Vacation ideas? Cabin, outdoors experience?

[IamDavid]

It's almost vacation time and I haven't even started looking for a destination. Last year we went to the islands off south Texas and had a good time. This year I was thinking a little slower paced. Anyone have any recommendations for a nice cabin or lodge experience? Lower 48 only.

Thanks for any ideas.

 

[bbhaag]

Do you have kids or is it just you and your SO? How long do you usually go? Two weeks?
Gatlinburg has some nice cabins and the Smoky Mountains offer lots of outdoor activities like hiking. It's gotten touristy over the years so there are other things to do as well.

If you're into scenery and like the west Moab, Utah is simply stunning. Mostly outdoor types of things though but the pace is pretty slow compared to other vacation destinations.

 

[shortylickens]

I tell you what, dont take a fucking cruise thats for sure!

 

[TheSiege]

I just reserved a week in Yosemite, and I will probably go back to yellowstone this year

 

[IamDavid]

Do you have kids or is it just you and your SO? How long do you usually go? Two weeks?
Gatlinburg has some nice cabins and the Smoky Mountains offer lots of outdoor activities like hiking. It's gotten touristy over the years so there are other things to do as well.

If you're into scenery and like the west Moab, Utah is simply stunning. Mostly outdoor types of things though but the pace is pretty slow compared to other vacation destinations.

Thanks for the suggestions.

I have 3 girls, 8 to 13 so the cabins have to be air conditioned.
1 week this time.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Smokey Mountains are fantastic, I don't know about the cabins or what not, but, there are TONS of places where cabins are available in the area.

 

[crashtestdummy]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I have 3 girls, 8 to 13 so the cabins have to be air conditioned.
1 week this time.

If you're looking for sizable day hikes (not sure you are), I'd suggest Glacier National Park. There are relatively inexpensive motor lodges, and the camping is great, too.

If you're looking for something a little more downtempo, Acadia National Park has a bit of everything, from carriage rides to day hikes to rock climbing. I don't know how much there is in terms of rustic cabins, but the camping is cheap and very civilized (as always for National Parks).

 

[Sheep]

I tell you what, dont take a fucking cruise thats for sure!

Even before all the cruise ship shenanigans, I never understood the appeal of being isolated on a ship when there's so much to see and do out there.

As for the OP, I was going to suggest Yellowstone but I'm not sure about his tolerance for crowds in the summer.

 

[Apple Of Sodom]

Even before all the cruise ship shenanigans, I never understood the appeal of being isolated on a ship when there's so much to see and do out there.

As for the OP, I was going to suggest Yellowstone but I'm not sure about his tolerance for crowds in the summer.

Part of the appeal is the ship itself, especially if you have kids. We went on a cruise and there was a ton to do...pool, activities, shows, shopping, dinner... the cruise itself is often the destination. It wasn't my favorite vacation, but it was easy with the younger kids and they had a blast.

 

[shortylickens]

Even before all the cruise ship shenanigans, I never understood the appeal of being isolated on a ship when there's so much to see and do out there.

As for the OP, I was going to suggest Yellowstone but I'm not sure about his tolerance for crowds in the summer.

The ship itself has plenty of activities for the two days between Miami and St Maarten.
Fuck 7 days.
I learned a while back 3 or 4 is my limit.

In the Navy I once went two whole months at sea and damn near committed homicide.

 

[DougK62]

Another vote for Glacier NP. It's stunning.

 

[blackdogdeek]

If you're looking for something a little more downtempo, Acadia National Park has a bit of everything, from carriage rides to day hikes to rock climbing. I don't know how much there is in terms of rustic cabins, but the camping is cheap and very civilized (as always for National Parks).

This would be my suggestion. We love it there are going the first week of July. We've been there before and had a great time. The girls are 6 and 9 now but were 5 and 8 the last time we went. We went on a bunch of easy day hikes, went kayaking on Long Pond (where we're renting a house this time), canoeing and swimming on Echo Lake (where our last house was), walked around and shopped in Bar Harbor (and watched the July 4th fireworks), and went on the Diver Ed educational cruise (the girls loved this; the dude is pretty funny) among other things.

If you're looking for lobster make sure to go to Beal's Lobster bake and if you're looking for ice cream make sure to go to Ben and Bill's on Main St. in Bar Harbor.

 

[NutBucket]

Where are you located? If you want to mix popular with quiet head to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Completely different experience then the side show that is South Rim. One road in, one place to say. Can't recall if the cabins have AC...they didn't when I went in the 90's. But it was very quiet and great way to enjoy the Grand Canyon.

 

[Saint Nick]

I hear Branson is nice.

 

[JamesV]

Personally, I'd rather go to a National Forest, but just for a different idea, you could try out Put-In-Bay in Ohio. Used to go there all the time as a kid.

You can rent bikes or carts on the island, watersports and fishing, and there are wineries, caves, nice bed and breakfast to houses you can rent. Town area has shops, bars, etc, and is fun at night. Loved it as a kid, and my mom loved it too.

Off the island, are many crazy spots, like the Prehistoric Forest from the movie Tommy Boy (ride a train-bus and shoot dinosaurs with plastic machine guns... you know you want to), to the amusement park famous for it's coasters - Cedar Point.

 

[jonny13]

If you want to get away from people, get a cabin up around Ely, MN. It's on the edge of the Boundary Waters Wilderness Area and it's very remote and incredible area. Or, if you go towards Voyagers National Park, they have lots of cabins or you can even rent a house boat. That way, you can go out on the lake and just pull up in a bay at night and anchor. Very cool and the boats are pretty nice and have plenty of room.

 

[PowerEngineer]

Many of the big-name ski areas are building themselves up as summer destinations with hiking, biking, rafting, gondola rides, and other touristy summer activities. Lots of nice condos for a family vacation. I'm thinking Aspen or Breckenridge...

http://www.stayaspensnowmass.com/activities/summer

http://www.gobreck.com/lodging/summer-vacation-packages

Have fun!

 

[randomrogue]

Yellowstone or Yosemite for a week is pretty nice.

I also like the area around Bend, Oregon for about a week. Haven't been there in forever but it's a great area for anything outdoors.

 

[OlafSicky]

jungle adventures couple of weeks in the jungle to learn jungle survival