Favorite non-skiing vacation destination

[ski diva]

Of all the places you've been, what would you say is your favorite?

About 10 years ago my husband and I went to Italy, and I absolutely fell in love with it -- especially Venice. The architecture, the canals, the narrow, winding streets, the food. Plus it was so different from anything else I'd ever seen. We had a blast. One of these days I'd love to go back.

What about you?

 

[cyn]

SE Arizona!

My husband and I have been to a remote corner of southeastern Arizona a couple of times. We're into wilderness and hiking and seeing wildlife, including birds, and this is a great place to do that.

The area comprises the Chiricahua and Huachuca mountains, which are known as "sky islands" because they rise up out of the desert, close to the Mexican border. We went in August, and while the rest of the state was baking, the mountains were perfect - warm during the day but not too hot, and cool at night.

We stayed in Madera Canyon at a place where there are just a few cottages and literally thousands of hummingbirds. Beatty's Guest Ranch maintains several feeding stations, where hummer freaks from all over come to just sit and gape at the different species that pass through on their migration to Mexico. We saw 14 different species when we were there!

The cottages are extremely eco-friendly (composting toilets etc), and
and quiet, which we love. As for the hiking, there are trails all over, many just outside the ranch. Once you've acclimated to the altitude - the ranch sits at about 8,000 feet - you can hike your heart out.

We also did two trips into the backcountry of the Chricahua mountains with a guide who uses goats to carry much of the gear. That was also amazing.

Last year, we went to Yellowstone, which was terrific, of course. Don't know where we're headed this year. I guess I have to start researching.

 

[nelsapbm]

Oh Gosh, too many to mention. We love going to the Maine Coast in the summer. Montreal overnight is always fun for us.
I went to Vegas for the first time last fall expecting to hate it, but in fact I liked it - so unlike anything I've ever seen.
The Pacific Northwest and Northern California are probably my favorite if I had to pick. Love the scenery, the "vibe" etc. San Fran/Berkeley, Portland, Seattle, & Vancouver are all very cool cities.

 

[NannyMin]

Way too many choices!

For pure relaxation the South of France is awesome. We typically base ourselves in Cannes and then explore out from there.

For a fun historical vacation I love Turkey. The mixture of asian and european influence is so interesting.

For a beach vacation I love Cambria, CA.

For a mixture of all different types of vacations Italy is a winner everytime. Tuscany is gorgeous! I especially like Sienna. The food was amazing, people watching fascinating not to mention the wine!

 

[abc]

This is a tough one, too many choices!!!

Top of the list:

* Sydney, Australia -- will move in a heart beat!
* Vancouver/Victoria/Vancouver Island, Canada -- again, willing to move in a heart beat.
* Montreal & Quebec -- easy for me to get to yet so different it's refreshing!
* The Alps, Switzerland/Italy? -- I'm working on my boss to get me transfer to Zurich some day (company headquarter).
* Kauai or Maui -- would go back to visit again and again. But I doubt I want to live there though.
* Greece & Turkey -- Lots and lots of history, very friendly people
* Japan -- unique blend of morden and historic
* India -- super friendly people and rich culture.
* China -- again, rich history

 

[Gloria]

Main Salmon

The River of No Return...preferably in a kayak not a raft.

 

[ski diva]

This is a tough one, too many choices!!!

Top of the list:

* Sydney, Australia -- will move in a heart beat!
* Vancouver/Victoria/Vancouver Island, Canada -- again, willing to move in a heart beat.
* Montreal & Quebec -- easy for me to get to yet so different it's refreshing!
* The Alps, Switzerland/Italy? -- I'm working on my boss to get me transfer to Zurich some day (company headquarter).
* Kauai or Maui -- would go back to visit again and again. But I doubt I want to live there though.
* Greece & Turkey -- Lots and lots of history, very friendly people
* Japan -- unique blend of morden and historic
* India -- super friendly people and rich culture.
* China -- again, rich history

Quite a list! I definitely need to travel more!!!!

Another trip I dearly loved: hiking down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon (we stayed at the Phantom Ranch.) I'd do that again in a hearbeat, if I could. Trouble is, you have to reserve a spot at the PR two years in advance! Planning that far ahead is definitely a challenge.

 

[num]

I agree with everyone who said there're too many to name or that it's hard to choose.

The bulk of my real travelling time is spent in the middle east. My family is Iraqi and due to conflict, we're spread around a bunch of countries. Nothing beats going back home, or as close to it as you can get.

I love Chicago dearly, and it seems taking a lot of weekend trips makes the heart grow even fonder. The top two destinations for day and a half, last minute"I need to go somewhere!" car trips :

Michigan (beautiful!)
Wisconsin (cheese! friendly people! closest skiing!)

A few other places on the favorites list in no particular order:

Montreal
Qom
LA (I used to hate it, then I realized that it's all about who you're there with. The right person will show you where to find what you're looking for)
Alexandria
Yosemite
Burlington area, VT
Dar es Salam
Seattle
Starved rock
Matam

 

[num]

. Trouble is, you have to reserve a spot at the PR two years in advance! Planning that far ahead is definitely a challenge.

Wow. Is that always the case, or is it a peak season kind of thing?

 

[ski diva]

Don't know -- I'm sure it's tougher to get reservations when the weather's warm. Then again, I'm not sure if it's even open during the winter.

I don't think you have to reserve quite so far in advance if you want to stay at the campground. We opted for the cabins, instead, and for those, you definitely have to plan well ahead.

We went the second week in September. I think it'd be an awful trip to make in the summer. The heat down there can be incredible (it's a lot hotter at the bottom than it is at the top). My daughter hiked down in June, and it was well over 100 degrees at the bottom! She actually hiked back out at night, just to avoid the heat.

 

[persee]

Places that I've visitted and returned, or wanted to return:

Halifax NS - all the occasions have had a somberness but I just love Nova Scotia.

SanFrancisco - fun, nice weather, mountains/parks nearby. (this has been combined with skiing on one occasion

Seattle/Vancouver - fun, great culture, mountains/parks nearby. (next time this WILL be combined with skiing

Northern Arizona - I just love the Sedona/Flagstaff/GrandCanyon area. So beautiful.

 

[Pequenita]

My favorite non-skiing "vacation" destination is Assateague Island National Seashore, in Maryland. I love the Atlantic Ocean and been to beaches in all the east coast states except for Georgia. None of them compares to camping on Assateague with wild ponies wandering around. When I drive out there into the lowlands, it just gives me an incredible sense of peace.

 

[Native Vail Gal]

I LOVE New York City! Call me crazy....but it's a favorite!

London
Scotland
Ireland (the ring of kerry is BEAUTIFUL!!)
St. John & St. Thomas!
Kauai
and for a GREAT party.....Key West!!!!! :D

 

[lozz]

I have been to a few places and loved them all for different reasons, so I do not have a favourite.

Go to Germany a lot as the border is not far away so have visited several places there.
Touring the Mosel Valley Germany on a motorcycle
Berlin
Malta/Gozo
Rome
Mexico
France
Austria - many times for skiing
Andalucia Spain this coming summer

Netherlands - but then I live here, well until the end of the year then who knows?

 

[Greeley]

Are there other vacations besides ski vacations? We don't take many. If we do take a summer trip it is usually to the mountains for day hiking with our dog.

 

[lozz]

Oh yes. I like travelling to other countries for non skiing holidays to enjoy the culture and scenery, it good fun. The dogs of course would love to walk anywhere and I admit that unfortunately (and feel guilty) the dogs have not been on a vacation with us for a long time. Its good to have winter and summer holidays its good for the soul, funds permitting of course.