Where would you go and why?

[Freyja]

I´m taking this entire first day of the new year to plan a "once in a lifetime" trip in my head.

In 2011 or 2012 I´m hoping to go with my family (2 adults and 5 children, ages 3-17) on a 4-6 week amazing vacation. We would probably go sometime from 06/01-08/01, which means that in some of the following places it´s winter, and in others it´s very hot and humid.

These are some of the ideas I´ve come up with so far:

Australia: A trip including Sydney, The Great Barrier Reef and...?

Vietnam: 4 week travel around the country, visiting both large cities, countryside and beach.

Africa: S-Africa, Namibia or Kenya (Probably just one of these, but definately a safari).

S-America: Thinking maybe Brazil, Argentina, Chile or Peru (would prefer to do Peru later though when we don´t have so young children with us and hike the Inka trail).

Cuba: 2 weeks in Havana and 2 weeks in Varadero.

USA: Coast to coast. Driving from NYC to San Fransisco or LA.

Hawaii: No idea where though


So, where would you go and why? Would you choose someplace different?-Please tell me about it. I love to hear other peoples travel dreams.

Europe will probably not be an option for this trip.

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

I'd love to go to England or France.

 

[Freyja]

I'd love to go to England or France.

They´re both great countries to travel to I´d love to travel more through England myself some day.

 

[chisnpeke]

I'd love to go to Australia. I think that is the ultimate place I'd go. It looks so beautiful. For history I'd love to go to England, France, and Russia. There are a ton of places I'd love to go to in Europe though and the ones I listed are just the tip of the iceberg.

On your list, driving across the USA is something that I think should be on everyone's bucket list. I did this in 2008 and this country is truly diverse and beautiful.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

A Safari. It has always been my dream trip. Although I don't want to go on the safari where you have to kill your meal and eat it. Maybe the one that Oprah had on her show once about a huge safari and then back to the deluxe resort.

 

[Danauk]

I would do Australia, in fact after our next WDW trip this is exactly what we are planning. We will go for 4 weeks and in that time we will go to Sydney (want to see an opera and climb the Harbour Bridge), go see Uluru (Ayres Rock) and the surrounding teratory, Great Barrier Reef (it has always been a dream of mine to scuba dive there), the Gold Coast and Melbourne. We also plan to see some family and visit a few theme parks as well.

 

[minkydog]

Two years ago we had the opportunity to take our "once in a lifetime" family trip and truly, we have never been the same. We chose to stay inside the US due to some health restrictions. We bought a travel trailer that we could pull with our Ford Expedition and checked out a lot of travel books. Then we hit the road the day after school let out and didn't go back until one week before school started.

We didn't really have much of a plan, just some "thoughts" and "dreams" which developed into a large ramble around the US, 6000 miles and 12 national parks from sea to shining sea. Our family had a great time and we became so much closer. We had never really traveled all that much before this trip, partly from fear of the unknown (you know,what if one of us gets sick or hurt, what if the car breaks down?) Well, we did have a few snafus and health crises but we found that wherever we were we could somehow make a way for ourselves. It was such a freeing experience!

 

[orlandothebeagle]

I'd love to go to England or France.

What?????

You mean Scotland



I would love to crsuie the panama canal!!!!
wooohooooo ,,,I am in 2011, next year!

 

[nmmom95]

Definitely Australia...it looks beautiful...I've always wanted to go there. To be honest, I'm also dying to go to Iceland!

 

[barkley]

after spending only one week cruising alaska i would love to take 4-6 weeks and realy explore the state. travel by car, train, air and ship. it is by far the most breathtaking place i've ever seen.

now, a friend's parents gave their children the most phenominal vacation/learning experiences as they were growing up. dad was a teacher, and every summer the entire family of 7 would load into the motor home and spend the next 6 weeks traveling to a different region of the united states, exploring and experiencing what individual states had to offer. they would select their states ahead of time and figure out what historical sites, scenic places (fun kid type places too) they wanted to visit-but left lots of time to just meander around.

over the course of their childhood and teen years they traveled to all but alaska and hawaii.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

I´m taking this entire first day of the new year to plan a "once in a lifetime" trip in my head.

In 2011 or 2012 I´m hoping to go with my family (2 adults and 5 children, ages 3-17) on a 4-6 week amazing vacation. We would probably go sometime from 06/01-08/01, which means that in some of the following places it´s winter, and in others it´s very hot and humid.

These are some of the ideas I´ve come up with so far:

Australia: A trip including Sydney, The Great Barrier Reef and...?

Vietnam: 4 week travel around the country, visiting both large cities, countryside and beach.

Africa: S-Africa, Namibia or Kenya (Probably just one of these, but definately a safari).

S-America: Thinking maybe Brazil, Argentina, Chile or Peru (would prefer to do Peru later though when we don´t have so young children with us and hike the Inka trail).

Cuba: 2 weeks in Havana and 2 weeks in Varadero.

USA: Coast to coast. Driving from NYC to San Fransisco or LA.

Hawaii: No idea where though


So, where would you go and why? Would you choose someplace different?-Please tell me about it. I love to hear other peoples travel dreams.

Europe will probably not be an option for this trip.

Honestly, as much as I love Australia, I wouldn't recommend June/July/August for touring, unless you are planning to stay in the northern parts.

Weather is also issue for Chile and Argentina. Peru would be fine, but I agree that you wouldn't want to take young children on the Inca Trail (especially with the altitude issues many of my friends' children have experienced in Cusco). If I were planning a 4 week trip to S.A. at that time of year, I'd spend a week in Lima/Cusco, a week in the Atacama Desert (SO WORTH IT!), a few days in Santiago and Buenos Aires and the rest of the time in Brazil. I'd still recommend visiting in the southern hemisphere's summer, though, since I don't think you can get the full experience of S.A. without visiting Patagonia (which I definitely wouldn't advise in June or July).

I guess my first choice would be a tour of the US and Canada...perhaps starting in the southwest (Vegas, the Grand Canyon) and then travelling up the west coast (California, Oregon, Washington state). From there, I'd pass into Canada at Vancouver, and then travel through the Canadian Rockies. I'd then zip through the prairies as fast as possible (sorry if that offends anyone!), and make my way around the Great Lakes to Quebec and the Maritimes (Nova Scotia and then the ferry over to Bar Harbor, Maine). Finally, I'd travel down the eastern seaboard to NYC.

I'm sure that there are lots of wonderful areas of the US and Canada that I've left out...the luxury of having six weeks would be that you could spend a lot of time exploring and truly experiencing the places you visit.

Now you have me wanting to plan a vacation!!! Can I live vicariously through you?!

 

[Freyja]

Wow. Great responses.

Oh, if life didn´t always get in the way of traveling

 

[kerstfan1]

remember that both austalia south africa and south america have their winter when we have our summer

 

[Freyja]

remember that both austalia south africa and south america have their winter when we have our summer

Yup, and that makes it more difficult to decide. Not so sure that the Great Barrier Reef is as inviting in the winter time.

 

[HeatherC]

You are a girl after my own heart!

We would like to do a home exchange one summer and take the kids on a European Tour. I did this after college...went from England to Greece and had the most amazing summer of my life. Would love the kids to be able to experience that.

I've heard New Zealand is even more beautiful than Australia. My sister did a two month trip to both along with the islands in the South Pacific.

Ireland and Scotland are also gorgeous.

Oh...then there is British Columbia!
And the list goes on and on......

Wish we had the vacation time.

Happy Planning!

 

[Freyja]

You are a girl after my own heart!

We would like to do a home exchange one summer and take the kids on a European Tour. I did this after college...went from England to Greece and had the most amazing summer of my life. Would love the kids to be able to experience that.

I've heard New Zealand is even more beautiful than Australia. My sister did a two month trip to both along with the islands in the South Pacific.

Ireland and Scotland are also gorgeous.

Oh...then there is British Columbia!
And the list goes on and on......

Wish we had the vacation time.

Happy Planning!

We have just made an agreement with a family in Barcelona for a home exchange in July I think it´s a great way to travel!
We have taken the kids on quite a few Europe trip and I highly recommend it. We have driven from Denmark to France, several trips to and throughout Germany, traveled quite a bit in Spain and then we once did an amazing trip through former Eastern Europe (Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia and Bosnia).

I would love to go to Ireland and take the family to Scotland (I´ve been to Scotland once but without the kids).

 

[HeatherC]

Freyja: I think I remember you saying that you have done home exchanges in the past? Would you mind me asking which agency you have used?

Now you have me planning a trip!! LOL!!!
Not sure when it will happen, but next summer sounds pretty good!!

 

[sparklynails23]

If you or the kids have not been, I would definitely do Hawaii. Second, I would choose Cuba while it still has its culture. I think it will change greatly, soon. My next choices would be South America, Africa, and finally, Australia.

 

[suejai]

I think I would visit Iceland, I've heard it's an amazing place.....oh, wait I guess that's not going to work for you is it


DH and I would love to travel New Zealand by motorcycle.
or
The Whiskey Trail in Scotland and then a tour of the great houses in England and a few days at the British Museum in London (thats's more me than him, he says he will wait for me at the pub)
or
A 6 week museum and art gallery trek through Europe.
or
A tall ship cruise through the Caribbean

 

[Liberty Belle]

Europe. If we were going for 6 weeks, I'd spend two in Ireland, one in Scotland, one in England, one in Germany, and one in Italy. Wow.