<p>I have been looking at the scary high cost of air fare and trying to plan ahead to winter break.</p>
<p>We live in Alaska - beautiful now - but kind of dreary at Winter Break. Family all over the country - I have no need for warm fuzzies and family drama. It’s time for us.</p>
<p>D2 goes to school in New York - If I booked the tickets today - it would cost $950 RT for winter break.</p>
<p>Our beautiful golden retriever died last week - yep! I am still grieving - but confess to a certain new found freedom - we can now leave the house and just let the plants die.</p>
<p>D1 - New college graduate - says don’t plan on her - she is leaving the country next week - doesn’t know how long she’ll be gone- needs to shop her thesis on the ground abroad and decide about graduate school.</p>
<p>Looking for suggestions for unusual - fun - winter break ideas - prob the three of us - willing to go anywhere -</p>
<p>We go to the Okanagan for winter break, but that probably isn’t what you are looking for ;)</p>
<p>Take a cruise to Seattle! & maybe just keep going?
[Seattle</a> cruise company adds Hawaiian cruise - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):](<a href=“http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/06/02/story5.html]Seattle”>http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/06/02/story5.html)</p>
<p>I am so sorry about your Golden. Mine is 5, and I am already worrying about the day we no longer have him. They are so special.</p>
<p>It would take you forever to get there, but I am a huge fan of the eco-resort Maho Bay on St. John (USVI). You stay in these tent-cottages and it is really different, but not totally primitive.</p>
<p>We used to live on St. John and it is my favorite place in the world. There are several camping options on the island, some through the National Park and some private eco-friendly ones. Most of the camping is on the other side of the island from the town of Cruz Bay. Transportation can be an issue.</p>
<p>We always rented a jeep to get around. Maho Bay actually has cots with sheets in the tent cottages. The tents also have fans and you get blocks of ice for your ice box. We’ve been there three times and I love it.</p>