The Travel/Holiday/Vacation thread.

[THE_FORCE]

Nobody coming to the UK for the Olympics then ? Can't say I blame you.

[LeAnn]

Originally Posted by MaCruz

LeAnn is going to Miami for a few days (work related) in March, but we are planing to take a week off together in August for something unique and well overdue.

I am rather nervous about this as 1. My coworker who is SUPER sweet, but also very asian, with not the greatest grasp of English will be coming with me. 2. We are driving in a van... 3. I do not know who the other 2 people are who are supposed to be going. 4. For some reason, hispanic guys seem to think I am hispanic and I do not speak spanish well. 5. I hate sharing hotel rooms... so if the other people are both girls, that will be fine. My coworker and I will be ok to share a room. However, if one of the other people is a guy, now there will be three people in our room...

But, I have never been to Miami, or a convention for this job so it should be exciting. I am already scheduling all sorts of appointments to make sure my hair and everything looks nice. lol.

As far as August goes, I guess I am nervous about that too, but not nearly as much as Miami because MaC will be with me and he is really good to travel with. I don't really know what we have planned, but it will be the week of our 6 year anniversary, so that alone will be wonderful. It will also be the first real vacation of any length that I have taken from work. I know my boss is nervous about having to pick up the work load from my absence, but I let my students know and they should be ok.

[Hammie]

Probably a trip or two to the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake. Wife likes the spa, kids like the fun activities they have for them, and I just like to relax at the pool.

We may go to San Diego. I am awaiting approval to go to a Cisco convention. So, they may tag along and we will spend a few extra days there. One thing we thought of was to head up to Legoland theme park, which is about 30 minutes North of town.

[agoofykindasuperman]

Doing the same Stay-cation again I did last year... staying downtown Toronto for the Toronto International Film Festival! Was such a good time last year. I live just in the outskirts of Toronto, but having a hotel right in the city makes it so much more convenient for early/late movies not having to worry about transportation!

[THE_FORCE]

Just booked a week at the Fairmont in Frisco for June. I only spent a couple of days there late last year and was enchanted by the place and it's cosmopolitan atmosphere, so this time we should be able to check out the area a bit more.

I want to do the Golden Gate Park, the Nappa Valley, and to see all those quirky/hippyish shops along that street (not sure what it's called - near Pacific Heights I think ? )

I just hope I don't fall in love with the place too much and want to move there !

[Navster]

Originally Posted by THE_FORCE

Just booked a week at the Fairmont in Frisco for June. I only spent a couple of days there late last year and was enchanted by the place and it's cosmopolitan atmosphere, so this time we should be able to check out the area a bit more.

I want to do the Golden Gate Park, the Nappa Valley, and to see all those quirky/hippyish shops along that street (not sure what it's called - near Pacific Heights I think ? )

I just hope I don't fall in love with the place too much and want to move there !

Hope you have a great trip here, theres so much to do and see in the SF Bay Area, you should have a blast, if you have time, I would highly recommend visiting Alcatraz, its amazing and will give you chills, something I will never forget!...

This website should give you some ideas for places to visit, some are pricey, but much cheaper if you just get tickets and your own transportation... San Francisco Tours and Sightseeing Activities

Also check this out, SF Guide

[THE_FORCE]

Cheers for the helpful info Nav, very kind of ye.

I think we'll have to pre-book the Alcatraz trip pretty soon, as I know that it's always full ! You're lucky living in such an amazing place - as I said before, the place had me mesmerised in my brief visit there, and for such a large place it also seemed safe - Everyone was chilled.

San Fran has always captured me since watching a series years ago called 'Tales of the City' (superb). I also plan to go Macondray Lane as that was where Armistead Maupin based his setting of Barbary Lane for the series. Well geeky lol.

[West E]

Either Denver or Seattle this year we're thinking. A lot of times work will just give me a list of "business" trips i can choose from for the given year. The only expense I have all week is buying a plane ticket for my wife. I'm gone from 8am-12pm everyday for meetings but the rest of the day is ours. Love it. Did a week in Hollywood last month for $300 total

[filmnut5]

Originally Posted by agoofykindasuperman

Doing the same Stay-cation again I did last year... staying downtown Toronto for the Toronto International Film Festival! Was such a good time last year. I live just in the outskirts of Toronto, but having a hotel right in the city makes it so much more convenient for early/late movies not having to worry about transportation!

Great idea, staying in the city. I've yet to attend the T.I.F.F., but definitely want to.

We attend the Fan Expo at the Convention Centre beside the ballpark every August but it's become so crowded (80,000 people last year), that it has become less fun to attend. Are there similar problems at the Festival with crowd size?

Enjoy the Festival.

[jbig31]

Originally Posted by NavsterKing

Hope you have a great trip here, theres so much to do and see in the SF Bay Area, you should have a blast, if you have time, I would highly recommend visiting Alcatraz, its amazing and will give you chills, something I will never forget!...

This website should give you some ideas for places to visit, some are pricey, but much cheaper if you just get tickets and your own transportation... San Francisco Tours and Sightseeing Activities

Also check this out, SF Guide

Pier 39 was fun when we were there!

[filmnut5]

Originally Posted by jbig31

Pier 39 was fun when we were there!

We were there in '91 and went on the Alcatraz tour. It was in early Oct. and there were a bunch of seals laying on the pier right beside our launch spot to Alcatraz. It blew me away to see wild seals like this. I couldn't believe how big some of them were and how noisy. It was AWESOME!!! Northern California is the coolest place I've ever vacationed in.

[jbig31]

Originally Posted by filmnut5

We were there in '91 and went on the Alcatraz tour. It was in late Sept. and there were a bunch of seals laying on the pier right beside our launch spot to Alcatraz. It blew me away to see wild seals like this. I couldn't believe how big some of them were and how noisy. It was AWESOME!!! Northern California is the coolest place I've ever vacationed in.

We saw the seals as well! I remember that is was a bright/sunny day and there was an awesome breeze that kept us cool. Apparently too cool, because I got a wicked sunburn because I never felt hot or anything and we were outside all day!

[filmnut5]

Originally Posted by jbig31

We saw the seals as well! I remember that is was a bright/sunny day and there was an awesome breeze that kept us cool. Apparently too cool, because I got a wicked sunburn because I never felt hot or anything and we were outside all day!

Hahahahaha,

I'll try and scan some pics I took with my little disposable camera, from that day.

Remember how small the cells were and what an

[Show spoiler]As*hole the real Birdman of Alcatraz was.

I could go on for an hour about the place, but I'll spare you the

[Show spoiler]

. If anyone hasn't been there and the opportunity presents itself.....GO.

[jbig31]

Originally Posted by filmnut5

Hahahahaha,

I'll try and scan some pics I took with my little disposable camera, from that day.

Remember how small the cells were and what an

[Show spoiler]As*hole the real Birdman of Alcatraz was.

I could go on for an hour about the place, but I'll spare you the

[Show spoiler]

. If anyone hasn't been there and the opportunity presents itself.....GO.

We wanted to go to Alcatraz , but all the tickets were sold out.

We could see the island, but that was it.

[filmnut5]

Originally Posted by jbig31

We wanted to go to Alcatraz , but all the tickets were sold out.

We could see the island, but that was it.

[Show spoiler]

So close. Back when I went, we walked up to the ticket booth & purchased our tix. The boat was full going over but there was no probs getting tix. I guess it's gotten so huge that prepurchase is the only way of guaranteeing a tour. Hopefully you'll have another opportunity as it's really interesting.

[Waboman]

Originally Posted by filmnut5

We were there in '91 and went on the Alcatraz tour. It was in late Sept. and there were a bunch of seals laying on the pier right beside our launch spot to Alcatraz. It blew me away to see wild seals like this. I couldn't believe how big some of them were and how noisy. It was AWESOME!!! Northern California is the coolest place I've ever vacationed in.

Way cool. We were there in the early 90's and took the Alcatraz tour too.

[filmnut5]

Originally Posted by Waboman

Way cool. We were there in the early 90's and took the Alcatraz tour too.

Here are a few pics:

1.

[Show spoiler]IMG_3461.jpg

2.

[Show spoiler]IMG_3460.jpg

3.

[Show spoiler]IMG_3462.jpg

4.

[Show spoiler]IMG_3463.jpg

5.

[Show spoiler]IMG_3464.jpg

Sorry about the quality. I took pics of these pics with my digital camera, then plopped them on here.

[jbig31]

Originally Posted by filmnut5

Here are a few pics:

1.

[Show spoiler]Attachment 43451

2.

[Show spoiler]Attachment 43452

3.

[Show spoiler]Attachment 43453

4.

[Show spoiler]Attachment 43454

5.

[Show spoiler]Attachment 43455

Sorry about the quality. I took pics of these pics with my digital camera, then plopped them on here.

Go back right now and take us some clearer pictures.

[filmnut5]

Originally Posted by jbig31

Go back right now and take us some clearer pictures.

[Show spoiler]

[THE_FORCE]

Originally Posted by filmnut5

Here are a few pics:

Sorry about the quality. I took pics of these pics with my digital camera, then plopped them on here.

Wicked pics ! We must try and get to Alcatraz now.

I'm chuffed to bits that we're staying at the Fairmont Heritage Place, Ghirardelli Square as it's one place I've always wanted to stay.

I thought I'd share a few pics I've taken over the last few years of my favourite places I've stayed at. ( Click on the thumbnails to see the larger versions.)

Taj Exotica, Maldives. This was an amazing holiday - did sweet FA the whole time we were there:



Rarotonga, The Cook Islands & French Polynesia: Beautiful location and people.



A week at the Bellagio, Hoover Dam & NYC :



Still need to sort out me Alaska pics. Laziness prevails !