_ _ __ __ _ _____ _ _ _
/ \ ___| | __ | \/ | ___| |_ __ _| ___(_) | |_ ___ _ __
/ _ \ / __| |/ / | |\/| |/ _ \ __/ _` | |_ | | | __/ _ \ '__|
/ ___ \\__ \ < | | | | __/ || (_| | _| | | | || __/ |
/_/ \_\___/_|\_\ |_| |_|\___|\__\__,_|_| |_|_|\__\___|_|
querying the hive mind
Marriage is hard. Anniversary planning is harder
Our 20th anniversary is coming up and we're looking for trip ideas (not gifts).
I'm not saying what we like, because we've already done the stuff we like--we're interested in how other people would choose to celebrate and what they'd do. So let us steal your dream idea!
Only hard requirements are logistical:
-Has to be sometime between June, July or August.
-We'll be departing from Chicago.
-Max 8 days away (including travel time), minimum 4 nights on location.
-Easy travel and transition is key.
We were thinking safari, but the combination of fight changes, time zone differences, and movement between camps just didn't work with our maximum time available. There's no hard limit on the flight time or time zone changes, but if two ideas are close, the shorter flight/less jet lag would be a big plus.
Assume no budget. We have one but can always try to build a cheaper version of an idea.
Thanks!
posted by limagringo on May 08, 2024 at 5:35 AM
---------------------------
Come to the Big Island. Hotels are pricy but you can hike, bike, beach, and such for little or no cost. Less touristy than the other islands but easy flights.
posted by billsaysthis at 5:41 AM
---------------------------
I enjoyed an all-inclusive in Jamaica for our 10th. I'd love to repeat it, but July in the Caribbean might not be as much fun as October.
I'd seriously consider South America. Or if the budget really is no object, New Zealand?
posted by DigDoug at 5:48 AM
---------------------------
We spent our 20th (2022) in Hudson, NY enjoying the fall foliage and spending more time outside than money.
Happy anniversary!
posted by terrapin at 5:52 AM
---------------------------
Flights to Cancun from Chicago are relatively quick and inexpensive. Cancun is blah, but it's the gateway to the Yucatan, where you can visit cities, lie on quiet beaches, explore nature reserves and Mayan ruins, and swim in cenotes.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 6:05 AM
---------------------------
We like active vacations. Our favourites have been cycling in the Netherlands and hiking (walking) in the UK and Spain. Something like Macs Adventures has a search engine for length of trip, time of year, level of fitness required, etc.
posted by TORunner at 6:26 AM
---------------------------
We're spending a month in northern New Mexico for ours. We do not like hot weather, and in June-Aug Santa Fe might be on the bubble by our standards during the days sometimes (you'd definitely want A/C just in case) but has lovely light-jacket nights. It looks like Taos runs even warmer during the days in summer. There are a number of appealing spas around Santa Fe along with the usual eating-shopping-sightseeing options.
If you're safari people, you might find package tours in Alaska that are a little less travel-intense but you'll get midnight sun. There's some very cool options for summer travel in Alaska, including a rail line with those glass-roof observation cars - which would be a big pull for me.
Iceland, of course.
Argentina is currently the only South American country that's at a State Department 1; Chile and Uruguay are 2s for a bit of civil unrest and higher crime. Chile is extremely on my bucket list, so much that I can't even pick one area to recommend (though I guess Patagonia in winter is maybe for hardcore winter-lovers only).
posted by Lyn Never at 6:28 AM
---------------------------
If I were planning such a trip, I would make it a multi-stop excursion centered around the hobbies or interests of myself and my spouse. So, for example, we'd look for cities that have excellent vegan restaurants, and we'd try to hit up other locales that have science museums, hiking trails, wineries, stores that sell fermented foods, scenic areas where we could take photographs, places where we could rent a boat, museums featuring exhibits of artists we like, etc. Granted, this might make for a hectic, whirlwind tour as you travel from one place to another, but some people (like myself) would enjoy it.
posted by akk2014 at 6:29 AM
---------------------------
Do what I call a "land cruise". That is a train trip that is like a sea cruise. The train takes you to a different site every day, you have the option to take one or more off-train excursions, you get back on the train and repeat. You get to visit a bunch of destinations, but unpack only once. I think these aren't in my budget, but I'd like to do it.
In Japan:
* Twilight Express Mizukaze
* Train Suite Shiki-Shima
* Cruise Train "Seven Stars in Kyushu"
In Scotland -- Belmond Royal Scotsman
In Australia -- The Ghan
You might be able to find some others, but those are the some the ones I know of from my question about these.
posted by NotLost at 6:30 AM
---------------------------
I loved Helsinki, and if I were doing a dream trip in the summer it would a Nordic/Baltic (in the case of Finland) tour of some kind.
Another dream trip of mine would be a scholar-led trip. For me it would probably be Carthage so not necessarily a summer one, but just tossing ideas out for you.
posted by warriorqueen at 6:54 AM
---------------------------
Eight days in Iceland, driving around the ring road in a campervan, in June so warm and incredibly long days, is bliss. We did this before and it was so fantastic that we're going to do it again. But next time we will add a couple extra days to detour onto the peninsula that juts out to the northwest.
posted by intermod at 6:54 AM
---------------------------
Yeah, Iceland. Short flight. Long days. Tons to do. Looks like New Zealand and Mars had a baby.
posted by cocoagirl at 7:00 AM
---------------------------
Galapagos.
posted by Enid Lareg at 7:01 AM
---------------------------
Safari is definitely one of my dream ideas. The other (likely more practical) one, is we're big EDM fans and I'd love to go to London or Berlin or wherever, going to as many DJ sets as we can cram in in a week and eating all the food.
posted by joycehealy at 7:16 AM
---------------------------
I'd fly to London for a day, the take the train down to Southampton and catch QM2 for a west bound transatlantic run.
posted by minervous at 7:22 AM
---------------------------
Canal boat cruises? For long, lazy days on a barge accommodating 6-12 passengers in various countries in Europe, mostly France. That was just the first link. Here's another. Spendy, though. For inspiration, search out books by Emily Kimbrough, published in the 50s.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 7:46 AM
---------------------------
If budget is really not an issue, I'd stay in a private over water bungalow in Bali or the Maldives.
posted by RobotNinja at 9:41 AM
---------------------------
Costa Rica...Eco tours and walks above the tree canopy. Birds, lots.
posted by Czjewel at 9:48 AM
---------------------------
This might be too low-key compared to the other ideas, but my spouse and I love anniversary tandem bike rides. We get a good long period of working together and chatting with no possible device intrusion. Ideally, we ride to some kind of lovely inn where we can stay the night and have dinner before heading back. When we get to a bigger round number, we'll plan for a bigger, longer European bike tour.
posted by juliapangolin at 10:18 AM
---------------------------
Iceland or Alaska.
posted by notjustthefish at 10:38 AM
---------------------------
We just spent our 10th anniversary at Slickrock in Glover's Atoll, Belize. Highly recommend if you like adventurous vacations. We did a ton of snorkeling with guides, plus kayaking and windsurfing. Accommodations are pretty rustic (no AC, composting toilets separate from the cabins). We were definitely on the younger side of the guests there so I think it would be fine for a 20th anniversary. We originally got the recommendation from Ask Metafilter and it was a good one. We definitely go back.
posted by carolr at 12:02 PM
---------------------------
San Sebastian and Andalusia.
posted by pazazygeek at 12:03 PM
---------------------------
Direct flights from Chicago include Tokyo, very easy to get around Japan by train from there. Summers in the cities are hot though, but splitting time by going up the mountains would be lovely.
Similarly direct flights to Seoul. Not quite as picturesque as Tokyo, but Korea has lot to see. Although, I might continue to Vietnam, Cambodia or Thailand from there. Ii.e., do few days in Seoul and then head to somewhere bit more exotic and exciting.
Fly to Manaus in Brazilian Amazon and go to a luxury lodge upriver. Check the times/ seasons. Flights through Panama City, Panama mean that you don't have to fly all the way to Sao Paulo and can get few days at beach if you want.
Or stay in Panama. Easy flights, very compact. Drive around, but then fly to San Blas islands and stay a coral reef island hosted by the Kuna Indians.
Second Galápagos Islands. Cheaper way to do a cruise is to get flights to the islands with some extra time padded into the schedule and negotiate with the companies and agents by WhatsApp & email until the very last minute.
Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley. Rent a rar if you're not too timid driver. Outside Cusco driving is easy.
Columbia -- Cartagena.
posted by zeikka at 3:07 PM
---------------------------
We did an Alaskan cruise with these folks for a significant anniversary and it was a great experience. These are very small boats so no crowds and an ability to get into much smaller ports than the usual cruise. They depart from Alaskan ports so you don't spend half the trip just getting to the good stuff. They are staffed mostly by locals so you get more a feel for real life and you get to see an amazing mix of nature and Alaskan history. We are not cruise people - this is our one and only but it was memorable.
posted by metahawk at 4:02 PM
---------------------------
My recs with an emphasis on relatively easy travel times.
Montreal/Quebec: easy bit of easy Europe not too far away
Alaska: wildlife, long summer days
British Columbia: views, ease
Portugal: easy access Europe, not as busy or as hot as other EU places
Barcelona and Catalunya: city, beach, mountains in Europe, not as hot as many EU places
Costa Rica: wildlife, summer is the rainy season and not busy as other times
Scotland/Ireland: mild weather, lots of culture, speaks English
Mexico City: the weather in CDMX is fairly mild all year round, in summer it rains and clears everything up, so much going on in this city
Second Argentina, Chile and Peru, but those might be a bit more long haul than you want. But you can definitely fly direct to Cuzco and see Macchu Picchu. I did this for a milestone birthday.
posted by vunder at 4:16 PM
---------------------------
We went to New Mexico (Albuquerque and Santa Fe) for our 20th and really enjoyed it, but then again, we're the kind of people who went to Arkansas for our honeymoon, so [shrugs].
posted by daisystomper at 5:00 PM
---------------------------
I am celebrating my 20th anniversary on the big island right now, so obviously that is the correct answer. Although I cannot endorse Iceland strongly enough.
posted by adamrice at 7:52 PM
---------------------------
We went to the Galapagos in part to celebrate my 50th bday earlier this year and it was amaaaazing. There's not much of a time difference (it's on MST) . Eight days would be a great trip. June-July-August is the low(er) season so there are deals to be had.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 11:42 AM
---------------------------