Help me plan a trip.....

[GravyTrain]

Here's what I need...

I'm planning on a trip for Cristi around March or so, but i want to plan it or at least get a general idea of where we might go, so i can start saving up some money, setting up accomodations, getting tickets, etc....

i also want to be able to give her some information about it for christmas, but i'm not holding my breath that i make a decision by then.

If you vote in the poll, post why you think we should make that trip, if you have opinions on any of them, please post them, i want alot of input (even though i get about 3 US posters here)

[GravyTrain]

Also, take into consideration that I was wanting this to be a weekend trip if at all possible, so travel time from Conway, AR might be an issue.

[TastinGood]

i've been to most of these places recently, so i'll take a stab at it.

Memphis - (2 hours) To me this is like a token "Let's get outta town for the weekend" place for Arkansans. I've never been a big fan of it, but I suppose if you can find some cool things to check out (Like the Motel MLK was shot at) then it might be ok.

Branson - (3 Hours) Well, I'm sure most everyone has seen Ally and mine's Branson videos at the acrop...It was a really cool trip for us. We saw some shows, saw the sites and did other various things. We had an absolutely wonderful time.

St. Louis - (6 Hours) SL was the first trip Ally and I ever went on together. It was also a really great time.

Kansas City - Never been there.

Dallas - (4 Hours) Dallas is ok. Traffic sucks, but the greater Dallas/Fort Worth area is so huge that they have tons of activities and fun things going on.

New Orleans - I havent been to New Orleans since I was a kid, so I dunno too much about it. I do know that it is quite a drive down there.

[GravyTrain]

you answered very well, thank you, i have the same feeling about most of those places, the only difference is that Cristi and I have a running "joke" about Memphis, so we have to go there sometime soon.

New Orleans is a long drive, but after my visit a while back, i would love to go back when i had more time to see the sites.

One thing i just realized, is you didn't vote. Of all those places, (especially since you know me fairly well), which place do you think we would enjoy the most?

[rmartino]

I have also been to several of these cities. I will give my opinion on them all.

Memphis is cool at night with people to party with or a day trip for the shopping...other than that, I can't think of another reason to go there.

I like Branson ok, but have been there so much I'm on the verge of hating it. If you go and see a good show, it might be a good time.

I really hate St. Louis, it's more slum than city...whenever I think of it I just think, "gross"

My vote was for Kansas City....it just has a classy feel about it and it's just big enough to have a great time.

I really hate Texas, so Dallas would be my last pick. Good shopping and stuff to do, but I can't stand the city. Everything there feels generic like they really have no identity they are just following the other big cities.

I've never been to New Orleans.

Now, Southwest is doing a promotion right now on tickets to Florida for like $99 roundtrip. You can book for whenever. I went to Panama City last March for spring break and couldn't have asked for better weather. It was awesome. It might be a great beach weekend getaway.

[superman251]

DJ, Which of those places have you been to before? Also, if you want to come here (New Orleans), march would be a good time too. Meaning it's not hot and muggy yet. You will miss Mardi Gras though as it is on February 24th. Even though that is a crazy time, everyone has to be here for that at least once in their lives.

[GravyTrain]

First, I've been to all of the cities, none of them really for site-seeing or whatever...mainly for a basketball game, or a baseball game, i've never really been "out on the city" in any of them.

the problem with going to florida, is if we went to florida, we would be required to see her mom, which i would like to stay away from, simply because i want it to be our weekend, any other time, that is great. although, those plane tickets would be a great surprise for cristi to go see her mom, and would come in very handy for when we do decide to go see her.

I just spoke to one of my best friends and she suggests Dallas, because she just loves the city. one of the ladies i spoke with also suggests Dallas, although, with Dallas, I think that a longer stay might be required, mainly because Six Flags would take up at least one entire day.

And Ryan, the trip to Mardi Gras would not be something that I think Cristi would really enjoy, especially for our first trip together (outside of the honeymoon)

I have basically marked St. Louis and Kansas City off the list....so that narrows it down quite a bit. and New Orleans, mainly just because of the distance. However, that is still a trip that we will take at some point or another, just not within the next few months.

[SHATOUSHKA]

i'm with roxane...

fly some place

it gives a wider variety in less 'get there' time

personally... i don't suggest anything on that list.
its not that i don't like those places... i find
them ok....

i also assume you are relying on live activites
in each of those places (as opposed to just
going to go and hang out with each other).

i dunno cristi and i dunno her likes... but
personally... i think it would be much cooler
to invest some time into finding an 'original'
place that meets all of your criteria.

find a quaint bed & breakfast.... some local
flavor... perhaps search for her favorite play
or some wine tasting (or wtfever, i have no clue)...
go see a small live venue...

make it personal... its much more memorable


but since i know this post means nothing... as
i expect a barage of 'why can't you just answer
the question' replies...

i guess i'll pick st. louis...


*ho hum*

[GravyTrain]

If you don't mind, i would like for you to expound, and give some possible suggestions, i'm new to all this, my ideal of a perfect trip, is driving somewhere, stopping on the way for a quick mbl game, then stopping somewhere for a nba game, and then catching a few more mlb games with a couple of unique local restaurants mixed within....that is a great trip to me.

i think i understand what you are saying, but (if you have time, and get bored with your neopets for a few minutes [img]tongue.gif[/img] ) would it be possible to "throw together" some sort of itenerary for a weekend type thing, that a "typical" (term used very loosely) female would enjoy.

also, the reason i would rather drive, is cristi loves road trips, i love road trips, and if you fly, you have to be bothered with transportation when you get there, and i've never been one to enjoy being without my own set of wheels.

(i'm totally enjoying all the ideas and suggestions from this thread already)

[SHATOUSHKA]

the best trips are those that seem more geared
around what the particular person enjoys the most.
as you said, your games... its fun when the trip
is centered around that.

but as you know (i hope) its also fun to have
a 'random' trip... that seems like it has a
destination... and although it might, the destination
isn't half as fun as the getting there.

let's say she likes live theater... and lets
say her favorite play is les miserables...

well the only les miserables is the broadway
company tour going around the states at outrageous
ticket prices. ok... so that won't work...
but what if you plan on going to... *thinks of
random city*.... jackson, mississippi (off hand)...

so you check around at local theater venues and
find that no one is doing les miserables... but
you find a play that seems rather interesting.
so you plan on going to that. (order tickets
online if possible)

next.... plan for the road trip to be better...
go to the local zoo... find a B&B (like i said)
go to a local hot spot at night (some local
popular restaurant that isn't a major chain)....

become a local... as a tourist.

it is my contention that the best trips are those
that remind you of just how special small things
are. sure you like the 'wow' factor...

but let me show what i mean based on some trips
jason mentioned.

st louis was great... fabulous...
first time to see a SX for me...

but you know... when i think about that trip...
the first thing that comes to my mind isn't
the hotel... it isn't the horrible meal at
blimpie (which is still somewhat humorous)...
it isn't the to and fro... it is the sx...

however... in comparison... the camping trip
was loads more enjoyable... when i think about
the camping trip... more personal images come
to mind... building a fire (or trying to)...
hunting for dry wood, refusing to sleep in the
spider-infested tent, sleeping in the back of
the truck, the lake, the geese, the hammock...

all that shit.... which makes the trip more
valuable, imo.