Minimoon Suggestions

Hazel_B

I'm inspired by Sunbird's honeymoon.

Yesterday, FI mentioned that with family in around the wedding that we shouldn't take a honeymoon right away. However, he suggested taking a minimoon. Yes, he even used the term - which I thought was adorable, he's learning wedding lingo all on his own.

What would you suggest for a minimoon? I'm in Ontario, so that is the starting point.  Also, bonus points for pics.

Hazel_B

We were talking about a long weekend and somewhere drivable from where we live.

I suggested the Finger Lake area in Upstate New York, but I don't know much about it. While FI was suggesting Montreal or Vermont.

Hazel_B

I forgot your budget question...umm, not sure yet.

Let's say cheaper would be better at this point because I have no idea if we are going to be as on budget for the wedding as I'm hoping.

marleylikeair

Hazel, the first thing I thought of when you said Ontario was Niagara-on-the-Lake. My grandparents go there every summer for the Shaw Festival (theatre fest). I'm not super familiar with what else NOTL has to offer besides theatre, but I did go once and it was super pretty. Tons of nice B&Bs in the area. I also love Stratford, but I also have only been there to see theatre. So maybe do some Googling in those areas?

If you want something a little farther away...hm...I will ponder and come back to this thread.

Swazzle

I've always wanted to go here: http://www.belhurst.com/ 

It looks gorgeous (it's a castle!!).  It's in the NY fingerlakes, has a spa, restaurants, and a vineyard.  There also other vineyards in the area.  Also, it's on a lake. 

ETA pics!!

cu97tiger

Hazel, I'm from Rochester, NY and have spent lots of time in the Finger Lakes. If you're just going for a couple days, I'd suggest renting a little cabin on Seneca Lake, and then investing in a limo or towncar to take you around to some of the wineries. I believe their are more than 40 wineries around just that one lake. We did that for my sis' bachelorette and we had so much fun.

Another nice lake is Conesus. I spent lots of summer weekends there with family. They had a little amusement park (not sure if it's still running) and some cute restaurants. If you want more specifics, just PM me... I'm happy to help!

OR... you could go to my favorite place on earth... the 1000 Islands. Rent a house in Thousand Island Park. It's on Wellsley Island but you can drive to it. Then you can head into Alexandria Bay one day, and Clayton another day, and spend time just lounging in TI Park as well. Lots of stuff to do, but very relaxing as well. 

Hazel_B

These look great!

Marley - Although great suggestions, that area is where I grew up and I'd like to go a little further and try something different. For anyone else it is a GREAT suggestion.

Rdr and Liv - Those both look fantastic!

kellyt89

I currently live in Ithaca, NY and it's BEAUTIFUL in the summer and fall. There are there are a TON of gorges, waterfalls, little parks where you can do picnics, a farmers market where you can go on boat tours, wineries, and a lot of good places to eat. You can also walk around the Cornell campus which is very pretty, or go to the Cornell Planations, just to name a few things. It's a very laid back town - somewhere you can do as much or as little as you want.

calindi

Ooooh wine tasting!

We're going to do kind of a minimoon, too.  We're not sure how much time he'll be able to get off at that point, and we won't be able to afford much as I can't save up right now since I'm unemployed, so we were planning on just doing a long weekend in Virginia wine country, so very similar to Finger Lakes.  However, my Mom is putting a bunch of wedding purchases on her Southwest credit card and has offered to use the points to get us flights to San Francisco so we can do that instead!  So we'll have a long weekend in San Francisco and Napa!

Hazel_B

Tiger - I had no idea you were from Rochester! Should I have known this and forgot? I'll run these ideas past FI and maybe PMing you for ideas.

Kelly - Thanks, this upstate NY thing is looking better and better to me.

Cate - Another California wine option is Temecula. If money is tight, I think it may be a cheaper option in terms of hotels at least. I was there last time I was in SoCal and we had a great time.  I'm really hoping we go back again the next time.