RickeyGalloway.com

Vacations

Alabama
City: Huntsville
Description: Not worth anything more than a drive through or day trip. Rocket Center
Rating: 5/10
Again: Would go there again? Yes

City: Mobile
Description: Not worth anything more than a drive through or day trip. Battleship, museums, hot humid weather, zzzzz....
Rating: 5/10
Again: Would go there again? Yes

City: Montgomery
Description: Not worth anything more than a drive through or day trip. Zoo is better than Birmingham.
Rating: 5/10
Again: Would go there again? Yes

Arizona
City: Sells
Description: Hot, flat, few trees. This wasn't actually a vacation. It was for a family mission trip, which was great. No one would 'vacation' here. Miles of cacti, and very flat terrain.
Rating: 0/10 for vacation spot. Great mission location.
Again: Would go there again? Yes, on a mission trip.

Colorado
City: Leadville
Description: I love Leadville! Great inexpensive place to stay. Within 30 minutes of Copper Mountian,KeyStone, and Breckenridge. We stayed a week during peak ski season for less than 65 pernight at the LeadVille Super 8. Free waffles every morning. Quincys, Wild Bills Burgers and Ice Cream, Zichittella are all very good inexpensive restaruants.
Rating: 9/10
Again: Would stay there again? Yes

City: Ski Cooper
Description: Extremely cheap, but you get what you pay for. Small mountain, and experienced skiers will be bored quickly (immediately). Great place for learners, and kids. Snowboard lesson, lift ticket, and snowboard rental was only $75.
Rating: 3/10
Again: Would ski there again? No, unless with kids

City: Arapahoe Basin
Description: Bigger than Ski Cooper, but again pretty small. Not my favorite.
Rating: 4/10
Again: Would ski there again? No

City: Copper Mountain
Description: Big mountain with lots of open runs. Really nice bowls, and crowds on blacks andblues are pretty short. Nice long runs. Relatively inexpensive food (if you get the specials). Entertainment Book (coupon book) has nice coupons for this resort. My favorite mountain.
Rating: 10/10
Again: Would ski there again? Yes

City: Breckenridge
Description: Big mountain with lots of people. Lots of people. Not really a good experience with this one. It was on a holiday weekend, and it was packed all over the mountain, even blacks and blues. Very frustrating day. Ive heard great things about it, but our day there was not pleasant. The town of Breckenridge is great, and Im sure on other days, the skiing is better.
Rating: 5/10
Again: Would ski there again? Yes, based on what others have said, and knowing that it was a holiday weekend

City: Keystone
Description: Big mountain with lots of open runs. Low crowds on blacks and blues. Nice long runs, but I dont think they are as long as Copper. Nice village at the bottom of resort. My second favorite mountain. Somewhat of a long walk from parking lot to lifts.
Rating: 9/10
Again: Would ski there again? Yes

City: Silverthorne\Dillon\Frisco
Description: Ok, not a ski area but a nice centrally located place to stay. Within 20 miles of Breckenridge,KeyStone,Copper,Arapahoe. Good restaruants, movie theater and cool stores. Lots of outlet locations too. More pricey than Leadville, but this is right in the middle of some great mountains.
Rating: 9/10
Again: Would ski there again? Yes

City: BeaverCreek
Description: Big mountain that is somewhat overshadowed by Vail (about 5 miles away). Nice ski village. Free parking. Mountain is nice. The most friendly staff of any mountain in Colorado (that Ive been too). Avon is a nice little town too.
Rating: 8.5/10
Again: Would ski there again? Yes

City: Vail
Description: Big mountain with big reputation. Huge crowds all over. People want to say they skied at Vail I guess. Had to pay $15 just to park, and lift ticket was $10 more than surrounding mountains. Mountain was ok, but not the most bang for the buck. Save some money, and go to Beavercreek, or drive another 25 minutes and go to Copper. Overpriced village, too.
Rating: 5/10
Again: Would ski there again? No

Florida
City: Ormond Beach
Description: Nice beaches. I dont like the cars on the beach (got to watch kids/cars, not a good combo). Typical Florida weather. Typical beach. Im not a beach person, but everyone else in my family is. Hard, compact brown beaches, which I liked. My impression was that its an old folks beach. Daytona Lagoon is a nice little water park, but a bit overpriced to be so small.
Rating: 6/10
Again: Would stay there again? Yes

City: Orange Beach/Gulf Shores
Description: Nice beaches. Typical Florida weather. Typical beach. White, sandy beaches which my wife loves and I dont. Its closer to home, so its rated higher. Nice italian restaruant Francos.
Rating: 8/10
Again: Would stay there again? Yes

City: Jacksonville
Description: We only went to the zoo, but it was very nice, and since we have Zoo membership... it was very free. McDonalds in Jacksonville tried to short change us on our double cheeseburgers.... so you should watch out for that!
Rating: 8/10
Again: Would stay there again? Yes

City: Orlando
Description: My least favorite vacation spot. Kids love it though, and we will go again in about 3 years. Over priced, corporate America version of fun. A plastic city as I once heard it called.
Rating: 1/10
Again: Would stay there again? Yes, I have to.

City: Orlando - Animal Kingdom
Description: Really nice place.
Rating: 8/10
Again: Would go there again? Yes.

City: Orlando - Magic Kingdom
Description: Least favorite vacation spot EVER!
Rating: 0/10
Again: Would stay there again? Yes, I have to.

City: Orlando - EPCOT
Description: Once... A futuristic look at life. Now... Segways roaming the park
Rating: 2/10
Again: Would stay there again? Yes, I have to.

City: Orlando - Downtown Disney
Description: Nothing but a giant gift shop at the end of a ride.
Rating: 2/10
Again: Would stay there again? Yes, I have to.

City: Orlando - Water parks
Description: Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon water parks. Nice, fun places and they close at 5 so it's not an ALLLLLLL day event.
Rating: 8/10
Again: Would stay there again? Yes, I have to.

Georgia
City: Atlanta
Description: Lots of things to do. Six Flags, which is 100 times better than Disney World. Wet n Wild water park. Braves. Falcons. Nice restaraunts. Save some gas and time and use MARTA.
Rating: 8/10
Again: Would go there again? Yes

Hawaii
City: Kauai
Description: Its Hawaii! Very small island, but incredible. Helicopter tours are great, beautiful beaches. Every where you go you see water falls and mountains. Very relaxing. Perfect weather. Chickens everywhere!
Rating: 10/10
Again: Would stay there again? Yes

City: Maui
Description: Everything from above, except its bigger and less chickens running around. Much more city life, but Eastern part of island is very similar to Kauai. Road to Hana is beautiful. The only non-mountain place Ive ever been too that I would love to live there.
Rating: 10/10
Again: Would stay there again? Yes

Louisiana
City: New Orleans
Description: Ive heard rumors that New Orleans has changed a little in the last year... Whats that all about?
Rating: 7/10
Again: Would stay there again? Yes

North Carolina
City: Banner Elk
Description: Awful skiing. Slushy, sticky, icy, loud snow making machines. But the kids like the snow. Some fun things to do surrounding the area. Grandfather Mountain, Linville caverns (other than an extreme cause of claustrophopia). Hawk's Nest tubing was nice.
Rating: 6/10
Again: Would go there again? Yes

City: Sugar Mountain
Description: Its skiing in Boone, North Carolina! What do you expect? Small runs. Crowded. Bad snow. Very slow lifts. Slushy parking lot. But its within driving distance, and its good for kids.
Rating: 1/10 on Skiing
Again: Would ski there again? Yes, ONLY with kids.

New York
City: Manhatten
Description: Check the link on the menu (New York Notes)
Rating: 6/10
Again: Would go there again? Yes

Tennessee
City: Gatlinburg
Description: Whose idea was this? Create a vacation hotspot with 2 little road in? Gatlinburg is actually German for 'lots of slow moving cars'. Really, look it up. If you go here, park your car and walk everywhere. Lots of pancakes houses. Some will be standing out the door to get in, and some will be no waiting. Why is that? Its just a pancake! Aquarium is really nice though. Better than Chattanooga and New Orleans in my opinion. The only downside... it's in Gatlinburg.
Rating: 4/10
Again: Would stay there again? No, its just not worth a 7 hour drive

City: Nashville
Description: I've been there twice. Once for a Vandy/UAB game... nice tree lined campus, but the stadium is kind of a dump. Went to a music festival. Hot and crowded. Saw Ben Folds Five (ok) and Paula Cole (WORST... CONCERT... EVER!)
Rating: 7/10
Again: Would stay there again? Yes

City: Chattanooga
Description: This is the kind of place you go when you want to go somewhere, but dont know where, and its not really a big trip. Aquarium, Imax, Lookout mountain. I guess Ive done it so many times, it just not interesting to me. But we will eventually take the kids there I guess its a requirement.
Rating: 5/10
Again: Would stay there again? Yes, and on the way home Ill be thinking well, that was a waste of gas

South Carolina
City: Hilton Head
Description: This has to be my favorite beach destination (that is not Hawaii). Great place to ride bikes. This is a really cool place.
Rating: 9/10
Again: Would stay there again? Yes

Utah
City: Deer Valley
Description: Nice mountain. More expensive than others in area (at least it was at the time). Low crowds on blacks and blues. My favorite in Utah
Rating: 8/10
Again: Would ski there again? Yes

City: Park City Mountain
Description: My first ski experience was here. Nice, wide runs. Great location in downtown Park City. Eat at the Claim Jumper... um um good. Park City is a great little city.
Rating: 7.5/10
Again: Would ski there again? Yes

City: The Canyons
Description: Runs seem kind of short, and undistinguishable. Seems like the actual ski resorts starts 500 feet up the mountain. Nice ski village, but overall not really anything special.
Rating: 5/10
Again: Would ski there again? No

City: Snow Basin
Description: Old resort with really wide open runs. Pretty small with low crowds, but not very challenging, and runs get boring after a while.
Rating: 6/10
Again: Would ski there again? No

City:	Huntsville
Description:	Not worth anything more than a drive through or day trip. Rocket Center
Rating:	5/10
Again:	Would go there again? Yes

City:	Mobile
Description:	Not worth anything more than a drive through or day trip. Battleship, museums, hot humid weather, zzzzz....
Rating:	5/10
Again:	Would go there again? Yes

City:	Montgomery
Description:	Not worth anything more than a drive through or day trip. Zoo is better than Birmingham.
Rating:	5/10
Again:	Would go there again? Yes

City:	Sells
Description:	Hot, flat, few trees. This wasn't actually a vacation. It was for a family mission trip, which was great. No one would 'vacation' here. Miles of cacti, and very flat terrain.
Rating:	0/10 for vacation spot. Great mission location.
Again:	Would go there again? Yes, on a mission trip.

City:	Leadville
Description:	I love Leadville! Great inexpensive place to stay. Within 30 minutes of Copper Mountian,KeyStone, and Breckenridge. We stayed a week during peak ski season for less than 65 pernight at the LeadVille Super 8. Free waffles every morning. Quincys, Wild Bills Burgers and Ice Cream, Zichittella are all very good inexpensive restaruants.
Rating:	9/10
Again:	Would stay there again? Yes

City:	Ski Cooper
Description:	Extremely cheap, but you get what you pay for. Small mountain, and experienced skiers will be bored quickly (immediately). Great place for learners, and kids. Snowboard lesson, lift ticket, and snowboard rental was only $75.
Rating:	3/10
Again:	Would ski there again? No, unless with kids

City:	Arapahoe Basin
Description:	Bigger than Ski Cooper, but again pretty small. Not my favorite.
Rating:	4/10
Again:	Would ski there again? No

City:	Copper Mountain
Description:	Big mountain with lots of open runs. Really nice bowls, and crowds on blacks andblues are pretty short. Nice long runs. Relatively inexpensive food (if you get the specials). Entertainment Book (coupon book) has nice coupons for this resort. My favorite mountain.
Rating:	10/10
Again:	Would ski there again? Yes

City:	Breckenridge
Description:	Big mountain with lots of people. Lots of people. Not really a good experience with this one. It was on a holiday weekend, and it was packed all over the mountain, even blacks and blues. Very frustrating day. Ive heard great things about it, but our day there was not pleasant. The town of Breckenridge is great, and Im sure on other days, the skiing is better.
Rating:	5/10
Again:	Would ski there again? Yes, based on what others have said, and knowing that it was a holiday weekend

City:	Keystone
Description:	Big mountain with lots of open runs. Low crowds on blacks and blues. Nice long runs, but I dont think they are as long as Copper. Nice village at the bottom of resort. My second favorite mountain. Somewhat of a long walk from parking lot to lifts.
Rating:	9/10
Again:	Would ski there again? Yes

City:	Silverthorne\Dillon\Frisco
Description:	Ok, not a ski area but a nice centrally located place to stay. Within 20 miles of Breckenridge,KeyStone,Copper,Arapahoe. Good restaruants, movie theater and cool stores. Lots of outlet locations too. More pricey than Leadville, but this is right in the middle of some great mountains.
Rating:	9/10
Again:	Would ski there again? Yes

City:	BeaverCreek
Description:	Big mountain that is somewhat overshadowed by Vail (about 5 miles away). Nice ski village. Free parking. Mountain is nice. The most friendly staff of any mountain in Colorado (that Ive been too). Avon is a nice little town too.
Rating:	8.5/10
Again:	Would ski there again? Yes

City:	Vail
Description:	Big mountain with big reputation. Huge crowds all over. People want to say they skied at Vail I guess. Had to pay $15 just to park, and lift ticket was $10 more than surrounding mountains. Mountain was ok, but not the most bang for the buck. Save some money, and go to Beavercreek, or drive another 25 minutes and go to Copper. Overpriced village, too.
Rating:	5/10
Again:	Would ski there again? No

City:	Ormond Beach
Description:	Nice beaches. I dont like the cars on the beach (got to watch kids/cars, not a good combo). Typical Florida weather. Typical beach. Im not a beach person, but everyone else in my family is. Hard, compact brown beaches, which I liked. My impression was that its an old folks beach. Daytona Lagoon is a nice little water park, but a bit overpriced to be so small.
Rating:	6/10
Again:	Would stay there again? Yes

City:	Orange Beach/Gulf Shores
Description:	Nice beaches. Typical Florida weather. Typical beach. White, sandy beaches which my wife loves and I dont. Its closer to home, so its rated higher. Nice italian restaruant Francos.
Rating:	8/10
Again:	Would stay there again? Yes

City:	Jacksonville
Description:	We only went to the zoo, but it was very nice, and since we have Zoo membership... it was very free. McDonalds in Jacksonville tried to short change us on our double cheeseburgers.... so you should watch out for that!
Rating:	8/10
Again:	Would stay there again? Yes

City:	Orlando
Description:	My least favorite vacation spot. Kids love it though, and we will go again in about 3 years. Over priced, corporate America version of fun. A plastic city as I once heard it called.
Rating:	1/10
Again:	Would stay there again? Yes, I have to.

City:	Orlando - Animal Kingdom
Description:	Really nice place.
Rating:	8/10
Again:	Would go there again? Yes.

City:	Orlando - Magic Kingdom
Description:	Least favorite vacation spot EVER!
Rating:	0/10
Again:	Would stay there again? Yes, I have to.

City:	Orlando - EPCOT
Description:	Once... A futuristic look at life. Now... Segways roaming the park
Rating:	2/10
Again:	Would stay there again? Yes, I have to.

...Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life."

Vacations

City:	Orlando - Downtown Disney
Description:	Nothing but a giant gift shop at the end of a ride.
Rating:	2/10
Again:	Would stay there again? Yes, I have to.

City:	Orlando - Water parks
Description:	Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon water parks. Nice, fun places and they close at 5 so it's not an ALLLLLLL day event.
Rating:	8/10
Again:	Would stay there again? Yes, I have to.

City:	Atlanta
Description:	Lots of things to do. Six Flags, which is 100 times better than Disney World. Wet n Wild water park. Braves. Falcons. Nice restaraunts. Save some gas and time and use MARTA.
Rating:	8/10
Again:	Would go there again? Yes

City:	Kauai
Description:	Its Hawaii! Very small island, but incredible. Helicopter tours are great, beautiful beaches. Every where you go you see water falls and mountains. Very relaxing. Perfect weather. Chickens everywhere!
Rating:	10/10
Again:	Would stay there again? Yes

City:	Maui
Description:	Everything from above, except its bigger and less chickens running around. Much more city life, but Eastern part of island is very similar to Kauai. Road to Hana is beautiful. The only non-mountain place Ive ever been too that I would love to live there.
Rating:	10/10
Again:	Would stay there again? Yes

City:	New Orleans
Description:	Ive heard rumors that New Orleans has changed a little in the last year... Whats that all about?
Rating:	7/10
Again:	Would stay there again? Yes

City:	Banner Elk
Description:	Awful skiing. Slushy, sticky, icy, loud snow making machines. But the kids like the snow. Some fun things to do surrounding the area. Grandfather Mountain, Linville caverns (other than an extreme cause of claustrophopia). Hawk's Nest tubing was nice.
Rating:	6/10
Again:	Would go there again? Yes

City:	Sugar Mountain
Description:	Its skiing in Boone, North Carolina! What do you expect? Small runs. Crowded. Bad snow. Very slow lifts. Slushy parking lot. But its within driving distance, and its good for kids.
Rating:	1/10 on Skiing
Again:	Would ski there again? Yes, ONLY with kids.

City:	Manhatten
Description:	Check the link on the menu (New York Notes)
Rating:	6/10
Again:	Would go there again? Yes

City:	Gatlinburg
Description:	Whose idea was this? Create a vacation hotspot with 2 little road in? Gatlinburg is actually German for 'lots of slow moving cars'. Really, look it up. If you go here, park your car and walk everywhere. Lots of pancakes houses. Some will be standing out the door to get in, and some will be no waiting. Why is that? Its just a pancake! Aquarium is really nice though. Better than Chattanooga and New Orleans in my opinion. The only downside... it's in Gatlinburg.
Rating:	4/10
Again:	Would stay there again? No, its just not worth a 7 hour drive