Mine is one I've wanted to take forever but may never have the time for -- a trip around the world, mostly by boat.

The very best vacation I could imagine would involve the participation of people who are no longer alive, to destinations that no longer exist as they once did. If I could have the very best vacation I could imagine, it would be my travel companions that would make it the best vacation ever. The destination would almost be beside the point. But here's where we would go:

Vienna in the 1900's.
Barcelona in the 1910's
Buenos Aires in the 1920's.
Beirut in the 1930's.
Havana in the 1940's.
Tangier in the 1950's.
London in the 1960's.
Rio de Janeiro in the 1970's.

Good point, msali. I still long for the trip to Nova Scotia with my Dad and the Bear that we talked about before my dad died.

I would want to stow away in msali's suitcase.

I would love to travel through Europe to India and Pakistan (yes, I know it's a bit of a dodgy journey these days once you get past Turkey). From India I'd like to go to Japan, and from there to Australia and New Zealand. Then I'd stop off in Hawaii, then on to North America, and I'd tour Canada, the USA and Mexico.

A house on the beach, relatively private but within walking distance to a restaurant or three, someplace wonderfully warm and sunny. If I have lots of books and a radio that's really all I need.

I would love to repeat my trip to Bali, which is pretty unoriginal but it was just so damn nice.
More time there and more days to surf and walk in the forest would be great.

I'd like to go on Senyar's trip, but with perhaps a few more countries though Asia so I can visit all the countries I've travelled to through work but saw not much more than airports and hotels.

A quiet cabin on a lake with lots of books (well, my kindle) and alcohol.

Travel always sounds great to me in theory but actually doing it tends to stress me out.

All-inclusive beach vacation. Crystal waters, sun, surf, great food, no annoying tourists around to bother me.

A house on the beach, relatively private but within walking distance to a restaurant or three, someplace wonderfully warm and sunny.

You just described our favorite vacation spot, Jekyll Island, Georgia. Everything is biking distance, including an incredible bookstore located in an old house. Can't wait to go back.

That's funny, jbickers, because I've actually been to Jekyll Island, way back in 1973. I bet it's changed a lot since then!

I want to go on msali's vacation, as long as we get to spend at least a month in each place.

Ooh, actually, unless my math skills are failing me (which is always a strong possibility), if we average about 7.5 weeks in each place, we can make the vacation a full year. So I'll vote for that.

And if I can't just copy someone else, then I think some sort of wine/food tour of France and Italy and Spain. Which is not at all original, but oh well.

Colonizing Mars.

I'm eyeing an Alaskan cruise/rail combination trip, with a couple days in Seattle before and a week in Vegas to warm up after, with an overnight side trip to the Grand Canyon (Jon's never been), including a helicopter ride to the bottom.

I've promised Jon New Orleans first, though. No hardship there -- I love New Orleans (I've been once before), and with a bourbon and oyster bar on every corner, it was made for Jon.

Other trips I'd love (and hope) to take: England/Ireland/Amsterdam combo; Hawaii (I'd love to rent a ittle place and the spend the whole summer there, explore the different islands and visit a good friend of ours), with a few days in L.A. on the way; Australia/New Zealand/Japan combo; Patagonia (I saw a great middle-of-nowhere resort right on the coast on one of Bourdain's shows and I'd love to go there -- you can practically see Antarctica); Italy (especially Florence and Venice) and Greece (especially the Greek Islands); Montreal; more Maine (Jon's family's near Portland), Key West, Caribbean, and Vegas.

I think I may need more than ten grand.

VW campervan, unlimited time, US and Canada.

Pips, if you do indeed visit A'dam I'll gladly buy you a beer and show you some sights.


Oh, and I can definitely recommend a lot of places in Italy. Rome, Tuscany, it's simply wonderful.

Back to Australia to see Tasmania, Northern Territory, South Australia, the Nullarbor Plain, and Perth, and also New Zealand.

Awesome, jouke... I hope to take you up on that someday. Ditto if you're ever in Gotham.

I would love to visit a bunch of the great cathedrals of Europe with the time and contacts to really see the construction and materials close up.

I'm already on it, and it's hell. :)

The best vacation I can imagine is the one that you never have to return from: permanent.

I'd be good with being able to loiter in Cali for a week or so after any training instead of having to return home ( required ).