Cities to visit with minimal travel

Currently on East Coast looking to plan a 5/6ish day vacation in June with my girlfriend. Because it is only for 5 or so days, not worth flying out to Europe or Asia (IMO), so would prefer to stay either N. America or Central America (basically maximum 5-6 hrs of flying and 2-3 hrs time difference). Which cities would you all suggest? Trying to decide between more of a relaxing beach vacation or something with more site-seeing, so both types are appreciated. Anywhere with good food is an added bonus.

Currently these are what I've thought up

Vancouver
Charleston
Quebec City
New Orleans (worried that in summer/humidity it might be unpleasant)
Bermuda

Appreciate any input!!

29 Comments
 

Colombia and Nashville are two places I'd consider if I were personally in your position. Also Peru/Argentina etc if you'd consider S.America. Brazil could be amazing or terrible depending on whether you want to be near the soccer world cup, but probably too late for accommodation etc if you wanted to go that far anyway.

 

I was in a similar situation to you looking at what I wanted to do and I was thinking about Mexico because it gave us the opportunity to both sit on the beach, do watersports, and to do some more active things. The other things we were looking at (like aruba/St. Lucia/Jamaica/Etc) tend to be just beach vacations and I can get antsy at times. Also Miami can offer a good middle ground between being active and sitting on the beach as well.

But for one alternative Iceland is like a 5.5 hour plane ride from NYC and has a lot of active things plus the northern lights if you like that.

 

Great food in Charleston. Lots of sightseeing and close to beaches as well.

"Everybody needs money. That's why they call it money." - Mickey Bergman - Heist (2001)
 

I would highly recommend Iceland. I went to Milan a couple months ago and the flight was manageable I'd probably do something Canadian like you have listed.

 
TNA

I would highly recommend Iceland. I went to Milan a couple months ago and the flight was manageable I'd probably do something Canadian like you have listed.

Agree - Iceland is great and a short trip away. I'm going there in June. PM if you want a copy of my itinerary.

Also, Yellowstone and Sante Fe might be good if you like the outdoors.

 

I did a week or so long trip split between Montreal and Quebec (took the train between them). It was an awesome experience without having to fly overseas. Plenty to see, eat, and drink in a week long span. Truly feels like you're in France without crossing the Atlantic (also romantic if you and your lady are into that type of thing).

 

I would strongly recommend New Orleans but in June it's gonna be crazy hot and humid. On the off chance it's not stifling hot everyday you're there it'll be torrential downpours instead.

 

I won't set foot in Louisiana... That place is like someone's memory of a town, and the memory is fading. It's like there was never anything there but jungle.

 

5 day Caribbean cruise-visit three islands

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Redacted

5 day Caribbean cruise-visit three islands

I would avoid this. It's a personal choice, but the 3 island visits will be 4- 8 hour manufactured visits. Honestly, they could just drop you off in Key West 3 different times and you wouldn't know any better.

I'd been on 2 cruises before I really traveled on my own I personally much prefer to go see a place on my own.

twitter: @CorpFin_Guy
 

Decent recommendations above. It's hard to give great recs since you weren't too specific with what you wanted, but I'll give it a shot.

  • Miami/ the Keys. I enjoy the keys much more than Miami, but it's a personal choice. Either way fly (cheaply) into MIA, rent a car and split your time
  • Jamaica or other Carribean islands. For simplicity sake, just go to an adults-only mega resort. Food can be very good, booze included and there's plenty to do. I was worried about being bored and not getting off the beach, but I ended up enjoying it.
  • Belize. 5 Days is pushing it because of travel time, but I LOVED Belize. Belize is really not a beach destination as beaches are just average (not as good as Mexico/Jamaica), but Belize is an adventure place that happens to have ok beaches. In my week there I swam with sharks and rays, private tour of mayan ruins, zip lined through the rain forest, private raft trip through caves, snorkeled twice, took a few awesome catamaran cruizes, toured the island, etc...
  • Heard Iceland is great, but haven't been.

My personal opinion: - Avoid Nashville. Nashville is a fun small town, but I have a 2 (maybe 3) day max on Nashville. You have to really love country music to do more than 3 days in Nashville because it is EVERY WHERE. In Nashville you're either going to a bar that plays country music or a country music site. It is fun, but I couldn't imagine 5 days there. - I personally didn't love Montreal. I spent about a month their working and it was ok, but definitely not what I'd choose for a vacation with the gf.

twitter: @CorpFin_Guy
 
accountingbyday

Avoid Nashville. Nashville is a fun small town, but I have a 2 (maybe 3) day max on Nashville. You have to really love country music to do more than 3 days in Nashville because it is EVERY WHERE. In Nashville you're either going to a bar that plays country music or a country music site. It is fun, but I couldn't imagine 5 days there.
.

A fair point - I suggested Nashville because I love country music and would love to spend a few nights at bars/concerts. If you happen to like country music, the AMA country music festival is coming up and should be great.

 

I would recommend the Bahamas. Stay on Paradise Island. I was just there about a month ago and it is one of the most scenic and fun places I have ever been. It is definitely a relaxing beach trip, but as long as you are on Paradise Island you can go to the Atlantis casino and there are a bunch of night spots just across the bridge in downtown Nassau. Be careful if you want to stay in Nassau, as it has its nice areas and sketchy areas. But it is only about a 3.5-4 hour flight and there is plenty to do to for 5-6 days.

 

I'm a college student in New Orleans, and I highly recommend visiting here if you can. Obviously Bourbon Street is crazy, but there is so much more to do besides that. Frenchman Street is the local's Bourbon Street, you can hear great live Jazz music there any day of the week. The food is incredible and very cheap. Other activities include sunset cruise on the Mississippi, check out the WW2 museum, or go shopping in the French Quarter. Plus there is a festival or parade literally every single weekend (check out Jazz fest in a couple of weeks).

I would consider New Orleans a great balance of fun nightlife and relaxing daytime events. But it sounds like you have plenty of great options! Feel free to pm me if you come down here and want restaurant recommendations.

 

I would avoid Bermuda - it's the most expensive place I've ever visited and there is little to no culture or entertainment.

No to Quebec City but yes to Montreal.

If you're going to do Vancouver why not California?

 
Best Response

New Orleans is probably the most unique city in America. Tennessee Williams once said "America is New York, New Orleans, and San Francisco, and everything else is Cleveland."

Those other options you came up with seem pretty solid, but coming to New Orleans at some point in your 20s is a must. I second the post from the Tulane kid who posted a couple posts up. And ignore whatever that dweeb BTBanker said, he probably watched True Detective and Waterboy and doesn't know shit. Anyway, per capita, Nola is known as the best restaurant scene in America, and it's definitely Top 5 for music scenes. The architecture and general feel of the city are not replicated in any other city in America.

Subsequently, it's romantic as shit for your girlfriend if you know what you're doing. Spend the early evening eating creole food at Commander's Palace, then take the Streetcar downtown on St. Charles Ave (scenic). Laugh at the crazy trash on Bourbon and get a cab to Frenchmen St. Listen to live, soulful music over drinks and afterwards get a guy in one of those bikecabs to bring y'all over to Cafe Du Monde for beignets and coffee as you take in the mystique and beauty of Jackson Square.

Feel free to PM me if you go this route.

 

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