On Vacations.

[theweaselking]

So, I haven't had a vacation in two years. I haven't had a REAL vacation in four. I need one. I'm taking one.

torrain and I *had* scheduled a road trip through Sault St Marie for a wedding, and figured while we were there, we'd hit Toledo and Columbus and Chicago, then come back via Niagara Falls since she's never been there.

Then she got a new job that guarantees we can't do that. It was a flat condition: Can't take the job *and* be off the first two weeks of September.


So our vacation got cancelled.


Or, really, rescheduled.


And since we're not constrained to Sault St Marie on the 3rd any more, that leaves us open to do anything, anywhere.

So! Two weeks-ish, late September/early October. Where should we go?

(Related: I'm tempted to cut myself off from news and updates for the first time in a decade, for the duration. Bets on how soon I go completely barking mad and reconnect?)

Comments

Re: Where have you been and where have you always wanted to go?

[swwoodsy.livejournal.com]

You have to take the weather into account, too, though. I am not sure Iceland in October would be all that great. Of course, since y'all live in the Frozen North, it may not make much difference, but we delicate southern flowers have to be careful.

It really depends on what you like - museums, sights, good food, and comfort, or nature, hiking, and being alone. Are there any particular hobbies you want to indulge?

For the past 25 years or so my family has had a time share in a beach house in Nags Head, North Carolina, which is definitely a tourist destination, but not so much in the fall (we're actually going to go for a week in October; the beach in fall and winter is the best). The weather is usually nice, there are not too many people, you're not required to be connected, but you can be if you want. There are things to see and do -- Jockey's Ridge, Wright Brothers memorial and museum, the aquarium, the Lost Colony, the Elizabethan Gardens, Manteo, fishing, surfing, windsurfing, etc., etc. There are some nice restaurants, but also a lot of mom-n-pop places. There are plenty of places to rent that time of year (and oceanside and oceanfront is way lots better than sound-side. Yes, it matters. Yes, even a block in from the ocean is too far. Ocean.Front.) It is a beautiful place and so relaxing. Even as built-up as it has gotten, it is really nice. I like that it has both things -- relaxing and slacking at the house or out and about looking at stuff. Downside: possible hurricane and evacuation. Unlikely, but possible. Just so you know.

If you want to drive, the Skyline Drive in the Blue Ridge mountains is beautiful that time of year (lots of people go to drive around and look at the trees that have changed color. Seriously. It sounds stupid, but it's really pretty.) There's hiking on the Appalachain trail, Luray caverns, Civil War battlefields (though as y'all're Canadian, I don't really see the appeal of that for you). New England has the same changing-leaves-aren't-they-pretty thing going on, and has the benefit of being closer to you, and the right destination can get you to the ocean, too....

Beijing was fascinating, but I think I saw and did everything I wanted to do in a week (and it is a long-ass plane ride), and we did not trust the Chinese internal airline to get us to Xi'an to see the Terracotta Army. Bruges is beautiful, though, and I wish I had had more time to tour it (OK, we went out drinking the night before, but we toured for all of two hours before we had to get back on the bus to cross the Channel). And I think I could spend two weeks in the museums in London alone (I love a museum). Ireland is lovely, but I was there hiking in the summer, so I can't vouch for the weather in the fall.

Personally, I have always wanted to go to Spain, Greece, and Italy; I did not get to go to any of those places when I was an exchange student in Germany. I traveled fairly extensively in Germany, so if you're interested, I could tell you some highlights, but I was last there 20 years ago when the Wall was still up, so it's been a while...

Re: Where have you been and where have you always wanted to go?

[ed-dirt.livejournal.com]

The weather in Iceland is pretty crappy all year round, so as long as you go before November (while there is still light), it will be ok.