jerirl

Hi all,

I am the family trip planner and I am not feeling inspired for this summer. I'm hoping you will give me some ideas of where to start.

DH and I are in our sixties and in good health. We are looking for someplace to go this summer -July or beginning of August. We usually take a couple weeks, but are flexible on length of time. However we must go in summer due to job constraints. We are flying from Washington, DC.

Here are some of our interests

wildlife
scenery
culture
good food
beaches
historical sites

Here are some things we are not interested in

shopping
art museums
going somewhere you have to be dressed up

Here are the places we have gone in the last five years. Really enjoyed all of them except the Caribbean cruise which was just OK. First time on a large cruise ship and its just not our thing.

Caribbean cruise
Spain - Madrid, Seville and Zaragosa
Galapagos Islands
Iceland
Belgium, Alsace and Paris
Uganda with stopover in Amsterdam
Playa del Carmen, Mexico

In the past we have been to the following places in Canada - Montreal, Toronto, Churchill (polar bears) and Prince Edward Island.

So, what do you suggest? We would prefer someplace we haven't been yet. And remember, it must be someplace that isn't booked up months in advance.

Thanks for your help.

sylvia3

Big Island of Hawaii? Huge variety of scenery and climates in a relatively small area, lots of lodging options, lots of flights.

MmePerdu

How about Northern California, from San Francisco and up the coast over to the Sierra Foothills? It seems to me to have everything on your list and no dressing up allowed.

Here are a couple of my recent posts with pictures of my neck of the woods:

http://www.travelgumbo.com/blog/gold...ia-nevada-city
http://www.travelgumbo.com/blog/gold...a-grass-valley

BC_Robyn

Vancouver sounds exactly what you're looking for. Tag in a mini excursion to Pacific Rim National Park on nearby Vancouver Island and you'd be set!

laverendrye

Vancouver Island is a great suggestion.

I would add Québec City, the Ile d'Orléans and the neighbouring Charlevoix region. You probably know all about Québec City, but the Charlevoix is just delightful--best places to stay would be either Baie-Saint-Paul or La Malbaie.

http://www.tourisme-charlevoix.com/en

jamierin

I also think that Vancouver and Vancouver Island is something that you would love! 4 days in Vancouver and then travelling around Vancouver Island!

mat54

Vancouver and Vancouver Island, as suggested, would make a lovely 10 day to 2 week trip - but you'd want a car to explore the exceptional scenery and various sights spread around this region. On Vancouver Island allot 2 or 3 days for the Tofino/Pacific Rim National Park area - spectacular wild beaches and untouched temperate rainforest. Vancouver is a great "food" destination.

Atlantic Canada also makes for a beautiful Road Trip vacation (fly into Halifax). Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island (attached by causeway) is spectacularly beautiful and includes one of North America's top scenic drives - the Cabot Trail (particularly the section through Cape Breton Highlands National Park) - magnificent headlands and coastal scenery. The Fundy Shore of New Brunswick near Alma and Hopewell Rocks and Nova Scotia's Parrsboro region are also unique in scenery. The South Shore of Nova Scotia has charming Historic towns and lots of seascapes and lovely beaches (cold water though). PEI is also charming with lovely beaches (water not so cold).

Wildlife: lots of opportunities in the National Parks of all provinces. Great Whale-watching (book ahead) - Vancouver Island for Orcas, the Bay of Fundy for larger species, Cape Breton generally for smaller species. Culture: You'll find Acadian culture (the original 'Cajuns) and Celtic/Gaelic culture in various parts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. In Cape Breton, look for a Ceilidh.

jerirl

Thanks all. We have been to the big island of Hawaii before and agree it's spectacular. Still open to more ideas if you have any.

MmePerdu

Jerirl - this is where you give us a clue about the suitability of suggestions already made. Is this a rejection of all of them?

ltt

5 nights on cape breton and the remainder of time at another area on nova scotia or pei is low key with great beaches. you could stay at the town of pictou after your stay on cape breton and then catch the ferry to pei.
vancouver island and you could explore some of the other islands...hornby has some nice walking trails and a beautiful beach...mayne island, very low key.
oregon, smokey mountains, portugal, maidera island, new zealand