DelDavis
.
Hello everyone.
My wife and I are planning to go somewhere out of town for the 2008/2009 winter holiday, approximately December 24 through January 3. We're looking for excellent food and good feng shui (interpret that as you will).
Do you have any recommendations?
We're on the east coast of the United States, and we've narrowed down the choice to:
My wife and I are planning to go somewhere out of town for the 2008/2009 winter holiday, approximately December 24 through January 3. We're looking for excellent food and good feng shui (interpret that as you will).
Do you have any recommendations?
We're on the east coast of the United States, and we've narrowed down the choice to:
- North America.
- Europe.
- Elsewhere.
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
A warm place perhaps?
I may be going to San Francisco after Xmas but before New Year's Eve.
How about sunny CA?
I may be going to San Francisco after Xmas but before New Year's Eve.
How about sunny CA?
DelDavis
.
Yes, we're considering the Napa Valley. The idea of going for a long, relaxed bicycle ride through wine country before imbibing has a strong appeal. Great food and drink options there. But we've ruled out SoCal, I think. Keeping it above San Francisco is what we'd do if we settle on California.
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
If we weren't going there (my wife is attending a conference, so there's no choice), I'd vote for Louisiana. Been to NO in your life? The French Quarter is an experience.
DelDavis
.
I've been to the French Quarter, wife has not. I think that might be a little more frenetic than what we're shooting for.
For anyone who's considering going there: If you have a biblical-sounding name, don't tell the guy wearing the sandwich board with the gospel quotations.
Roger Hicks
Mentor
India. No contest. (I've done it).
Cheers,
R.
Cheers,
R.
oftheherd
Mentor
Many places in Asia are still interesting and exotic. However, it really depends on what you are looking for. Do you have a preference? Perhaps something photogenic?
Frank1969
Member
I know an excellent Feng Shui hotel in Muscat, Oman called The Chedi. Nice climate in december. Otherwise the Old Cataract hotel in Aswan Egypt would be good. Also an wonderful climate in winter.
sockeyed
Well-known
I can strike several locations off of your list:
I live in Vancouver, right up the road from Seattle. You don't want to be in the Pac Northwest at Christmas unless you like low, grey skies and rain. The only reason to come is to ski (Whistler), but December is a bit early in the season.
I lived in Montreal for four years. Great city, but you'll be up to your eyeballs in snow. Go in the summer when the streets are throbbing with the best outdoor festivals imaginable.
In terms of places to go to, I know that you're American and have restrictions on going to Cuba, but is there a way that you can get to Havana? I would love to spend time there and elsewhere on the Island, particularly before Fidel buys the collective farm. The food is lousy though, unless you can live off of rum and cigars.
I love Turkey - it's a wonderful mix of ancient history (stunning Greek and Roman ruins), Ottoman history, blended Asian/European cultures and gorgeous landscapes. It's affordable, easy to get to and a wonderful place to travel. The food is great.
I'll second Roger's suggestion for India but only if you've got a fair amount of developing-world travel under your belt. It's very full on, but very rewarding and thrilling. Of course the food is fantastic and very varied around the country. I'm particularly fond of the southwest (Kerala state). If you'd like the feeling of southern India but with a lot less intensity, consider the beautiful island of Sri Lanka.
Southeast Asia is my annual stomping grounds, although it's definitely on the far side of the world from you. I would strongly recommend Vietnam and Laos, two of my favourite countries. Thailand I would give a pass. I find it overrun with tourists and not as interesting. The food all over SE Asia is stunning.
Happy choosing!
I live in Vancouver, right up the road from Seattle. You don't want to be in the Pac Northwest at Christmas unless you like low, grey skies and rain. The only reason to come is to ski (Whistler), but December is a bit early in the season.
I lived in Montreal for four years. Great city, but you'll be up to your eyeballs in snow. Go in the summer when the streets are throbbing with the best outdoor festivals imaginable.
In terms of places to go to, I know that you're American and have restrictions on going to Cuba, but is there a way that you can get to Havana? I would love to spend time there and elsewhere on the Island, particularly before Fidel buys the collective farm. The food is lousy though, unless you can live off of rum and cigars.
I love Turkey - it's a wonderful mix of ancient history (stunning Greek and Roman ruins), Ottoman history, blended Asian/European cultures and gorgeous landscapes. It's affordable, easy to get to and a wonderful place to travel. The food is great.
I'll second Roger's suggestion for India but only if you've got a fair amount of developing-world travel under your belt. It's very full on, but very rewarding and thrilling. Of course the food is fantastic and very varied around the country. I'm particularly fond of the southwest (Kerala state). If you'd like the feeling of southern India but with a lot less intensity, consider the beautiful island of Sri Lanka.
Southeast Asia is my annual stomping grounds, although it's definitely on the far side of the world from you. I would strongly recommend Vietnam and Laos, two of my favourite countries. Thailand I would give a pass. I find it overrun with tourists and not as interesting. The food all over SE Asia is stunning.
Happy choosing!
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35mmdelux
#Represent
Christmas is summer in Costa Rica. Inexpensive, great food, nice people, and beautiful vistas on the coast.
Paul
[if at all possisble skip the main city of San Jose and go straight to the west coast]
Paul
[if at all possisble skip the main city of San Jose and go straight to the west coast]
bob338
Well-known
if you're considering san francisco, check out this place...
http://www.cavallopoint.com/
it's in an old army base under the golden gate bridge(in a national recreation area) and is one of the nicest resorts i've ever been in. they just opened in may and i did a bunch of framing for the bar, so my wife and i eat there all the time. their restaurant is verging on world class, the food is amazing and the rooms are really beautiful. there are less expensive options in SF and Sausalito.
from cavallo point you can catch a bus or car to;
sausalito(3 minutes away)
or SF(15 minutes away)
or up to Napa(1.5 hours)
or to the coast beaches and lighthouse(35 minutes)
or to monterey(2 hours)
or to sausalito to take the ferry into SF
or to tiburon and ferry to angel island
or to SF and ferry onto alcatraz
and on and on.
one big positive about coming in winter is the lack of tourists. the only negative about the bay area in winter is the unpredictable weather. but when it rains, you can shop, go to movies(small art house in sausalito,) visit artist studios, etc...
can you tell i really like living here?
good luck.
bob
http://www.cavallopoint.com/
it's in an old army base under the golden gate bridge(in a national recreation area) and is one of the nicest resorts i've ever been in. they just opened in may and i did a bunch of framing for the bar, so my wife and i eat there all the time. their restaurant is verging on world class, the food is amazing and the rooms are really beautiful. there are less expensive options in SF and Sausalito.
from cavallo point you can catch a bus or car to;
sausalito(3 minutes away)
or SF(15 minutes away)
or up to Napa(1.5 hours)
or to the coast beaches and lighthouse(35 minutes)
or to monterey(2 hours)
or to sausalito to take the ferry into SF
or to tiburon and ferry to angel island
or to SF and ferry onto alcatraz
and on and on.
one big positive about coming in winter is the lack of tourists. the only negative about the bay area in winter is the unpredictable weather. but when it rains, you can shop, go to movies(small art house in sausalito,) visit artist studios, etc...
can you tell i really like living here?
good luck.
bob
micromontenegro
Well-known
Come to Los Roques: http://www.losroques.org/ Simply wonderfull, even if I say it
DelDavis
.
Any thoughts about Edinburgh for the holiday?