January 9, 2004

2:58 PM

I've got six days off in February and we're thinking of flying somewhere warm in the continental USA to escape our Vancouver winter. I don't want to spend half my break in planes and airports, so the east coast is probably out. Where should we go?
posted by timeistight to (8 comments total)

Cabo San Lucas. A little early to see the whales humping but warm and beautiful never the less
posted by Fupped Duck at 3:10 PM on January 9, 2004

San Diego, Palm Springs, Las Vegas . . . if you must do the Continental U.S. . . .but I am with FD - go to Mexico!
Cabo, Acapulco, the Mexican Rivera, Ixtapa . . .all the resort places are about the same time and distance-wise from you. Plus it will be cheaper and nicer than anywhere in the U.S.
posted by sixdifferentways at 3:14 PM on January 9, 2004

On the other hand, Mexico is most decidely NOT the United States, and you do have to be more careful there. A lot of the tourist places will charge less than the US, but many will charge prices that are higher than you can get with just a little bit of groundwork in the US.

The Mountain West is beautfiul this time of year. Palm Springs, Arizona, New Mexico, etc.
posted by calwatch at 4:14 PM on January 9, 2004

I like Mexico; I just don't think I want to go there for 6 days.

My favourite American cities are San Francisco and New Orleans, but I think they'd both be too cold in February.

We're considering San Diego: never been, fairly close, nice weather. Yay or nay? Suggestions if we go?
posted by timeistight at 5:07 PM on January 9, 2004

No offense to the SD folks, but there isnt 6 days worth of stuff to do. There aren't any destination restaurants there either (trust me, even the SD locals at chowhound.com agree.)

If you are going to use SD as a base and then go from there to LA or Mexico or maybe one of the national parks (Joshua Tree NP is beautiful in Feb. or a longer drive will get you to Death Valley NP, which is also great in the winter) then by all means, make it your basecamp. But more than 2-3 days there and you have seen it all.
posted by gen at 5:36 PM on January 9, 2004

Santa Barbara. Gorgeous (mountains and ocean, plus strictly maintained Spanish-style architecture—no huge concrete monsters), great restaurants (ask me for recommendations if you decide to go), easy access to L.A. and/or the Central Coast wine country if you want a day trip.
posted by languagehat at 6:37 PM on January 9, 2004

If you want to go a little wonky in Mexico, go to the Pacific or interior, I'm thinking the waterfalls in Michoacan or the mummies in Guanajuato. It'll probably be chilly though, since I was on the Michoacan/Guanajuato border in August and needed a jacket and umbrella most days.

New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in general will be cold, so I suggest the Southwest as well. Are you interested in doing the Grand Canyon thing? Going to the casinos? Driving around and going where the road takes you?
posted by lychee at 12:01 AM on January 10, 2004

Great suggestions, lychee – I loved Guanajuato, Uruapan, Morelia and Patzcuaro when I was there twenty years ago – but I couldn't stand going to Mexico for such a short time.

Thanks for all the suggestions, folks. We're going to follow gen's advise and use San Diego as a base camp. I'm going to start a new thread to ask for hotel suggestions.
posted by timeistight at 9:17 AM on January 10, 2004