What are your top three vacation experiences? - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

92bDad · 03-25-2009, 11:49 AM

I just got back from a pretty good vacation, spending 8 days in Paris France with my family.

We got to do some pretty cool things.

So it got me to wondering...what are some vacation experiences that others on this board have had.

What are your top 3 Vacation Experiences?

1) Spending quality time with my wife in Paris and in Italy on the beachside.
2) On a cruise, renting a jeep to drive around Cozumel.
3) Spending time with my sons, developing a good father - son bond!!!

I'm sure as I think through these, I'll come up with a few more and perhaps even more detail...but again...what are you moments that you enjoyed?

Ummmmm Ok · 03-25-2009, 11:57 AM

1) Spent (9) days in NYC back in 2001 and proposed to my wife.
2) went to Atlantis in the bahamas over Valentines day, was FREE.
3) went to the Riveria Maya last june, first time leaving the country. 5 Days wasn't long enough.

u2sarajevo · 03-25-2009, 01:19 PM

1) Texas - anywhere in Texas I've been has been an awesome experience.
2) Ireland - I have never been, but plan to go and I know when I do it will be slightly below anywhere in Texas. You may call this a cop-out and if you do you can move Oregon up and replace my current #3 with Jamaica.
3) Oregon - My home away from home. I love this state, specifically the coast and the wine regions. And Hood County. And Tillamook. And Crater Lake. It's all good.

Really though I've never had a bad vacation. Unless you include one time driving back from Oregon we stopped in San Francisco. That city was beautiful but the people suck. Big time. Trying to check into the hotel, getting my son out of his seat and I am getting verbally assaulted by protesters telling me how I'm a bad parent for staying at Hyatt for whatever reason they were against Hyatt at the time for. I understand this is a common occurrence there but the Hotel changes to whichever the protesters don't like at the time. So I'll never go back (on vacation anyway). I generally try to avoid the entire state of California now.

I'll be on vacation this weekend actually.... Camping with the family. I can't wait. And that trip can be listed under #1 since we will be in state. Thank God.

92bDad · 03-25-2009, 04:31 PM

Now that's pretty cool...I love Texas as well!!! But it's tough to call home a vacation, after all, Texas is where I go when I'm tired of being on vacation...as far as I'm concerned, I've died and gone to heaven...at least when I'm in Texas!!!

I saw a point about Wine country...this trip to Paris, France was also a shot at a wine class. I learned enough to be dangerous and I now understand some of the reasons I enjoy certain French Wines.

No, I'm not saying they are better, just that there are certain ones that I enjoy. It has to do with the regions and what goes into the wine. There is a depth and character to these wines that is unmatched.

While we do have some good wines here in the USA, I find USA Wines to be more of a mass marketed, big business type of wine. I've learned that there are 1200 wineries in the USA and that combined with a few other places provide 17% of the Global wine consumption...meanwhile, France produced 25% of the Global wine consumption with over 150,000 wineries.

With each region of France having some very unique tastes, qualities and characters that have their own governing bodies to ensure the integrity of that region. I also learned why a $4 bottle of wine in France is so much more different than a $4 bottle of wine from the states.

The funny part, is up until about a couple of years ago, I hated wine...now, I have grown to love French Wine...hopefully in due time, we will have some great small local wineries in the USA that develop their own Regional Character and move us away from mass commercialism.

I believe I can put the Wine experience of the France trip on my top 10 list of Vacation experiences...hopefully in the near future, I can experience various wines from the USA so that I can go back to France equipped to challenge the French and their wine!!!

u2sarajevo · 03-25-2009, 04:43 PM

You won't get an argument from me about your position on French wines. I believe that on the whole French wines > US wines.

The mass commercialism in the US was largely sprouted by the evil Robert Mondavi and his quest for a consistent result. He misses the point that France gets, that the yearly environmental differences and their effects on a harvest sets the uniqueness to the year, and not just the region, that a wine comes from. They still live by the adage that some years are better than others instead of every year is the same.

But you are wrong that all US wineries have been Mondavatized. There are alot. But I wouldn't paint it with that broad of a brush.

chumdawg · 03-25-2009, 09:23 PM

U2, I would have considered that experience at the San Francisco Hyatt as a plus, as it was--if nothing else--fodder for conversation once you got back home. I mean, you just don't get that in Dallas.

Apart from that, I'm disappointed that you let that one experience color your views about the entire town. San Francisco is a hell of a city. One of our nation's gems.

That said, I will agree with you about Texas. You could vacation here all your life.

u2sarajevo · 03-25-2009, 09:30 PM

Well when I think about the incident I get ticked, but the town was really awesome. I loved Chinatown, Lombard, the seafood. And as I said before it was genuinely a gorgeous town. I was bummed when we went over the Golden Gate that it was cloudy so when I took the picture of my kids all you could see were clouds behind them (it's kind of a joke, when the kids show the picture to their friends they say here's us with the Golden Gate bridge... but of course you can't see it).

You are right though, it was a unique experience I should probably treasure for it's uniqueness and not deride for the uncomfortableness I had to endure.

When you think about it, compared to the suffering of say... Jesus.... that was minuscule.

chumdawg · 03-25-2009, 09:42 PM

Yeah, you're right...Jesus actually suffered. You, on other hand, just broadened your worldview. Kinda puts things in perspective!

Murphy3 · 03-26-2009, 12:35 AM

2 places I have no interest in visiting again...

france
NYCity

LonghornDub · 03-26-2009, 01:37 AM

1) LA/Studio City/Pasadena, on and around January 4th, 2006
2) Oregon. I grew up there, but I went back last April for a "grown up" vacation and it was amazing
3) Destin, Florida for spring break during undergrad

I've never been overseas, so my vacation history is admittedly limited. But still, even international sites would be hard-pressed to beat the experiences I had in the above locales.

GermanDunk · 03-26-2009, 04:41 AM

1) Venice
2) Fiorentina, where a friend of mine snorted fine milled tobacco and nearly fell out of the window, when he had to sneeze
3) Slovenia/Poland/Prague

92bDad · 03-26-2009, 10:20 AM

Murph,

Sorry to hear that you have no interest in France or NYC...so tell us, where are the places you've been that you truly enjoyed?

This reminds me of another trip I took to Angel Fire, New Mexico...great scenery and truly a fun time hiking!!!

I've also enjoyed the Snow in the Swiss Alps...my first ever Ski trip!!! This was the year that the Cowboys lost to the 49ers between the Cowboys Superbowl runs...The only game that I didn't see live, thanks to the vacation...I was glad I was out of town or I would have broke a few things around the house.

Flacolaco · 03-26-2009, 11:48 AM

1. My honeymoon. Cruise to the southern Caribbean...and various other swings through that part of the world as well. Climbing the Dunns River Falls in Jamaica...swimming with hundreds of string rays in Grand Cayman. Visiting ruins in the Yucatan. Snorkeling various sunken ships in Aruba and other places. Jet skiing and boating through the USVI's and BVI's...Just generally loving the laid back good times to be had in the Caribbean.

2. Las Vegas. Went with a guy whose father gambles tens of thousands. Lavish suites...the most expensive steak houses, limo rides everywhere we went...the works. Crazy 4 days. But any swing through Vegas is a good time, even if I'm slumming it downtown at Binions.

3(a). Spent a week in NYC in July of 2001. The timing created a very special memory, you can imagine, having visited the WTC exactly 60 days before... But the culture in the city is amazing. Walking around Queens and Brooklyn and places like that...seeing the way the people are and just the different way things are there...it was pretty cool. Wouldn't want to live there, as they say.

3(b). Any random camping trip in my adolescence to one of many lakes in northern Arizona. Hunting and fishing with my Dad and Grandpa...good times.

GermanDunk · 03-26-2009, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

Climbing the Dunns River Falls in Jamaica...swimming with hundreds of string rays in Grand Cayman.

Stringray

With your wife´s permission ?

thurst0509 · 03-26-2009, 01:37 PM

1) Germany, July 2008. Wife and I took European Delivery on my new BMW 135i at the BMW Welt in Munich, then got to drive the car for 2 weeks on vacation. We visited Munich, Berchtesgaden, Salzburg, Hohenschwangau/Neuschwanstein, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Wurzburg, Berlin, and Frankfurt. Drove the full length of the Deutsche Alpenstrasse (German alpine road) across the southern mountain region of Bavaria between Berchtesgaden and Fussen, and also the full length of the Romantic Road between Fussen and Wurzburg. Hit 160mph in the 135i on one stretch of Autobahn en route to Berlin. Such a fantastic trip I can't even put it into words - definitely the trip of a lifetime and one that I hope I can repeat again someday. Germany, especially the southern mountain region of Bavaria, is truly my favorite place in the world.

2) Backpacking Europe in 2004 immediately after college graduation. Roommate and I flew to London and stayed in Europe 3 weeks with an unlimited ride Eurail pass. Visited England, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Italy, and Monaco. Definitely nothing but fond memories from that trip. It was hectic and tiring with a ton of walking but we got to see so much and met a lot of cool people along the way.

3) Mediterranean cruise with my parents in 2001. Embarked in Istanbul, ended in Barcelona and visited Ephesus, Athens, Rome, Naples, Nice, and probably a couple other stops I'm forgetting. Awesome trip and being on a cruise was a very relaxing and luxurious way to do it.

4) Honeymoon Caribbean cruise in 2004. Started/ended in Galveston, Texas and visited Key West, Cozumel, and Grand Cayman. Got drunk on frozen drinks at the Flying Monkey Saloon in Key West. Toured the Mayan ruins of Tulum and snorkeled near Cozumel. Swam with the stingrays at Grand Cayman, which I loved but my wife flipped out over.

Sorry for listing 4. I couldn't leave out the honeymoon but I also couldn't put it in my top 3

MX425 · 03-26-2009, 01:53 PM

1. Europe - England, France, Italy. It was my junior year of high school and my first real eye opening experience that the world is much bigger and different then I had ever imagined.
2. NYC - Senior year in HS 2001. Had plane tickets to fly out on 9/13. Obviously that didn't happen but I got to go in early November 2001 and visit ground zero and just meet with a lot of people who were delaing with the tragedy first hand. Even got to present the family of a Police Officer who had died with a check for money we had raised to help her take care fo her kids. It was a sobering and humbling experience to witness the site that changed our world first hand.
3. Have to go with Texas. I have gotten to do so many great vacations in Texas, from floating the river to hanging out in Austinto laying on the beach in Galveston, to partying in South Padre for undergrad spring break or touring the hill country in Texas visiting some great wineries.

Along the lines of the wines you all were talking about. I was not much of a wine fan myself, but thanks to my GF I have learned to love wine. I have been to many wineries throughout Texas and I would recommended trying some of the wonderful Texas wines. Talking to some of the people who work the wineries, the hill country of Texas they are finding is very similar to the terrian and weather of southern France.

dalmations202 · 03-26-2009, 02:16 PM

1) Bangkok, Thailand
2) Philippines
3) Amsterdam

OH...... you said vacation... not escape to a single man's paradise......

Just joking........

Best vacations are in Texas when I can get away from people and hunt/fish/camp spend time with the family.

Only place I plan on going that I haven't already been is Alaska for a vacation (in about 10 years).

Mavdog · 03-26-2009, 03:19 PM

best vacations, not in specific order.

Europe, summer 2000. went to holland, denmark and sweden, watched my daughter's soccer team win the gothia cup in gothenburg.

Italy, April 1998, spent 2 weeks in Tuscany most of the time in Florence. stayed about 30 miles outside of florence (montecatina) and got a lot of local flavor. Great food, great art, and the wine!

San Francisco, december 2004. one of the great cities in america (sorry u2, you should give it another try). italian food galore, seafood out the wazoo, and the city life was fun to observe. jaunts to monterey and napa that were a lot of fun.

always fun to visit san antonio, boston and (sometimes) nyc to see the theater.

92bDad · 03-26-2009, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mavdog

best vacations, not in specific order.

Europe, summer 2000. went to holland, denmark and sweden, watched my daughter's soccer team win the gothia cup in gothenburg.

Italy, April 1998, spent 2 weeks in Tuscany most of the time in Florence. stayed about 30 miles outside of florence (montecatina) and got a lot of local flavor. Great food, great art, and the wine!

San Francisco, december 2004. one of the great cities in america (sorry u2, you should give it another try). italian food galore, seafood out the wazoo, and the city life was fun to observe. jaunts to monterey and napa that were a lot of fun.

always fun to visit san antonio, boston and (sometimes) nyc to see the theater.

Those are awesome!!! Despite our message board differences, I am willing to bet you and I would have a blast touring the world.

I can share that walking the grounds of Versailles is an amazing experience...I can't help but to imagine what it was like when Ben Franklin was there asking for France to come to the aid of America...I see Versailles as a place that played a large role in the ultimate liberation of America and to me it is one of the most Majestic places I have been to, and had the privelage of taking my sons to visit.

No it's not listed on yours, but I could picture you visiting and taking in the history of the area.

The Gothia cup sounds like it was a blast...we almost went with my sons team a few years back, but we didn't like the guides initial conversation and criticism of how Americans raise their kids...Parents were asking questions concerning our then 12 year olds, and he basically told us the trip is better when the parents don't go...it's perfectly safe...needless to say, it may be perfectly safe, but his attitude turned the parents off and we elected to not participate.

Hopefully, we can get back to Europe with our sons and do a soccer tour in an effort to visit the Europe soccer scene!!!

I still laugh, knowing how much I love France and for that matter Europe, yet my political leanings are vastly opposite nearly all of the European tendancies...needless to say, it is possible for opposites to exist in the same area...even a conservative leaning person can appreciate and enjoy the culture of another country...hopefully I will have an opportunity to live in France some day for 2-5 years and truly have the experience of being a local!!!

I like to tell people, I'm a French-Texan...I'm full of Pride and full of SH!T...you decide which region either comes from :-)

Thanks for sharing...your alright in my book.

Smiles · 03-26-2009, 05:11 PM

I love Texas, but I don’t count those trips as vacations – that’s just good living, if I may say so!

1) Honeymoon in Oregon (wine country, wine tasting, wine “education”, amazing hiking & camping, sandy & rocky beaches, cool & moist air, golf).
2) Vancouver Island (remote islands, kayaking, hiking, climbing, rain forests, tide pools, wildlife, remote lakes & mountain tops, cozy cabin, getting pregnant)
3) Redstone/Aspen/Snowmass, CO – in the summer (outdoor concerts, hiking, golfing, cycling…)

I agree that small wineries are worth the effort to visit and buy from – even some Texas wineries (not to mention a few in Oregon).

Three months in the Austrian Alps were probably the most life changing (17 yrs old and first trip w/o parents), but I count that as “living there” instead of as a vacation.

San Francisco was fun, though it didn’t make the top of my list.