I've been enjoying Briegull's trip report of her Italy vacation and reading about the plans of some of you to go abroad. Much as I've enjoyed my few travels overseas, I'd like to do some traveling in this country with DH while he can enjoy it. I have never been to the Grand Cayon and we hope to get there within the next year. Not sure when is the best time to go and got very confused when researching as I don't totally understand which part of the Grand Canyon we should visit, etc. etc. So advice on that would be appreciated.
Also, I'd love to hear about your favorite places to visit within the U.S. I'll offer up Napa Valley in Northern California. I lived in the Bay Area for 22 years and we went back and spent some time in Napa a few years ago. Such gorgeous scenery and some really first rate restaurants. The wine tasting is, of course, a great way to spend some time especially if you're not the one driving.
So, what's been memorable for you? I hope to get a good U.S. travel bucket list going from this group.
Travel depends so much on what stage your spouse is in. If they are agitated, wandering, and unaware, neither of you is going to get any enjoyment out of it. However, if they are still functional, and able to enjoy activities and sightseeing, go for it.
The best trip we ever took was to Discovery Cove in Orlando, Florida (before we moved to Florida) to swim with the dolphins. The greatest thrill of our lives. What magnificant animals they are. Trip of a lifetime.
Our son lived in Hawaii for 3 years, so we visited 3 summers in a row. I would not recommend that plane ride for someone with AD. Much too long. We lived in Massachusetts. The plane trip was so horrible the first year (squished in coach for 12 hours), that the next two years, we flew to California, slept over, and then flew to Hawaii the next day. We used all of our airline miles and Marriott points to fly First Class, so we could be comfortable. But if you go, Pearl Harbor is not to be missed. The scenery in Maui is breathtaking. The sand on Waikiki Beach is like baby powder.
We loved Gettysburg, most of which can be done on a bus tour. Charleston, SC was like walking through the pages of Gone With the Wind. Savannah, Georgia is a beautiful city. Our son now lives in San Francisco. I am NOT a city person, but I love that city. It has everything from ballet and opera to Alcatraz prison. There is something for everyone there.
We went to the Grand Canyon in Spring of 2007 for a day. We took the Grand Canyon Railway up to the South Rim. You leave from Williams, AZ. We had a great time taking pictures and eating at the El Tovar Hotel. I believe the weather at the South Rim is more mild than the weather at the North Rim. You can drive up to the South Rim also. A couple of good sites are: www.thetrain.com and www.grandcanyonlodges.com
We have friends who live in Surprise, AZ and we just loved it there. If we could have (before FTD), I would love to have been able to live there in the winter and here in Chicago for the summer. Also our best friends live in Arizona and I would have wonderful support there. Oh well, one dream that won't happen.
The best is "Vacationland" - the State of Maine. It has everything - mountains (including one of the technically most difficult - Katahdin), seashore (with some of the best sailing to be found anywhere), Acadia National Park, beautiful scenery, vibrant cities (Portland, Bangor - with art museums, concerts, plays - all the "cultural" advantages of New York city without the high cost), low crime rate, lobsters. What more could anyone ask? And we live here year-round!!! :-)
Terry, I may have mentioned this before, but I spent my first 26 years in San Jose before being kidnapped and brought to Dallas to be an honorary Texan. Lake Tahoe is truly God's country, summer or winter. Just like the Cowboys are America's team.
Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, NYC, anywhere in New Mexico, but especially Santa Fe, Taos. These were places we loved before AD. Now, the beaches of North Carolina are close enough and familiar to DH, so that is our possibility now.
Does Hawaii count? For the past 15 years we have spent vacations on Kauai..pure heaven! After G's retirement we would go for four weeks, and stayed at the same fabulous spot with others that did the same thing, so we made wonderful friends. It was very diffcult to cancel last winter's reservations, but that was the end of it.
Snow season in the rockies. aspen, vail. steamboat, breckenridge. any of the beautiful snowy mountains in the rockies. the resorts have the little twinkle xmas lights over all the evergreens, horse drawn carriages with the fur blankets to cuddle with and lovely log fireplaces and hot steamy apple cider drinks. the gondola rides to the top of the ridges are breathtaking. divvi
Here ya go, terry,... http://www.beverlybeachcamptown.com/
Just north of Daytona Beach, the last place DW and I visited. There are very few places one can camp right on top of a seawall in the U.S. It was so funny, we were in an 8' by 11' Coleman 'popup' situated between two monstrous camper buses:)
They even had a "camptown cat" named Jake. Jake loved us. We were there in the summers of 04 and 05 for a week both times. I hope Jake is still there and well. The owners of the site and everyone who visited there loved Jake.
The Outer Banks are a wonderful place to visit as well. If you ever get over that way be sure to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway too.
Carmel, CA Hyatt has rooms with fireplaces that face the ocean--heaven! Close to Big Sur--a gorgeous ride with some fabulous resorts to visit. Sedona, AZ--incredible scenery Palm Springs, CA San Francisco NYC (of course)! I agree on Napa, Hawaii, Charleston
For beaches: Sanibel Island and Captiva in Florida, the gulf coast of Florida
Culture: Just plain old Washington, D.C. Go to see the Smithsonian Institution, all the art museums, park and ride the underground....go to see the Newseum!!! The Haulicaust Museum! African Slavery Museum, museums galore and EVERY place to eat! Stay at the Willard Hotel and enjoy all the history there, too, and high tea in the Tea Room there.
Wilderness: The Grand Canyon. I've never felt so small in my life, standing on the edge, overlooking that great crevace! Mule ride down to the bottom.....maybe take the white water ride down a portion of the Colorado River (but, I never got to do that one)
The VERY best place to vacation is at any of the campgrounds in the Mt. Rainier National Park. You have the high vistas on the eastern Sunrise side. The Alpine forests and lovely trails on the western Paradise side. Plus the museum, and Paradise Lodge. Carbonado is the lowest part of the mountain. I've spent so much time on that beautiful mountain--camping and hiking. Love it. If you go there, you will see what I mean!!!
Wow, these are great. I have so much to "google" I don't know where to start. Never been to Charleston, Santa Fe, Sedona, Mt. Rainer, Savannah, Jekyl Island, beverlycamptown?, Anybody have any trip reports ala Briegull's on any of these places?
How about the Midwest? And Montana, never been there. Going to Portland, OR in September. We'll have time for a couple day trips from there. Any suggestions?
I lived in SF for 22 years and haven't spent much time there in the past many years. Watched Anthony Bourdain visit there on the Food Network and got the yearning to get back there. I would so love to see the Redwoods again and drive the coast. Aaaah.....
Midwest - St. Louis, Chicago, Amana Colonies in Iowa
In Wisconsin - Door County; in SW WI see Spring Green, Mineral Point, House on the Rock, Talisien (Frank Lloyd Wright's home), Cave of the Mounds - "the beautiful rolling hills of unglaciated southwestern Wisconsin" (sometimes I can't believe we moved away from there!)
come to the upper penninsula of Mi. we have the great lake superior, lots of wilderness, a place called Copper Habor, love this place so peaceful, as for my favorite place it is Vegas baby, I love to go there and people watch. also like Grand Canyon,Brise Park,Wisconsin Dells is fun, I could go on for awhile but those are my best places with memories of me and dh. Gail
I have made two posts about our Beach vacation to Mustang Island off Corpus Christie, Tx. in the last few days.--- but as good as it was, it was not our best beach.
Our best beach, wherever we have lived, has always been------- the closest beach. The closer the better. When we lived in Orlando, Fl it was like being in heaven. Between the Atlantic and the Gulf. Went to most beaches in Flo and they were all good. But the drive time to get there neds to be the shortest. The drive is importrant, especially the trip home. The vacation is tiring, but a lo ng drive home can ruin it all. The beach in our front yard would be great-------right?
Marigail-----In my younger years, I spent 3 summers waterskiing for Tommy Bartlett Water Ski and Jumping Boat Show. We put it together at the Dells but then traveled all over the midwest and even to NY. I gree that the Dells is a great place. They make their great beaches by dumping sand on the frozen Lake Dells in the winter and then when it melts, the sand is in place. Thanks for reminding me. Bill
Marsh, I'm with you! (Literally, lol) I can't imagine a better place to visit or live than The Pine Tree State/Vacationland. Maine has it all, breathtaking mountains that sweep majestically down to the sea, summits to watch the the earliest sunrise in the country, lakes that go on for miles and miles, more uninhabited land than any other state, oh and Lobsters, let us not for get the local foods, blueberry buckle, lobster pie, baked stuffed lobster, steamed lobster, lobster lollipops, clam chowder, steamed clams, fried clams, stuffed clams, glorious corn, berries for bumbleberry pie, moose tracks ice cream, local breweries, local wineries and soooo much more. We have ski areas, a riverboat, cruise ship portage, (he captn phranque, here's a destination!) beautiful little towns, adorable villages, neat, clean cities, well 3 cities I think, beautiful campgrounds, biking trails, snowmobile trails that go across the entire state and then some, (they are a bit noisy :o) cross country skiing and let us not forget Acadia National Park. Ok, I'll admit it, I LOVE MAINE! It's always been my dream to see all of the Nat'l Parks. It's good to have dreams.
Susan, I'm happy for you that you love Maine, but I have to tell you, girl, it gets COLD up there. Winters in Ohio were not something I would note in a gratitude journal. Winters in Maine sound downright chilly. Actually, to a sun-loving transplanted southerner, even the summers sound rather cool. (-:
That's another 2 things I love about Maine, big snowstorms, where you stay in and bake cookies, keeping the fire burning, and cool summer nights, watching the fireflies and sitting by a campfire, listening to the sound of the peepers, the crickets and my waterfall. I'd rather be here than anywhere. I miss those nights with Jim, sitting by our fire outside, sipping brandy, looking at the constellations, shooting stars and just breathing. Little did we know last summer, we would sit by a fire for the last time, camp together for the last time, kayak together for the last time, oh so many lasts..................................
Susan L is right. A few years ago, as I was checking out of the supermarket, I noticed that the clerk had a southern accent. She said she had just spent her first winter in Maine. The she said "People in Maine really enjoy the winter!!" Snow storms can be beautiful. Then there's cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, down hill skiing, snowshoeing. I love to look for animal tracks in the fresh snow and figure out who made them. One time I found the tracks of a small animal which ended where the wing prints of an owl were in the snow. I guess the owl had a good meal.
If you are going to Portland in September, Multnomah Falls, Mt. Hood, Seaside, Tue Portland Zoo and Rose gardens. Get in touch with the chamber of commerce. There a whole bunch of stuff there. Beautiful city!
When you say "Portland" you should remember that there is also a Portland, Maine, which is also a beautiful city with lots of things to do and see, plus great restaurants.
One time a mother with 2 small children got on a bus in St. Louis heading for Portland. She wanted to go to Oregon, but got on the wrong bus and ended up in Maine.
Another place I have enjoyed was Lake Wylie, SC. We had friends who lived a couple of blocks from this man-made lake and it was beautiful. Just over the border from Charlotte, NC.
Also, loved Sedona and taking the PInk Jeep Tour. Also if you are ever in Phoenix the Botanical Garden is gorgeous and the Arizona State Fair in Phoenix is a lot of fun. There is also a great flea market in Goodyear, AZ in the fall once the weather cools off. We have traveled there every year to visit friends but after our last visit in 2008, I think it is too much for my husband now.