Where should I holiday?

March 19, 2008 4:30 PM

I need a vacation spot.

I'm planning to take about a week of vacation in late-April or early-May, but I can't decide where I should go. What are some good cities (in the US) to visit this time of year?

Right now I'm kind of thinking about DC (I'm sure the cherry blossoms would be sweet...or would I miss them?), but I'd like to consider some other options that will keep me entertained for 5-6 days.

Some other info: I live in Minneapolis. I've been to both NYC and Chicago in the past couple years. Big history buff, so historical sites and such are a plus. I probably won't be renting a car (under 25 and traveling by myself), so will be relying on public transportation. Also, I'd like to stay within the US.

posted by BradNelson to Travel & Transportation (7 answers total)

I think you are spot on with DC, especially given the car thing. New Orleans might also be fun. Philly has tons of history but I can't get too excited (sorry Philly dwellers). DC is a much richer experience. Boston is great fun, but the weather can be iffy that time of year, but even DC has this issue (rain). July is my perfect month for Boston though, if you were going then I would choose Beantown, history, water, food, history, history, history.
posted by caddis at 4:40 PM on March 19, 2008

You should check out Charleston SC. Not as humid as New Orleans but still packed with history. Boston is awesomely awesome too.
posted by meeshell at 5:13 PM on March 19, 2008

FYI-- cherry blossoms are supposed to peak March 27-April 3, which is a few weeks too early.
posted by Flamingo at 6:44 PM on March 19, 2008

Seconding (thirding?) Boston. I'm a local, so I may be biased, but in terms of history it can't be beat (Washington is historical, sure, but it's mostly "planned and presented" history; Boston is raw history). It's also pretty condensed and has great public transportation, so getting around is crazy-easy.

Plus, the Public Garden is gorgeous in the late spring.
posted by billypilgrim at 9:13 PM on March 19, 2008

Buy this, go to Boston, bring sneakers, eat seafood, enjoy!
posted by DiscourseMarker at 11:26 PM on March 19, 2008

Consider San Francisco.
posted by lathrop at 6:25 AM on March 20, 2008

Although my personal preference is to catch the cherry blossoms slightly past their peak, so as to get the snowfall effect from falling blossoms, by the end of April/early May you're going to have missed them completely. They will be leafy trees. Sorry.

That said, we have lots of other wonderful things to see in DC, and coming so late in the spring you might actually hit in between the hordes of spring break school groups and the Closeup groups that overrun us in the summertime.

However, if lack of cherry blossoms = dealbreaker, then I will take this opportunity to second caddis and recommend (as I so often do lately) NEW ORLEANS. Even when there's no official festival on the calendar, there's always something fun going on. Lots of history to explore, and taxis are cheap and plentiful. I was there for a few days over New Year's, and it was the best vacation I've had in years.
posted by somanyamys at 8:51 AM on March 20, 2008