Travel Thread

[shafnutz05]

Kids Spring Break Trip planned: DC for two nights, staying with my sister's fam in Philly 1 night, 1 night in Manhattan, and then a long weekend in New Hampshire.

Nice, but damn that's a lot of travel. Only a long weekend in NH...are you flying?

For northern New Hampshire, I strongly recommend: Franconia Notch, Mt. Washington (obviously), Flume Gorge. The Cog Railway is an amazing trip, unless you want the bumper sticker for driving up. Portsmouth, NH is a really lovely seaport as well, Strawberry Banke is a great way to spend a nice afternoon.

[CBear3]

The whole thing stems from our Christmas plans. We were supposed to fly in to Philly for the week of Christmas to see my sister's fam and maybe make it to NH to see my BIL's.

Long story short, my sister's family came out instead and suddenly we had airline credit to use and hadn't seen my wife's brother's family... and nobody's spring break matches up with ours here in KC.
So it's fly into DC Monday (my wife has never been and is sour about it). Wednesday its 4 hours to Roxborough. Thursday it's 2 hours to Port Imperial and a ride into Manhattan (another place I've been without my wife). Friday it's 5 or so hours to Lee, NH outside Portsmouth to my BIL's. Fly back to the midwest Monday night out of Boston.

The kids are getting pretty good at the car thing. We just did 4 hours to Fayetteville Friday/Sunday so I'm not too worried about it. We do usually have to break up the 6+ hours to Indy Memorial Day weekend though. It a shame train prices are darn near the same as air travel though.

[mikey]

Just booked my first trip to Vegas for next month. Two of my best friends are coming with me. I was in charge of booking it all. Got a flight there, flight back, a hotel for four nights right on the Strip for like $495 per person all together. I think that's pretty good. Plus, I plan on making money out there (I'll do some gambling too I'm sure)...

I'm thinking: Golden Knights game, Marshmello, Daniel Tosh for entertainment...not a bad lineup for my tastes...

[shafnutz05]

Nice That's a solid price. The direct flight is a plus.

In May, my wife, daughter and I are making our first trip to visit my Mom since she moved to Mobile. Flights to that area are stupid expensive, but my wife managed to find a direct flight to New Orleans on Frontier, which worked out to just under $1000 round trip for the three of us (that includes the extra $75 for the checked bag/overhead/extra legroom row and all the fees). NO is about a two hour drive from Mobile. Since we are flying in on a Saturday, our plan is to meet my Mom in the French Quarter and basically just check that area out for lunch and the afternoon.

No desire to stay there any longer, but that will let me have a beignet and some gumbo for lunch. Everyone I talk to, even the people that enjoyed their trip to NO, tell me it's filthy. My brother-in-law went to Tulane too. It will give me a chance to tick that box off, at least. We also drive through Biloxi, and have always wanted to play poker in Biloxi...but that could be a tougher sell

[Freddy Rumsen]

There is a nice outlet mall in Gulfport.

Also the USS Alabama is worth the money in Mobile and the Mobile skyline is the model for the skyline in Phineas and Ferb.

[DigitalGypsy66]

I was there last March, but I didn’t find it particularly filthy. At least compared to other parts of the South (where I’ve lived since 1990). Cafe Du Monde is a must. Tif suggested a restaurant near there - a real dive - that was excellent as well. Check the travel thread for more suggestions.

[blackjack68]

Nice That's a solid price. The direct flight is a plus.

In May, my wife, daughter and I are making our first trip to visit my Mom since she moved to Mobile. Flights to that area are stupid expensive, but my wife managed to find a direct flight to New Orleans on Frontier, which worked out to just under $1000 round trip for the three of us (that includes the extra $75 for the checked bag/overhead/extra legroom row and all the fees). NO is about a two hour drive from Mobile. Since we are flying in on a Saturday, our plan is to meet my Mom in the French Quarter and basically just check that area out for lunch and the afternoon.

No desire to stay there any longer, but that will let me have a beignet and some gumbo for lunch. Everyone I talk to, even the people that enjoyed their trip to NO, tell me it's filthy. My brother-in-law went to Tulane too. It will give me a chance to tick that box off, at least. We also drive through Biloxi, and have always wanted to play poker in Biloxi...but that could be a tougher sell

Love New Orleans! Was there twice last year.

Bourbon Street can be dirty, but overall the city is no dirtier than any other.

[tifosi77]

NOLA is my favorite place to visit in the US. There's awesome live music everywhere, and you can pretty much just fall over and find yourself in the middle of a great meal. Royal Street is where all the best action is, imo. During the day it's closed to vehicle traffic and buskers take over. Yes Ma'am is one of the best live acts I've ever seen, and I've only ever seen them playing on the street outside the state Supreme Court building.

I'll parrot blackjack: Bourbon Street is trash, and should be avoided. (Bourbon House is good, and it's close to Canal Street, so you don't really have to venture in too far) That aside, the French Quarter is no worse than any major metro area. When you get out into the Garden District and River Bend areas, the place is downright charming.

Note also: Jazz Fest runs from the last weekend of April through the first week and weekend of May. If that's the weekend you're gonna be there, it'll be...... let's call it 'busy'. It would also mean being in NOLA for Cinco de Mayo.

[shoeshine boy]

Just booked my first trip to Vegas for next month. Two of my best friends are coming with me. I was in charge of booking it all. Got a flight there, flight back, a hotel for four nights right on the Strip for like $495 per person all together. I think that's pretty good. Plus, I plan on making money out there (I'll do some gambling too I'm sure)...

I'm thinking: Golden Knights game, Marshmello, Daniel Tosh for entertainment...not a bad lineup for my tastes...

always double-down on 11.....

[nocera]

Just booked my first trip to Vegas for next month. Two of my best friends are coming with me. I was in charge of booking it all. Got a flight there, flight back, a hotel for four nights right on the Strip for like $495 per person all together. I think that's pretty good. Plus, I plan on making money out there (I'll do some gambling too I'm sure)...

You may want to rethink this approach...

[mikey]

I am very skilled at games of luck, I'll have you know...

[shafnutz05]

Note also: Jazz Fest runs from the last weekend of April through the first week and weekend of May. If that's the weekend you're gonna be there, it'll be...... let's call it 'busy'. It would also mean being in NOLA for Cinco de Mayo.

Thanks for the heads up--we will be there on Cinco de Mayo. We will have our four year old in tow, but maybe my mother-in-law can borrow her for a few hours before we head back to Mobile

[blackjack68]

Definitely going to be busy. You have a hotel yet?

[shafnutz05]

Definitely going to be busy. You have a hotel yet?

We were just going to drop in for the day. Mobile is only two hours away.

[shoeshine boy]

I am very skilled at games of luck, I'll have you know...

#1 rule of Vegas: one way or another, the house always wins......

[robbiestoupe]

I am very skilled at games of luck, I'll have you know...

I know you are joking (I think) but I worked with a guy that would tell me all these stories about how he would win at slot machines more often than not. At first I thought he was just looking for attention, but we ended up going on a business trip to Phoenix and decided to hit a casino. We walked in (another guy was there to validate my witness), stops at a machine and says, "Nah, this one isn't paying out". Did this a couple of times before finally settling on a machine. Spun the handle and 5 minutes later is up $300. Says the machine is cashed out, does his gig again and plays another machine. Plus $200. All in 15 minutes. He did go on a final machine and lost $20 or so, but I was convinced at that point.

[mikey]

I am joking. But, conversely, I am a net-positive in my gambling career, by a fair margin.

[robbiestoupe]

As am I, but I stick to No-Limit Hold 'Em

[tifosi77]

The first time I ever went to Vegas, I won enough money to pay for the whole weekend. Like, room and food & drink for four dudes, plus a trip to Olympic Gardens. The last time I gambled, I got like $100 in chips, went to a $20 blackjack table and lost it all on five consecutive hands. That was 16 or 17 years ago.

When my FIL was an investigator at the Nevada Gaming Control Board, he broke a case where a company called American Coin had rigged over 1,000 of their machines to never hit jackpots. The tech that reprogrammed the machines was going to go to NGC and fess up, so the owners of the company had him shot in the head. It was a fairly big deal, and my FIL was interviewed for a History or Discovery Channel special about the case.

[shoeshine boy]

any tips for Columbus, OH? headed there this weekend for a hockey tourney. staying in Worthington. also hanging around an extra day to go to CBJ v Pens on Sunday night.

[nocera]

any tips for Columbus, OH? headed there this weekend for a hockey tourney. staying in Worthington. also hanging around an extra day to go to CBJ v Pens on Sunday night.

The Arena District is awesome. Get to the game early or stay after on Sunday. You’ll find lots of Pens fans and there are plenty of good bars and restaurants in that area.

Not in the arena district, but hit up Dirty Franks for a delicious hot dog and some tots.

[mikey]

@M@MR25

[MR25]

Arena District is a good area to hang out in before/after game time. Brothers Bar has good food and good beer and is *just* far enough outside the mainstays in the Arena District that you don't really have to worry about wait (as far as I can remember). Also close to Short North (a few blocks) which also has bars and establishments to hang out in (Bodega used to be a favorite of ours before the on-campus area started getting bars that served craft beer). I know I met @eddysnake at one bar on High Street but forget the name of it. Pretty much anywhere you go on High Street, you'll be able to find something there.

Worthington is a bit outside of my normal travel zone when I visit, but Polaris Parkway is a few minutes north of there and has a lot of options in terms of restaurants/shops as well if you don't want to spend all your time in Downtown.

[willeyeam]

Brothers is all college aged for the most part. Depending on your age and tastes that may make it more or less attractive to you. R Bar is a fun spot right next to the arena, but it will get very packed

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

Any of you jabronis have experience flying frontier cross country? I know they are bare bones so i’m Worried it might suck