[Aberlour10]

I will spend mine by houseboating with feast of friends on french rivers and channels near german border.

Robert

[barmar]

All my vacations for the past several years have been NABCs.

[kenberg]

Some of each. Last November or so we spent a week with friends in Florida. A month or so ago we were in the Shenandoah in a cabin, going out for hikes. In another month or so we will go to the beach and laze around, with some kids and grandkids. Then another trip to the Shenandoah. Later this summer we have thought we might travel up the East Coast, visiting a bit, camping a bit. If you mean this Memorial day in particular, we have no plans. We will eat cheese and drink wine. No traffic involved.

I enjoy all of these things, and it's hard to pick a favorite. We went to Paris when I retired. We had planned to go in the summer but there was a new set of twin grandchildren so we put it off until January. Skating on the rink on one of the landings of the Eiffel Tower was a favorite, partly because it was on our Anniversary.

I am generally skeptical of things that are highly organized, but I have seen those things work well also.

Growing up, most all family vacations were fishing vacations on the lakes of Minnesota. I have never gotten into ocean fishing. I don't wish to catch anything that is bigger than I am.

[kenrexford]

"City Breaks" I assume means what I like. Great dinner, piano/jazz bar with a scotch and a cigar. Window shopping. Coffee at a bistro on the sidewalk.

[helene_t]

Mostly I go a few days to Netherlands to visit friends. Otherwise I like voluntary work, or walking in the hills, or bridge holidays, or just doing nothing.

[mikeh]

Our best vacation was, strangely, a bridge tournament. In Verona in 2006: we flew business class to London, on points, and spent 4 days there, including an excellent lunch as the guest of a client, and exploring several museums and galleries... then off to Verona where we basically took over most of a small hotel, in conjunction with several other couples from Canada... and met some BBO members... and explored the town.. having some wonderfully enjoyable meals. We weren't serious about the bridge, unlike other championships I've been at so our mediocre results didn't have their usual dampening effects

We had no plans for the next two weeks... so sat down at a computer and tried to find a hotel along the south coast of France. We found one in St Raphael, so off we went. It was an american style hotel, and we didn't like it.. but as we walked along the seafront we checked out an old, small hotel and people were just leaving the 'grand' room... which we rented.

It was larger than my first apartment, looking out over the sea with large windows that opened, a high ceiling, and a spectacular bathroom. We had more wonderful meals, and long walks... getting lost was a great opportunity to learn just how awful my French is.... and then off to Paris, by train again, for two days, ending with a flight home.

My wife and I talk about holidays as 'laying down memories' and this one was special from start to finish. Great weather, great company, good food, wonderful hospitality from everyone we met.... if Henri and Dominique (Ritong and Farfie) read this... it was a joy meeting you two.

The next one will probably be to Bali for a week or so then to Australia for three... hopefully in February.

[Mbodell]

My favorite vacations are lazy do nothing or do nothing but sit in the sun type of vacation. But I take very few of those. My vacations are split between visiting family and bridge events. I think the bottom line is I don't get enough vacations, because I can imagine a lot of vacations I'd like to do.

[Gerben42]

My favorite vacations are bridge combined with travel. Verona was nice, and so were the junior camps I've been to. This year I'm looking forward to the Pula bridge festival, I've never been to Croatia

I also like round trips, seeing as much as possible on the way. Don't know what a "green" vacation is, but I don't like camping very much.

[Aberlour10]

Gerben42, on May 22 2009, 01:59 AM, said:

Don't know what a "green" vacation is, but I don't like camping very much.

It means generally eco-friendly tourism. Something like spending family holidays helping at the mountain farm for example...

Robert

[sireenb]

I love Bridge vacations, and if they are combined with lazing on the beach that makes them perfect for me. I retired early one and a half years ago and have gone on more than 10 Bridge vacations since then. Even when I was working, I managed to squeeze 2 or 3 in every year.

[Phil]

The economy over the last three years has forced us to cut back a lot as a family on summer trips, although we did go to Maui a few years ago for the holidays. Instead of anything fancy, we'd spend some weekends in San Diego or Catalina Island.

The summer NABC's were sometimes used as a springboard to a vacation. I played in Atlanta and the rest of the Claytons joined me and we hooked up with my East Coast relatives in Charleston, SC.

I think we will do something in August. I'm happy to say we have turned the corner

I am very partial to where I live. People vacation here, so not going anywhere isn't half bad.

[hrothgar]

I prefer to ditch work for 4-5 weeks and go backpacking in some remote part of the world. I don't get to do this as often as I might like, but I find this sort of thing is crucial for recharging yee old batteries.

My next trip is going to be a nine week trek around the circumferance of Shikoku.
http://www.shikokuhenrotrail.com/

I am planning to depart in early September, 2011

[jdonn]

I don't know what I prefer, but I'm about to leave for the Grand Canyon for the first time.

[cherdanno]

jdonn, on May 22 2009, 11:45 AM, said:

I don't know what I prefer, but I'm about to leave for the Grand Canyon for the first time.

Hope you have time to go down, at least half way!

[kenberg]

cherdanno, on May 22 2009, 12:43 PM, said:

jdonn, on May 22 2009, 11:45 AM, said:

I don't know what I prefer, but I'm about to leave for the Grand Canyon for the first time.

Hope you have time to go down, at least half way!

And I hope that you have time to come back up

We went down part of the way and took "plenty' of water. I recommend taking more than plenty.

[y66]

Hard to beat a week at the beach for me. Walking and hiking just about anywhere are high on the list. Have been doing more urban hiking lately and really enjoying it.

[Aberlour10]

Gerben42, on May 22 2009, 01:59 AM, said:

This year I'm looking forward to the Pula bridge festival, I've never been to Croatia

Istria is a wonderful piece of landscape, very friendly people, simple but excellent food in small family restaurants, I have never eaten so much grilled fish before . I hope you will find time outside the bridge tables to look around this coast with their small old harbours.

Robert