Travel Thread

[Morkle]

Anyone have any good lake recommendations within a few hours of Pittsburgh, that an almost 3 year old would have fun at for a long weekend?

Got annoyed last week by the sheer amount of beach pictures posting up on FB, and just decided that from now on, the years we don't go with our parents to the beach, we're going on our own. That being said, I also want to take a few long weekend trips here, so any cool places really, I'd love to hear.

Cheat Lake or Deep Creek. Port Clinton on the inland side of Put-in-Bay is decent too, on the further side of your range

We're doing Deep Creek in September, we're good there. I'm gonna look into Put-in-Bay today.

[Nuge]

Anyone have any good lake recommendations within a few hours of Pittsburgh, that an almost 3 year old would have fun at for a long weekend?

Got annoyed last week by the sheer amount of beach pictures posting up on FB, and just decided that from now on, the years we don't go with our parents to the beach, we're going on our own. That being said, I also want to take a few long weekend trips here, so any cool places really, I'd love to hear.

We took our 2 year old to Raystown in May for two nights and he had a great time. We stayed in a Villa.
https://rvcoutdoors.com/lake-raystown-resort/

[willeyeam]

Anyone have any good lake recommendations within a few hours of Pittsburgh, that an almost 3 year old would have fun at for a long weekend?

Got annoyed last week by the sheer amount of beach pictures posting up on FB, and just decided that from now on, the years we don't go with our parents to the beach, we're going on our own. That being said, I also want to take a few long weekend trips here, so any cool places really, I'd love to hear.

Cheat Lake or Deep Creek. Port Clinton on the inland side of Put-in-Bay is decent too, on the further side of your range

We're doing Deep Creek in September, we're good there. I'm gonna look into Put-in-Bay today.

Do you have kids? PIB is basically a bachelor party destination but Port Clinton inland or Kelly's Island would be more relaxed

[nocera]

Yeah unless you plan on taking the kids bar hopping, I'd avoid Put-in-Bay.

[Morkle]

"that an almost 3 year old would have fun at for a long weekend"

[willeyeam]

Yeah skip PIB but look at Port Clinton or Kelly's Island

[Morkle]

Yeah skip PIB but look at Port Clinton or Kelly's Island

[DigitalGypsy66]

HHI is a zoo so far. Our normal 3.5 hour ride was closer to 5 hours, because of too many cars and not enough roads. I-95 is only four lanes, and it was nearly bumper to bumper the entire ride Saturday afternoon. I know, wah wah, and your five hour drive…but it sucks that almost all of it was with some cheesedick from Ohio on my ass the entire time.

We waited 30 minutes in line for ice cream, which we’ve never been at that place longer than 15 minutes in total in the four or five years we’ve been coming (I checked on my Google Maps timeline). Still worth it though.

Now we’re under a tropical storm warning.

Another thing: although we did take a long weekend over Thanksgiving, this is our first week-long away from home vacation since 2019. My wife, is really good about planning and remembering things, was really off her game. I forgot some random stuff as well, we are both off our travel game. Just a heads up for those heading out for a family vacay - you might want to give your checklists a second going over.

[NTP66]

Hilton Head Ice Cream? They’re my favorite on the island.

[RonnieFranchise]

We are renting a cottage at Chautauqua Lake 1st week of August. We have been alternating between Emerald Isle and smaller (cheaper) destinations between here and Rochester due to family locations.

Wow does VRBO nickel and dime you. $1500 rental $300/nt, reasonable. Then add $100 hot tub fee, $250 cleaning fee, $222 service fee, $59 mandatory trip insurance in lieu of a $1500 refundable deposit, plus tax, $2311 on a rental that started at $300 a night for 5 nights.

[PFiDC]

- you might want to give your checklists a second going over.

I'm a meticulous packer and avid list maker. So much so that if I happen to forget to put something on my list but I remember whilst packing I will write it on the list just to check it off.

But this is good advice. Haven't done any real travelling in a while.

[NTP66]

We are renting a cottage at Chautauqua Lake 1st week of August. We have been alternating between Emerald Isle and smaller (cheaper) destinations between here and Rochester due to family locations.

Wow does VRBO nickel and dime you. $1500 rental $300/nt, reasonable. Then add $100 hot tub fee, $250 cleaning fee, $222 service fee, $59 mandatory trip insurance in lieu of a $1500 refundable deposit, plus tax, $2311 on a rental that started at $300 a night for 5 nights.

It really is bad. Back in 2018, we rented a condo from somebody via TripAdvisor, because TA didn’t have the same fees that VRBO and AirBnB did (the unit was listed on all three).

[NTP66]

- you might want to give your checklists a second going over.

I'm a meticulous packer and avid list maker. So much so that if I happen to forget to put something on my list but I remember whilst packing I will write it on the list just to check it off.

But this is good advice. Haven't done any real travelling in a while.

Yeah, I print out a checklist when we go on vacation, if only to really make sure that I bring everything back.

[DigitalGypsy66]

Hilton Head Ice Cream? They’re my favorite on the island.

Yep. Never seen it as busy as it was.

[mac5155]

Booked directs on SW RT PIT to DEN in 3 weeks And I swear if they are canceled so help me God

[NTP66]

Hilton Head Ice Cream? They’re my favorite on the island.

Yep. Never seen it as busy as it was.

My man.

[shoeshine boy]

Wow does VRBO nickel and dime you. $1500 rental $300/nt, reasonable. Then add $100 hot tub fee, $250 cleaning fee, $222 service fee, $59 mandatory trip insurance in lieu of a $1500 refundable deposit, plus tax, $2311 on a rental that started at $300 a night for 5 nights.

and they double dip by doing the same thing to the owners. we go to Destin every Fall. last year we changed condos because we had been renting from a friend but he sold his condo a few years ago. we liked the new condo so much (and dealing with the owner) that we arranged with the owner this year to rent directly from her management company. it saved all of us a fair amount of cash.

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

and they double dip by doing the same thing to the owners. we go to Destin every Fall. last year we changed condos because we had been renting from a friend but he sold his condo a few years ago. we liked the new condo so much (and dealing with the owner) that we arranged with the owner this year to rent directly from her management company. it saved all of us a fair amount of cash.

I generally try to find places on VRBO and find a different way to book the place without the assinine VRBO fees. i've done this move with gr8 success in the laurel highlands a few times.

[Dickie Dunn]

I wouldn’t rent through VRBO strictly because of their commercials.

[AuthorTony]

I stopped using them when I realized it was pronounced "verbo."

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

I wouldn’t rent through VRBO strictly because of their commercials.

THIS IS COUCH WHERE THE DUNN WILL REALIZE HE HATES VERBO COMMERCIALS

[dodint]

One of my best friends has an AirBnB in Beaufort, NC. We're staying there for a little over a week in September. I can't wait. It's just so chill there. You get 90% of the OBX/HHI experience but with a lot less congestion.

[NTP66]

Anyone ever go to Great Wolf Lodge in the Poconos? My daughter wants to go just before school returns, and I’m trying to decide if it’s worth the $400/night that I’m seeing.

[shafnutz05]

Anyone ever go to Great Wolf Lodge in the Poconos? My daughter wants to go just before school returns, and I’m trying to decide if it’s worth the $400/night that I’m seeing.

We have been four times with our daughter. It's a blast.

Highly recommend the packages they sell for the kids for your first visit. They include a bunch of activities. The ropes course is fun too. Our daughter loved it there.

If you can swing it, go on an off night (ie not Fri/Sat. night). The outside pool is fun too.

[RonnieFranchise]

One of my best friends has an AirBnB in Beaufort, NC. We're staying there for a little over a week in September. I can't wait. It's just so chill there. You get 90% of the OBX/HHI experience but with a lot less congestion.

Quit telling people about it please so it stays uncongested. Let the hoi polloi go to Duck and Nags Head and deal with the other 50 bazillion tourists. Not my thing.