1 Jellystone?

2 If staying in the continental US, the Grand Canyon can't be beat for its sheer breathtaking glory.  And Vegas is a short hop from there, if you're so inclined.

Or Ireland.  I've always wanted to visit the 'motherland'.  heh.

Oh, I saw a movie a few nights ago and the scenery was so gorgeous I actually googled to find out where it was filmed.  Canada!  BC, I think.  I'd no idea it was that beautiful!

3 Shoal Bay East...Anguilla, BWI

Trust me on this.

4

If you want Alaska + city, think Anchorage.  Population: 283,000. Most modern amenities, big-name stores and shops.  Surrounded by six mountain ranges (closest are only 3 miles away).  Guides: me & the Mrs., to offer suggestions & welcome you to our part of the planet.  Just sayin'.

5

If time and money were no object I'd go to Alaska and spend a month or two. My wife won't let me. She says I'd never come back.

I'm a translucent American too. 31 years in south Florida and I still hate the beach and the ocean and the human waste that retires here from the northeast.

Have fun. Post us some pictures when you come back.

Joe

 

6 The Grand Canyon is completely breath taking. We were there for only a couple of nights, but wished we could have stayed longer. There is really no describing how amazing it is, you really have to just see it. Before we went, I was all like "What's the big deal?!" But the second I saw it, I was awe struck.

The best thing would be to stay at one of the lodges that is on the edge of the canyon. I think there are three or four. But they need to be reserved wayyyy in advance. However, in this economy, you might get lucky. If you google around, the lodges are pretty easy to find.

My other suggestion would be San Diego. Balboa Park there is ripe for photography. I've never actually been to the park, but I have friends that live there who are photography buffs. There's tons of great photog opportunities. I think there's even a group that offers photog tours at night.

One last suggestion, Los Angeles....specifically Playa del Rey.  Playa is a really cool little beach community. It's where I live, so I'm biased! But it is very centrally located to just about every thing. It's 5 minutes to LAX, and a good jumping off point to all things that SoCal is known for. There is also a fabulous bed and breakfast place here: http://www.innatplayadelrey.com/ . If you decide to come out here, let me know and I can give you a list of "must see's."

Happy vacation!

7 If you come to San Diego, we can visit and then we can call Marcie and visit with her. And then, and then, and then...   There's so much to see and do here that doesn't involve the beach. The Zoo, the Wild Animal Park, Balboa Park, Old Poway Park, Ramona, Julian, the missions, the...well, everything! And seriously, you could so meet up with more bloggers while you're in SoCal. Tammi isn't too far away. Also, depending on WHEN you're here, you might run into even more. Oh, and why don't we figure out when and for how long and tempt others to come visit at the same time? It could be so fun. So, so, sooooooo fun.   But, if you decide on Alaska, I know people there...

8 I just went to Ireland in April. Given your love of stone walls and all things green, you and your camera would be in heaven there. I still haven't finished posting all the pix I took there!

9 LOL - see my problem... y'all have just given me reasons to go to every place on my list.

10 SAN DIEGO!   You had two votes for us.   lol

11  If you decide to try Arizona you could easily spend a few months. There is the Grand Canyon but don't start there. Fly into Phoenix and rent a car with real good air conditioning as the daytime temp will top 110 without any trouble. Now drive away from the Grand Canyon, down to Tombstone. Spend a day or two there and then duck down to Bisbee for a day.

 Slide back up to Phoenix for some citified life and then go up the hill to Flagstaff and thence to the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert. That's worth a day, maybe two. Now up to the Grand Canyon.

 From there, slide north into Utah for a trip through Monument Valley. If you have time left go up to Salt Lake City or back to Phoenix and go see Joanie in San Diego for the rest of your trip.

12

My Dad and Mom swear that Yellowstone National Park in Yellowstone is the most amazing place ever.  Seriously, consider it one day... we are.

My personal best vacation ever was in Maine.  We flew into Bangor, went to Bar Harbor and stayed in bed and breakfasts all the way down until we hit Portland.  We were in Camden, Castine, Kennebunk, and we just shopped, hiked, and had a blast.  We went the first week in September when the kids were back in school (we didn't have kids) so that it wouldn't be crowded and yet not too cold. Acadia National Park is beautiful.   If my husband were really into the outdoors as I am, and liked to run and hike like I do, we would have hiked all over.  As it was though, we did some, and it was absolutely breathtaking.

I want to go to S. Dakota in the spring or fall and see Mount Rushmore and the park there.  I'm obviously very much into the outdoors end of vacations...

When my folks were in Wyoming, they met a European couple there.  They were a few years older than my folks and said that America has done such a great job preserving our land for National Parks. I guess Europe has failed in comparison.  Keeping that in mind, I would be happy to visit every National Park and Historic site in America.  That includes the Grand Canyon and all those wests.  (Yosemite is gorgeous.) 

13 That should have read Yellowstone National Park in WYOMING.  That's what I get for not proofing... dork that I am.

14

What Peter said!  Also in AZ- go to Jerome...a quaint little 100 + year old town that is now known for it's shops & scenery- oh, and a man named Churchill once stayed in Jerome, I believe.

There's a winery, museum, abandoned gold mine, mansion, etc.  All pretty impressive for America's most vertical town (30' incline, 1-mile high with a 50 mile view) and largest ghost town.

But then you should also visit Sedona (an artists colony with the most excellent fudge shop!) and Prescott.

http://www.azjerome.com/

15 LOL - OMG you all are killing me... I'll need an entire year of vacation to get to all of it.  Thank you though - great great suggestions all of them!  

16 I would do what Chevy Chase did. Go to Wally World!

17 JG - Um... no.  ROFLMAO