More Upbeat Speculation

[ladysprite]

Okay. So way back at the beginning of the year, I promised myself that umbran and I would go on a vacation sometime this year. I never actually expected to be able to follow through on that - we haven't gone on an actual vacation since 2006, I think, and didn't expect that to change - but... I've had it brought home to me that I do need to take better care of myself, and that that doesn't mean fasting, working out until I collapse, or working six-day weeks, and calling it practicality and tough love.

And now that SuperHusband has something resembling a job, we can start to think on this again. The problem is, I have no idea of where to go or what to do.

We never went on vacation when I was a kid. We didn't have any money, and my father didn't like.... well, as far as I can tell, he didn't like anything. I haven't traveled anywhere; when I was a kid my folks couldn't afford to send me for Study Abroad programs, and since then my money went to planning for vet school, going to vet school, and recovering from vet school. Other than one week in London, I have no real travel experience at all.

So I have no idea of how to plan a vacation, or where to go. There's a whole huge world out there, and I don't know where to start. In my fantasy world I'd love to go on a Mediterranean cruise, but while funds are improving, that's still a little bit out of reach.

I want to go *somewhere.* I'll be honest, as nice as Vermont and D.C. are, they still feel a little bit too much like home. I want something I can't drive to in a day. I want to wait until it's cold, and go somewhere warm. I'm slightly enamored of cruises, mostly because they'll let me go to a handful of places without unpacking and repacking and spending time in cars, but I'm not married to that idea. I'd rather avoid Hawaii and Disney, since the two vacations I've had as an adult have been to those places - I want someplace new.

So.... any suggestions? I know there are people reading this from all over the world, and who've been all over the world. Where's your favorite place to go on vacation? Any suggestions on how to choose, or how to plan it, or what to do when I'm there? Travel brochures are nice, but they actually tell you much that's practical....

Comments

[deguspice.livejournal.com]

If you want to leave the US, I have two suggestions.

Iceland is a good place to visit once in your life. Unfortunately, the aurora season is over, but there's still plenty to see. Most of the places you'd like to see are accessible via tour buses (book the tours with the Iceland Air flight for cheaper rates). The economy there is doing poorly, so prices are much cheaper than when I went there. Alternately, you can fly to Europe via Iceland, and then stop for a couple of days in Iceland (on the way back from Europe).

The other place to visit is Seattle and then Victoria, BC. Seattle as lots of things to see, and from there, you can take a ferry (get a ferry and B&B package) to Victoria. In Victoria there are a couple of good museums, but most importantly there's the Buschart Gardens (accessible by public or tour bus).

[quietann.livejournal.com]

Agree with this, though both could be very damp and dreary in the winter. I don't know about Iceland, but it basically doesn't snow much in Seattle or especially Victoria, but it rains. A lot.

San Diego (my hometown) is nice for a winter vacation and they have a cruise terminal if you wanted to cruise as well. And I *might* (no promises) be able to get you a cheap but beautiful place to stay, too.

[bess.livejournal.com]

I loved my trip to Iceland. We did a tour through Icelandic Air which was wonderful and very reasonably priced. It's one of the most beautiful places in the world.

[tafkad.livejournal.com]

I went to Seattle and Victoria (the island, not the mainland city) about 10 years ago. The Butchart Gardens are glorious!

Late July/early August had no rain that year, fwiw.