Dear Travelers!
Please, help me with my dilemma.
We live in New York and FIL in Seattle.
Next year in July he turns 80.
He asked if we can go somewhere.
My husband unloaded this on me (of course) about where are we going.
FIL able man with few problems like hard of hearing
Where can we take older man to have family fun for 5-7 days close to Seattle and cool enough so he can enjoy. He is not active traveler, more like looking at the pretty things kind of guy. Likes to laugh and talk. Not that is a good thing

Thanks for your suggestions.

P.S. His dream is Alaska for some reason but we are not giving into this.

I dream od California, never been there. Maybe if I am the one to plan the trip I can choose the destination? ;-)

"His dream is Alaska for some reason but we are not giving into this."

Good grief, your FIL is turning 80, has a dream to see Alaska and it is all about you. Taking a short cruise out of Seattle to Glacier Bay seems like something he would enjoy, but never mind, since you are not giving into this and you dream of California. Pathetic & unbelievable!

Why would you not be interested in letting your FIL celebrate his 80th birthday by going to Alaska? I would think you have a long time in your life to plan a trip you want to take (such as California). I would think you and your husband would want to plan the trip your husband's soon to be 80 year old father would like to take. I truly do not understand your thinking. Sorry.

My Dad passed away 3yrs ago at age 87. My and he had done lots of traveling but didn't get to one place Mom wanted to go. Last year, at 82yrs she said she had only one regret, not getting to Alaska.

I spent 6 months studying & planning a trip to Alaska for Mom. My cousin joined us and we had an awesome time. Mom (82yrs), cousin (62 yrs) and me (42yrs) all traveled via car to Anch/Seward/Denali. 10 days of B&Bs and small inns while we enjoyed nature.

I'm so glad we went, it was the trip of a lifetime. I'm currently planning on taking my kids & husband there for my 50th.

We have special memories like no other. I recommend you DO IT!!!!! You won't regret it.

My feeling, after everything my Mom has done for me, I couldn't imagine saying 'no' to the one thing she wanted.

Take FIL to Alaska.

GroupTraveler, just in case you decide to give your FIL the vacation of "his dream" here is an article from the Travel Section of today's SF Chronicle. Scroll down to the paragraph regarding Alaskan Cruises (which is out of Seattle).

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...TR7C10FRA7.DTL

Oh my gosh, the answer is right before your eyes The people I know who've cruised in Alaska have raved about it to the extent that the ONLY cruise that interests me is that one.

The scenery is apparently stunning and it'd be perfect for someone who'd prefer to sit and watch rather than get-up-and-go.

And hey, even though hubby has dropped this in your lap, you can pawn it off on the cruise folks and just sit back and enjoy it yourself...with privacy, to boot!

Please give him the Alaska trip. It was the 1 thing my grandfather always wanted to do but never got the chance. My grandmother also wanted it so the following year after my grandfathers death, my whole family paid for the Alaskan cruise for her and a friend of hers. She is still in shock

My Dad always talked about Alaska when we were growing up. During WWII here was stationed in the Yukon & Alaska working on the Al-Can Highway. For his 70th birthday we gave him Alaska related items [books, videos] plus cash to be used ONLY on a trip to Alaska. He talked about that trip from then until his death at 86.

GO TO ALASKA!

You are so lucky to be able to take your FIL on a trip. My dad recently passed away at age 87, and for quite a few years he was in very fragile health and unable to go much of anywhere. I did my best to take him on day trips to San Francisco or Sausalito when he was able to go. The wheelchair was heavy and it wasn't that simple to care for his needs on these outings, but I'll always remember his joy at gazing across the bay on a clear day or seeing young children playing in Golden Gate Park. No regrets!

PS I vote for Alaska, too. Then there will never be any regrets!

My dear uncle, just fifteen years older than I was stationed in the Aluetian Islands during WWII.

After the war he was married, they had three children etc. He always wanted to go to Alaska but somehow "life" got in the way of their doing so. The conversation was always "when he retired". Well he retired early due to a medical problem and died around 68 years of age. He never did take his trip to Alaska, which makes me sad to this day.

The reason I mention this is because my aunt was not interested in taking a trip to Alaska. And my uncle "gave" so much to his family. I loved my aunt, his wife, but I still feel she was so selfish to not go along with his one desire in life so to speak.

Your PS sounds like some kind of set-up to punk us diehard Fodies into the obvious reaction... however,if it is a genuine post and there is an 80 year-old longing for his life long dream, you should make the best of it... and at the conclusion of the trip, follow the ancient Eskimo tradition and place FIL on an Ice floe and let him float off into the night... that way, he lives his dream and you won't ruin your next week off!!!

I agree with the others that say go to Alaska. For goodness sakes, how long do you think your FIL will be around?

wtm, wtf? Your reply is Pathetic & unbelievable!

Everyone else! WOW! I did not know Alaska will stir such a conversation here. I have to admitt - Alaska is one of the places i don't want to go to. My husband impartial but not all for it and my child is too small for this kind of things.
After all said here I will look into this but please, it is not like FIL said he wants to see Alaska more than anything in his life! He just said he would like to go. He would actually like to go anywhere with us and I do not think Alaska is that big of a deal. I will ask him next time we talk.
And if it is such a big wish - we could probably do it.

But really is there anything else anyone can suggest? I have a goosbumps thinking of Alaska, honestly!

Thanks for your help.

The way your post read is that it was your FIL's dream so we all assumed he wanted it above anything else.

What about 1 of the National Parks there? Yellowstone, Yosemite. Rent a cabin. How old is your child? That way, your family can hike / sightsee in the parks while your FIL can join in the sightseeing.

GroupTraveler, by saying "I have goosebumps thinking about Alaska," are you saying you think it will be cold there in July?? Why is your kid too small to take a cruise? In your own charming words, WTF?

NewbE,
No I do not think it is going to be cold (though I assume there is always not too warm) - have you ever had feelings that you would rather stay home than go to that particular location? I just really do not want to go. But considering how many people here raving about it - I wouldn't be fighting to death and probably go considering all above said. As I said i willl research and thanks for the nice push!

However I do want to excersize other options. Thanks

I took my mom to Alaska when she was 78. We flew out of San Jose to Seattle, then to Anchorage. We spent a week with Anchorage as our base. She especially enjoyed the Alaska Railroad trip to Seward, with an afternoon cruise to the Kenai Peninsula. She could still walk without assistance, but only for short distances.

"His dream is Alaska for some reason but we are not giving into this."

And now you have downplayed that to

"He just said he would like to go."

So which is it?

Whichever, that's where he'd like to go. Maybe you could find a seniors' group that he could go with to Alaska. Or maybe his son could take him, just the two of them.

You can choose the destination for your 80th birthday trip.