November Honeymoon ideas??

Help!!

So we didn't think we would be taking a honeymoon due to $$ but my dad just stepped up and said he would like to make that his contribution(nothing super crazy).

Ideas?? We are getting married Nov 4th- so honeymoon would either be right after or hold off until the spring(but I like the idea of doing it right after).

DF is a cyclist also(holds his UCI card and rides for a UCI level team- though he works more now then he races)- we are both outdoorsy and not so into just sitting on a beach for a week.

I would really like to go to Lake Louise in Canada but November is not the right time of the year to go and be outdoorsy.

SO help with other ideas..

My next idea is Big Sur/Monterey,etc. but again- how is the weather?

Besides that, thoughts are Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Peru,etc.

Or Europe(off season, cheaper)

Ideas??? I don't want to spend a ton on this.

We love good food, craft beers and good wine along with being active (he grew up in Colorado).

I would love to figure out somewhere that we could get some good cycling in, venture out for trail runs or hikes, have great food and some awesome beers.

Would the Pacific NW be odd choice for a honeymoon? lol!!


Everyone keeps saying- go somewhere you wouldn't normally go,but I haven't been on a true vacation in over a decade. (well that is a lie, I went to Italy 2 summers ago- but besides that any traveling has been for a bike race, work, or to see family)

So I don't feel the need to go somewhere super exotic because I just want to enjoy my time.

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Originally Posted by ehirsch83

Help!!

So we didn't think we would be taking a honeymoon due to $$ but my dad just stepped up and said he would like to make that his contribution(nothing super crazy).

Ideas?? We are getting married Nov 4th- so honeymoon would either be right after or hold off until the spring(but I like the idea of doing it right after).

DF is a cyclist also(holds his UCI card and rides for a UCI level team- though he works more now then he races)- we are both outdoorsy and not so into just sitting on a beach for a week.

I would really like to go to Lake Louise in Canada but November is not the right time of the year to go and be outdoorsy.

SO help with other ideas..

My next idea is Big Sur/Monterey,etc. but again- how is the weather?

Besides that, thoughts are Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Peru,etc.

Or Europe(off season, cheaper)

Ideas??? I don't want to spend a ton on this.

We love good food, craft beers and good wine along with being active (he grew up in Colorado).

I would love to figure out somewhere that we could get some good cycling in, venture out for trail runs or hikes, have great food and some awesome beers.

Would the Pacific NW be odd choice for a honeymoon? lol!!


Everyone keeps saying- go somewhere you wouldn't normally go,but I haven't been on a true vacation in over a decade. (well that is a lie, I went to Italy 2 summers ago- but besides that any traveling has been for a bike race, work, or to see family)

So I don't feel the need to go somewhere super exotic because I just want to enjoy my time.

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No PNW in November.
Costa Rica would be nice I bet. November is a rough month to plan outdoors adventures unless you head for the desert.

How long are you going to go for? I ask because we did go to Lake Louise for our honeymoon in March and we did lots of outdoorsy stuff. Winter stuff, but still outdoors. We were living and married in FL as well, so it was great to see true winter for a week. The skiing was amazing (no crowds at all!), ice-skating on the lake, hiking, dog-sledding, horse drawn sleigh rides (Ok, that wasn't active...but it was fun!), etc. Ad we saw some awesome ice-climbing in you are into that (we are not). It was wonderful! I would imagine that all the same activities would be available in November as well.

If you want to go for two weeks, then you'd run out of things to do, but we were there for 4-5 days and it was perfect! We then went to Banff for the remaining 3-4 days and that was totally different. There was no snow left there, but lots of food options, touristy stuff and spa treatments. It was nice, but we both liked Lake Louise much better.

We also considered a few southern hemisphere destinations to get the opposing season (we love fall), but the airfare was too expensive.

Maybe northern California? Wine country, biking, hiking, etc? Coming to the PNW would just get you wet. By November, the grey and rains have moved in full time, so while you can do outdoors stuff, it's not optimal and it requires a good amount of gear.

Sedona?
It will be cool at night, but perfect for hiking, trail running, all kinds of cycling.

Do you mountain bike or gravel ride at all? There is the Gravel Grovel on Thanksgiving weekend in southern Indiana, and Nashville, IN has some great small restaurants, at least two B&B (I am pretty sure) and an excellent micro-brewery. There is also some awesome (and hilly) road riding to be had. It is likely to be damp however, and that is something to be considered.

A couple of places that come to mind are Sedona, Arizona and Big Bend National Park in Texas. Costa Rica's weather can be pretty wet in November. But I do believe you can be pretty outdoorsy in the late fall/winter. You just have to dress for it. Still, I'd much rather deal with cold and dry than cool/cold and wet.

I second, third and 1000 the no PNW in November. It will be a gray, drizzling, depressive mess by then (unless you're into that)

AZ, Moab, Tahoe?

I just thought of another idea and I cannot believe I'm about to type this, but have you thought about the Poconos? Yes, the 'honeymoon' thing in the Poconos is cheesy and often creepy...but early November is only barely past peak leaf season there. The weather will likely be gorgeous, there are TONS of outdoor things to do and a lot of either large resorts or cute B&B's to stay at. You will have to be selective to avoid the cheesy places with champagne glass hot tubs and such, but there are classy places if you look a bit off the beaten path.

Mountain biking is wonderful. Rafting is fun. Hiking would be great, too. There are historical towns, the Appalachian Trail and other things to see and do as well. I was not a cyclist when I lived there, so I don't recall the road biking scene, but I'm sure it's decent as well.

We spent a Christmas in Moab and Zion. It was cold, but lovely. We did LOTs of hiking at both places. I think early November could be a good time to go to either or both, since they are less than a day's drive apart.

Veronica

I heart Utah, so I'd second V's suggestion. We spent a week in Zion last year. It's an easy drive from Vegas. We liked Springdale, the town outside the park quite a bit. It's smaller and IMO quainter than Moab. But Moab is the gateway to a lot of stuff. You can't go wrong.

GLC, you've lived in North Carolina if I recall. What's Asheville like--if you know--in November?

Oh I think I'd go to Bermuda. The honeymooning crowds will be gone, and there is a lot to do there, and it's a short flight. You don't have to devote two whole days to dealing with airports and airline snafus.

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Originally Posted by indysteel

I heart Utah, so I'd second V's suggestion. We spent a week in Zion last year. It's an easy drive from Vegas. We liked Springdale, the town outside the park quite a bit. It's smaller and IMO quainter than Moab. But Moab is the gateway to a lot of stuff. You can't go wrong.

GLC, you've lived in North Carolina if I recall. What's Asheville like--if you know--in November?

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Indy makes a good point. The North Carolina/Virginia mountains might be a good option too. Weather is hit or miss. My mom spent a week there the last week in October a few years back and it was socked in with fog and rain the entire time. I've been there (not Asheville, but in the Virginia mountains) that time of year, and it was spectacular. The nights were clear and cold and the days warmed up to the upper 50's/lower 60's in the sun. Lots of fantastic road biking in the area...LOTS. Great hiking, great artists shops and outstanding restaurants in Asheville. B&B's or Inns abound in both areas.

We were in New Mexico for 1 wk. --last week in Oct. and loved it.

For certain they wouldn't get as much rain as Pacific Northwest in Nov.

It can fall to freezing in New Mexico, but it is clear, bright and great for hiking /driving around. We were in Sante Fe, Alburqueqe. Taos would be interesting.

My other suggestion is: Montreal and Quebec City. For latter, there is no other place like it North America. By then, alot of the fall leaf colour maybe gone but you will most definitely in an environment where French is the preferred language (over English). Certain the plane rates to those cities should be cheaper for November. Quebec City dates back to 1500's with some buildings, etc. well preserved.

As for Banff, Lake Louise...it wouldn't be my most immediate choice in early Nov. vs. end of Dec. where by then there is higher chance of snow. However the hotel rates would be alot cheaper in Nov. and not as crowded.

The other option is to seriously consider staying in a wine country area where the accommodation rates will be cheaper, less crowded. Wineries will be open with tasting rooms. In Canada, the 3 main winery areas are: Niagara-on-the-Lake, a couple km. outside of Niagara Falls, Okanagan Valley (interior British Columbia) and Vancouver Island (Cowichan Bay area). Most definitely there will be nice restaurants, spas, etc. Hiking and biking in those areas. Interior B.C. is a dry, near desert and not as rainy as coastal.

Great ideas with Sedona, Moab and Wine Country also will look into Big Bend National.

I have never been skiing or snowboarding! But I have lived in Colorado and New Mexico and love the seasons and the mountains.


Now I have things to look into :)

I did a tour with these guys and it was great: http://www.bikemexico.com/index.tours.html

I was going to suggestion the NC/Virginia/West Virginia mountains depending on what you're looking for. Ashville is becoming pretty big on cycling. We're actually planning to take a winter vacation there when we can afford a vacation again. I want to learn to snowboard, and hubby figures he can still ride his mountain bike with the snow.

Definitely DON'T come to Belize if you like beer! We have one kind, Belikin, brewed and bottled here. A country-wide monopoly, pretty much. A few other imports (but nothing that interesting, I'm talking Heinikin and Red Stripe -- no microbrews) available by bottle at very expensive prices. Mexican beer is outlawed here.

A very sad state of affairs. I miss a variety of beers very much indeed. Not to mention wine!

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Originally Posted by GLC1968

Maybe northern California? Wine country, biking, hiking, etc?

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Good ideas for that here:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=45540

I've been to Virginia/West Virginia/North Carolina mountains in November and it's great.

Also had a fabulous trip to Spain/Portugal in November. Less crowded, nice weather.

I live only 30 minutes from big sur and let me tell you that November here is my favorite time of year! All the wineries have just harvested, the weather is wonderful. And there are so many nice places to stay. You could stay in Cambria which is a great beachy mountain town just south of big sur. They have the Cambria pines lodge which is way cool. Plenty of biking things, hiking things, eating things! You would love it! So romantic! If you need any more info please feel free to PM and I will help you find things out. There is an airport in San Luis obispo which is 35 minutes of beautiful drive to Cambria. Also you could stay in Morro Bay. I live right next to Morro Bay. Great beach town with tons of places to stay as well. But Cambria is more romantic and it is some of the most beautiful hwy 1 driving. Can I gush anymore?

I love to go to the ocean in the winter.... little beach towns are deserted, everything is kind of moody and atmospheric - sometimes a little stormy, but that can be fun too. The only thing you can't do is swim and since I'm not a big sunbather - beach swimmer, but love to walk and explore, I think it's great.

My husband and I did a 3 day weekend down on Oregon's beaches one November - over Veteran's day. It's not really a place I like in the summer - crowded, touristy, tacky but in winter it has a whole different vibe. The only thing is we really do have a lack of sunlight up this way come the darker months.... It will get dark early. We also did North Carolina, along the outer banks in early March - loved it - we basically had the whole place to ourselves and there weren't any mosquitoes yet.

After looking at a ton of options, I think we are going with Costa Rica. Airfare is really affordable out of Florida and it will be the end of the rainy season, right before the dry season so we can get some really good deals. Going to opt to be more in the mountains/ rain forest/ volcano area over the beaches. Figure we will choose an actual spot this summer, but we have the country narrowed down!(it ended up being between Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Guatemala and it could still change between those 3, but Costa Rica seems the best as of now)

http://www.rafikisafari.com/

My brother's ex girlfriend's daughter helps to run this place. I've heard very nice things about it. (Costa Rica)