Western Hemisphere Vacations
- Thread starter Angie
- Start date
I'd do Destin/Fort Walton Beach before Panama City.
Also, have you considered Charleston, SC? Great restaurants, tons of history, but a laid-back feel. Good beaches although not as tropical if that's what you are looking for.
Also, have you considered Charleston, SC? Great restaurants, tons of history, but a laid-back feel. Good beaches although not as tropical if that's what you are looking for.
I know this doesn't align with most of your options, but since you have Vancouver as a summer but not tropical option - I suggest Montreal, Quebec and maybe also Quebec City. I haven't been but it seems from pictures etc that it would be like sneaking into old Europe without as long of a flight, possibly cheaper. Here is a google maps streetview chosen at random in the old part of the City:
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.504...4!1sNfajvTXhC3g1exDnkgacLQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Also a vote for summer in Iceland. I've wanted to go to Iceland for a long time - wish I would have before it was cool!
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.504...4!1sNfajvTXhC3g1exDnkgacLQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Also a vote for summer in Iceland. I've wanted to go to Iceland for a long time - wish I would have before it was cool!
I've also heard good reports of Charleston. In addition I've heard Savannah GA is beautiful - walkable and historic for you but still avoiding complicated driving through traffic and tourism for husband?
I guess I just have no desire to visit Caribbean/Mexico resorts so may be a bad contributor the thread.
Have a great trip.
I went with Curacao as it's one of the ABC Islands with Aruba and Bonaire and I've been to Aruba a couple of times. I absolutely love it down there. First time I went was in 1996, it was great back then because it had more of a Dutch Caribbean feel to it all around. It wasn't loaded with American fast food joints and other staples you'd find in the US. Most of the tourists there at that time were from Europe, so it really felt like getting away.
It slowly lost some of that appeal over the years, getting more of an American influence. Still a beautiful Island though. I never did get to Curacao, even though we talked about it, but from what I understand, it's very much the same type of island with heavy dutch influence, although Curacao is much larger than Aruba.
The first time we went, on our honeymoon, my wife did all the research, so being Caribbean, I was surprised by the desert nature of the island. I was expecting a little more tropical. It's pretty much southern Arizona in the middle of the ocean. Great beaches though.
It slowly lost some of that appeal over the years, getting more of an American influence. Still a beautiful Island though. I never did get to Curacao, even though we talked about it, but from what I understand, it's very much the same type of island with heavy dutch influence, although Curacao is much larger than Aruba.
The first time we went, on our honeymoon, my wife did all the research, so being Caribbean, I was surprised by the desert nature of the island. I was expecting a little more tropical. It's pretty much southern Arizona in the middle of the ocean. Great beaches though.
Friends of ours go to Turks and Caicos every year and love it.
Since everyone else is recommending a beach area, I'll offer another direction and suggest taking a look at the Banff/Jasper area. We went last July and loved the area. The views are incredible everywhere. Banff is just a cool town. We visited the Athabasca Glacier, took some gondola rides, hiked a bunch and rode ATVs up a mountain (which was really fun, they also do snowmobile tours when applicable - https://tobycreekadventures.com/atv-tours/ )
If you opt for this, try to go during the week as locals from Calgary will flood the area on weekends.
Since everyone else is recommending a beach area, I'll offer another direction and suggest taking a look at the Banff/Jasper area. We went last July and loved the area. The views are incredible everywhere. Banff is just a cool town. We visited the Athabasca Glacier, took some gondola rides, hiked a bunch and rode ATVs up a mountain (which was really fun, they also do snowmobile tours when applicable - https://tobycreekadventures.com/atv-tours/ )
If you opt for this, try to go during the week as locals from Calgary will flood the area on weekends.
I highly recommend Banff National Park near Calgary. Took the family there this summer and it really is breathtakingly beautiful. Definitely go between April and October because some of the roads to the best lakes are closed during the winter due to risk of avalanche.
I love San Diego, but it’s not the Caribbean.
The DR is inexpensive and lots of all-inclusive which is great if you want to lay around (which I have no problem with), but I wouldn’t go to the DR to travel around and see stuff from a safety perspective. Just my opinion. Been there a couple of times and had fun but didn’t leave resorts.
I loved Barbados. Longer to get to, but if you’re thinking of Curaçao they are both the southern part of the Lesser Antilles. The west coast of Barbados is calm water and beautiful. Stayed at The Waves. Small beach but good food. I didn’t travel around but I want to go back and do that. Safe island and water is definitely good, like Ames.
I’ve been thinking of going to Curaçao too, but haven’t. Also want to go to Dominica
The DR is inexpensive and lots of all-inclusive which is great if you want to lay around (which I have no problem with), but I wouldn’t go to the DR to travel around and see stuff from a safety perspective. Just my opinion. Been there a couple of times and had fun but didn’t leave resorts.
I loved Barbados. Longer to get to, but if you’re thinking of Curaçao they are both the southern part of the Lesser Antilles. The west coast of Barbados is calm water and beautiful. Stayed at The Waves. Small beach but good food. I didn’t travel around but I want to go back and do that. Safe island and water is definitely good, like Ames
.I’ve been thinking of going to Curaçao too, but haven’t. Also want to go to Dominica
It's funny you suggest that! I LOVE Savannah, and so this past year Janny let me pick anywhere in the contiguous 48 that I wanted to go for my birthday trip. I had it narrowed down to Charleston and Portland. We ended up in Portland, but I'd love to try Charleston! I've always thought that it would be amazing - I read "Gone With the Wind" in 6th grade, and have been fascinated with it and Georgia ever since!
No, this is actually awesome! I went to Montreal just once to fly in and out on a work trip, but thought it would be so amazing to try and explore. That's awesome!!
I really like these Canada options - I can do things that are outdoors that don't involve me getting skin cancer in five minutes!
I love San Diego, but it’s not the Caribbean.
The DR is inexpensive and lots of all-inclusive which is great if you want to lay around (which I have no problem with), but I wouldn’t go to the DR to travel around and see stuff from a safety perspective. Just my opinion. Been there a couple of times and had fun but didn’t leave resorts.
I loved Barbados. Longer to get to, but if you’re thinking of Curaçao they are both the southern part of the Lesser Antilles. The west coast of Barbados is calm water and beautiful. Stayed at The Waves. Small beach but good food. I didn’t travel around but I want to go back and do that. Safe island and water is definitely good, like Ames
I’ve been thinking of going to Curaçao too, but haven’t. Also want to go to Dominica
Dominica was also on my list - it's on a ton of the "go here before you die" lists online! So are the Azores Islands in Portugal, which look AMAZING - but hard to get to!
Barbados was one I also was really, really looking at. I'd had a little less luck finding cheap flights, was the only reason it moved down the list. I'll definitely look it up again!
I would vote for Montreal as well - been twice and just love the city. Both July and October, both beautiful. Would love to go back and see Quebec City as well.
Went to Grenada on Halloween night years ago. Exactly where you want to go and when. Picture perfect.
I always thought the Azores would be cool, but yeah a bit of a hike when the Caribbean is closer. I think I booked my trip in February for travel in June to Barbados. Another important thing is hurricane season kicks up in later August through October. The closer to November the less chance of hurricanes. Also those southern islands closer to South America like Barbados and Curaçao rarely get hit much because they are at the edge of the hurricane belt as they tend to curve up north.
See, this is interesting! I'd always assumed Grenada was terrible because of the "Camp Grenada" song (please don't mock my logic - I know it's ridiculous). But it was also on a lot of lists of being gorgeous and low-cost!
That was one of the main things that I was finding on Barbados and Curacao - the unlikelihood of hurricanes, and that they aren't overrun like some of the other destinations! I'd ideally like to not have to cancel our trip last-minute!
One thing to consider if you're looking at fall times is hurricane season. Might be wise to purchase vacation insurance. We planned a vacation to Kauai a year and half ago about the time that hurricane Michael (may be the wrong name) was passing by and all reports said there was widespread flooding and heavy rain so we cancelled. We got all but about $50 back.
Guess I'm not a beach guy. Not that I wouldn't go, but I want to go to Vancouver and then rent a car and drive up the Alcan highway. I can only imagine how gorgeous B.C. must be.
It's seriously beautiful. To put it maybe nicely, I didn't see near the street trash (plastic bottles, styrofoam to go boxes) that I've seen on other islands.
Very safe island. Grand Anse beach is gorgeous.
