Will we regret not taking more active vacations?

[Anonymous]

This is OP. This has been really helpful. I think the people suggesting state/national park tours near a city are onto something that will work for us. I do want to see and enjoy some unique nature but not at the expense of more cities.

I can't relate to thinking NY, Chicago, and SF are the only cities worth vacationing in but someone do say that to me in person too. 😊

What about Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Richmond, Philly, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Columbus, Cleveland, Tulsa, Atlanta, LA, Portland OR, St. Louis, Wilmington DE, Charlotte, Greensboro, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Nashville, etc., etc.? Pretty much the only U.S. city I haven't really enjoyed is San Diego.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. This has been really helpful. I think the people suggesting state/national park tours near a city are onto something that will work for us. I do want to see and enjoy some unique nature but not at the expense of more cities.

I can't relate to thinking NY, Chicago, and SF are the only cities worth vacationing in but someone do say that to me in person too. 😊

What about Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Richmond, Philly, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Columbus, Cleveland, Tulsa, Atlanta, LA, Portland OR, St. Louis, Wilmington DE, Charlotte, Greensboro, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Nashville, etc., etc.? Pretty much the only U.S. city I haven't really enjoyed is San Diego.

Curious, what didn't you like about it?

[Anonymous]

Also -OP, where do you live now and what is it that you like to do in these smaller cities?

[Anonymous]

Portland OR is a good city to combine w nature. You can see some combo of the coast, Columbia River Gorge, Bend, crater lake NP. All beautiful

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. This has been really helpful. I think the people suggesting state/national park tours near a city are onto something that will work for us. I do want to see and enjoy some unique nature but not at the expense of more cities.

I can't relate to thinking NY, Chicago, and SF are the only cities worth vacationing in but someone do say that to me in person too. 😊

What about Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Richmond, Philly, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Columbus, Cleveland, Tulsa, Atlanta, LA, Portland OR, St. Louis, Wilmington DE, Charlotte, Greensboro, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Nashville, etc., etc.? Pretty much the only U.S. city I haven't really enjoyed is San Diego.

I love cities, beaches, skiing, modest hiking. Been to many countries and all but 3 states. And all but one of the cities (Tulsa) you mentioned above. Some are definitely vacation worthy. Others not so much. You could not pay me to spend a week of vacation in St Louis or Greensboro. What do you do for a week in some of the places you list above?

[Anonymous]

I am with you. I like cities in this country and elsewhere. May I add Santa Fe, New Orleans, Philadelphia and Montgomery, AL to your list?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. This has been really helpful. I think the people suggesting state/national park tours near a city are onto something that will work for us. I do want to see and enjoy some unique nature but not at the expense of more cities.

I can't relate to thinking NY, Chicago, and SF are the only cities worth vacationing in but someone do say that to me in person too. 😊

What about Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Richmond, Philly, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Columbus, Cleveland, Tulsa, Atlanta, LA, Portland OR, St. Louis, Wilmington DE, Charlotte, Greensboro, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Nashville, etc., etc.? Pretty much the only U.S. city I haven't really enjoyed is San Diego.

Salt Lake City is an easy one. Spend a few days in SLC and then drive 45 minutes to an hour to one of the ski resort areas like Park City or Deer Valley for a couple of nights. The ski resort areas are great in the summer and have activities beyond just hiking. Like PP, we have done several city/mountain combination trips and they are great. And if you are willing to travel outside the US, the city/nature options are even better (e.g., Zurich + one of the many beautiful mountain/lake areas of Switzerland, Geneva and the French Alps, etc.).

[Anonymous]

PP here. And just to answer your question, we are not big hikers IRL which makes it more exciting and adventurous on vacation. But we are very active in general which makes doing things like hiking and biking on vacation more enjoyable for us.

[Anonymous]

I've never hiked on a vacation and don't think I've been to any national parks. Not my idea of fun at all. So I've missed out on being miserable on vacations and being angry at feeling like I wasted time doing things I thought I was supposed to like instead of what I actually like.

[Anonymous]

Do you already camp or do active things as a family/couple? Maybe start there and see if you enjoy it.
Doing more active things together tends to be more about connecting with each other and with nature.
I didn’t grow up camping and hiking but discovered it later in life - by the time I felt confident enough to take my son out camping and canoeing, he was in his teenager phase.

[Anonymous]

Cleveland plus Cuyahoga valley national Park seems perfect for you! Also Detroit is really fun and you should go. If you have nice weather, biking dequindre cut and by the river could be nice...I think you can rent bikes. Also definitely go to the Henry Ford museum and eat middle eastern food in Dearborn!

[Anonymous]

There's no right or wrong way to vacation. My family does active vacations (think national parks, big cities, hiking and zip lining in Costa Rica, scuba and surfing in the Caribbean, lots of adventure and activity). My sibling says they'd need a vacation after our vacation. They like all inclusive resorts on a beach. For me, that would be miserable. To each their own!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do what you want. Are you trying to keep up for social media?

Hahaha 🤣 I don't even have Instagram. This was from some people I've talked to who spend weeks at these places but I (no joke) would really love to go to Detroit.

I'm not dragging the family to Detroit anytime soon, but if I go to all the U.S. cities I want to go to, I'll run out of time and money and youth to go to the national parks. Wondering if I should mix it up because I don't know what I'm missing.

I’d love to visit Detroit too! I don’t meet many people who say they want to do that. Haha

DP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cleveland plus Cuyahoga valley national Park seems perfect for you! Also Detroit is really fun and you should go. If you have nice weather, biking dequindre cut and by the river could be nice...I think you can rent bikes. Also definitely go to the Henry Ford museum and eat middle eastern food in Dearborn!

I did do Cleveland and Cuyahoga Valley National Park before kids! Thank you for the info about Detroit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. This has been really helpful. I think the people suggesting state/national park tours near a city are onto something that will work for us. I do want to see and enjoy some unique nature but not at the expense of more cities.

I can't relate to thinking NY, Chicago, and SF are the only cities worth vacationing in but someone do say that to me in person too. 😊

What about Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Richmond, Philly, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Columbus, Cleveland, Tulsa, Atlanta, LA, Portland OR, St. Louis, Wilmington DE, Charlotte, Greensboro, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Nashville, etc., etc.? Pretty much the only U.S. city I haven't really enjoyed is San Diego.

Curious, what didn't you like about it?

Maybe it's just that it was so hyped up like everyone loves it and it didn't seem special or like I'd ever want to go back. I did like Old Town and Coronado and the food. Most of those I listed above and others not listed I'd love to go back to.