If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?

[LeftyMom]

Assume money is no object, you have sufficient vacation time and you can bring along any traveling companion you like. Where would you go and what would you do?

[radwriter0555]

1. Beijing. Shopping.

*sigh*

[Haole Girl]

2. Hawaii

If money were no object, I would go there and never come back.

[Heidi]

3. Menorca,

to paint for a month.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

14. Either there or Ibiza.

[driver8]

63. That is a beautiful shot. I have been to Mallorca...how many

Balearic islands are there?

Never mind, I answered my own question.

Mediterranean Paradise

This wonderful group of islands is divided into Gimnesias (Mallorca, Menorca and Cabrera) in the North, and Pitiusas (Ibiza y Formentera) in the South-West.

Their excellent climate with some 300 days of sun per year, wonderful beaches, a rich cultural offer and the unusual hospitality of their inhabitants make Balearic Islands one of the preferred holiday destinations in Spain. There are more passengers at the airport of Palma de Mallorca than at the airport of any other Spanish city. Hardly anybody who has spent holidays here didn't wish to return, in fact, many visitors have made the islands their permanent home. Each of the islands has a strong personality all of its own, and each of them offers much more but the possibility to spend nice holidays.

[momophile]

69. I've been sailing at Mallorca - beautiful!

[SeattleGirl]

4. Amsterdam.

One of the places of my list of places I want to see.

[Spider Jerusalem]

10. Me too.

And I'm going tomorrow. (My flight departs at 7:05 PM from Memphis and arrives in Amsterdam @ 11:00 AM...needless to say, I'm kind of excited.)

[ForrestGump]

5. My knee-jerk reaction is to go for where my snookiebanana is right now

(and she just hates it when I call her 'snookiebanana'....or, at least, I assume she does, because I've never used or seen that word before and I do have to say that it plumbs new depths of inanity even for me), but a better plan is to take her with me to another place, and I've got a couple in mind, in different hemspheres: one where she's been, alone, and one where I've been without her. Both places have significant heat in the air, out-in-the-boonies stuff (one arid and one decidedly not so), and pristine Indo-Pacific coral reefs beneath a blue sea.

Yeah....

[Floogeldy]

6. To the bathroom.

[BlueIris]

7. I'm torn between Hawaii and England.

[Zookeeper]

8. Northern Ontario. Although I'd settle for the north shore of....

Lake Superior.

Canoe. Hike. Bike. Draw and Paint. Read. Sleep. Eat. Fish. Take Photos. Listen to music.

Simple and rejuvenating.

[u4ic]

17. Good choice!

Have travelled through there many times...unbelievable country!

[Zookeeper]

25. Yes, I suppose I should shut up about it....

and keep it special and untrampled. Unfortunately, parts of the Minnesota portion of Lake Superior is starting to get gentrified. It's just wrong, wrong, wrong and depressing. Why would anyone need recreational shopping and high speed internet connections and luxury condos while visiting such a special, beautiful, spiritual place? That kind of tourist should just rent a hotel room next to the Mall of America.

I think I'm destined to become a hermit in the Canadian wilderness.

[u4ic]

26. The mists

the very early mornings (we used to travel across the country, from Toronto to the Rockies, by car, when I was a kid every year or two). We would be woken up at some gawdforsaken hour, like 5:30 am...hated it at the time because I was so sleepy, but those mornings were just magical.

I would go for a short walk...not only seeing all the wildlife, but the mists off the lakes. It would be sooo cold in the am...maybe 3 or 4C, then by noon it would be 34C!

Lots of areas of Alberta sound like Minnesota.

[Zookeeper]

28. Minnesota still has it's wild places....

but the Mpls./St. Paul population has grown so much in the last twenty years and has drawn lots of Rethugs from Red states who can't imagine being in the Great Outdoors without a golf course nearby. They also are rabidly anti-tax and can't quite grasp that Minnesota's wonderful quality of life and protected natural resources are due to community and taxpayer support.

The disadvantage to our new "diversity" is that many newcomers are still stuck in an "every man for himself" mindset.

Still...I can't think of a U.S. city (or state) I'd rather live in. On the other hand, Canada is very, very attractive to me.

BTW, have you ever lived in the U.S.? And do you like where you are now?

[u4ic]

49. I've never lived in the US

the most time I've ever spent there was a week. (in NYC)

Ah, golf courses for the rich. Alberta is full of them, pushing natural habitat for our wonderful creatures farther and farther back. Those courses all need to be right near the Rockies, of course.
Alberta sold out years ago. They've always had a Conservative gov't, or the equivalent. Oil rules, industry rules, money rules. There is a lot of that "everyone for themselves" thinking here. (probably not quite the level of some places in the US)

Having said that, there's a lot of attractive things about Edmonton (the winters are not one of them. lol. However, with global warming, they are getting warmer and drier, which is a huge concern)

There is lots of greenspace than runs through the centre of the city - not a lot of parks in communities, however. Here are some images: http://images.google.ca/images?sourceid=navclient&ie=UT...

The sky....the sky goes on forever. Most of the people are great. It's by far the most liberal city in the province - akin to Austin.

[Zookeeper]

66. Thanks for the link!

The Edmonton river valley and city look beautiful. Much greener than I expected. Am I right in guessing that the surrounding countryside is flatter and drier (kind of like the Dakotas)? People always complain about driving across North Dakota, but I've alway loved the big sky and endless space.

I read something recently about a Canadian scientist who was suggesting that Alberta start limiting its growth because global warming is producing more droughts in the area. Have you heard that?

Here is a great site that gives a 360 degree view of lots of places, mostly in Minnesota.

http://bigeyeinthesky.com/default.asp?CID=U_of_M

Check out the Weisman Art Museum panorama. It's my favorite building in the twin cities and the photo gives you an idea of what the Mississippi looks like in downtown Mpls. A few miles downriver, in St. Paul, it looks quite different with great bluff views from the historic downtown.

(BTW, since I've totally hijacked this thread, feel free to PM me sometime.)

[u4ic]

77. Southern Alberta is how you describe

basically, from Red Deer up it's the boreal forest - there are some gently rolling hills in many places, and of course, lots of trees. The true prairie/grassland is below Red Deer. Along the western border are the Rockies. (Banff, Jasper, etc)

Here's a small map:


I've lived both south of here (Lethbridge) and north (Ft McMurray).

You are correct about that scientist, and I wholeheartedly agree. Unfortunately, with our provincial gov't (and the oil situation), it ain't going to happen. Water is another concern, because the oil industry does not recycle it. It's a huge waste (they could with other technology as I recall, but don't, and the gov't doesn't push it)

A huge concern is the lack of snowfall the past few winters - the snow used to stay all winter, and moisten the fields. Now there is so little of it, and it melts quickly due to the temperature rising. Then, the ground is so rock hard it's difficult to absorb any moisture, or it's too little. I've been noticing it as the years progress. (been here since 1990) We had a terrible drought a few years back, and I really don't think the land has recovered very well.

Thanks for your link! Wow, I had no idea Minneapolis was such a lovely city! That museum is neat! It looks like there are quite a few parks there, too. I haven't been through the whole site yet, but I plan to. I'm pleasantly surprised! That would be the kind of city I'd love to live in.

Edmonton is rather utilitarian. Other than the River Valley, it's rather dull, especially architecturally. Any lovely old buildings are often demolished to put up a parking lot, or condos.


We'll talk some more soon.

[Fox Mulder]

35. I love the North Shore.

It truly is beautiful up there!

I go and camp up there every summer.

[Zookeeper]

44. So, a friend of mine...

has a weird UFO story that supposedly happened on the North Shore. (He is prone to telling stories, in complete sincerity, that I've learned to take with a grain of salt.)

Have you ever noticed anything unexplainable up there?

[Suich]

9. Amalfi Coast, Tuscany, Umbria

Drink a little wine, hang out at the villa....ahhhhhh!

What about you?

[Broken_Hero]

11. Home...

back to SE Alaska...I cannot stand SW Missouri in the least bit, and I cannot wait until I leave. I would bring my wife, and we would go out fishing, camping, hiking, and go for long walks, on our rocky, bumpy beaches, while drinking Pete's Wicked Ale...

[Zookeeper]

13. Say, Petersond....

it seems like you have posted similar sentiments before. Have you consider a trip up to northern Minnesota? We share the Boundary Waters Canoe Area with Canada and it is a non-motorized vehicle wilderness. Lake Superior (largest fresh water lake in the world) is also well worth a visit.

We used to drive down to KC from Mpls./St. Paul and it's a day's drive (at least with 3 small children), but it certainly is closer to you than Alaska.

[Broken_Hero]

15. As

a matter of fact, my wife and I were planning on going up to canada later on this fall, going up through iowa, and minn. My wife has never been to a foreign country before, and i'm like...well, cananda is not that far away...

I have been to British Columbia a handful of times. But we have to see where our $ levels are this fall. We were also thinking of going up through Maine. My wife and I are huge Stephen King heads, and we thought it would be cool to go see the state that King writes about the most...

[Zookeeper]

18. Well, PM me or post on the Minnesota forum...

if you decide to drive up. MN DUer's are a friendly group who have been known to throw together a meet-up in honor of DU visitors.

I also can give you tips on places to stay and things to see.

[Broken_Hero]

21. Okay

I will, thanks for the offer...

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

12. Back in Germany or somewhere else in Europe.

[CPMaz]

16. Oz.

The Outback.

No question about it.

[Robeson]

19. Europa, Europa!.

[leftofthedial]

20. where she is

[mdmc]

23. me too

and she would want me there with her.

[Oeditpus Rex]

22. On top of it

[dysfunctional press]

24. south pacific

i don't like EXTREMELY long flights, so'd i'd go in stages-
hawaii to fiji to new zealand, then probably to tahiti...with a swing by the galapogos and machu picchu on the way back home.

[momophile]

68. if you go to Fiji, then you may as well go to Tonga

I'm biased, of course. I was in the Peace Corps there.

[dysfunctional press]

27. all around the world- your best travel value...

if time isn't an issue, look into round-the-world fares...most every airline offers them, in conjunction with partner airlines around the world...in general- as long as you keep traveling in a continuous east-west direction(or vice-versa) you can make as many stops along the way as you like...and going north-south is generally considered a straight line.

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/askbainter/public/...

[momophile]

70. I did this for three and a half months

very good recommendation!

[Clintmax]

29. Rome, Italy.

I'd take Greekspeak with me and we'd see every inch of the city!

[Sisaruus]

30. My back deck with a pile of books and magazines.

The deck overlooks perennial beds in bloom and the newly green woods. And I'd take a nap while there.

[Left_Winger]

31. On the porch of my beach house with my books and rocking chair

[seemunkee]

32. Too many options

With the crappy mood I'm in right now the best option is to go wallkabout by myself somewhere far from people.
Normally I'd say snorkling with my wife on St Johns. Or Paris, or London, or ??? any fucking where but here.

[Bzzzz]

33. Scotland or

Amsterdam...gotta love those coffee shops.

[LeftyMom]

34. I suppose I should answer my own question

I think it'd be really neat to take a driving tour up highway one without being in any hurry to get anyplace (though renting a fast car for the trip would be fun.) I've always wanted to camp out on the beach. I had a dream once that my love and I were sitting up on one of those pillars at the Palace of Fine Arts, just eating lunch and looking down at the people at the park and the bay off in the distance- that would be a nice place to stop. Definitely spend some time under the redwoods too.

(And how typically Californian is it that if I could go anyplace in the world I'd still be within driving distance of home?)

[Fox Mulder]

36. Sicily.

Or Greece. Or Spain. Oh gosh...I'd love to be anywhere in the Mediterranean right now.

[greendog]

37. A couple weeks of hiking in Canyonlands N.P.

[Ava]

38. anywhere but GD

and i'd make it fast!

[Reverend_Smitty]

39. Sipping on a pint in a pub in Ireland...

and once I sobered up I'd love to tour the Irish countryside

[redqueen]

40. I would go to Bowling Green, OH

and I would spend some quality time with a friend.

[lizziegrace]

41. It's a coin toss

To England to see my sister and her family (with a friend).

Or to a cabin in the San Juan mountains (with a friend). No phone, no computer, no distractions...

[Reciprocity]

42. Mesopotamia

Station that is, in New Zealand. It is located on the south island.

[ceile]

43. Kinsale, Ireland

A pint of Smithwick's and a bowl of seafood chowder, and I'll be very happy!

[noonwitch]

45. Prague, the city I dream about

I've never been there, at least not in this life. I had dreams a while back, in which I was on a boat on the Detroit River. When the boat emerged from going under the Belle Isle bridge, I looked up and the city had changed to a european city I didn't recognize from any pictures or travel brochure I'd ever seen (it was still iron curtain days when I first had the dream). It had a bridge that was lined with statues. I wrote it down in my journal, and some years later, when they had the flooding in Prague and I saw the city on the news, saw the Charles bridge and knew immediately it was the city I dreamed about.

I've had the dream since-with different people from my life in the boat with me each time. I've always been a Dvorak fan (hence my screen name), and he lived much of his life there, but I didn't read books or anything about him until long after I had the dream the first time.

Since I made the connection, I have done a lot of reading up about Prague and the Czeck republic in general. I would really love to visit there some day. I want to see the astrological clock.

[Zookeeper]

64. Well, Noonwitch...

You just sent me on my own little dream journey. I'm a native Detroiter and have boated on the river and underneath the Belle Isle bridge many times, and cruised Lake St. Clair. I also have (old) photos of me by Scott Fountain as a little tiny girl.

Even the Detroit River has the makings of a nice, little, mental vacation.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

46. Galapagos Islands.

I would kill to do a cruise there.

[SammyWinstonJack]

47. Tuscany. nt

[dpbrown]

48. ANWR

Before it's gone forever.

[faithnotgreed]

52. i love that response

because it shows where your heart is when you have the chance to go anywhere with no budget limits - you choose a wildlife refuge
beautiful

but i hate why you had to put it

[NewWaveChick1981]

50. It's a toss-up: Hanging out in Scotland or hanging out in Greece

I could have some serious fun in Scotland! And I would LOVE to just explore Greece to my heart's content!

[Roon]

51. Amsterdam

Mmmmm...BUDS!!

[Guava Jelly]

56. That was my choice Also.

[gizmo1979]

53. Anywhere in Italy!

All the Chocolate you can eat.No weird hangups like here.

[GalleryGod]

54. Bitter End Yacht Club

with Keira !

[Redstone]

55. Right where I am. With Mrs R, as I am.

Redstone

[Arkham House]

57. Casco Bay

The Portland area is the closest thing on Earth to Paradise, at least for me...and I would sell at least a part of my soul to be able to live there...

[Deja Q]

58. In love.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

59. I would be at a ritzy health spa

with a gazillion flowers and five healthy meals a day, and a massage every day, facials, books, unlimited music and a room to sleep in that is 60 degrees and I can use a down quilt and hear the ocean outside my window.

[NNadir]

60. New Zealand probably.

I've never been there. I'd like to go.

[Reciprocity]

61. Also The Lazy Fish in N.Z.

http://www.lazyfish.co.nz/index.html

I can just see me with a cool one taking in the view from my tub.

[Tikki]

62. This evening (pst) we would be....

at the edge of the Atacama Desert Northern Chile...


sitting on comfortable loungers, under a veranda, near the beach...Mr. Tikki and I and the grandson...all of us reading books and Tikki the Dawg running around...and we'd stop ever so often to watch and talk about and wait for the sun to disappear off into the farthest West.


Tikki

[liberaltrucker]

65. Israel

To see all the archeological sites.

[JackDragna]

67. Edinburgh.

God, I love that city.

[flvegan]

71. Well, I'd

take you, as my companion, first of all, and then:

go snowboarding with Adam Yauch and mountainbiking with Mike D;

hang out with Redstone and family;

since money is no object, I'd be cutting chains and running fences with some animals that needed a lift. I do believe that we'd have a third party helping out *ahem* Redstone...

[qwertyMike]

72. Samarkand n/t

[XemaSab]

73. Mexico for 3 months

Spend a month heading down the west coast, a month in Chiapas and the Yucatan, and a month heading up the east coast.

[Brian Woods]

74. wander aimlessly. hitch a ride on a freight train. no destination...

go anywhere.

[pitohui]

75. the first two are kind of the case

not that i'm made of money but the destination in question is quite cheap and as for time i've got nothing but -- so i was starting to make my plans until quite recently

don't need a traveling companion, i might do this trip better on my own or w. the backpacker kids i meet in cheap tours who share my interests

the main thing stopping me now is a concern abt the political situation, the country is bolivia and i would like to see the bolivian carnival/mardi gras indians to see the comparison to the new orleans indians, the costumes i've seen, the differences (big chinese influence to my eye in the bolivians) and similarities are quite striking

would also like to see snow on the andes while they've still got some

however while i know the europeans are welcomed there i am not sure the same can be said for americans, our glorious leader may have made us hated there

anyone visited recently? price is just not an issue, it is rated one of the cheapest countries in the world, so it's worth asking i guess

[Dem2theMax]

76. Italy. From one end to the other.

Oh, and a one-way ticket. I wouldn't come back. Ever. That's my dream. Sigh. Hope to make it come true some day.

And the heck with taking anyone with me. I want to enjoy myself. LOL.

[momophile]

78. I would love to see the Taj Mahal

and eat lots of Indian food!

[UrbScotty]

79. Mackinac Island, MI (nt)

[Zookeeper]

80. Very charming spot!

I imagine the ideal situation would be to enjoy the island after the last boatload of tourists left.