Best vacation spots???

My favorite vacation was driving around Ireland on my honeymoon. We stayed away from the touristy places and visited the rural hideaways. It was awesome. I haven't travelled all that much, though.

Sounds like fun.

South America! Especially Peru and Ecuador. Great dollar exchange and fantastic food. Just don't eat anthing raw that doesn't have a skin that can be peeled.

Newt

could i spend my vacation at home?

cape town or durban :wink:

Hey Carbon, not sure of your age, interests or your budget but here's a couple of suggestions.
1. Sweden. Stockholm is just gorgeous. My girlfriend and I were there in January (wrap up warm!) and it's a pace of life quite unlike anything i've ever come across. People ?'Ski' to work! Across lakes! In and out of moored boats! Awesome. Got the train to Kiruna in the north of the country and well inside the Arctic Circle. A true winter wonderland. Everything is frozen solid. Every tree is completely white. Lots of winter sports on the go and they have the Icehotel. Yep, a hotel made of ice. You sleep on Reindeer skins!
2. Poland. Am I mad? Not at all! The nicest people I have EVER met on my travels. Their children are an absolute credit to them and the scenery is so quaint. Such a sad history for an optimistic population. They so desperately want to join the European Union and it's such a shame that the ?'Americanization' of Europe is going to spill over into that country. Yes, even Poland is dotted with Golden Arches. They don't eat there though. Full of Japanese and American tourists. They call it the "American Embassy!" Krakow is particularly special. Big parks, castle, lots of good eating, galleries and museums. One of the few cities in Poland left standing after the Nazis withdrawal. On that subject, Auschwitz is well worth a visit. Seriously though, take some tissues with you. I've seen a Texan wrestler walking around that place in tears. You can't go to Poland without visiting that place. It really has an athmosphere and it keeps the story alive in the hope it never happens again.
3. Normandy, France. If you like excursions with some really tasty historical facts then the north west coast of France is the place to visit. I do believe a bunch of young American lads took a trip through there back in '44 and left a blazing trail of history behind them. You can visit the German gun placements, see the landing sites, visit the Pegasus Bridge (as seen in ?'The Longest Day'). I even sat and chatted with a Spritely and very gentrified French lady who has hosted all the D-day celebratory events. Her Café is a shrine to the English paratroop regiments that were the first guys to land in France on the morning of the invasion. 3 gliders landed across the river from the café and held the bridge until the landing parties arrived! Absolute heroes! Very laid back are the locals of that area. Also get yourself to Bayeux. One of the most beautiful towns I have EVER been in. They also have the Tapestry there where is fascinating.
4. Prague. The COOLEST city in Europe (apart from Edinburgh). Great folk, weather, architecture, food, beer, WOMEN (the finest in the world), just an awesome place.
5. Finally, Edinburgh! Come in August. Words can't begin to describe this place. History, Castle, food, beer (again), whisky, comedy, music, art, museums, galleries, skiing, canal boats, cycling, parks, more food, fireworks, architecture, more beer perhaps, shopping, kilts and bagpipes (unfortunately), more whisky and all virtually 24/7.

Sorry it's all just Europe!
Hope this helps!

thanks, you've given some good ideas

I spent my honeymoon on St. Kitt's at the Golden Lemon resort. Amazing!

My second favorite was a week in San Pedro, Belize.

Aruba and Maui were also nice but I didn't care for Nassau in the Bahama's that much.

You can tell I go for the sun, sand, surf, and seafood set.

That's my kind of vacation.

I just spent three days at the Grand Canyon and recommend to all that it is as people say it is - see it sometime in your life! Went in February and the timing was perfect for good weather and amenities. So few people are there at this time and many lookout views all to yourself. People in the Park Service and in the vendor accommodations were relaxed and had time to talk. One only gets to drive a private vehicle from the Canyon Village lodges out to the west rim from October to February 28, so it was a treat to see all the western viewpoints on our own schedule. I do recommend the ease of using the free shuttlebuses to get to all the major viewing points and hiking trailheads.

That sounds awesome, I'm certainly going to try and get there before this life is over.

cobalt- We went to the Grand Canyon, and it was great. We also went to Zion National Park, which is less well known, and were absolutely mesmerized by it.

http://www.nps.gov/zion/

I don't know if it's ok to post a link to some online photos in a gallery, but here goes (these are mine from the Grand Canyon this week):

http://img213.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=close6012ohmyvert0bh.jpg&cols=4

Australia, of course.

You speak the language - more or less!!

Your dollar is strong against the Oz dollar.

The people are charming, witty, intelligent and tolerant. (well not the politicians, but the rest of us!)

There's heaps to see and do in a country the same size as mainland USA , but with only 20 million people.

Don't mention the war!

I've always wanted to go to Australia! I've also wanted to visit New Zealand.

hehe I see that Scotsman outlining places in Europe. As I am a Belizean thought i might shamelessly drop a few facts about Belizean benefits:
You can get the whole gamut in Belize...Sun, Sand, RAinforest, mountains, swamps, coral reefs...It is one of the best diving spots out there (2nd largest barrier reef in the world{AUS has the largest}) boasts an unprecedented percentage of land protected or reserved. World's only jaguar reserve....needless to say...great eco-tourism...it is only just begining to cater to conventional tourists. it is truly a jewel. definitely come visit.

Don't always want! Just get your act together and head this way!