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What's your summer vacation plans?

I’m officially old as demonstrated by the fact that we are taking a Viking River Cruise in France. Paris to Normandy. Only reason I agreed to it is that we spend a day at Omaha Beach and Point du Hoc.
 
I've always enjoyed your posts, seemed like you're a nice guy.
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Living in Iowa I never really understand why people leave in the summer when the weather is actually nice here. All of our vacations are in the winter to get the hell away from the cold.
Because it is also nice there where outdoor activities are part of the experience. From having lived there for 4 years, I can assure you that Boston in July >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Boston in March.
 
In the summer there are a lot of fun things to do in the mid west, Chicago is awesome, lakes up in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Great stuff. I go to the Caribbean in the winter. Jamaica, Mexico, Saint Lucia.... that's when you get out of the mid west.
Somebody is outing themselves as a poor by admitting that he does not take at least two expensive week-long vacations per year...
 
Guys trip to St. Louis and KC for baseball

Family trip includes several stops including a night in Iowa.
 
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I've been here 18 years and haven't been to the Outer Banks yet

It seems like most of the rental places are meant for large groups, and it's just us, so we've done other trips.

One of these days.
When dad was at the Pentagon we went every year. Sometimes twice a year. August/September are great because the water is warm, but later in the year is fun too. We spent a few Thanksgivings there. Totally different experience, but still nice. Tended to stay down nears Waves/Rodanthe/Salvo area. Used to be smaller houses for a single family, not sure what it's like now.
 
Somebody is outing themselves as a poor by admitting that he does not take at least two expensive week-long vacations per year...
Rule of thumb for the wife and I are 3 a year. First week in December, sometime in January or early February. Then in the summer we'll do something around here with my adult kids. Usually in August, they always want to go to the Dells because the grandkids have such a fun time up there. I just like spending the time with them so doesn't really matter what we do.
 
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Rule of thumb for the wife and I are 3 a year. First week in December, sometime in January or early February. Then in the summer we'll do something around here with my adult kids. Usually in August, they always want to go to the Dells because the grandkids have such a fun time up there. I just like spending the time with them so doesn't really matter what we do.
That's sounds awesome and I was only kidding.
 
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When dad was at the Pentagon we went every year. Sometimes twice a year. August/September are great because the water is warm, but later in the year is fun too. We spent a few Thanksgivings there. Totally different experience, but still nice. Tended to stay down nears Waves/Rodanthe/Salvo area. Used to be smaller houses for a single family, not sure what it's like now.
It seems like a really nice place. I've got friends that go annually. Most of them seem to go as part of a larger family reunion/event. We just don't have any other family up here to team up with to get one of the big houses. There may be some smaller places - I just know the really picturesque places are really nice and big.
 
Wife and I are in Ocracoke now for a few weeks.
Nice, I'd be grateful to hear what we should make sure to look out for when we're there. I'm planning taking on a day trip there while we're in the area.

The whole Blackbeard connection has me pretty excited to be there.
 
Nice, I'd be grateful to hear what we should make sure to look out for when we're there. I'm planning taking on a day trip there while we're in the area.

The whole Blackbeard connection has me pretty excited to be there.
The ferries between Hatteras and Ocracoke are taking a little longer because of shoals but one is running about every 30 minutes. The beaches here are some of the best in the world. Even during the tourist season you can find places on the beach where you won’t see another soul. The whole island is owned by the NPS except for the village of Ocracoke. There is a nature trail in the village that will take you out to the place where Blackbeard lost his head.
 
Nice, I'd be grateful to hear what we should make sure to look out for when we're there. I'm planning taking on a day trip there while we're in the area.

The whole Blackbeard connection has me pretty excited to be there.
The ferry is easy to get to from Avon, just head south on hwy 12, it stops right at the Hatteras ferry. The ferry takes about an hour and 10 minutes and is free.
 
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Because it is also nice there where outdoor activities are part of the experience. From having lived there for 4 years, I can assure you that Boston in July >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Boston in March.
Since you lived there, give me a few can't miss things to do in Boston.
 
I've been to the Outer Banks about 10 times: Duck, Pine Island and some other places I'm forgetting.

It'd basically giant houses on the beach. It's OK but I'd choose the Bahamas instead. :)
Look in to bald head island. Southern terminus of outer banks off Wilmington. Quiet. Golf carts only.
 
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Since you lived there, give me a few can't miss things to do in Boston.
Going from north to south...

Maine

1. Start with Two Lights State Park which is south of Portland, and eat at the Lobster Shack and have fresh seafood by the ocean.
https://visitmaine.com/things-to-do/parks-and-natural-attractions/two-lights-state-park
http://lobstershacktwolights.com/

New Hampshire

2. Work your way south into the White Mountains in New Hampshire and see Flume Gorge.
https://www.visitwhitemountains.com/attractions/flume-gorge

Massachusetts

3. Continue working your way south and see the North Bridge and Minuteman National Park
https://www.nps.gov/mima/north-bridge-questions.htm

4. Stop by Walden Pond
https://www.mass.gov/locations/walden-pond-state-reservation

5. Walk Minuteman Trail by Hanscom AFB
https://www.traillink.com/trail/minuteman-bikeway/

6. I would then park at Alewife station, and take the T into the city. The T is the mass transit system. It can get you everywhere you need and once you are downtown Boston, its really is not that big and is very walkable. If I could only do one thing I'd have dinner or at least drinks at the Top of The Hub, which is a restaurant at the top of the Prudential Building with 360 degree views of Boston.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/alewife-station-cambridge
http://topofthehub.net/

7. Although touristy, the best way to see the city (not from 52 stories up) is a trolly/duck tour.
http://www.bostonducktours.com/

8. I would also do a whale watching tour out of Boston Harbor, if it is still in season.
https://www.bostonharborcruises.com...MI44uGlJHl2wIVAVuGCh3lxQHAEAAYASAAEgJP8fD_BwE

9. And if you do go to Boston, Faneuil Hall is awesome. Think a big ped mall with history.
https://faneuilhallmarketplace.com/#axzz5J4o8FxZ6

10. And if you're not a poor, you might as well eat in the North End (little italy) at Mamma Maria's.
http://mammamaria.com/

11. While it’s a regional chain, legal seafood is awesome and their chowder is as good as it gets.
https://www.legalseafoods.com/

12. Then there is the obvious stuff like bunker hill, the uss constitution, etc. If

13. I would also suggest Provincetown via high speed ferry out of Boston. I’d recommend the trolly tour. Cool town but be ready for the most gay town in the world NTTAWWT.

Bay State Cruise Company: Boston to Provincetown Fast Ferry

Provincetown Ferry Fleet. Bay State Cruise Company has served the route the longest of all the Companies that have served Provincetown since the 1800s.
baystatecruisecompany.com

Rhode Island

14. I would then head south to Newport Rhode Island and do the cliff walk and see the mansions. I would choose the Breakers which was built by the Vanderbilts at the height of their power.
http://www.cliffwalk.com/
https://www.newportmansions.org/explore/the-breakers
but note that the top of the hub is a covid victim and is closed. They are converting it to an observatory. If open do that.
 
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Here is are my summer plans:

1 day concert to see Jimmy Buffett
3 days at the La Cantera Resort and Spa with the no-pics wife
3 days at Port A, TX (Trump land, but there's a beach)
5 day wheeling trip with my son to Hot Springs, AK
7 day vacation to Estes Park, CO with the fam
 
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