Where to travel before you die...

[bewitched]

As many of you may know, I have been getting divorced for almost 2 years now. Hopefully, things will be finalized by October and I can move along. Olivia (dd) has handled all of this with maturity beyond her years, and during the journey we have grown even closer (if that was possible). But I digress...

I am saving money and had thought to take O to either WDW or on a Disney cruise this winter. We love Disney, and have visited many times. But now I am considering going further, waiting a few more months and taking a fabulous trip, somewhere that we have never been before; someplace that could mark a new beginning.

So...if you could go anywhere, do anything, on a fairly generous (but not unlimited) budget (with a 9yo), where would you go? What would you do? What wouldn't you miss?

What trip, IYO, would Olivia and I return from thinking, "WOW!"?

[Moonliner]

New Jersey.

That way dieing won't feel so bad.

[Moonliner]

So...if you could go anywhere, do anything, on a fairly generous (but not unlimited) budget (with a 9yo), where would you go? What would you do? What wouldn't you miss?

What trip, IYO, would Olivia and I return from thinking, "WOW!"?

On a more serious note....

My teen still thinks the Alaska Trip we took to Denali when she was 9 was the best trip ever. The sled dog kennels alone were worth the trip. If you can add a cruise so much the better but Denali park is freaking awesome if you like nature.

[Kevy Baby]

Machu Pichu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machu_Picchu). At lest that is one place I would really like to go,

[alphabassettgrrl]

London. San Francisco. New York.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Europe! Italy was amazing.

Or Australia!

[€uroMeinke]

Paris!

But at age 9, I did the great american road trip - always a classic adventure, you could even do Disney Park to Disney Park followed up with a cruise if you want to keep a Disney theme.

[Andrew]

New York, London, Paris, Munich?


I concur with the Alaska suggestion especially if you can swing a cruise.

[Not Afraid]

When I was 9, I was doing a LOT of car travel around the US. But the time I was 15, I had been to all but 7 states. It was fantastic to see the wonders of our wonderful country and how different every mini culture is. BUT, it can be awfully boring in between stops. I also really enjoyed Hawaii at 9 and experiencing how different each of the 4 islands we visited were.

My first trip outside the US (other than Canada and Mexico) was to Peru. I wouldn't recommend that to a 9 year old

Favorite places as an adult - Florence, Paris, Tokyo, Berlin, London, Switzerland.....I love to travel so I can't really say I have been disappointed in many places I've been.

Bucket list - Turkey, Iceland, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Prague, Morocco, and the list goes on. I better not kick the bucket any time soon.

[JWBear]

I haven't been to France or Italy. Two places I'd really like to go to.

[Alex]

Lots of places I'd recommend if it weren't for the 9 year old.

With a 9 year old I have no idea. Too big a variable.

Have you asked her where she'd most like to go?

[bewitched]

Lots of places I'd recommend if it weren't for the 9 year old.

With a 9 year old I have no idea. Too big a variable.

Have you asked her where she'd most like to go?

Yep. I either get, "I don't know" or, at a suggestion, "that sounds cool." She thinks a trip around the US in an RV sounds great. Me (since I have to drive), not so much.

She's fairly mature for her age and really loves science, animals and museums.

I should say that part of this is kind of a trip that is ours and ours alone; someplace neither of us has ever been. This doesn't mean I never want to go back to those places, I just want it to be new for both of us. Immediately, this nixes Australia, Fiji, Hawaii, Mexico, Jamaica, Canada and several states.

A few places I've thought about: Ireland, Galapagos, Greece, France, Spain. If it were safer, I'd love to go to Egypt.

Moonie and Andrew, when is the best time to go to Alaska?

[Alex]

For Alaska I favor mid-August as the tourist rush is dying down but things are still in season. But if there is something specific you wish to do that might shift things.

If you want to go full tourist at Denali (which is a marvelous place) do be sure to plan well ahead. Denali National Park is extremely access limited (only one road in and it only goes in a dozen miles of public access).

[Morrigoon]

Paris!


What he said. And you can even add the Disney angle by going to DLP (I recommend putting that closer to the end of your trip, when she starts needing something familiar).

[Scrooge McSam]

Paris

What he said. And you can even add the Disney angle by going to DLP (I recommend putting that closer to the end of your trip, when she starts needing something familiar).

Concur!

Disney, museums out the ying yang, delicious art, the opportunity to dabble in a foreign language without absolutely losing the ability to communicate

PLUS... For a little alone time, just the 2 of you, how about you own Storybook Land Canal Boat (http://www.barginginfrance.com/) cruise?

[Morrigoon]

Not to mention the appeal of cafes and crepe stands!

[Moonliner]

Moonie and Andrew, when is the best time to go to Alaska?

For Alaska I favor mid-August as the tourist rush is dying down but things are still in season. But if there is something specific you wish to do that might shift things.

If you want to go full tourist at Denali (which is a marvelous place) do be sure to plan well ahead. Denali National Park is extremely access limited (only one road in and it only goes in a dozen miles of public access).

I agree with Alex, mid to late August is best. I never got around to finishing it, but you can read my Alaska trip report such as it is here (http://www.moonliner.org/travelog.htm). It at least covers Denali.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Oooh, Greece, France or Spain! Fun! I think the Galapagos might be a little dull for a kid; not much there but the islands and the animals.

Greece: lots of history.
France: so much to see! So much food. History. Museums.
Spain: History again. Food! Music! Maybe avoid that bullfighting thing but there's so much to see...

[Strangler Lewis]

Because of my wife's work, we lived in Switzerland last summer with our then 7 and 5 year-olds. Two side trips to Paris. Lots of walks, lots of trains. Lots of cafes. A decent amount of museums. Daily French lessons. We did practically everything in French or German.

I don't know if a European trip is what the doctor ordered for you, but if you do it, I think you'll both have a lot of fun.

[Kevy Baby]

I suggest going to the hospital before you die: they may be able to prevent your death (depending on what is wrong).

[Moonliner]

Machu Pichu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machu_Picchu). At lest that is one place I would really like to go,

Classic Kevy. Any excuse to get high.

[Kevy Baby]

Classic Kevy. Any excuse to get high.Dave's not here.

[bewitched]

Anyone ever been on a safari?

[Moonliner]

Yes! It was great experience. We saw Rino, some Lions, a giraffe or two out for a stroll, and then the driver got an emergency call. Poachers! A spotter plane guided us in and we found their camp. They must have just left. We were able to rescue a baby elephant!

[~MS~]

Why not combine your love of Disney and a cool trip...either HK or TDS? Japan would be an awesome trip, you could do tourist stuff and visit the park as part of the trip?

[RStar]

Dave's not here.

No, no! It's Dave, man! I got the stuff....let me in!

;)

I'd say the best things to see would be the main cities. London, Paris, New York, San Fransisco, and then also Hawaii. Egypt and Greece would be cool also. Start a list, and put them in order of preference, price, and what a 9 yr old would like.....

And have fun!!!

[bewitched]

I dunno, the friends fly and play free at SWA is looking pretty good...and cheap. 5 nights w/air and park hoppers (for both of us) for $1100 at PC, $1400 at POFQ and $2700 at BC.

That's pretty tempting.

Every time I decide to go somewhere else, Disney (or in this case, SWA) comes up with a virtually irresistible deal.

[Moonliner]

I dunno, the friends fly and play free at SWA is looking pretty good...and cheap. 5 nights w/air and park hoppers (for both of us) for $1100 at PC, $1400 at POFQ and $2700 at BC.

That's pretty tempting.

Every time I decide to go somewhere else, Disney (or in this case, SWA) comes up with a virtually irresistible deal.

Tempting perhaps, but does it meet your origional criteria?


But now I am considering going further, waiting a few more months and taking a fabulous trip, somewhere that we have never been before; someplace that could mark a new beginning.

[katiesue]

Where is your daughter interested in going? Madz and I had a great trip to Nashville just because at the time she wanted to be a "Famous Country Singer" so we went to check it out.

We also had a great trip up the California coast the year she did California history in school.

[Stan4dSteph]

There are some really great airfare deals to New Zealand right now if you are flexible with travel dates.

[Betty]

My parents took a cruise to Alaska and loved it. They also recently went through the panama canal and had fun.

Me though?

I have many fond memories of camping with my family growing up. Spelunking stands out as does the major places such as the grand canyon. I also love the CA coast.

I'm not very well traveled - but we really enjoy camping and off roading adventures.

[sleepyjeff]

She's fairly mature for her age and really loves science, animals and museums.

I should say that part of this is kind of a trip that is ours and ours alone; someplace neither of us has ever been. This doesn't mean I never want to go back to those places, I just want it to be new for both of us. Immediately, this nixes Australia, Fiji, Hawaii, Mexico, Jamaica, Canada and several states.

A few places I've thought about: Ireland, Galapagos, Greece, France, Spain. If it were safer, I'd love to go to Egypt.



Why not just go everywhere?

http://www.360degreeslongitude.com/FAQ%20x52%20Weeks.html

[BarTopDancer]

What kind of budget are you looking at?

What about one of the trans Atlantic Disney cruises? Or a Mediterranean cruise that leaves from Europe?

[bewitched]

Why not just go everywhere?

http://www.360degreeslongitude.com/FAQ%20x52%20Weeks.html

Actually, other than length of time and logistics (and the need for an occasional decent hotel)...that looks really cool.

What kind of budget are you looking at?

What about one of the trans Atlantic Disney cruises? Or a Mediterranean cruise that leaves from Europe?

I'm not really sure yet. I guess better questions, for me anyway, would be how long am I willing to wait to go to any particular place and how much (and again, for how long) am I willing to carve out of my budget to get there. Since this is still very early stage, I haven't really gotten to that point yet.

7 to 10 days is probably the maximum amount of time we could be gone at this point for several reasons, not the least of which is the cost of boarding 4 dogs.

Here are the places we're talking about at this early stage:

Olivia:
Ireland
France
Disney Cruise

Me:
France
Alaska Cruise
Safari
Greece

Olivia would also really like to go to Hawaii which, doesn't really fit my original requirements since I've been there numerous times. However, I might consider a different type of Hawaiian adventure, on one of the islands that I've never been to.

We also discussed (based on a book we paged through at the book store) the possibility of a volunteer trip somewhere or even a trip digging up dinosaurs or archeological finds.

And Moonliner, you are correct, I need to keep my eye on the prize.

[alphabassettgrrl]

OOOoohhhh, an archeology trip! That would be fascinating!

[Moonliner]

As I continue to research my own grand adventure to a land down under, I was wondering how your planning goes. Have you picked a location yet?

[Chernabog]

I will see Toyko DisneySea. Oh yes, I will.