Vacation with the Next President
After the holiday season, relax and let old-fashioned politics entertain. Start hedging your bets now on how many times candidates will overeat on the campaign trail, make promises they can’t keep, or attack each other for all the wrong reasons. You have the power though, to see them in person and ask the tough questions that need asking. After that, explore these four great states for some much needed post-holiday R&R.
Iowa flights | hotels | cars
Iowa kicks off caucus fever on January 3rd, but you can still join the party in Des Moines. The hysteria of politics will be winding down, but start scouring Kayak now for a hotel room in case political stragglers are still nursing hangovers and bruised egos. While the suits are smiling brightly and waving Miss America style, you can bond with your fellow voters at the downtown caucus hot spot 801 Steak and Chop House at 801 Grand Avenue. Here you’ll see the who’s who of politics, so be sure to brush up on your debate speak and try to entice someone into arguing the finer points of health care. Other political haunts to hit? Dos Rios, Gateway Market and Cafe, and local favorite Tursi’s Latin King. Hipsters and those who love to hate hipsters should flock to the East Village. This pedestrian friendly area features plenty of boutiques, cafes, pubs, restored buildings, and festivals. But if you’re wondering what the heck a caucus even means, try the State Historical Museum in Des Moines where a special caucus exhibit gives you the skinny on its history and meaning.
New Hampshire flights | hotels | cars
New Hampshire holds its earliest ever primary on January 8th. Guess it just couldn’t wait for all the fanfare and neither can we. Canoodle with CNN reporters and political candidates over a cold one at Quackers at the Wayfarer Inn in Bedford. A nostalgic political beat, Tom Brokaw was quoted as calling it “the political equivalent of the ‘Star Wars’ bar.” Party followers should take note that the center of the primary universe seems to lie at the Holiday Inn in Manchester, just a few miles from Bedford. This was the infamous stage where Howard Dean gave his first post-Iowa speech in response to that infamous visceral yell he let slip while campaigning. (You remember that yell.) Next, stretch your legs with a little skiing in Waterville Valley. Just 77 miles from Manchester, it also has been known to attract campaigners, politicians, and media advisors alike. For the artsy crowd, enjoy a show at the Palace Theater and discover the genius of Frank Lloyd Wright at the Zimmerman House.
Nevada flights | hotels | cars
Nevada’s caucus kicks off on January 19th, instilling the fear of how the candidates are ever going to campaign in a state about three times the size of Iowa. So where are these hopefuls going to kick back? On the Vegas strip? Go under-cover on your political investigation with a birds-eye view of the city with Sundance Helicopter tours. Remember when Hilary and Bill did that awful mockudrama of the season finale of The Sopranos? Try something a little less awkward and hit up a performance of The Sopranos’ Last Supper at the Empire Ballroom. A trip to Vegas also isn’t complete without seeing Cirque Du Soleil’s Mystere, depicting strange creatures journeying to the edge of human potential. (Sounds just like politics.) Pay your respects to some of our Native forefathers with the Grand Canyon Tour Company. This same-day, round-trip bus tour takes you to the Grand Canyon West, home to the Hualapai Indians. Later, head back to Vegas and visit Coffee Pub, just off the Strip on Sahara Boulevard, which is renowned as a hotspot for local politicians including the governor and mayor.
South Carolina flights | hotels | cars
Lastly, hit the primary in Columbia, South Carolina on January 29th and wind down your political whirlwind tour. Though the South isn’t as keen on donkeys as elephants, there’s still plenty to do in the political ballgame. Start off with a bite at The Back Porch, an infamous GOP haunt, but try to blend in and not stare, you don’t want to frighten away the timid politicians. For something with a little more exposure, try Motor Supply Bistro where Democratic movers and shakers are known to converge. But to see and be seen, hit The Gourmet Shop for lunch and a drink at Gracie’s where young and hip lobbyists are known to hang. Now that you’ve seen all your favorite campaigners, brush up on your South Carolina history at The South Carolina State Museum or try a walking tour of the State Capitol. For a little more diversity, see the Mann-Simons Cottage, the former home of a slave who bought her own freedom. Next take a walking tour through the gardens of Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens, one of the oldest historical homes in the area.