STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Ferggie45 · Nine West

Anyone trying to vacation in their home state this summer due to high prices?

Alikat · Kate Spade

My main incentive to staying nearby are not airline prices - but because of summer school and my husband's lack of vacation at a new job. I live in Sacramento (NorCal) and I'm just going to be vacationing around California this year. Might go to LA to visit friends and am definitely going camping in Tahoe.

It is fun to explore near home, though - much easier to find places you can revisit for a weekend getaway

-- Edited by Alikat at 21:59, 2008-06-19

jettie · Kate Spade

I used to go to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg a lot when I was growing up (grew up in Northern VA). I remember there were lots of fun rollercoasters (my fav was the lochness monster). I'm sure things have changed a lot since I've been there last. have fun!!

Oh, and no real vacations for me. I was in Australia and New Zealand for work so I took an extra few days in both places and toured a little. I'm going to be in the Denver area for a wedding next month and plan to spend a few extra days there as well but no trips just for a vacation for me.

-- Edited by jettie at 11:03, 2008-06-20

blink · Coach

Yeah, the air fares are disappointing so we are making the five hour drive to San Antonio to take the kids to SeaWorld and stay on the riverwalk in a four star hotel. Yay!

Doesn't sound like much, but with two toddlers, taking a vacay that is expensive is kind of a whip.

Might be going to L.A. in late summer to visit a friend, will be staying with her, so no hotel and car rental costs.

Cricket · Gucci

Hubby and I just went to Cancun together 2 weeks ago, and that's the only big airfare included vacation for us for a while. We live in Alabama now, and were heading 3 hours away to the Destin area for a few days this weekend. Then we were coming back to the house for 4th of July and taking off again to drive to Fort Worth area to see DH's parents, but plans have changed and he has to work in San Antonio when we were supposed to be in Destin. Since all his expenses were paid, we're taking the money his airline ticket would cost and we'll drive as a family to S.A., and stay with some good friends out there. Sea World has a program where Active Duty military and their immediate family are allowed free entrance to a Sea World park once a year, so I'm going to take the girls to Sea World for free while he works. I'll probably take them to Schlitterbahn, the big water park, too. Then we're driving up to Ft. Worth to see his folks for a few days, and then back home.

What was going to be a fairly costly vacation (for us right now), has turned into one that's mostly paid for, so that's great!

KaffeeKlatsch · Marc Jacobs

When the man was here in June we took a ton of daytrips in and around the area I live in. The next time he's back we'll probably hit a few more. I'm looking forward to a weekend in Amish Country and a weekend at one of the theme parks.
Oh, and...he LOVES to shop...so maybe, just maybe, I can swing a weekend at the outlets in there somewhere!

Ferggie45 · Nine West

Sounds like everyone has some fun trips planned! leah_leanna - I love that you are planning a shopping trip - I told my BF that if we pass an outlet anywhere along our drive to Harrisonburg, VA this weekend, we HAVE to stop!!

jettie - I went to Busch Gardens Williamsburg on Friday, it was my first trip back since I was a kid! I had so much fun, I want to plan another trip there soon! A lot has changed, they have a new roller coaster called the Griffon that is the best roller coaster that I have ever been on! There are also great deals for going now - you can get package deals for Busch Gardens, Water Country USA and Colonial Williamsburg where you can save up to 20% - My dad would have loved that when I was a kid because we went to Busch Gardens and Colonial Williamsburg when we went! http://www.vavacationvalues.com/vavacationvalues/index.html

CarrieS · Marc Jacobs

Unfortunately, no. Iowa is pretty barren of anything super fun to do that I haven't done a million times already (or did all the time growing up), so I'm coughing up the $$$ and flying out to SoCal for a vacation near the end of the year.

Bastet · Kate Spade

I went to undergrad and law school in Williamsburg, and loved going to Busch Gardens when I was there! When I was in college, they closed down the park once a year for the students to go, it was awesome. Have you been to Williamsburg before? If not, you should grab lunch at the Cheese Shop, it was my favorite lunch/snack place for all 7 years I was in Williamsburg. Order "house dressing" on your sandwich, it's fabulous! They won't disclose the recipe, but I've approximated it with mayo, steak sauce, and grainy mustard. You should definitely check it out!
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/williamsburg/D54123.html

Kelly · Hermes

Well, I just got back from a vacation in Canada. 8 hours driving = not cheap. But I plan on doing a lot of weekend trips in Kentucky/Southern Ohio. Growing up, almost all our summer vacations were spent at state parks. Maybe Kentucky is just extra beautiful

but I seriously don't think I'll ever get tired of going to our state parks for vacations. I mean, you can be lazy and just sit on the beaches of the lakes if you want to, or you can do some serious hiking if you want to. So no matter what kind of trip I want to take, the parks can provide

Ferggie45 · Nine West

Bastet wrote:

I went to undergrad and law school in Williamsburg, and loved going to Busch Gardens when I was there! When I was in college, they closed down the park once a year for the students to go, it was awesome. Have you been to Williamsburg before? If not, you should grab lunch at the Cheese Shop, it was my favorite lunch/snack place for all 7 years I was in Williamsburg. Order "house dressing" on your sandwich, it's fabulous! They won't disclose the recipe, but I've approximated it with mayo, steak sauce, and grainy mustard. You should definitely check it out!
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/williamsburg/D54123.html

That is awesome - the whole park full of students, I would have loved that when I was in college! Thanks for the Cheese Shop recommendation - I was at the park on Friday but I definately want to go again this summer because I had so much fun, so I wil check it out! We had lunch at Das Festhaus where there was the "This is Oktoberfest" show - I loved the food and entertainment there!