Kansas Crimson

i’m just a little over a year out, but am likely going to plan a substantial trip for the wife and i

most of our travels have been centered around nature/wildlife, so i’m tempted to go more historical/cultural

some preliminary ideas:
Australia
Greece
Italy
Scotland
Hawaii
Alaska
Portugal/Spain
Fiji/New Zealand

i’ve been to Alaska, and the wife has been to Hawaii, but we’re both game to go again...otherwise, it’s pretty much a toss up at this point

We hit 15 years of wedded bliss last year. We were going to go to Greece, but Covid hit.


Italy is fucking amazing, so I'd recommend that, but I haven't been to many of the other places, so they might be great too.

Youngens. We celebrated our 35th anniversary last year. I cooked her favorite dinner.

PhDhawk wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 3:09 pm We hit 15 years of wedded bliss last year. We were going to go to Greece, but Covid hit.


Italy is fucking amazing, so I'd recommend that, but I haven't been to many of the other places, so they might be great too.

i’ll count that as a vote for both Italy and Greece

i’m thinking we could even do a couple days in Rome, but spend most of our time in Greece

jhawks99 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 3:12 pm Youngens. We celebrated our 35th anniversary last year. I cooked her favorite dinner.

Let me guess, dinner started at 4:30 and Werther's Originals for dessert. (cause yer so old)

TraditionKU wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 3:15 pm

PhDhawk wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 3:09 pm We hit 15 years of wedded bliss last year. We were going to go to Greece, but Covid hit.


Italy is fucking amazing, so I'd recommend that, but I haven't been to many of the other places, so they might be great too.

i’ll count that as a vote for both Italy and Greece

i’m thinking we could even do a couple days in Rome, but spend most of our time in Greece

If you do 2 days in Rome:

I know you're not religious, but you should go to St. Peter's Basilica, and tour the Vatican Art Museums (This is where the Sistine Chapel is...and it's amazing, probably best collection of art in the world other than the Louvre. The Raphael room that you go into just prior to the Sistine Chapel has the School of Athens painting which is one of my favorites). I'd go there early in the morning to beat the crowds, and if time is a crunch, skip walking up to the top of the dome.

Then make time for the Colosseum, The Roman Forum and the Pantheon. Visit the Spanish Steps and Trevi fountain in the evening, but don't buy anything, it's a rip off.

Try to eat in lcoal neighborhoods though and not near tourist sites, the food is better and not as expensive.

PhDhawk wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 3:24 pm

TraditionKU wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 3:15 pm

PhDhawk wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 3:09 pm We hit 15 years of wedded bliss last year. We were going to go to Greece, but Covid hit.


Italy is fucking amazing, so I'd recommend that, but I haven't been to many of the other places, so they might be great too.

i’ll count that as a vote for both Italy and Greece

i’m thinking we could even do a couple days in Rome, but spend most of our time in Greece

If you do 2 days in Rome:

I know you're not religious, but you should go to St. Peter's Basilica, and tour the Vatican Art Museums (This is where the Sistine Chapel is...and it's amazing, probably best collection of art in the world other than the Louvre. The Raphael room that you go into just prior to the Sistine Chapel has the School of Athens painting which is one of my favorites). I'd go there early in the morning to beat the crowds, and if time is a crunch, skip walking up to the top of the dome.

Then make time for the Colosseum, The Roman Forum and the Pantheon. Visit the Spanish Steps and Trevi fountain in the evening, but don't buy anything, it's a rip off.

Try to eat in lcoal neighborhoods though and not near tourist sites, the food is better and not as expensive.

lol...you basically just listed all of the reasons i was thinking of hitting up Rome at all. neither of us care for large crowds, and would prefer the countryside more often than not, but imo can’t really go to Rome/Italy and NOT see those things

TraditionKU wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 3:04 pm i’m just a little over a year out, but am likely going to plan a substantial trip for the wife and i

most of our travels have been centered around nature/wildlife, so i’m tempted to go more historical/cultural

some preliminary ideas:
Australia
Greece
Italy
Scotland
Hawaii
Alaska
Portugal/Spain
Fiji/New Zealand

i’ve been to Alaska, and the wife has been to Hawaii, but we’re both game to go again...otherwise, it’s pretty much a toss up at this point

That's what the wife and I did for our 10-year anniversary. Happened to have a friend getting married in Santiago de Compostela right at that time, so we went there for a couple days, then a few days in Porto, then a few days in Lisbon. Absolutely amazing. The Duoro valley is breathtaking. The Portuguese all speak English in those cities, Porto because it's such a tourist place (which is fine), and Lisbon because it's such an international city. The people are wonderful.

Speaking of people... Scotland is on your list. Of any country I have been to, with the possible exception of Ireland, the Scots are the best. When I lived in London I was able to take trips to 20+ European cities, and Edinburgh is in my top 3...

With that said you have Italy on the list too, which has my other two favorite cities of that experience: Rome and Cinque Terre (technically not A city). I have heard Cinque Terre might be a little overrun with tourists now though.

Cinque Terre and the Duoro Valley are the two most beautiful places I have ever seen, if you're into Earth porn.

TraditionKU wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 3:04 pm i’m just a little over a year out, but am likely going to plan a substantial trip for the wife and i

most of our travels have been centered around nature/wildlife, so i’m tempted to go more historical/cultural

some preliminary ideas:
Australia
Greece
Italy
Scotland
Hawaii
Alaska
Portugal/Spain
Fiji/New Zealand

i’ve been to Alaska, and the wife has been to Hawaii, but we’re both game to go again...otherwise, it’s pretty much a toss up at this point

I've been to all of those places but Fiji/New Zealand. I highly recommend Melbourne and the SE coast of Australia, the west coast of Italy, Spain, and, believe it or not, Berlin and the North Coast of Germany.

awesome feedback, y’all

except for 99...his sucked

TraditionKU wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 3:35 pm

PhDhawk wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 3:24 pm

TraditionKU wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 3:15 pm

i’ll count that as a vote for both Italy and Greece

i’m thinking we could even do a couple days in Rome, but spend most of our time in Greece

If you do 2 days in Rome:

I know you're not religious, but you should go to St. Peter's Basilica, and tour the Vatican Art Museums (This is where the Sistine Chapel is...and it's amazing, probably best collection of art in the world other than the Louvre. The Raphael room that you go into just prior to the Sistine Chapel has the School of Athens painting which is one of my favorites). I'd go there early in the morning to beat the crowds, and if time is a crunch, skip walking up to the top of the dome.

Then make time for the Colosseum, The Roman Forum and the Pantheon. Visit the Spanish Steps and Trevi fountain in the evening, but don't buy anything, it's a rip off.

Try to eat in lcoal neighborhoods though and not near tourist sites, the food is better and not as expensive.

lol...you basically just listed all of the reasons i was thinking of hitting up Rome at all. neither of us care for large crowds, and would prefer the countryside more often than not, but imo can’t really go to Rome/Italy and NOT see those things

I second hitting up the Vatican even if not religious. Hell, I loved it, it's amazing. We did a Viator tour (those are curated and all amazing wherever you end up going). The art is breathtaking, and the stories behind it are as well, which is why I would recommend a tour rather than on your own.

And the Trastevere neighborhood is super cool. Hit that up for happy hour if you're there on a Friday. Free buffets at every cafe/bar. And maybe take a day or half day to have no plans and just walk around the city and neighborhoods.

the other question is packaged tour, self-guided, or a mix...

we did a packaged tour in Costa Rica, but would definitely do our own thing if/when we go back

sounds like at least for Rome, a packaged deal might be a good consideration

Following this as wife and I are thinking of getting passports and traveling internationally for our 10th next summer.

I think Spain or Italy would be incredible. Probably the top of my list.

TraditionKU wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 4:49 pm the other question is packaged tour, self-guided, or a mix...

we did a packaged tour in Costa Rica, but would definitely do our own thing if/when we go back

sounds like at least for Rome, a packaged deal might be a good consideration

No, do on your own, but get some day tours through Viator, mixed in with days on your own.

Oh, if you do Rome, there's a pass you can buy that gets you into all the major tourist sites and let's you skip the line for at least some, like the Coliseum. Get that.

now all i can think about is National Lampoon’s European Vacation

“Look kids...Big Ben, Parliament...”

32 consecutive times

Italy is the obvious one but knowing Trad as much as one can, I almost feel Australia/New Zealand would be the better choice.

Natural beauty galore.

pdub wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 6:05 pm Italy is the obvious one but knowing Trad as much as one can, I almost feel Australia/New Zealand would be the better choice.

Natural beauty galore.

and there you have it

both will undoubtedly get done, but given the occasion i’m leaning towards Italy/Greece

Not having been to Europe, I would chooose Spain/Portugal or Northern Italy. Probably get a Eurail pass if those are still a thing. My kid went to Croatia a couple years ago and loved it.