Wonderful stories joan and R5. Thanks for sharing them.

I've been fortunate to take many of the trips of my dreams, but India and Nepal are still on the list. If we're restricted to the US... I've always wanted to attend The Masters. Someday..

Dear Miss Scarlett: we had the same idea. 5K while a very generous gift doesn't do much for a trip of a life time so I would ensconce myself in the St. Regis, hoping it is still wonderful, and avail myself of some fabulous retail therapy close by and a play and dinner at Per Se one night and La Grenouille the other. This would represent the new pinnacle and what is left of the old pinnacle of fine dining in NYC (seeing that Lutece and Caravelle and a host of others have closed). I'd probably have enough left for a pair of cool shoes but no handbag. LMF

With $5000, I'd do one of two trips: go to Alaska, or head to the American Southwest (AZ, NM, UT, TX). In either case, I'd figure out a way to eat and sleep cheaply so I could stay on vacation longer and see and do more stuff.

Old Southern - the poster mentioned taking a trip or your dreams...$5K isn't enough for that...not nearly enough.

A trip OF your dreams...oops!

TravelTess... Maybe not enough for the trip of YOUR dreams but it is enough for the trip of MY dreams. No matter who's paying, I would still stay at my funky 2-3/star hotels, take public transportation, etc. It's how I like to travel best.

Joan and Razzle, wonderful, wonderful stories. Loved them! Thanks for sharing such beautiful memories. Enjoy your holidays with Herbs

My dear, rich Uncle Herb has given me $5 grand. Hmmmm - I've been thinking about this most of the day and I think I know what I would do.

I would probably rent a large vacation home, probably at a beautiful lake, and invite all my family (including Uncle Herb) to come and enjoy themselves for, hopefully, a week or two.

I would choose the place (the lake) because I always enjoy a lake holiday and I know my family would too. With that we could have some good memories!

I've been dreaming of going back to Paris. $5000 would buy a lot of cassoulet!

-Bill

I am trying to pull together a last minute take-advantage-of-low-fares solo trip to Japan in January (even though I am already going in April on a much-planned trip to Japan). This trip would be my first solo trip for pleasure in about 22 years. I chose the place because Japan has captured my heart after my first trip there last spring. I have no idea where I will stay yet, probably as suggested by the folks on the Asia forum (who told me about the fare), I will stay at an onsen part of the time and do some pottery and other craft touring in some smaller towns. So I could use the 5K right now. Are you listening, Uncle Herb? And send it Fed Ex early morning next day delivery please (you can take that expense out of the 5K).

Thank you very much. I'll send postcards, visit you in the old folks home, and say very nice things about you at your funeral. Promise.

hmmm...interesting. working for the airlines, and traveling standby all the time, i'm always lucky to just get on the plane. i do not necessarily need business class. (also, i'm 4'10, i can usually suck up economy class for 8 hours to paris and beyond!)
that being said, if i had $5000, i'll probobly just take off for 4-6 weeks, and drive cross country! south route going west, north route going back east!

Joan and Razzle
Thanks for sharing, it brings Christmas joy. I would love 5000 for vacation and would probably rent a great beach house for our family of 9.

suze, same with me.

I did the lake house. And they said it couldn't be done. Bought it and not just for a week. Now my entire extended family has a haven to return to again and again.

But then I don't think $5000 is confetti- and have taken a few pages from Suzie Orman' philosophy about "stuff". Your people first, then your money, then things (travel, although I LOVE it, is a thing).

Uncle Herb's gift would help with a much coveted trip to Churchill to see the polar bears...before they are gone...That would be a trip of a lifetime !
What a great Uncle Herb is !

Norway, Sweden and Finland

JJ5

I like your thoughts - coincides a lot with mine.

I really like your lake house!! I grew up around a lake and I can see that it never really leaves you. That's one part of the northest that will always stay in my heart.

You guys keep talking about lakes. What lake would you rent/buy the house on??? I also love lakes, and fishing. Just so relaxing.

Dear Uncle Herb,

Mike and I can't thank you enough for your unexpected and generous gift. You are such a rascal - we never expected it. Wanted you to know that we will put it to good use. After all, you are the one that instilled the "wanderlust" in me from the time I was little.

I remember every time you would come home from one of your trips and show us your photos. I couldn't wait to travel like you. From the time I was little, you told me about listening to jazz in New Orleans, gambling at the tables in Las Vegas (remember when you bet me double or nothing at Scrabble and I had to do all your dishes because I didn't have the money to pay you?), swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, seeing Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon.

We laughed our ears off hearing about your mule ride down the trail to Kalaupapa on Molokai, how you saw your life flashing before your eyes. In one crazy 20 hour summer day you drove us six hours each way, just to see Niagra Falls.

And remember when you took us to see the King Tut at the exhibit in Chicago? We waited for two hours to get tickets in a line that wrapped all the way around the Field Museum? I couldn't wait to see Egypt some day. You always loved the big cities, the art and the museums.

So, not only do I thank you for this opportunity to travel, but I truly thank you for inspiring me to see something new, to love the historic, to enjoy the unusual and appreciate the beauty wherever I am.

Merry Christmas! Your niece Lady Bug

What a nice letter, LadyBug.

Heavens, you need to look and look if you really are interested.

I spent 6 to 7 years driving two states over at least one weekend a month just going to different ones, renting, or staying at B&B's etc.

I can't remember where you live, but in my part of the country there is GREAT differences between general landscape and lake areas, although people think most is flat prairie. It's really not.

If I'd had more money and more time, I would do it again, sell my IL house and buy another lake house for living Nov. or Dec. until April. Possibly south Arkansas, KY, MO, TN.

I absolutely love my area of MI. There are 20 lakes within 30 miles surrounding one of "my" towns. And the people are very, very personal and true neighbors.

The nature I have seen and the swimming, fishing, boating. It's all priceless and extremely relaxing.

I hope everyone who looks finds their own fresh water spring fed lake.

Happy 2006!

Hi again

Heavens my lakes are in the northeastern Pennslvania area and they were wonderful in my childhood.

There's a particular peacefulness around a lake (especially if power boats aren't allowed!)

For now I've had to find my peace on the Chesapeake Bay and, although it is wonderful, for me it's not as peaceful.