So, here's the deal. I don't start my new job until Feb. 8th, so I've got some free time on my hands. Bearing in mind that my passport is expired and renewal will probably take too long to make an international trip feasible where should I go for a roughly 10 day vacation.

Let's try to keep total ticket/gas cost under $800. (RDU to Honolulu is about $680 on cheaptickets.com). If it can be done as a road trip that will work too. In fact I was actually considering driving to someplace like Albuquerque and back and hitting some stops along the way.

.... and go!

1/21/2010 6:38:57 PM

key west!

1/21/2010 6:40:21 PM

HELL'S NICE THIS TIME OF YEAR

1/21/2010 6:41:10 PM

Yah the southwest seems like it might be a good place to go. Id check some of the national parks out there:

Grand Canyon
Joshua Tree
Bryce Canyon
Zion

1/21/2010 6:44:34 PM

^how the hell do you forget arches on that list?

[Edited on January 21, 2010 at 6:45 PM. Reason : OP, I'll give a more detailed answer when work slows down]

1/21/2010 6:45:06 PM

Quote :

"If it can be done as a road trip that will work too."

I would do just that. Drive across the country, don't plan it too in depth, definitely hit some landmarks you've always wanted to see.

It sounds cheesy, I think this is a beautiful country and I would rather explore it than go to some miserable place like Prague. (Yes I've been there, totally overrated)

[Edited on January 21, 2010 at 6:48 PM. Reason : ^^grand canyon and yellowstone are def. on the top of my list. ]

1/21/2010 6:46:58 PM

^My husband's status on here is "See America First". Probably, we should be spending vacation time and money abroad, while we have no kids...but, oh, man. This country.

1/21/2010 6:48:31 PM

puerto rico

1/21/2010 7:00:42 PM

I recommend flying into Vegas. See the lights, roll some dice, get some nightlife in, spend a night there and rent a car the next day. You then drive to Hoover Dam, and check out a man made spectacle, this takes a half day tops, great tour. Leave and drive to the Grand Canyon. Find a spot to crash and spend the next day there. You can easily spend a day with the multiple outlooks and the general knowledge/tours going on. Stay for the sunset, it will be worth it. Stay another night or drive back back to Vegas..Return to East Coast. The land scenery while driving, to and from, will keep you entertained.

I did this trip a few years back, and it's not that expensive considering flights to Vegas can get cheap quick. Might even be able to talk a friend into going depending on departure/return days and price...great memories and pictures

Either way, keep us posted what you choose...congrats on the job

1/21/2010 7:10:51 PM

^ Valley of Fire makes a nice day trip from Vegas as well.

1/21/2010 7:24:56 PM

I like the southwest, in fact I've already seen quite a lot of the stuff you guys have mentioned:

Grand Canyon
Arches
Monument Valley
Yellowstone
Mt. Rushmore
Crazyhorse monument
Petrified Forest
Painted Desert
Carlsbad Cavern

Haven't done Bryce or Zion, but I think I'd rather do those as hiking trips with a couple of friends at some point.

1/21/2010 7:52:32 PM

OK, anybody want to go to Hawaii with me for 10-12 days. Turns out it's actually cheaper for 2 people to go than one person. Your share of hotel and airfare, about $800.

1/21/2010 8:28:26 PM

I'M THERE!

1/21/2010 8:29:37 PM

Detroit

1/21/2010 8:32:21 PM

Quote :

"OK, anybody want to go to Hawaii with me for 10-12 days. Turns out it's actually cheaper for 2 people to go than one person. Your share of hotel and airfare, about $800. "

I think my husband might object.

Simply because he'd be stuck at work

1/21/2010 8:33:15 PM

1/21/2010 9:01:38 PM

drive down the eastern coast of florida... it's beautiful

1/21/2010 10:09:01 PM

Yosemite

or Alaska.

1/21/2010 10:38:18 PM

If your out west and near southern Utah, check out Grand Staircase Escalente (sp?). I don't think its that popular, therefore not very crowded, but an amazing area, you could easily spend a week there checking everything out. Also, I feel that the Grand Canyon is overrated...very touristy. Bryce Canyon is just as impressive IMO without the huge crowds.

1/22/2010 12:12:14 AM

Hang w/me in Orlando. I'll take you surfing.

1/22/2010 12:20:19 AM

LUCY THERE ARE NO BEACHES IN ORLANDO!!

1/22/2010 5:22:52 PM

Cocoa Beach during the day. Check out the strippers and thongs at Coconuts on the Beach.

Then downtown O-town at night.

Best of both worlds.

1/22/2010 5:26:26 PM

dont forget OBT!

1/22/2010 5:26:57 PM

cocoa beach

THE HOMELAND!!!

1/22/2010 5:27:59 PM