My sister really liked that--except for the motion on the boat (yes, even on a river) that affected her (she's sensitive to that, but thought a river cruise would be ok). She missed a whole day being ill in the boat.
So....what are everyone's plans for travel/vacation/experiences for 2026?.....
- Thread starter psuro
- Start date
Do Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park near Santa Cruz and Point Lobos near Monterey. At the latter, there are often sea otters and seals as well as the ubiquitous sea lions.
We're going to Boston 2026--the World Stamp Show (we get one every 10 years in the US). Hopefully a World Cup game, though they are very pricy--either KC or Philly. I don't care which teams, but Curacao has a former Columbus Crew player and Cape Verde has a current one.
2025 - Two weeks on the Amalfi Coast and Ischia in May
Two weeks in Ireland hiking the Dingle Peninsula and taking in the Steelers game in Dublin
2026 - A week in Naples Florida late February/Early March
A week or so in Northen New Mexico...Santa Fe, Taos.....Maybe flying home from Durango?
10 days or so In Whitefish MT/Glacier national area...then up to Banff in August
Two weeks in Ireland hiking the Dingle Peninsula and taking in the Steelers game in Dublin
2026 - A week in Naples Florida late February/Early March
A week or so in Northen New Mexico...Santa Fe, Taos.....Maybe flying home from Durango?
10 days or so In Whitefish MT/Glacier national area...then up to Banff in August
One of good friends from my Penn State years lives in San Jose and goes to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park all the time. I’ve been to Monterey and driven down to Big Sur along the Pacific Coast Highway.
🏌️ at Jasna Polena during a tornado warning! like the 2 govno.
GO TO ICELAND!! I’ve spent a total of 7 months in Iceland since 2022 (I was very fortunate to land an annual summer job there in ‘23) and there isn’t anywhere in the world I’d rather be…even in January!
What about a trip to Ireland and the Scottish Highlands with a multi-day layover in Iceland?
Spent the first day of the new year skiing Stratton. Nice conditions after 7 inches fell on NYE. Hadn't skied in 3 years so the legs are a little hurting today.
My best friend from my Penn State days (roommates first 2 years) is getting remarried late June in Tuscany. So wife and I are taking our long awaited trip to Italy. Will spend 3 days in Tuscany then 5 days in Rome (with day trip to Naples). My second wife is one of the greatest gifts in my life. She and I married at 8am on 8/8/08. I met my first wife in a sports bar and my second wife in an AA meeting 
She and I have been all over the world, including safari in South Africa, Iceland, Japan (twice), all over northern Europe, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Costa Rice, Dubai, etc... But we've never been to Italy. It is really the last destination on my A-list.
She and I have been all over the world, including safari in South Africa, Iceland, Japan (twice), all over northern Europe, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Costa Rice, Dubai, etc... But we've never been to Italy. It is really the last destination on my A-list.
Taking a cruise to Portugal, Spain, & Morocco. Also going to the Kentucky Derby with Alumni Association.
I have wanted to go to Morocco for a while. A younger colleague went there for a Yoga retreat with group she is involved with, and she raved about it.
We've been to those places except for Dubai.My best friend from my Penn State days (roommates first 2 years) is getting remarried late June in Tuscany. So wife and I are taking our long awaited trip to Italy. Will spend 3 days in Tuscany then 5 days in Rome (with day trip to Naples). My second wife is one of the greatest gifts in my life. She and I married at 8am on 8/8/08. I met my first wife in a sports bar and my second wife in an AA meeting
She and I have been all over the world, including safari in South Africa, Iceland, Japan (twice), all over northern Europe, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Costa Rice, Dubai, etc... But we've never been to Italy. It is really the last destination on my A-list.
Singapore is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. South Africa is also beautiful (Table Mountain, Cape of Good Hope, Stellenbosch wineries, safaris).
You'll enjoy Tuscany.
Dubai is like Wakanda from the Black Panther movie. It is insanely futuristic and modern. In many ways it is the Las Vegas of the middle east. But much like Vegas, a few days is all you need unless you are a 20-something with a trust fund. It is weird to think in Dubai you can see gals in string bikinis at an outdoor pool and just 60 miles down the road in Abu Dhabi women must cover their heads.
I assume that you are doing the Parthenon, the new Acropolis Museum, and the National Archeological Museum in Athens. If you are going to Crete, the Palace of Minos at Knossos is well worth it. Consider a day bus tour from Athens to the Theatre at Epidaurus, and then on to Mycenae to see the ruins of the fortress of Agamemnon to complement your visit to Troy. In Istanbul, tour the Topkapi Palace to see the harem and the Hall of Holy Relics, where you can view things labeled the staff of Moses, the sword of King David, two footprints of Mohamed (they are huge, like bigfoot's), his sandals (tiny, so maybe from when he was a kid), his swords, banners, clothing, etc. Some suapension of disbelief may be required.Greece, some time in Athens and a cruise to Crete and the Cyclades. Then tour of Istanbul and vicinity.
Very much looking forward to walking in the footsteps of Socrates, Aristotle, Plato, and Euclid.
I just checked the itinerary. Will visit Troy, so will be walking in the footsteps of Odysseus, Achilles, and Hector as well. I’m sure I’ll be reminded of y’all when I’m there.
per usual Sluggo going scuba diving in Grand Cayman for 2 weeks in April, and then in August we will go to the Bahamas and stay on a live a board dive boat for a week with some Friends and their friends we met scuba diving. Having an open debate about gong to State College to watch Marshall kick PSU butt for football season. Its been a while since I've been to Beaver Stadium. The rest of the time I'll spend on my personal yacht, might even take it to Cincinnati for some concerts on the river , depending on how the crew feels about that.
Two significant trips on tap.
First, in April, I will be going with Dame/Mrs A to Lourdes with the order of Malta, which each year takes a plane full of very sick people over to the shrine for a pilgrimage. My job will be essentially to spend a week being a 24/7 “gopher”/listener/wheelchair pusher for a sick person. I will be out of my comfort zone.
Then in the summer, we will travel to glacier np, one of my favorite places, to see my daughter and her boyfriend run a half marathon along a stretch of going to the sun road. This is really inspiring to me, as she has a mild physical disability but is just so formidable when it comes to not being kept back. On top of that, with a little luck, my secret hope is she will get engaged.
First, in April, I will be going with Dame/Mrs A to Lourdes with the order of Malta, which each year takes a plane full of very sick people over to the shrine for a pilgrimage. My job will be essentially to spend a week being a 24/7 “gopher”/listener/wheelchair pusher for a sick person. I will be out of my comfort zone.
Then in the summer, we will travel to glacier np, one of my favorite places, to see my daughter and her boyfriend run a half marathon along a stretch of going to the sun road. This is really inspiring to me, as she has a mild physical disability but is just so formidable when it comes to not being kept back. On top of that, with a little luck, my secret hope is she will get engaged.
Thinking about Mexico city for 7-10 days. Likely in February. A trip from there to Guadalupe, but open for ideas on other sites.
Hoprfully about a 21 day trip flying to Seattle, driving to and flying out of Salt Lake city. Late spring.
Possibly, Sweden, Scotland, and/or Ireland sometine later in the year.
Anyone going to the San Sé festival in San Juan? We went last year and will probably go next year. We booked the trip less than a week before we left.
Hoprfully about a 21 day trip flying to Seattle, driving to and flying out of Salt Lake city. Late spring.
Possibly, Sweden, Scotland, and/or Ireland sometine later in the year.
Anyone going to the San Sé festival in San Juan? We went last year and will probably go next year. We booked the trip less than a week before we left.
We've got an Alaska cruise scheduled for June. Also planning a few days in July to go to Saratoga NY to see some horse races and tour the area. Then our normal week in Ocean City and our week in the fall in Fort Lauderdale. There will be 1 or 2-night trips throughout the year - one of them next week to donate to the New Jersey economy in Atlantic City.
So far,cruising in 3 weeks and again in March. Gotta love those ships . 14 decks 14 bars, welll sorta.Have a few thoughts on what to do this year.....and hoping to steal other people's ideas
1. Going to Red Rocks in Colorado in June to see Brit Floyd at Red Rocks. Always wanted to go to Red Rocks. Will make it into a M/C trip aw well - rent a MC at Denver Airport and then hit up some good mountain roads in the Rockies.
2. Whenever the PSU/Washington game is scheduled, I am going to go to Seattle for the game. That will leave just Autzen for my Big 10 Road Trips.
3. Planning another M/C trip, probably in August or early Sept to Maine. Will try to get in a round at Sunday River Resort (luckily they rent clubs so I don't have to ship mine).
4. Since I worked through Christmas on a project, will probably look to do some quick trip to Caribbean in late Jan/early Feb.
edit
5. May do a Family Pub Crawl in either NYC or London. Since I have relatives throughout the world either NYC or London would make for a good meeting place for my boogie-*** family.
Whatcha got planned for 2026?
If you can squeeze in Slovenia that would be great. Bled is wonderful.
next wkd ... Cleveland (so excited)
President's Wkd - Napa
Jan/Feb Week in Indonesia
February - Nashville
March - back to Cleveland for NCAA Wrestling
May - R2R at Grand Canyon (maybe)
July - Sacramento for Ironman training, and Tigers/A's
October - Sacramento for Ironman
President's Wkd - Napa
Jan/Feb Week in Indonesia
February - Nashville
March - back to Cleveland for NCAA Wrestling
May - R2R at Grand Canyon (maybe)
July - Sacramento for Ironman training, and Tigers/A's
October - Sacramento for Ironman
That would be AWESOME. Just not sure I can take enough consecutive vacation days to do it justice.
Have you done this?
Do you ever go back to Shenango Valley? Mall's gone, they are going to replace it with town plaza and some other stuff.
Oh, and both Hickory and Sharon have roundabouts. How's that for progress?
A(nother) weird thing to know about your buddy LionJim. He loves roundabouts.
You will know you are there before you are. The aroma of Tabasco is in the air.
After a few tasty beverages and a rushed and not well-thought out decision, I have decided to to enter the vacation transfer portal.
I will be looking for the best offers from destinations so I can evaluate which one provides the best offer deal for me to vacay.
And of course, please respect my decision.
I will be looking for the best offers from destinations so I can evaluate which one provides the best offer deal for me to vacay.
And of course, please respect my decision.
The wife and I always shop sales. We use Gate 1 Travel exclusively and always find something at discount. We also double up, taking two separate tours this time, one Greece (including a cruise) and one Turkey. The end of the Greece tour is two days before the beginning of the Turkey tour, 90 minute flight Athens to Istanbul, easy peasy. Same as last year, Gate 1 Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia ending in Venice and then two weeks on our own Venice, Bologna, Florence.After a few tasty beverages and a rushed and not well-thought out decision, I have decided to to enter the vacation transfer portal.
I will be looking for the best offers from destinations so I can evaluate which one provides the best offer deal for me to vacay.
And of course, please respect my decision.
I do research, I’m a museum freak and know what’s good.
Attachments
-
IMG_5525.jpeg
I haven’t been back there since I got married 40 years ago. All of NE Ohio and the neighboring Western PA are pretty much ghost towns. Went back to Warren (Ohio) for my 35th HS class reunion years ago and it is unbelievable. Plazas that were thriving are now boarded up. All the manufacturing/steel jobs are gone. There have been 15 mill/plant closures. The Eastwood Mall about 10 minutes from my old house in Howland Township is still around, which surprises me. The main businesses in Warren are the hospitals and Covelli Enterprises (family friends).
As this is a travel thread, I just can’t go back there anymore. It is too heartbreaking. Most of my friends and family friends are long gone and my few relatives that are still in the area live in Poland, Ohio.
Also met Allen Seiden signing books at pearl hes a psu grad 65’ been there in Hawaii for 50 plus years writing books
and of course bought the family each one of these bad boys before we made the trip out
the misses and I forced our kids to watch the 3 episode Hawaii mini series of the Brady’s
Attachments
-
IMG_5557.jpeg
Last edited:
any suggestions? I've never been. The plan is to go to Oahu and to the Big Island. Beyond visiting Pearl Harbor on Oahu, and Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, we really haven't locked in any other destinations, though I think we're going to limit ourselves to just those two islands.
Following last nights activities,
I'm planning a visit to our newly acquired 51st State, Venezuela.
I'm planning a visit to our newly acquired 51st State, Venezuela.