Help, East Coasters! Help! Help!
Okay, it's not really an emergency or anything. Or at least, not to anyone but me. It's just that I realized that Netroots Nation will be coming up before we know it and I don't have my travel plans finalized. These plans include traveling somewhere for a few days afterwards, before I return to Chicago on the train. So I'm looking for travel advice on where to go on my mini vacation. And after the spring I've had, I really could use that little vacation. Follow me over the fold for what I consider "musts" for this little adventure.
Last year after NN, I rented a car and headed south to do something I've wanted to do for years - walk the beach at South Padre Island and pick up shells, rocks and driftwood. I got more than I bargained for, as I happened to arrive the day before Hurricane Dolly hit. Suffice it to say, it was a fascinating experience, one I will chronicle as part of a travelogue of last year's NN experience in the weeks ahead. I have to say, it was one of the most profound experiences of my life, and has had a major impact on my contemplations since then.
It's going to be hard to top the hurricane experience, but that doesn't mean I don't want to try. And hey, not everything has to be fireworks and excitement. So bearing that in mind, let's get to those requirements.
- Ocean. I want to walk the beach and pick up shells, rocks and driftwood (you can see I'm nothing if not consistent) and I'm not really interested in dodging massive amounts of semi-nude adults and their screaming children. I like to go it alone, as it were.
- Good food. I'm all about the eating. And if I'm by the sea, then seafood tops the list.
- Reasonable pricing. I have to save like crazy to make this happen, so I'm not looking to stay at the Ritz. I would, however, like to avoid bedbugs if at all possible.
- Distance. Since NN is in Pittsburgh this year, I'm looking for somewhere not too distant from the point of origin. I'll either have to return to Pittsburgh to catch a train from there or take a train from another location that will bring me to Chicago. I'm afraid of trains, and for some reason getting on and off of them is the hardest part, so I'd like not to have to change trains if at all possible. So if there's somewhere I can go by rented car or by taking a short train ride from Pittsburgh, that would be ideal.
- Solitude. This one is very important. As I mentioned, I'm not looking for crowded beaches. I like to swim, but that's not my main goal. I'm looking to do some photography, pick up the aforementioned objects, and partake in some deep meditation.
Okay, those are the requirements. Does such a place exist? And if so, how do I get there from Pittsburgh?
Give it to me, I can take it.....
UPDATE: I realize that Pittsburgh is nowhere near the ocean. Neither was Austin, but I knew what I wanted and was not intimidated by the long drive. I routinely drive from Chicago to central Missouri, a 7-8 hour trip depending on which family members I visit first. And if a train ride is involved, well that's why my psychiatrist gives me a heaping bottle of Xanax. So don't freak out about the distance thing. I'm just looking for good spots to head to after NN in Pittsburgh.