Travel Plan 2023

[Freedom56]

We are leaving for Switzerland next week for just over seven weeks. We are flying Delta One this time with a stop over at JFK. I hope their service is good. So far they asked us for our meal request and notified us that they have a Delta One check-in lounge at LAX Terminal 3 whatever that means.

 

[Lsbcal]

We are finally going to visit Monterey CA early next month. Visit the famous aquarium, Cannery Row, hiking along the beaches/cliffs, wildlife watching. Thanks to RobbieB we’re spending a few nights at the Monterrey Bay Inn before moving inland Pacific Grove area. Looking forward to good eats and cool weather too.

I always been meaning to visit, but we never got around to it. That’s kind of what I’ve been working on lately - places we always meant to visit but hadn’t gotten around to.

This one is going to end up in the Blow That Dough thread.

Point Lobos State Park is very nice to spend at least several hours in. Some very photogenic hiking trails. Plenty of bird life and the occasional dolphins and maybe otters. Best to go in the AM when the park opens. We often have gone there with picnic lunches. Leaving the park to get lunch could be problematic.

 

[audreyh1]

Point Lobos State Park is very nice to spend at least several hours in. Some very photogenic hiking trails. Plenty of bird life and the occasional dolphins and maybe otters. Best to go in the AM when the park opens.

Yes, thank you! It’s already on the list. We are taking our birding binoculars. Looks like there is a bird sanctuary at the mouth of the Carmel River too.

 

[braumeister]

We are finally going to visit Monterey CA early next month.

I lived in Monterey for six months while attending language school at the Presidio, and it's still one of my favorite memories. Just a delightful (although far from inexpensive) place. The big Monarch butterfly migration in Pacific Grove will be over when you're there, but something to keep in mind for another visit. Steinbeck's museum in Salinas and the wonderful Danish town of Solvang are also good possibilities.

 

[Ronstar]

We are finally going to visit Monterey CA early next month. Visit the famous aquarium, Cannery Row, hiking along the beaches/cliffs, wildlife watching. Thanks to RobbieB we’re spending a few nights at the Monterrey Bay Inn before moving inland Pacific Grove area. Looking forward to good eats and cool weather too.

I always been meaning to visit, but we never got around to it. That’s kind of what I’ve been working on lately - places we always meant to visit but hadn’t gotten around to.

This one is going to end up in the Blow That Dough thread.

Tough to beat Monterey - the coastal hiking trail has some awesome views. It's probably on your list, but drive the 17 mile drive if you have a chance.

 

[audreyh1]

Tough to beat Monterey - the coastal hiking trail has some awesome views. It's probably on your list, but drive the 17 mile drive if you have a chance.

Yep, noticed that and planned to. Thanks.

 

[Ronstar]

Yep, noticed that and planned to. Thanks.

We stopped at the Pebble Beach Clubhouse for a break. Toured the place - extremely nice

 

[pacergal]

We are finally going to visit Monterey CA early next month. Visit the famous aquarium, Cannery Row, hiking along the beaches/cliffs, wildlife watching. Thanks to RobbieB we’re spending a few nights at the Monterrey Bay Inn before moving inland Pacific Grove area. Looking forward to good eats and cool weather too.

I always been meaning to visit, but we never got around to it. That’s kind of what I’ve been working on lately - places we always meant to visit but hadn’t gotten around to.

This one is going to end up in the Blow That Dough thread.

We stopped at the Pebble Beach Clubhouse for a break. Toured the place - extremely nice

Great places to visit, we've been there twice.

 

[Teacher Terry]

I got home last night from 11 days in Europe. I went to Lucerne Switzerland, Munich, Salzburg, Vienna and Prague. It was an amazing trip. I saw castles, churches, palaces, beautiful countryside and the famous Stallburg where the Royal Lipizzaner horses train.

The last day In Prague we had a private tour for the 12 of us to tour a summer palace, a performance by musicians and a private home cooked dinner on the palace grounds that was so delicious. It was a small group of 27 women and one very nice man. The people were fun and my high school friend went also.

 

[tulak]

Heading to the UK for a couple of weeks at the end of June. Flying in/out of London, but the main focus is Scotland.

Still need to figure out the details.

 

[audreyh1]

I got home last night from 11 days in Europe. I went to Lucerne Switzerland, Munich, Salzburg, Vienna and Prague. It was an amazing trip. I saw castles, churches, palaces, beautiful countryside and the famous Stallburg where the Royal Lipizzaner horses train.

The last day In Prague we had a private tour for the 12 of us to tour a summer palace, a performance by musicians and a private home cooked dinner on the palace grounds that was so delicious. It was a small group of 27 women and one very nice man. The people were fun and my high school friend went also.

Wow, sounds like a great trip, and no illness this time apparently, what a relief.

 

[Gumby]

We're going to Greece for ten days in October. I'm quite looking forward to it.

 

[Extra Medium]

Iceland for two weeks in July, driving the Ring Road. Plus Thanksgiving in Santa Fe staying with DW’s mom.

 

[Lemonade]

I got home last night from 11 days in Europe. I went to Lucerne Switzerland, Munich, Salzburg, Vienna and Prague. It was an amazing trip. I saw castles, churches, palaces, beautiful countryside and the famous Stallburg where the Royal Lipizzaner horses train.

I would be interested in what you did in Lucerne...we will be there briefly in June.

 

[explanade]

I would be interested in what you did in Lucerne...we will be there briefly in June.

There are some great nearby mountain day trips out of Lucerne, Pilatus, Rigi and the underrated Stanserhorn.

If you get a sunny day, it’s stunning scenery.

Often people who visit Switzerland are already going to the big alpine villages, Bernese Oberland, Zermatt, etc.

So Lucerne is a city break for many, close to Zurich airport and on the way to Interlaken and Wengen on the main train lines.

But the scenery for these easy day trips out of Lucerne are as great as any other in Switzerland.

 

[Teacher Terry]

I would be interested in what you did in Lucerne...we will be there briefly in June.

We were only there for 2 days. We spent a day going to Mt Pilates. Unfortunately it was cold and snowing up there so didn’t get the spectacular view that happens on a clear day. The other day we toured the city square, a beautiful church, government building and had free time to explore on our own.

 

[Lsbcal]

We are going to Zion National Park in early May and then over to Sedona AZ. Flying into Las Vegas. Will be doing mostly hikes and sketching. We hike with light weight tripod chairs for easy sighting of sketch material. The sitting rocks are rarely in a good position for two people. Hoping for good weather.

 

[Luvdogs]

We're heading to Greece in a few weeks. Never been there but it is supposed to be a really nice time of year/shoulder season, nice weather before the really large crowds and the heat of the summer.

 

[f35phixer]

June Cape Cod, July Alaska, September Greece

 

[audreyh1]

We are going to Zion National Park in early May and then over to Sedona AZ. Flying into Las Vegas. Will be doing mostly hikes and sketching. We hike with light weight tripod chairs for easy sighting of sketch material. The sitting rocks are rarely in a good position for two people. Hoping for good weather.

I love that you do sketching on site as part of your travel and what a great hobby to share as a couple. I’ve taken drawing classes and could I suppose, but haven’t in a very long time. I did make some nature sketches while traveling back in the early 2000s. The last ones were of some bleached whale bones on the beach in a famous whale birthing lagoon in Mexico (Baja California).

 

[grasshopper]

We're heading to Greece in a few weeks. Never been there but it is supposed to be a really nice time of year/shoulder season, nice weather before the really large crowds and the heat of the summer.

Packing now for our 1st of May trip Athens and the peninsula.

 

[Lsbcal]

I love that you do sketching on site as part of your travel and what a great hobby to share as a couple. I’ve taken drawing classes and could I suppose, but haven’t in a very long time. I did make some nature sketches while traveling back in the early 2000s. The last ones were of some bleached whale bones on the beach in a famous whale birthing lagoon in Mexico (Baja California).

I find that when doing sketches I really get into the location. One has to really study the shapes and values. It takes patience and it helps to have a patient partner. I always think I can knock out a sketch in short order but it takes probably 1 to 2 hours for me. DW is the real art person and I'm on again, off again. My objective is just to fill a sketch book and to get one good piece on a hike if possible.

I was just looking at some artists drawings of people in settings and this one is really appealing: https://makingamark.blogspot.com/2008/04/10-tips-for-how-to-sketch-people.html

 

[stevenr]

We just spent two weeks in Vietnam....first trip since retirement. It was nice not having any hair-on-fire client emails I dreaded seeing on past trips over the last 30 years.

 

[Ronstar]

We are going to Zion National Park in early May and then over to Sedona AZ. Flying into Las Vegas. Will be doing mostly hikes and sketching. We hike with light weight tripod chairs for easy sighting of sketch material. The sitting rocks are rarely in a good position for two people. Hoping for good weather.

A couple of good vantage points to view Cathedral Rock in Sedona. The south end of Secret Slickrock trail, looking southeast. 34.827720,-111.803563. If it has been raining recently, small pools of water are in the foreground. Trailhead is on Chavez Crossing Road.


Another viewpoint is along Oak Creek, looking east. Drive to the west end of Verde Valley School Road, and hike east along Oak Creek until Cathedral Rock comes into view.

Cathedral Rock looks best from these spots in the afternoon. We're going to Sedona for a week soon, and I plan to explore the birthing cave trail, and Vultee arch trail. Two that we haven't hiked before.

 

[Lsbcal]

Thanks, Ronstar.