Where Would You Go?

Well, I hiked part of the Inca Trail about five years ago with my daughter on our trip to Machu Picchu and my wife and I are looking at it as well as SE Asia and Angkor Watt. Surprisingly, airfare from LAX is almost the same to Thailand or Peru or Australia or India. However, New Zealand is about double.

And we can go from wilderness travel and camping to nice hotels. Honestly, we are not into five star accommodations but hostels and b&b's. My favorite cities over the last few years were York, Istanbul, Florence, and Bangkok. And we both prefer the mountains to the beach but also love rivers.

And yes we are motorcyclists. My wife rides her own and does not care for the back of mine and I don't blame her. However, she is overcoming an attack of vertigo and is not ready to climb back unto the motorcycle as of yet. If she was, we would be headed toward Alaska right now on motorcycles. I have done that little trip three times. It is only 8000 miles round trip. Her family is in Anchorage and we may move there next year.
 
I'd recommend New Zealand. My In-Laws went there when they were around 65 and had the time of their lives. I'd add to the list Vietnam and China as close seconds. Previously they traveled all over, pretty much anywhere a KC-135 could land as well as lots of trips thanks to miles on United.

An acquaintance about ten years ago raved about Laos, but she was in her mid-20s at the time. Very different mindset and abilities.

Other places I'd love to recommend, like Egypt but with an American passport and our Tweeter-N-Chief don't give me the warm and fuzzies.

B2 (;->
 
I rented a motorcycle in Laos for seven days about four years ago. If we head to SE Asia, I am thinking of flying into Vietnam and then overland to Bangkok. I would love to rent bikes again but she is still fighting vertigo and has not ridden her motorcycle since January. Angkor Wat and the temples of Bangkok would be must sees. Again, I have traveled in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos but she has not. In fact, she says she is equally attracted to the idea of either Machu Picchu or Angkor Wat. I have never been to Vietnam and it would be on our list. I was lucky and missed America's war there by a couple years (18 in 1970).

I agree about destinations which I would have to think hard about in today's political climate, specifically Egypt and Turkey. Istanbul is one of my favorite cities but I understands US citizens must now request a visa.
 
Japan is certainly very photogenic, as well as being an all-round great place. There's a very famous walking trail from Kyoto to Tokyo you and your wife might like, not that you have to do the whole hike. Not speaking Japanese is not a hindrance either.
 
We’re going to Costa Rica this fall.

Next year, a riverboat cruise on the Nile in Egypt.

We did a riverboat tour last fall from Prague to Paris. A few bus rides to get to our final destinstion. I love Paris! Lots of photo ops.

A friend has walked from the rim to the bottom of the Grand Canyon several times. Once with a group then after that by himself. It sounds interesting, if done when there are less people and mild weather.
 
JAPAN !

We’ve been annually for 3 years. Can’t wait to go back. If you haven’t been, you would be mad not to go.

The Kyoto to Tokyo trail (Kiso Valley) is beautiful. We did a short section from Megome. Very highly recommended.

J :)
 
It's true that you can't go back home again. You can, but you will be different, and it will have changed too.

I like it right where I am in Albuquerque. The summers can be pretty hot and the winters are much too cold for this Southerner, but it's become home for a number of reasons. The sky and the light are incredible. Very special, you won't find it anywhere else.

Traveling doesn't interest me anymore, especially if it involves flying, because they've made that such a miserable experience. But I'll take a train almost anywhere, as long as it brings me back here.
 
For places I haven't visited: Iceland, Russia, New Zealand.

For places I have visited:

Budapest, Hungary. Beautiful and grand city, and it still has the "Old Europe" feeling. Warm people despite current xenophobic political trend.

Yun Nan province, China. Mild climate and polite people and cool landscape, especially to us Northerners.
 
I suppose I’m biased, having moved here from South Australia over a decade ago, but one place which is usually overlooked, and has so much to offer those with a love of the outdoors, is Tasmania. Have a look at the Overland Track or the recently made Three Capes Track. And on top of that you have the abundant convict history of the state, smashing food and produce, and even a cracking museum of old and new art in Hobart, now.
Worth considering.
Cheers
Brett
 
Vietnam. I'd rent (or even buy) a motorcycle in Saigon and ride all the way up to Hanoi.

I want to explore the fjords of Norway.

I want to bicycle all over Ireland and Scotland.

Go hiking with my brother in Australia.

Explore the mountains of Ethiopia.

Banff, Canada.
Grand Tetons.
Gates of the Arctic.

Grand Island, Nebraska.

One day I want to go back to Fallujah, Iraq. If it is ever peaceful there.

Phil Forrest
 
I have traveled a lot in SE Asia back in the 1980's courtesy of Uncle Sam's Misguided Children (USMC) but also more recently since retirement. Motorcycling for seven days in Laos, two weeks with my daughter in Cambodia and Thailand including Ankgor Watt, Bangkok, and Chiang Mai. My wife needs to see these countries and I need to see Vietnam.

Japan has always been on my list. I remember romanticizing Japan while watching the miniseries SHOGUN back in the 1980's. And I spent time there in the late 1970's while being a pilot for USMC with a year on Okinawa.

So I am guessing it will either be SE Asia or Peru and Machu Picchu in February. She says both are on her list and neither jumps out as a favorite. Funny, but I have been retired for ten years and traveled while she stayed home and worked. She retired in June and is catching up with trips to the Northwest of US, Scotland next month, three months in Anchorage to see if she can recapture her desire to move home, Xmas with our daughter in Taos, NM, and New Years in Baja with friends. I am staying home to look after the house and pets.

Fair is fair so I get to go to Scotland next month and Alaska for a couple weeks in October. I still have Japan, India, and France on my to do list.

Thanks for all the input so far.
 
My parents traveled across the US dragging me along before Eisenhower invented the interstate system. As I grew up I continued to travel the US mostly via motorcycle. As I entered my 60's work forced me overseas. Nothing wrong with overseas except it requires flying.


IMHO visit all the US National Parks, try to go during non tourist season. I think I see more European & Asian visitors at our parks then US citizens. If that isn't enough visit the State Parks. Then get off the interstate and visit the places in between.


I'm not knocking any foreign country but I think a lot of people miss what is in their own back yard.
 
Beemermark said:
My parents traveled across the US dragging me along before Eisenhower invented the interstate system. As I grew up I continued to travel the US mostly via motorcycle. As I entered my 60's work forced me overseas. Nothing wrong with overseas except it requires flying.


IMHO visit all the US National Parks, try to go during non tourist season. I think I see more European & Asian visitors at our parks then US citizens. If that isn't enough visit the State Parks. Then get off the interstate and visit the places in between.


I'm not knocking any foreign country but I think a lot of people miss what is in their own back yard.
Click to expand...


Our national parks are amazing, I went to two this week, actually. I would wholeheartedly agree.
 
I am not knocking the US but I really don't count domestic trips since I do so many of them. I was a pilot for 33 years and saw a lot of the US from the air and spent lots of time on the ground between flights. Additionally, we did a lot of wilderness travel by canoe, horse or even foot. I have probably seen 90% or more of the US park system.

I mean all I have to do for US or Canadian travel is jump in my truck, add gas and go. And honestly traveling in Mexico only involves about 30 minutes at the border doing Customs paperwork which is then good for 180 days.

So, I don't think I have missed much in my own backyard but am wondering what is over the fence and on the other side which may be worth seeing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom