AARoads Forum

I've received a lot of positive feedback regarding the "city meet" concept, so I've definitely decided to make this an annual event (as long as I have the means to do so). Last year when I created the poll for where the 2019 city meet should be located, the two other options were Omaha NE and Elizabeth City/Nags Head NC. Omaha came in at a very close second place, and Elizabeth City/Nags Head came in third. I previously considered making Omaha the automatic choice for 2020 based on the fact that it came in second place in the poll for 2019. But then I decided I should just create a new poll because, who knows... maybe a lot of folks would have chosen Elizabeth City/Nags Head if it weren't for Providence being an option.

Please vote in this poll to share your opinion of where the 2020 city meet should be held. If it's in Omaha, some suggestions of things to see/do there would include driving the freeway network, exploring downtown, checking out the riverfront, visiting any shopping malls in the area, and (of course) collecting any new counties in the area that folks might need. If it's in the Outer Banks, the primary suggestion would be a drive along NC 12 but that would also incorporate some bridges and U.S. 158. It would be a bit of a stretch to call it a "city meet" if it's in the Outer Banks area, but I'll still call it that anyway.

This poll will remain open until August 1, 2019. Once the location has been determined, I'll start to think about what time of year in 2020 to host this, but it will almost definitely be in either April, May, or June.

I look forward to seeing the votes come in!

Why limit it to just one?

I'd love for it to be on the OBX...For one, it would give many here a chance to capture the beauty of the NC coast, two, it would be a good reason to get myself back to the OBX, and three, it'd give me a chance to be relatively close and join y'all!

Quote from: froggie on May 28, 2019, 10:16:15 AM
Why limit it to just one?

Because I don't really have the means to host more than one per year with all the other traveling I do. One per year is enough for me to host. :)

Quote from: planxtymcgillicuddy on May 28, 2019, 11:35:32 AM
I'd love for it to be on the OBX...For one, it would give many here a chance to capture the beauty of the NC coast, two, it would be a good reason to get myself back to the OBX, and three, it'd give me a chance to be relatively close and join y'all!

If OBX is not the winner for 2020, that's where I will host it in 2021. :)

Quote from: A.J. Bertin on May 28, 2019, 01:31:37 PM

Quote from: planxtymcgillicuddy on May 28, 2019, 11:35:32 AM
I'd love for it to be on the OBX...For one, it would give many here a chance to capture the beauty of the NC coast, two, it would be a good reason to get myself back to the OBX, and three, it'd give me a chance to be relatively close and join y'all!

If OBX is not the winner for 2020, that's where I will host it in 2021. :)

Sounds great to me! And with y'all going to Elizabeth City, it would cross off another major city in NC that I've never been to! (Only major cities I've never been to is Gastonia, Shelby, Sanford, Fayetteville and Elizabeth City!)

I would be equally interested in either option, so I have not voted.

I've never been to Omaha, or Nebraska at all, so it would all be new for me.

I've spent extensive time in the Outer Banks, but haven't been there in close to a decade and would love an excuse to go back.

Not sure if I would be able to make it to either place, but my vote was for the Outer Banks, mainly because it's closer and I could get some route clinching done on the way there.

Nags Head was my mother's favorite vacation spot. We went there at least three times, maybe four, when I was growing up. I'm certainly not a tourist trap fan, but I did spend a night in Elizabeth City about 10 years ago as part of a road trip. The new NC 12 bridge would be of interest, and the Wright Brothers monument at Kill Devil Hills might be something folks might want to see.

Voting for OBX because I could actually have a chance to make it, plus I can clinch some routes I've been wanting to for awhile.

Quote from: hbelkins on May 28, 2019, 02:12:19 PM
Not sure if I would be able to make it to either place, but my vote was for the Outer Banks, mainly because it's closer and I could get some route clinching done on the way there.

Nags Head was my mother's favorite vacation spot. We went there at least three times, maybe four, when I was growing up. I'm certainly not a tourist trap fan, but I did spend a night in Elizabeth City about 10 years ago as part of a road trip. The new NC 12 bridge would be of interest, and the Wright Brothers monument at Kill Devil Hills might be something folks might want to see.

I second the Wright Brothers monument. Though the mosquitoes around there will tote you off if you ain't careful lol

Quote from: A.J. Bertin on May 28, 2019, 01:15:26 PM

Quote from: froggie on May 28, 2019, 10:16:15 AM
Why limit it to just one?

Because I don't really have the means to host more than one per year with all the other traveling I do. One per year is enough for me to host. :)

Doesn't mean others can't host "city meets" in other locations at other times.

Quote from: froggie on May 28, 2019, 08:24:41 PM

Quote from: A.J. Bertin on May 28, 2019, 01:15:26 PM

Quote from: froggie on May 28, 2019, 10:16:15 AM
Why limit it to just one?

Because I don't really have the means to host more than one per year with all the other traveling I do. One per year is enough for me to host. :)

Doesn't mean others can't host "city meets" in other locations at other times.

Of course not! I would never discourage anyone else from hosting a "city meet". Just because I came up with the idea doesn't mean others can't replicate the concept. Perhaps my question should have asked "Where should 'my' 2020 city meet be located?"

Quote from: planxtymcgillicuddy on May 28, 2019, 02:26:07 PM

Quote from: hbelkins on May 28, 2019, 02:12:19 PM
Not sure if I would be able to make it to either place, but my vote was for the Outer Banks, mainly because it's closer and I could get some route clinching done on the way there.

Nags Head was my mother's favorite vacation spot. We went there at least three times, maybe four, when I was growing up. I'm certainly not a tourist trap fan, but I did spend a night in Elizabeth City about 10 years ago as part of a road trip. The new NC 12 bridge would be of interest, and the Wright Brothers monument at Kill Devil Hills might be something folks might want to see.

I second the Wright Brothers monument. Though the mosquitoes around there will tote you off if you ain't careful lol

I don't know if sand fleas are a problem there, but they definitely are at the Hatteras lighthouse. Granted, it's been around 35 years since I was there, but the last time I was, I made the mistake of stepping off the wooden walkway. Those little suckers attacked me.

Quote from: hbelkins on May 29, 2019, 01:07:19 PM

Quote from: planxtymcgillicuddy on May 28, 2019, 02:26:07 PM

Quote from: hbelkins on May 28, 2019, 02:12:19 PM
Not sure if I would be able to make it to either place, but my vote was for the Outer Banks, mainly because it's closer and I could get some route clinching done on the way there.

Nags Head was my mother's favorite vacation spot. We went there at least three times, maybe four, when I was growing up. I'm certainly not a tourist trap fan, but I did spend a night in Elizabeth City about 10 years ago as part of a road trip. The new NC 12 bridge would be of interest, and the Wright Brothers monument at Kill Devil Hills might be something folks might want to see.

I second the Wright Brothers monument. Though the mosquitoes around there will tote you off if you ain't careful lol

I don't know if sand fleas are a problem there, but they definitely are at the Hatteras lighthouse. Granted, it's been around 35 years since I was there, but the last time I was, I made the mistake of stepping off the wooden walkway. Those little suckers attacked me.

I didn't have no problems with sand fleas at the Wright Bros. monument. Just the mosquitoes. When you're parking, stay as far away from the woods as possible. The closer you get to the woods, the more they eat up on you.

I've been to Omaha too many times to do that, but I can certainly offer tips.  :colorful: Although I suppose I could go and be a guide for others who were interested in a similar grouping of places.

NC would be a new and cool experience for me but also very expensive, and I don't know if I'm sold on the "only meet for meals otherwise you're on your own" structure.

Quote from: Highway63 on June 06, 2019, 12:52:29 AM
I've been to Omaha too many times to do that, but I can certainly offer tips.  :colorful: Although I suppose I could go and be a guide for others who were interested in a similar grouping of places.

Right now the vote is pretty close, between Omaha and the Outer Banks, for which one will be selected as the 2020 city meet location. If Omaha does not win for 2020, it will be my automatic choice for 2021. The poll will remain open until August 1. It will be interesting to see which one emerges as the winner.

Quote from: Highway63 on June 06, 2019, 12:52:29 AM
NC would be a new and cool experience for me but also very expensive, and I don't know if I'm sold on the "only meet for meals otherwise you're on your own" structure.

If you decide that the "city meet" concept isn't for you (regardless of which location will be the winner for 2020), I would not be offended at all if you decide not go to. Not all the feedback I've received on my idea has been positive, but enough of it has been positive to warrant me making it an annual thing. It's not for everyone, though, and that's okay.

Kinda wish I had voted for the now-frontrunner in the poll, but am pleased to see the voting go on nonetheless. :)

Looks like the race has gotten into a tied knot!

Quote from: kevinb1994 on June 21, 2019, 11:43:46 PM
Kinda wish I had voted for the now-frontrunner in the poll, but am pleased to see the voting go on nonetheless. :)

I'm sure you had a good reason for voting the way you did. We shouldn't let other people's votes make us regret voting a certain way. I assume you voted for Omaha. Remember that, if Omaha does not emerge as the winner for my city meet in 2020, Omaha will be my automatic choice for 2021.

Quote from: kevinb1994 on June 21, 2019, 11:43:46 PM
Looks like the race has gotten somewhat tight again...

Eh... I wouldn't say a vote of 10 vs. 15 is particularly tight. Omaha has quite a bit of catching up to do if it's going to emerge as the winner for 2020. Only four weeks left until the poll closes.

We've got one week left before the poll closes on where I should host a city meet in 2020. Outer Banks has been clearly in the lead for most of this time, but there have been a few recent votes for Omaha and it's getting close! (The current poll puts Omaha at 13 votes and Outer Banks at 15 votes.) I've been assuming all this time that Outer Banks might emerge as the winner, but now I'm not so sure.

If you're seeing this comment and you haven't voted yet, please vote... even if you can't attend in either location. (I'm just looking for overall feedback on how many people think it should be in one location or the other.) Thanks in advance for voting!

Part of me is wondering whether I should have made the results visible only after casting a vote... vs. having it visible to anyone regardless of whether they vote.

Omaha would be easier for me to get to. East Coast is a bit of a stretch from my neighborhood.

But it wouldn't let me actually place a vote, unless there's an official scorekeeper who posts the votes?

Uh-oh....looks like I broke the tie. Been breaking things all week long. My bad.  :pan:

Come on, do the outer banks. I live in North Carolina and it's the best in my opinion!

Quote from: cjk374 on July 27, 2019, 10:53:08 PM
Uh-oh....looks like I broke the tie. Been breaking things all week long. My bad.  :pan:

Haha!! Actually, after you voted, someone else cast a vote against yours. Now they're tied again... 16 to 16!

Quote from: mrhappy1261 on July 27, 2019, 10:55:10 PM
Come on, do the outer banks. I live in North Carolina and it's the best in my opinion!

If Outer Banks doesn't win for 2020, I promise you it will happen in 2021. :)

I changed the subject line of this thread because the previous subject line made it sound like I have a monopoly on hosting city meets which I absolutely don't.

I do not live terribly far from the Outer Banks of North Carolina (Maryland between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore) but have never been there. 

Closest I have come is the beaches of Virginia Beach and all of I-95 in the Carolinas.

The poll closed this morning and it's an even tie of 17 votes for Omaha and 17 votes for the Outer Banks. I intentionally did not vote in my own poll because I would have been perfectly happy with either choice (besides, I was the one who picked the destinations for the poll). I wanted majority to rule. But since we have a tie, I'm forced to cast the tie-breaking vote. (I didn't want to have to do this but that's all right.)

I'm excited to announce that the 2020 "city meet" will be held in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I will soon post a separate thread that will include a poll asking folks for preferences of a date that will be sometime between late April and late June (not to conflict with Gene's San Antonio meet that will take place on May 9).

Thanks so much to everyone who voted! For the folks who voted for Omaha, please know that Omaha will be the location for the 2021 city meet (date to be determined by the end of 2020).

This was a fun poll for me, but I was not expecting an even tie!

Quote from: A.J. Bertin on August 01, 2019, 01:20:19 PM
The poll closed this morning and it's an even tie of 17 votes for Omaha and 17 votes for the Outer Banks. I intentionally did not vote in my own poll because I would have been perfectly happy with either choice (besides, I was the one who picked the destinations for the poll). I wanted majority to rule. But since we have a tie, I'm forced to cast the tie-breaking vote. (I didn't want to have to do this but that's all right.)

I'm excited to announce that the 2020 "city meet" will be held in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I will soon post a separate thread that will include a poll asking folks for preferences of a date that will be sometime between late April and late June (not to conflict with Gene's San Antonio meet that will take place on May 9).

Thanks so much to everyone who voted! For the folks who voted for Omaha, please know that Omaha will be the location for the 2021 city meet (date to be determined by the end of 2020).

This was a fun poll for me, but I was not expecting an even tie!

Yeah that tied poll was rather unexpected for most of us. Funny that the number of votes got to 17, as that is the US Highway that is pretty much the Coastal Carolina Highway. ;)