<p>Somalia was by far and away my favorite country growing up. For visiting, it’s a toss up between Japan and Scotland. I loved every bit of Japan - it’s very satisfyingly non-Western. I’d like it more though if I spoke Japanese. Staying at Japanese inns were no one spoke even a smidgen of English was challenging to say the least! London is probably my favorite city.</p>
<p>mathmom, I hope you’ll add Australia to your list eventually…we went in August 2001. Had four days in Fiji to help with jet lag, then Sydney, Cairns, a short Reef cruise. H & S then visited Melbourne (where H has family) and New Zealand. (I had to come home to work 
) All three of us think it’s the best vacation we’ve had and recommend it highly. H also has family in Perth and we are hoping to go there next time.</p>
<p>S wrote an essay contrasting that trip with coming home and watching the Trade Center towers burn outside our windows, but decided that nothing he could write conveyed his feelings well enough. I disagreed…</p>
<p>only four countries: USA, Canada, Austria, Czech Republic. Not even Mexico, despite living less than three hours from the border for 30+ years. Planning to add Hungary to the list in May. Will definitely have a drink in the pub while on layover at Heathrow. </p>
<p>D has made a side excursion to Italy and is spending six days in Sweden beginning this weekend.</p>
<p>Let’s see…states…by my count, I still have 15 left to go. This past summer I picked off North Carolina, plus swimming in the Atlantic. Of the places I’ve visited, I think Wyoming and Tennessee are among the most scenic…in very different ways. Happiest state to leave: Texas.</p>
<p>License plates hardest to spot in my neck of the woods: Maine, West Virginia.</p>
<p>I’ve never been to Mexico either, and I lived in New Mexico for a long time. My favorite state: Hawaii! And Colorado in winter ;)</p>
<p>39 states (not counting drive-thrus or train-thrus unless I made a stop).</p>
<p>I think I’ve been to 18 foreign countries? Unless you count St. Martin as part of France.</p>
<p>TheDad - what happened in Texas? ;)</p>
<p>LDMom, I’m sure I would grant you dispensation. It’s full of Texans. I like Austin but I’m reliably informed by Texans that Austin isn’t Texas, it’s Austin.
I must say that I’ve been happily surprised that nobody has opened fire in my vicinity even once during our trips there. And the contrast in facial expressions between the two ladies working the info desk at the LBJ library when I was doing a bit of research there when I opined upon the difference between LBJ and our current Texan-in-the-White-House was quite a study.</p>
<p>Do the countries at EPCOT in Disneyworld count?</p>
<p>yeppers, TheDad, Austin is Austin. 
</p>
<p>Btw…LBJ had his ‘moments’ too. Time is just too kind to some imho. ;)</p>
<p>I love Japan as well and once spent a beautiful spring in Kyoto surrounded by the cherry blossoms. The Japanese are incredibly design oriented, taking their appreciation of detail down to the smallest items in their lives.</p>
<p>We stayed in a traditional ryokan (with Larry Hagman as our neighbor) and loved it except they asked if we wanted Western or Japanese breakfast. Of course we piped up that we wanted Japanese–which is why we were served fish for breakfast and dinner. After four days we switched to Western…Ahhhhh eggs and toast!</p>
<p>Travel is my ambition for old age–but I want to be able to take the kids with me at lest once a year–incl DILs. That could be more expensive than US unverisity! Ouch!</p>
<p>I’d really like to go to Australia - and New Zealand. I know lots of nice people from that neck of the woods too. India and China are also on my “must see” list.</p>
<p>Yes people in that ankle of the woods are very very nice, 
. I hope to get to China this summer to see S2 while he’s on Gap in Beijing.</p>