I need help planning a vacation.

[Longhorn]

I have about 12 days in August between semesters (I teach at community college.) Since I don't yet know whether I'll still be getting chemotherapy every three weeks, we may need to do something that can be put together in a matter of weeks rather than months. I can still go if I'm doing chemo but that week will likely be right after I have chemo so I'll be a little tired; it can't be a very active vacation.

We're both turning 53 this summer and our kids are all grown and living on their own. We've already done an Alaskan cruise (loved it!) and thought about going back but the itineraries are the same as two years ago. Too much money for something we've already done. I found a five day cruise to two ports in Canada but three out of five days are at sea -- I don't think I can get my husband interested in that. A Caribbean cruise or trip to Mexico in August sound just plain HOT -- especially since we live in Central Texas.

If we can come up with a longer vacation during those 12 days, then in June and July, we'll probably do a long weekend in Denver to visit our oldest daughter (who I haven't seen since my diagnosis on March 3) and another long weekend to San Diego to see our son (who may be going to Iraq this summer. He's a Marine.)

So where should we go? I love the idea of a cabin in the mountains or on a lake (or both) that is close enough to some attractions that we won't get bored but secluded enough that we can enjoy the solitude. Or maybe a driving tour of New England or the Napa Valley? I checked into those train trips through the Canadian Rockies but, dang, they're expensive and I don't think we want to just sit for five or six days either. Europe is too expensive right now, especially if we can't make the plane reservations for awhile.

Can y'all help me? :hi:

As a quick update, I begin round four of chemo next week. I'm pretty anemic right now so feeling a little fatigued but still able to teach for three hours every morning. From July 7 to 31, I'll be teaching all day and after that, just afternoons until August 13. I should be getting an MRI of my pelvis a week or so after the next round and maybe another C-T scan of my lungs. If we reach the point when the cancer is gone, I'll probably still have a round or two of chemo. I'm sure hoping it will end with six rounds so I'm done before the fall semester begins! :)

[GOPisEvil]

1. I recommend the Pacific Northwest.

It's pretty much the anti-Texas in the summer. Green, lush, NOT HOT AND HUMID!! Take in Mount Rainier, Olympic National Park, Seattle and Vancouver.

I have been there many, many times, and I still love the mountains and tall trees.

[Longhorn]

2. That's a good idea!

We only got to spend a few hours touring Seattle when we went on the Alaskan cruise in 2006. It would be nice to spend more time and see more of the area. Thanks!

[seemunkee]

4. August is a great time to go there.

You should miss the dizzly weather and it is a great part of the country.
Don't forget Mount St Helens.

[Longhorn]

6. Actually, being from Texas, I never get tired of drizzly weather!

:)

Should we stay in Seattle and do day trips or just drive and stay at different places for a night or two? Thanks!

[GOPisEvil]

7. Go out to Central Washington and see Madrone!

Maybe I'll be visiting then as well. :D

Seriously, it's pretty out in the Eastern Cascades. You should definitely get out and see the sights away from Seattle.

[JanMichael]

10. No! Screw that! Come South!

NC has everything you could possibly want in scenery, plus better BBQ than Texas!

Go to Asheville and stay in a Bed and Breakfast---it's gorgeous, quiet if you want, and plenty of intellectual stimulation uptown if you desire!

Don't listen to GOPisEvil! ;) Come here!

[GOPisEvil]

11. Better BBQ than Texas?

Them's fightin' words.

Plus, this poster lives within smoke sniffin' distance of one of the best BBQ places on earth.

[JanMichael]

13. Yeah. You heard me. You heard me right

One word.

Lexington, NC.

Well...that's it. I win.

[GOPisEvil]

14. That's it, when you come here next summer, we're going to Lockhart.

Not one BBQ place. Three. All damn good.

[Longhorn]

17. You gave up on the Salt Lick already?

:P

[GOPisEvil]

20. Well, I had to go for volume.

Plus, the Lick makes you bring your own booze. ;)

[JanMichael]

19. 20 in Lexington, in a town of 20,000. Whatever. Plus

we are vegetarians.

Just trying to lure tourists in on this thread---but, in our pork eatin' days, not so long ago, we KNOW that Lexington surpasses anything in Texas!!!

[GOPisEvil]

22. Gah!! Vegetarians!

:shakes fist:

Well, we can do that very well here, too.

[JanMichael]

25. Hah!

We have had some extremely good veggie BBQ--I swear, I am not making that up. Steph can make sausage biscuits and gravy that would make you SWEAR a hog died!

[GOPisEvil]

26. You can get "chorizo" and eggs here that is to die for.

Then let us speak of the wonder that is Mr. Natural. http://www.mrnatural-austin.com/

[yellowdogintexas]

34. of course. It's pork. Need I say more.

from the southeast, myself.

Love that vinegary hot spicy sauce

[Longhorn]

16. I've been to Asheville and loved it!

In 1994, I took my kids on a five-week trip across the south to the Smokey Mountains, along the Blue Ridge Parkway to Virginia Beach, then up the East Coast to Boston, over to Niagara Falls, then across to Rapid City, South Dakota, and finally back to Austin. We were in a van pulling a pop-up camper and my kids were 15, 12, 12, and 10. My husband didn't come (work, work, work, when you're self-employed!) It was the trip of a lifetime!

Anyway, how cool does it get at night in August? We were there in June and it was really nice, though we went through quite a thunderstorm one night while camping along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Thanks! :hi:

[JanMichael]

21. Weather varies in the mountains!

sometimes it's cool, other times, you need mosquito repellent and shorts.

Come here: we will arrange a DU meetup with all the cool Southerners!

[YDogg]

30. I love Asheville, too.

[fizzgig]

3. one of my favorite trips is a road trip from san francisco to portland

beautiful scenery and a lot of things to do. i've done this trip a few times already and would love to do it again

[Longhorn]

5. For our 25th anniversary, we did a week long road trip

from San Jose down to Hearst Castle and then back up along the coast all the way to the end of the Avenue of the Giants and back down to San Jose through Napa. It was a great trip, though it would have been nice to keep going north!

That reminds me -- I think there's a train that goes all the way up the Pacific Coast. I wonder if we could do that trip, getting off for a day here and there along the way?

Thanks! :hi:

[fizzgig]

9. i think that would be a fantastic trip

i love the northern pacific coast

[greenbriar]

8. the cruise would be excellent!!! There is MUCH to do even at sea

www.royalcaribbean.com


check it out


we are doing a 4 day bahama cruise June 09

will be our 6th cruise.

AWESOME

[Longhorn]

12. I love cruising!

I've been on three: one to Alaska and two to the Western Caribbean, all on Princess. But I can't find any cruises with the right dates to someplace we haven't been before or someplace cooler than here! I'd probably be fine with another cruise but my husband just isn't that into it (he's been on two.) We don't gamble and he's pretty much a snob about the entertainment. We can both get tired of sitting by the pool and I'm afraid I might not be strong enough for any excursions besides tours. Plus, I'd be afraid that I might have to cancel due to my health situation. :(

But thanks for thinking of me! :hi:

[Extend a Hand]

15. The Blue Ridge mountains are beautiful

around Boone or Blowing Rock, NC.


We went there a couple of years ago the weather was really nice even in July.


Best wishes for your chemo treatments.

[Longhorn]

27. My father was a descendent of Daniel Boone's uncle.

His mother's maiden name was even Boone and that's what he went by. He wasn't my natural father -- he adopted us after he and my mother married -- but I've always felt a special connection to Daniel Boone and have always loved the Smoky Mountains. We used to vacation there when we lived in Indiana.

Thanks for the suggestion and thinking of me! Maybe we could find a place to rent on www.vrbo.com. :hi:

[CBHagman]

18. There's always Western New York and Ontario.

It's been a while since I've lived in Western New York, but I have fond memories of going out to Chautauqua, to Shakespeare in Delaware Park in Buffalo, to ArtPark and of course to Niagara Falls.

The Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, is another destination to consider.

http://www.shawfest.com/web/content.asp?docid=1_0_0

Shakespeare in the Park (in Buffalo, of course!).

http://www.shakespeareindelawarepark.org/

ArtPark:

http://www.artpark.net/

[Longhorn]

23. Oh, that's great to know about the various special events going on!

I should have mentioned that my husband loves jazz and it would be cool to go to a jazz festival (especially if it literally is cool!)

Thanks for the suggestions! I've been to Niagara Falls but my husband hasn't and to me, it's like the Grand Canyon. Words and pictures just do not do the falls justice! We camped nearby on Lake Erie but only spent a day or so in the area. :hug:

[CBHagman]

32. The falls, the mist, the rapids.

Niagara Falls, New York, and Niagara Falls, Ontario, are an interesting pair. The view of the falls from the Canadian side is, if anything, even more breath-taking, but of course you want to see it on the New York side as well. And you can look at the rapids and have a meal at the Red Coach Inn (American side, right near the rapids).

http://www.redcoach.com/

That said, I recall that both the U.S. and Canadian sides of the falls have their bizarre little tourist sites, but that's part of the experience.

Buffalo is nearby, and while the city is perpetually economically depressed and the butt of jokes around the nation, the people are great and there's plenty to do. I looked to see if the jazz program at the Albright-Knox Museum was going to be on when you are traveling, but that ends in early August. Sigh.

Then there's always the Stratford Festival in Canada:

http://www.stratfordfestival.ca/

Also further afield: Chautauqua:

http://www.ciweb.org/

Have fun, whatever you decide to do!

[Xipe Totec]

24. Step 1: Stop planning - that's work talk!

you need three days to decompress.

after that hang out; do nothing.

[Longhorn]

29. I'm a planner -- what can I say?

To me, that's a big part of the fun! But your point is well taken. I'm hoping this will be a trip to celebrate the end of cancer and cancer treatments -- at least, for now.

Thanks! :hi:

[Xipe Totec]

36. My recommendation?

South Texas; Port Isabel, or South Padre Island.

Time simply does not exist in that part of the universe.

Hard to describe; There are only three hours in the day; morning, afternoon, night.

When somebody says they'll stop by in the afternoon, it could be anywhere from noon to 7 PM.

Don't even try to get them to be more precise; you're in Valley time.

[Longhorn]

46. Since I live outside of Austin, I've been to South Padre several times.

It is lovely but not where I'd want to be in August! :)

[pitohui]

58. imho south padre is more of a spring destination so i agree w. longhorn here also EOM

,

[Longhorn]

63. Yes, I agree. It would be fine if I wasn't fatigued and could spend time in the water.

But the heat would really get to me, I'm afraid. Thanks! :hi:

[YDogg]

28. ABQ? Santa Fe? Taos? Angel Fire?

Not too far from you, but perhaps relaxing and a bit coolish during the evenings. Very best wishes for your treatment.

[Longhorn]

31. I mentioned that to my husband and he thought it would be hot.

You're right that it would be a quick trip to get there, which is nice, and I love the Native American culture, plus all of the other artisans that are in the area. I just need to see what the temps are in August. I wouldn't even mind highs in the 90s if it cools off at night. Here, it will be in the hundreds and drop down to 88 at night, and it isn't a "dry heat." :)

Thanks! :hi:

[yellowdogintexas]

35. The elevation keeps it from being as hot as it is here. I spent a week in

southern Colorado (near Antonito), just north of Santa Fe. It was wonderful. We rode the Cumbres-Toltec steam train from Antonito to Chama, NM, then drove up to Durango from Chama and rode the Durango Silverton train as well. There are hot springs in Pagosa Springs, and the Great Sand Dunes National Park is also not far.

Taos and Angel Fire are also lovely. We drove home from Taos, through Angel Fire and on into Dalhart and home from there.

Oh we were there in August and it was wonderful, at night it was cool and delightful and days were warm but not like Texas at all. Northern New Mexico/Southern Colorado is wonderful anytime.

So you should just let me plan your trip LOL

Oh well we also went to Cozumel in August and had a blast. Yes it was hot but we were in the water most of the time. Ocean breeze and all that. We did the Florida Keys in August as well. Rates are cheaper then, and the snorkeling is great. Day trip to the Dry Tortugas, Ernest Hemingway's house full of cats, fresh seafood every day.

[Longhorn]

38. We've done the Cumbres-Toltec train but not the Durango train.

My husband's great-aunt and uncle lived on a ranch in Saguache, Colorado, so we got to spend some time in the area, including the Great Sand Dunes. However, there is much more to see!

You've got some great ideas! Thanks! :hi:

[Longhorn]

33. What about Maine?

Would everything be booked up in late August? Neither one of us has been in New England before except NYC and Connecticut and driving to Niagara Falls from Boston. Would we be able to fly up, rent a car, and just drive and stay wherever we feel like?

Oh, and when do the trees start turning? We saw a tree that had turned in Victoria, Canada, in August 2006. Do they ever start to turn that early in Maine? Our trees don't really turn color down here in Texas.

Thanks! :hi:

[yellowdogintexas]

40. August is high season in Maine and coastal northeast, since it is the only time

it remotely approaches warm

The water is frigid, but it is beautiful.

Boston would be fun, you can base yourself outside of the city, near the end of one of the MTA lines so you get a less expensive hotel and then just scoot around on the MTA everywhere.

I lived up there for two years; it is a great place.

I would do some serious searching around for a place to sleep ..of course you know that you can actually hit all 6 New England states in about 3 hours if you do it right. ... don't we have some counties down here that are larger than New England? (or at least the 5 small states )

so once you find a base of operations, you can take day trips.

Vermont, NH, western MA are all gorgeous.

[Longhorn]

45. I figured that might be a popular time to go to Maine.

We could still go but we would definitely want reservations. I've been to Boston (for a day) but my husband hasn't been there. I'll bet we could fly into Boston, see the city and then rent a car and head to other parts of New England. You're right -- we get so used to the fact that it takes the better part of a day to get out of Texas that we forget that other places are closer together! ;)

[yellowdogintexas]

50. I hope you have good luck with Maine, it is lovely.

and I agree with the poster further down who recommended Wells. that whole area: Wells, Moody, Ogunquit is lovely! There used to be a summer theater there that was part of the 'summer stock' ..plays that are hopefully bound for Broadway would open there, sometimes with name actors.

the beach is lovely, surf is nice. water is COLD

[Tektonik]

37. If I got a chance to go on vacation I'd head to the Pacific NW

or Alaska.

[Longhorn]

39. My husband got home from band practice and I shared the suggestions.

Since we've been to Seattle and Alaska and neither of us has been to New England, we're probably leaning more to the Northeast, pending further investigation.

Thanks! :hi:

[Tektonik]

41. Vermont, Maine or Québec would be cool to visit

[pokerfan]

42. If you're planning on visiting Denver anyway

Why not simply extend it and spend some time at one of the resort areas? Rent a condo or even just a room. Take some walks, ride the ski lifts, maybe do some mountain biking (all downhill if you want), perhaps check out a concert, enjoy the relative cool mountain air.

[Longhorn]

43. Normally, that would be a great idea but we tend to vacation in

Denver and the Colorado mountains frequently, even before our daughter moved there. We were hoping to go someplace different for our longer vacation, especially since we'll likely spend a long weekend there. But if the shorter trips don't work out or we need a last-minute substitution, we could still have a wonderful time there. Thanks! :hi:

[Midlodemocrat]

44. If I were in your shoes, I would take a cruise up one of the larger

rivers in Europe. Some of those cruises look wonderful, but they're not particularly kid friendly, so we're going to have to wait a few years.

Or maybe a cruise around the Greek Islands. Always wanted to do that.

[Longhorn]

47. I checked into European cruises. Did you know airfare to Athens

is more than $1600 per person?!! Even if we went on Easy Cruise, a budget cruise line, the trip would cost about $5000. That's more than we can afford, especially if I don't know that I'll be feeling 100 percent well. I've always wanted to do one of those river cruises, too. We did an afternoon cruise on the Rhine a couple of years ago and it was lovely. But again, a little too expensive for us while the dollar is doing so poorly and flight costs are up.

Maybe when your kids are older, we'll see you on a river cruise! :hi:

[Midlodemocrat]

48. Oh, believe me. I am definitely going to do one of those.

Especially the one that goes through the canals in France.

Glad you're doing okay with the chemo!

:hi:

[pitohui]

56. very risky to buy a cruise when your plans can change

i agree w. longhorn, the european cruise isn't right for her right now, this is mucho pricey and if she has to bow out, there could be a problem getting refunds

i like the maine idea and i believe that this is a year when it might be possible to have a driving trip there (I assume hubby will be doing the driving, to preserve her energy) and find little B&Bs etc without so much advance notice as you usually need in a stronger economy

[Longhorn]

59. I was just checking into Maine. There are certainly a lot of wonderful inns

and hotels where I could see whiling away the hours and not feeling like I'm missing anything. I think you may be right that this summer may not be as crowded as usual, unless New Yorkers and Bostonians decide to stay closer to home. :)

I know you can get cruise insurance that covers pre-existing conditions if you buy it at the right time but I couldn't even find a cruise that fit the bill or time period so no need to risk it. I'm hoping we can get a decent price on plane reservations even if we don't buy the tickets until July. I should have some idea then of what's going on with my treatment.

Thanks! :hi:

[MissMillie]

49. I'd say Cape Cod

but if you don't book early, you'll have trouble getting a hotel.

So instead.... try Maine. Wells is very nice.

[Longhorn]

54. Cape Cod is a good idea!

We could take a day trip or two up to Boston and there's so much to do in the area. I've been there once and remember how the water froze our feet (that's all we dipped) in June. :)

Thanks!

[yellowdogintexas]

51. and on a totally different track. Try this, Longhorn.

Drive up to Hot Springs, AR and enjoy it for a day or so, then on into Memphis, where you can see Graceland, etc and up to Nashville. (this is a 12 hour straight through drive from Fort Worth if you don't stop to play; )..From Nashville, it is about 1 1/2 hours to Mammoth Cave National Park, where you can spend a couple of days doing the Longest Cave in the World and other interesting things (nice summer theater there too). Do the Nashville things: Country Music Hall of Fame, Andrew Jackson's home, Grand Ole Opry, treat yourself to a night at the Gaylord (fka the Opryland Hotel) then head over to Knoxville and the Smoky Mountains and up into Ashville, see the Vanderbilt mansion, enjoy the mountains and their beauty. Loop back to Texas via Chattanooga and come home through Alabama and Mississippi and Louisiana.

Another possible side trip would be to loop up to Lexington KY from the caves and then down to Knoxville. The Kentucky HOrse Park is a beauty, and there may be racing at some of the smaller tracks.

This would be a really nice 2 week trip and you wouldn't have to worry about reservations unless you went to the coast of NC

From FW it is 5 hours to Hot Springs; about 4 to Memphis from there, and 3 to Nashville from Memphis. This is an itinerary that would allow you to do short hops and pace yourselves.

It will be warmer than New England or Pacific Northwest, but not as hot as Texas..it gets cooler at night up there and once you get into the mountains it will be lovely.
Now I will warn you about Hot Springs, you may not want to leave there. If you do go to HOt Springs, do indulge in the Bath House whether at the Park's public bath house or one of the 3 hotels that have their own bath house. Two of these are restored "grand hotel" style places and quite lovely Victorian buildings. I would recommend reservations to stay at one of these.

Yes I would love being a travel agent. But this area is MY HOME STOMPING GROUNDS so I have a great love for it and know it well. LOL my car can almost take itself to Nashville w/o me telling it what to do we have done it so often.

Well, my oatmeal is finished and I have to leave now but I do hope you get to take your trip and that you report back to us on the outcome

[Longhorn]

55. You really are a repressed travel agent, aren't you?

;)

I've actually been to most of the places you mentioned. My parents bought a lot in Cherokee Village near Hot Springs when we lived in Indianapolis. They never built on it but we used to vacation there because they got a discount or something. I remember it was very beautiful. After we moved to Texas, I brought our 7-month-old daughter on a trip to visit Indiana in the fall and we stopped at Andrew Jackson's home. Later, my kids and I camped in Asheville and drove the Blue Ridge Parkway. It all really sounds wonderful and it's a trip I need to do with my husband sometime when I'm sure I can be more active.

Thanks again, Neighbor! :hi:

[yellowdogintexas]

64. I confess, I am.

:toast: :hi:

LOL I was out tonight with the Ladies of the Good Neighbors Sunday School Class..we went to see 'Sex and the City'

it was fun

[1gobluedem]

52. I concur

The Pacific Northwest in the summer is heaven. We did nine days there last summer; took in the San Juan Islands, the Olympic Peninsula, then took the train from Seattle to Portland and spent three days there. It had been a hot, humid summer in Michigan but it was so beautiful and cool in the Pacific Northwest, I actually had to put a sweatshirt on at night!

It was wonderful. I highly recommend it.

[Longhorn]

57. I've heard the train to Vancouver is a great trip, also.

Thanks for the ideas! I think it's going to be Northwest or Northeast. :)

[RebelOne]

53. If you'd like a cabin in the woods, I recommend

renting one in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Lots of attractions and great shopping in Pigeon Forge. It's a bit touristy, but still worth it.

[Longhorn]

61. I've been there and it sure is gorgeous!

We didn't see any of the attractions and we're not big on touristy kind of stuff the area sure is nice. That's a vacation that we could actually drive to and still have time to stay. Thanks! :hi:

[latebloomer]

60. Hard to say how you'll be feeling after more chemo.

I would definitely go for parking myself in some beautiful place- if there are interesting things to do in the area, that's optional. Would definitely not plan a trip that involved a long itinerary.

Last summer, between rounds of chemo, we stayed in a suite right on the ocean on the Jersey shore, several hours from home. Our friends were next door, and they were very understanding that I needed to take naps, go to bed earlier, etc. My energy level was not grand, so I slept and read a lot, went out to dinner every night, hung by the pool, walked on the beach, rented videos, did a little shopping in Cape May.

I like to be a vegetable on vacation even under the best of circumstances, but when recovering from treatment it's important to rest, rejuvenate and not feel bad that you're not being very active.

[Longhorn]

62. You definitely understand what my needs are!

For my husband's sake, I wish we had some friends next door so that he won't get stuck waiting for me to feel up to doing something. :(

If I'm done with chemo, I'll be three weeks out and probably feeling better. If I'm not, we'd be going the very next week and then I know I would need to "park" for at least the first few days. And as you said, I'm just basing this on my past experience and that could change.

Thanks for sharing your experience and understanding! :hug: