Going a year without a vacation has been challenging, even though we knew that we were working toward our dream Italy vacation, plus a lovely little interlude in Germany and Austria in December. But the year's deprivation has put me on vacation overdrive, and I'm gung ho to start planning our next trip. Last night, B and I sat down and started brainstorming possible vacation destinations for 2009. Here they are, in no particular order.
OUT WEST
Las Vegas and surrounding national parks (Grand Canyon, Zion, and Bryce).
If we choose this trip, we'll have to go in May so we can see the Academy of Country Music Awards, which is (or at least was) held in Vegas. Plus we can visit a college friend of mine who is in law school in Tucson.
Vancouver and Banff.
Debatable if both could be visited easily in one trip. Banff was a secret honeymoon contender and looks amazing.
Western ski towns (but not to ski): Lake Tahoe, Denver, Vail, Aspen, and Jackson Hole.
Maybe we would run into Harrison Ford in Jackson Hole. But will we be able to take ourselves seriously if we tell people that we're vacationing in Vail?
California coast (LA to SF and above).
Including a trip to Disneyland, natch.
Portland, Oregon.
Beautiful, green, and friendly. They have great public television programs, so the city must be nice.
IN THE MIDDLE
Cedar Point roller coaster park in Ohio.
A vacation in...Ohio? Road trip, anyone?
Chicago.
Everyone who goes tells me that I would like it.
Great Lakes and their vacation resorts.
Like in Dirty Dancing, only a different part of the country.
TO THE NORTH
Toronto and Niagra Falls.
Water and Canadians everywhere!
Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
The original honeymoon destination.
Alaska, or somewhere where we can see the northern lights.
Maybe as a cruise?
Train from Quebec City to western Canada.
I don't know if we're "mature" enough for train travel.
TO THE SOUTH
Southern cities: New Orleans; Savannah, Charlston, and Atlanta; or Memphis, Nashville, and St. Louis.
There's this town in Tennnessee where the fireflies light up in unison. Weird to plan your vacation around fireflies, but where else can you have such an experience?
Texas.
One pair of cowboy boots isn't enough for this country girl.
One of the big horse races: Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, or the Preakness.
A trip of a lifetime. Unfortunately, you have to apply in writing for Derby tickets. Anyone have a Derby connection they can call in for us? I can go hat shopping on a moment's notice.
F1 race in Miami/Florida Keys/Key West
We ruled out Nascar, but F1 might be interesting.
The Ozarks.
In beautiful, scenic....Arkansas?
Albuquerque and Taos.
A chance to buy more art for our home (some of us think of shopping opportunities first).
EVEN SOUTHER
Costa Rica, Belize, Honduras, or Panama.
Beaches and mosquitoes.
Cabo San Lucas.
B’s personal favorite. We could hobnob with Joe Simpson.
Brazil or Argentina.
Apparently, Buenos Aires is the Paris of South America.
Tropical: St. John, Turks & Caicos, Curacao, or a cruise to Bermuda.
Who doesn’t like the idea of an island getaway?
POSSIBLE ONLY IF WE WIN THE LOTTERY
Sad but true. After Germany this winter, we're probably going to be done with Euros and expensive flights for a while.
Japan.
Scandinavia.
Ireland.
Hawaii.
Iceland.
Our next step is to create a short list of nominees, potentially with an awards ceremony and mock acceptance speeches, followed by the booking of airline tickets and revelry in the streets. Bring on the bacchanalia.
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