My daughter has vacation days saved up, use it or lose it. We could meet her somewhere but she’d like something within five/ six hours of Cincinnati. Late October, so maybe going south instead of north. We’re up for any ideas.
How about French Lick, Indiana?
I hate to say it, but you will need to check quarantine restrictions if she is coming from Ohio. Ohio is on the mandatory quarantine for 14 days if you visit list for a number of states.
And many places south will require a quarantine when she gets back to Ohio. Can she do that?
I hate to be a Debbie Downer…but that is real.
Could she fly someplace? Colorado is looking good.
I would head for the Smokies in TN or NC! You can rent great VRBOs there and it’s gorgeous.
We’ve been dying to go to Blackberry Farm in TN. That would be within your driving window. Should be beautiful that time of year.
As of yesterday, these are the only states with self-quarantining when you return to Ohio:
Based on current positivity rates, Ohioans are encouraged to avoid travel to:
Alabama
Kansas
North Dakota
South Dakota
These are updated once a week on Wednesday.
I know you said south but thought I’d throw in SW Michigan along Lake Michigan. Some beautiful lake towns that might have availability and you could still maybe walk the beaches and lake look. Also you could even do a day trip to Chicago - less than 2 hours driving or hop on the train in South Bend and take it into the city.
5 or 6 hours?
You could do SW Michigan. somewhere from St Joseph to Michigan City Indiana is a great place, they have dunes and lots of cute towns to explore. Late October is a little late though. Colors will probably be pretty much over by then.
But if I were going somewhere in late October, I would pick Gatlinburg, TN or Maggie Valley, NC. Asheville NC. It would probably be peak colors in those places. Lots of cabins to rent.
I’ve been to Chicago in October. It can be nice, it can be cold and windy. Depends on what you can tolerate.
What type of vacation? Nature or City? Fancy Inn (i.e. Ashville or French Lick), or more laid back? Red River Gorge (KY), & Old Man’s Cave (Chillicothe OH area) are typically gorgeous in the fall – usually mid to late October.
You might have to go where you can find a rental! I’ve been looking at late Sept/early Oct at Hocking Hills (Ohio), and it’s all booked up. Fall is busy season for some of these areas anyway (OH, TN), and road trips are taking the place of bigger flying vacations. TNVacation dot com says that TN does not have any quarantines for incoming travelers.
I really should read all the comments before making suggestions. LOL
I was going to say Hocking Hills. Although, you still might be able to find something in the area through VRBO/AirBnB. I’m not at all shocked that the cabins are booked.
I love Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill which is near Harrodsburg, Kentucky. It’s very peacful there with rooms in the actual Shaker buildings. The furniture is Shaker inspired with pegs on the walls for hanging clothes or even the Shaker chairs. There are farm animals and some trails and an excellent restaurant. However, it is simple. No pool, tennis or golf or other resorty activities. It’s good for one or two nights only unless you use it as a base for other sightseeing.
Thanks for all the ideas. You’re right about places being booked up, we loved the Blackberry Farm web site, no availability through November! Now looking to Gatlinburg or Asheville, we’re thinking first week of November now so southern destinations sound better. Any specific places to stay?
I looked at Blackberry Mountain in the Smokies for October and couldn’t find a vacancy.
Not cheap but the Omni Grove Park in Asheville is a bucket list for me. I looked up random days the first week of November and saw availability.
Here’s another idea. My sister once went to the Hot Springs resort in Virginia and they really liked it. She lives in Cleveland and it wasn’t that far so it might be another possibility