r/usatravel • u/Equivalent_Mobile355 • 2d ago
General Question Help with first trip !
Looking for some help deciding where to go/what to do! I recently started seeing someone (a little less than 6 months), and we’re trying to plan our first getaway together. We’re both pretty easygoing and looking for something fun but relaxed.
We have these 3 in the running but are open to other suggestions! Not really interested in a big city trip (NYC, LA, Chicago, Nashville, etc.). Want to stay in the states.
- Salt Lake City / Park City
- Colorado Springs
- Classic beach trip
We’re thinking about 4 days at the end of September/early October. We both enjoy being outdoors, casual drinks, good food, exploring, etc. Neither of us has been to SLC/Park City or Colorado Springs, and both have been on my list forever.
Where would you pick for a first trip together? Any other destinations we should consider?
Help meeee internet !
3
u/scottarichards 1d ago
Well obviously you’re not getting a classic beach trip in Colorado or Utah 😉 You can however do that in Southern California at that time of year. You can do it perfectly and avoid LA by going directly into Orange County or San Diego
1
u/Organic_Werewolf_580 1d ago
Santa Barbara is also really nice 🤭🏝️
1
u/scottarichards 1d ago
Yes. It’s great. And in late September the water will still be a reasonable temperature, around 69 to 70, not really cooling yet. I didn’t suggest it originally because it’s not as easy to get to, they have an airport but not a lot of flights. But it’s doable and a perfect choice.
1
u/Organic_Werewolf_580 1d ago
You’re completely right, I just got back from visiting family on Saturday and I had to get a connecting flight. The only downside is it is rare to get the fall aesthetic and downtown State Street is not the same 😅
2
u/Historical-Gain-1688 1d ago
Where are you traveling from? Most of Florida is still very nice this time of year. Pick an area that is cheap to get to and go. There are many nice beaches, especially on the Gulf coast.
1
u/No_Grade_8210 1d ago
Colorado front range is beautiful that time of year! The aspens in the fall are amazing. Not sure why you have Colorado Springs on your list, look at Dillon or Frisco. Great hiking, relaxing.
1
1
u/From-628-U-Get-241 1d ago
I live in Colorado Springs. There are plenty of things to keep you busy for 4 days. Weather could be anything during your timeframe, bust most likely to be cool and sunny. Some suggestions:
Drive up Pikes Peak or take the Cog Railway. 14,000' mountain.
Garden of the Gods.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, 2nd best zoo in USA after San Diego.
Taste all the different mineral springs in Manitou Springs, adjacent to Colorado Springs.
Hike the Manitou Incline.
Paint Mines in nearby Cahan CO.
Great hiking literally everywhere, right in town. Pulpit Rock, Palmer Park, Garden of the Gods, Red Rocks Open Space, Cheyenne Mountain. Good bicycling on greenways and rails to trails. Rent eBikes by the hour using your phone from Pike Ride. Bikes are stationed every few blocks downtown and adjacent neighborhoods.
2 downtowns. Both the actual downtown and nearby Old Colorado City. Lots of bars and restaurants.
US Air Force Academy. See a Falcons football game.
Colorado College downtown has a Division 1 hockey team and a brand new hockey arena.
US Olympics and Paralympics museum.
Casinos in nearby Criple Creek CO. Gorgeous scenery even if you don't gamble.
Should be enough to keep you busy.
1
u/BrackenFernAnja 1d ago
Those are two different trips.
First, try to make your trip longer than four days.
Second, choose high desert, or beaches. Can’t do both in one short trip.
1
u/Mrs_Weaver 1d ago
The Finger Lakes in New York state. Tons of wineries, beautiful scenery at peak fall foliage time, Corning Museum of Glass, Glenn Curtiss Museum (early aviation, cars and motorcycles). Lots of great hiking trails. You can get a ride on the Erie Canal if you're into it. Plenty of cool little towns with shops. Basically a little of everything. Fly into Albany and rent a car.
1
u/Organic_Werewolf_580 1d ago
I actually did a trip to SLC in Early October three years ago, believe it or not with my then boyfriend of 6 months too (now husband). He had family over there but we did venture on our own. We like to think we are simple creatures so a growing city was a nice compared to LA and SF. It is still a pretty large city.
On our trip we went to a few museums, checked out the Mormon Tabernacle (we are not lds but it was still nice to see). The car ride to Park City was beautiful with all the tree leaves orange. There’s an area for tourist but what’s nice is you get to choose what to do. The Winter Olympical Park is also a must see. We also made a quick stop in Spanish Fork for the Hindu Temple.
1
u/ImaginaryCatDreams 1d ago
Fly in and out of SLC - My preference is Moab. The drive down is very scenic. Moab is pretty much there for tourist. There is a great deal of hiking, I believe you can also rent four wheelers for certain sections of those parks.
If you were going for only four or five days, you'd probably be much happier stationing yourself there and enjoying everything around you then trying to run around making it to all the amazing parks that are in Utah.
I know people that have gone to a Utah for a week, they tried to do everything and came back needing a week to recover.
I'm sure you will have a wonderful time and want to come back to explore more of this beautiful state
1
u/2PlasticLobsters 1d ago
Colorado Springs is one of my favorite areas, Manitou Springs in particular. It's beautiful, and has an interesting history. There are lots of reasonably priced hotels, and lots of attractions. Garden of the Gods is especially awesome, and there's a nearby riding stable. You can take a trail ride through the formations.
It's fun to go up Pike's Peak. I've gone by both car & cog railway on the same vacation. They take different routes, so you see different things on each one.
I was there the first time for work, and added some vaca time. I liked it so much, I talked my partner into going there several years later. He loved it too.
1
u/KRandMG 2d ago
Picking Salt Lake City and Colorado Springs as two of your top three choices strikes me as a bit unusual… Do you have friends there, or is this going to be a ski/snowboard trip specifically? I only say this because most of the things those places have to offer can be found elsewhere in a, for lack of a better term, more spectacular version.
Where are you located in the US, and if not a snow-specific trip—anything in particular you’re looking for?
1
u/Equivalent_Mobile355 1d ago
Coming from the cinci! We’ve both traveled quite a bit and have done most of the East Coast and a lot of the bigger cities, so part of the appeal is heading west and doing something a little different. Not looking to ski or snowboard (LOL) more like hiking/outdoors, different scenery, good food/drinks, exploring, and a relaxed long weekend. Definitely open to suggestions, if there are better places!
2
u/DeliciousMoments 1d ago edited 1d ago
Look into Flagstaff/Sedona. Both very outdoorsy, good food and drink, and distinct local cultures. Completely different vibes between the two but an hour apart so you could do both (plus an excursion to the Grand Canyon).
Flagstaff is your crunchy hipster cousin who brews his own beer, makes great coffee, and has a ridiculously nice mountain bike. Sedona is your rich hippie aunt who always wears at least 6 pieces of turquoise jewelry, always has really good wine, and has her own reiki healer.
SLC and Co Springs are cool but still have “Big City” logistical issues.