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Vacation idea help.

BRETTPSU

BRETTPSU

Well-Known Member
Sep 18, 2002
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1
Give me some ideas for the family.

Wife and I are both under 40 and active. Kids are 14 and 10 and active most days but will need a down day every once in a while

We like the outdoors but don't mind some city. Wife loves beach, I love Mountains, Kids like it all

Can be stationary or mobile trip but don't want nothing but driving

Overseas is fine but must be safe and fun for the kids. I would love a Viking river cruise but not sure how much they would appreciate something like that

Some of the trips considered: Central Cali, Alaskan cruise/land, Hawaii again, Europe anywhere, Utah's parks

No Caribbean please, been there done that and get a perked trip every year.

Budget 10-15k. Have at it
 
BRETTPSU said:
Give me some ideas for the family.

Wife and I are both under 40 and active. Kids are 14 and 10 and active most days but will need a down day every once in a while

We like the outdoors but don't mind some city. Wife loves beach, I love Mountains, Kids like it all

Can be stationary or mobile trip but don't want nothing but driving

Overseas is fine but must be safe and fun for the kids. I would love a Viking river cruise but not sure how much they would appreciate something like that

Some of the trips considered: Central Cali, Alaskan cruise/land, Hawaii again, Europe anywhere, Utah's parks

No Caribbean please, been there done that and get a perked trip every year.

Budget 10-15k. Have at it
Click to expand...

I heard Baltimore is nice this time of year.
 
How about Colorado? They have great outdoor activities in summer - hiking, fishing, horseback riding, swimming, kayaking, jeep tours, plus nice small cities to visit - Boulder, Colorado Springs, Vail, Aspen, Telluride, etc. Lots of different festivals and events across the State for a wide variety of interests. The hotels and condos are first rate and a bit of a bargain in the summer as its off season for the skiers. Good family friendly restaurants all over as well. Plus Rocky Mountain National Park is a great destination on your tour. Give it a look.
 
When our kids were the same ages as yours, we flew into SEA-TAC airport and took a trip to the San Juan islands north of Seattle. We stayed right on Friday Harbor. We went at the end of July and did not see a cloud in the sky all week. We went on a whale watching trip and did some sea kayaking and hiking while on the island.

After a few days there, we spent a couple of days in Seattle, which was great as well.

Then, we headed down the northern Oregon coast for a couple of days to visit some friends who had a place in Manzanita, near Cannon Beach. There are beautiful state parks in the area that are right on the beach.

We have done quite a few trips to various places before and since, but that was hands down one of the best trips we have ever taken.
 
One of the best vacations I ever took was flying into Phoenix and driving up to the Grand Canyon. On the way back, staying a couple of days in Sedona and then a nice resort in Phoenix. I like the JW there or stay at Enchantment in Sedona.

International you can't beat Italy. Go to Positano and stay at the Hotel California for the wife's beach needs (great food and people watching....especially if the high end yachts are out) and spend the rest of your time educating the kids in Rome.

With the strong dollar against the Euro (basically, one to one) its a darn good value right now.
 
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BRETTPSU said:
Give me some ideas for the family.

Wife and I are both under 40 and active. Kids are 14 and 10 and active most days but will need a down day every once in a while

We like the outdoors but don't mind some city. Wife loves beach, I love Mountains, Kids like it all

Can be stationary or mobile trip but don't want nothing but driving

Overseas is fine but must be safe and fun for the kids. I would love a Viking river cruise but not sure how much they would appreciate something like that

Some of the trips considered: Central Cali, Alaskan cruise/land, Hawaii again, Europe anywhere, Utah's parks

No Caribbean please, been there done that and get a perked trip every year.

Budget 10-15k. Have at it
Click to expand...

Consider New Zealand. Airfare can be considerable but tour operators that specializes in AU/NZ tours can get you some pretty good deals for getting there and then seeing the country. If you decide to head in that direction just remember it's winter there now and if timing of your vacation is not an issue, then making it a December/January getaway would likely be the plan. While the travel time to get there is considerable, it's a small price to pay for the scenery and the activities available. It truly is a remarkable place.
 
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BRETTPSU said:
Give me some ideas for the family.

Wife and I are both under 40 and active. Kids are 14 and 10 and active most days but will need a down day every once in a while

We like the outdoors but don't mind some city. Wife loves beach, I love Mountains, Kids like it all

Can be stationary or mobile trip but don't want nothing but driving

Overseas is fine but must be safe and fun for the kids. I would love a Viking river cruise but not sure how much they would appreciate something like that

Some of the trips considered: Central Cali, Alaskan cruise/land, Hawaii again, Europe anywhere, Utah's parks

No Caribbean please, been there done that and get a perked trip every year.

Budget 10-15k. Have at it
Click to expand...

For that budget and your preferences, I think Germany would be your best 'overseas' bet. I'd hit Bavaria and go from there. Castles to tour, hiking, can take day trips to Austria, Czech Republic, Switzerland, and/or France (I'd get a rental car and drive, but you can just as easily do the very well developed and user friendly high speed rail system). Beer Gardens are great and lively, and depending on when you go most towns have a 'fest' of some sort going on, and most of the Olympic venues are still in tact and worth checking out. The Zugspitze (below) is the highest mountain in Germany and you can get to the top via cable car (can see for 200 miles on a clear day and there is a restaurant at the top). There are so many castles (Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, etc.) and churches to visit I can't list them all here. Nurnberg isn't far away either; most cities are very 'walker' friendly and the food is fantastic (the beer too). Another place worth visiting would be Dachau Concentration Camp, if the kids wouldn't mind something extremely depressing (but worthwhile to visit).

For a family, Germany would be a great bet (very clean, safe). Weather is fantastic too (if you're not going in winter).

Zugspitze
1280px-Zugspitze_2.JPG
 
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Cruising Route 66 said:
Consider New Zealand. Airfare can be considerable but tour operators that specializes in AU/NZ tours can get you some pretty good deals for getting there and then seeing the country. If you decide to head in that direction just remember it's winter there now and if timing of your vacation is not an issue, then making it a December/January getaway would likely be the plan. While the travel time to get there is considerable, it's a small price to pay for the scenery and the activities available.
Click to expand...
And here I thought you would have recommended Lebanon, PA. Isn't that where you're originally from and why you knew Felli's mother passed away before anyone else connected the dots. Me thinks you knew Felli's mother from high school....ages seem to be about right.

No matter how many times you try to deny....the glove fits.
 
It's well under your budget but Mt. Desert Island in Maine sounds like it suits your needs. Acadia National Park has endless bike and hiking trails and some of the best scenery on the east coast. I don't know where you're located. It's a beautiful place. You could find other side excursions as well in that area. The ocean water will not be warm, fair warning.
 
BRETTPSU said:
Give me some ideas for the family.

Wife and I are both under 40 and active. Kids are 14 and 10 and active most days but will need a down day every once in a while

We like the outdoors but don't mind some city. Wife loves beach, I love Mountains, Kids like it all

Can be stationary or mobile trip but don't want nothing but driving

Overseas is fine but must be safe and fun for the kids. I would love a Viking river cruise but not sure how much they would appreciate something like that

Some of the trips considered: Central Cali, Alaskan cruise/land, Hawaii again, Europe anywhere, Utah's parks

No Caribbean please, been there done that and get a perked trip every year.

Budget 10-15k. Have at it
Click to expand...
I've travelled extensively throughout the U.S. and to places of the world that I now regret and appreciate, but your list of criteria are head scratching.

You say you're interested in Central California, Hawaii, etc but don't want nothing but driving?????

Perhaps you mistyped, but I don't get the driving preference with the list of possible locations.

If you can give us a general starting point and whether you want this to be a road trip vs "get there quickly and decompress" trip would be of great assistance. At this point I can't help you, especially for anything overseas as that requires a more timely degree of planning, else you'll disappointed.
 
You might like the Black Forest. Some nice lakes like Titisee (no joke) with beaches and some mountains and lots of good hiking. You can make day trips to things like castles--and the big technical (think planes, trains, and automobiles) museum in Sinsheim is not too far north. Zoos in Frankfurt, Heidelberg, and Stuttgart if you want a taste of the big city--and I think there is a Mercedes Benz museum in Stuttgart. Homeaway can get you an apartment to rent or what the Germans call "FeWo" (Ferien Wohnung) or vacation house. We've used them in New England, New Orleans, and Central Germany in the past 5 years.

In Northern Germany, I absolutely love Cologne. Lots to do. But I was a student there thru PSU in the late 1970s, so I am biased.
 
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Barcelona, Spain then 1.5 hours up the coast to Tossa de Mar. Did that last year and it was outstanding.
 
Take a cruise in the Mediterranean

Most of the best ships are over there right now (and not in the Caribbean).

I'd recommend Disney. Although your kids are a little old for it they will still love all the clubs etc.

Fly into Barcelona and there are a bunch of options from there. Disney looks to have only one cruise which is 12 night. A little much.

LdN
 
LionDeNittany said:
Take a cruise in the Mediterranean

Most of the best ships are over there right now (and not in the Caribbean).

I'd recommend Disney. Although your kids are a little old for it they will still love all the clubs etc.

Fly into Barcelona and there are a bunch of options from there. Disney looks to have only one cruise which is 12 night. A little much.

LdN
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I did a disney cruise a few years ago and got sick as a dog, along with a couple of hundred other passengers. never again.

Although I think Bermuda is a nice option in the summer time. It is too far north to be a great winter vaca so its nice in the summer. IIRC, weather is akin to South Carolina.
 
Wife and I have been to Bermuda 3 times and loved it. Early October was the best time - water still very warm but air a little cooler. Would go back but with 2 kids (9 and 13) it's a little tough to get around the Island since you can't rent a car and the kids are not ready to handle a scooter which is the best way to really see everything there. Buses system is good but still not ideal. I really like Belgium - great country with friendly people and tons of history and things for the whole family to do.
 
Peetz Pool Boy said:
And here I thought you would have recommended Lebanon, PA. Isn't that where you're originally from and why you knew Felli's mother passed away before anyone else connected the dots. Me thinks you knew Felli's mother from high school....ages seem to be about right.

No matter how many times you try to deny....the glove fits.
Click to expand...
LOL! Keep on fishing.
 
Obliviax said:
I did a disney cruise a few years ago and got sick as a dog, along with a couple of hundred other passengers. never again.

Although I think Bermuda is a nice option in the summer time. It is too far north to be a great winter vaca so its nice in the summer. IIRC, weather is akin to South Carolina.
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I didn't know you were asking for vacation ideas? I wouldn't recommend it for you.

That said, plenty of people get sick on plenty of vacations. Cruises have >1.5k people on average. Disney ships are by far the cleanest.
 
LionDeNittany said:
I didn't know you were asking for vacation ideas? I wouldn't recommend it for you.

That said, plenty of people get sick on plenty of vacations. Cruises have >1.5k people on average. Disney ships are by far the cleanest.
Click to expand...

No doubt, LDN. I have great respect for Disney. But I won't be cruising on any ships, period. It was scary. I don't get sick often but was bed-ridden for two full days. And, when hundreds of people got sick, it was clear it had something to do with the ship. If Disney is exposed to this, what can other companies do?

I'll consider a river cruise, in Europe, which is smaller, easier to maintain, and can get food at different ports easier. But I won't be doing a large cruise ship unless someone gives me one for free.
 
You sound like the people who are afraid to fly because of a plane crash in Singapore, whereas travelling by car is 100x more dangerous.

Fact is that cruises are one of the most sanitary and safest modes of transport. No dodgy restaurants. Little theft risk. very safe environment. doctor onboard etc.

People are sick ALL the time on vacation. It's just hard to pinpoint the reason. On a ship it is clear the reason.

Cruise ships such as Disney handle 2000 people per week (not including staff) for a total of about 100k passengers per year.

Annually these outbreaks happen maybe 4 times across all cruise lines. You do the math.

LdN
 
LionDeNittany said:
You sound like the people who are afraid to fly because of a plane crash in Singapore, whereas travelling by car is 100x more dangerous.

Fact is that cruises are one of the most sanitary and safest modes of transport. No dodgy restaurants. Little theft risk. very safe environment. doctor onboard etc.

People are sick ALL the time on vacation. It's just hard to pinpoint the reason. On a ship it is clear the reason.

Cruise ships such as Disney handle 2000 people per week (not including staff) for a total of about 100k passengers per year.

Annually these outbreaks happen maybe 4 times across all cruise lines. You do the math.

LdN
Click to expand...

Yeah, well, I am platinum on two airlines! I know several people that got sick on cruises, with massive people getting sick. It takes a while to get sick after contracting a disease. Its clear that cruise ships are not sanitary, given the number of problems the industry has had (and most are never reported on). Perhaps their is no way to keep them clean, regardless, they are not clean.

I've vacationed all over the world. Moscow, Singapore, Portugal, Italy, France, Ireland, England, Barbados, Virgin Island, Hawaii and more. I've had the flu, I've gotten colds. I've never had anything like I had on that cruise. And with a couple of hundred other people getting sick at the same time? forgetaboutit.

Sea-Sick-Tom-Cruise--2856.jpg
 
We like to go to all-inclusive hotels in Riviera Maya Mexico. Prices aren't bad and you pay everything up front in a package. Of course, you have to like the beach as my family does. Some of the hotels have good reef snorkeling right off the beach and that is our favorite activity there if you don't count eating and margaritas.
 
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