My husband and I are looking to plan a vacation for this Summer. We'll need to take Southwest Airlines out of MDW, as one of us can fly using our Rapid Rewards points. Budget is a BIG issue for this one vacation we'll take in 2013.
Based on our points, I have narrowed down our trip to three option for this one week trip. Please give me your thoughts.
We love sightseeing, especially that of a historical nature, and trying well known restaurants.
1. Buffalo-Niagara Falls/Toronto. Would love to see the falls, but a bit concerned there isn't enough in this area to keep us busy for a week.
2. Raleigh, NC/Virginia. We could visit two State Capitals flying into Raleigh (the other being Richmond- we visit all the capitals we can). Neither of us have been to NC.
3. Washington, DC/Virginia. We've been to DC before, but still need to visit the Natl Mall. We've been to Charlottesville and Mt Vernon, but Richmond and Williamsburg certainly seem worth a trip.
I think trip #3 is the way to go, but my husband likes the idea of visiting Niagara Falls.
Please help us decide. Thanks!
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If you go to Toronto and Niagara, you'll have plenty to do for a week. Niagara Falls area alone would not be enough.
Option 3 is better than 2 because Raleigh itself takes about half a day to see. If you go to NC, see more than just Raleigh.
Niagara falls is a perfect choice. I think I also have read that on Travel Explosion.
I enjoyed my visit to Niagara Falls and there is plenty to keep you busy in the Toronto area. However, are the thing to do there the things that interest you most?
Are you looking forward to attending the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake or to the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford? If so, Canada might be for you.
If not, you will probably enjoy a week getting to know more about the USA than something about Ontario.
HTtY
I spend a hunk of the winter in Richmond, so I am partial to the Washington-Richmond-Williamsburg-Jamestown alternative.
You can fly to Washington and take Amtrak to Richmond, so you won't need a car until then. There are more trains to Staples Mills station than to downtown.
Richmond has great museums, historic sites, and great places to eat. The river road to Jamestown (VA 5, I think) is full of historic houses, and you would enjoy Shirley Plantation very much -- the same family has owned it since the 1600's and still lives there.
The museum in Jamestown in fantastice, the reconstruction less so. Williamsburg is its own thing. I love it, some don't.
I vote for #1, but I'm from the area so I am biased. There is definitely enough to do in the Buffalo/Niagara Falls/Toronto area to fill a week. I can't give much information about Toronto, but you could easily fill 4-5 days in Buffalo and Niagara Falls Ontario if you also include Niagara on the Lake, which is a short 15 minute drive from Niagara Falls in Ontario. Buffalo has great architecture, including Frank Lloyd Wright's Darwin Martin House. There are also many (not so well known) but excellent restaurants in Buffalo. I would not stay on the US side of the Falls, but there are plenty of nice hotels on the Canadian side. Niagara on the Lake is a quaint picturesque town with plenty of shops and restaurants and many wineries. There are some nice hotels and B & B's in the area. If you decide on this trip post again and I can give more specific information.
Thanks everyone. I've gone ahead and booked our June trip to DC/Virginia. I appreciate the input!
I'm glad you got your first choice. Please let us know how it goes.