Travel Summer 2021 | The Boneyard

Travel Summer 2021

HuskyHawk

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So we've been trying for a week now, to find a vacation destination for four (me, wife, daughter, friend). It's meant to be a HS graduation present I suppose. She wanted Disney, but the cost and logistics are a nightmare. Also, parks sold out until August, so we'd be there in the Florida hear. Thought about London and the surrounding area, Oxford, Brighton, Cliffs of Dover. But it seems that's not really viable either. Travel to the UK during Covid-19: What you need to know before you go | CNN Travel The USA is Amber on the UK list, requiring a 10 day quarantine.

Anybody have suggestions? Wife and Daughter are not really beach people or inclined to hang out in the boonies. I can do that in my backyard and look at the woods. So Acadia Maine is out. Vermont is out. Mostly want to go see things we haven't seen. I'm checking into the Azores.
 

8893

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What about checking with a good old fashioned local travel agent and asking exactly the question you posed here?

I like the beach, and the boonies and NYC in the summer, and I know none of those three are options for you so I've got nothing.

One other unique idea may be of interest. I am a planner so it would not be for me, but a good friend and her then-fiance, now second husband did this when they were dating and they loved it (they got sent to Chicago):

 

HuskyHawk

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What about checking with a good old fashioned local travel agent and asking exactly the question you posed here?

I like the beach, and the boonies and NYC in the summer, and I know none of those three are options for you so I've got nothing.

One other unique idea may be of interest. I am a planner so it would not be for me, but a good friend and her then-fiance, now second husband did this when they were dating and they loved it (they got sent to Chicago):


We were working with one for the Disney trip, my wife's friend is one of those Disney focused travel agents. My wife is an avid travel planner, so we otherwise avoid them. It's her favorite thing to do. She even does it for other people. She really should become a travel agent.

I love the beach, would gladly head to the Caribbean, maybe Belize or something. But I'm outvoted. Definitely not NYC...ack. My daughter's friend will be at NYU in the fall anyway. We've done Chicago, including recently for a college visit, or would consider that again. New Orleans would be so hot, and may lose appeal for two 18 year olds. Utah/Arizona Grand Canyon would be too hot.

Checking what is open, I see Greece, Cyprus, Croatia on the list. Checking into The Azores.
 

8893

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Ok, I lied about having no other ideas. Having just gotten back from four days in Baltimore for our oldest daughter's college graduation, I can definitely say we are going to miss visiting that city. We stayed at an awesome AirBnB in Fells Point this time and it was probably our best stay yet. Really love that area.

Between Baltimore and in DC you could definitely put together a great week in that area. IIRC you spent some time in DC, but I am guessing there are at least a half dozen great museums you still haven't been to, among other things. You can try and catch a baseball game in each city if that is of interest. Outdoor concerts, great dining and drinking, loads of great American history stuff, Arlington, the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore may be the collective favorite our family has ever been to. The National Aquarium in Baltimore is another attraction, and I am guessing there must be a good water park and/or amusement park within range is that is something you all enjoy.

Certainly not a sexy sounding destination, and I know that area can be humid as hell in the summer, but we did four days in DC with our kids in the middle of the summer several years ago and I honestly think that's a big reason why two of three of them (so far) have chosen to live in that area, at least for a while.

ETA: Also lots of great shopping in very unique stores and boutiques, which are always of interest to my girls. Sometimes to me, too (yes, I also made a couple purchases...).
 
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ClifSpliffy

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think west, or south, as in USA. forget east, as in eeeeeyyuuwww. big rec? guam.
little rec? san fran, even san diego or la. or the pantload of very cool places between portland, maine to portland, oregon.
the coeur d'alene - spokane region is lovely this time of year. surely, a good time will be had by all. for example, a bigtime amusement park, casino, and epic golf, await you. and lots of salmon if youse get hungry. highly rec'd, a very cool destination.
 
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Waquoit

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What about Nova Scotia? Any Anne of Green Gable's fans in the household? Myself, I'm going to Fresno.

Puerto Rico, maybe? They have a rainforest.
 

8893

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What about Nova Scotia?
I was going to suggest that, as we had a great trip there around twenty years ago when our oldest was just a little more than a year old. But we did the Cabot Trail and camped on beaches and I figured that probably qualified as boonies, and a beach, so maybe not what they’re looking for. Lots of great seafood, pubs and Celtic music though!
 

HuskyHawk

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think west, or south, as in USA. forget east, as in eeeeeyyuuwww. big rec? guam.
little rec? san fran, even san diego or la. or the pantload of very cool places between portland, maine to portland, oregon.
the coeur d'alene - spokane region is lovely this time of year. surely, a good time will be had by all. for example, a bigtime amusement park, casino, and epic golf, await you. and lots of salmon if youse get hungry. highly rec'd, a very cool destination.

California is still too "closed". I know the state well, not really an option. Coer d'alene would be good for me, not so much the other 3. They mostly want city things, history in particular. @8893's suggestion of Baltimore/DC (I'd add Annopolis and we have friends there) isn't bad. Wife and daughter went to DC to see schools, but the National Guard fenced off most of it and everything was closed. They struggled to even find food.

What about Nova Scotia? Any Anne of Green Gable's fans in the household? Myself, I'm going to Fresno.

Puerto Rico, maybe? They have a rainforest.

Considered Nova Scotia, but Canada is very, very closed. Ontario is the worst, it is about like the USA was last April 2020. If Montreal opens up, I'd definitely put it on the list.
 

HuskyHawk

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I was going to suggest that, as we had a great trip there around twenty years ago when our oldest was just a little more than a year old. But we did the Cabot Trail and camped on beaches and I figured that probably qualified as boonies, and a beach, so maybe not what they’re looking for. Lots of great seafood, pubs and Celtic music though!

That would be a fun couples trip later I think (minus the camping). Not what the teens would want. I do think Montreal could work, if Canada opens up.

I'm going to look into concerts. Maybe there are concerts somewhere distant that could be the motivating factor to travel there.
 

8893

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California is still too "closed". I know the state well, not really an option. Coer d'alene would be good for me, not so much the other 3. They mostly want city things, history in particular. @8893's suggestion of Baltimore/DC (I'd add Annopolis and we have friends there) isn't bad. Wife and daughter went to DC to see schools, but the National Guard fenced off most of it and everything was closed. They struggled to even find food.



Considered Nova Scotia, but Canada is very, very closed. Ontario is the worst, it is about like the USA was last April 2020. If Montreal opens up, I'd definitely put it on the list.
If you do consider Baltimore, this is where we stayed and I couldn’t imagine a better location. A block from the action but quiet and comfortable, and very reasonable imo:

 

storrsroars

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Just my opinion, but Nova Scotia would bore the hell out of a teenager. It bored the hell out of me in my 30s, even considering Digby scallops. Not that Canada is open to US citizens anyway.

But, 8893's suggestion on MD/DC is decent. I always find new things to do down there, and I'd also add that Annapolis is a nice day trip (and less humid).

I'm not a beach guy, but I'd make an exception for the nude beaches in Dubrovnik, so Croatia would probably be my #1 on the list of what's open ;-)

In all seriousness, I don't know if this is the time to take a family vacay overseas as things are still in flux.

And hey, regarding concerts, there's always Summerfest. Unless it's too late in summer and your kid will already be away at college. Plus you can drive up to Door County for an old fashioned fish boil, and who doesn't consider that a bucket list item?

Or, y'know... Starkville seems happening.
 

SubbaBub

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If you were considering the UK, Dublin or Paris are comparable spots.

Myself, I'm heading to Italy and Greece this summer.
 
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We were there 10 years ago for a day on a cruise... I was enough intrigued to head back again if the opportunity existed:

 

HuskyHawk

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If you were considering the UK, Dublin or Paris are comparable spots.

Myself, I'm heading to Italy and Greece this summer.

Have done Dublin several times although our Ireland trip from 2020 was cancelled. France was our 2019 family trip, including Paris at over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Poor timing. Just read the EU may fully open to vaccinated travelers. Greece is now. Ireland and France are not. Someplace like Amsterdam would be great.
 

ClifSpliffy

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im stickin with guam. come down ur driveway, and hang a looie or a ralph, it doesn't matter since it's aboot 9,000 miles either way, yet still the USA. talk aboot 'getaways,' lol.
yet, iffn ur thinking of the typically hot, smarmy, and swampy summer clime of dc/baltimore, whelp, i'd add san juan, puerto rico to the list of such summer thoughts. plenty of history and way funner in beach weather. mellow...
 
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We were there 10 years ago for a day on a cruise... I was enough intrigued to head back again if the opportunity existed:


Did you check out the statue of Baron Mikel Scicluna?
 
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Did you check out the statue of Baron Mikel Scicluna?
LOL... no, but we did see Popeye Village (built for the filming of movie w/ Robin Williams). ;) It’s a pretty cool island overall. Neat fishing villages, blue grottos, catacombs and plenty of Maltese Cross and WWII stories to go around. Enough to keep our 15y/o & 13y/o boys engaged for the day.
 
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HuskyHawk

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Anybody do a European cruise, ocean or river? Looking at those as options. Wondering if it is all old people (my parents went on several). My wife is a historian, my daughter enjoys the same stuff and her friend is planning to study anthropology....so I'm trying to maximize cultural experience & exposure and minimize difficulty. For example, in the U.S., renting a car is evidently quite difficult as the agencies sold hundreds of thousands from their fleet last year. I imagine Europe would be similar.
 
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Anybody do a European cruise, ocean or river? Looking at those as options. Wondering if it is all old people (my parents went on several). My wife is a historian, my daughter enjoys the same stuff and her friend is planning to study anthropology....so I'm trying to maximize cultural experience & exposure and minimize difficulty.

A friend went on the Rhine River Cruise w/ Adventures by Disney 4-5 years ago. He has strongly recommended them to us.

Rhine & Danube River Cruise:
 

8893

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Anybody do a European cruise, ocean or river? Looking at those as options. Wondering if it is all old people (my parents went on several). My wife is a historian, my daughter enjoys the same stuff and her friend is planning to study anthropology....so I'm trying to maximize cultural experience & exposure and minimize difficulty. For example, in the U.S., renting a car is evidently quite difficult as the agencies sold hundreds of thousands from their fleet last year. I imagine Europe would be similar.
My partner and a client each did one and loved it. Can't remember whether it was Rhine or Danube (maybe each did one of them?), but I know they both raved about whichever cruise line ran the ones they took. I will ask them each tomorrow; I know they each mentioned the food and wine in particular as top notch, and they were smaller boats than the ones the larger cruise companies use.
 

HuskyHawk

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A friend went on the Rhine River Cruise w/ Adventures by Disney 4-5 years ago. He has strongly recommended them to us.

Rhine & Danube River Cruise:
My partner and a client each did one and loved it. Can't remember whether it was Rhine or Danube (maybe each did one of them?), but I know they both raved about whichever cruise line ran the ones they took. I will ask them each tomorrow; I know they each mentioned the food and wine in particular as top notch, and they were smaller boats than the ones the larger cruise companies use.

Tauck and Viking get good reviews. Disney too (super expensive). My parents went on several of these over the years with other couples and loved it. I planned to do that as well. Thinking it's not the trip for the kids though.
 

storrsroars

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Someplace like Amsterdam would be great.
If everything aligns and you can both be in Amsterdam late summer and happen to be in town on 9/11, see the Analogues at Ziggo Dome. You will thank me.
Anybody do a European cruise, ocean or river? Looking at those as options. Wondering if it is all old people (my parents went on several).
Mostly old people. You'll probably get a boat full of people like the commenters on this post ;-)

I am virulently anti-ocean cruise as I find the types of people who take them to be among the most vapid in the world. However, even I might consider a Euro river cruise when I'm 80. I watched a bunch go by when I was staying in Köln and in Budapest. Can't argue that there's a lot to see. Although eating most meals onboard is a definite negative for me.
 
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Vapid one here. I like cruises, and probably 5 years ago I did a river cruise with Emerald cruises on the Rhine. Loved the food and service, and when the ship was docked, they had local tour guides lead small groups for the tour, then you had time on your own. What I didn't like was that the only activity on the ship at night was a bar/lounge with maybe a singer, or a DJ. I wouldn't take kids on this type of cruise.
 

SubbaBub

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Anybody do a European cruise, ocean or river? Looking at those as options. Wondering if it is all old people (my parents went on several). My wife is a historian, my daughter enjoys the same stuff and her friend is planning to study anthropology....so I'm trying to maximize cultural experience & exposure and minimize difficulty. For example, in the U.S., renting a car is evidently quite difficult as the agencies sold hundreds of thousands from their fleet last year. I imagine Europe would be similar.

You'll need to define "old". There are not many 18-24 yr olds if that's what you mean. Plenty of 40 and 50 yr olds, with enough sub 40 couples. Given travel restrictions, it is highly unlikely there will be many kids, which is good. I like them and don't like them depending on what I'm after. If I'm looking for hassle free that covers a lot of ground superficially, they are great. Did a Canary Islands/Spain cruise a few years ago, it was great. It went places I would not have normally gone, yet may go back someday.

If your goal is to get more than a day trip to some of the great cites or to spend serious time doing absolutely nothing, they are not the right option.

A HS grad may or may not love it depending on the "alcohol policy" and if a ton of Instagram selfies are important to them.
 

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