<p>Lots of options in Florida…FL does have lakes although I’m more familiar with coastal beach locations…Sanibel & Captiva Islands would be wonderful that time of year and probably pretty quiet too…There’s also St. Petersburg Beach and Tampa areas…there’s also Naples on the West Coast or Sarasota areas with Longboat key, etc…Jacksonville area…the FL Keys are also nice, Islamorada & Key Largo…another idea could be The Bahamas…</p>
<p>Not sure how rustic you’re comfortable with…your threshold of tolerable fanciness. Florida’s winter tourist meccas are too crowded and hectic for me…too touristy. Florida does still have some quiet, off the beaten paths destinations for those who just want to get away from it all. Maybe fly into Jacksonville, park yourself in a cabin on the St. Johns River, drive from there over to historic St. Augustine and its beautiful beaches…do whatever you want taking it easy in Florida. [Welaka</a> Lodge & Resort](<a href=“http://welakalodge.com/]Welaka”>http://welakalodge.com/)</p>
<p>Lizard, you read my mind. I don’t want anything to do with a tourist mecca. (In fact, our abandoned trip to Grand Cayman was supposed to be at a resort as far away from Georgetown as we could get.) We don’t need fancy. A beautiful quiet getaway, where we can sit and be thankful is all we need. (and, maybe a nice little town nearby where we could do some window shopping 
) Loved the website for the lodge. Just what I had in mind.</p>
<p>Asheville, NC is nice! Also agree with whitepicketfence, Savannah & Charleston.</p>
<p>Two thoughts: Maryland’s Eastern Shore–St Michael’s, for example–the Bay is beautiful that time of year. </p>
<p>Or, flying to Texas isn’t a bad flight and would certainly be warmer…South Padre Island or Galveston are both on the Gulf and not touristy in Nov/Dec…For the lake lover: Lakeway Resort on Lake Travis in Austin. I attended a wedding there recently and it was beautiful! You’d have Austin at your disposal with its eclectic music scene and wonderful food~</p>
<p>Savannah, GA is a favorite of my DD (17). It is a beautiful historical area. You are probably familiar with Charleston with a MIL that lives below Myrtle Beach. There is also Mobile, AL with similar historical feel and likely to be nice in the winter. Or how about Williamsburg, VA? I’m partial to historical areas.</p>
<p>The Outer Banks of NC is a local favorite.</p>
<p>When people post these thread I always suggest my part of the country. Within 90 minutes of the Jacksonville Fl airport there are all kinds of great vacation areas. The Cloister at Sea Island is a five star beach resort, Cumberland is the rustic island where JFK Jr. was married. Other nice places are Little St.Simons, Jekyl Island, St. Simons Island, Amelia Island Plantation and Ritz Carlton Amelia.</p>
<p>[Luxury</a> 5 Star Resort | Sea Island | Five Star Hotel in Georgia](<a href=“http://www.seaisland.com/]Luxury”>http://www.seaisland.com/)</p>
<p>[Cumberland</a> Island Greyfield Inn The Perfect Getaway Vacation](<a href=“http://www.greyfieldinn.com/]Cumberland”>http://www.greyfieldinn.com/)</p>
<p>[Little</a> St. Simons Island, GA - Your private island adventure awaits](<a href=“Little St. Simons Island | Georgia Island Resort | Official Site”>http://www.littlestsimonsisland.com/)</p>
<p>I agree with Sanibel as a relaxing, non-touristy destination. They’re not allowed to build higher than a palm tree! My favorite winter getaway when we can afford it. The West Wind Inn [Sanibel</a> Island Resort. Florida Beachfront Hotel/Motel on the Gulf of Mexico - West Wind Inn](<a href=“http://www.westwindinn.com/]Sanibel”>http://www.westwindinn.com/) is my favorite non-condo place to stay but unfortunately is out of my price range nowadays in season. Looks like they have some good fall rates. Sanibel has nice restaurants, lots of window shopping types of places, nature, etc. Go meet the parrots at Jerry’s! [Jerrys</a> of Sanibel :: Shopping :: Sanibel-Captiva, Florida - Let Sunny Day Guide help plan your next family vacation and fully experience the Sanibel-Captiva Islands of Florida.](<a href=“http://sunnydayguide.com/sanibel_captiva/sc_shopping_details.php?ad_id=106]Jerrys”>http://sunnydayguide.com/sanibel_captiva/sc_shopping_details.php?ad_id=106)</p>
<p>Don’t go to the Outer Banks in November/December…weather is generally not great that time of year…cold/windy/rainy…all or any combination of the three. </p>
<p>How about St. Simon’s Island GA? It is on the ocean but the water there is so shallow that it looks more like a giant lake with small waves. The beach is wide and beautiful. Fun to watch the huge cargo ships headed into port at nearby Brunswick.
Lots of good restaurants, a cute waterfront downtown with a pretty town park on the water.<br>
The King and Prince is a historical hotel and is the only one in St. Simons that’s right on the beach. [Georgia</a> Resort, St. Simons Island Resort | The King and Prince](<a href=“King & Prince Beach & Golf Resort | Official Site”>King & Prince Beach & Golf Resort | Official Site)</p>
<p>St. Simons is only an hour away from Savannah if you want to spend a day sight seeing there.</p>
<p>I’m thinking ocean because anything north of Florida is probably going to be too cold… Our favorite is the Marriott in Marco Island, Fl. Absolutely beautiful, 3 or 4 restaurants, excellent shelling (wear shoes on the beach!), gorgeous sunsets. We will be taking a long weekend at the Waldorf Astoria in Naples this month, so will report back on that sometime later.
<a href=“http://www.marcoislandmarriott.com/[/url]”>Marco Island Beach Resort | JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort;
<p>St. Joe state park on Cape San Blas in Florida’s panhandle is located on one of America’s most beautiful, unspoiled beaches. The park fronts both the gulf and a bay. The cabins at the park are always in high demand so it i tough getting one reserved. It is super quiet at St. Joe, and it is really in the sticks, there aren’t any shopping malls nearby…I like that! At night I don’t think there is another spot in Florida where one can see as many stars in the sky at night as Cape San Blas. It is a fairly short drive from the Panama City, Florida airport.</p>
<p>[Welcome</a> to Florida State Parks](<a href=“http://www.floridastateparks.org/stjoseph/cabinsandlodge.cfm]Welcome”>http://www.floridastateparks.org/stjoseph/cabinsandlodge.cfm)</p>
<p>^^^Fidget:</p>
<p>We have also been to that Marco Island Marriott a few times! 
LOVE it!</p>
<p>Oh Packmom, the King and Prince looks devine. Where does one fly into? Jacksonville?</p>
<p>I will 3rd the Marco Marriott–again, the ocean, but there are nice beach loungers to relax on, read a book, hold your hand up for someone to bring you a tasty beverage :D. The pool area is lovely too.</p>
<p>JM5465…Yes, I would think so. We always drive (fr. NC). I’m sure Savannah must have an airport but prob. not a large one. St. Simons is pretty much halfway between Savannah and Jacksonville.</p>
<p>I too would choose Tybee Island (near Savannah) or Charleston, but here is a cottage near a lake in NC:</p>
<p>[Heavens</a> Whisper - An Escape to Blue Ridge Cabin](<a href=“http://www.escapetoblueridge.com/cabins/cabin.php?cabinid=116&search=yes]Heavens”>http://www.escapetoblueridge.com/cabins/cabin.php?cabinid=116&search=yes)</p>
<p>There are several beautiful lakes with very nice accomadations in the NC mountains. Most famous is Lake Lure where Dirty Dancing and Last of the Mohicans was filmed.<br>
We rented a house on Lake Lure for a few days one summer. Found it on VRBO.</p>
<p>BUT, the mountains of NC can be pretty cold by late Nov/early Dec. The ski slopes usually open on Thanksgiving weekend</p>
<p>Lake Lanier GA might be warmer.
.<a href=“http://www.lakelanierislands.com/?_vsrefdom=Google.com&s_kwcid=TC|14525|lake%20lanier||S|e|17661458583[/url]”>http://www.lakelanierislands.com/?_vsrefdom=Google.com&s_kwcid=TC|14525|lake%20lanier||S|e|17661458583</a></p>
<p>What about a short cruise?</p>
<p>I took a short trip into northern Ohio today, mountains, buggies, trees are changing, small towns! It is lovely. I have been many places and local can be fabulous.</p>
<p>JustaMom - Jacksonville would be your best bet if you’d like to go to St. Simons. The airport is just a few minutes from 95 and the ride from the exit to St. Simons is spectacular. (It’s my husband’s “commute” each day.)</p>
<p>[Airborne</a> view of Jekyll Creek at the ICW bridge including beach and marsh - Southeastern Photography - Troup Nightingale](<a href=“http://www.southeasternphotography.com/Landscapes/Near-Brunswick-Airborne-Views/4625639_2jLN4V/272960270_ZiSQW#!i=272960270&k=ZiSQW]Airborne”>http://www.southeasternphotography.com/Landscapes/Near-Brunswick-Airborne-Views/4625639_2jLN4V/272960270_ZiSQW#!i=272960270&k=ZiSQW)</p>