What place have you been to that you were most "in awe" of the beauty? Looking for a place for me and my husband in October.
Aug 22nd, 2002, 08:31 PM
#43
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I have been to the Grand Canyon, Hawaii, Australia (Great Barrier Reef) and Alaska. I would pick Alaska hands down.
If you are on a budget, I suggest you take the Alaska Marine Highway as your mode of transportation. You can sleep in sleeping bags on lounge chairs, sleep in a tent or get a room. Glacier National Park has wonderful free camping in a wooded area just beyond a beach where you can see whales swimming by and at night you can hear them breathing. You can also stay in their lodge. In addition, you can see glaciers. You can fly into Bellingham, Washington and take the ferry from there.
It is fabulous
If you are on a budget, I suggest you take the Alaska Marine Highway as your mode of transportation. You can sleep in sleeping bags on lounge chairs, sleep in a tent or get a room. Glacier National Park has wonderful free camping in a wooded area just beyond a beach where you can see whales swimming by and at night you can hear them breathing. You can also stay in their lodge. In addition, you can see glaciers. You can fly into Bellingham, Washington and take the ferry from there.
It is fabulous
Aug 22nd, 2002, 09:15 PM
#44
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I vote for Chimney Rock Park, SE of Asheville in Chimney Rock, NC.
Visit on a crisp fall day and look out from atop that 200-ft-tall pillar of rock high up on the mountainside. To your west will be the mountains of Western North Carolina, stretching away much farther than your eye can see. To your east the mountains will abruptly stop. You'll see a teasing glimpse of a some of Lake Lure's 27 mile length shimmering in the sun, but beyond it are only gentle hills on to the horizon, where the land and the sky melt together in the blue distance.
You can look down into Hickory Nut Gorge from atop your perch, and see that the buildings and cars down there in Chimney Rock Village are too small, from such a great height, to even look like toys. The village will be directly below you, pressed against its barricading mountains on one side, and the boulder-filled Rocky Broad River on the other. The village of Bat Cave will be to the west, and the town of Lake Lure, happily perched at the head of the lake at the Public Beach, is to the east.
Everything within view will be cloaked in dense forest, except for a few sheer rock faces peering at you from across the gorge, and the village rooftops far below you. I personally could spend all day there, and I imagine a lot of people could, because there's more to the park than just the Rock. Chimney Rock Park takes up most of the mountainside, and you can explore caves and walking paths, view rock formations and visit waterfalls there, like Hickory Nut Falls, a thin thread of water that disappears over the side of a rock face and tumbles 400 feet before being swallowed up by the always hungry, always raging Rocky Broad, roaring over and around its boulders.
The Cherokee who were here first thought it a magic place, and so do I.
Visit on a crisp fall day and look out from atop that 200-ft-tall pillar of rock high up on the mountainside. To your west will be the mountains of Western North Carolina, stretching away much farther than your eye can see. To your east the mountains will abruptly stop. You'll see a teasing glimpse of a some of Lake Lure's 27 mile length shimmering in the sun, but beyond it are only gentle hills on to the horizon, where the land and the sky melt together in the blue distance.
You can look down into Hickory Nut Gorge from atop your perch, and see that the buildings and cars down there in Chimney Rock Village are too small, from such a great height, to even look like toys. The village will be directly below you, pressed against its barricading mountains on one side, and the boulder-filled Rocky Broad River on the other. The village of Bat Cave will be to the west, and the town of Lake Lure, happily perched at the head of the lake at the Public Beach, is to the east.
Everything within view will be cloaked in dense forest, except for a few sheer rock faces peering at you from across the gorge, and the village rooftops far below you. I personally could spend all day there, and I imagine a lot of people could, because there's more to the park than just the Rock. Chimney Rock Park takes up most of the mountainside, and you can explore caves and walking paths, view rock formations and visit waterfalls there, like Hickory Nut Falls, a thin thread of water that disappears over the side of a rock face and tumbles 400 feet before being swallowed up by the always hungry, always raging Rocky Broad, roaring over and around its boulders.
The Cherokee who were here first thought it a magic place, and so do I.
Aug 23rd, 2002, 02:20 PM
#48
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Just came back from a trip from LA to Colorado, driving through SW Utah. It was unbelievable, one of the few times my breath was taken away and I just sat dumbfounded. I never used to think the desert was beautiful until I saw this...amazing canyons, grooved red rocks, and just miles and miles of it. I imagine Grand Canyon is similar but with more tourists (the last time I was there was as a kid, and I don't have great memories but I should try visiting it again). In SW Utah, you take the 15N to the 70E and it's pretty empty. Downside is that there are no luxury hotels on the route, but that's why Vegas is close by.
Aug 23rd, 2002, 02:40 PM
#49
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Agree with the Maine coast, pack a lunch, with plenty of H2O, drive to the top of Cadillac Mt. in Acadia Ntl Park, pick a rock, can sit all day and see fall color as well as islands and ocean views. Bar Harbor has great hotels, restaurants,and shops. You can take a day trip to Nova Scotia (longer if you choose)aboard the CAT. This will be a trip you will never forget. However, the season closes in this area around Oct. 15th. And when they close up they close up tight.
Aug 27th, 2002, 04:36 AM
#52
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about Cancun & Los Cabos...yes, incredible view of beach and ocean (these cities are in a 3 way tie with Grand Caman for that!) but the cities are horribly touristy, americanized, time share hawks everywhere (except in Grand Caman). BUT, yes, the view of the ocean is incredible.
Aug 27th, 2002, 12:10 PM
#53
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I loved the coast of Maine, the turquoise blue of the Caribbean, the coast of northern California, the Grand Canyon, but for some reason, the view at Glacier Point in Yosemite NP filled me with awe. I actually got tears in my eyes just looking at that view that was NOT man-made. All of the above are beautiful, but Glacier Point was my "waterloo" (literally) 
Aug 28th, 2002, 10:28 AM
#54
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Hi Suzie,
I am a native of San Diego, CA and live in a wonderful, private house overlooking the bay AND ocean. However......this post is NOT to recommend San Diego.
I never go anywhere on vacation except to Santa Fe. I was just there for nine glorious days by MYSELF and did not have one bad experience. The people are soooo friendly, without fail. I have never been in the summer because I was leary of the crowds and the HIGH temps but it was hot but DRY and people were just wonderful to me!!!
The skies are so blue, the surroundings are tree-lined streets and low houses that just blend into the surroundings.
I have always been there in October, and the last time, in March. It was beautiful each and every time.
Of course, if you have no interest in art, it might not be so wonderful, but then again, you might develop an interest. If you are into wines, there are wineries galore in the area. If all else fails, there are always the "Indians" and their heritage.
I am a native of San Diego, CA and live in a wonderful, private house overlooking the bay AND ocean. However......this post is NOT to recommend San Diego.
I never go anywhere on vacation except to Santa Fe. I was just there for nine glorious days by MYSELF and did not have one bad experience. The people are soooo friendly, without fail. I have never been in the summer because I was leary of the crowds and the HIGH temps but it was hot but DRY and people were just wonderful to me!!!
The skies are so blue, the surroundings are tree-lined streets and low houses that just blend into the surroundings.
I have always been there in October, and the last time, in March. It was beautiful each and every time.
Of course, if you have no interest in art, it might not be so wonderful, but then again, you might develop an interest. If you are into wines, there are wineries galore in the area. If all else fails, there are always the "Indians" and their heritage.
Oct 2nd, 2002, 04:34 AM
#56
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St.John's, USVI. No high rise hotels, no fast food restaurants, no crowds, just incredible natural beauty. The crystal clear aqua ocean against the lush mountains is a mental picture I will always keep. The water was so clear that you did not have to snorkel to see the dozens of different species of brightly colored tropical fish swimming around you, we even saw a sea turtle. I also got a kick out of the wild donkeys that roam around the island.
Oct 2nd, 2002, 04:54 AM
#57
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The Bear Tooth Hiway. Drive north to Red Lodge on it and put a dollar in an envelope for everytime you say "WOW". The take MT 308 east to Rt72/120 south toward Cody. Bypass Cody and take 14A through the Big Horn Mts. to rte 14. Take 14 west to Greybulland south to Worland. From there take rte 16 through the Big Horn Mts. to Buffalo.
While doing this, put $5.00 in the envelope for every time you say "WOW" and then use the money for a nice dinner.
While doing this, put $5.00 in the envelope for every time you say "WOW" and then use the money for a nice dinner.
