MetaChat - AskMecha: round-trip voucher for free United flight in continental US. Where to go?

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22 February 2010

AskMecha: round-trip voucher for free United flight in continental US. Where to go? I got bumped last year and now have a voucher for a free round-trip ticket to anywhere in the continental US that United flies. I need to book by tomorrow, with travel any time in the next year. I want to go somewhere random and new, not visit people I know. But I am drawing a giant, indecisive blank! Hope me, Metachat? →[More:]

Details:
-I would be flying from San Francisco
-I don't have a lot of additional money to spend on this - it'd be youth hostels or couchsurfing and probably not renting a car unless it's for something awesome.
-I'd probably take a max of 1 week's vacation time
-I am a queer female in my 20s and would be traveling alone.
-I want to go somewhere new. I'm from the East Coast and I've been up and down that coast a bit, so no MD/VA/PA/NY/NC/FL. I've never been anywhere far from the coast and I might like to see what the more...central parts of the US are like.
-I'm not really into clubbing and I don't need to have stuff to do every second - I enjoy just walking around/taking public transport, seeing what a new city is like and imagining what it is like living there. I have zero idea of what the Midwest or South (besides Florida and VA/NC) are really like. Or the Pacific Northwest. Or the Southwest.

Basically, there are giant swaths of "my" country that I know nothing about. Ideally I'd love to take a road trip someday, but barring that, at least I can use this to see a slice of life in one new place.

-I have random interests in Minneapolis, Austin, Chicago, and Milwaukee, but these aren't based on much.

Please throw any and all ideas at me. I'm afraid I'll be overwhelmed and let this go to waste!

post by: needs more cowbell at: 00:51 | 19 comments

Ack, I forgot to use [mi]. If a mod sees this, please feel free to edit...

posted by needs more cowbell 22 February | 00:54

New Orleans? It rocks.

posted by gaspode 22 February | 00:56

Chicago and New Orleans would be my recommendations.

posted by occhiblu 22 February | 01:40

I say New Orleans as well, but I don't know how expensive it may be.

posted by Ardiril 22 February | 02:37

Go to Austin and make a BBQ pilgrimage.

Shit, I guess now I know what to do with my United voucher.

posted by mullacc 22 February | 04:32

I live in Chicago so maybe I'm biased but in the late spring/summer/early fall, it's awesome. Lots to do, great neighborhoods to walk around, public transportation, many MeFites who meet up regularly, excellent museums, theater, shopping and of course eating.

You could spend several days in Chicago and then take a train up to Milwaukee and check out their excellent art museum. Both cities are right on Lake Michigan and in the warmer months there is almost always something going on.

Come here!

posted by Kangaroo 22 February | 07:42

Washington, DC in the spring or the fall.

posted by BoringPostcards 22 February | 07:51

Portland, OR all the way, baby.

posted by Specklet 22 February | 09:27

From Chicago, you can take the train or the MegaBus to Milwaukee. Or Detroit. Or St. Louis.

You'll need a car in Austin, but it's otherwise pretty busy and (at least it used to be) pretty cheap.

New Orleans is fun, but hot. Oh good heavens is the weather in NO something I really hate.

posted by crush-onastick 22 February | 09:35

Portland is more fun than Seattle IMHO, but that might just be this week's aborted trip to Portland talking (broken wheel bearing and leaky roof, auto mechanics and roofers ate my vacation.)

Southwest is pretty car oriented.

posted by warbaby 22 February | 10:24

At the risk of sounding provincial, Portland would be fun and pretty easy. Good public transit from the airport, and cheap hostels.

My daughter is in your demographic, and the SE Hawthorne area in which she lives seems like a lesbian Castro.

posted by danf 22 February | 10:41

The ones you listed sound good and I am also randomly interested in them.

Two more options:
Savannah (just got back!) is beautiful to walk in and you don't need a car. There are great restaurants and shops and we went to a drag show which was fun.

St. Louis, MO is fun to visit, a little less walkable but doable and plenty to see. I remember really liking the butterfly garden.

posted by rmless2 22 February | 12:29

Savannah (just got back!)

My partner is from Savannah! It is a beautiful city, and the people there are... unique. :)

posted by BoringPostcards 22 February | 13:48

I agree with the Chicago recommendation. I went in May a few years ago and it was fantastic. There's SO much to do even with a small amount of money. It's a fascinating city, and does a lot to challenge East Coast provincialism. Many fascinating neighborhoods, much affordable and delicious food, very scenic and architecturally interesting. And lots of MeFites, it's true.

posted by Miko 22 February | 14:45

If you come to Milwaukee, let me know. We live in Twentysomething Queer Female Central.

posted by desjardins 22 February | 16:42

I think Seattle is more fun than Portland, but hey. Also, I wouldn't bother using your free ticket to come up here since you could more easily get cheap plane tickets. New Orleans (which I've never been to but always wanted to) or Austin (my hometown) have my vote.

posted by grouse 22 February | 23:58

If you're serious about food, New Orleans, even cheap food can be awesome. Plus, by spending your money in New Orleans you'd be doing a good thing. So you'd have that going for you.

posted by justgary 23 February | 01:38

Thanks for the help everyone! I narrowed it down to Chicago and New Orleans, flipped a coin, and settled on Chicago in late May (I hope it'll be pleasantly warm by then), though I may be able to change dates with no penalty.

It may or may not have been the right choice (now I'm wondering if New Orleans mighta been more exciting...or if I should have gone to Boston again), but at least the voucher won't go to waste. All of the comments really helped me narrow things down and get moving.

posted by needs more cowbell 23 February | 02:53

Hooray! ChiMeFi meets the first Wednesday of every month downtown, FYI.

posted by eamondaly 23 February | 12:33

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