<p>We loved our family trip to Kiawah Island, South Carolina. The Sanctuary Hotel sits on a long stretch of beachfront, and there are many condos and houses available for rent in the same area. It’s amazing to bike along the shoreline. The golfing is terrific. There are boat rides with naturalists along the preserve, and we saw dolphins and an eagle.</p>
<p>If it was Fall or Spring, I would say Turkey.
Summer? Rent an apartment in Paris or a house in Normandy. Cheaper than hotels.</p>
<p>Does anyone have an opinion about Bermuda as a destination that would be good for parents and a college student? And if a cruise is a good idea, what would be the best port in Bermuda?</p>
<p>Between Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee in June and the Olympics in July and August, I wouldn’t really recommend London this summer.</p>
<p>
We did 4 days in Bermuda with our daughter for her graduation. From the East Coast, it’s very close (less than a 2 hour flight from Boston), and we all had a great time. Beautiful beaches, great food. It’s not cheap, though, and you cannot rent a car on Bermuda. We loved it and will definitely go again.</p>
<p>The only issue I would have with a cruise to Bermuda is that it’s out on the open Atlantic, so it can be a bit choppy. And you have to be aware of hurricanes. Although Bermuda’s not in the “hurricane belt”, you’ll feel the effects of a hurricane on the water.</p>
<p>Great thread! Giving me lots of ideas for our family!</p>
<p>One of the best family vacations we ever took was a 2 week driving trip from our home in CA, through Nevada, Idaho, then into Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. Just being together in the car for 2 weeks was priceless, and the scenery at Yellowstone and Tetons is magnificent. The kids were much littler then, I would love to go back.</p>
<p>One of my most favorite trips as an adult was going up to the Canadian Rockies. Went up through Montana and into Canada, going through Banff, Calgary, etc. Outstanding.</p>
<p>Now, one place I have always wanted to go to is the Low Country of the South. Probably not in summer though.</p>
<p>We really are blessed to have such a wonderful country to travel through!</p>
<p>If you’ve never been to Ireland, I’d highly recommend it. You can either rent (hire!) a car or do a train/tour combination. I’d take in parts of Dublin but then go see the Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher, etc. The people are delightful and the scenery is spectacular, particularly when you get out of the cities.</p>
<p>One of the best family trips we did was with just our youngest kid, touring the south island of New Zealand. There was wine for H, bungey jumping for D, and lots of adventure and beautiful scenery for all of us. Highlights were a small plane out to Milford Sound, whale watching in Kaikoura, penguins and albatross on the Otago Peninsula near Dunedin. Just thinking about this makes me want to go back.</p>
<p>On another note, H and I will be fly fishing near Bozeman in June. Does anyone have a suggestion for about 4 more days in the area. Last time we just flew in, fished, and left so I really want to see more of Montana this time.</p>
<p>Puzzled- If you haven’t seen the Grand Tetons, I’d recommend driving down to Jackson Lake Lodge in Wyoming and spending a couple of nights there. The scenery is breathtaking and the lodge is beautiful. You could also stop at Yellowstone for a night or two if you haven’t been, or make the trip after Jackson and before driving back to Montana. I think it’s about 4 or 5 hours driving from Bozeman to Jackson, WY, and it’s a lovely drive.</p>
<p>I’d second the South Island of New Zealand–did a trip similar to the one Puzzled describes. We enjoyed the wine area and whale watching too. Spent a day at the International Arctic Center in Christ Church; really interesting museum that teaches folks about the Arctic. You’ve got the ocean and mountains all together on the South Island. Found the people of New Zealand very friendly and when we went the $ exchange rate was very favorable–don’t know if that’s still the case.</p>
<p>I’m getting some great vacation ideas…but I could swear the OP wanted to stay in the continental U.S. not Europe or Australia…or the like. Did I misinterpret what she asked? If so…give us a ball park budget. I have lots of terrific suggestions that are out of the country.</p>
<p>“Something special” and “nothing off the table”. Well that means different things to so many different people!</p>
<p>Abu Camp in Botswana. Elephant back safari so you can get closer to animals than usual.</p>
<p>This thread is turning into ideas for bucket lists.</p>
<p>
I think you’re right. From the OP -
</p>
<p>I recommend Canada. You can do a trip that combines Montreal and Quebec City along with the Laurentian Mountains… or another trip is to drive through Maine to Bar Harbor and take the ferry to Nova Scotia and tour Nova Scotia for another week. Maine is beautiful with great lobster and fun places, Nova Scotia is beautiful but very quiet, not much for nightlife. Montreal and Quebec City are both great cities, different sites to see in each, great restuarants also.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I guess this is the part <em>I</em> read…but the suggestions here are fabulous and if they don’t work for the OP…they might work for some of the rest of us reading here:)</p>
<p>We have some friends who spent two weeks and had a great time in the San Diego then LA area. Others went to San Francisco/Napa and had similar experiences. In CA, you could add some of the great National Parks to the trip…it could be a “something for everyone” kind of trip…Disneyland, Yosemite, San Diego and all it has to offer, etc…</p>
<p>We had a great 3 week trip (that could be condensed). We started in LA & caught an overnight AmTrak to Seattle. Spent a night or two there, then Mt. Ranier, Crater Lake, crabbing on the river with my aunt, Coastal Redwoods, SF, Sequoia National Park & then back to LA. We had a very nice trip and did a lot of bonding (internet reception quite intermittent in parts of the trip). It was quite reasonable. Have also loved spending a week at Yellowstone at various locations inside the park. Grand Tetons is also lovely and not as crowded, but pretty “tame.”</p>
<p>Sorry, have never yet done a cruise, so don’t know how that compares.</p>
<p>^^HImom & OP:</p>
<p>We did a wonderful cruise around the Hawaiian Islands about six or seven years ago. Flew into Honolulu and took the NCL Pride of America cruise to each Hawaiian Island. Some ports we stayed for two days instead of one…GREAT way to see the Hawaiian Islands. Lots of wonderful sights on each island! If you fly from the East coast, I would suggest stopping in Calif. for a night or two. We went directly to Honolulu, which made for a very long trip!</p>
<p>In reviewing the posts on this thread, I didn’t realize how many places I’ve been to! :)</p>
<p>I have done @6 cruises and they are nice and all-inclusive…however some of the vacations in and around the United States have been very memorable and enjoyable trips. Just a bit pricier since you pay separately for hotel, food, car, sightseeing.</p>
<p>If you go towards Montreal, we went in July several years ago and just by coicidence went at the same time as the Montreal Jazz festival…fun! They have underground shopping malls there too.</p>
<p>How about Hilton Head or Key West</p>
<p>Iceland! A beautiful country with lots of recreational activities. Closer than the rest of Europe. The Blue Lagoon. The aurora borealis. Geysirs. Check out Reykjavik Excursions for lots of ideas of what to do. With the drop in their currency the prices weren’t any different than here when we went. The kids loved it.</p>
<p>I second or third the vote for the Canadian Rockies. Jasper, Banff, Lake Louise. Breathtakingly beautiful.</p>
<p>On the east coast we loved Nova Scotia.</p>