WFT

I feel like my summer vacation is like choosing a curtain on the game show. Background: Only husband and I, late 30's, seeking non-touristy cool climate for 6 nights. He loves photography. I love him. Teacher's budget. Here are the choices:

Curtain 1 - Alaskan Cruise w. his parents and brother & SIL. We all get along fine. No kids. Parents aging but active. Only possible trip w/ family.

Curtain 2- SFO & the CA wine country. Just us. rent car. B&Bs.

Curtain 3 - Loop around Yellowstone, Grand Tetons etc. Just us. Stay on park property. See nature. We don't hike or bike.

Curtain 4 (I know-4.) Iceland. Never been there and I don't think it will be touristy.

Which to choose? I like my own bathroom, if there are any accommodation questions. We love food & wine. I know NOTHING about Iceland. Yet. I know this is a lot to ask. Thanks for any responses.

egret

Alaska would be wonderful, but I wouldn't take a cruise. The highlight of Alaska is the interior. I would fly into Anchorage, and then go to Valdez, Homer and Seward. There are wonderful day cruises out of Seward.
If this is not an option at this time, I would choose the mountains. Of course, my favorite would be Hawaii. Have you considered Costa Rica? We were supposed to go in January and then I tore my achilles heel, so we're putting that off. I have heard wonderful things from everyone about Costa Rica. I couldn't imagine a better place for photography.

WFT

Thank you! Driving Alaska would be fine, but with 6 adults, I don't know. Costa Rica was shot down by DH. However, please make alternative suggestions!

gail

Yellowstone. It is a little late to get in-park accomodations (check daily for cancellations by calling), but outside Park lodging is quite reasonable and can be inexpensive. Unlike some other National Parks to which we have been, it is also very close.

Great for photography, can be relaxing - go at own pace. Don't need to hike (we don't) but many nice short walks in from parking areas to various points of interest (1/4-1/2 mile on smooth surfacfed paths). Even though everyone goes in the summer, except for places like Old Faithful and some of the Park Centers, we did not feel over-touristed.

Our young adult son was trying to get us all to go to Iceland a few years ago - when I priced trip I nearly fell over - Iceland is really expensive.

cd

I would take curtain 1 or 3. Both are great for photography. The shore excursions on the cruise offers trips to a glacier, dog sledding, landings on a glacier lake, etc...beautiful experiences and beautiful pictures. Plus you would get your fine food and fine wine at dinner.

GoTravel

I would take number one.

Reasons being I think Alaska is so cool and the big plus is my dad will pick up my bar tab

escargot

I think any of the choices are marvelous -all are fabulous for photography and all the other things you want - I also happen to love Iceland and would like to return there also - IcelandAir usually has some great packages -

My first inclination is to tell you to take Alaska because of this one sentence of yours :

We all get along fine. No kids. Parents aging but active. Only possible trip w/ family.

Parents are aging, enjoy their company and making more memories traveling together while you can - then you have time to research Curtains 2-4, scope out all the places and activities so you can do them and do them well on a teacher budget -
in 08, 09 and 10 !

that being said, I also don't know how often you see these parents, and if you need some 'alone time' and if that is the case, then at this point it might come down to which one you can get the best prices on - they are all excellent destinations for what you want

Ryan

I don't think this is any fun unless behind Curtain Number 5 is 1000 cans of squid and a goat.

Without knowing the relative costs, I tend to opt for the trip that is the most unlikely to be available again. For that reason, I'd opt for the most exotic, Iceland.

Gardyloo

Don't know where home is, but would offer the following comments -

SFO and wine country - good, but arguably better in a shoulder season than peak summer. Not cool in the wine areas - can be quite hot in much of Sonoma Co. for example.

Yellowstone/Grand Teton - very full of folk, plus (for most people) access is time-consuming.

Iceland - teacher's budget may be a problem this year given the dollar's weakness. I'd personally think about it sometime in the future.

That leaves the cruise.

Pros - very affordable, unpack once; the scenery comes to you, no car hire problems or if you want to hire a car you can spread the cost; very comfortable accommodations; food can be okay to excellent depending on the cruise line, and in any event better than what you'll get in Yellowstone (but not Napa.) Family togetherness.

Cons - Family togetherness (?); overpriced "excursions," crowded ports, canned entertainment.

Pick door no. 1. If you can at all afford the time or the expense, try a one-way cruise (Vancouver to Whittier/Seward or v.v.) with a few days at the northern end in order to see Denali or Prince William Sound (rental car.)

escargot

Just as a thought -
Aside from IcelandAir periodically offering some great packages -

we have flow IcelandAir to get to Europe - it gives us a breakfast/stretch your legs break on the way over and on the way back we stay a few nights, arrangements thru Iceland Air, - so you may want to think in the future (if you don't go there this go round) of wrapping it into another trip sometime too -

Sometime go over to the Europe board, and type in Iceland into the search this forum bar, - you'll see lots of trip reports and discussion of price/rates.

WFT

Y'all are the best. I'm from SC, so most areas in June will be cooler than home. I love the suggestion of a one-way Alaskan cruise and driving back to an airport. His parents are less than 5 miles away and SIL/BIL in ATL. I lost my dad to cancer at 22 yrs old so I understand the value/urgency of making family memories. The scenery would promote much wanted grandchildren...