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OT: Vacation recommendations

RUaMoose

RUaMoose

Heisman Winner
Oct 31, 2004
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Lebanon, TN
Can anyone recommend a good vacation spot for late August that includes the following:

1-beach
2-snorkeling
3-jet ski rentals
4-moped/scooter rentals
5-parasailing (optional)
6-horseback riding (optional)

Can be anywhere continental US or caribbean

Cozumel checks all boxes but i'm looking for other places as well.

appreciate the help.
 
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Anywhere from Rehoboth to the Outer Banks. Horseback riding might take a Goggle Search though. Bethany Beach, Del is terrific. Beautiful small beach town w small boardwalk, w Rehoboth 30 minutes North and Ocean City, Md 30 minutes South, both w Big Boardwalks.

If you have the big budget you appear to have, then your opportunities are almost limitless. For driving and affordable, than there's what i just posted above. Atlantic Coast won't fit the bill for great snorkeling either.

Turks/Caicos ?
 
Most of the Florida coastline can accommodate that list. Why leave the country when you can have all the comforts of home here ? Outer Banks also works.

Ever been to Cozumel ? Very small, not much to do and mostly disappointing IMO.
 
Knightmoves said:
Most of the Florida coastline can accommodate that list. Why leave the country when you can have all the comforts of home here ? Outer Banks also works.

Ever been to Cozumel ? Very small, not much to do and mostly disappointing IMO.
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Aruba has all of that and more...well not sure about moped/scooter, but I think so, if not, they do rent Harleys.
 
RUaMoose said:
Can anyone recommend a good vacation spot for late August that includes the following:

1-beach
2-snorkeling
3-jet ski rentals
4-moped/scooter rentals
5-parasailing (optional)
6-horseback riding (optional)

Can be anywhere continental US or caribbean

Cozumel checks all boxes but i'm looking for other places as well.

appreciate the help.
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Bermuda
 
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Lake Tahoe has it all. Emerald Bay on the southwest side is the second most photographed site in the US after the Grand Canyon.
 
Supplement Cozumel......Mayan Riviera.. with a day at xcaret or it might have been anglesized to Escarte by now
This is ECo themed park where can raft an underground river, swim with Dolphins. In fairness you should look it up as its extensive.
Then you have Mayan ruins at Tulum

I understand they have added a sea trek with the sting rays option.
Its been a while but I am really recommending Playa De Carmen rather then the Cozumel Island but that can always be a different day trip. If inclined you can try to land a sailfish on the charters there
 
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Knightmoves said:
Most of the Florida coastline can accommodate that list. Why leave the country when you can have all the comforts of home here ? Outer Banks also works.

Ever been to Cozumel ? Very small, not much to do and mostly disappointing IMO.
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Stopped in Cozumel on a cruise last year. really liked the island but I'm not sure about spending 5-7 days there. The HB riding tour of Mayan ruins was really cool (actually it was dusty and hot but you get the picture). Water is crystal clear for snorkeling and I saw a lot ppl driving around on mopeds.

Florida, eh ? Is there a particular area you'd recommend ? We stayed in Daytona last time for a couple days before our cruise departed and liked it. It's certainly a candidate.
 
ho26rus said:
Supplement Cozumel......Mayan Riviera.. with a day at xcaret or it might have been anglesized to Escarte by now
This is ECo themed park where can raft an underground river, swim with Dolphins. In fairness you should look it up as its extensive.
Then you have Mayan ruins at Tulum

I understand they have added a sea trek with the sting rays option.
Its been a while but I am really recommending Playa De Carmen rather then the Cozumel Island but that can always be a different day trip. If inclined you can try to land a sailfish on the charters there
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Interesting. I assume you would fly into Cancun and drive ?
 
RUaMoose said:
Stopped in Cozumel on a cruise last year. really liked the island but I'm not sure about spending 5-7 days there. The HB riding tour of Mayan ruins was really cool (actually it was dusty and hot but you get the picture). Water is crystal clear for snorkeling and I saw a lot ppl driving around on mopeds.

Florida, eh ? Is there a particular area you'd recommend ? We stayed in Daytona last time for a couple days before our cruise departed and liked it. It's certainly a candidate.
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I live in Sarasota on the west coast and really like it here, but anywhere from Tampa to Naples will meet your requirements. Great beaches and restaurants in this area and you won't be treated like a gringo expatriate tourist. The infrastructure is also much better here than in the banana republics. But I have spent lots of time in the Cape Hatteras area of NC and that will also meet your needs.

I've been to Cancun/Playa del Carmen, etc a number of times and will never go back. Service level, choice of options, comfort level and pricing are much better on US soil IMO. Many people we met on the plane on the way back from Cancun were pretty disappointed, not just the ones who got sick from drinking the local water.

The islands may sound exciting but the comfort levels there are not the same. Of course you know that you are in hurricane season as well, right ? Can you imagine being in a place like Cozumel or Aruba during a hurricane ? Yikes !
 
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Knightmoves said:
I live in Sarasota on the west coast and really like it here, but anywhere from Tampa to Naples will meet your requirements. Great beaches and restaurants in this area and you won't be treated like a gringo expatriate tourist. The infrastructure is also much better here than in the banana republics. But I have spent lots of time in the Cape Hatteras area of NC and that will also meet your needs.

I've been to Cancun/Playa del Carmen, etc a number of times and will never go back. Service level, choice of options, comfort level and pricing are much better on US soil IMO. Many people we met on the plane on the way back from Cancun were pretty disappointed, not just the ones who got sick from drinking the local water.

The islands may sound exciting but the comfort levels there are not the same. Of course you know that you are in hurricane season as well, right ? Can you imagine being in a place like Cozumel or Aruba during a hurricane ? Yikes !
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Interesting perspective,,thanks KM. I've always been biased towards the ocean (east) side because I like to body surf but I certainly can be convinced. As far as hurricane's, that's always a possibility no matter where I go (Hurricane Charley anyone ?)
 
Aruba is below the Hurricane belt so it misses most of any Hurricane weather since it's very close to South America. It's a small island but lots of fun things to do and one of the Caribbean's most active vacation spots due to all the nightlife and casinos. It's weather has always reminded me of Cabo in Mexico, but I ran out of things to do in Cabo.
 
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I keep hearing about Destin , Fla , mainly from SEC meetings being reported by the Paul Finebaum show. I assume it's the Redneck Riviera, w lots of golf, water sports , etc. Anyone been there?
 
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Grand Cayman. Far and away nicest, safest island I've ever been to. Has your list and more.
 
Abro1975 said:
I keep hearing about Destin , Fla , mainly from SEC meetings being reported by the Paul Finebaum show. I assume it's the Redneck Riviera, w lots of golf, water sports , etc. Anyone been there?
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Abro1975 said:
I keep hearing about Destin , Fla , mainly from SEC meetings being reported by the Paul Finebaum show. I assume it's the Redneck Riviera, w lots of golf, water sports , etc. Anyone been there?
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Destin is a quiet town east of Pensacola along the Redneck Riviera. Nice beaches but not a destination location IMO. No airport nearby.
 
Cozumel is too touristy for me. You would be better off staying on land in riviera Maya or playa Del Carmen and can make a day trip to cozumel Cancun xcaret etc
 
I don't think there are mopeds but all others boxes checked off and then some here in Maui, Hawaii where I am now wearing my Rutgers gear as always and driving my rental car with block R's all over it. Best part is I haven't seen any State Penn stuff in 10 days. Truly Paradise watching blondes in bikini's and drinking bikini blonde beers all day while waiting for R U Football season to begin.
 
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Aruba is fantastic. Expensive....but fantastic. Out of the Hurricane belt and great weather. Safe island to explore.
 
If you would like to stay in the continental USA, particularly the eastern half of the nation, then I will give you a homer/biased suggestion.

The suggestion I will give you has been named the most beautiful place in America from a 'Good Morning America' viewer poll.
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/best_p...voted-good-morning-americas/story?id=14319616

Watch the first two or three short videos (which should auto-play) from the article in the above link.
Yup.... surprise!
America's hidden gem: the west coast of Michigan.... it is fantastic... and it's:

5234e7_b6d7e82a2c964a7596cab574f9253930-jpg.136519





Fly (or drive) to Traverse City, Michigan... this is near Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Here are some images of the Traverse City/Sleeping Bear Dunes area:

sleeping-bear-dunes-from-empire-bluffs-trail-in-sleeping-bear-dunes-nls-mi-ruth-hager-jpg-133530-jpg.136520



bluffs-from-esch-beach-in-sleeping-bear-dunes-national-lakeshore-michigan-ruth-hager-jpg-133531-jpg.136521



4487-800-jpg-133532-jpg.136522



couple-on-beach-at-sleeping-bear-traverse-city-jpg.136523



clinch-park-beach-jpg.136524






Check-out the following image-list:

tc-jpe.136525


That's right.... Traverse City, Michigan is one of the top 10 beach towns in America!

Also, Traverse City is the Cherry Capital of the World... cherry food products galore from the #1 cherry producing region in the world. The fertile west coast of Michigan is also the leading blueberry producing region in the nation.





Info link for the Traverse City, Michigan area:
https://www.traversecity.com/



Why leave the country when we have places like this?
 
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And.... if you have extra time while visiting Traverse City, MI.... take a venture into the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) of Michigan... it is gorgeous up there!
At the very least, one must visit Mackinac Island for a daytrip if you are going to Traverse City.... several ferries travel to Mackinac Island daily (departing from both Mackinaw City in the Lower Peninsula or St. Ignace in the Upper Peninsula).

Here are a few images of Michigan's U.P.



Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Lake Superior)
img_4318-jpg.133534




kayaking the Pictured Rocks shoreline
NLP-6758-06.jpg




climbing a frozen waterfall at Pictured Rocks
pictured-rocks-frozen-waterfall-ice-climbers-jpg.133536



Tahquamenon Falls
tahquamenon-falls-fall-2015-jpg.133535





The legendary Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.... no motor vehicles on the island... travel on the island is by horse or bicycle.
grand-hotel-lodge.jpg




carriage tour of Mackinac Island
privatelivery.jpg




Mission Point on Mackinac Island
island-house-michigan-bear-paper-mackinac-gallery-oddsandends-unsorted-161888.jpg




the very popular Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island is supposedly haunted
main_lodge_mission_point_resort_w640.jpeg






[thumb2]
 
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http://www.chincoteague-va.gov/

covers all your requirements and there is a go-kart place there... try and find the rental company that has the house in smugglers cove... has a hot tub and is right next to a boat launch so it makes it easy to kayak and its right on the water so you can crab(the crabbing kinda sucks though because of depth.. VERY shallow)
 
OntheBanks said:
Yup, I'm there right now for the 8th time. You never have to worry about
Hurricanes here and it's about 89 degrees year round.
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----
Yes, my wife just about refuses to go to any other island during the hurricane season, aside from the fact that she loves it there..... I don't remember seeing moped rentals around, but I stopped looking for that years ago.

It is expensive but worth it for me...... I have been there about Five times over the years.
 
We're leaning towards going some place within one day's driving distance. Has anyone been to both Cape Hatteras and the Wilmington/Carolina Beach area and can say which is better. I've been to the OBX several times just never went south of Nags Head. I appreciate all the replies.
 
RUaMoose said:
We're leaning towards going some place within one day's driving distance. Has anyone been to both Cape Hatteras and the Wilmington/Carolina Beach area and can say which is better. I've been to the OBX several times just never went south of Nags Head. I appreciate all the replies.
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Have not been to both, but "better" is a matter of personal choice. We lived in Wilmington area for a couple of years. I think of Wilmington as a smaller version of Charleston, SC. It is a historic city with an outstanding downtown. Lots of great shops, restaurants and bars and the battleship North Carolina is a tourist attraction. As far as beaches, I would recommend Wrightsville Beach, which is the closest beach to Wilmington. Carolina Beach is further South and a decent drive from downtown Wilmington. Wilmington is under one hour drive from Myrtle Beach, and you can make that a day trip.

Two beaches that you may want to check out in contrast to Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach:
1. Bald Head Island. You take a ferry here, and there are no cars on the Island. Just South of Carolina Beache
http://www.baldheadisland.com/
2. Topsail Beach is a quieter beach North of WIlmington.

In terms of commercialized/busy beaches, I would rate in this order:

1. Carolina Beach-if I recall correctly, they have a boardwalk with some amusements
2. Wrightsville Beach--no boardwalk or major amusements--a couple of restaurants and ocean front hotels.
3. Topsail Beach-fairly quite and secluded.
4. Bald Head Island-totally quiet and secluded
 
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If you are considering the carolina's, you should really look at Kiawa or Seabrook island. Personally I prefer Seabrook but there basically the same. Meets all of your criteria.
 
Knightmoves said:
Destin is a quiet town east of Pensacola along the Redneck Riviera. Nice beaches but not a destination location IMO. No airport nearby.
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Not true about airports as there is an airport right outside of Destin (VPS) and Northwest Florida Beaches International just north of Panama City Beach.

I live in Panama City Beach and can vouch that as far as white sand beaches and warm emerald water goes nothing comes close to the the gulf coast in the panhandle. It is also true that from Big Bend to Pensacola is a true redneck riviera and proud of it. Everything the OP asked about is available down here along with an increasing number of great restaurants and entertainment. There are also a number of small beach towns along the coast that are nice quiet getaways. Look at Rosemary Beach, Alys Beach, Watercolor or anywhere along 30A between Destin and PCB for some fantastic accommodations and quiet beaches.

www.discover30a.com
www.30a.com

One word of warning though is that the area is considerably more "southern" then southern Florida. By that I mean casual is a way of life and things move a slower pace then most "Northerners" are accustomed to. With that said your money will go a lot further here that Miami or Orlando.
 
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I see you narrowed your choices
One more, perhaps, to consider.bicycle rentals ( cars are a nuisance)
parasailing, jet skiing, golf, hiking, quaint villages, something like 20-22 beaches

If weather becomes a poblem you can ship over to Boston
Do you, and family, sail?
Anyway if this did pique your interest acquaint yourself with the ferry schedule. You must reserve a time slot


OMG i forgot to say Marthas Vineyard

















9 cars
 
Key West, FL has all these except horseback riding (although I suppose it's possible find a horse there). It's really a unique place, and is inexpensive to fly into. The snorkeling is amazing, even if you just cruise over to Fort Zachary Taylor State park and wade out to the reef for free. The scenery and the attitude of the place make it an interesting destination.

It's surprisingly urban, so there's lots of stuff to do day and night.

Last time we were there we jet-skied around the entire island. Also rented scooters for a day and explored.

http://www.liveduvalstreet.com/
 
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