Need winter getaway suggestions
 

Little bit of background - The Girl (soon to-be mrs) and I have been in a long, long distance for over a year. And, I have been thinking of taking her few surprise trips.

Good thing is she loves travel. Unfortunately, she likes travel that involves going places and doing stuff. Being an FTer my travel involves hopping airports based on upgradeable routes and sipping champagane in F lounges. There is always Miami, LA, SF n all that but it doesn't make things interesting or unique. The pressure is too much to get this right! So would appreciate few suggestions.

Here are some criteria (in order of priority) -

- Must be within lower 48 states
- South, West or Southwest for warmer weather
- Weekend friendly (so SJU/HNL becomes little difficult)
- I don't know if something can be categorically called - "Romantic" since everyone's definition is different. But that's the idea.
- She loves doing nature stuff and cheap stays. I prefer luxury hotels and nice pools.

I am looking to make 4-5 getaways in next 3months and wouldn't mind if couple of them are on the luxury end ( something equivalent of Jade Mountain St Lucia) or Aman resorts in Asia. But not sure if there is anything that comes in close on mainland US.

What about luxury resorts in Aspen, Vail, Palm Springs, Sedona, etc.? You'd have the resort aspect -- even if you wouldn't necessarily be relaxing by an outdoor pool -- and she'd have the nature element?

Good thought.

I thought Aspen/Vail are ski country/ ski resorts? Neither of us are into skiing. Still a good visit? Sedona is a good thought. Might be a little tight for weekend tho. IIRC, it's a fair bit of drive from PHX.

You can find a little bit of everything in the Asheville area - lots of nature, variety of hotels, variety of restaurants. And there are two daily non-stops ORD-AVL.

I would suggest Charleston. Warm enough to enjoy the sights and being outside, romantic but fun.

Santa Fe,

Fly into ABQ,
Stay in Santa Fe,
Spend a day in one of the Hot Spring Spas either in Santa Fe or nearby.

First, congratulations!

Sedona and Santa Fe are great but both are at pretty high altitude and can be quite cold in the winter. You won't get much pool time.

I think Palm Springs is the ticket. AA flies there nonstop, you've got nature aplenty nearby - the aerial tram, magnificent Joshua Tree National Park (an hour away, feels like a different planet) - and a wide range of lodging options, from the golfy luxe end to retro mid-century modern motels, big resorts and tiny inns. Lots of cool shopping and architecture, great restaurants... scores 100 on the ring-a-ding scale. Indian casino in town if you feel the need, but plenty of funk, from Sherman's Deli to date milk shakes in Indio.

Sample photos:

Joshua Tree NP -

http://gardyloo.us/20110205_55a.JPG

http://gardyloo.us/20110205_92a.JPG

Hotel where we stayed, the Andalusian Court. Lucy and Desi stayed with baby Desi Jr. in one of the apartments overlooking the pool, back in the day.

http://gardyloo.us/20110206_2a.JPG

http://gardyloo.us/20110206_18a.JPG

I have been looking and Albuquerque, Bluff Sante Fe, Sedona... all are quite cold in winter. These seem late spring/fall type of places to my weather preference.

As Gardyloo recommended, PSP looks like a great option. What else there to do around there? Is Johsua Tree better for staying in the park or a day trip?

My runner-up has been taking her snorkeling in key largo on a weekend trip. Maybe include day trip to Everglades or nightlife in MIA on the way back.

Still one open slot for a third trip.

So, tell us what your criterion is for how cold a place has to get to come off of your winter list? While indeed, those southwestern places can be cold and snowy (like now), they can also be in the 60s easily. Hard to predict.

I don't think there are any accommodations inside the national park. It's ideal for a day trip, but there are two distinct parts of the park, the northern part with the rocky formations (like in the pictures) and the southern part which is lower desert with an amazing collection of cacti and other plant life.

The Coachella Valley (PS is at the north end) is full of interesting things and places. PS itself is something of an arts center, while other town run the range of very golfy resort-y places down to working class Hispanic towns with a lot of cheap and great food, mercados, that sort of thing.

You can also easily combine PS with a day or two in the LA or San Diego areas, where there are LOTS of cool things to do in the winter. Or combine PS with a drive out to Santa Barbara and the "Sideways" wine country around the Santa Ynez Valley. Not as warm as PS obviously, but still usually very pleasant temperatures, and Santa Barbara gets my vote for most beautiful town in California. You could fly into LAX and do a loop of both.

I know what you mean with SW states.

I am looking for definite 60's. Higher is better. Even if temp drops a bit in evenings, I'd prefer for warmer days.

Gardyloo I was thinking about the coastal drive to Santa Barbara but that will be too much given I'll have to go through LA.


Anyone has thoughts on Mojave National Preserve? It would be closer from LAS, I believe. Is it much different than Joshua NP or more less similar terrain?

If you end up staying in Las Vegas and if it were me and could only do one thing, it would the drive through Titus Canyon. One of the top five drives in my life.

See also: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24384410-post29.html

Very few places will be warmer than 60s.. days are short so you ll have a few hours of warm sunshine but mostly 50s even in better destinations.

Dont try to pack too much in one trip - southwester distances are great and la traffic can be utterly miserable.

Psp is nice usually, tus offers a combo or resorts and cactuses, death valley or antelope valley etc wildflowers can be very pretty if timing works out..
Coastal areas are much more unpredictable weatherwise..

And congrats - you better learn to like nature and holiday inn express breakfasts ;)

If you want guaranteed warmer than 60s, San Diego or Miami or maybe even New Orleans.

I just got back from a long weekend in Bermuda and it was perfect. Not officially the US, but it might as well be. Almost all the flights from BDA are to the US, the electrical outlets are the same, their cable TV system even has all the same TV channels as you'd find here (including network affiliates from Miami). Everything's easy (albeit a little expensive). There are some things to do (neat caves, walk around Hamilton, which is actually kinda cute, etc) as well as good restaurants, beaches, golf, tennis. US customs preclearance back to the US. It was mid 60s our first couple days then mid/upper 70s after. It's just about never below about 55 or above 90. You can stay at one of the Fairmont properties if you want to be fancy. We stayed at The Reefs, which felt like it was the nicest resort on the island before the big brands came in.

No nonstops from ORD, unfortunately, but on AA you could stop in PHL or CLT. It's a quick flight to Bermuda...only 90 mins from JFK and probably a little less than that from CLT.