Question by T.J. Fergie: Great vacation spots?
I’m wanting to take a vacation and don’t really know where to go. I was thinking somewhere in the mountains since I love the snow sports, but I just want to know of any great places to visit. I know I want to stay in the US. So have any ideas…Any place in the US and anytime of the year…
Best answer:
Answer by tom c
most populous places are New York, california( LA, SF) and Las Vegas, see those pictures in http://www.bayareavisit.com/
Answer by NOLA guy
Consider visiting New Orleans.
Things to do:
Mardi Gras and the Jazz Festival are world famous events, but New Orleans hosts many festivals and celebrations throughout the year: www.nola.com/festivals
There are many sightseeing opportunities in the greater New Orleans area, including carriage rides/tours, plantation tours, swamp tours, ghost tours, and even Katrina disaster tours. The steamboat Natchez also does a harbor tour. There are numerous tour companies and your hotel can help with the arrangements. Try to avoid scheduling an outdoor tour until you know the weather forecast for the day in question.
The Saint Charles Streetcar is the oldest continuously operating street railway in the world and is a “tourist attraction” in its own right. It is part of the public transit system, as are the Canal Street and Riverfront streetcar lines: www.norta.com
There is always music, but the bands change: Go to www.bestofneworleans.com and click on Music then Listings or to www.offbeat.com and click on Listings, then Music.
Note that music clubs often advertise “No Cover”, meaning there is no charge for entering. However, clubs with “No Cover” often require that customers buy a beverage each for every “set ” of music (which can be every 20 minutes) so KNOW THE PRICE before you sit down. Clubs do that because some people will sit in the club all evening drinking nothing (clubs only make money from the drinks they sell – not from the music). It is also a good idea to pay for each round of drinks (in clubs on Bourbon Street) as it is delivered so there can’t be any confusion at the end of the evening.
An incomplete guide to bars & clubs: http://blog.nola.com/brettanderson/2008/07/85_great_places_to_drink.html
About certain alcoholic beverages: Realize that some famous drinks are VERY potent compared with regular cocktails that have only 1 to 1 ½ ounces of alcohol. For example, a Hurricane is basically 3 or 4 ounces of rum in something like red Kool-Aid, and a Hand Grenade has at least 4 ½ ounces of Everclear + rum + vodka mixed with melon liquor. They don’t necessarily taste like an alcoholic beverage and it is easy to over-indulge.
Wander around the French Quarter, enjoy the architecture, watch the street entertainers (do tip), and visit some of the historic buildings that have been turned into museums (go to www.frenchquarter.com and click on Historic Attractions).
Assuming the weather is good, you can collect a sandwich lunch and eat in the riverfront park (watch the shipping) or in Jackson Square (a very nice park).
The Riverwalk shopping center has an air-conditioned food court with dining overlooking the river (www.riverwalkmarketplace.com). The Canal Place shopping center is in the French Quarter and has a cinema and higher-end shopping (Saks 5th Avenue, Brooks Brothers, etc.)
The lobby for the Westin Canal Place Hotel is on the 11th floor and overlooks the French Quarter. It is a great place for an afternoon drink/snack:(www.westin.com).
Cafe du Monde is in the French Quarter and you shouldn’t miss having cafe au lait & beignets (www.cafedumonde.com). Another great coffee shop is the Croissant d’Or (at 615 Ursulines Street), which is open from 7:00am to 2:00pm and has food in addition to pastry.
The Palm Court restaurant is very nice, has moderate prices, and traditional live jazz starting at 8:00pm: 1204 Decatur Street, tel 504-525-0200 (reservations are important and they are not open every day). The Palm Court is closed from about July 25th to about September 25th each year.
Maximo’s Italian Grill has great food and atmosphere: 1117 Decatur Street in the French Quarter, (504) 586-8883.
All of the famous restaurants (Antoine’s, Arnaud’s, Brennan’s, Commander’s Palace, etc.) have reopened. The Pelican Club (on Exchange Alley in the FQ) is not as well known but is the same type experience. Reservations are a good idea, and probably essential on weekends. Tujaques Restaurant (823 Decatur Street) is very traditional and has moderate prices: http://www.tujaguesrestaurant.com/
Cafe Degas is a very French restaurant near City Park at 3127 Esplanade – which is not within walking distance of downtown (5 to 10 minutes by taxi). They are closed on Mondays & Tuesdays (504-945-5635).
The Napoleon House restaurant is at 500 Chartres Street in the FQ, and has a menu of great local dishes: http://www.napoleonhouse.com/
Preservation Hall has traditional live Jazz, and doesn’t serve alcohol so all ages are welcome: www.preservationhall.com/
New Orleans has ballet, opera, a symphony orchestra, and theatre:
www.nobadance.com
www.neworleansopera.org
www.lpomusic.com
www.lepetittheatre.com
There is a free ferry across the Mississippi at the “foot” of Canal Street. It is a short trip but like a harbor cruise w/o a guide: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/canal_street_ferry
The Aquarium, Audubon Zoo, and the new Insectarium are world-class attractions (www.auduboninstitute.org) and you should see them if you can. The Zoo is several miles from downtown. You can drive to the Zoo (which has free parking) or take public transit from the French Quarter.
The Louisiana State Museum is in the French Quarter: http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/ New Orleans is also home to a number of other museums, such as the National World War II Museum (www.ddaymuseum.org) and the New Orleans Museum of Art (www.noma.org). Both can be reached by public transit: The WWII museum is in the central business district but a long walk from the French Quarter. NOMA is not within walking distance of downtown but has free parking. Go to www.neworleansmuseums.com for info on more museums.
Harrah’s Casino is in the Central Business District: www.harrahs.com (age 21 required for entry)
New Orleans City Park has a variety of attractions, including an amusement park with rides and attractions for children + free parking. City Park also presents “Celebration in the Oaks” from late November to early January: (www.neworleanscitypark.com).
Check www.frenchquarter.com for ideas about other things to do.
Hope you have a great time, wherever you go!
Answer by Arro M
Glacier National Park in NW Montana is the most beautiful place on earth. The best time to go is early July, when there is still plenty of snow runoff. 700 waterfalls and 700 lakes, glaciated mountains like Switzerland, alpine meadows, 730 miles of hiking trails, 1500 species of wildflowers, animals galore. Going-To-The-Sun Road is world famous.
Yellowstone National Park in NW Wyoming is the largest active volcano with the highest number of volcanic hydrothermal features on earth: geysers, mud pots, fumaroles, fountains, pools, terraces. Large concentration of bison, bears, elk and moose. Spectacular Yellowstone Canyon and Falls.
Fly into say .. Billings Montana, rent a car, stay in Yellowstone for several days, include a day visit to the Grand Tetons abutting Yellowstone to the south, then stay in Glacier National Park for several days. I would take two weeks off if you can… to enjoy all 3 parks for a truly memorable trip of your lifetime. Everyone should do this at least once in their life!
Answer by ms bell
Monterey, CA and you’ll get good weather almost anytime of year. Not too cold or too hot. I think it’s the most beautiful place on earth. San Francisco is great, too, anytime of year. Lots to see and do. Hard to do it all in one trip. Got to see Alcatraz if you go.
Other places I’d suggest Sedona, AZ has great scenic beauty, Colorado Springs, also lots of scenic beauty. Seattle has lots to see and do. I like Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA, lots of southern hospitality. Boston has alot of history to offer and is fun. I could go on and on but I’d go with the SF bay area/Monterey if I were you.
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