DH and I love to travel, and often times have no idea about the places we're going. If it's a long trip, I'll buy a travel book, but it's always better to hear from people who actually live there. So, tell us about your city! Maybe this thread wil inspire some family vacations!
1. What are the major attractions? The "must-sees"?
2. What are some fun, unique things to do with kids?
3. Favorite restaurants?
4. Things to do on a date night? 5. Best times of year to visit?
6. Major events/festivals that would be worth attending?
I currently live in the Huntsville/Madison, AL area- and so does ashbash . I am betting she knows more things to do here than I do, so I will tell you about the Burlington, VT area where I grew up.
1. -Lake Champlain- plenty of opportunities to get out on the water (cruises, boat rentals, ferries), but also just lovely to stroll along the waterfront or enjoy the bike path in waterfront park. -Hiking Mt Mansfield or Camels Hump (or any other numbers of mountains)- trust me, the views are worth it! -Church Street- shopping on a completely pedestrian street that is several blocks. There are chain stores, but also many small, unique shops. -Skiing/snowboarding at any of the local ski areas -Stowe. It's where the Von Trapp family settled and it is beautiful. Great shopping, gorgeous views, you can even visit their property (they have a great restaurant/brewery there).
2. -Tour the Ben and Jerry's factory- free samples! -Tour the VT Teddy Bear company- this is really fun, and kids can even help make their own bear. If you haven't seen their products, they are beautiful, heirloom quality bears. -Anything outdoors.
3. -Farm house Tap and Grill on Church street is outstanding. Farm-to-table food and lots of great brews. -Leunig's- French bistro food. -Trattoria Delia is also in the downtown area. Wonderful Italian food. -Sweetwaters. Fancy American. Really good. -Burlington is definitely a foodie town, so there are about a million more places to go. These are just a few of my favorites.
4. -DH and I like to go out to eat for date night, but you could also take in a show at the Flynn Theater. It's an old, beautiful Art Deco building, and they bring in world class performances. -Walking on Church Street at night, especially during Christmastime. They light all the trees up with white lights, there is usually snow, live musicians, lots of people, and great places to eat/drink. It's very romantic. -Brewery tours. Burlington (and VT in general) has an enormous number of microbreweries. We love Switchback, Magic Hat, Long Trail, Fiddlehead and Alchemist, but there are many more in the area. -Winery tours. Stowe Farm Vineyards, Boyden Valley Vineyards.
Will add more later!
5. Summer is perfect in VT. The weather is gorgeous, everyone is outside- it's glorious. Fall is lovely too- because, foliage. But it can be chilly and wet sometimes. Winter is beautiful if you're into winter sports and don't mind the cold (it's really fun to go snowshoeing and explore the woods). Spring is fondly referred to as 'mud season'
6. The Vermont Jazz Festival is an absolute must. First week in June. Church street and the surrounding areas are mobbed with musicians everywhere. Outside, inside, it's fantastic! The Brewers festival (late July) is also pretty outstanding. It's on the waterfront and so many great Brewers come. It sells out quickly though!
It is not letting me scroll up in my post (mobile), but if you visit in March, definitely take your kids to a sugar shock and see how maple syrup is made! You need to eat sugar on snow, too. It's authentic if it comes with a cider donut and a pickle!
I'm in a suburb of Detroit, and for as much bad press as Detroit gets, I kind of love our area. 1. The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village - LOVE these! Greenfield Village has all these old buildings, and it's like you're walking back through time. We also have a bajillion metro parks and lakes in the area, which is super fun in the summer. 2. See #1. The Detroit Zoo is pretty cool, too though. We also can't wait to take DS to his first Tigers game at Comerica Park. 3. There's a million good restaurants, we love trying new local ones all the time. The Root is a favorite though - they have a changing seasonal menu and source most ingredients locally. Last time we went (pre-baby), they also had a wine/beer pairing menu, which was fun. 4. Dinner is what we do on date night - though I would like to get DH to go see a show downtown sometime next time something fun comes to town. 5. Anytime but winter. 6. Most cities have fun fall festivals. We were at the Plymouth Ice Festival last weekend, which would have been better if it weren't almost 50 degrees and all the ice sculptures dripping into a muddy mess. We also sometimes do the Renaissance Festival in late summer/early fall.
I live in a close-in DC suburb... 1.All of the Smithsonian museums, the usual guidebook attractions (although I personally think the White House tours are lame). I also think the Spy Museum is overpriced for what you get. The Holocaust Museum is a must-do and takes hours to go through.
2. The Building Museum has a neat area where kids (and kids at heart) can run around and build structures (and knock them down) out of dense foam pieces.
3. I just went to Rose's Luxury. It was worth the hype. The Inn at Patomack Farms is in the far out 'burbs, but is really unique. District Commons for breakfast.
4. The Shakespeare Theater is amazing and has cheap tickets if you are under 35. We love going to a show and doing dinner.
5. November, February-early April. Cherry Blossoms are pretty in the spring, but holy crowds, Batman!
6. Cherry Blossom Festival, Jazz in the Garden (summer)
1. What are the major attractions? The "must-sees"? I am in Baltimore, Maryland and we have the National Aquarium here, plus a really nice Science Center!
2. What are some fun, unique things to do with kids? Day trips. By Car we are 90 Minutes from Philly, an hour from DC and 3 hours to the beach (this would be more of a weekend trip, but I have done it in a day by Getting up at 5am, on the road by 5:30 then spend all day down at the beach and get back in the car at like 8 and drive home)
3. Favorite restaurants? Any of the seafood restaurants that are on the water!
4. Things to do on a date night? Different concert venues, we have some small Theaters for Live Performances, or just a nice dinner and then walking around the Inner Harbor
5. Best times of year to visit? Personally I like the spring of the fall. It gets VERY humid here and can be uncomfortable walking around in the Summer.
6. Major events/festivals that would be worth attending? Preakness in the Spring, which can be done 1 of 2 ways. Either buying an infield ticket and getting the mug club so you are part of the drunken madness, or being an adult and getting a ticket in the stands and watching the races from there.
I'm in a suburb of Detroit, and for as much bad press as Detroit gets, I kind of love our area. 1. The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village - LOVE these! Greenfield Village has all these old buildings, and it's like you're walking back through time. We also have a bajillion metro parks and lakes in the area, which is super fun in the summer. 2. See #1. The Detroit Zoo is pretty cool, too though. We also can't wait to take DS to his first Tigers game at Comerica Park. 3. There's a million good restaurants, we love trying new local ones all the time. The Root is a favorite though - they have a changing seasonal menu and source most ingredients locally. Last time we went (pre-baby), they also had a wine/beer pairing menu, which was fun. 4. Dinner is what we do on date night - though I would like to get DH to go see a show downtown sometime next time something fun comes to town. 5. Anytime but winter. 6. Most cities have fun fall festivals. We were at the Plymouth Ice Festival last weekend, which would have been better if it weren't almost 50 degrees and all the ice sculptures dripping into a muddy mess. We also sometimes do the Renaissance Festival in late summer/early fall.
I used to live in Ann Arbor. At least once a week DH and I talk about how we miss it! We miss the craft brew scene, the cheaper restaurant prices, Tigers games, and the auto show. I also miss Meijer!! Detroit is so underrated.
Ill do the Canadian side but i dont feel like ive been here long enough to qualify knowing the touristy stuff that well! But the England side would be an essay. Maybe later...lol.
Southern Ontario/Niagara Region, Canada 1. What are the major attractions? The "must-sees"? -Niagara Falls; the town is really brash but the Falls itself, esp in the winter, are just astonishing. -Wine country - There are 100s of wineries in the region, quite a few specializing in 'ice wine' a dessert wine made out of frozen grapes -Niagara-on-the-lake (NOTL), one of Canada's oldest European settlements, a small colonial town with lots of history & independent boutiques. Ooh and horse & cart rides round the old town.
2. What are some fun, unique things to do with kids? Tbh I couldn't tell you yet. Lol. Ask me in a few years!
3. Favorite restaurants? 'The Cannery' - a swanky restaurant in NOTL, The Lake house, a restaurant with amazing seafood right on the shores of Lake Ontario
4. Things to do on a date night? Go to Last, a microbrewery in NOTL and sample their wares and grab a bite to eat. They sometimes have local bands too.
5. Best times of year to visit? Personally I think it really shines in February when the weather is coldest. The Falls are beautiful frozen & a horse & cart ride round a colonial town with a fur blanket is wonderful at this time of year! If you don't like freezing your tits off, then late summer time around the grape Harvest...lots of winery specials to be had!
6. Major events/festivals that would be worth attending? Ice-wine festival! On mid jan-mid Feb. All the local wineries show up to pitch their wares (regular as well as ice wine). Fantastic food from local restaurants & ice-wine slushies. You haven't lived til you've tried one!
I live in Pittsburgh, PA. We used to get a bad rap, but we've consistently been named the "most livable city" and a destination to visit. It's pretty sweet, cause I LOVE this city. 1. What are the major attractions? The "must-sees"? Any of our museums (The Carnegie Art/Natural History Museum, Andy Warhol, Mattress Factory, Heinz History Center, Children's Museum), the Science Center, the zoo, Kennywood Park, our sports teams (I can't recommend going to a Pirates game enough, even if you're not into baseball), any of the water activities on our rivers (rent a kayak, take a Ducky Tour or a Gateway Clipper Fleet ride), the Point and Fort Pitt Museum and the fountain, ride the incline up Mt. Washington, tour the nationality rooms at the Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh, take in a show at Heinz Hall or the Benedum Center, visit our market area known as the Strip District, rent a bike and take a ride on our new bike lanes and the North Shore trail, go downtown and visit PPG Place (a huge ice skating rink in the winter and fun fountains to play in in the summer) and go eat at any of our awesome restaurants!
2. What are some fun, unique things to do with kids? The museums and zoo, rent a kayak or bike ride on the trails, visit SW Randall Toys downtown.
3. Favorite restaurants? If you're eating in a chain restaurant in Pittsburgh, you're doing it wrong. Nola on the Square, Ten Penny, Seviche, 6 Penn Kitchen, Sonoma Grille, Union Pig & Chicken, BRGR, Burgatory, Nakama, Double Wide Grill, Over the Bar Cafe, Max's Allegheny Tavern, James Street Speakeasy, Church Brew Works, Penn Brewery, Franktuary, Round Corner Cantina, Nicky's Thai Kitchen, Carmi's Soul Food, Mad Mex, August Henry's....I don't really care for our hallmark restaurant, Primanti's, but it's a must visit, IMO.
4. Things to do on a date night? - eat! See a show or a movie. Go to a place like Dave & Buster's. Have a day date and do things outdoors.
5. Best times of year to visit? - summer and early fall!
6. Major events/festivals that would be worth attending? ribfest - labor day weekend. 4th of july (usually a home Pirates game and concerts and the regatta and fireworks). light up night (usually 2nd or 3rd friday in november) and first night pittsburgh (nye) are fun!
I'm in a suburb of Detroit, and for as much bad press as Detroit gets, I kind of love our area. 1. The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village - LOVE these! Greenfield Village has all these old buildings, and it's like you're walking back through time. We also have a bajillion metro parks and lakes in the area, which is super fun in the summer. 2. See #1. The Detroit Zoo is pretty cool, too though. We also can't wait to take DS to his first Tigers game at Comerica Park. 3. There's a million good restaurants, we love trying new local ones all the time. The Root is a favorite though - they have a changing seasonal menu and source most ingredients locally. Last time we went (pre-baby), they also had a wine/beer pairing menu, which was fun. 4. Dinner is what we do on date night - though I would like to get DH to go see a show downtown sometime next time something fun comes to town. 5. Anytime but winter. 6. Most cities have fun fall festivals. We were at the Plymouth Ice Festival last weekend, which would have been better if it weren't almost 50 degrees and all the ice sculptures dripping into a muddy mess. We also sometimes do the Renaissance Festival in late summer/early fall.
I used to live in Ann Arbor. At least once a week DH and I talk about how we miss it! We miss the craft brew scene, the cheaper restaurant prices, Tigers games, and the auto show. I also miss Meijer!! Detroit is so underrated.
We go to AA allll the time, I love it! One of the things I'm literally most looking forward to is the day I can take my kid to the Hands-On Museum and have him be old enough to understand how cool it is
I am a transplant too to the Huntsville AL area but have been here 5 years
What are the major attractions? The "must-sees"? We have the space and rocket center (we have a large Nasa space program here), its okay but over priced IMO. We have a growing micro brewery presence in the area, they are really good and have some great outdoor space. Other than that there is a small but cute downtown with some restaurants.
2. What are some fun, unique things to do with kids? I love our children's museum, local music classes and our art museum has create days for kids that have them come learn a little art lesson and make some art. There are also the typical parks, pond with ducks and greenways for walks.
Oh and Burritt on the Mountain is a historic place that always has cool kid things like panning for gold, farm animal visits and dress up days.
3. Favorite restaurants? This has been hard coming from the DC area but we have some good local casual american downtown, a great taco truck, and of course BBQ, my favorite is Teds pulled pork with white sauce and cole slaw.
4. Things to do on a date night? Dinner - pizza and gelato downtown is my fav when I can eat dairy. 5. Best times of year to visit? I adore fall here, it last for months, its beautiful and we have fantastic fall festivals. And its been the cotton blooms and cotton fields are my fav
6. Major events/festivals that would be worth attending? We have a good bbq festival over the summer thats fun, its back to back with the beer festival so those are good.
Post by holliberry28 on Jan 13, 2016 9:50:04 GMT -5
I'm from NYC, and have lived in 3 out of the five boroughs, not Manhattan though, so I'll talk about Brooklyn, NY. 1. What are the major attractions? The "must-sees"?
I would definitely recommend going to downtown Brooklyn, there is Brooklyn Bridge Park, which has a lot of weekend activities and food festivals in the summer. You can walk the promenade and then go to Cobble Hill and walk down Pacific Street, which has awesome restaurants and cute boutiques.
Coney Island in the summer, they built up the old Astroland amusement park and added restaurants to the boardwalk. There's also MCU Park which has some local baseball/soccer games.
Park Slope is super kid friendly, and has a lot of nice shopping and restaurants. Also the Brownstones are gorgeous if you're just walking around.
2. What are some fun, unique things to do with kids?
I really don't know yet too much.
I'm near Coney Island/Brighton Beach (Little Russia) so there's the beach and the boardwalk in the summer, and lots of children's playgrounds. There are probably 5 around me in a 10 block vicinity.
They have a Children's Museum in Downtown Brooklyn as well as a Jewish Children's Museum.
3. Favorite restaurants?
Pequena: a really small Mexican hole in the wall type restaurant in Fort Greene (By Barclays Center) that has the most amazing burritos. The Castello Plan: a tiny cafe that has awesome brunch, a local menu with small plates/cheeses/cured meats and the most amazing wine selection. For authentic Russian food, check out Skovorodka in Brighton Beach. Or, if you want to experience a true Russian Restaurant, try Passage on Emmons Avenue in Sheepshead Bay. For $100 a seat (yes, all the monies), you get about 5-6 courses of food, dessert, unlimited alcohol, and live Russian pop music for dancing all night, haha.
4. Things to do on a date night? We typically head to Park Slope or Cobble Hill for the good food. Anywhere in Downtown Brooklyn is awesome.
5. Best times of year to visit?
Fall and Spring. I find the winters too cold and the summers too hot. I'm f*cking Goldilocks.
6. Major events/festivals that would be worth attending? Too many to name, and I'm super bad at remembering. Brooklyn Flea is every summer and Shmorgasborg runs all summer and has vendors from restaurants with food samplers from all around Brooklyn.
bookish-how long ago were you living in AA? jillywilly we thought about going to the Plymouth ice festival but didn't. How weird, we probably would have walked right by each other and never even known! We did the renaissance festival (in Holly?) last year for the first time. It was hotter than the dickens but DS loved it. Myself? It was definitely interesting...
Post by sugarkissed on Jan 13, 2016 10:33:18 GMT -5
I'm from Alberta, Canada!
1. What are the major attractions? The "must-sees"? Definitely Banff/Jasper/Lake Louise. It's so, so beautiful out there.
2. What are some fun, unique things to do with kids? Umm, we don't do a lot of kid activites yet, so I'm not sure. The Banff gondola is always fun, DD1 loves that she gets to go to the top of a mountain. You can also swim in the hot springs. When I was a kid my favourite was the big candy store. Haha. We spend a lot of time camping in the summer with the kids.
3. Favorite restaurants? Too many to list! We went to Eden in Banff and it was amazing, but super pricey.
4. Things to do on a date night? Go to a fancy restaurant or the spa at the Fairmont Banff Springs. I've never done this, but I see a lot of people taking horse drawn carriage rides through town.
5. Best times of year to visit? Summer for sure, unless you like skiing. It stays light outside until close to 11 pm in the summer, which is so awesome.
6. Major events/festivals that would be worth attending? The Calgary Stampede is a pretty big deal. Rodeo/midway/concerts.
I'm from Mobile, AL--the southwestern most part of Alabama.
1. What are the major attractions? The "must-sees"? The most unique thing about Mobile is Mardi Gras, for sure. Mardi Gras in the US actually started in Mobile, so we do it big, but it's way more family-friendly than NOLA's. We also have a gorgeous historical district with huge oak trees and antebellum houses. 2. What are some fun, unique things to do with kids? Kids tend to love touring the battleship, but I hate the damn thing because we went to so many field trips there. Also, Mardi Gras parades this time of year, especially day parades on the weekends.
3. Favorite restaurants? You have to have seafood on the causeway. Felix's is my favorite, but R&R is also delish and more affordable/casual.
4. Things to do on a date night? We're planning on doing it up big one of these days and doing a night at the Battlehouse Hotel and a trip to the spa. 5. Best times of year to visit? It's 10,000 degrees in the summer, but you can hit the beach and cool off. We don't usually have much spring or fall... but our winter is really mild. 20 deg is like SUPER cold here. Come during crawfish season when all the bars have AYCE free crawfish.
6. Major events/festivals that would be worth attending? Hangout Festival is across the bay, but it's really fun. The whole music festival is on the beach. If you go to it, make sure you hit up the FloraBama for a ridiculous time.
We always go through Mobile for the beach. I have always thought it seemed so neat! Is the cruise port open yet? Will definitely be coming for a cruise soon!
kemdupuis , ashbash , I am about 2 hours from yall in TN. Lots of family in that area. Sadly, there isn't anyone that would want to take a trip to where I live. Hahah. Anyone heard of Buford Pusser? That's really our only claim to fame. We have a museum but it's not great.
Only from a Drive By Truckers song and Walking Tall. That's quite a claim to fame, you've got there. haha.
I have never heard that song! It is TOO funny!!! There are lots of different sides to all these stories about him.
1. What are the major attractions? The "must-sees"?
In town: City Park, 16th Street Mall, The Denver Zoo, Aquarium, Museum of Nature and Science, State Capitol, Art Museum, Elitch Gardens, Red Rocks, All the major sports: Denver Broncos, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Rockies, Colorado Avalance, Colorado Rapids
Within 1-2 hours: Boulder & the Pearl Street Mall there, Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Estes Park & Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park, Summit County (where the major ski areas are), more hiking than I could possibly ever list
2. What are some fun, unique things to do with kids?
3. Favorite restaurants? - The Fort! Up in the foothills about 30 minutes away from downtown. We're biased because we had our wedding and reception there, but best Colorado game meat you'll find anywhere in the state, true Colorado/southwestern experience, nestled in amongst the red rocks, amazing view of the city at night.
As a native New Mexican I will readily say the green chile here is not quite the same caliber as NM, but you still need to have it on something. Just about anywhere has it.
4. Things to do on a date night? - Downtown! 16th Street Mall and LoDo specifically, amazing arts and theater district, restaurants, and night clubs all down there. And breweries everywhere! Amazing craft beer here.
5. Best times of year to visit? - Any time of year. We have over 300 days a year of sunshine so it doesn't matter. Summer is awesome, spring and fall are amazing, winter has all the skiing and snow stuff. We host lots of festivals year round.
6. Major events/festivals that would be worth attending? - Red Rocks Ampitheater! If you haven't been to a concert there, you haven't been to a real concert. Period. Summer line ups start coming out about this time of year. Free summer concert series in City Park. Amazing three day bluegrass festival an hour north in Lyons in August.
Other things to know: The altitude here is for real, yo! If you are not used to it be prepared to spend a full day aclimating. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! And watch your alcohol intake. You'll get drunker faster. We are not IN the mountains, we are next to the mountains. Our airport is in the middle of nowhere so you cannot just fly in and do anything on a layover. Contrary to what Chris Christie says, there are not dirty dirty pot stores on every corner and people do not just walk around blazing up and stoned. (unless you are at concerts at Red Rocks. Pot has always been pretty free flowing there, certainly more at some concerts than others.) But yes, you can get some really good weed here, if that's on your agenda.
veggiemo, we left A2 in 2013. We were there for three years while DH was in grad school. We would move back in a heartbeat, but DH's job is specific to D.C.
@jimbobcooter I did yoga at red rocks last year! It was my first time in Denver (and my first time ever doing yoga), so it was quite the experience. Loved the entire trip to, it's a really cool place!
Post by paintdadanta on Jan 13, 2016 11:47:47 GMT -5
I'm over in Chesapeake, VA which is one of the seven cities that make up Hampton Roads. The whole area kind of works together as one place, which may seem weird.
1. What are the major attractions? The "must-sees"? Everyone comes for the beach and airplanes typically but we always have stuff to do around here.
2. What are some fun, unique things to do with kids? Lots of fun museums (Virginia Aquarium, Living Museum, Air & Space, Zoo, Children's Museum, etc) and the beach, plus Busch Gardens, Water Country and Colonial Williamsburg are 30-50 min away depending on which city you leave from.
3. Favorite restaurants? Salvatore's is my favorite and the owner is amazing and from Italy - he makes the most authentic Italian I've ever had. But there's also a beer burger place called Home Republic and frozen yogurt bar Skinny Dip.
4. Things to do on a date night? Do those still exist? Maybe dinner and comedy club, depends on your taste. There are alot of things you can do.
5. Best times of year to visit? Any time spring to early fall, but summer is definitely tourist season (more events but traffic)
6. Major events/festivals that would be worth attending? During the summer there's almost a new festival every week. I guess most like Neptune because of the sand sculptures. Oh and a War Birds event with WWI and WWII aircraft with reenactments.
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