My 30th bday is coming up in July - and I want to do something very different/go off the beaten track (ie NOT europe).

Not looking for something too outdoorsy, but love history/different cultures/ and good food. I was looking into Chile/Argentine - but think it might be pretty chilly during that period.

Any recommendations?

Chicago?

Budget? Duration? Willing to endure long flights? Heat/cold tolerance?

- Good time for safaris in southern/eastern Africa;

- Alaska or Canadian arctic;

- Japan/China;

- Canadian Rockies/Vancouver/Seattle

Mexico?

SE Asia

According to today's NYT Travel section, SE Asia is the hot destination right now, so if all of Europe is on the beaten track, try Laos.

It's not off the beaten track...but it is different for North America - Quebec City. Beautiful.

Hong Kong?

Seems the track's been beaten pretty much everywhere, but my favorite place in the world is Peru: in July, the Andes region was comfortably cool but certainly not cold, and the Amazon rainforest is, of course, consistently warm.

I know Iceland and Lithuania are in Europe, but they aren't on everyone's radar and I really enjoyed them. Vietnam is fascinating.

There are a few trip report links gathered here http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...3&tid=35084942
Will this be a solo trip?

In July, I'd want to head north. Canada-Vancouver? Alaska?

PS I just read a piece somewhere about a great train trip through Canada. That would certainly be different! First class sleeper car and going through all that beautiful scenery by train..sounds fun to me!

Happy Early BDAY! (By the way, my oldest daughter is turning 30 next month, and we are all going to Vegas with her. She is throwing a "Death of My 20's" party and a whole lotta people are going!)

The first thing that came to mind was the SW, either Az. or NM.

Arizona and New Mexico are great places, but not in July!!

My baseball trip next year (Chicago-Milwaukee-Minneapolis) is for the 30th b-day of all of us.

Hey--I just read about the perfect place--it's off the beaten path--place called Jost Van Dyke--here's the link i read:

http://www.airlinecity.com/category/...irgin-islands/

Have a great birthday.

--Paul

Ooops--that link didn't work right--here it is!

http://www.airlinecity.com/2007/11/30/jost-van-dyke/

Depends on how far off you're willing to go...Iceland as well, & we travel to Montserrat (you can pick up my trip reports on the Carib page). Nothing wrong w/the SW in the Summer either, particularly at the higher altitudes.

Just for reference, we were in Santa Fe the third weekend of June 2007 and it was 100 degrees every day we were there.

St. Petersburg.

Or Thailand, though I don't know what July would be like there. (though that might be on the path).

I think Romania would be fantastic.

How about Australia?

It's a long way (from anywhere) but certainly worth it (but then again, being an Aussie I'm biased - LOL).

Although in July it's winter in Australia, it's not cold like Europe/Canada's winters. Our cities don't even have snow.

Queensland's weather (where the Great Barrier Reef is) is warmer the further north you go.

Northern Territory (where Kakadu National Park is) has gorgeous warm weather however the Uluru Rock is in the Alice Springs (desert) region and that is very cold.

Australia has plenty of "off the beaten track" places.

Hope you have a marvellous birthday wherever you choose in this great world of ours.