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TimeToManUp is going to send me away for a long weekend in January as my Christmas/Birthday present (my birthday is December 29th). It will be for 3 or 4 days (2 or 3 nights). Where should I go? We are thinking south...somewhere simple for me to just get away for a bit.

Orlando area is nice!

You don't have to stay in the attractions area.

The Keys--completely chill out.

A little bit further (but not much):

Tucson--one of the spas, like Miraval or Canyon Ranch. Be pampered.

I have heard so many good things about Anna Maria Island. A friend went for just this kind of recharge/relax trip and her pictures were beautiful!!

Carolina? I've never been, always wanted to go to those beaches.

Fort Meyers, for a relaxing time on the beach, or Miami for fun in the sun, people watching, and some wild nights.

The keys for a total relaxation time, beach, sun, laid back.

Or of course you could do a short all inclusive trip to someplace in Mexico, those are always great.

Lucky You!!!! Enjoy it!!!

I've been looking on Groupon for packages. They have great deals for hotels but if it's a US destination, it is only for the hotel. No airfare. The Caribbean and week long Italian getaways include airfare.

I'm just not sure of where I want to go because the places I do want to visit one day, are places both WH and I want to go. Or cost lots and lots of money. I won't be taking a weekend in China. Ha! I'm not big on the beach but then again for the last 8 years its been trudging children and all their crap to the beach and making sure they don't drown. I'm not really sure what it would be like to go alone. I do like historical things. I like nature and being in the woods. Spas are always nice. I saw a few Groupons for New Orleans but airfare is redonkulous.

Bumping for more suggestions! I have no clue what I want to do.

What do you WANT to do? I dont really know what your likes or dislikes are, so its hard to suggest.

Also, people 'relax' in different ways.

Personally, I would LOVE to get sent to a working cattle ranch in Colorado or Montana for a week and work a ranch. Go out and gear up the horses, mend fences, eat cooked-over-fire food and be in a saddle all day.

Or

I would seclude myself into a cabin in the smokies and read a shit ton of books, i mean just start in the morning and read until i can't see striaght. Maybe hike a little.

Or

Head out to camp and do outdoor adventure like white water rafting, rock climbing, and hiking.

DH and I have always wanted to take an Alaskan Cruise. That would be really neat.

But my Yum may not be all that for you. So what do you like?

Savannah, GA is interesting. Good food, lots of history. Laid back. I've been there a couple of times for work and enjoyed it.

Let's see, January, so you're probably going to want to be south?

I second the Keys idea! You could rent a car in Miami and drive across the beautiful "overseas highway" set of bridges to Key West. You could stay on a smaller island if you feel like being alone, or Key West if you feel like having more people around. No woods, though!

Have you looked at Travel Zoo instead of Groupon for packages? I've never cared for the Groupon travel packages - too expensive. Travel Zoo has a constantly updated 'best of the best' travel deals and every couple of months they have something really cheap and amazing.

Additionally Puerto Rico is not a far flight away. Or Bermuda.

Undefinabl - I'm open to anything but I do prefer woods over the beach. Historical over nightclubs. I do like adventure and I do like being pampered in a spa. I'm not looking to go to bars and get drunk. But food is always good. WH and I went to Alaska on our honeymoon. I LOVED IT!! I can't wait to go back at some point in my life.

Tred - I actually did read about Savannah being a very popular destination. I also just took one of those online quizzes that tells you where you must be from...and I got Georgia! I guess they didn't take my Jersey road rage into account.

Circe - I've never heard of travel zoo but I'll definitely check it out. And no bridges!! I hate driving on bridges.

Since airfare to the south in the winter seems to be expensive and you like historical, you should consider a weekend in New York or DC and go to the museums. Both are driving distance from NJ. I personally would love to spend a few days wandering at my leisure thru the Smithsonian American History and Natural History museums. I always seem to have to rush thru the exhibits because the people I am with want to move on see the next thing, while I sometimes want to read every little place card.

Savannah also has a lot of ghost tours - apparently the city is haunted.

DC is also a good choice, but can be pretty cold in January. I love DC around Christmas.

Ooooo. I like the idea of ghost tours. Time to see how much airfare is.

Holy guacamole it's expensive. Anyone own a private jet and want to fly me somewhere.

What about just staying where you are, or near there, and go to a really posh hotel, with a spa, massages, and all. Just be lazy bums, eat at a couple of really neat new places, and chill.

I love outside stuff but I hate being cold, so I would say head south. What do you consider a driveable distance? 3hours 6 hours? Google search a radius of how far you are willing to drive and see what pops up. You may be surprised.

I have ended up in many other cities this way. Including some fun ones that I didn't even consider.

I would also second D.C. as a choice - but, if you're heading that way, also consider Baltimore and Western Maryland. TONS of historical stuff in both places. All areas are within a good couple of hours of one another - Baltimore has Fort McHenry and the Heritage Walk and ghost tours (they say Fells Point is haunted!), and there are a lot of Civil War battlefields nearby in Western Maryland (Antietam and Gettysburg, for a start).

Check out rusticretreats.net - they have "period" style lodgings that are kind of neat to stay in. (One option is a real log cabin - that's awesome!)

Either way, do enjoy wherever you end up going!

ETA: Corrected site addy! Also, if you're into fitness, the Appalachian Trail offers hiking, cycling and just little places to get away from it all in the thick of nature. All very much nearby.

(I've lived in the area for years and am so much in love with it. I should be a travel guide!)

The only bad thing? It can get cold up here. I mean, REALLY cold. Western Maryland is 10 to 15 degrees colder than the rest of the state, so if that's a factor, you may not want to venture here in January. Just thought of that.

[This message edited by Fireball72 at 11:59 AM, October 25th (Friday)]

Patagonia? Too far south ?

Ack, no bridges and no beach, so... you're saying the Keys are out?

Here's a cool tool to try:

http://www.farecompare.com/maps/

You put in your home airport, your budget and travel date and it shows you all the places you can go for that amount.