Best Vacations......Ever!

[Meadbh]

Great posts, everyone! I'm getting some great ideas here!

I've been to Banff several times. The first time I saw Lake Louise, in midsummer, with the sun glistening on its jade surface, I got goosebumps. But the highlight (literally) of that vacation was an all day trek guided by the park ranger up to the teahouse and the moraine at the edge of the glacier. We learnt about bears, avalanches, rockclimbing techniques and global warming. To be up there next to the ice and to see Lake Louise way down there in the distance was awesome. The hordes of camera-toting tourists melted away as soon as the path got tough. Lots of endorphins generated that day! Rocky mountain high!

 

[wildcat]

If you guys like Glacier & Yellowstone, go to the Bob Marshall Wilderness next time.

 

[deserat]

Lake Louise and Banff - yes - we went there for a week to ski two years ago - was beautiful.

Best vacations - that's hard - I've been to a lot of really cool places:

1) Hiked 90 km of the Tour Du Mont Blanc - outstanding views while hiking around Mont Blanc through France, Switzerland and Italy - we stayed in huts at night and ate great food for dinner and breakfast.
2) Skiing the Dolomitis in Italy - in the Val d'Fassa area and the Sella Ronda - we spent New Years there watching the fireworks downtown in the little town - the skiing was awesome. The drive over the pass at midnight was eerie - looked like the moon.
3) Hiking the Via Ferrate in the Dolomiti - some of the most challenging and awesome hiking we've done - literally hanging off cliffs from harnesses/metal ladders and descending down to refugios that are already pretty high. Unforgettable.
4) A week of skiing in Val d'Isere France with Club Med - best part was 5 days of instruction at your level with a small group - phenomenal - oh, and the food
5) My little weekend through Norway - took the "Norway in a Nutshell" tour with the long Fjord cruise and ended up in Bergen, Norway, one of the most beautiful little towns in the world.
6) Thanksgiving ski trip to Stubai, Austria - the dinner was the best Thanksgiving dinner I've ever had...and it wasn't in the US. Then the owner of the Gasthaus had a fireworks display for us. Made me feel like I was in the US again on my favorite holiday of all.
7) Hiking Angel's Landing at Zion - a phenomenal national park with really cool mountains.
8) Standing for 5 sec on a surfboard (thanks, Nords!) and snorkeling at Shark's cove in Hawaii seeing so many really neat fish and sealife in such a small area - couldn't get my husband out of the water and snorkeling is now one activity of choice to pursue.
9) Skiing on my first weekend of living in Europe at Schilthorn, Switzerland on the most beautiful day ever with knee-deep powder - will never forget that - also did a kick-ass mountain bike trip in the same area - Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland - one of the most beautiful places on earth - 72 waterfalls, narrow Alpine Valley - breathtaking.
10) Most awesome - Marrying my husband on St Petersburg Beach, Florida at the Don Cesar at sunset - my husband said to me "this is cool, getting married in the mountains is number one, but this beach thing is a great number two."

Our next vacation is to Santiago, Chile, this month to ski the Andes - I am looking forward to it and think it will probably join the list above - Deserat

 

[wildcat]

deserat -

I'm jealous

 

[Meadbh]

Our next vacation is to Santiago, Chile, this month to ski the Andes - I am looking forward to it and think it will probably join the list above - Deserat

Chile is a beautiful country. If you can, try to visit the south as well.

 

[CuppaJoe]

This is a recurring one: After taking a walk around the neighborhood, I'm sitting in the bay window when twin beagles walk by with their owner. OMG, I realize this is what I dreamed of 30 years ago, to live in this very neighborhood and have time to relax, hike and enjoy the view. (Is this the counter-culture thread?) On Friday at 3PM I will be on vacation! No planes, trains or automobiles included.

 

[TheRib]

In 2003 my DW and I went to Banff/Lake Louise area on a walking tour. We hiked for 7 days and saw the most gorgeous scenery in the world. It was a time in my life when I was so stressed, and seeing the gorgeous waterfalls, beautiful mountains, picture perfect lakes was like a prescription from God.
I have been to many beautiful places before and after, but for some reason when I want to conjure up the perfect peace in my heart, I think of the time in Banff, I was on a mountain, looking down into the valley and seeing a waterfall on one side, a snow capped peak on the other side and a gorgeous valley between - perfect!!!!

 

[gettingthere]

Webzter "...you get gloves, a bucket and a candle ....."

Um... what was the bucket for?

 

[dessert]

We just spent the day at the Hoh Rainforest on the Olympic Peninsula in Western Washington State. If any of you ever get to go there, I recommend it. That has to be the most picturesque place you can go for the price.
We traveled there after a week on an Alaska Cruise which I also recommend. Try to pick a cruise itenerary that takes you to a lot of Glaciers. That's the best part.

 

[chinaco]

We just spent the day at the Hoh Rainforest on the Olympic Peninsula in Western Washington State. If any of you ever get to go there, I recommend it. That has to be the most picturesque place you can go for the price.

We went there a few years ago in July... best time (less rainfall). Flew into Portland > Mt St Helen > Mount Rainier > Seattle > Ferry to OP > Stayed in National Park. Took the long way around the coast or Washington to Long Island. > Portland > Mount Hood > Columbia River Gorge (ous) drive.

Fantastic vacation. If you do it... go in July!

 

[albundyz]

Durango

Our family had been on many family camping vacations. We took our van and our pop-up trailer to Durango, Colorado. (we live in So Cal)

Our sons were about 9 and 11. Never had so much fun. Every activity we planned, every place we visited...... just perfect.

We went white water rafting. Took the famous train in Durango to some crazy town (Silverton) in the mountains. Saw a great vaudeville show at the Strater Hotel. Saw the most shocking Indian ruins at Mesa-Verde NP. Went to an outdoor cowboy dinner and show. Rented a Jeep and went 4 wheel driving to the ghost towns. Went to a nice lake and rented a pontoon boat. Went to another crazy beautiful town called Ouray. They had an amazing swimming pool/resort there.

Every day was a new adventure. Each one was perfect. Going camping with two small kids was a lot of work, but produced great memories.

We went on about ten family summer camping trips. The boys are in their early 20s now, so... no more family camping trips. All were good, Durango will always stand out.

 

[Eyerishgold]

About 3 years ago my wife and I spent 10 days on Kauai, the most quiet and beautiful of the Hawaiian islands. We spend our days either hiking wonderful trails, kayaking or driving around exploring the small towns that dot the island. The nights were quiet and the bars/restaurants closed early leaving plenty of time to lay or walk along a deserted beach listening to the waves crash against the shore. On our second to last day, we took a catamaran trip to see the Napali coast which is absolutely stunning. After that we drove to Sunset beach, popped open a bottle of bubbly and enjoyed one of the most beautiful sunsets I've seen. We stayed at the Kauai Marriott and the rooms were perfect, the service was great and writing this is making me want to search for flights to go back.

 

[Calgary_Girl]

Anyone been to Banff or Lake Louise?

All the time considering I live in Calgary! I can see the Rockies from our upstairs window . Highly recommend it.

 

[Calgary_Girl]

...had the french fries covered with cheese and gravy....gross looking but good.

quote]

It's called "Poutine"....

 

[Miss_Lala]

DH and I got married in February and took a European honeymoon in June. We went to Ireland (Galway, Kilarney, Kilkenny, Waterford, Dublin) and then Italy (Venice and Florence). My two favorite memories from this, my best vacation, involve fruit. In Venice, we often would find fruit vendors during the day and purchase large amounts of cherries. We walked to the Giardini Publicci and sat amongst the statues and trees and ate in silence marveling at the fact that we were in Italy. In Florence, across the street from Hotel Caravaggio, there is a fruit restaurant. The owner doesn't speak any English, and there are many locals who come for the fresh watermelon, which is absolutely fantastic and the experience is lovely. Molto bene!