Sedona, Arizona!

If your definition of Spring Break is beach and you want to stay in the States, your choices are rather limited by the weather.  But if you are looking for relaxing activity, good food, and beautiful places I like your four suggestions, but would like to add two favorites.

First is Asheville, NC.  Once called the "Paris of the South", it was built up by two great families of the late 1800s, Grove and Vanderbuilt.  The Biltmore Estate is the largest residence ever built in the US.  Their are many lakes, horse trails, vineyards, and great restaurants in town.

Second is Washington, DC.  It's over the next two weeks during the Cherry Blossom Festival that the city really shines.  Yes while many people come to gawk at the monuments and museums, few realize that the restaurants are fantastic, and the area has a number of great spots like Old Town Alexandria and Georgetown, their are biking trails throughout the area, and that boating and kayaking spots are plentiful including some serious rapids ups the Potomac in Great Falls.  Julia is a Georgetown U. grad, and I'm sure she'll agree that Spring is the right season to visit DC

Great show!

Charleston and Santa Ynez are great suggestions for cute, bed and breakfast getaways.

Chicago is an awesome city, but I strongly disagree with Julia re: the beaches. It's chilly, the beaches are kind of dirty and it's not quite what you picture when you think "beach."

I agree with previous commenters that Mary was not being rude, but just a bit skeptical about that comment. Julia's post on her blog was not classy or gracious at all and just makes her look really bad and a bit like a hypocrite. Not "really, really nice" as she claims.

This has nothing to do with this weeks video

but I just want to thank Meagan for what she said months ago about not changing the relationship status on facebook for a boyfriend...

and that actually saved me from so much drama...

Thanks a bunch..

LOVE YOU GUYS!

I second Cranberry's suggestion of Savannah. Not only is it a beautiful, walkable city that's full of history, charm, gorgeous architecture, interesting museums and delicious food (at every price range), it's got something for those for whom Spring Break is also an excuse to get horribly drunk in public. Those of us meaning me. In Savannah, you can actually drink beer in public as long as its not more than a certain amount and in a clear plastic cup. 

As someone from a popular Spring Break destination, any trip to a place that happens to be far from big crowds is my ideal.

This NYC girl has spent most of March traveling all around Virginia and North Carolina.  I've visited friends in Charlotte and at Duke University in Durham, stayed at my parents' in Richmond, and taken day trips to Norfolk and Virginia Beach.  The weather has been amazing - in Norfolk, I even saw a couple of girls sunning on the beach in bikinis.  The food, particularly the seafood in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area, has been spectacular.  Durham and Charlotte had a lot of great shopping and excellent nightlife.

i LOVE chicago. just not for spring break--at least, not if you're hoping for short-skirt-and-tank-top sun, surf and sand weather. it's more likely you'll get 40 with a chance of flurries.

but chicago in the summertime? perfect. the beaches are fun, but better for volleyball/jogging/resting up after a friday night out than they are for swimming. in fact, it's not uncommon for popular beaches at oak street and north avenue to be closed to swimmers due to high bacteria count. the further north you go, the cleaner and less crowded the beaches are, and the better the water is for swimming. i lived in chicago's edgewater neighborhood for awhile and the beaches up there were pleasant and clean. further north still in evanston the beaches are even better with nice white sand.

this spring break i'm road-tripping to nashville and staying with friends. i'll be land-locked, but i know i can count on pleasant temps and great sightseeing.

Charleston is a great spot but so is Hilton Head, SC.  It's an island about 30-45 minutes north of Savannah.  There is about 12 miles of beachfront on the Atlantic.  There are also some great golf courses and shopping centers.  Also, the "natives" are super friendly and love to show visitors a good time!

Julia: "Check out the part where Mary doesn’t realize that Chicago is on Lake Michigan, and then asks, about the Great Lakes, “aren’t there like three of them you’re not allowed to go in because they’re polluted?”  Um.  No.  You can pretty much drink Lake Michigan.
I’m only mentioning this because it’s not merely that she had never been to Chicago (despite my repeated invitations) but that she didn’t even want to talk about it as an amazing vacation destination in the U.S.  That pissed me off.  Don’t ever diss a girl’s hometown, you know?" 

http://julia.nonsociety.com/post/89084502-0-0

Julia, I just read your comments re: this episode on your blog and dissing Mary publicly like that was a really low down, classless thing to do. If you had a problem with something she said on this episode, you should have handled it privately. You talk all the time about how women should be kind to one another on the web, but you don't follow your own advice very well. To publicly put your friend and business partner down like that was unprofessional, unkind and tacky.

Julia, Mary is quite correct - several of the Great Lakes, including Lake Michigan, have pollution issues and are sometimes flagged as too polluted to swim in. Do your research before pouncing.

Mary, thanks for mentioning one of my favorite U.S. cities - Charleston! I live in the south and you absolutely cannot beat the charm, history, romance and and personality of great southern cities like Charleston, Savannah or New Orleans. Of course, living in the south means I also cannot even fathom swimming in Lake Michigan - any time of the year! When I think "spring vacation" I think warm and sunny. Give me my warm southern beaches any day!

Um, Julia? Who the hell goes to Chicago for the beaches? Great, vibrant city, yes, but for a spring break-y beach vacation?

Methinks you should spend less time sniping at your 'sister' and 'best friend' Mary, and more time acquiring sorely-needed brain cells.

In Julia's defense: I worked on the shoot (off camera) for this episode and originally we were discussing stateside travel destinations in general.  Not just for spring break. So yes, Chicago is nicer in the summer, but I've been there in the winter and it was still fun.

I live in Toronto. We have beaches too. You can lie on them for two months -- July and August.

Chicago beaches as a spring break destination? That is ridiculous! Why would you recommend Chicago beaches for a spring break vacation?

I have lived on the shores of three of the Great Lakes. 
So come on, Julia!! Talking about Lake Michigan beaches for spring break? You're kidding right? (I'll expect the "I was just kidding" post any minute.)
The water is FREEZING in spring; often enough still strewn with ice floes. Even in the height of summer it's quite cold. Sure, Chicago (like every city) has it's own charms to offer. Similarly with any lakeshore or sea-side town. 
Your contribution here was, um, unhelpful.

Good episode! Very recession friendly (we all know that during a recession, it is a good idea to keep your economy stimulated within your own country). I have only been to Chicago very briefly, but would most definitely view it as a vacation destination! They do have awesome food there, esepcially Alinea where I am dying to go for a dining experience I will never forget. http://www.alinea-restaurant.com/ Gastro-molecular whatever, it looks amazing. 

What about looking North to Canada? I live in Calgary, Alberta - one hour east of the Rockies (specifically the town of Banff), and it is an awesome place.  Calgary has an amazing rodeo in July (and yes, meghan - you can ride a bull at some farms in the country hearby or give the mechanical bull a try at Ranchmans http://www.ranchmans.com/). Stay in Calgary for the rodeo then head west to Banff, where you can enjoy amazing hotels, unparalleled views, awesome shopping, and plenty of skiing and showboarding in the winter.  During Spring Break in Banff, you will find tons of Australians who are always ready for a good time.
I am looking forward to reducing the blah of the background and introducing some NonSociety flair! 
Leah - www.fiveblondes.com