Hidden gems for vacation within a 2-day drive
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| Last summer we went to Boston and Quebec City and added on Tadoussac based on recommendations here. We absolutely loved it, and we never would've known about it (Tadoussac) without reading about it here. Other recommendations for a week-long August vacation that we could drive to within a couple of days? We'd love to again combine a city or two with nature. We have 5 people (3 teen sons, Dh and me) so it is way cheaper to drive than fly, usually. Thanks! |
Anonymous
| Well look at the map. Unless you do S Carolina like Charleston or NYC/upper NY, not sure what you are going to end up with that is all that. You'd have to be willing to drive 8-11 hrs for more choices like St Augustine, Chicago or Smokies. It's not like there are magic places you have not heard about! I don't know I guess you can do Cape May or OBX - there's a reason why everyone goes to beaches as thats kinda all you have unless you do a resort within a 5 hr drive. It's just not rocket science. |
Anonymous
| For August, I’ll always go north. White mountains NH, Portland, ME, and if you’re really up for a drive, head into New Brunswick and see the Bay of Fundy. Truly spectacular nature-wise. |
Anonymous
How is Chicago not a “2-day drive”? You an easily make it to OH or IN in one day, stay overnight, and be in Chicago the next day. You can make it to the Smokies in 9 hours or so. How is that not within the “2-day drive” range that is literally within the thread title? You’re acting like OP asked for a 5-hour drive limit. She didn’t. She asked for options within two DAYS of driving. |
Anonymous
|
https://manoirhovey.com/en
In Canada: a luxurious base to tour lakeside towns |
Anonymous
| Stay in Kiawah and visit Charleston |
Anonymous
|
What about the upper peninsula?
For example: https://theinsatiabletraveler.com/10-day-roadtrip-michigans-upper-peninsula-fall-colors/ |
Anonymous
| Split your time between New Buffalo, Michigan and Chicago. Enjoy the beach/dunes in New Buffalo area and lots for teens and adults in Chicago. |
Anonymous
|
Michigan's upper peninsula.
I took my son a couple years ago. You could drive to the Detroit area the first day-lots of stuff to do/see there (We spent an entire day at the Henry Ford museum) In the upper peninsula we did a guided kayak tour with "Pictured Rocks Kayaking" and I highly recommend them. We also did some hiking in the Porcupine mountains (Escarpment trail.) We really like history and Calumet has a lot of historical sites related to mining. |
Anonymous
Also forgot to mention, if you want city you could do Chicago first then head to upper peninsula. Chicago in the summer is a fantastic city to visit. Bike along the lakefront, eat delicious food, go to a cubs game (better than most MLB games/parks in my opinion!) |
Anonymous
| Wow that was crazy three of us all recommended the same thing within minutes of each other. |
Anonymous
OP literally said that she was successful in finding a little-known town to visit on this site before. Why would it not work again? Yes, you can look at a map and see the amount of places that are named on the map in a two day driving distance, but you won't see those places that people have traveled and enjoyed, that are maybe even too small to be named on the map. Why are you like this? |
Anonymous
I'm late to the party but also opened this thread to recommended the UP and Mackinac Island. |
Anonymous
+1 to Henry Ford. We spent a whole day there, rode in an original model T, toured the active Rogue factory, easily could have spent an entire second day there. After we left we ate dinner and spent the night in Pittsburgh. An easy 2 day drive |
Anonymous
| South Dakota. Custer State Park, Badlands, Hot Springs, Mt Rushmore |