So what did you do on your summer vacation? (and how was it?)
Sep 10th, 2003, 04:54 PM
#21
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Nice thread! My husband and I don't typically take vacation in the summer, since we prefer the spring and fall months for travel.
However, this year we went to Florence and Venice, Italy. We spent his birthday in Florence, admiring much beautiful art and enjoying fine wines and gelato. Then, it was on to Venice to renew our vows for our ten year wedding anniversary on a gondola at sunset.
It was truly a very special and memorable trip for both of us. One which we will be remembering the summer memories for many years to come.
However, this year we went to Florence and Venice, Italy. We spent his birthday in Florence, admiring much beautiful art and enjoying fine wines and gelato. Then, it was on to Venice to renew our vows for our ten year wedding anniversary on a gondola at sunset.
It was truly a very special and memorable trip for both of us. One which we will be remembering the summer memories for many years to come.
Sep 10th, 2003, 05:41 PM
#23
I had a most unique vacation in Belize. Spent 4 incredible days in the Cayo jungle (where the lodge had its own resident monkey)and 3 days in Ambrigris where I went swimming with sharks and sting rays.
Since returning, I've been planning my next two vacations. The first will be in October traveling around New England with friends I haven't seen in years; the second is my first trip to Italy next Spring.
Since returning, I've been planning my next two vacations. The first will be in October traveling around New England with friends I haven't seen in years; the second is my first trip to Italy next Spring.
Sep 10th, 2003, 05:42 PM
#24
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rjw -- hope your sis stays healthy!
Two little trips this summer. Fort Walton Beach for a few days. Very nice, but too much traffic. Later we went to Minnesota, which we really enjoyed. We stopped at the Omaha Zoo on our way home, which was definitely worth the time.
Two little trips this summer. Fort Walton Beach for a few days. Very nice, but too much traffic. Later we went to Minnesota, which we really enjoyed. We stopped at the Omaha Zoo on our way home, which was definitely worth the time.
Sep 10th, 2003, 05:52 PM
#25
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I do agree with you somewhat, Scarlett. However, when you live here year round, you are more than ready to "get off the rock" and have a change of scenery!
It sounds like so many Fodorite's have had some wonderful vacations this past summer. Congrats to everyone! Keep posting!
It sounds like so many Fodorite's have had some wonderful vacations this past summer. Congrats to everyone! Keep posting!
Sep 10th, 2003, 07:12 PM
#26
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mona: Thank you for the kind wishes. Actually, even though this last round of chemo was a bit tough (new drug), she's in the best shape she's been in years. They made her start swimming, running and biking, and she looks beautiful and healthy. Best news of all (especially for her husband-- all the neighbor guys are jealous)!
Sep 10th, 2003, 08:11 PM
#27
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Wonderful thread!
rjw - glad to hear your sister is doing so well! Wish I lived next door to her too!
OUCH! (Just my wife's sharp elbow...)
BashfulLV: Are you Irish, by any chance? Just curious!
We have a good friend in Dublin and she calls her mate "sweetie" also! Every time she says "sweetie", he rolls his eyes, turns a bit red, ... but you can tell he enjoys being called that!
Is summertime over already? For My Love and me, summer usually starts about March/April, when we can go hiking without bundling up. It doesn't end until October/November. So...'taint over yet for us!
We started the summer with a month long vacation in Europe - a bit of a long vacation over there for us, it's usually two or three weeks. Then it was home to ball games at Pac Bell Park ("Here we go, Giants! Here we go!"), barbecues, soaking in the hot tub (except during the heat wave!), movies, good food, trying out restaurants, going to art and music events, and more hikes around the Bay Area.
We're off on another hike tomorrow, so see ya all later! Will let you know when our summer ends!
Sep 10th, 2003, 08:52 PM
#28
This was the first time in 18 years as parents that we didn't take a big trip. 
Our oldest graduated high school and wanted to be here for the grad partiesand our youngest went to Fiji to build homes with Habitat.
Since I'm chairing the school carnival this year, I spent the summer picking mangoes (approx 2000 pounds!)and cooking chutney and jellies with the kids(10,000+ jars!).
In August we went to a wedding on the Big Island, and just got back from a week in Portland Or., settling daughter into college. Throughout it all, I also was doing the chemo thing..seems to be in fashion this summer??!!
Our oldest graduated high school and wanted to be here for the grad partiesand our youngest went to Fiji to build homes with Habitat.
Since I'm chairing the school carnival this year, I spent the summer picking mangoes (approx 2000 pounds!)and cooking chutney and jellies with the kids(10,000+ jars!).
In August we went to a wedding on the Big Island, and just got back from a week in Portland Or., settling daughter into college. Throughout it all, I also was doing the chemo thing..seems to be in fashion this summer??!!
Sep 10th, 2003, 09:25 PM
#29
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We went to Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota and WI and had a great time. Especially enjoyed our time on Minnesota's North Shore - one of our favorite places on earth. Loved each part of the trip as some places we visited old friends and family. A great trip. We are heading to FL in a few days and will be in Orlando, Tampa, Amelia Island and Naples and look forward to that too. We will be in Michigan in late Oct. and that will be fun too. Hope the leaves are still beautiful. All in all a great summer and now fall too.
Sep 11th, 2003, 03:46 AM
#30
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I went for three weeks to Aberdeen, Scotland. We travelled around to Edinburgh, Inverness, and the Isle of Skye. We also went to London for 5 days.
It was amazing, and we were unusually lucky with the weather
It was amazing, and we were unusually lucky with the weather
Sep 11th, 2003, 04:06 AM
#31
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After several summers in a row in Maine we decided to do something completely different. Our family of three flew to Albuquerque, drove to Santa Fe and spent a week exploring. Hiked at Bandelier. Cheered the Isotopes. Stopped by the Home Movie Festival. Then took a family car on the Southwest Chief overnight to Los Angeles. Stayed in a lovely Pasadena hotel. Had breakfast trackside and watched the horses work out at Santa Anita with my 83-year-old godmother. Stopped by the Gene Autry Museum on our way down to Laguna. Had a family birthday celebration with the in-laws. Moved on down to Dana Point where our 10-year-old landlubber got a surfing lesson from his cousins. It was warm and beautiful and we loved seeing people and things we might not see again soon.
Sep 11th, 2003, 04:29 AM
#33
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Great thread! And RJ, soo glad to hear about your sis; i'd been thinking about her!
We took our 8th Out-West Road Trip for 3 glorious weeks (see separate Trip Report somewhere). It was likely our best, with both Rusty and Audrey in tow, and last, considering he's in college now.
This year we got our 'fix' (we're wild-west JUNKIES
) in Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Nevada, and in what many call 'Paradise' - Orange County, California! As in previous trips, we explored nat'l parks, major cities and little villages, Pro-baseball games and ballparks, Disney's California Adventure, 'Wallyworld' and more.
Too much to list, (see separate trip report here for more if interested) but the highlights would be sleeping in the concrete Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, AZ (hey, anybody can sleep in a Holiday Inn!) and staying oceanfront in Laguna Beach, California.
Sep 11th, 2003, 06:06 AM
#34
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Revisited Niagara Falls and the beautiful Canadian side; am headed for LaJolla/San Diego/Mexico in a couple weeks...but as always , 7 days of pure heaven were spent on board a 100' schooner, the Heritage, which sails out of Rockland Maine weekly. No electricity ( except tiny reading lamps in the bunks) - no phones, computers, faxes.... always a fun crowd (30)and entertaining crew (10) and the most restful an d interesting way to chill and forget life's hassles.
We sail wherever the wind takes us that day, stop in quaint fishing villages and small harbor towns for an hour or two now and then, anchor at night near a sheltered island, have a fabuous all you can eat lobster bake on an island beach somewhere; participate in the all-day annual Great Schooner Race with 20 other tall ships, are fed huge fabulous meals cooked on a woodstove, , laugh,nap in the sun, read, fish, daydream, help sail if you like, there is just nothing better - not to mention no other weeklong vacation so inexpensive...once you're on board, there's NOTHING ( other than a tip) to spend $$ on.
www.schoonerheritage.com if you're interested. This was my 7th year, I am addicted
Sep 11th, 2003, 06:25 AM
#35
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I miss summer already! For my parent's 50th Anniversary, my brother and I planned a cruise for them, that was fun to do and they really enjoyed it. Took my 7 and 10 year olds to Disney for the first time in May. Weekend in Newport, RI, getting engaged on the jetty. Rented a house for a week @ Hampton Beach, NH and took 7 kids (our 4 and 3 of their friends), in August. Getting married in 4 weeks and taking a delayed honeymoon cruise to Western Caribbean coming January with 13 relatives (without the kids-woo hoo!)
I love planning trips with the wonderful advice and tips from all of you wonderful Fodorites - thank you all!
God Bless America!
For my parent's 50th Anniversary, my brother and I planned a cruise for them, that was fun to do and they really enjoyed it. Took my 7 and 10 year olds to Disney for the first time in May. Weekend in Newport, RI, getting engaged on the jetty. Rented a house for a week @ Hampton Beach, NH and took 7 kids (our 4 and 3 of their friends), in August. Getting married in 4 weeks and taking a delayed honeymoon cruise to Western Caribbean coming January with 13 relatives (without the kids-woo hoo!)I love planning trips with the wonderful advice and tips from all of you wonderful Fodorites - thank you all!
God Bless America!
Sep 11th, 2003, 07:15 AM
#36
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rj-Great news about your sister. I'll keep her in my thoughts. Is she on tamoxifen by chance?
Summer vacation-Too short! Wish the kids went back to school after Labor Day. My family has a house on South Bass Island and we have a boat up there so we spent weekends boating, fishing, relaxing, cooking out with friends etc. Did get to see the Tall Ships when they came to Ohio. Awesome sight with the ships under sail! As for long vacation, we usually take that in the spring.
Summer vacation-Too short! Wish the kids went back to school after Labor Day. My family has a house on South Bass Island and we have a boat up there so we spent weekends boating, fishing, relaxing, cooking out with friends etc. Did get to see the Tall Ships when they came to Ohio. Awesome sight with the ships under sail! As for long vacation, we usually take that in the spring.
Sep 11th, 2003, 07:56 AM
#37
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Ellen: Thank you too! Glad you had a wonderful summer.
Buckeyemom: And thanks to you as well!! Actually, she doesn't have breast cancer-- it's colorectal. They now have a fairly effective platinum-based drug, but it is fairly rough on your system. Still, all the exams (including a colonoscopy yesterday) say NO CANCER!! Knock on wood, this is behind her. So we can now start planning a Las Vegas trip for our mom's surprise 70th borthday party...!!!
Buckeyemom: And thanks to you as well!! Actually, she doesn't have breast cancer-- it's colorectal. They now have a fairly effective platinum-based drug, but it is fairly rough on your system. Still, all the exams (including a colonoscopy yesterday) say NO CANCER!! Knock on wood, this is behind her. So we can now start planning a Las Vegas trip for our mom's surprise 70th borthday party...!!!
Sep 11th, 2003, 08:41 AM
#38
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Spent a wonderful 11 days in Italy sucking up all that art, history and wonderful cuisine.....
A long weekend in Oklahoma City visiting my daughter who is serving in the Air Force there.....
...and many wonderful nights biking on the northwestern coastline of the lower peninsula in Michigan where the summer weather couldn't have been more fabulous! (Especially now when most of the resorters have returned to their own homes!)
A long weekend in Oklahoma City visiting my daughter who is serving in the Air Force there.....
...and many wonderful nights biking on the northwestern coastline of the lower peninsula in Michigan where the summer weather couldn't have been more fabulous! (Especially now when most of the resorters have returned to their own homes!)
Sep 11th, 2003, 08:52 AM
#39
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I've already said it to my friends many times over, "I had the best summer ever!" Thanks fellow Fodorites for helping make it so awesome.
June - Traverse City, MI
July - The Catskills/Hudson River Valley, NY
August - California Coast, from San Francisco down to LA
An Awesome Summer!!!!
{Can't wait for Naples, FL at Christmas!}
June - Traverse City, MI
July - The Catskills/Hudson River Valley, NY
August - California Coast, from San Francisco down to LA
An Awesome Summer!!!!
{Can't wait for Naples, FL at Christmas!}
Sep 11th, 2003, 09:01 AM
#40
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My husband and I don't travel in the summer, we prefer the spring and fall when everyone is homeand everything is less crowded. Living on Long Island, NY everything comes alive and there are so many fun things to do, so we stay here.
We did go away in May - Bahamas and Florida for 10 days. June we went to Mohegan Sun for a weekend took in a Neil Young concert, ate great food and won and lost some $$. The summer was not that great and it really didn't feel like summer until July. We do the usual, dining out, going to beaches, antique shows, concerts, long weekend trips (vermont, rheinbeck).
November is always our caribbean trip!
and everything is less crowded. Living on Long Island, NY everything comes alive and there are so many fun things to do, so we stay here.We did go away in May - Bahamas and Florida for 10 days. June we went to Mohegan Sun for a weekend took in a Neil Young concert, ate great food and won and lost some $$. The summer was not that great and it really didn't feel like summer until July. We do the usual, dining out, going to beaches, antique shows, concerts, long weekend trips (vermont, rheinbeck).
November is always our caribbean trip!
