I am yearning for a vacation

[BridgeWalker]

Poor students both, with a toddler-child.  Shooting enthusiasts.  Camping/hiking types.  Non-hunters (mostly).  I've got some chronic bronchitis/asthma or something going on that gets really nasty in the winter, so someplace warm would be awesome.  And, my husband finishes school this mid-summer, so this is our last chance for a vacation for a couple years (just as his first vacation-less year wraps up, mine begins, as I graduate.)  Can't spare more than a long weekend, four days or so.

But, we're poor.  I figure absolute max $1500 bucks, $1000 would be better.  Starting from Lansing, close enough to get a friend to drive us to the Detroit airport.  I can't think of anything...may Arizona, some cheap flights out that way, shooting and hiking opportunities, plus warm.  Pushing the edge of affordable.  Maybe Florida, but I *really* hate the beach type drunken vacation scene.  Everglades maybe. 

Anyone have any ideas?

[Bogie]

Guys, could I suggest a call for karma? Does anyone have a camper down in Florida?
 
(St. Louis is just too darn cold).

[roo_ster]

Big Bend National Park.

Lotsa stuff to do, but the funnest we had down there was to pay for a river guide for a 4 day/ 3 night canoe trip down the Rio Grande.

[Paddy]

Lansing?  As in Michigan?  God Bless you, dear.  With degrees, you don't have to live in that wasteland.  Move to the Southwest, where the sun shines. 

[Perd Hapley]

(St. Louis is just too darn cold).

Depends on the day.  Supposed to reach 60 degrees, tomorrow.  Of course, it'll probably drop to 15 degrees by Wed.   

[Antibubba]

If it's warm in winter, it's the tourist season there.  Which will be more money.

You'll laugh, but have you looked at some of the casino resorts along the Gulf Coast?  Many of them haven't completely recovered from Katrina, and are keeping their rates low in an attempt to bring the tourists back.  They often have package deals, the way Las Vegas does.  Las Vegas is another option, as the casinos figure they'll make their money back at the slots.

[Bigjake]

central ohio has some awesome cannoeing/ camping available, on teh cheap no less.  You're pry 5 hours away in lansing.  Only bummer is that you're going to wait another 5ish months till the icebergs float downriver or melt.

[vaskidmark]

PM sent.

stay safe.

skidmark

[Manedwolf]

vacation (n) - A period where one takes time off from work and is expected to spend it enduring the stress of traveling, crowded airports, cancelled flights, gridlock traffic, horrible fast food and other pleasures en route. Upon reaching one's vacation destination, one is expected to spend vast sums of money on accomodations, food and attractions on a rigid schedule, with the result that one arrives back home exhausted and with a far smaller bank account. This is supposed to be "relaxing".

Maybe Florida, but I *really* hate the beach type drunken vacation scene.  Everglades maybe. 

That'd be the airboat-and-tshirt-shops type drunken vacation scene, and not much else. Oh, with mosquitoes, too, and frightengly overweight tourists in polyester, whereas the beach at least has Brazilian women who don't believe in bikini tops. Trust me. I'm from there.

[auschip]

Guys, could I suggest a call for karma? Does anyone have a camper down in Florida?
 
(St. Louis is just too darn cold).

That's the truth, I was in St. Louis on business and it was 6 with a -17 windchill. 

[Perd Hapley]

vacation (n) - A period where one takes time off from work and is expected to spend it enduring the stress of traveling, crowded airports, cancelled flights, gridlock traffic, horrible fast food and other pleasures en route. Upon reaching one's vacation destination, one is expected to spend vast sums of money on accomodations, food and attractions on a rigid schedule, with the result that one arrives back home exhausted and with a far smaller bank account. This is supposed to be "relaxing".

Maybe Florida, but I *really* hate the beach type drunken vacation scene.  Everglades maybe. 

That'd be the airboat-and-tshirt-shops type drunken vacation scene, and not much else. Oh, with mosquitoes, too, and frightengly overweight tourists in polyester, whereas the beach at least has Brazilian women who don't believe in bikini tops. Trust me. I'm from there.

I'm sure Bridgewalker is all excited about her husband ogling topless Brazilian chicks.     But, hey, ya never know.  What I like best about your post is how you totally deflated her hope of a decent vacation anywhere.   

[Manedwolf]

Nothing wrong with a vacation if you don't do the OMG PLAN PLAN SPEND MONEY SCHEDULE TRAVEL NOW NOW thing a lot of Americans do. I've never understood a "vacation" that has a stricter schedule than a business day.

I find an totally unscheduled, unplanned road trip away from tourist destinations to be a lot more fun.

[Declaration Day]

Ok, you're on a budget, want to go someplace warm, and you have a young child (intend to bring him / her?).  I'd highly recommend an indoor waterpark resort.  There are several of them within driving distance for you.  They're plenty warm and you don't have to worry about the weather. 

The Great Wolf Lodge has locations in Traverse City and Sandusky Ohio.  I just took my family to the Traverse City one last weekend.  Five people, 4 days, three nights, including meals, arcade and everything cost us just under $1,000.  They also have a nice spa and fireplace suite if you're not bringing the kid.  It's more family-oriented than a romantic getaway, but there's plenty for adults to do there.

Sandusky Ohio also has the Kalahari resort.  I haven't been there yet but they just expanded their waterpark into a virtual oceanside resort under a roof.  They even have a wading pool with a walk-up bar. 

[Manedwolf]

Kalahari's authentic African themed waterpark resorts, located in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin and Sandusky, Ohio.

[Declaration Day]

Sweet, they have guns there too? 

[Manedwolf]

Well, it did say authentic African!

Not that authentic? 

[Tallpine]

Back almost 20 years ago, we fled the CO mountains and drove down to the Texas coast and camped out on the beach for a couple months one winter.  I had a break from work (unemployed) and it cost us less than staying at home and paying utility bills (we drained the house).

Oh yeah, and our twins were about 2 1/2 years old at the time.  Basically, it was a tour of every potty in Texas 

There are - or used to be - a lot of places where one could camp for free.

Trouble is that the gas cost would kill you now

[BridgeWalker]

I find an totally unscheduled, unplanned road trip away from tourist destinations to be a lot more fun.

Yeah, that was us until the kiddo was born.  My best vacation ever was actually a solo backpacking trip followed by a couple days on a lake.  Me and a pack and a couple of maps.  Met up with my husband after and hung out at his family's cottage for a couple days.  That was nice.

Hm, come to think of it, we got a nice souvenir of that trip...her name is Ellie 

[BridgeWalker]

I'm leaning towards this: http://www.sundancetrail.com/bedbreakfast.html

It pushes the edge of reasonability as far as driving distance, but at right around 17 hours, I can do the overnight shift and my husband can do the daytime hours (I like driving and am a night owl, he prefers reading/sleeping in the car and has poorer night vision).  Even with gas costs it's several hundred dollars cheaper to drive and I like driving.  Feel like you're actually going somewhere.

I've always liked the idea of ranch-type thing in the mountains, but generally with all kinds of programs and activities they sound way too hokey and touristy for me.  But in the off-season, without any regular program, just a barn full of horses and a small range (trap, blackpowder, .22) and some places for hiking it could be really nice.  Now, to talk the husband into it...

[BridgeWalker]

Ok, you're on a budget, want to go someplace warm, and you have a young child (intend to bring him / her?).  I'd highly recommend an indoor waterpark resort.  There are several of them within driving distance for you.  They're plenty warm and you don't have to worry about the weather. 

A wading pool with a bar sounds pretty sweet. 

Actually Great Wolf Lodge was our first thought, until I remembered that I tend to get all shy and stammery and blush a lot when I'm around strangers in swimsuits, and that I don't like being in public in a swimsuit.  Neat places and a neat concept, but my discomfort around not-quite-dressed people could really take the fun out of it.  And the kiddo changes her mind almost daily about whether she *loves* or *hates* getting wet.  If we ended going on a "I hate water" week, it could be a real waste.

[seeker_two]

Come to Texas....it's like a whole other country....

http://www.traveltex.com/

....and the weather has been unbelievably mild this year...80's today....and cheap, too...

[Ex-MA Hole]

I'd offer y'all my spare bedroom for a couple of days....but NH isn't exactly warm in the winter....skiing, we have a three year old, so free day care....I can bring you to my club (indoor only during the winter)....

Or, rereading your email....are you looking for summer time when hubby gets out?   Hmmm.....hiking galore....White Mountains.....

[Jamisjockey]

Mapquest directions



http://www.savannah-visit.com/

http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/fitness/tenday/USGA0506?from=36hr_topnav_fitness


Road trip smart.  Bring a cooler and purchase regular food.  Stop in rest stops to eat sandwiches, fruit and yogurt.  Try and find accomodations with a kitchenette. 

[roo_ster]

Mapquest directions



http://www.savannah-visit.com/

http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/fitness/tenday/USGA0506?from=36hr_topnav_fitness


Road trip smart.  Bring a cooler and purchase regular food.  Stop in rest stops to eat sandwiches, fruit and yogurt.  Try and find accomodations with a kitchenette. 

Words to the wise.

[Tallpine]

Bridgewalker, I hope you like snow and cold if you are thinking of a vacation in Colorado this time of year 

We still have friends down there who have a resort on the western slope (just talked to them a couple days ago) and they have given up keeping track of snowfall this year.  They said they got 4' from one storm, and several 2' snowfalls.  It hasn't snowed like that down there since we lived there back in the early/mid-eighties.