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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Plan our 5 Year Annv trip
Brian and I want to take a trip next year for our annv. We are thinking of late Jan/early Feb. We want somewhere warm. A place where we can relax but still have some stuff to do.
Brian would like a cruise, but honestly I have no interest, at all, in a cruise. I think I would physically be miserable as I have balance issues and can get dizzy quick.
I was thinking somewhere like FL Keys or southern FL. When do you think spring break busy season starts and what areas are not hit by the college spring break crowd.
Re: Plan our 5 Year Annv trip
Sure, I'll plan your five year anniversary trip. It will take me seven months and half a dozen spreadsheets.
(No, mine is not booked yet, but I swear we're really close.)
I think you'd be fine anywhere in Florida during late January or early February. I don't think spring break kicks in until late February.
Or you could go to this resort in Aruba. It is one of the top contenders for our vacation, but I think we decided against it. We decided that the cost is a bit more than we want to spend on this trip. B and I both fell in love with it though after reading about it. It looks beautiful! And Des&Molly raves about Aruba.
I really, really want to go to St. Lucia sometime too. I've heard great things about that island.
Do you have any interest in going to Hawaii? DH and I loved Hawaii and hope to go back soon. We were able to very successfully split our time between relaxing at the pool/beach and sightseeing and doing activities.
I wouldn't mind Hawaii but I don't think Brian does. I would want to go when we have more time and money too. I would like to do a Wed - Sun trip since Brian gets limited time off now. I still want to do a camping trip next year with the kids for 3 days.
Here are some places on our list:
Sedona, AZ (with a side trip to the Grand Canyon, and possibly Taos, New Mexico)
Puerto Rico
St. Bart's
We did Costa Rica for our honeymoon, and loved it. Also Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
You should be fine in late Jan/early Feb - spring break time usually doesn't start until the very end of Feb/beginning of March.
If you can fly out of Chicago or Detroit, Costa Rica is beautiful and not super expensive. I just checked kayak.com - flights are <$300 round trip out of Chicago during that time. There's a lot to do, and as long as you stuck to one destination in CR, you could easily do a Wed - Sun trip. Now I want to book another trip there!!
With that timeframe, most of my suggestions are out due to long flights.
I think the Florida Keys would be very nice.
I think our trip to Aruba was about that length, and I didn't think it felt TOO rushed...it would have been nice to have an extra day, but we didn't feel like we really missed out on anything that we were dying to do. Personally, though, it usually depends on flight prices - if I can get an amazing deal someplace for a few days, I tend to not notice feeling rushed as much, but if I have to pay a ton, I notice every little issue! If you can score a great price on a flight to Aruba, I think you can probably do a Wed-Sun trip, but if it's not an amazing deal, I wouldn't do it.
I think Brian is thinking of a full 7 days, but I don't know if I can be away from my babies that long.
That is one reason I don't want to do a cruise, it scares me that there might be a delay in communication if something happens to one of them and it would be a lot hard to get back to MI.
I am going to see where driect flights run ouf of Flint, Lansing, and GR.
I love Key West. Can't wait to make it back there. I think a Wed-Sun trip would be perfect.
I wouldn't want to do less than 7 days in Aruba, Costa Rica, St Lucia or Hawaii. But *drool* at all of those suggestions. I have no idea if we will ever be able to afford another vacation ever. Ugh.
One good thing is that we have a friend that lives down in Naples. She works at the new botanical gardens down there. I really would like to see that.
I think I need to start some research, so I can present options.
I think I would like to say in a nice, but not fancy hotel, and then splurge on eating, drinking and maybe getting a message one day.
http://www.greyfieldinn.com/rooms.html
This is on the island that I'd love someone I know to go visit. It's crazy expensive, but I'd lovvveee to stay there someday.
I've heard a lot of terrific things about Amelia Island. Fitting for you guys, I think.
Yep, that's what we do...spend all our money on food and drinks.
We usually go one place for a before-dinner drink, another place for dinner and another for dessert and coffee. If you decide to go I can give you tons of recs for restaurants and things to do. They also have a great zoo.
I think Puerto Rico would be a great option in that timeframe...not a long flight, plus the convenience of American dollars and wide use of English, if either of those matter to you. We had a long layover there and spent a few hours exploring Old San Juan, and I'd love to go back and see more of the area someday.
The San Francisco area is also lots of fun. Or what about San Antonio, Texas?
I suggested San Antonio because I have only been there for a few hours before we drove to Austin. I really want to go back again. I actually would like to go during December some year when the River Walk is all lit up.
I think I will check out Puerto Rico too.
B and I went to San Antonio a few years ago. We went for a week which was too much time. We should have taken a side trip to Austin. It's a neat city though (although B didn't really love it).
Our favorite part of San Antonio was the food though.
We both really enjoyed the restaurants we visited. So good!
Let me know if you have any questions.
Interestly enough, Brian just told me that his idea was San Padre Island. To fly into SAT, drive down there and then stay 1-2 nights in SAT before we fly out. For sure I will want to look into when spring break season starts for them. I can just see Brian and I in the midst of all the college students. Oye!
B and I found ourselves in the midst of the spring break crowd when we went to the beach in Corpus Cristi. It was interesting! The kids all lined up there trucks ON the sand of the beach (not in the parking lot, ON the beach), and sat around partying. It wasn't really a peaceful beach day for us, although it was a fairly entertaining experience.
I loved how we could just drive our SUV on the beach in Texas. That was probably our favorite part of the beach! We just backed the Envoy up to the shoreline, opened up the back, and chilled - super cool.