If you can find reasonable tickets, do Vietnam. Just last night I was talking about how much I want to go back to Hanoi, and how it's on a short list of world cities I'd happily move to. Everything is absurdly cheap when you get there and the food... oh, the food!


-Dan

Mike G wrote:Thailand is one I've thought about for a long time, the hitch is that the kids really don't dig the food.

If you're in need of persuasive devices with the kids, two words:
elephant rides

We did a great driving trip from Mexico City to Puerto Vallarta stopping at the colonial cities on the way. Guanajuato, Morelia and San Miguel Allende were all fantastic as were many others. If you stick to the toll ways the trip is safe and very efficient. Mexico City is fascinating and, at least to me, reminiscent of Tokyo in the best and most chaotic ways and there is a ton to do there. Obviously PV is excellent and you can do it fairly reasonably by renting a villa or lavishly at one of the resorts.

I also really enjoyed my trip to Montreal and Quebec City.

Have fun. In 2011 I have decided that I need an island.

I'll second Mexico City. I think it's one of the more underrated travel destinations. You can probably find cheap airfare and once you get there, it's relatively inexpensive for a big city (the B & B we stayed at --The Red Tree House in Condessa had 1 or 2 multi-bedroom suites). There's tons to do--the kids would likely enjoy Xochimilco, the markets and the anthropology museum. Incredible food is easy to find and inexpensive. The Metro is easy to navigate (though very crowded).

BR wrote:Montreal and Quebec City? A taste of Europe for a lot less is how I often look at it.

Second this. Montreal: Food is fabulous, as we all know. Mmmm, those bagels and smoked meat, French food, and maple syrup. Quebec City really is like a European city and so old (1600-ish) for North America. Was there as a kid myself and enjoyed it a lot. The Chateau Frontenac is really a castle of a hotel--fun for kids. (We stayed there.) The Gaspé Peninsula is beautiful and pretty wild. You're out in the Atlantic. You can see North America in your Prius-o-let or fly to Montreal and rent a car. Plus it really feels like a foreign country, and not just because French is the first (and sometimes only) language.

I'll second all the rec's for Montreal, been there twice and cant wait to get back. High on my list of places to visit is Vancouver which I also imagine is a blast for all ages. I don't know if the kids are into sports or going to sporting events but I've always wanted to see an NHL game in Canada. I'm not a huge hockey follower but I believe the Van. Canucks are one of the NHL's best teams and Montreal is said to be thee best place to see an NHL game live. Of course Montreal has great food (and beer too) and I've heard nothing but good about Vancouver and its food selection with there being a variety of different cuisines in all the different communities within the city.

iblock9 wrote:Have fun. In 2011 I have decided that I need an island.

Ja' will be waiting.

While the weather in Montreal in spring is not ideal for idle lounging at the outdoor cafes, it is a perfect time to partake of one of North America's great indigenous culinary traditions: the cabane a sucre (sugar shack). These are rural food halls associated with maple syrup producers and serving traditional French Canadian dishes like tourtiere (meat pie) and oreilles de crisse (literally "Christs's ears", actually deep fried pork jowls topped with maple syrup). Meals are served family style.

Most of these are traditional, family-run places that have been in business for years and are not known for being adventurous or particularly refined. But a couple of years ago, Martin Picard of Au Pied de Cochon (a tail to snout kind of place in Montreal) opened his own cabane a sucre. It is open only from mid-March to May and reservations go fast:

http://cabaneasucreaupieddecochon.com/index_e.html

Needless to say, these are great fun for kids: sleigh rides, sometimes traditional music. A visit typically ends with making tire a l'erable (maple taffee) by pouring warm maple syrup on cold snow. Not sure how Picard spins this.

Patrick

Hi Mike--

Me again. I found myself thinking that any lthforum devotee would enjoy staying near the Marche Jean Talon, Montreal's fabulous year round central market, especially in a place with a kitchen so that one might take advantage of what the market has to offer. I just found this vacation rental apartment complex, which is literally one block from the market:

http://www.dolcevitamontreal.com/index-e.html

I have never heard of it before so I can't recommend it based on anything but what I see on the website, but it looks pretty nice and well-priced. It's also not too far from the Metro.

One caveat about Montreal right now is that airfares are obscene. Direct flights on AIr Canada, United, American are routinely $600-700 round trip and have been for the last couple of years. Connecting flights on Porter Air (on turbo props through Toronto) are more like $500. One could consider flying to Burlington, VT (2-hour drive) or Manchester, NH (on Southwest 4-hour drive) and then renting a car.

Patrick

I've thought about Montreal but not for February... though the sugar shack thing has me intrigued. Though I must admit, the logic of Mexico/Central America (not too gougerrific airfare + food the kids will actually eat) is hard to beat at the moment; much as I love the idea of somewhere in Asia, I fear them (well, one of them) whining about food for two weeks.

Basically, anywhere I could drive to, I would, with 4 of us. So airfare is probably not an issue for Montreal, though in reality, it's tough to find anywhere that airfares aren't upwards of $500, except maybe puddlejumpers to Two Forks.

Thanks again, all, for your suggestions and experiences...

Mike--

Ah, I didn't realize you meant February when you said spring. No, Montreal in February with kids would not be a good choice. On top of the wicked weather, the cabanes a sucre would not usually be open yet.

Patrick

Actually, it's probably a choice between a school break in January, and one in March. That's why I said February