Nashville. Stay out in Opry land and take the shuttle downtown and do your site seeing. We stayed at the holiday inn express and just parked the car. The shuttle took us everywhere we wanted to be. And the best part of the trip was we had three bars all within a short walking distance from the front door of the hotel. With a LIQUOR store in between!!! We were out of downtown nashville by 6pm every night and hit the bars close to the hotel afterwards. It was a good vacation and everything we would have ever needed within a short walk. No need to tempt fate with the 5-0's.

(09-12-2015, 11:19 PM)BengalHawk62 Wrote: Nashville.  Stay out in Opry land and take the shuttle downtown and do your site seeing.  We stayed at the holiday inn express and just parked the car.  The shuttle took us everywhere we wanted to be.  And the best part of the trip was we had three bars all within a short walking distance from the front door of the hotel.  With a LIQUOR store in between!!!  We were out of downtown nashville by 6pm every night and hit the bars close to the hotel afterwards.  It was a good vacation and everything we would have ever needed within a short walk.  No need to tempt fate with the 5-0's.

Maybe it's proximity, but man I hate that town. If you're just going to bar hop, it's great. So is Memphis. But if you're doing anything not along 2nd, you've got to take a cab. And if you're trying to drive yourself, you've got to deal with constant road construction.

For a while I was in Nashville at least once every couple months and you have to detour just about time.

(09-12-2015, 03:30 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Folley Beach SC.

No attractions.  Just a beach and a few beach bars.

But only 15 minutes from Charleston if you want to go hear some music..  A very cool, historic city.

The waves are the attraction. I've been to a lot of places but the coastal Carolinas get my vote. So much history and so much beach.

Puerto Aventuras Mexico. Swim with dolphins, float down underground rivers, explore Mayan ruins, drinks on the beach, deep sea fishing, scuba diving, or learn to salsa dance. All in a laid back atmosphere and everything can be set up by your resort staff.

(09-12-2015, 11:52 AM)Johnny Cupcakes Wrote: Vegas is fun...for like 3 days, and then it just makes you wanna go home.

Pro tip: Do some hiking and riding.  Granted, it's mediocre compared to other places specifically for that, but it's a great diversion combined with some pool-side sun that really expands the vacation beyond drinking and gambling (and shows).

Really, hit up Red Rock and Valley of Fire, and even throw in Hoover Dam with some hiking.  You can stretch it out to a very enjoyable, diverse week.  Although, I'd avoid May-Sep unless you hike/ride first thing in the morning.

Heck, even throw in the Grand Canyon.  It's a 4-hr drive to the near side....Most people simply don't think of Vegas beyond the Strip.

(09-13-2015, 08:42 AM)JustWinBaby Wrote: Pro tip: Do some hiking and riding.  Granted, it's mediocre compared to other places specifically for that, but it's a great diversion combined with some pool-side sun that really expands the vacation beyond drinking and gambling (and shows).

Really, hit up Red Rock and Valley of Fire, and even throw in Hoover Dam with some hiking.  You can stretch it out to a very enjoyable, diverse week.  Although, I'd avoid May-Sep unless you hike/ride first thing in the morning.

Heck, even throw in the Grand Canyon.  It's a 4-hr drive to the near side....Most people simply don't think of Vegas beyond the Strip.

Hoover Dam was crazy cool.


I'm not sure which is the near side.  I've only been to the south rim of the canyon.  While it was stunning, I've been told that the north rim is even more amazing.

(09-13-2015, 01:38 PM)jfkbengals Wrote: Hoover Dam was crazy cool.


I'm not sure which is the near side.  I've only been to the south rim of the canyon.  While it was stunning, I've been told that the north rim is even more amazing.

We went to the far side. If memory serves the south is the closer one, and we wanted the full experience. I saw Hoover Dam, Death Valley, Monument Valley, The Grand Canyon, and Bryce Canyon all on one trip to Vegas. Granted, I wanted more time in each place, but there is sooooooo much to do besides gamble and drink and walk the strip once you get to Vegas and I would venture 95% of visitors never get out of gamble/drink/repeat mode when there. Impressed some other guys here figured it out. Vegas is a great base for a vacation - always cheap flights from anywhere in US and always cheap rooms and eats. From there, it is just what cool place do you want to see next as a day trip, an overnight, or a couple day trip.

(09-13-2015, 03:27 PM)xxlt Wrote: We went to the far side. If memory serves the south is the closer one, and we wanted the full experience. I saw Hoover Dam, Death Valley, Monument Valley, The Grand Canyon, and Bryce Canyon all on one trip to Vegas. Granted, I wanted more time in each place, but there is sooooooo much to do besides gamble and drink and walk the strip once you get to Vegas and I would venture 95% of visitors never get out of gamble/drink/repeat mode when there. Impressed some other guys here figured it out. Vegas is a great base for a vacation - always cheap flights from anywhere in US and always cheap rooms and eats. From there, it is just what cool place do you want to see next as a day trip, an overnight, or a couple day trip.

Both awesome places as well!


It's amazing that there is SOO much more to do, even without leaving Vegas.  Golfing (if you're in to that), dining, shows, rides, collectible stores, pools, aquariums, you name it!  Not to mention there is Freemont Street with other casinos and a zip line...

All fantastic suggestions.

(09-13-2015, 08:42 AM)JustWinBaby Wrote: Pro tip: Do some hiking and riding.  Granted, it's mediocre compared to other places specifically for that, but it's a great diversion combined with some pool-side sun that really expands the vacation beyond drinking and gambling (and shows).

Really, hit up Red Rock and Valley of Fire, and even throw in Hoover Dam with some hiking.  You can stretch it out to a very enjoyable, diverse week.  Although, I'd avoid May-Sep unless you hike/ride first thing in the morning.

Heck, even throw in the Grand Canyon.  It's a 4-hr drive to the near side....Most people simply don't think of Vegas beyond the Strip.

Man, did you even read the rest of my post? You took the time to delete it! Ha. I literally talked about how me and my friends hit up the nearby parks after the burnout of Vegas to balance out the vacation. We've been to GCNP one year, and Zion (by far my favorite) and Bryce Canyon the next.  This coming year, we'll be going to Great Basin this coming year, and we're still looking for any other possible side trips to go along with it.

I have never been on a vacation.

(09-13-2015, 11:54 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: I have never been on a vacation.

Ever?

We just returned from Myrtle Beach a little over 24 hours ago. Labor Day week is a good week to go if you want to avoid the big crowds.....and the rates are killer. We also did the Southern 500 at Darlington on Sunday night....about a 45 minute drive. I always enjoyed Myrtle Beach as a kid too.

Saw Tybee mentioned , gotta agree there. Also enjoyed Jekyll Island.

One I haven't seen mentioned is Hilton Head. We honeymooned there and loved it. It's also a short drive to Savannah for a cool day trip through history. If you like golf , it's a golfer's paradise. Even if you don't , there's plenty to do and a good mellow vibe.

I grew up around Lake Cumberland....it's ok too....lake trips are just old hat to me.

(09-12-2015, 11:19 PM)BengalHawk62 Wrote: Nashville.  Stay out in Opry land and take the shuttle downtown and do your site seeing.  We stayed at the holiday inn express and just parked the car.  The shuttle took us everywhere we wanted to be.  And the best part of the trip was we had three bars all within a short walking distance from the front door of the hotel.  With a LIQUOR store in between!!!  We were out of downtown nashville by 6pm every night and hit the bars close to the hotel afterwards.  It was a good vacation and everything we would have ever needed within a short walk.  No need to tempt fate with the 5-0's.

Man.....if you missed Robert's Western World after 6pm....you missed out on one of the best honky tonks in this entire nation.  We always stay downtown , and make a day trip to Opryland....which I can do without , because the REAL Opry is downtown behind all of the bars on Broadway....the Ryman.

(09-14-2015, 03:07 AM)Wyche Wrote: ..... It's also a short drive to Savannah for a cool day trip through history.  If you like golf , it's a golfer's paradise.  

Did you see bagger vance? Hehe.

(09-13-2015, 11:54 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: I have never been on a vacation.

WTF?!

(09-14-2015, 07:53 AM)HarleyDog Wrote: Did you see bagger vance?  Hehe.

.....then you'd be in heaven at Hilton Head.

(09-14-2015, 12:42 AM)Benton Wrote: Ever?

(09-14-2015, 11:49 AM)RICHMONDBENGAL_07 Wrote: WTF?!

Vacations weren't a thing for us. We went to visit family, but that was it as far as overnight trips growing up. These days I can't afford it. I'm going to lose vacation days at the end of the year because I just don't take time off.

(09-14-2015, 01:21 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: Vacations weren't a thing for us. We went to visit family, but that was it as far as overnight trips growing up. These days I can't afford it. I'm going to lose vacation days at the end of the year because I just don't take time off.

Hell's bells, I'm starting you a gofundme page.

"Hi, this is Matt. Matt is old and never had a vacation. He needs a damn trip to Disney World. Mouse ears and all. Help him drink his way around the world in Epcot, and ride Space Mountain 60 times."

(09-14-2015, 02:38 PM)Benton Wrote: Hell's bells, I'm starting you a gofundme page.

"Hi, this is Matt. Matt is old and never had a vacation. He needs a damn trip to Disney World. Mouse ears and all. Help him drink his way around the world in Epcot, and ride Space Mountain 60 times."

Screw that!  If the guy has NEVER had a vacation he needs to do Vegas, Hunter S. Thompson style!