I'm in charge of planning a trip for a 60th Birthday. The birthday girl doesn't have any idea of where she wants to go. She loves animals - zoos, wildlife, whale watches, etc. Money isn't an object, and she would prefer something upscale. No dude ranches!!! I would love some suggestions!

When? This an important factor.

If summer, I would suggest Yellostone and Grand Teton Natl Parks, but for upscale, you would have to stay in Jackson Hole - too far away from Yellowstone for day trips.

Just returned from a trip to Tofino, BC on Vancouver Island. We went sea kayaking and whale watching - fabulous! Saw whales, sea lions, sea otters, porpoises, seals, bald eagles, and low tide creatures like starfish and anenomes (SP?). Great, beautiful place, gorgeous coastline and beaches.

The trip isn't until next July, but time to start planning! Thanks, Vancouver was a place that I had thought of, and I think that would be awesome.

If money isn't an object -

King Pacific Lodge, British Columbia - on the Today Show this morning
www.kingpacificlodge.com

Here's a chart of the wildlife -
http://www.kingpacificlodge.com/kpl_activity_chart.pdf

Vancouver Island and Vancouver are not the same place. This would be my splurge place on Vancouver Island - and you can also visit Victoria, BC for a touch of England on this trip -

http://www.wickinn.com/

Costa Rica has amazing wildlife if you're interested in traveling outside the US. We just got back from Bosque del Cabo on the Osa Peninsula and saw monkeys, toucans, and scarlet macaws right from our front porch. We were able to visit an animal sanctuary for orphaned animals and got to hold the baby monkeys - also had dolphins swimming all around our boat in the Golfo Dulce - pretty amazing if you're an animal lover.

Definitely if you go to Vancouver take a couple of days out of the trip for Victoria!

I absolutely second Costa Rica.

Another option is Alaska; my folks took an upscale cruise there and really enjoyed it. Hawaii is another option - if you travel January-March, you're more likely to see whales.

Costa Rica.

These are great ideas. I would love to stay at the King Pacific Lodge.

I suggested this on another thread, but it may work for you also.

How about a trip to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah?

She could volunteer some of her time to help the animals, and see some of the natural wonders of Angel Canyon.

Their website is www.bestfriends.org

What she doesn't spend on the trip itself, she could donate to help the animals.

The utlimate animal/nature trip is to the Galapagos Islands. I recommend the one I did with Lindblad.http://www.expeditions.com/

If you want to stay in the U.S. then go to Glacier National Park.

If money is truly not an object...
for upscale animal/nature, try the Seychelles Islands.

Did you run the ideas by the birthday girl? She's lucky to have you planning such a wonderful trip for her.

I did ask the birthday girl what she thought, and she said Vancouver so far is her top choice. I asked about the King Pacific Lodge and she said "we'll see." Translated that means "I'll have to ask my husband, but that's where I want to go." I am the official trip planner of the family. The bossy teacher who bosses everyone around, but then they have a fabulous time, and now can't plan their own vacations, because mine are better!

Well, I can't imagine her husband saying no - it looks like a fabulous place. Hope they have a great time!

New Zealand is a great trip and there are some drop dead fabulous resorts with prices in the $1000/night range if you want to spend it. The Great Barrier Reef is great and places like Lizard Island are very posh. For something a little closer to home and off the radar try Newfoundland! Its sort of like Maine on steroids with a Scotch-Irish flair. Check out Fischer's LOft for a special experience.