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I have been researching this topic for the past several days now and I thought maybe it would make for a good discussion here...
I am looking for suggestions of vacations to take that absolutely do not require a car. I am not necessarily opposed to taking a cab or a bus during the vacation, but renting a car should be out of the question for this discussion. So essentially, another way of looking at this is to list cities that are "walkable" by common definition. But I would prefer to expound upon such a list by giving specifics, and really listing detailed vacations you have taken, or plan to take, where a car was completely unnecessary. I mean, vacations are more than just flying into a city, walking to a hotel, and staying there until it's time to go home, right? So what are vacations that can be taken where sights are seen, things are done, and no one rents a car to do it?
I have been researching this topic for the past several days now and I thought maybe it would make for a good discussion here...
I am looking for suggestions of vacations to take that absolutely do not require a car. I am not necessarily opposed to taking a cab or a bus during the vacation, but renting a car should be out of the question for this discussion. So essentially, another way of looking at this is to list cities that are "walkable" by common definition. But I would prefer to expound upon such a list by giving specifics, and really listing detailed vacations you have taken, or plan to take, where a car was completely unnecessary. I mean, vacations are more than just flying into a city, walking to a hotel, and staying there until it's time to go home, right? So what are vacations that can be taken where sights are seen, things are done, and no one rents a car to do it?
Would anyone like to start?
Last summer, I took my 16-year-old daughter to Chicago for a three-night trip. We flew into Midway, and took the train downtown, where we had a six-block walk to our hotel. We could have taken a cheap cab ride there, but we didn't pack all that much for such a short stay, and so we walked.
We spent much of our time in/near the Loop, though we did walk up Lake Shore Drive. We went to the Chicago Institute of Art, caught a Tuesday night film outdoors in Millenium Park, walked the river and out onto Navy Pier, caught a show at the Palace Theater, explored Michigan Avenue, and ate many great meals in and around the area. I consider a mile walk to be nothing, and there was enough within a mile of our room to keep us entertained for weeks, to say nothing of the four days were were there.
Really, anywhere you have a dense urban core and/or a decent public transportation system, you can enjoy a vacation without a car.
Done a Multi-Day Vacation in DC. (Did have car but it was @ hotel in Maryland, and did not move during our stay in DC area). Uses Metro for all our activities ,
- Capital, Spy museum, Newseum, Smithsonian (Air&Space Mall, Airs/Ind, American History, American Indian ) Mall, (Event on the Mall), Walk'ed past White House, Vietnam, WW2, Korean Mem's , Lincoln, Washington Mont. (walk around), US Printing / Engraving.
(except 9/11 @ Pentagon and Arlington Tomb of the unknown soldier and JFK, Distance uncle Grave Site. Did Pentagon/Arlington, on a Sunday as we were departing the DC area).
I know they aren't for everyone, but I love cruises. No car needed, you unpack once, get settled in, wake up in a different port everyday, and all you pay for is booze.
In the US, NYC, Chicago and DC are the obvious options. I have also enjoyed Seattle, San Diego, San Francisco, and New Orleans without a car - stay near the main tourist area, and everything of interest is walkable or easily accessible via public transit. I've gone mostly car-free in Charleston and Santa Fe, but needed a car to reach both of them.
Outside of the US, most of the major cities in the Europe are very easy to manage without a car. Specifically, I've visited Paris, London, Barcelona, Lisbon, Porto, Stockholm and Copenhagen without a car. I know most major cities in Asia are also good for car-free travel, but I haven't been as an adult, so I can't make specific recommendations.
As I wrote this, I realized the only vacations I've really needed a car for were beach trips - family vacations at the Outer Banks in NC and a trip to Honolulu to visit a friend (who was working part of the time I was there, so I needed a car to explore on my own).
Most city (I mean, the real cities) trips don't require cars. Cars are more needed when you venture into the pure nature.
That is true... But part of what I'm hoping here is that maybe people can point out places they went to where, in addition to flying (or taking a train) into a dense city with proper public transportation, they were still able to go out somewhat into nature without renting a car. Of course this means a vacation filled with a lot of walking, but that's already a common theme in these "walkable" cities, so it's no big deal.
One example that comes to mind is flying into Seattle, taking public transportation down to the ferries, then hopping on one of those to get out to a barrier island where you walk to a bed and breakfast... Something like that. Or maybe, taking a train somewhere where there is a shuttle that would pick you up and take you to a cabin in the woods. Those kind of things.
But I'm really liking the replies so far... It seems you guys already know what I'm asking for, so keep it coming!
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Seattle will work for the ferry thing.
Portland is excellent for the city thing (and a very close airport with Light rail station)
my Favorite "no car (quick) destination in USA" is San Diego (airport is practically DOWN TOWN)!!!
I can fly 1200 miles to San Diego from Portland, OR for $19.90! (Sale dates on Hobo Air) Spirit... down at 6AM, home at midnight, no hotel / stay required. Morning in Old Town, afternoon at beach, evening in downtown.
I fly to Oakland or SFO for $59. That works too (no car). I like to stay at Ft Mason Hostel (on the wharf).
DC gets an oft visit for fall and spring colors / blooms. (hundreds of miles of bike trails)
Singapore is a fine choice, Hong Kong too! (When living in Singapore, we did weekend trips to Hong Kong for escape.)
Fly into Chicago, take the train downtown, stay in one of the many awesome hotels in the Loop, walk Michigan Ave., State Street, Millennium Park (nature), down to the lake (nature), take a cruise onto the lake (nature), walk along LSD (nature).....
Fly into NY. Taxi. Central Park in nature. The shore is nature.
Cruise. Many of the shore excursions are in nature.
One example that comes to mind is flying into Seattle, taking public transportation down to the ferries, then hopping on one of those to get out to a barrier island where you walk to a bed and breakfast... Something like that. Or maybe, taking a train somewhere where there is a shuttle that would pick you up and take you to a cabin in the woods. Those kind of things.
One of the trains out of NYC stops at towns near hiking trails. Weekend only has a hiking trail stop — Breakneck Ridge. Go up the ridge, go down the less steep south side into town, catch the train back.
You can take the train + bus to Yosemite Valley from San Francisco. Acadia national park is great without a car, getting there without a car is difficult.
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