Travel destinations, what are your favorites # 2

Can you fit in a cat carrying case?? ^_^

Loved traveling in Europe....Italy was nice! How exciting for you, Victor! Will you visit family there?

No family left - at least none I know of. But I definitely will visit my grandfather's hometown, Positano. It's gorgeous.

Yes, that's what I hear. I didn't make it to Positano. I look forward to your photos!

victor- my brother went to Montreal this past summer and even as a non gardener he liked the Botanical garden with its 'crevice garden.' They liked Montreal and Quebec both. I went to Old Quebec with my DD French class a few years ago and loved it. We had a hotel in the old part and walked everywhere, except the tour bus took us to Montmorency Falls, the basilica of St Anne de Beaupre, and stopped at a little tiny cheese curd place and a copper art place, and a maple sugaring camp.

And I've been to Rome and Florence, just once, just pretty quick, but LOVED IT.

We're trying to decide on someplace sunny. But the oldest kid won't be available to go, the next already has a beach week with girlfriends- it gets harder to plan a trip for all five of us. Any Cancun feedback would be appreciated.

Sally, try looking into Riviera Maya, about an hour south of Cancun. I went a few years ago and loved it. There's a great park in the area also, Xcaret (sp?) It's kind of a hybrid adventure/natural/zoo park.

This is where I stayed, no need to rent a car.

http://www.occidentalhotels.com/grand/Xcaret.asp

not a big fan of Europe - been there a lot for business and trade shows with some off time. never been to Italy though and here it is nice. monaco was ok if you have $$ to spend.

I loved Monaco....only there a few days, traveling between Italy & France....I was on a bus.....no guard rails, roads are very scary, but the scenery was gorgeous!

Thanks, Sally. I will look into that. Have not booked lodging yet. Appreciate any suggestions by you guys.

Would love to go to Germany, Greece, Switzerland, Italy, Russia, Holland, England, Ireland

Ok you know what??? I just want to go to Europe.

Keep saying we're going to see all the states first...still waiting for that to happen.

Most of Europe is on my list, as well as all the states.

Never went to Ireland, but the pubs impressed DH!

been to 5 of those jen - greek islands were the best by far

See, I would love to be a country where some of their architecture is older than our country

it is also falling down - Hated Paris it would not be bad if the parisians where not there - very rude bunch

victor- we stayed in a Hilton for Rome cuz my sister used travel points from work. It's outside of town on a hill. Not very convenient but we used their shuttle to get to the city most mornings. Then the metro is very convenient, and cabs were fine. I think Rome is awe some, Just the ancient ness of old Rome. I loved Palatine Hill for the parklike setting and view. Got tickets there which covered that plus Coliseum and one museum so we got in Coliseum quickly- I think there's a big ticket line there or something. Wished I did Villa Borghese. Loved Villa D'Este. Did not love Vatican- I would skip it unless you really want to see Sistine Chapel. Sorry we missed the market day.

Would RIviera Maya be ungodly hot or rainy in early July?

Bill - I loved the Greek Isles as well, but the sand on the beaches was so hot you couldn't walk on it without shoes/sandals on. I lay down on a beach towel and had it get up within 5 minutes. I loved wandering around on the Acropolis, and I also loved seeing the very first toilet ever in King Minos' palace, as well as the labyrinth of the legendary minotaur. It is such an old place...fascinating!

Sally, it would be the same as Cancun or the rest of Mexico. July?.....hot! I was there in April....90º, but plenty of really big pools to cool off in. I have very nice memories of that trip.

Anyone with experience with the train between Montreal and Quebec City?? Would prefer not to drive if I don't have to.

We have taken the train to Montreal, DH prefers not to drive, a little bit of a wait at the border for customs to board the train. He likes it, I'm pretty sure we took the train to Ottawa. What do you want to know, I can ask DH.

We are taking the train from here to Montreal. I want to know about the train between Montreal and QC.

Whoa - took some doing finding this thread! Good thing the search function is so much better these days.

Plans for this year?? We will visit relatives in FL during spring break. Our summer vacation will be Yellowstone in the second half of August. Really looking forward to that.

How about you guys??

Going back to DC/VA in March, this time with Brian. :) Hope to see Mt. Vernon this time and we plan to travel along Skyline Drive ~ Shenandoah National Park
http://dc.about.com/od/getawaydestinations/ig/Shenandoah-Pictures/

We are thinking of driving to Savannah and somewhere else along the way in March.

We did nothing special last summer, but two nights at Ocean City MD beach were nice but not special.
Curacao in first week August? Having kids really scews up vacation planning ability.

Cool, Celeste! In time for cherry blossoms, hopefully?! Contact your congressman and senator now for free passes. WH, Capitol, Kennedy Center, etc. Check online for a tour of the Naval Observatory. That was cool. Only given twice a month. The night bus (private, have to pay) monument tour is very nice. Reserve Booth theater and where Lincoln died in advance. Skyline is beautiful.

Nice, Deb. That is on my list. Love to see all those mansions.

Yes Victor, peak cherry blossom time. ^_^ ^_^ ^_^
Thanks for the tips. :)

Sounds nice Debi, im w/Victor...would love to see those old Southern Plantations and Mansions.

We did the night monument tour but the WW lights weren't working, it was supposed to be a nice one.

I don't like flying so wanted to do something we could drive to, and I know flying is safer than driving, but I still don't like it!

nice trips - would love to see Yellowstone

Yes, the WW2 memorial is gorgeous at night.

Gonna stop by and see me this time Celeste????


No plans yet, kids get out SOOOOO early from school so hopefully will go somewhere the 2nd week in June

For those of you in NYS, Rochester is heavy on my list of destinations this year. International Viola Congress May 30 - June 3 is at Eastman School of Music. A wedding in the Pittsford area on June 9 and some time in the fall my 50 year high school reunion in Fairport. Then we expect to get to Vancouver where our daughter and family live, a few times - gotta see those grand kids. And a car event in MA NE of Boston in mid August.

Ann

Nice, Ann! I assumed the viola was for violets, not the instrument! Duh. You play? My son is getting pretty good on the clarinet. He is first clarinet at school. He takes private lessons too. His teacher's wife teaches the viola.

Well, we just got back from visiting Germany over the holidays. Marianne hails from Deutschland, and her only brother and family live there near Dusseldorf. We get back there every couple to three years (since 1987), and have traveled around most of western Europe both pre- and post-Euro. Love not having customs to cross anymore.

Oldest niece got married just before Christmas - darn the luck, had to attend. I would counsel anyone who has had unsatisfactory tours of Europe (attention, Bill) that: you just aren't doing it right. Take me/Marianne along as a guide, and you'll lose all the accumulated bile and be unable to wait till the next opportunity! 'Nuff said, though I'll discuss this till the cows come home with all comers.

If anyone ever wondered if loyalty to an employer was ever worth anything...Marianne celebrated 25 years running her laboratory by being awarded a trip anywhere in the world. We're planning to visit Australia in August/September this year, so thanks to ViolaAnn for the old link at the top of this thread. The niece that got married in December? Married an Aussie bloke, she did. They live in Brisbane, so we've got a little head start on guides. We are looking for others' experiences Down Under, especially garden/nature/countryside/wine-wise (like you were REALLY wondering).

Wow - lucky you, VV! Would love to get there one day. Lots of good wines from down under. And wonderful plants. And dingos. ^_^ what a great gift for Marianne! Congrats to her. My award for 17 years at Columbia U's nuclear lab was unemployment.

I will pick your brains regarding Europe. Our biggest problem now, in planning what will be our first trip there, is WHEN to go. We are constrained by school schedules. Summer seems like the worst time to go with the crowds of tourists and the vacationing locals. Our plan is to see Italy on this first trip.

We traveled Italy a few years ago at the end of May, which seemed be a good time for weather without the crowds.. It was a great trip arranged by our nieces and nephews instead of doing a tour. They really knew what they were doing so it all went well. Of course the highlight of the trip for me was in the Provence of Compagna where my family lives in Naples. Positano is just around the corner up the Amalfi Coast and is one of the most beautiful places that we stayed at. When you get to your hotel,if it's on the cliffs, the elevator takes you DOWN to the front desk and the rooms.

This year we will spend one vacation in August with our kids and their kids in a house in Rehobeth, DE, and then another one in October at Myrtle Beach (Surfside Beach).

Our winter vacations are usually to Florida or south, but this year I'm spending lots of time at my daughter's house to help with the new baby and her family.

VV if and when i head back to Europe i will consult with you - the greek islands where fantastic - quick question on your recent trip, did you have any alt while near dussledorf? it is one of my favorite flavors.

I have been trying to convince the wife to burn the rest of my frequent flyer miles and go to australia in May. the plan was to land in sydney and stay near the opera house on the arrive and return leg - head to brisbane and their wine country - up to Darwin and visit kakadu nat'l park, slide to the east and visit the great barrier reef before heading back to sydney and heading home - a three week vaca - she has two problems with my plan, first problem is it is an expensive vacation (the flights just around Assy are 4K) and second is we have to pay for it - still working on her although i am not making any headway.

Stay away from Mt. Desert Island and Acadia National Park in Maine. The locals are MEAN!

Really?