I want to go somewhere warm, but not boring
January 10, 2020 8:59 AM Subscribe
Yes, another "where should I go?" question! My husband and I want to escape Denver in mid to late February for about a week. I want to be warm, but not bored. Puerto Rico is off the table for this year (we're going to try to go there in 2021). Budget is not a huge concern.
We love: art, culture, beer, food, birding, nature, animals, hiking, walking, exploring. Our destination does not have to have all of these things, but if it's a beautiful nature location it would be nice if it also had some culture to explore, as we get pretty bored of sitting on beaches after about a day. We do love Hawaii (Kauai) and Mexico (San Miguel), though have been to both plenty of times and maybe there's something else we're not thinking of? I'd love it if it wasn't a major to hassle to get to from Denver. The two places that keep coming up in my mind, just to give an idea of the range of options I'm willing to explore, are Mexico City or Maui - we haven't been to either. Thank you MeFites!
We love: art, culture, beer, food, birding, nature, animals, hiking, walking, exploring. Our destination does not have to have all of these things, but if it's a beautiful nature location it would be nice if it also had some culture to explore, as we get pretty bored of sitting on beaches after about a day. We do love Hawaii (Kauai) and Mexico (San Miguel), though have been to both plenty of times and maybe there's something else we're not thinking of? I'd love it if it wasn't a major to hassle to get to from Denver. The two places that keep coming up in my mind, just to give an idea of the range of options I'm willing to explore, are Mexico City or Maui - we haven't been to either. Thank you MeFites!
Since it's on your list already, Mexico City is AWESOME and would check a lot of your boxes.
posted by helloimjennsco at 9:05 AM on January 10, 2020 [8 favorites]
posted by helloimjennsco at 9:05 AM on January 10, 2020 [8 favorites]
We just spent a week in Miami and loved it. Good food/art/culture. You could spend several days exploring different parts of the Everglades too, so you have it all, or spending a couple of days driving the keys.
I also agree on Mexico City. Fun city.
posted by grouse at 9:06 AM on January 10, 2020
I also agree on Mexico City. Fun city.
posted by grouse at 9:06 AM on January 10, 2020
Costa Rica. 1000%
posted by Threeve at 9:06 AM on January 10, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by Threeve at 9:06 AM on January 10, 2020 [3 favorites]
If Hawaii is an option, I'd also think of the Big Island.
posted by grouse at 9:07 AM on January 10, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by grouse at 9:07 AM on January 10, 2020 [2 favorites]
CDMX is, in fact, amazing, but wont meet some folks definitions of warm (its at altitude!). Looks like February has temps between 45 and 75, so definitely a break from winter but not exactly tropical.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 9:14 AM on January 10, 2020
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 9:14 AM on January 10, 2020
I'm obsessed with traveling the Yucatan. Valladolid, Tulum , Playa del Carmen, Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, nature, very different cenotes to go to every day! , ruins, old colonial towns, Mayan language and food. Safe enough to just rent a car and go. The people are incredible. And - Tulum is one of the best beaches - out of about the 150 I have been to. Cheap. Very accessible. And the food. So wonderful, from upscale places to the vendors on bikes with their bike horns. All so good.
I have gone to a lot of places trying to find a place I like as much as the Yucatan, but I haven't yet.
posted by beccaj at 9:40 AM on January 10, 2020 [7 favorites]
I have gone to a lot of places trying to find a place I like as much as the Yucatan, but I haven't yet.
posted by beccaj at 9:40 AM on January 10, 2020 [7 favorites]
I'll put in a vote for Maui. It has great food, the Maui Brewing Company, Haleakalā, Surfing Goat Dairy...
posted by neushoorn at 9:43 AM on January 10, 2020
posted by neushoorn at 9:43 AM on January 10, 2020
New Orleans is pretty fun in February, with Mardi Gras and all.
posted by tryniti at 9:47 AM on January 10, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by tryniti at 9:47 AM on January 10, 2020 [4 favorites]
Seconding Tulum, Mexico. But it's been several years since I've been there and it was developing into more of a typical, built-up party zone quickly.
posted by SoberHighland at 9:48 AM on January 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by SoberHighland at 9:48 AM on January 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
Mexico City is indeed amazing! If you want something warmer, try Oaxaca City. Lots of great culture and food in the city, and some wonderful day trips to surrounding villages and national parks. If you want a bit of beach, you can take a puddle-jumper to the Oaxaca coast, which is (IMHO) a lot more interesting than many of the other Mexican beachy areas.
Nicaragua is a lot of fun as well.
posted by lunasol at 10:00 AM on January 10, 2020 [2 favorites]
Nicaragua is a lot of fun as well.
posted by lunasol at 10:00 AM on January 10, 2020 [2 favorites]
My sister (also in CO) just recently went to Oaxaca and LOVED it.
posted by SinAesthetic at 10:14 AM on January 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by SinAesthetic at 10:14 AM on January 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
I came in to say the Big Island too, if you’re thinking of Hawaii. It’s a lot bigger than the other islands with different microclimates (Kona is super dry, Hilo is super wet, etc.) and pockets of culture (Waimea is cowboy/paniolo country!).
There’s hiking, Volcanoes National Park, the observatory on Mauna Kea, waterfalls, etc. plus all the obvious surfing, snorkeling, and other water activities. Big Island Brewhaus has good food and great beer. I highly recommend it!
posted by bananacabana at 10:19 AM on January 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
There’s hiking, Volcanoes National Park, the observatory on Mauna Kea, waterfalls, etc. plus all the obvious surfing, snorkeling, and other water activities. Big Island Brewhaus has good food and great beer. I highly recommend it!
posted by bananacabana at 10:19 AM on January 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
I came to recommend Oaxaca. Or Puerto Escondido. Or both.
I love Mexico City, but I wouldn't choose it for my one-week winter vacation because it is so intense, there are like a billion things to see, and the smog is a challenge.
posted by mumimor at 10:24 AM on January 10, 2020
I love Mexico City, but I wouldn't choose it for my one-week winter vacation because it is so intense, there are like a billion things to see, and the smog is a challenge.
posted by mumimor at 10:24 AM on January 10, 2020
One of my dream trips is to fly to Miami, rent a car, and drive to Key West. I've been to Miami a few times and I really enjoy the mix of cultures in the city. I also love road trips and US-1 looks interesting. I think you would find a lot of what you're looking for along the way.
posted by elmay at 10:48 AM on January 10, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by elmay at 10:48 AM on January 10, 2020 [2 favorites]
I'd say New Orleans, too. Several direct flights between MSY and DEN every day, and the food and culture are pretty great.
posted by asperity at 11:24 AM on January 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by asperity at 11:24 AM on January 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
Thirding Yucatan. Beaches, nature, Mayan sites, the city of Merida and smaller towns, all easily accessible by flying into Cancun (which you can skip entirely, unless you want a day or two of beaches and megahotels).
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 11:39 AM on January 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 11:39 AM on January 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
If you like Kauai, like us, you'd probably prefer the Big Island to Maui. Maui's nice, but very developed with resorts and the feel of the suburbs.
posted by advicepig at 11:54 AM on January 10, 2020
posted by advicepig at 11:54 AM on January 10, 2020
Belize is fun and meets all of your criteria! Nthing a visit to CDMX, too -- I spent four days there last year and would love to go back. I also had a great time in Trinidad and Tobago many years ago.
Other places that I haven't been but have heard good things about: my boss just spent a week in Panama City with her kids and really enjoyed it, and a friend went to the Azores for her honeymoon last year and had a great time.
Enjoy!
posted by wicked_sassy at 11:57 AM on January 10, 2020
Other places that I haven't been but have heard good things about: my boss just spent a week in Panama City with her kids and really enjoyed it, and a friend went to the Azores for her honeymoon last year and had a great time.
Enjoy!
posted by wicked_sassy at 11:57 AM on January 10, 2020
Puerto Vallarta, MX is really nice, too. We went for some good hikes with a guide, the town has some good culture and decent food. I think we went in early spring and it was really nice. Good views of the sunsets, too.
posted by Snowishberlin at 1:34 PM on January 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Snowishberlin at 1:34 PM on January 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
If money's really no object, and with the caveat that it probably is a hassle to get to from Denver, what about the Seychelles? A more glamorous escape winter vacation I can't imagine.
posted by shadygrove at 1:57 PM on January 10, 2020
posted by shadygrove at 1:57 PM on January 10, 2020
Nthing Mexico City and Oaxaca. We went there in February last year and the weather was perfect perfect perfect - 20s, perfect pristine sunny skies, amazing. It was my second time to Mexico City and I want to go back again forever and ever.
posted by urbanlenny at 2:24 PM on January 10, 2020
posted by urbanlenny at 2:24 PM on January 10, 2020
I like Mérida in Mexico. It's a moderate-sized pleasant city on its own, with great food is great and pleasant lodging options, and you can jump off to Chichen Itza and other sites.
posted by vunder at 2:56 PM on January 10, 2020
posted by vunder at 2:56 PM on January 10, 2020
2nd'ing Azores, Algarve
posted by Reasonably Everything Happens at 5:27 PM on January 10, 2020
posted by Reasonably Everything Happens at 5:27 PM on January 10, 2020
Mexico City in winter is by no means "warm." They're at a higher altitude than we are in Denver! Palau is amazing, even if you're a snorkeler not a diver. The people are wonderful and Micronesian culture is fascinating.
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 4:51 PM on January 12, 2020
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 4:51 PM on January 12, 2020
Response by poster: Thank you everyone! We decided to do the Big Island, but I'm excited to add lots of your suggestions to my list for upcoming trips!
posted by GoldenEel at 8:25 AM on January 13, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by GoldenEel at 8:25 AM on January 13, 2020 [1 favorite]
Love the Big Island! Stay at this amazing waterfall hotel if you can.
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 10:48 AM on January 14, 2020
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 10:48 AM on January 14, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by superfluousm at 9:04 AM on January 10, 2020 [3 favorites]