Help me figure out to go with my free plane ticket!
October 31, 2008 7:41 AM Subscribe
I have a free ticket to anywhere in the 48 states (no Hawaii or Alaska) that I need to book in the next week. I am one person and expect to go for 5-7 days. Please help me decide where to go and what time of year to go there. (The ticket can be booked for any date within the next year.)
I've been considering either the grand canyon or the parks in Montana/Wyoming but I am interested in other suggestions. I am interested in all sorts of attractions including amusement parks, cultural and natural sights etc. I've been to LA, NYC and Vegas so those are definitely out. I am looking for suggestions for where to book my ticket to as well as where to go once I am there. Since I can book it for anytime of year, please include what time of year I should (or shouldn't) go to your suggested location since I might as well book the ticket for whenever is best. Also, including which airport to fly into (if you know) and the reason why you made your suggestion would be helpful too. Thanks!
I've been considering either the grand canyon or the parks in Montana/Wyoming but I am interested in other suggestions. I am interested in all sorts of attractions including amusement parks, cultural and natural sights etc. I've been to LA, NYC and Vegas so those are definitely out. I am looking for suggestions for where to book my ticket to as well as where to go once I am there. Since I can book it for anytime of year, please include what time of year I should (or shouldn't) go to your suggested location since I might as well book the ticket for whenever is best. Also, including which airport to fly into (if you know) and the reason why you made your suggestion would be helpful too. Thanks!
Are you into any outdoor sports?
And you should tell us roughly where you live, if you're concerned with extracting the most value from the waived fare.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:49 AM on October 31, 2008
And you should tell us roughly where you live, if you're concerned with extracting the most value from the waived fare.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:49 AM on October 31, 2008
I really enjoy the southwest, but I visited South Dakota several years ago and really loved it. It's a beautiful place, and there are many things to see. (Note: If you see the Crazy Horse Memorial, do it after seeing Mount Rushmore, because it puts Mount Rushmore to shame.)
Texas might also be a good choice, because there are lots of things to see there, and you can somewhat easily get from one major city to the next. If you go down along the Midland-Odessa area, you can easily get to El Paso, and Mexico, by car, if that's your thing.
Tucson, Arizona, if you're looking for breathtaking scenery. And it's very different scenery, too, as it's that painted desert feel. Very surreal with cacti everywhere, including some 40-foot saguaros here and there.
Have fun!
posted by metalheart at 7:52 AM on October 31, 2008
Texas might also be a good choice, because there are lots of things to see there, and you can somewhat easily get from one major city to the next. If you go down along the Midland-Odessa area, you can easily get to El Paso, and Mexico, by car, if that's your thing.
Tucson, Arizona, if you're looking for breathtaking scenery. And it's very different scenery, too, as it's that painted desert feel. Very surreal with cacti everywhere, including some 40-foot saguaros here and there.
Have fun!
posted by metalheart at 7:52 AM on October 31, 2008
By the way, I'd recommend not flying anywhere around Thanksgiving through to New Years. I won't go into great depth, but it was a nightmare (and nearly one that cost us our lives through Delta) for my fiance and me last year. Go at a calmer time of the year, like early spring or late summer/early autumn.
Also, this is just my personal experience, but the attitude of people handling the airports in the west (I'm excluding LAX here.) has been a lot better than that in the east. Maybe it's the sunshine!
posted by metalheart at 7:54 AM on October 31, 2008
Also, this is just my personal experience, but the attitude of people handling the airports in the west (I'm excluding LAX here.) has been a lot better than that in the east. Maybe it's the sunshine!
posted by metalheart at 7:54 AM on October 31, 2008
I think it all depends what you enjoy doing. Yosemite for a climbing vacation, Grand Canyon for amazing photography, rafting, camping, and hiking, Colorado for a ski trip, the Oregon coast is great if you want to hop from one B&B to another and just relax... It also really depends where you live now.
posted by foodgeek at 8:10 AM on October 31, 2008
posted by foodgeek at 8:10 AM on October 31, 2008
San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in the United States. It really is a must see.
It is also very fun, and there is lots and lots to do.
posted by plexi at 8:23 AM on October 31, 2008
It is also very fun, and there is lots and lots to do.
posted by plexi at 8:23 AM on October 31, 2008
I haven't been to either, but I would either be checking out San Antonio, Texas or Asheville, South Carolina.
Whatever you do, have fun!
posted by dunkadunc at 8:26 AM on October 31, 2008
Whatever you do, have fun!
posted by dunkadunc at 8:26 AM on October 31, 2008
I live a few hours from Yellowstone, and if you haven't seen it yet, it's definitely a must-see experience. Between Yellowstone and areas nearby (such as Cody, Wyoming, home of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center) you will find plenty of things to keep your interest.
Early in the season is best (May or June). The nights and mornings are cool and crisp, and it's not crowded yet. I would book 2 or 3 nights in the park itself, and a night or 2 in Cody. There are several places to fly into, including Billings, Montana (my town.) I'd also consider renting a convertible for the best view from a car. (You might be wearing a coat while the top is down part of the time, but it's worth it.) If you come in June, the Beartooth Pass may be open. It's another must-see.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 8:33 AM on October 31, 2008
Early in the season is best (May or June). The nights and mornings are cool and crisp, and it's not crowded yet. I would book 2 or 3 nights in the park itself, and a night or 2 in Cody. There are several places to fly into, including Billings, Montana (my town.) I'd also consider renting a convertible for the best view from a car. (You might be wearing a coat while the top is down part of the time, but it's worth it.) If you come in June, the Beartooth Pass may be open. It's another must-see.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 8:33 AM on October 31, 2008
Maybe the Atlantic coast of Georgia and South Carolina?
April or May would be a great time of year - still cool and not very crowded. Visiting
Savannah and Charleston, at the very least.
SandPine
posted by sandpine at 8:35 AM on October 31, 2008
April or May would be a great time of year - still cool and not very crowded. Visiting
Savannah and Charleston, at the very least.
SandPine
posted by sandpine at 8:35 AM on October 31, 2008
I made a pretty great week-long vacation out of flying to San Francisco, staying a couple days, then renting a car and driving in a loop to Yosemite, then down to San Luis Obispo, and then back up the coast to San Francisco. It was a great mix of urban culture and national parks (the one thing I regret is not having given myself at least a day or two more in Yosemite, though).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:38 AM on October 31, 2008
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:38 AM on October 31, 2008
I think it really depends on where you live. I'm on the east coast, so I would head out west, probably to somewhere that I've been wanting to visit, but would normally not travel due to higher than normal airfares. I've been meaning to do another southwestern US driving tour.
Another option is flying to LA or San Francisco for free, and then purchasing an airline ticket to another location. Qantas had some super cheap fares to Australia recently, if you were leaving from the west coast. I'd be all over that.
Also, I think Asheville is in North Carolina???
posted by smalls at 8:38 AM on October 31, 2008
Another option is flying to LA or San Francisco for free, and then purchasing an airline ticket to another location. Qantas had some super cheap fares to Australia recently, if you were leaving from the west coast. I'd be all over that.
Also, I think Asheville is in North Carolina???
posted by smalls at 8:38 AM on October 31, 2008
Asheville is in NC
Yosemite is gorgeous in the spring (early May) the wild dogwoods were blooming and the waterfalls were cataractastic!!
San Francisco is also a great destination, from which you can do: wine country, redwoods, mountains, ocean, yosemite, coast, not to mention the wonderful aspects of the city itself.
april/may is also very good time for SF area.
have fun!
posted by supermedusa at 9:02 AM on October 31, 2008
Yosemite is gorgeous in the spring (early May) the wild dogwoods were blooming and the waterfalls were cataractastic!!
San Francisco is also a great destination, from which you can do: wine country, redwoods, mountains, ocean, yosemite, coast, not to mention the wonderful aspects of the city itself.
april/may is also very good time for SF area.
have fun!
posted by supermedusa at 9:02 AM on October 31, 2008
If you enjoy opera on the cultural side and the outdoors, I can't recommend the Santa Fe opera highly enough. 2009 season, with more details on the site. A nice package is not cheap, but if you're getting your ticket free, it's a fantastic vacation.
You would fly through Albuquerque and drive up to Santa Fe, so you'd want to rent a car or figure out other transport (we rented).
posted by immlass at 9:15 AM on October 31, 2008
You would fly through Albuquerque and drive up to Santa Fe, so you'd want to rent a car or figure out other transport (we rented).
posted by immlass at 9:15 AM on October 31, 2008
Nting all those who said San Francisco. And, as mentioned earlier, if you can rent a car, you can visit Yosemite, the Redwoods, Napa and Sonoma among other day trips as well.
Or another way to go is to fly to L.A. and then drive route 1 up to San Francisco. It's a spectacular drive and you can stop at Hearst Castle and Big Sur (be sure to stop for a drink at Nepenthe).
Being a big city boy (and fake American), I'd also recommend New York in the late spring or early autumn. If you're ambitious you can combine that with a day trip or overnight trip to Philiadelphia (about 90 miles) or Boston (about 200 miles) even D.C. is only about 250 miles away.
So much of this depends on where you are and what you want to do.
posted by cjets at 9:32 AM on October 31, 2008
Or another way to go is to fly to L.A. and then drive route 1 up to San Francisco. It's a spectacular drive and you can stop at Hearst Castle and Big Sur (be sure to stop for a drink at Nepenthe).
Being a big city boy (and fake American), I'd also recommend New York in the late spring or early autumn. If you're ambitious you can combine that with a day trip or overnight trip to Philiadelphia (about 90 miles) or Boston (about 200 miles) even D.C. is only about 250 miles away.
So much of this depends on where you are and what you want to do.
posted by cjets at 9:32 AM on October 31, 2008
To maximize the financial and experiential value of your ticket, I'd pick somewhere small (expensive flights) that you otherwise might never get to. How about Burlington, VT for a ski trip, or Martha's Vineyard, MA for an island getaway, northern California, New Orleans, Key West?
posted by Rock Steady at 9:51 AM on October 31, 2008
posted by Rock Steady at 9:51 AM on October 31, 2008
Fly to Jackson Hole, do Yellowstone/tetons, and you can also head up to Glacier, if you can swing a couple more days. Do it the last week of September - the colors are changing and it's *sick* how beautiful it is.
posted by notsnot at 10:03 AM on October 31, 2008
posted by notsnot at 10:03 AM on October 31, 2008
If I was by myself, I would fly to Austin for SXSW.
posted by crazycanuck at 10:04 AM on October 31, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by crazycanuck at 10:04 AM on October 31, 2008 [1 favorite]
I just returned from a cross-country trip!
As other people have said, Yellowstone is really gorgeous. Probably in the beginning of the summer. Swimming, hiking, educational... It's also right next to Montana, which is a beautiful state - "big sky" - and Idaho, if you're interested in seeing a few different states. If you get a car, which you might want to do if you do Yellowstone (the park is several hours across), you can check out the Bighorn Mountains to the east of Yellowstone in Wyoming. Breathtaking, really.
Colorado is another great option, both for skiing and in the summer. Vail has beautiful trails for hiking in the summer as well, and Boulder and Denver are great towns.
I'd also like to recommend Chicago in the summer. It's a fantastic city and there is a ton to do, particularly free and outdoors stuff. There's also a lot of history and such, too, and it's right on the Great Lakes. If you want to travel a bit, it's only a three hour drive or so from Madison, Wisconsin, too, which is a great town.
posted by lunit at 10:37 AM on October 31, 2008
As other people have said, Yellowstone is really gorgeous. Probably in the beginning of the summer. Swimming, hiking, educational... It's also right next to Montana, which is a beautiful state - "big sky" - and Idaho, if you're interested in seeing a few different states. If you get a car, which you might want to do if you do Yellowstone (the park is several hours across), you can check out the Bighorn Mountains to the east of Yellowstone in Wyoming. Breathtaking, really.
Colorado is another great option, both for skiing and in the summer. Vail has beautiful trails for hiking in the summer as well, and Boulder and Denver are great towns.
I'd also like to recommend Chicago in the summer. It's a fantastic city and there is a ton to do, particularly free and outdoors stuff. There's also a lot of history and such, too, and it's right on the Great Lakes. If you want to travel a bit, it's only a three hour drive or so from Madison, Wisconsin, too, which is a great town.
posted by lunit at 10:37 AM on October 31, 2008
it's tough because you don't say where you are or what you like to do.
my feelings are that free plane tickets should be used as follows:
1) to take me as far away from my current destination as possible
2) to take me to a difficult therefore expensive destination
3) at the last minute to a special event, when tickets will be expensive
4) to an average destination, but during a time of year when tickets are generally expensive to get there
--Seattle. It's beautiful and there's a ton of stuff to do on every front. The city is awesome and you can get to the Olympic Peninsula or Mt. Rainier or even get to Vancouver, BC. Go in May or June when it will be so jawdroppingly gorgeous that you will want to move there.
--New Orleans, but not during Mardi Gras.
--Florida. I'd go during Spring Training, but why not drive to Key West? Or take yourself to Disney? Or both? Go to warm when it is cold.
--Some remote national park - you already have that idea. I've always wanted to go to Zion and if the ticket fell in my lap I would do it.
I think Chicago is an awesome city but it's not tough to get to.
posted by micawber at 10:43 AM on October 31, 2008
my feelings are that free plane tickets should be used as follows:
1) to take me as far away from my current destination as possible
2) to take me to a difficult therefore expensive destination
3) at the last minute to a special event, when tickets will be expensive
4) to an average destination, but during a time of year when tickets are generally expensive to get there
--Seattle. It's beautiful and there's a ton of stuff to do on every front. The city is awesome and you can get to the Olympic Peninsula or Mt. Rainier or even get to Vancouver, BC. Go in May or June when it will be so jawdroppingly gorgeous that you will want to move there.
--New Orleans, but not during Mardi Gras.
--Florida. I'd go during Spring Training, but why not drive to Key West? Or take yourself to Disney? Or both? Go to warm when it is cold.
--Some remote national park - you already have that idea. I've always wanted to go to Zion and if the ticket fell in my lap I would do it.
I think Chicago is an awesome city but it's not tough to get to.
posted by micawber at 10:43 AM on October 31, 2008
I think you should go somewhere isolated and gorgeous that would be prohibitively expensive to fly to on its own and a hassle to get to from another city because of its relative isolation, but is worth the time if someone else is paying.
I'm especially thinking of many of the cities served under the Essential Air Service, which connects smaller towns and communities around the country with hubs. Here's a list.
Somewhere like:
- the Upper Peninsula of Michigan via Escanaba, Ford/Iron Mountain, or
- far northern California/southern Oregon via Crescent City, Redding, or Medford
- the parks of southeastern Utah (Arches and Canyonlands) via Moab
- the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia via Staunton
- the Mississippi Delta of Mississippi (a hotbed of jazz culture and history!) via Greenville
You don't specify if your ticket includes Puerto Rico, which is worth considering if you don't have to take a red-eye from out west and then connect in Miami at crazy-early o'clock or something.
posted by mdonley at 11:03 AM on October 31, 2008 [2 favorites]
I'm especially thinking of many of the cities served under the Essential Air Service, which connects smaller towns and communities around the country with hubs. Here's a list.
Somewhere like:
- the Upper Peninsula of Michigan via Escanaba, Ford/Iron Mountain, or
- far northern California/southern Oregon via Crescent City, Redding, or Medford
- the parks of southeastern Utah (Arches and Canyonlands) via Moab
- the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia via Staunton
- the Mississippi Delta of Mississippi (a hotbed of jazz culture and history!) via Greenville
You don't specify if your ticket includes Puerto Rico, which is worth considering if you don't have to take a red-eye from out west and then connect in Miami at crazy-early o'clock or something.
posted by mdonley at 11:03 AM on October 31, 2008 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Just to clarify, I am currently in the New England area but have spent time in NY and LA which is why, as I mentioned before, I am not interested in going there. As for what I like to do, I like seeing and doing things I haven't done before. I can't really say more than that. I don't consider sitting around "relaxing" as a vacation. I need to get out and do things. As long as I am out and about and seeing beautiful sights, history and architecture and trying out new things, I am happy. I like the outdoors, appreciate nature and enjoy hiking. Watching a gorgeous sunset is tops. I also love roller coasters, so being near a thrill park is an added bonus. Jetskiing, kayaking and sky diving are options too. Sorry if I'm not giving so much information but honestly, I'm not that picky. I just want to be wowed. And to fall asleep at the end of the day happy and maybe even a little exhausted.
Thanks for all the great suggestions. Keep 'em coming!
posted by D Wiz at 11:14 AM on October 31, 2008
Thanks for all the great suggestions. Keep 'em coming!
posted by D Wiz at 11:14 AM on October 31, 2008
As long as I am out and about and seeing beautiful sights, history and architecture and trying out new things, I am happy. I like the outdoors, appreciate nature and enjoy hiking. Watching a gorgeous sunset is tops. I also love roller coasters, so being near a thrill park is an added bonus.
Ooh, then the San Francisco-Yosemite-Big Sur-California Coast has a lot to recommend it:
* San Francisco has the sights, the history, and the architecture.
* Driving across to Yosemite and you've got the sights and the hiking (there are some shorter hikes that would be easy if you've only got a couple days there - I actually even recommend the youth hostel near there, as it's even got a couple trails of its own and is only about a 20-minute drive away.
* From Yosemite, maybe drive down to San Simeon to check out the Hearst Castle, then start up along the Big Sur, because that's gorgeous and you'll also find hiking opportunities there.
* Then you hit Monterey and Carmel; there's a nice drive in Carmel, and Monterey actually has some historic sights there (Cannery Row is kind of tourist ticky-tacky by now, fair warning).
* Then you get to Santa Cruz, which has an awesome boardwalk (I fell for the fact that for fifty cents you get to program whatever music the carousel callilope plays, and was probably way too amused that I got to ride a carousel to the tune of "The Liberty Bell March").
* From Santa Cruz it's just a half-day's drive to San Francisco again.
All of this is really doable in a week.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:04 PM on October 31, 2008
Ooh, then the San Francisco-Yosemite-Big Sur-California Coast has a lot to recommend it:
* San Francisco has the sights, the history, and the architecture.
* Driving across to Yosemite and you've got the sights and the hiking (there are some shorter hikes that would be easy if you've only got a couple days there - I actually even recommend the youth hostel near there, as it's even got a couple trails of its own and is only about a 20-minute drive away.
* From Yosemite, maybe drive down to San Simeon to check out the Hearst Castle, then start up along the Big Sur, because that's gorgeous and you'll also find hiking opportunities there.
* Then you hit Monterey and Carmel; there's a nice drive in Carmel, and Monterey actually has some historic sights there (Cannery Row is kind of tourist ticky-tacky by now, fair warning).
* Then you get to Santa Cruz, which has an awesome boardwalk (I fell for the fact that for fifty cents you get to program whatever music the carousel callilope plays, and was probably way too amused that I got to ride a carousel to the tune of "The Liberty Bell March").
* From Santa Cruz it's just a half-day's drive to San Francisco again.
All of this is really doable in a week.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:04 PM on October 31, 2008
Whatever you decide, do it really fast. I had a free "anywhere in the 48 states" ticket that I used a few months ago to visit my grandfather, and there are only a certain amount of seats set aside on every plane for those tickets. They were all sold out for the next week, and I had to go two weeks later. Since you're a flexible traveler, you may not have a problem, but it would suck to have the ticket wasted.
posted by timoni at 12:35 PM on October 31, 2008
posted by timoni at 12:35 PM on October 31, 2008
As a resident I'm biased, but I'll nth the Colorado ski vacation suggestion, with this added tidbit: we're all expecting low(er) turnouts this year, and will be putting forth all kinds of incentives to get people out to visit (think: lodging/lift ticket/rental discounts), which sounds like a great way to really ride that free ticket to a discount vacation to me.
posted by pkphy39 at 1:36 PM on October 31, 2008
posted by pkphy39 at 1:36 PM on October 31, 2008
Florida has a lot of the things you like to do including roller coasters, jetski, hiking and camping, pleasant weather, sunsets!, etc. I would suggest flying in to Tampa and then renting a condo someplace like Bradenton Beach which is inexpensive compared to many other places. You're close to some of the top beaches in the world in Sarastoa as well as roller coasters at Bush Gardens in Tampa. Fort Desoto park is nearby- it has great camping and beaches. Sarasota has the excellent Ringling Museum and Ybor City has the Salvador Dali museum as well as other historic/heritage events, too. As long as you're willing to drive around a bit, this part of the gulf coast is really fun. I would advise against Orlando- the weather tends to be muggier and Disney and its attractions can get expensive. I think the best time to visit is around October or March to beat the heat and many of the summer tourists.
posted by Mouse Army at 2:16 PM on October 31, 2008
posted by Mouse Army at 2:16 PM on October 31, 2008
Another vote for my hometown of Charleston, SC. The Spoleto Arts Festival is over Memorial Day weekend every year. There's also tons of historical sites and tours to take. And yummy seafood!
posted by chiababe at 2:31 PM on October 31, 2008
posted by chiababe at 2:31 PM on October 31, 2008
Key West - lots of history, art galleries, night life, sunsets, boating and general Keys weirdness
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 4:45 PM on October 31, 2008
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 4:45 PM on October 31, 2008
Another vote for Charleston; just got back and it's a fantastic place to visit - tons of fascinating historical, architectural and cultural spots, as well as multiple beaches, cypress swamps and awesome southern gardens, and lots of amazing restaurants. I'd say go in the spring, Spoleto or not, to get maximum color benefit from the plants without the summer heat, and don't miss the recently renovated Old Slave Mart Museum, one of the most powerful and fearless museums I've ever seen. The Notso Hostel has beds for $21/night and is very clean and friendly.
posted by mediareport at 7:06 PM on October 31, 2008
posted by mediareport at 7:06 PM on October 31, 2008
Seattle and take the Amtrak to Vancouver. El Paso and doing Juarez.
posted by Rolandkorn at 6:09 PM on November 1, 2008
posted by Rolandkorn at 6:09 PM on November 1, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by D Wiz at 7:43 AM on October 31, 2008