<p>Okay, H is all in a twist about going on vacation this summer...wants a lazy vacation with plenty for two teen Ds to do...need surf and sun...anyone have any secret places they want to talk about...just between us ; )</p>
<p>We are in Northern California</p>
<p>thanks ahead of time</p>
<p>What's the budget and what's important? Great restaurants, sports, privacy?</p>
<p>Well, we can fly there and a nice hotel is good...food not so important, beach is, and H likes to golf ( but by NO MEANS essential)...we can do Hawaii, Southern California or Mexico) but don't want a place soooo commercial and high rise, or too isolated..the teens need to be able to explore some, so a resort is fine...we LOVE to body surf, we don't want super fancy...</p>
<p>Someplace in San Diego would be nice as well</p>
<p>Long Beach on Vancouver Island, it's on the west coast, there are waves & surfing, the Wikkaninnish Inn is amazing, the exchange rate is nice. It is an unusual stop & the whole island is not commercial.</p>
<p>I hadn't thought of going North....cool idea!!!</p>
<p>Cabo, about a 2 and one half hour flight from SF, could be a good fit. Great beaches, acticities for teens and lots of golf. You can stay on a quiet beach or a more active one and be near town for the teens. PM me if interested for hotel suggestions.</p>
<p>I wish I could give you good advice. I can only tell you where not to go.</p>
<p>La Jolla is the worst choice. It is beautiful but very urbanized and expensive. The several tons of beached squid that greeted me there didn't benefit my opinion of the place. Also watch out for "red tides" of algae. They shoot underwater visibility in the head and leave a crimson residue to match. Oh, and the guy flying the model helicopter? He is watching your balcony. Just letting you know. . .</p>
<p>Second up is Bodega Bay. The best thing this NoCal pit serves up is rotten seal. In its "temperate" climate, you'll have to don a dry suit before taking a few laps in the pool. Shark sightings are rare, mountain lion citations less so. From what I've heard, more than half of the town's population has been eaten by the cats. That is, Bob had his legs bitten off. If you're a film buff, you can visit the set of The Birds. Substitute gulls for pigeons and the movie wasn't too far off.</p>
<p>The third place on the west coast not to visit is Redmond, Washington. This one doesn't merit an [url=<a href="http://www.microsoft.com%5Dexplanation%5B/url">www.microsoft.com]explanation[/url</a>].</p>
<p>Best of luck, citygirlsmom. I hope you don't need it.</p>
<p>Anything between Dune Allen and Grayton Beach (includes Seaside) on the northern Gulf Coast of Flordia. Stunning, stunning beaches <a href="http://images.google.co.nz/images?q=Grayton%20Beach&hl=en&lr=&sa=N&tab=wi%5B/url%5D">http://images.google.co.nz/images?q=Grayton%20Beach&hl=en&lr=&sa=N&tab=wi</a> --with the whitest, softest sand in the US. Good body surfing in that dreamy gulf water, clear as a bell. Good restaurants. Funky diners. Sailing on the bay side.</p>
<p>House rentals:
<a href="http://images.google.co.nz/images?q=Grayton%20Beach&hl=en&lr=&sa=N&tab=wi%5B/url%5D">http://images.google.co.nz/images?q=Grayton%20Beach&hl=en&lr=&sa=N&tab=wi</a></p>
<p>Rentals at Seaside (bit more crowded but filled with other teens):
<a href="http://www.seasidefl.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.seasidefl.com/</a></p>
<p>Fly into New Orleans for a side trip and drive over (6 hours) or fly into Panama City or Pensacola for a 1.5 hour drive to the beach.</p>
<p>Cyber travel agents invited for drinks? ;)</p>
<p>Have you thought about a cruise? Great value, and the teens would love it. You'll visit multiple ports that will have the fun and sun activities. PM me if you'd like more information - I have a ton of knowledge about ports, cruise lines, cruise ships, etc. I LOVE to cruise.</p>
<p>Palm Springs is decent for a .. short vacation. If you're speaking in terms of long-term, maybe Hawaii or Laughlin?</p>
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<blockquote> <p>Someplace in San Diego would be nice as well<<</p> </blockquote>
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<p>Consider the Torrey Pines Hilton. <a href="http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=SANTPHH%5B/url%5D">http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=SANTPHH</a>
It's in La Jolla but not the trendy downtown La Jolla. It's up on cliffs overlooking the ocean, just north of the UC San Diego campus. It's a short walk to the beach. Right next door on one side is Torrey Pines golf course - a PGA course with breathtaking views similar to the those at the hotel. </p>
<p>Right next door on the other side is Torrey Pines State Park a small forrest of the nearly-extinct Torrey pine tree. There are only two natural stands of these trees in the world: this one and one on Santa Rosa Island in the Santa Barbara channel, perhaps 6000 trees in all. The park has lots of hiking trails. </p>
<p>There are lots of restaurants a short drive away and an excellent one in the hotel itself. It's all very relaxing. Plus it's an easy drive to the usual assortment of San Diego tourist attractions: SeaWorld, Balboa Park, The Wild Animal Park, Old Town, Legoland (for little kids), and the best zoo in the world.</p>
<p>Warning: if you want a lot of sun, don't come in June. It's often overcast in June --> called "June Gloom".</p>
<p>Cape Cod - beaches and golf. Quiet, lovely, scenic. </p>
<p>If the Jersey shore isn't too built up/commercialized for you, it could be lovely. There are waves, beaches, and fun places to explore. Try Seven Mile Island (Avalon/Stone Harbor). </p>
<p>For surf - Melbourne, FL.</p>
<p>For good surfing, check out the wedge in Newport Beach, then browse the art in Laguna Beach- more than a bit on the commercial side though. If you want the less common beaches in Orange County, check out the south end- San Clemente and San Onofre- the nuclear power plant always kept the water nice & warm when I was young :D</p>
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<blockquote> <p>check out the south end- San Clemente and San Onofre- the nuclear power plant always kept the water nice & warm when I was young <<</p> </blockquote>
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<p>Yay for Trestles!</p>
<p>Way to go Cheers, I was going to link them to Seaside or Grayton Beach. It will change your definition of beach.
Go in June or early July for the best surfing, or wait until hurricane season - seriously, that stretch of Fla coast is relatively protected from hurricanes, it is low risk for having a ruined vacation.
The surfing is not what you would consider "surfing" in the Pacific, but the sand and the sun and the lounging are world class.</p>
<p>Ok, I've joined Cheers agency as an assistant agent. Seaside is full of teens and happenings, cars are discouraged, you can walk or bile to the sushi bar, the wine tastings and the outdoor movies. Lots of teens, including my two and their friends. Unless you are all day at the beach, it is good to rent a car to go to Destin Commons and the outlet mall for shopping and a movie. There are shuttles from Ft Walton and Pensacola airport. See you in mid-July.</p>
<p>On the west coast of Florida where Cheers mentionned is also a new place called "Watercolors" that's supposedly very attractive......one thing, though, Florida is "wicked hot!!" in the summer......(that's why we're heading for Vermont!)</p>
<p>The Florida spots sound great and I've filed them, but in the summer? Doesn't everyone who lives there and can, leave for the summer?</p>
<p>My brother has a place in Seaside, <a href="http://www.seasidefl.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.seasidefl.com/</a> and I have been there many times. I like it a lot; very relaxing. If you can get the teenagers off to fairly nearby Panama City they'll find things to do. BTW, Seaside was where "The Truman Show" with Jim Carrey was shot.</p>
<p>I have also been to Palm Desert several times, the Marriott Villas timeshares. Very enjoyable, but don't go in August unless you like temperatures of 107 degrees. Great restaurants in the area.</p>
<p>Another vote for Seaside. It will change your view of Florida, too.</p>
<p>If you can't get into Seaside, try Rosemary Beach, another planned community just down the road from Seaside.</p>