Girls' Trip help

[wendell98]

I'm trying to plan a trip with some friends from back home (Buffalo). I'm currently in Charlotte, NC. We've been talking about it since early this year, but a couple of my friends have stalled around with suggestions and dates/spending limits and now we need pick something ASAP as we are supposed to be going somewhere before mid-August!

Anyway, I'm trying to find somewhere halfway between Buffalo and Charlotte. All I'm coming up with is Shenandoah Valley area. We mostly just want time to hang out and relax, shop, etc. Seems like there's some caverns, tours, etc nearby in addition to the mountains. A hotel with a pool would be great (although personally I'd prefer more of a cabin option). Has anyone been to this area (I know it encompasses many cities)? If so, any particular cities you'd recommend?

Anything else you can think of that would be a fun girls' trip about halfway for us all? One friend mentioned Ocean City, MD, but that's about 9 hours from both cities and I'd be driving by myself and paying for gas by myself, whereas they'd be able to split driving and gas 3 ways. I was hoping for somewhere more in the middle or a bit closer to me to offset the gas/driving issue.

Thanks for your help!

[ddi741]

We stayed here a few years ago during the summer. There was 8 of us and we just hung out and grilled and went to the lake one day and toured a historic home another. We also went to the ski resort and did grass tubing and took the ski lift ride.

www.vacationrentals.com/vacation-rentals/7629.html?promoType=none

I think you can also get places at Bryce Ski Resort which might have more ammenties.

We are looking to go to Luray next year and see Natural bridge and the caverns etc. We have friends that have gone and loved it.

[ddi741]

We do a trip every year with people from NY and SC. We try to meet in the middle. this is what we've done. We try to keep our budget around $600/couple for a 3 day trip.

1. Busch Gardens VA / Williamsburg
2. Virigina Beach
3. Bryce Resort
4. Hershey Park (wasn't exactly in the middle but was a lot of fun)
5. Kings Dominion Amusement Park

[ChiKate]

My husband's family is in Buffalo and we lived in Virginia Beach for awhile--it's about 10 hours driving but it's a pretty drive, especially if your friends are traveling together and can share the twisty/multi-road route.

I really like Virginia Beach--the beaches are clean, the seafood is fresh and cheap, there's hiking (but flat), kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, biking, etc. You can rent a house or a condo along the oceanfront to cut on eating-out costs.