Vacation Help!

[Indy_Guy_77]

Wow!! My head is spinning.

It's all family w/young grandparents stuff and 2 young girls (ages 5 & 6). Zoos, aquariums, eating, shopping, parks, botanical gardens, eating, more shopping, museums, riverboats. Bad knees so strenuous activities are out. Did I mention eating?

We usually like to stay at 3 or 4 star hotels (if we get a good deal on priceline) that are close to downtown, waterfront, etc. located in areas with lots to do within walking distance (when it's safe)

Keep the ideas coming! only 2 weeks to go.

Chattanooga. You want to go to Chattanooga.

And seriously? You're leaving in two weeks and you don't yet know where you're going?

I would've had analysis paralysis for two months before I booked a room - MORE than two weeks ahead of time! Good luck with the reservations!

But seriously: Chattanooga. Visit the goofy sites. Visit the aquarium. There's at least one nice big mall there (I've been in it). Hit up Civil War battle grounds.

The Fuller Gun Collection at Chickamauga Chattanooga National Military Park is simply FANTASTIC. Absolutely positively fantastic. Pristine examples of military arms from the 1700's through Korea/Vietnam.

There's a driving audio tour of the Park, too. You can dial certain numbers from your cell phone, put it on speaker, and listen to the descriptions.

Just north of the park is Ft. Oglethorpe. The 6th Cavalry Museum is here. It was closed when we were there, but I'd love to visit. http://6thcavalrymuseum.com/home0.aspx

More about Chatt: I've seen this place talked about on TV more than once. I think it'd be a fun way to spend a few hours, but I'm weird: http://internationaltowingmuseum.org/

For the kids: http://www.cdmfun.org/

Medal of Honor museum - INSIDE a shopping mall: http://www.mohm.org/

We walked around the grounds here: http://www.tvrail.com/ Would've loved to have taken a ride but it didn't work out for our schedules.

Mayfield Dairy Tours: Athens, TN - 40 mins NE of Chatt on I-75: http://www.mayfielddairy.com/

Chattanooga is one of the few places I'd "go back tomorrow if I could"... Asheville, NC, Vancouver, BC, and Hawaii being the others.

 

[Cemetery-man]

And seriously? You're leaving in two weeks and you don't yet know where you're going?

LOL. Yup. That's us. Adds to the excitement of the adventure.

Good luck with the reservations!

Actually, we were able to capture rooms at Opryland Resort for our Nashville part of the week. After discounts, the price was not bad at all.

 

[mainjet]

Back in the day, I used to work at the Chattanooga Choo-Choo- Hilton. Oh the stories....the stories... fun times. I met Ozzy, Heart, John Mellencamp, ZZ top and Van Halen when I worked there.

Then they opened a new lounge and I was also working for a custom guitar shop that put in the sound system and installed an infinity panel in the new bar. Almost lost my life on that one.

I have a lot of memories from Chattanooga and the surrounding areas there that I lived. fun times. I really think that if you take advantage of the area attractions you will have a great time.

 

[forgop]

I would've had analysis paralysis for two months before I booked a room - MORE than two weeks ahead of time! Good luck with the reservations!

I changed vacation plans 3 days before leaving earlier this month. I went from the Clark Griswald spreadsheet down to every detail for meals, museums, etc in Chicago to a cabin outside of Pigeon Forge with zero plans. We sat and did nothing the entire first day and decided what we wanted to do and only rushed by what our son would tolerate.

There's a lot more refreshing coming back from a vacation like that than all the analysis paralysis that goes into a vacation.

To the OP, check out vrbo.com for rentals. You'll likely find a good deal of anything is still open.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

I changed vacation plans 3 days before leaving earlier this month. I went from the Clark Griswald spreadsheet down to every detail for meals, museums, etc in Chicago to a cabin outside of Pigeon Forge with zero plans. We sat and did nothing the entire first day and decided what we wanted to do and only rushed by what our son would tolerate.

There's a lot more refreshing coming back from a vacation like that than all the analysis paralysis that goes into a vacation.

To the OP, check out vrbo.com for rentals. You'll likely find a good deal of anything is still open.

I'm not THAT bad...

When we plan a get-away, we plan in generalities, not absolute details.

MY analysis paralysis stems from room hunting - finding a hotel that offers what we want, at an acceptable price - AND having that hotel in a central location to all the stuff we're thinking about doing. I'd LOVE to be able to use Hotwire-type engines to book, but I just can't do that because I won't know the hotel until after I book a non-refundable room. I mean - what if the hotel doesn't serve an included hot breakfast? That's a big deal to us...

Our trip to Hawaii a few years ago was planned by the family we went with. Busy, busy, busy. Something to do every day. Wore me out. I needed a vacation from my vacation.

-J-

 

[Cemetery-man]

I

'd LOVE to be able to use Hotwire-type engines to book, but I just can't do that because I won't know the hotel until after I book a non-refundable room. I mean - what if the hotel doesn't serve an included hot breakfast? That's a big deal to us...

We use Priceline just about every time. We just hit the area we want to stay and choose 4 stars +. hasn't let us down yet. Last year for our St. Louis trip it booked us at the Hilton downtown right next to the arch and we got a $200+ room for $69/night with an arch view.
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Ok, time to rack your minds some more!

I hate to say this after all the great help y'all have been so far but now the gals are looking north in fear of and to avoid the heat and humidity that's coming. Currently, they want me to get your ideas about Cleveland. They read about the nice zoo, aquarium, an Indians home game, museum, beach, etc.

Any suggestions? We were looking at possibly staying downtown (Double Tree Hilton? or similar) close to the attractions and/or somewhere near the lake. Is that a safe area for families? Figured I would ask before jumping in and booking a place.

At a quick glance it looks like Cleveland has a nice port for my boat watching itch and many attractions to keep us busy for the week plus it's only 5 hours drive from here. Thanks again!

 

[mrjarrell]

Don't know about Cleveland as a vacation destination, but they're known for deli's and hot dogs.

Jack's Deli and Restaurant - A Cleveland Favorite
Untitled Document
Slyman's Restaurant - Cleveland, OH

Hot Dog of the Week: Steve's Lunch in Cleveland, Ohio | Serious Eats

 

[Cemetery-man]

I noticed that the Indians are at home that entire week. Don't know if that's good or bad as far as crowds, rooms, traffic, etc if we would decide to stay downtown. But then again, it might make for some added excitement and fun.

Of course at the rate we're going we might end up in Oregon before we make up our minds. Gotta love it!!!

 

[RobbyMaQ]

I've only heard this from the racing guys, so take it with a grain of salt. Cleveland is a college/party type town, and they seem to thoroughly enjoy it.

We've been on the outskirts of Cleveland, having gone to Sea World. Took our 4 yr old daughter (at the time), and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Hotel booking was in it's infancy, and we wound up in some seedy dive. My wife hated it, I didn't care as long as it had a bed. My daughter (experiencing a hotel for the first time) thought the room was the best thing in the world. Good times

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

Look up Cuyahoga National Park!

Also, Niagra Falls isn't THAT far away...

 

[Cemetery-man]

I mentioned Niagara Falls and everyone grumbled! I guess since we spent our summers in Canada for over 30 years, everyones still burned out and not ready to go back just yet.

All I have to do is find a place close to a casino and my kid will be happy.

 

[RobbyMaQ]

Niagara Falls has a Casino
seriously though... I am not familiar with casino's around that Lake Erie area

 

[mrjarrell]

I mentioned Niagara Falls and everyone grumbled! I guess since we spent our summers in Canada for over 30 years, everyones still burned out and not ready to go back just yet.

All I have to do is find a place close to a casino and my kid will be happy.

New Orleans has one right in the city center. And a whole slew of them over in Gulfport and Biloxi on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

 

[mayor al]

We used to look forward to visiting Ontario on roadtrips that included cutting across from Buffalo to Detroit. The falls are a super place to impress kids with natures power.

However, I have never had a passport in my life, and don't plan on getting one either. The border skipping visits to Canada and to BAJA for weekend fun are no longer as simple as they were 'pre-2001'.

I vote for the Louisville-Nashville loop, to include exploring part of the Natchez Trace and some of the Bourbon Heritage Trail. Drive thru the beautiful Horse Farms between L-ville and Lexington as part of the ride down or back. The Loveless Cafe at the northern end of the Trace is our favorite eating place in the Nashville area. Get some of the "Hot Chicken' from Prince's or one of the other chicken stands in town...It is spicy hot and really a great improvement over KFC

If you go north to Michigan, take at least 2 days in Dearborn...one for the Henry Ford Museum and the second for Greenfield Village, the reconstructed village next to the Ford Museum with the ORIGINAL historic buildings that Henry Ford had moved to their loaction...Edison's lab from NJ, the Wright Brothers Bike Shop from Dayton and a bunch of wonferful historic sites. Well worth the price and the time.
Then go north of Flint to Frankenmuth for chicken dinners and Christmas Shopping at the Specialty stores there.

 

[wlkjr]

Chattanooga, TN. Rock City, Ruby Falls, Aquarium, Riverboat rides with dinner, Lookouts baseball game,
Or Pigeon Forge, TN. Shows, food galore, Dollywood, go carts, and much more.

 

[RobbyMaQ]

Wow. Cleveland is ranked in the top 10 for most dangerous cities

 

[djkbmwguy]

I believe Cleveland has the Rock N Roll hall of fame.

No one has mentioned Branson Missouri. I have friends that have been there a lot and love it. It is on our short list of possible destinations this year. Not sure of there show schedules.

 

[Indy317]

I've heard the east coast of lake Michigan is fairly nice. From a co-worker, from Ludington north to Traverse City. Some places in the area are Sleeping Bear Dunes and Beaver Island. My co-workers from Mich. don't understand why folks in Indiana head south or SE for beach and sun. They said this area of Mich. has great beaches, is usually not as busy, and you don't have to deal with that salt water taste if you like swimming in the water.

 

[ghuns]

Maybe see Mount Rushmore before they put Obama on it?

 

[RobbyMaQ]

I've heard the east coast of lake Michigan is fairly nice. From a co-worker, from Ludington north to Traverse City. Some places in the area are Sleeping Bear Dunes and Beaver Island. My co-workers from Mich. don't understand why folks in Indiana head south or SE for beach and sun. They said this area of Mich. has great beaches, is usually not as busy, and you don't have to deal with that salt water taste if you like swimming in the water.

Lots to do up there. Someone earlier also mentioned Silver Lake, which is just south of that area. Lot's to do with dunes, beaches, boating, fishing (both big lake, and small rivers). We had some fun up there.