Average Jane Would Like a Vacation

After my enjoyable but too short weekend, I decided to look and see how much vacation time I have left this year.  6.5 days!

Therefore, I have proposed to my husband that we take a week-long trip between now and the start of the really cold weather.  We'll drive, of course.  Neither one of us is willing to put up with the hassles of flying anywhere right now.  If I can't take a bottle of water with me on the plane, I ain't flyin'.

Now we just need to decide where we can go that's about a day's drive away.

We've already been to Nashville, Tennessee several times (my husband lived there for 10 years), so that's probably out, although I always love a nice breakfast at the Pancake Pantry.

South Dakota is an option.  We've never been there together and neither of us has been at all for many years.

I like Colorado, but I think any trip there should be outdoorsy, and hubby is too much of a city boy for hiking, fishing, etc.

We could always just focus on the trip rather than the destination and plan a route that takes us past a bunch of interesting stuff.  I don't know - it's going to be a challenge to decide.

Do you have any suggestions for an interesting stop or destination within 8-10 hours of Kansas City?  Help us plan our vacation!

Comments

[Stacie Penney]

I grew up in South Dakota and loved the Black Hills area. We'd rent a cabin and just spend time at either the resort or day-tripping around the area. Even a city boy should be able to find something to interest him, if you do something like that.

[cagey]

What about Dallas? Or Austin? You both are so into the local music scene, I could totally see you both enjoying the checking out of the music there (awkwardly worded sentence, but you know what I mean, Vern)

[AWE]

Since Vegas is too far, how about some gambling in Tunica, MS? Or you are pretty close to Branson.

[MLE]

I think SoDak would be good; you can go to the Black Hills area and Wall Drug and the Badlands, which are wicked cool. Plus then you could drive down and see Carhenge in Nebraska or Devil's Tower in Wyoming.

[monkey]

I'd go to Chicago. It's one of the nicest times of year to be there, and if you have a car you don't even have to stay in super-'spensive downtown. Even rooms in nicer hotels in close 'burbs can go for pretty cheap.

[ZowZow]

I'm going to second the idea of Chicago. You can see Blue Man Group, which is SOOO much fun and great music!

But you're right, sometimes the journey is the best part.

[Huts]

Chicago, St. Louis, skip the corn palace in S. Dakota. Black Hills and Rushmore are nice, but not much else there. Dallas is crowded, Austin sounds good. If New Orleans was back it might be an option.

[me]

I've heard SD is beautiful, that's a good option. I also enjoyed our trip to Minneapolis a couple of years back. Mall of America AND the Spam museum - who can pass that up?

[Jane]

Thanks for all the input!

We're kind of leaning toward Chicago now, which I hadn't even considered until you guys brought it up. (I'm going to St. Louis in October anyway, so I don't really want to go twice.)

For the past couple of years we've been talking about going to Sturgis, SD for the motorcycle rally, so we might save the South Dakota trip for that.

I'd also like to go to Austin, TX sometime. Maybe I can convince my company that I need to go to SXSW Interactive next year...

[Joolie]

Jumping in a little late here, but Chicago would be my first choice. Let me know if you ever make it down to Austin so I can buy you a drink!