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A cheap mini vacation destination in or near Georgia?

Mini-moon!

  • The soon-to-be-Mr-Vortex and I are getting married in September! Hooray! We are thinking about taking a mini-moon instead of a honeymoon after the wedding, because we're also going to be moving and I will be starting a new job. We'll do a nice, longer vacation once we're settled into our new lives. Trouble is, we're having a tough time thinking of somewhere to go. We've traveled in the upper midwest quite a bit, and would like to find somewhere new to go. Help us, Metafilter! This is what we are looking for: - natural beauty. It'll be early September, so we're interested in hiking, biking, and just plain old hanging out outdoors. - relaxed environment. I foresee many hours spent playing Cribbage and board games. It would be preferable to have a nice deck, a view, etc. instead of just sitting in a hotel room. - interesting stuff nearby: we're nerds and enjoy touring historic sites, old mines, trains, museums, etc. We enjoy scenic drives. - within a 6ish hour drive from the St. Cloud, MN. We don't want to spend the whole mini-moon driving. We're thinking a 4-day weekend, so nothing that would require two whole days of driving. Mr. Vortex DOES NOT FLY, so that's out. We do not want to try a train trip this time due to the short trip length. We originally considered a trip to Chicago but are thinking that we'll hold off on that until we're settled and taking a longer vacation. We're really interested in baseball and museums, but not in a packed city weekend this time. Additional complicating factor: If we were any other midwesterners asking this question, the first (and best) answer would be "Go to Minnesota, the North Shore of Lake Superior! Beautiful place, hiking and biking and everything you want!!!" Well, I actually LIVE on the North Shore of Lake Superior. It would be a perfect mini-moon destination if it were not my current backyard. I'd like to go somewhere different! Places we've already been: UP of Michigan (Copper Harbor). That would be perfect too, but we've already been there. Thunder Bay, Ontario All up and down the North Shore from Duluth to Grand Portage NW Wisconsin (Siren) Theodore Roosevelt National Park, ND. That was also pretty awesome. Mount Rushmore, SD. Rocky Mountain National Park, front range of CO Places we're considering: Somewhere in the SE MN river valley Door County WI Back to South Dakota to visit the Black Hills Apostle Islands & Bayfield, WI Any suggestions? Any other ideas?

  • Answer:

    Ooh SpacemanStix makes a good point about House on the Rock! That is the best and weirdest place. We did a maybe four day vacation once - we combined it with a trip to New Glarus (cutesy town and great brewery) and Madison/Middleton (the mustard museum; downtown Madison which is great). Taliesin, the Frank Lloyd Wright house, is also right by HOTR. American Players Theater is there too, and great. You could eeeeeasily take a nice long trip to that part of the state.

Elly Vortex at Ask.Metafilter.Com Visit the source

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Lanesboro, MN. It is on the Root River bike trail, is an artsy little town with decent live theater, and is close to Mystery Cave State Park and the Minnesota Historical Society's Historic Forestville site. There are inns and b&bs in the town. Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center has hiking trails.

Area Man

So I take it Mackinac Island would be out? That seems to me to be a perfect honeymoon spot, but having spent ten years on the shore of Lake Michigan, it's downright exotic to this naturalized Midwesterner. In the case of Door County, the farther north you go, the better, IMO. I recommend the hotel on Washington Island (you get there by ferry). I was kind of underwhelmed by Galena, though it probably meets most of your criteria. That area of Illinois is probably its most exciting, geologically speaking--limestone bluffs, highest point (Charles Mound, 1000 feet, yay!). One place in Wisconsin I've always wanted to visit is the http://www.thehouseontherock.com/, which apparently is also now a hotel (or attached to one). From all accounts (including Neil Gaiman's, who includes it as a setting in one of his novels) it's...unique.

tully_monster

I spent ten of the best days of my life canoeing in the Boundry Waters. There are outfitters who will provide whatever gear you might need and you can go as far or as not far from your starting point as you like. Memail me for more specifics if you like.

rip

PS - I've been to House on the Rock. I hate clutter so it was basically my worst nightmare. I had just read American Gods so I was totally excited about it, wound up nearly having a dust-and-clutter induced panic attack. I swear I went home and scrubbed off two layers of skin afterward.

Elly Vortex

Nthing House on the Rock. The Spring Green/Richland Center area is gorgeous in the fall. Plus there's a http://www.yelp.com/biz/ocooch-books-and-libations-richland-center there that sells beer! I was there for a weekend event in late October 2010 and the trip was really magical - taking in amazing landscapes, the unbelievable strangeness of House on the Rock, learning some Wisconsin and Midwest history, and exploring the odd little restaurants and shops. I'd go on another short trip there in a heartbeat, especially in the fall. Plus it's a shorter drive for you than northern Door County, and if you do get bored, Madison's very close.

augustimagination

I love Door County. It is beautiful that time of year. Lots to do, lots to eat, lots of cute places to stay. Go up to Washington Island if you want something even more remote - we went up in October last year and it was basically deserted, and therefore perfect. Also in Wisconsin, but expensive, the American Club in Kohler is super nice and relaxing, and the toilet museum and showroom is SO FUN. Close to Sheboygan and the lake. Cedarburg, nearby, has lots of shops and a winery and various historic things in its cute downtown. Washington Street B&B is super charming.

goodbyewaffles

I have heard lovely things about Lanesboro (as mentioned by Area Man). You say you like biking, that is one of the biggest things to do there. I think it'd be great for a quick romantic getaway.

treehorn+bunny

Also, I've been to the House on the Rock a few times, and it's a very excellent day trip, but it is hard to plan a vacation around it, in terms of other activities.

SpacemanStix

Door County is one of my favorite places on the planet to spend a few days at a time. I grew up in WI and spent a few summer vacations there with my family. It is a great place to chill if you don't have a lot of touristy demands (although there are fun things to do there). Have you considered the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boundary_Waters in MN? I've heard nothing but good reports from people who have spent time there.

SpacemanStix

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