Vacations We Remember!

The Hawaiian Vacation! (Why Didn't Clark Griswold and Family Come Here for One of Their Vacations?)
I can think of a lot of things that could have made Hawaii an excellent Griswold vacation! Just think about Clark and Ellen and family trying surfing, attempting to hula at a luau, eating poi and poke, horseback riding, experiencing shave-ice, driving on the Like-Like highway, and other Hawaii-kine activities. Some of them are presented here in an attempt to help you plan your vacation in the islands! (So much to do and so little time!)

Montana -- The Big Sky Country!
Montana has a lot of SKY .... why? Because it's the fourth largest state in the United States--after Alaska, Texas, and California... so obviously, with all that land, there's a lot of sky. (Weird logic, but it works!) The west side of Montana is mountainous-- lots of snow, lots of lakes, fishing, skiing, hunting, boating, and other great outdoor activities. The east side of Montana is fairly flat and grassy -- lots of wheat, corn, and grazing land, but also with lots of lakes, fishing, hunting, boating, and other great outdoor activities. With all the stuff going on outdoors, it's no wonder that folks notice the *big sky*! This Squidoo lens will give you some more information on this great state of Montana!

New Mexico -- Land of Enchantment!
For a touch of exotic, yet remaining in the good ol' U.S. of A. ... You can go to New Mexico. And the cool thing about it is this: 1.) New Mexico is a STATE of the United States! -- which means you don't need a passport to go there (unless, of course, you aren't a U.S. citizen and you are visiting the U.S. ... then you'd need a foreign passport. (*grin*) ), 2. Yes, you CAN drink the water (and you don't need to bring your own). 3. You'll find a mix of a bunch of cultures--but the big ones include the Native American (many tribes--Navajo, Hopi, Apache, Pueblo), Hispanic (Spanish and Mexican), and cowboy/rancher.... and most of the population are a blend of all three plus more. New Mexico has a "high-tech" side ... with the International Space Hall of Fame, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos Laboratory, the New Mexico State University Physical Science Laboratory, White Sands Missile Range (the location for the 1982 Columbia Space Shuttle landing), Kirtland Air Force Base, and Holloman Air Force Base (and some other miscellaneous bases).... and it has a "low-tech" and "exotic" side ... with Taos Pueblo, Acoma Pueblo, Santa Clara Pueblo, Governor's Palace in Santa Fe, Old Town Albuquerque, Old Mesilla, White Oaks Ghost Town, and Carlsbad Caverns (to name a few). New Mexico -- a Land of Enchantment and a Land of Contrasts!

Colorado -- Rocky Mountain High!
Home for many of the continental U.S.'s tallest mountains ... the whole state is higher than about 3500 feet. Denver is at 5200 feet -- thus the nickname "mile-high-city". Yup... the air is a tad thin here... if you plan on doing a lot of physical exercise here, you should acclimatize slowly so that you will build your endurance to the thinner air. If you like skiing, of course, there's Vail, Breckenridge, and Estes Park... you also have all sorts of other ski areas. You have ancient Native American ruins (like Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellers ruins in Southwestern Colorado, but you also have the high-tech areas like the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs! If you go there between July and June (yeah, namely, the whole year), there's a good chance you'll see snow. Somewhere. Mostly in the mountains, but it's also possible on the plains. Snow. They have it. There's a lot to see and do in Colorado -- and much of it involves mountains!

Viva Las Vegas! This is more of an amusement park for adults (but it's getting more and more friendly for kids, too)!
I first visited Las Vegas with my parents and sister while on a very long, extended "road trip"...(on our way for a long overseas journey) -- and at the time, as kids, my sis and I weren't that impressed (well, we were, sort of). But since then, I've been to Las Vegas a bunch of times--and each time I go there, I discover another side to this amazing destination. Yes, there are casinos and gambling, there are shows, bars, and a lot of glitz. But there is also amazing architecture, the unique Mojave desert environment, Hoover Dam, and other things you can see and do there. This Squidoo lens will give you more ideas about what you might be able to find there!

San Francisco Minivation (You can't see it all in a day, or two, or even three)... but ya gotta go!
Every time I go to San Francisco, I find new things to see and do. Just the stuff along the piers is interesting--the sea lions, the WWII submarines and troop ship, the restaurants and souvenir shops, and galleries. And then you have Chinatown, Union Square, Japantown, Crissy Field, Coit Tower, Lombard Street, the the Golden Gate, Golden Gate Park, and other attractions. This Squidoo lens describes some of this for you.

San Antonio, Texas!
You will not only remember the Alamo, but you'll also enjoy the Riverwalk, the Fiesta Del Noche nightly performances, and mariachi singers at many of the Mexican restaurants, and all the other sites and sights to see here in this amazing city.

Seattle, Washington
From the Space Needle that has become the icon and symbol of this amazing city, to Pikes Place Market to the Seattle Piers... there's a lot more about Seattle. The views of Mt. Rainier are amazing when the clouds lift, and Puget Sound is home for the famous orca (killer whales), and makes for a calm port for visiting ocean liners. This is truly an interesting destination for tourists.

Juneau, Alaska
If you are going%

Guam -- Tropical Paradise that's Still Part of the U.S. but is a Bit Farther than What You're Used to!
Again, Guam is a surprise! It's a U.S. Territory, So, yes, everyone here speaks English with a reasonable skill that's no different than most places in the U.S. ... They use U.S. currency, U.S. postage, U.S. customs, and so on. The driving rules (if you choose to drive) are similar to the U.S. mainland, and so are things like the car insurance, law enforcement, and so on. The education system is according to U.S. standards... and you can find U.S. "comfort food", as well as foods from almost everywhere else--including restaurants that serve Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Mexican, Filipino, and even German food. And, of course, you'll find McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Baskin Robbins, and other typical fast-food fare. But why am I talking about food? (Maybe I'm hungry)... What's really great about Guam is that it's fantastic for scuba divers and snorkelers -- the waters around Guam are teeming with a myriad of fishes and corals and organisms that are a mix of the Indo-Pacific region of islanders. If you like these underwater activities and underwater photography, then Guam will be heaven for you. But they also have beautiful beaches, interesting boonies full of interesting animals, and a friendly and happy population of locals who love to party--called *fiestas* on Guam. This lens is a compilation of my experiences on this wonderful island!

Snows of Hokkaido, Japan!
If you like snow-skiing, but in a more exotic place, try Hokkaido, Japan. The 1972 Winter Olympics were held in Sapporo, Japan on the Japanese main island of Hokkaido--so yes, they have snow! Hokkaido has a ruggedness that you don't find much of in the lower Japanese islands--and it resembles the geography of the U.S. states of Washington, Idaho, or Western Montana. You'll find fields with cows and horses, forests of pine and spruce trees, and volcanos ... well, yes, the volcanos might bring back images of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Hood, and Mt. Lassen, and Mt. Shasta of the Pacific Northwest.... and a few of the volcanos even resemble Japan's Mt. Fuji. And, there are ski resorts. This Squidoo lens describes what it's like to go on a skiing excursion holiday in Hokkaido, Japan.

The Philippines -- a land of islands (many islands), and exotic images....
This lens is a compilation of my experiences in the Philippines--from the beaches, to the cities, to the volcanos... and the animals and other wildlife there. Truly the tropics--yet there are places in the Northern Philippines (namely Baguio, in the northern area of Luzon island), where you'll find pine trees next to banana trees... and the need to put a log on a fire to fight off the night chill.

Hong Kong! The "Fragrant Harbour"
Sort of a "Gateway to the Orient"--Hong Kong is a bustling metropolis full of interesting and exotic things to see and do. This Squidoo lens describes a bit about this island off the coast of mainland China and the experiences I've had there.

Across from Hong Kong island is the home of "Nine Dragons" -- better known as Kowloon!
Kowloon is directly across Victoria Harbour from Hong Kong Island and is famous for all of the shopping and interesting things to see and do here.

Victoria, Vancouver Island, Capitol of British Columbia, Canada
This beautiful city on a beautiful Pacific Northwest Island has a most pleasant climate that creates bountiful gardens and exquisite scenery to thrill photographers and sight-seers alike. Whether you like exploring floral gardens like that of the Butchart Gardens or you like more adventure such as kayaking or whale watching, Victoria will meet your best expectations!

Camping Styles -- Different Ways for Different Places (and Times)
I grew up in a school teacher family--so every summer we'd hit the road and drive across the country--stopping at campgrounds for every night on our journey. Then, after I got married and had my own kids, we went camping with our kids during our summer vacations. These experiences are things you won't forget. Lots of fond memories here!

Snorkeling!
This is mostly a tropical or summer activity--but even so, its a great way to get acquainted with the underwater world of your vacation location.

Boonie-Stomping
Sometimes you just get the urge to go hiking in the boonies. On Guam, they've refined "boonie-stomping" to an art. A fun one, at that.

Surf's Up!
If you are vacationing in a tropical beach area, chances are good you might be able to take surfing lessons and be able to rent a surfboard. Or, if you're that skilled, you can bring your own surfboard.

Bicycling
Whether you are in San Francisco, Hawaii, or Napa Valley ... or in Boulder, Colorado, or Miami, you can usually find a place that will rent out bicycles. Again, if you prefer, you can bring your own!

Kayaking!
There are many ways to explore the world of kayaking -- in the tropics, like in Hawaii, or Guam, or the Philippines -- you won't need so much cold-weather gear. In the colder coastal waters of the U.S., you may need cold-weather gear. (In Alaska, you'll definitely need cold-weather gear.) Again, you can rent a kayak, or you can bring your own.

Hot Air Balloons
In many areas, you can find places that will rent out time in a hot-air balloon (with the pilot, of course). This makes for a unique vacation. And even if you don't go up in one, they also provide unique opportunities for amazing photography.

Backpacking!
State and national parks provide all sorts of trails at various levels of difficulty for backpackers and hikers--depending on your endurance ability and your skills in roughing it, you'll find lots of opportunities for trekking.

Flying Tours
Many scenic and adventure areas offer flying-tours -- Las Vegas by day or night, San Francisco Bay Area, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone Park, Alaska, the Everglades, and other places -- another way to have a unique aspect to your vacation.