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Subject:
Help me pick a destination
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abenson
Joined: 10/09/06
Outdoorzy Adventurer
Louisville, KY
Posts: 158
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Posted: 07/23/07 9:50am |
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A couple of us have a free plane tickets for Southwest. I am planning on using it for a quick inexpensive weekend getaway for a couple of reasons, but the main one being funds. Another reason is my significant other doesn't enjoy the outdoors to the extent that I do so in order to stay out of malls and theme parks I am either camping or sleeping in the car  This is totally unplanned so far but I was looking at all of the Southwest destinations and trying to pick one that is really close to attractions that I am interested in. Here is what I need help on; If any of you know of a place that Southwest flies to that is really close to a State or National Park tell me your favorites. Some of the locations I was looking at were Boise, Albuquerque, Denver, Portland, Salt Lake City, to name a few (I am in the mood to go west if you can't tell).
What I don't want to do is get somewhere and have to rent a car and drive 5 hours. I would love to find a city that is close to a must see destination. Hiking and mountain biking are what I would be most interested in doing. I know this is wide open, but just thought I would see if anyone had a good idea.
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Wade
Joined: 07/23/06
Outdoorzy Original
Bowling Green, KY
Posts: 822
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Wade
Joined: 07/23/06
Outdoorzy Original
Bowling Green, KY
Posts: 822
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abenson
Joined: 10/09/06
Outdoorzy Adventurer
Louisville, KY
Posts: 158
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Posted: 07/23/07 12:41pm |
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dayhikes preferable, but not mandatory, and anywhere Southwest flies.
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Wade
Joined: 07/23/06
Outdoorzy Original
Bowling Green, KY
Posts: 822
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Posted: 07/23/07 1:42pm |
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I'm going to vote for San Francisco then.
Marin County for the MTB experience. And there are tons of hiking opportunities. Check out Tom Mangan, he's a member of ours from the bay area and he's one of the local experts. His blog has tons of info on SF hikes.
I'm a lover, not a racer... --Wade
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Buster
Joined: 10/16/06
Outdoorzy Explorer
Nashville, TN
Posts: 25
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Posted: 07/23/07 8:10pm |
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Save them. If you have two now, save them for another two. You can fly SW to Hawaii but it takes two free flights to equal one flight to Hawaii. Is that an option? At least that is what I heard on a recent flight.
Buster
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abenson
Joined: 10/09/06
Outdoorzy Adventurer
Louisville, KY
Posts: 158
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Posted: 07/24/07 7:32am |
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My wife is really wanting to go to Hawaii next year for our 10th anniversary, but my ticket expires in February, so I don't think will work. Funny you say that though b/c just last night I asked her if she would rather go in February.
So far San Fran looks pretty tempting.
If I don't use the ticket, I may donate it to a teamate of mine on the goosecreekcycle.com team who is going to the 24 hour solo championship in Monterey, CA in September.
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Wade
Joined: 07/23/06
Outdoorzy Original
Bowling Green, KY
Posts: 822
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melloj
Joined: 05/22/07
Outdoorzy Explorer
Louisville, KY
Posts: 3
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Posted: 07/24/07 11:47am |
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Man you should check out Portland if you've never been there. I just moved back to Lville after living there for a few years. In the summer time there is great mtn biking on Mt Hood at the ski resorts. Ride the ski lifts up and lots of long runs down. There are cycle shops on the way up to the mtn where you can rent bikes. Mt Hood is only 45 minutes from PDX airport and the coast is only 1.5 hrs away. At the coast you can hike in Tillamook Forest, ride the hundreds of miles of timber roads on mtn bikes, surf, fish, eat, drink lots of great local brews. This is the best time of year to be there. Not too hot, no humidity....Downtown PDX is nice to walk around, drink coffee, drink beer, eat....Hell i even have a house still for sale there, you could check on it for me.
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Wade
Joined: 07/23/06
Outdoorzy Original
Bowling Green, KY
Posts: 822
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Posted: 07/24/07 4:52pm |
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There ya go man. Portland Oregon. melloj knows the area. You could even eat at one of the best burger/beer joints in the west, Calamity Jane's near Mt Hood. melloj and I ate there after hiking the 45 mile loop around Hood. I ate a 1 lb cheeseburger there... it was the best meal I ever almost threw up.
Calamity Jane's $-$$
42015 SE Highway 26, Sandy, OR 97055
Phone: (503) 668-7817
Hours: Monday thru Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Calamity Jane's is a skier's haven after a day of hitting the slopes. You'll get your money's worth with the restaurant's humungous hamburgers and giant make-your-own milkshakes. "It's insane," says diner, Meghan. "The portions are huge!" The friendly servers and country atmosphere makes this restaurant a great place to relax with friends and fill up on some good ole American food.
I'm a lover, not a racer...--Wade
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