Dream Destinations 2007

[SarahS]

We're compiling a list of dream destinations for 2007 -- our travel "wish list" for the coming year -- and we want to hear from you! Is there a place you've been dying to see that you're finally going to visit this year? Alternatively, where would you go this year if money were no object?

Domestic or international, urban or rural, any world destination is fair game -- just tell us where you want to go and why. Post your picks here and they could be added to our staff list!

[WackyHeathen]

Sup SarahS,

I've been thinking about a trip to Southeast Asia for awhile now. And if I can find the time, I'd like to backpack around Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam over the course of a month (Who has that kind of time though really, what with the day job?). I think I'd like to go from wat (buddhist temple) to wat, perhaps with guides in some areas and on my own in others.

Cheers,

Wacky

[travelmel]

If money were no object, I'd like to take a month off work (yeah, right) and drive across Europe ... in a speedy rental car. I am going to Tahiti in February, which is pretty amazing.

In the U.S., I hope to visit Seattle for the first time!

[soliteyah]

Oh man, how to narrow it down? A few countries/regions on my wish list are New Zealand, Norway (I've been to Oslo but never got to see the fjords), Patagonia, Peru and Thailand. I guess if I had to pick just one, I'd pick New Zealand -- hang out with the sheep, do some hiking, see the sights in Auckland and Wellington, and book myself a stopover in a South Pacific island on the way back to the States. (Tahiti would do nicely -- you're very lucky, travelmel!)

In the U.S., I've never made it to San Francisco. I think there's a streetcar with my name on it...

[dhammer53]

I have the airline miles to go anywhere I want to. My problem is that New Zealand for example, doesn't have any Starwood properties for me to cash in my points. There's no fun in flying4free if you can't stay4free!

My other choices:
-Dubrovnik
-Rocky Mountain Canada
-Alaska

I'd like to return to Israel and Japan.

[soliteyah]

Piping up again to post my SO's dream destinations (wish he'd get his own account! ):

Vancouver
China
The Amazon
Iceland
New Zealand (ah, that's one we agree on!)

[KimberlyB]

On purely unselfish terms -- Walt Disney World. My daughter is about to turn 6, has never been there and it's ALL my husband and I hear about when the words "travel" or "vacation" pop up at our house. At this age, I'm sure it would be a waaaaaaaay beyond magical experience so we really need to get off our butts and make it happen.

I'm going to ponder MY dream destinations...be back soon!

--K

[TinFins]

I know that you are looking for dream destinations, but I prefer to live in reality! One place I'm looking forward to visiting in '07 is Olana.

Olana was the home of Frederic Edwin Church (1826-1900), one of America's most important artists, and occupies 250 acres located between the Catskill Mountains and the Hudson River. It's a New York State Historic Site and also a National Historic Landmark.

The official Olana website is http://www.olana.org/.

I'm also going to attempt to visit Marfa, Texas in '07, specifically The Chinati Foundation which is a contemporary art museum based upon the ideas of its founder, Donald Judd. An impressive collection of work (ranging from Judd's own to Flavin to Horn) can be found on the 340 acres. Next year's "Open House" (their temporary exhibition) hasn't been named yet, but it's always stellar.

The Chianti Foundation is online at http://www.chinati.org/english2/index.htm.

[jetgerl]

I've been to Tahiti, been to New Zealand, been to many places, but by far my favorite destination has to be the Greek Islands (so far). Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, Lesvos, are a few but there are many and each has it's own charms.

Another favorite ~ Mexico - south of Cancun is amazing - keep going back - actually brought home a stray dog on my last trip there.

As for new destinations, I'd have to say India is at the top of my list. India inparticular as I sponsor a child there and would love to meet her before she's full grown. She's really in a remote area though. I've been advised by friends to eat vegetarian and to be careful of the bottled water - sometimes not really pure. Friends said not to get freaked out by the lack of personal space. They were on a train so packed with people there were arms reaching in at every stop. A woman traveling with them (they had sleeper car beds) woke to a group of men sitting on her bed touching her blonde hair. She was a bit shocked. It was all harmless - more curiousity than danger - but still pretty freaky. I think it's a good idea to go on a group tour and not to necessarily travel solo. Especially for women!!

[desdemona01]

we are going to Ireland for the first time this fall--can't wait!

[soliteyah]

we are going to Ireland for the first time this fall--can't wait!

Fun! What parts of Ireland will you be visiting?

Jetgerl, I'll have to pick your brain about New Zealand one of these days.

[Host Bonjour]

Soliteyah:
Since you and yours both have NZ on your lists you've got to keep an eye out for flight specials (which sometimes also come with a few nights hotel) that would start popping up in their late summer (their into it now) and is still quite a fine time to visit. Actually, anytime is a fine time to visit - I went in early April to do my Aussie/NZ and Fiji dream trip (I didn't do the proper research on Fiji and hence that part of the trip, I messed up) and it is everything you've ever heard and MORE. GO GO GO!! I still exchange Christmas cards and emails with my friends on South Island, and they in turn, gave me a great family of friends in England (and another holiday with homestay; oh, and all of the NZ'er and Brits have visited with ME too!!!)

So get all up into planning that dream trip - you will start having fun once you start planning - I did!

[Host Bonjour]

Now, as for MY dream destinations, I've been lucky to somehow or another, either intentionally or unexpectedly, been to a lot of wonderful places. Last year, for my 40th, I planned to go someplace special but it was not to be; the year was fraught with medical concerns for all of the year. My Dad had offered me a bunch of FF miles (but he had more on another airline and gave them to my sister and future bro-in-law for their honeymoon; yeah, sibling rivalry alive & well; I'm the oldest, was sick all year, blah blah and still single!!! ) and so I've looked at the destinations that I have available to me but I want to go to Africa or India - I think I am "ready"...........these are trips one cannot undertake willy nilly (although the Palace on Wheels in India would probably be easy enough!) but, unless he gets himself going on more business trips to Michigan - not unlikely - I won't have enough miles.

*Other possible "dream" destinations: well, Ireland since I am a dual Irish/American citizen and my Grandfather left at a young age and all his family to join one brother already in America, at a time when the "Irish need not apply". It helped that we had an Italian sounding name and he switched his middle name to be his first name to play into the charade for awhile. I don't know what he did about his brogue! Even as a small child and his being his being here decades, he still sounded strange to me!
*St. Petersburg, Russia
*Fjords, Norway
*Galapagos Islands, Ecuador (which may be closing due to ecological reasons)
*To find my one true love, bring him to the Eiffel Tower at night as it twinkels and show him MY Paris.

There is so much more to see in our wonderful world - there are places I'd like to go to that unfortunately, may never be possible.

But.............. EVERYONE should go to Disney - Kim - GO! Dreams are built right into every step of your trip - everyone will be giddy, excited and super happy day & night!! You can't work here and NOT have been to Disney, lol! Does our own Tinkerbell know about this???? lol Hasn't everyone seen that new commercial with the couple at the computer at nighttime with a price on the screen that says "yeah, we can do that" followed by a line that says there are lots of new, affordable packages for families etc. I guess they "got it" that the economy is hitting everyone hard and what might have been a rather pricey trip is now within most folks reach and that's a real good thing! Gotta go see the Mouse! And all his pals and great stuff going on in all the parks - lotsa lotsa lotsa lotsa fun. You kinda have to sleep in for like a week to prep for your Disney and then DO YOUR DISNEY ALL THE WAY, come home with your ears etc and sleep some more then wake up and get all those pics printed!! Oh and they're saying you can actually SLEEP in Cinderella's castle now for real; I don't figure that come's cheap - or maybe it come's on a lottery kind of thing - who knows? If dreams come true anyplace for real, it's in DisneyWorld!

Don't know yet when I'll be traveling again - a lot depends upon dog sitting - my dog is my child - no kennels; so we'll see what happens! For now, I'm just happy that '07 started out with one good word: benign. Perhaps more good stuff might just work out, like a dream trip!!

[soliteyah]

Host Bonjour,

Thanks for the encouragement and tips. We'll have to wait at least another year since this year's travel budget is going toward our trip to Morocco -- which will be one former dream destination off the list! Next year though...hmmm...

Glad to hear that you're feeling better; hope you're on the road again soon!

[Traveling Granny]

Jetgerl,
Go for the India trip. Check with the organization through which you sponsor the child. I sponsor children in Ethiopia and the organization I sponsor through arranges visits with the children, either individually or in group tours. In fact, that is the only way that we can visit because contact information is left deliberately vague to protect the children from predatory types and to protect sponsors from any manipulative, greedy relatives the children might have. I went to Ethiopia in 2005 and intend to go back in 2008. It was a tremendous experience. You won't ever regret making a trip to meet that child.

In 2008 I want to extend the trip, even beyond the historical sites in Ethiopia and go on a safari with friends. I don't know which country yet, possibly Kenya, Botswanna, or Zambia. But that is my dream trip. For this year I will be content with a week in Barcelona and my first trip to San Francisco.

[desdemona01]

Fun! What parts of Ireland will you be visiting?

We're touring as much of the country as possible. We'll be as far north as Dingle and south to the Ring of Kerry, west to Galway and east to Dublin--it's going to be an amazing 10 days!

[soliteyah]

We're touring as much of the country as possible. We'll be as far north as Dingle and south to the Ring of Kerry, west to Galway and east to Dublin--it's going to be an amazing 10 days!

Yay, you're going to have a great time! I went to several of those places myself, so if you have any questions I'd be happy to answer them. For what it's worth, you can read about my trip on this site here.

[Bob W.]

After wrestling with a dozen alternative trips (most of which we hope to take in the future), we decided on a June river boat cruise from Vienna to Amsterdam, followed by four nights in Brussels, including a day spent in Bruge. We'll dock at and explore 15 riverside towns and cities (plus a day-trip to Heidelberg) as we cruise the Danube, Main and Rhine rivers. Can't wait!

The also rans include: Britain, Scotland and Wales; Sicily, with side-trip to the Amalfi Coast, Capri and Herculaneum; roaming through alpine villages in Italy, Austria and Switzerland; a drive along the California coast from San Diego to LA; combined cruises and land tours in Hawaii and Alaska; and, someday, Australia and New Zealand. Still trying to convince my wife that China should be added to the list. Whew! Guess we'd better get traveling!

[Traveling Granny]

Bob W--
All of those trips sound wonderful so you have your next 10 years of travel lined up. Keep talking to your wife about China. It's an amazing country in so many ways whether your interest is natural beauty, cultural experience, history, or art. It is also one of the more affordable places in the world to travel now despite the cost of airfare to get there.

[Bob W.]

Traveling Granny:

Thanks for the encouragement on travel in China. We have close friends who are headed there for the second time in four years. Their pictures from the last trip were impressive. And I have many photos taken by an uncle who helped to reroute the Yellow River in the 1920s, then taught engineering in China afterwards. An impressive country.