Thinking of taking a trip...

[pdxvintagette]

I've always wanted to travel - both in the US and out- but never found the time or money while I was married. Not that it is any easier now, but someone recently commented that you never will find the time or money with that mindset... you just have to bloody do it.

So, I think I shall. I'd like to fly ... oh, anywhere interesting (in the US, Europe IS outside my budget at the moment) between mid-January and mid-February. For a three-day weekend, most likely.

I don't know many people in different regions of the US. But I thought perhaps it might to be nice if I could coordinate my trip with a small gathering of Loungers, or at least perhaps meet up with one or two of you for a going-out on the town. Maybe a city with a decent swing dance community or a good vintage vibe. (If someone wanted to spend a day showing me around, I'd most certainly reciprocate with dinner and drinks.)

So, any suggestions? I'm open to all ideas ... but in the next couple of months, I am finally going to get myself out of state.

I really am glad to have found this community, it is a pleasure to know there's so many other people with the same brand of oddness I enjoy.

Cheers!
Julie

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

There are small communities and big communities. There are towns and cities. You could go to New York, Seattle, Washington, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Chicago, etc for the busting city experience or let nature give way, and find yourself in the great outdoors, the countryside, small towns, the one's no one has ever heard of and could be the friendliest you've been, or begin in the city and work your way out into the country from there.

 

[Pink Dahlia]

There's a nice little group of us in Arizona if the desert appeals to you.

 

[Feraud]

Browse the Events section and see what city & group of Loungers are having the most fun. Go there!

 

[pdxvintagette]

There are small communities and big communities. There are towns and cities. You could go to New York, Seattle, Washington, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Chicago, etc for the busting city experience or let nature give way, and find yourself in the great outdoors, the countryside, small towns, the one's no one has ever heard of and could be the friendliest you've been, or begin in the city and work your way out into the country from there.

I do get up to Seattle frequently. I don't think of that as traveling, really - Seattle has so much similarity to Portland. I do tend to be urban, and really haven't been anywhere - the last time I got out east was in '99, checking out a college in MA. I didn't even get to visit Boston, we just taxied through it. I suppose I wouldn't be opposed to staying West Coast, and I do love thrift shopping in San Francisco. I simply don't know much about the culture of other, larger cities - New York, Phoenix, Austin, LA, all the others you mentioned. Perhaps what I'm looking for is for folks to "sell their cities" a bit, help me find a few good ideas to start, and then I'll narrow it down by looking for events, music and things-to-do - pick the exact dates that way. If I'm only going to be somewhere for 3-7 days, I'm going to make sure I have a full calendar while I'm there!

 

[imoldfashioned]

Great idea--I think one should take every opportunity to travel. If you get out Boston way let me know--I'd love to meet you!

 

[Pink Dahlia]

I don't know how good I'll be about selling my city. We have tons of vintage shops, eateries and historical landmarks. There's a rockabilly band playing every week and we always have swing dancing going on. Best of all, no snow.

 

[Mike in Seattle]

I think I'd figure out what my budget was, decide what cities and points of interest I'd like to visit, see how that fits in with the cost of airfare to & lodging in the cities I might want to visit, and take it from there. And three days is a bit of a quick trip. Figure half to three quarters of a day is going to be tied up in getting to and from the airports coming and going, wading through security, etc.

 

[megagene]

I'd say come to Toronto and I'd be more than happy to show you around, but since you want to travel so soon maybe that's not such a good idea because in Jan/Feb winter will be at its most fierce. I'm talking snow/blizzards, wind chill, people dying...The whole package!
Yes, if you ever come to Toronto, do it between May and October....Much more pleasant.

 

[pdxvintagette]

I think I'd figure out what my budget was, decide what cities and points of interest I'd like to visit, see how that fits in with the cost of airfare to & lodging in the cities I might want to visit, and take it from there. And three days is a bit of a quick trip. Figure half to three quarters of a day is going to be tied up in getting to and from the airports coming and going, wading through security, etc.

Good point, although I meant three days of actual visiting time. Which I realize is brief. I own my own business, so I CAN get away ... but there's no such thing as paid vacation, so that's the trade off. The days without sales are an additional expense on top of airfare, hotel and food/entertainment. I suppose the less I'm spending on those things, the longer I can stay ... but the longer I stay, the more I'm spending on those things!

Boston has always sounded rather delightful, but I'll admit I've never even considered anywhere in AZ before... I don't take heat well, so now would certainly be the right season. Since those were the first two specifically mentioned, I believe I'll start researching those options first!