For everyone who loves western Canada – we went to Victoria in December 23, stayed at a nice B&B, and hit Butchart Gardens. Weather was mild. Needed a coat, but was not freezing. Then headed to Harrison Hot Springs Resort,which had spa pools and was fairly reasonable. It’s about 1.5 hrs east of Vancouver.
Last summer we went back to BC and drove north about four hours from Victoria to the west coast of BC. Beautiful drive, stayed at place called “So Damn Lucky” glamping just outside Ucluelet. Basically, it was an upgraded camping trailer facing the beach, 20 minutes of gravel roads away from the rest of the world. Solar electricity, rainwater, grill outside. We loved it. We’d been to Ucluelet about 10 years prior and wanted to return but do the quasi-camping thing to get close to the beach. Lots of water-related activities available, inc. whalewatching, snorkeling, etc.
I could go to NZ every year and never see the same thing twice. Loved the Doubtful Sound overnight boat cruise much more than Milford Sound (though the Milford Road drive is spectacular and you shouldn’t miss it). Mt. John Observatory near Lake Tekapo has late night star watching and astrophotography.
We did the Baltics via land – found a tour group that runs a minivan from Vilnius to Riga and RIga to Tallinn (one day each), stopping for sightseeing several times along the way. Avoids the cruise crowds and we got to see things the cruises can’t get you to. We stayed in Riga four days and I loved it. Also rented a car and went inland to investigate some possible genealogical stuff.
@MaineLonghorn, we are going to Hel in a few weeks, thanks to you! WIll be meeting S2 and DIL in Gdansk and staying in northern Poland a few days. Any recommendations? H will fly home from Krakow and I am heading to western Ukraine for an extra week. This wil be my 4th trip there, two before the war and my second since. Will be based in Lviv, but S & DIL also want to take me to the overnight craft markets in Kosiv. Will then take the train back to Przemsyl, go through Ukrainian and Polish border patrols and then get a different train to Krakow, where I’ll catch the plane home. Still no commercial air flights in Ukraine. DH will take most of my stuff back with him so I don’t have to schlep too much, other than the goodies I buy.
We rented a car in Alaska (and yes, you need a 4x4, despite the main road being fine for all vehicles as you might read - we found getting to some of our accommodations and sometimes even parking lots and gas station forecourts needed the extra clearance and traction). We loved driving the state - it’s all beautiful, and the main road is good so getting from place to place is easy.
Galapagos involves moving between islands as well so not sure how car rental would work. Also, you need a registered guide to visit the national parks. We had a private tour organized and they arranged all our transportation - road or boat (and once a small plane) as necessary. The small plane was optional, but the crossing that way is known to take a heavy toll in terms of seasickness. I seem to recall it didn’t add much to the overall cost.
We’ve been talking about chartering a boat in the BVI. With my husband’s brother.
I’d like to hire a cook and a captain. My husband and his brother know how to sail but it seems like it would be so much nicer to leave that to someone else.
Just need to get his brother to commit to it. I can plan, he needs to decide he wants to do it.
I grew up in and until 11 years ago lived in Africa, where going to the bush (what Americans call going on safari ) was kind of normal so I don’t often think of suggesting this, but yes it’s great. One of the nicest trips we did was a combined Victoria falls (Zimbabwe and Zambia) -Botswana trip, where in Botswana we stayed in Chobe (on a river so we had a game drive in the mornings and a game “cruise” in the afternoons,or maybe it was the other way round) which was awesome. The Okovango delta is another option. I also have to shill for South Africa for safaris. Another place worth visiting out there is Namibia, which just has some really otherworldly landscapes. Less wildlife as it’s desert, but still some out there and if you are lucky you get to see the desert elephants (I haven’t but my husband has),
We have friends that have done the bareboat. For me a vacation is all about no stress or as little as possible. My H has been on the water boating since he was little. BUT I do not want to be the co-captain on a week long trip… especially if we are not completely familiar with the water/area.
Oh, cool! We didn’t have much of a set itinerary around Gdansk. We took a couple of walking tours. The WWII museum in Gdansk is cool - if you go, allow enough time to see everything, several hours.
My son and I took a train to see the Malbork castle. It is the largest castle in the world measured by land area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There’s a neat little restaurant that you can enter from the castle (but you can’t go back out the door without the staff opening it for you, because they don’t want people from the street getting into the castle for free; at first, we couldn’t figure out why we were locked in!). It takes about 45 minutes to get there by train, and we thought it was worth the trip. My son was in heaven, because he’s always liked castles and knights. I’m fond of them, too, so it was fun going together.
Oh, there are some really cool German fortifications in Hel. You walk through the woods to get there. We just came upon them accidentally, but anyone could direct you.
That’s so cool you lived in Africa! I’ve been to Kruger three times and the Sabi Sands two times for safaris. My dad has a good friend in Johannesburg who takes people to the bush in his spare time, and he always took us. It’s been 8 years since my last trip, and I want to go back so badly.
I have not read all the way to the end to see if someone posted it for you. If your D is moving into Cornell or IC, local accommodations may be booked by others with the same plan.
Thanks! I’m excited to explore Ithaca and the surrounding area. As to accommodations, my D found her 3-person apartment ( floor of a house) and signed the lease in early spring as soon as she committed and paid a deposit for her program She heard that good student apartments are hard to come by, by late spring/ summer, so she figured she’d have no trouble filling the place. Fortunately, she was able to tour it in person in the evening of her Admitted Student’s Day. She quickly found two other incoming law students to sign the lease also. We are moving her in a few days before the others so I will stay in the apartment while there this trip.
My husband collaborates with a lab at Cornell. The campus gardens are gorgeous. Cool off with their own ice cream afterwards. We always tacked on a few days of touring vineyards and hiking after visiting the lab.
Thank you! I’ll look at that and maybe sign up as soon as I know our trip dates. Looks fun…maybe my D would like to make a glass flower to brighten her new apartment
