, 2015 [1 favorite]