I am living in the northern states in the US, and I would like to spend 2-3 weeks somewhere warmer for a relaxing vacation. I am thinking about California for cultural reasons but am open to other places.
I am not well paid, so I want somewhere as affordable as possible. I only care about safety. I am looking for somewhere boring (even out of nowhere) with the hope that it might be cheaper. I just want to live there and relax for a couple of weeks.
Are there such places, or do they only exist in my naive imagination? Thank you!
Suburban town? Desert in the middle of nowhere? Mountain? Beach town?
And how warm do you want it to be? 50s during the day okay? While warmer than many places, CA does not have beach/pool weather in the winter and many places in the mountains/desert can be quite cold.
@Dior
I say “boring” mostly just to mean that I do not care if it is interesting. I imagine that maybe boring places would be cheaper as they do not attract people. But I really do not care about that part.
Cypress said: @Jory
Maybe you could describe what activities you want to do while you’re there.
Yeah, I am imagining that I rent a car, drive to this place, and live for two weeks like a local person—doing groceries, cooking (if possible such as with an Airbnb), taking walks, and reading books.
@Jory
I have a membership that gets me wholesale pricing on vacation rentals but I cannot share it with you here because we’re not allowed to share links.
I’m a lifelong Californian. My first thought: San Diego. Hands down, it’s the best place to visit in the Golden State. It’s just the perfect mix of cosmopolitan and natural beauty, with the perfect vibe—slower and more laid-back than L.A. or the Bay Area. Here’s the downside, though: it ain’t cheap.
If you want affordable and a nice slow pace with lots of natural beauty, I’d recommend the northern coast. It’s sparsely populated up there and farther from the major metro areas, and so expect it to be on the more affordable side without being gross like the Central Valley (which is cheap for a reason … trust me, I was born there, so I know how awful it is).
@Ziv
Mendocino coastline, but not Mendocino township! Somewhere like Elk, Gualala, or a bit inland like Healdsburg, Cloverdale to avoid the coastal fog but still take day trips to see the ocean! Perfect!
This answer is so underrated. It’s going to be 80 there this weekend when it’s 65 at best in places like San Diego. Since OP wants boring to get cheaper, they can be an hour away and pick a random motel.
What cultural reasons are leading you to California? If you’ve never been, the rural areas (except for Marin County and SLO, which are expensive) are just as conservative as other rural parts of the country.
Consider also Palm Springs. It’s gorgeous at this time of year. Tons of natural beauty, a lot of great dining options without breaking the bank. It’s a couple hours outside the L.A. Metro area, so it’s not as crowded, though it does attract tourists. I don’t find it all that pricey though as far as California hot spots go.
