Best Seven Day Photo Vacation from U.S.??

[bwcolor]

It has been years since I traveled abroad. My wife left Cambodia at two years old and has only travelled to Canada. I rarely get time off and when I leave my office it is for short times. My wife and I can leave the kids with her sister and spend seven to ten days away sometime this year. What would be your best suggestion for a good photo holiday of short duration? Thanks in advance.

 

[thegman]

Depends on the type of photos, street, landscape etc? If I lived in the USA, I'd be off to Hawaii all the time, but if you want to leave the USA, maybe Asia somewhere?

 

[hipsterdufus]

Yeah, it really depends on your interests. I went to Berlin in May, 2009 and it was some of the most fun I've ever had. Of course, I love great food, beer, art, and beautiful surroundings. Don't go to Berlin if you don't like those things. 😀

 

[Darkhorse]

Utah gets overlooked, but they've got Arches, Bryce Canyon, Zion and more. Great for landscape. You could dip down to the Grand Canyon as well, and as cliche as it may sound, it's a must see for everyone on earth.

 

[bwcolor]

I was intentionally vague. It is our tenth wedding anniversary and our first chance out alone. We initially looked at places like Fiji and decided not to spend lots of time sitting on the beach. I would love to go to Cuba, but it might be a bit much for such a short time and the complications of travel from the U.S. I think that buildings, people, streets, color and history trump beaches and mountains. Other suggestions, such as Utah are on our planning desk for trips with the kids. In fact, a friend just moved to Utah and suggested that we visit.

Gary

 

[Roger Hicks]

India. But if you are not accustomed to travelling abroad, you may find the culture shock too great. Most of Europe is easier. For sheer variety and great pics, at the cost of slightly more flying time, Malta is absolutely unbeatable: http://www.semiadventuroustraveler.com/pst malta.html

Do you fancy cities? Villages? Countryside? And when might you travel? Personally I like Mexico (not Baja, and not near the border) but I've not been there in years.

You might (or might not) care to take a look at www.semiadventuroustraveller.com, which is where the Malta piece is lifted from.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Austerby]

Morocco - fabulous country, sites, colours, tones, textures.

Looks great in black and white and colour.

Could be quite a culture shock though...

 

[retnull]

Just my opinion: how photogenic your destination is should be only a secondary consideration. If you have a great vacation, PERIOD, the photos will mean more to you. You said it's an anniversary holiday, not a photo assignment...

 

[stompyq]

India. But if you are not accustomed to travelling abroad, you may find the culture shock too great. Most of Europe is easier. For sheer variety and great pics, at the cost of slightly more flying time, Malta is absolutely unbeatable: http://www.semiadventuroustraveler.com/pst malta.html

Do you fancy cities? Villages? Countryside? And when might you travel? Personally I like Mexico (not Baja, and not near the border) but I've not been there in years.

You might (or might not) care to take a look at www.semiadventuroustraveller.com, which is where the Malta piece is lifted from.

Cheers,

R.

It'll take him 2 days just to get to india!!

 

[bwcolor]

I would love India in that most of my previous travels were in non-tourist third world countries, but my wife is a bit of a princess, so I think more cities. Malta sounds very interesting. Mexico is out. The drug war there makes it a bust. I've done a good bit of Mexico and parts South in years past. Berlin sounds interesting. I was also thinking Prague, or another Eastern European city. One place in the world is a bit tough to choose. This request is even more strange when I reveal that I live fifteen minutes from San Francisco, one of the worlds top tourist destinations and I rarely go there. Anyway, historical city and such is probably best for my wife. My dad spent three years in Morocco and loved it.

 

[35mmdelux]

Just my opinion: how photogenic your destination is should be only a secondary consideration. If you have a great vacation, PERIOD, the photos will mean more to you. You said it's an anniversary holiday, not a photo assignment...

Well said. ....Oregon coast is nice and fairly close to SF.....conversely Hearts Castle, Santa Barbara - many places without having to shell out the gold dabloons.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I would love India in that most of my previous travels were in non-tourist third world countries, but my wife is a bit of a princess, so I think more cities. Malta sounds very interesting. Mexico is out. The drug war there makes it a bust. I've done a good bit of Mexico and parts South in years past. Berlin sounds interesting. I was also thinking Prague, or another Eastern European city. One place in the world is a bit tough to choose. This request is even more strange when I reveal that I live fifteen minutes from San Francisco, one of the worlds top tourist destinations and I rarely go there. Anyway, historical city and such is probably best for my wife. My dad spent three years in Morocco and loved it.

Yeah, I wondered about that. Hence my comment about not having been there in years. But my brother-in-law has a house there, and the drug wars are apparently pretty localized.

I'd not go to a single city such as Berlin or Prague (and I've spent time in both) because if you don't like 'em, you're in trouble. Prague, in particular, struck me as a magnet for rich kids saying, "Wow, ain't I cool, I'm in PRAGUE. And in Hungary, I prefer the university town of Pecs to Budapest.

Malta has some ghastly mass-tourism resorts, but hire a car and you're elsewhere in minutes. Or stay somewhere better: Mdina, or most of Gozo. It's sometimes described as a 'continent in miniature', and not unfairly. English is widely spoken. For sheer history, as the link shows, Malta is absolutely unbeatable. Before you go, read Ernle Bradford's The Great Siege about the events in 1565.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Red Rock Bill]

Give New York City a try. Regards,Bill

 

[bwcolor]

Yes, agree with all the above. California and adjoining states/countries are wonderful places to travel. It is just that my wife has never traveled to Europe, or Asia, or really anywhere outside of North America. It would be a bit more special for her to do so. If it were just me, I would be off to Patagonia, or to the Purna Kumbha Mela in 2013, but she favors more comfortable settings.

 

[lilmsmaggie]

I was intentionally vague. It is our tenth wedding anniversary and our first chance out alone. We initially looked at places like Fiji and decided not to spend lots of time sitting on the beach. I would love to go to Cuba, but it might be a bit much for such a short time and the complications of travel from the U.S. I think that buildings, people, streets, color and history trump beaches and mountains. Other suggestions, such as Utah are on our planning desk for trips with the kids. In fact, a friend just moved to Utah and suggested that we visit.

Gary

You could go to Cancun in the Yucatan.

Use it as your base and take side trips to Chitzen itza, Tulum, Merida and yes, Cuba a boat ride away.

Early part of the year Jan. thru April, or Oct thru December, temps are milder otherwise HOT HOT HOT! but lots to see. Caution: You'll wanna go back 🙂

 

[raid]

Just a belated honeymoon or anniversary suggestion:

Fly into Milano (Italy). Drive for 5-7 days in northern Italy. It is a very beautiul part of Italy, with plenty of wonderful opportunites for photography.
You have the Dolomite mountain range with mountain lakes and romantic "pension" lodging, followed by visiting Venice and Florence. Take off the beaten path day trips to some very old villages.

I enjoyed the landscape and the atmosphere a lot in my two trips to northern Italy. Speaking German helped me in "South Tyrol", but it is not needed. People are very friendly.

I am sure that our RFF Italian friends here can give more specific advices on where to go.


Have fun wherever you will be going to.

 

[bwcolor]

Cuba really is attractive. I've got that personality type that pays every cent of taxes owed and stops at stop lights when nobody is looking, so I would need to find a legal way to travel. The catch is, of course, the moment that it is easy for U.S. residents to travel to Cuba is the day that it becomes something altogether else.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Yes, agree with all the above. California and adjoining states/countries are wonderful places to travel. It is just that my wife has never traveled to Europe, or Asia, or really anywhere outside of North America. It would be a bit more special for her to do so. If it were just me, I would be off to Patagonia, or to the Purna Kumbha Mela in 2013, but she favors more comfortable settings.

Malta wins yet again. First settled in remote prehistory; site of the oldest ruins on the planet (Ggantija, Hagar Qim); colonized by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Knights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem and Rhodes, and (roughly 1804-964) Britain. Independent since. And there's traces of ALL of that history.

Sorry to sound like a broken record on advocating the island, but the following may explain why I'm so enthusiastic. I took my (American) wife there in 1990, having not been there since leaving in 1960 at the age of 10. It was still just as magical. One of the greatest pleasures of my life was exploring it with her. I can almost imagine myself doing the same all over again, in your place. We've been back several times since.

Cheers,

R.

 

[bwcolor]

Driving in Italy. Hmm.. I owned a wonderful Fiat for thirty-five years. It was a wonderful car, but I understand that driving in Italy is yet another thing. Your suggestion, as well as Malta sounds like a great idea. It goes along with Roger's advice not to get trapped in any one city.

 

[stompyq]

Yes, agree with all the above. California and adjoining states/countries are wonderful places to travel. It is just that my wife has never traveled to Europe, or Asia, or really anywhere outside of North America. It would be a bit more special for her to do so. If it were just me, I would be off to Patagonia, or to the Purna Kumbha Mela in 2013, but she favors more comfortable settings.

May I suggest my country then? Sri Lanka.