Inexpensive Vacation Ideas

[GeekDrew]

An event that I was planning to work at this year, for my "vacation", has been canceled. I'm therefore left with no vacation plans. My work schedule can be relatively flexible at this point, so I don't have to take that pre-scheduled time off, I can schedule it for any time this year except October... so I'm looking for suggestions. My problem is that I don't have any idea what I do want to do, I just know what doesn't sound good to me.

Ohio's Hocking Hills are my back yard, so anything involving destinations in Ohio (particularly if they are geared toward scenic wonder) is absolutely ruled out. I usually go to Chicago and visit with friends/family for a week or two every year as a vacation... it's an easy drive for me, and I don't mind driving out there by myself frequently, as I know the people I'm seeing and, to some extent, where I'm going. I'm thinking that perhaps something else is in order for this year.

I don't like to see the outdoors, really couldn't care less about the ocean, beach, canyons, etc. I don't like the south because of warm temperatures (I like it cold). Technology-geared stuff is up my alley... museums, urban exploration, businesses/factories with tours, etc. I'll be by myself on this vacation, nobody is going with me. My budget is at most a couple thousand, though I want to do this as inexpensively as possible.

In short:

Less than $1,500 for everything
Not Ohio: I'm tired of this state
Not Washington DC: going there later this year
Not Orlando, FL: going there later this year
Not Louisville, KY: going there later this year
Not Chicago, IL: been there, done that
Not Nashville, TN: been there, done that
Not Gatlinburg, TN: been there, done that
Not a fan of roller coasters, the outdoors, scenery.
Nowhere outside of US/CAN.

So far, Seattle or Montreal sounds good.

 

[PricklyPete]

I was going to suggest going camping...but that doesn't seem to be your shtick. Possibly a trip to DC...so much interesting stuff to see there and the new(er) Air and Space museum.

For a cheap vacation, cruises might be up some people's alley...but I see you don't like warm weather or beaches, etc. Maybe a cruise to Alaska?...although once again that's geared toward scenery.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Get your passport card or whatever it's going to take to get back from Canada and plan a trip to Montreal.

That sounds like the kind of place you would be interested in. You can swing by Toronto on your way there and it's not that far of a drive for you. There are museums and plenty of awesome places to hang out with good food/beer/cocktails.

http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/

 

[blackdogdeek]

nyc or dc

 

[lxskllr]

Go to the Celtic Classic in Bethlehem PA the last weekend in Sept. It's on the street, and free to participate, but beer and food are pricey. Bethlehem's a cool town, and the former home of the now defunct Bethlehem Steel. The last time I was there, there were some good prospects for urban exploration. It would involve breaking the law, but doesn't everything that's fun? :^D

 

[2Xtreme21]

Backpack around Europe?

 

[GeekDrew]

I forgot to mention that I'm going to DC over labor day weekend, hopefully with a friend of mine, so I don't really want to go there twice. I'll also be in Orlando for business in October... not that I want to be there anyway.

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Get your passport card or whatever it's going to take to get back from Canada and plan a trip to Montreal.

That sounds like the kind of place you would be interested in. You can swing by Toronto on your way there and it's not that far of a drive for you. There are museums and plenty of awesome places to hang out with good food/beer/cocktails.

http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/

Hrmmmmm. That sounds kind of interesting... will have to research it some more.

 

[skyking]

I might have a little bias, but tech geared stuff and museums and cooler weather=Seattle.

 

[spidey07]

Cedar Point? Ride all the coasters and make a long weekend out of it.

 

[Drakkon]

Originally posted by: skyking
I might have a little bias, but tech geared stuff and museums and cooler weather=Seattle.

I found a lot of cheap places to stay and eat while visiting Seattle and buying a Seattle Go pass gets you into practically every museum free ($100 for 3 days). Sfi fi museum is really neat along with the Music meseum. Could practically spend all day between those two and they are right next to each other and they are at the base of the space needle.

 

[RKS]

AF Museum, and there are other attractions in SW OH.

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: RKS
AF Museum, and there are other attractions in SW OH.

... I want to leave Ohio.

 

[RKS]

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: RKS
AF Museum, and there are other attractions in SW OH.

... I want to leave Ohio.

Exciting, and in a foreign state.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Spend a week naked in your basement playing WoW and watching Battlestar Galactica reruns. It's cheap, and you won't have to interact with nature in any meaningful way.

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: RKS

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: RKS
AF Museum, and there are other attractions in SW OH.

... I want to leave Ohio.

Exciting, and in a foreign state.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[dmw16]

What constitutes inexpensive to you?

Montreal is an awesome trip (went a few years back) and DC is another good choice (since most attractions are cheap and you can get anywhere via the metro).

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: dmw16
What constitutes inexpensive to you?

Montreal is an awesome trip (went a few years back) and DC is another good choice (since most attractions are cheap and you can get anywhere via the metro).

Perhaps a few thousand USD... preferably much less. Going to DC later this year.

 

[cHeeZeFacTory]

3k! i've been to southeast asia, china, korea, the last few years, and never spent more than 3k, probably not even 2.5k (including the plane tickets)

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: cHeeZeFacTory
3k! i've been to southeast asia, china, korea, the last few years, and never spent more than 3k, probably not even 2.5k (including the plane tickets)

Yeah... and I know people that can't drive out of state without spending upwards of $5k on various crap. I'd rather spend less than $1k.

 

[buck]

Costa Rica, and have money left over.

 

[GeekDrew]

K. Revised budget. $1,000. Also, I'm not leaving US/CAN.

 

[glenn1]

Originally posted by: buck
Costa Rica, and have money left over.

Nice destination and one of the first I would generally recommend, but he doesn't like it hot and isn't a fan of nature, so two strikes there.

With the OP's preferences in mind, one possible suggestion is to take advantage of the economic disaster in Iceland to visit there - it's actually somewhat affordable for the first time in years. An alternative destination to take advantage of the economic meltdown is Hungary, although it's not a high-tech mecca by any means.

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: glenn1

Originally posted by: buck
Costa Rica, and have money left over.

Nice destination and one of the first I would generally recommend, but he doesn't like it hot and isn't a fan of nature, so two strikes there.

With the OP's preferences in mind, one possible suggestion is to take advantage of the economic disaster in Iceland to visit there - it's actually somewhat affordable for the first time in years. An alternative destination to take advantage of the economic meltdown is Hungary, although it's not a high-tech mecca by any means.

:thumbsup:

 

[Bill Brasky]

Have you been to New York?

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: Zaitsev
Have you been to New York?

Nope, not yet. The thought of it intimidates me moreso than other large cities. Not sure why.