I went to Surfside Beach, SC (near Myrtle Beach) for almost a week over Thanksgiving. Rented a house on the beach. It was practically deserted, which was nice. I did absolutely nothing -- just sat on the back porch for hours every day (and ran a fun local 8K Thanksgiving morning!). I enjoyed being somewhere like that off-season. Plus, I like the beach in the winter. If I did it again, I'd probably go to the Outer Banks or Wilmington, NC. Which, actually, is what I'm doing for Beach 2 Battleship -- renting a beach house for a week!

(And, yes, I realize that I'm talking about the other side of the country and the other side of the year! But April might be early enough in some beach towns to get some good pre-season deals.)

The Florida Keys. I think you would enjoy.

I was going to suggest the Boundary Waters--which is nothing but quiet and relaxing. But April's still a wee bit chilly (and icy :p). But if you can hold out until a bit later...it's one of the most wonderful places on earth.

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mmm-mmm-Momo Charms
Handmade beverage charms, jewelry, and miscellanea
http://momocharms.wordpress.com

Brasil

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clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

Whale's Vagina (San Diego) ;-)

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Come crawling faster

Being you're a fellow Canuk and not having travel restrictions, I always recommend Cuba. Historic architecture, low crime, great beaches, fantastic scuba diving and best of all very inexpensive. And surprisingly excellent medical care if you need it. You can pick up an all inclusive resort package very cheaply.

I would not recommend the Varedera area as it's highly commercialized and busy, unless that's what you want. My wife and I prefer some of the smaller out of the way resorts that cater more to the European tourists.

Now we're talking! Yeah Cuba would be nice. Bit worried about staying within that budget, but will check into it.

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"How bad could it be?" - SimpleS

In response to the person who suggested Surfside.......Surfside might be a little crowded in April. Maybe not as much this year since Easter is in March. Easter is a huge time for us SOutherners to go to the beach. It's also a big Canuc time of year. And I gather from this you might be from Canada. We used to laugh at the Canadians in the water becuase us Carolinians don't like our beach water until it feels like bath water, hehe.....the Canadian would be in the water when it was in the 60's. So we are wimps. That area isn't my most favorite in SC.

In all seriousness if you consider the east coast from that far away try a little furhter south like the Georgia beaches. Savannah is a really cool place to visit.....historical, beaches, kayaking, good food. If you like pizza there is a place called Vinnie a gogo's or somethign like that. Try it.

Charleston,SC is great as well for the same reasons. The Battery, the market, the outlying beaches, etc. I'll be there myself for my honeymoon the middle of April. You can stay at some of the outlaying areas like Isle of Palms or Folly Beach.

The Outerbanks are gorgeous as well. I've been going to Nags Head for 30 years and have family that lives there. Used to go every Easter. I have been there for Easter before when a Northeaster was hitting and it was freezing but I have laid out on the beach as well in April. It isn't the easiest of places to get to. You'd have to fly into Norfolk, VA. However you can get some pretty good preseason rates on beach houses/hotels. You can ride bikes out there. See lighthouses, see wild horses, tour all the historical lost colony stuff. They even have a Y now so you can get some swimming in.

Good Luck if you decide on the south. Hope you have a wonderful time no matter where you go!

That's an interesting idea, I have a lot of friends in MD, DC and VA.... hmmmm... ;-) I bet it would end up being too much drinking and not enough loafing.

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"How bad could it be?" - SimpleS

The last week of April/early May is actually something of a lull for tourism in Florida because you're in between the spring breaks and summer vacations. Weather's nice- normally beachy but not insanely hot & humid, and you often pay shoulder season rates.

If you're going to head this way, why not Annapolis? It's where I go when I want to get away for the weekend. Stay at the Waterfront Marriott -- get a room on the second floor with a balcony overlooking the water. You're right at Ego Alley, and watching the boats is divine!

NCCB is probably right about the South Carolina beaches starting to get busy in April. We used to go to Hilton Head in late March, and it was always getting crowded. Jekyll or Tybee might be a good thought, though.

Of course, if you're talking early April, you could always head to Augusta!

Sonoma or Anderson Valley California. Same time zone, great wine, food and scenery. You could probably find a kick ass B&B or cottage.

Hey AP,

Just got back from Maui. A bit on the rainy side, but when it is sunny very, very nice indeed. I ran all 5 days I was out there and I just loved it. Lots of people biking, running etc.

Not sure if will be in the budget. Stay at a hotel/condo that way you have a full kitchen, washer/dryer if needed and you can save a bit if you don't always go out for food.

Kauai kauai kauai. As a seattle-gal I have to say I love it there. Good weather, less developed then the other islands, and a pretty easy trip for those of us in the Northwest. You can sometimes also find some great airline deals.

We've stayed here before and have nothing but fantastic things to say about it. We stayed in the B&B portion which was amazing but you can also rent condos on site for pretty cheap. Really one of the best trips ever: http://www.poipubeach.com/

And if you go to Kauai check out Puka Dogs in the Poipu Shopping Center for lunch. I really can't explain it but just trust me...(and it's cheap)...oh, and eat lots and lots of shave ice.

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http://smallfoodbiz.com
</blatent self-marketing>

If you seriously consider the east coast you can send me a personal message and I would be glad to tell you of some really good places to eat, see, etc. I love NC and SC. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else at this point in my life other than these two states. Don't forget to take a look at our mountains. They aren't like the Rockies, etc but the Blue Ridge has it's own beauty. And hte Blue Ridge parkway is a great place to ride your bike. Weather is a bit more iffy in April.

Anchorman. Sweet! One of my favorites

BTW, I am going to Hawaii mid April too. Not to train, but to see Jack Johnson and Dave Matthews Band at the Kokua Festival in Waikiki. Tickets go on sale tomorrow if you are interested (April 19-20). Then hop on an inter-island flight to another place to go train for the week.

I have trained in Hawaii, and I would agree that Maui (can be super windy) would be sweet, and Kona, for a less crowded touristy place, would be nice too.

Also I spent 5 days in Moab last March (end of the month). Had 2 days of 80 degrees, then snow and rain for 2 days, so the weather can be a mixed bag. The road riding down there is PHENOMINAL. Riding in Arches and Canyonlands is the BOMB with tons of climbing.

The mountain biking is um, technical. It scared the living crap outta me. Running is pretty decent, too, just not easy unless you run the dirt roads, or the bike path in town. Pool in town, but we did not go.

OK I think I've gone crazy but I am seriously thinking of going to New Orleans. Cheap air fare. Always wanted to see it. Jazz Festival in April too.

Might not be that quiet and relaxing, I can live with that... any one been there recently?

AP

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"How bad could it be?" - SimpleS

I'm telling you.... the Keys!!!!!!!

Bed and breakfast in Key West. Options to dive, snorkel to wrecks, fish, eat seafood, and engage in general debauchery. Also, the ghost tour is great. And hit the world's largest tiki bar in Islamorada on the way down.

I assume you fly into Miami and then drive out?

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"How bad could it be?" - SimpleS

OK, we're doing the Keys. If you have any suggestions on where to stay, let me know!!!

thanks all!

AP

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"How bad could it be?" - SimpleS

Aruba, jamaica ooo I wanna take you
Bermuda, bahama come on pretty mama
Key largo, montego baby why dont we go
Jamaica

Off the florida keys
Theres a place called kokomo
Thats where you wanna go to get away from it all

Bodies in the sand
Tropical drink melting in your hand
Well be falling in love
To the rhythm of a steel drum band
Down in kokomo

Aruba, jamaica ooo I wanna take you
To bermuda, bahama come on pretty mama
Key largo, montego baby why dont we go

Ooo I wanna take you down to kokomo
Well get there fast
And then well take it slow
Thats where we wanna go
Way down to kokomo

To martinique, that monserrat mystique

Well put out to sea
And well perfect our chemistry
By and by well defy a little bit of gravity

Afternoon delight
Cocktails and moonlit nights
That dreamy look in your eye
Give me a tropical contact high
Way down in kokomo

Aruba, jamaica ooo I wanna take you
To bermuda, bahama come on pretty mama
Key largo, montego baby why dont we go

Ooo I wanna take you down to kokomo
Well get there fast
And then well take it slow
Thats where we wanna go
Way down to kokomo

Port au prince I wanna catch a glimpse

Everybody knows
A little place like kokomo
Now if you wanna go
And get away from it all
Go down to kokomo

Aruba, jamaica ooo I wanna take you
To bermuda, bahama come on pretty mama
Key largo, montego baby why dont we go

Ooo I wanna take you down to kokomo
Well get there fast
And then well take it slow
Thats where we wanna go
Way down to kokomo

Aruba, jamaica ooo I wanna take you
To bermuda, bahama come on pretty mama
Key largo, montego baby why dont we go

Ooo I wanna take you down to kokomo

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<If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough>
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Here's an old thread I posted on about KW:
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/...=key%20west;#1046366

You can fly straight to KW or in to Miami. It's about a 3hr drive to KW from Miami depending on traffic. I personally love the drive and enjoy all the weirdness on the way down. Some people finding it very tedious and boring. It can be slow going since it's just 2 lanes in each direction, but I think it's worth driving. There are some interesting things on the way down if you want more of the local flavor. However, if you fly into KW, you can probably just cab it to the hotel and walk the rest of the time.

Let me know if that's what you decide to do. I will have quite a few places you should stop on the way down.

For accommodations, you might want to check a place called the Artist's house (http://www.artisthousekeywest.com/rooms.htm). My folks stayed there and really liked it. It's supposedly haunted - if that doesn't bother you. Most of the action is on Duval Street, so I'd suggest being semi close to there if you plan to go pub crawling. Also, Smathers Beach is the public beach on Key West. It's not that great (compared to other FL beaches), but then KW doesn't have any natural beaches. Most of the resorts and big hotels have their own private, man-made beaches. So, if that is important to you, look into staying at a hotel. However, most places have pools and there are zillions of options for boating, snorkeling, scuba, etc.

I've also stayed at the Southernmost Hotel: http://www.southernmostresorts.com/

And you've got to do the Ghost Tour. It's my favorite thing in KW. It's a neat way to learn a little of the history while creeping yourself out. And the history is super interesting: pirates, bootleggers, voodoo, santeria, rumrunners, outlaws, outcasts, vigilante justice, and eccentrics. The tour leaves from the La Concha Hotel on Duval Street, which I think is expensive but might have some special rates: http://www.laconchakeywest.com/.

ghost tour: http://www.hauntedtours.com/

You also will want to do some boat/fishing/diving/snorkeling for sure.

food:
http://www.colespeace.com/ --> artisan bakery
http://blueheavenkw.homestead.com/...aurant_Key_West.html

bars:
http://www.capttonyssaloon.com/
http://www.sloppyjoes.com/

'workouts:'
http://www.geocities.com/keywesthash/ --> if you want to hash
http://www.southernmostrunners.com/ --> for all things running related in the lower keys

Now, if you drive down from MIA here are my recommended stops:

http://www.robertishere.com/ --> in Homestead on the mainland. you MUST stop here and get milkshakes and fresh tropical fruits
http://www.kayakfloridakeys.com/ --> kayak rentals and tours including multi-day trips
http://www.pennekamppark.com/ --> another dive/kayak option in Key Largo. park attractions are mostly underwater
http://www.fodors.com/...ys/entity_42818.html --> good Keys food in Key Largo
World Famous Islamorada Tiki Bar (not sure if there is a website)
http://www.floridastateparks.org/bahiahonda/ --> very nice beach and state park
http://www.littlepalmisland.com/...palmisland_home.aspx --> if you need something really fancy

any seafood place that looks like a dive and has been in business for 20+ yrs is also worth stopping for.

must eats: conch fritters, stone crab, key lime pie, margaritas, fresh mangoes, and fresh dolphin