Vacation spots

[metalchurch]

I really enjoyed reading your replies. She is going to Ocean City with her friend in a few weeks. I declined on that one. I'm trying to think of someplace better than that. I'd like to see the Grand Canyon, or the Moab in Utah, or the Redrocks. Niagra Falls would be awesome too.

[songsmith]

A few weeks ago, my wife and I went to St. Croix, in the US Virgin Islands. It was hot, but it was a wet, fetid, hellish heat. The people mostly lived in public housing, and referred to us as "white muddaf**kahs." Crystal got bitten by a centipede, which is kinda like a hornet-sting. Our flight home kept getting cancelled, resulting in a 12-hour total trip there and a 36-hour trip home.
Highpoints include the amazing scenery and great Puerto Rican food. That's pretty much it. Total cost: $3000
We went kayaking down the Raystown Branch the day after we got home. I enjoyed that far more. Many fish caught. Total cost: $10, including gas and a picnic lunch.
As of a few weeks ago, you didn't need a passport for USVI, but it was greatly appreciated. We sent for certified copies of our birth certificates from the state, which was far cheaper, $10 each, I think. You also need driver's license or other ID. However, your license only establishes your address, not citizenship.
Next year I want to drive around down south looking for good places to eat. No flying.-------->JMS

[BDR]

I haven't been the same since Forest Zoo and Storybook forest closed though....

Amen ...

r:>)

[mjb]

i seldomly have a great time when on vacation on foreign soil, mainly island vacations. it seems i don't really care for the food and am worrying about getting food poisoning most of the time or am worried about somebody doing something stupid and then me having to something even stupider. the scenery is nice in the islands but mostly its poverty everywhere and i don't feel safe, like i do in the good ol' USof A just somethin about them island folk i don't trust totally, you always have to be on guard it seems. fuck that. that's not vacation to me. i'm heading to jersey in a couple of weeks where i can feel safe amongst the debri and hypodermic needles on the beach. yeah baby!

[Little Devil Girl]

Passports are not needed until Feb 08 in Canada.

[YankeeRose]

A few weeks ago, my wife and I went to St. Croix, in the US Virgin Islands. It was hot, but it was a wet, fetid, hellish heat. The people mostly lived in public housing, and referred to us as "white muddaf**kahs." Crystal got bitten by a centipede, which is kinda like a hornet-sting. Our flight home kept getting cancelled, resulting in a 12-hour total trip there and a 36-hour trip home.
Highpoints include the amazing scenery and great Puerto Rican food. That's pretty much it. Total cost: $3000
We went kayaking down the Raystown Branch the day after we got home. I enjoyed that far more. -------->JMS

Maybe I should start another thread, titled "Vacation Horror Stories"? I have a few, but the one that relates to your trip to St. Croix Songsmith, was the trip my 2 oldest children, sister and youngest nephew took to Disney in June '96. The first mistake was JUNE, as you said the heat "was a wet, fetid, hellish heat". My inhaler was my best friend. Every chance I got, I went into an air conditioned gift shop. We went to MGM and I went on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and even spent a day at a water park. The morning we were packing up and preparing for our flight back to PA, there was some news of Marines being killed in Lebanon by a terrorist bombing. My sister and I discussed it, and I stated something about the "damn ragheads". Our flight's departure to Baltimore was delayed. The attendants said something about there being too much static electricity in the air from a brief storm that had just passed through. So, we sat and waited, eventually our plane took off and the flight was un-eventful until it was almost over. Not a cloud in the clear blue sky mind you, but as the plane made a small turn as we were getting near the airport - we weren't even on approach yet - it began to shake so violently that everyone thought that was IT...my children, sister, nephew and I all said "I Love you" to one another, ready for the worst, and the landing was ROUGH! The attendants acted as if nothing was out of the ordinary, and when asked why the plane shook like that, said they didn't know what we were talking about. My sister has flown since then, but I don't care if I ever do. We were informed that due to the delay in FL, we had missed our connecting flight to Allentown. Not to worry though, they had arranged "ground transportation". My sister went in another vehicle. My children and I ended up being driven 80-90 mph along I-95 by a man who we learned was Iranian by birth. He had on talk radio to try and learn English better.
He discussed Football (Soccer.) with my 7 1/2 year old daughter, who'd been playing for 2 years, telling her that in Iran, she wouldn't be allowed to play Football. Out of the blue, he discussed Iranian "gun control" with us..."first time you caught with gun, hand chopped off, second time you, whole family killed." My children's eyes were as big as saucers! At one point, the topic on the radio was the recent bombing, and I then deeply regretted my "damn ragheads" comment that morning. I gave "the look" that only a mother can give, to try and warn my children to keep their mouths shut on that subject! Next thing we knew, POP, whap, whap, whap! Yep, one of the rear tires had blown out - we were LUCKY it was a rear tire, with how fast he had been driving! All of our luggage had to be taken out so he could get the spare. There the kids and I were, standing on the side of the MD highway...and a MD state trooper comes along and has the kids get in back of the guard rails. Oh yeah, I have the photos to prove it! It was such a relief when we finally got to Allentown, only 15 minutes or so after my sister and nephew! All's well that ends well, but I don't care if I ever fly again...there are even cruises to and from the British Isles! Of course, I foresee another Titanic-like disaster happening if I were to do that. Also, for all the $ Disney cost, I enjoy trips to Knoebels far more - I didn't even get wet on "Splash Mountain", I'm sure to get soaked on "The Skloosh"!

[redawg]

Ever been to Key West?

[Bag]

Ever been to Key West?

coughhomocough...

[JustinGelvin]

Cancun,
I went this past Feb and honest to god it was the most wicked trip ive ever been on. As soon as you get there they are treating you like a rockstar. Little mexican dudes are carrying your bags, throwing alcohol are you, and just spoiling you to no end. It was all inclusive, so it was free room service 24/7, a fridge in your room that they fill with beer 3 times a day, the resort had 9 bars, 9 restaurants, hot tubs, pools, and anything else you would want to do. I mean if your into 90 degree weather, drinking from the time you wake up till the time you passout, and hanging out at the beach, this is the place for you. God it was amazing, im definately going back in Feb.
Check this place out...

http://www.dreamsresorts.com/cancun/index.html

[ZappasXWife]

sounds cool Justin....I too LOVE traveling to other countries...I have done the resort route and loved it (albeit not really a true foreign experience as you are so protected at the resorts) but also traveled free-form in other places like Mexico and Asia and I always had an excellent, relaxed, safe experience, and people were very friendly and helpful.

mjb said...

the scenery is nice in the islands but mostly its poverty everywhere and i don't feel safe, like i do in the good ol' USof A just somethin about them island folk i don't trust totally, you always have to be on guard it seems.

maybe you have a specific reason for saying this, but my experiences and feelings were never like this. My opinion is this country WANTS you to feel paranoid and think there is no country as good as USA and they do this in so many ways. Most of it is BS IMO. Their paranoid Homeland Security idea about passports has paralyzed those offices and now they have to change their own rules, the idiots. Thank God, as I have been waiting for my daughter's passport for 10 weeks now. Check out Yahoo news to see what I mean.

[slink]

The best beach that I've visited I in the US of A, would be hands down, Clearwater Florida ( I know Florida is almost like a foreign country ). Clean beaches and if the weather is calm the water really is clear.

As for out of country experiences, about 3 years ago my wife and I went with another couple to Aruba. The best vacation we've ever had. The beach was beatiful and the locals were OK. Great snorkeling.

[YankeeRose]

Ever been to Key West?

Is that an invitation? j/k No, the furthest into FL I've been is Orlando/Kissimee, at seemingly the wrong time of year, the third week in June. Let me guess, there's "trade winds" in Key West - or is every place equipped with arctic a/c? Good to see you on RockPage!




Cancun in February would be most excellent! My sister's been there and went to Cozumel. Clearwater sounds awesome, too. I want to see water like that, one of these days!




As far as running into jerks, I've run across PLENTY in this country. I've never had a problem with Canadians. I once briefly entered Mexico, crossing from Laredo, TX to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. The contrast between the old and "nuevo" was startling. There were some children begging, and others selling Chiclets gum for .10¢ on the sidewalks - every time I see that gum for sale somewhere, I think of them. Some dude "guided" us to a parking space - we gave him $1. He actually watched the car until our return, we gave him another $1 and from his reaction, you'd have thought it was $100! The entire visit was depressing. I'll also never forget back at Ft. Hood, hearing some of the women, mostly officer's wives - who were from all across America - BRAG about when they all went to Nuevo Laredo and the "steals" they got when they refused to pay any amount the seller asked. Instead, they insisted on paying a very paltry sum or nothing, for the hand-made dresses, purses, hats, shawls, et cetera, of these extremely poor people. They were proud of themselves! Yet, these same women would not have given a second thought to throwing away loads of money on cheaply-made crap in "fine department stores".




The most fun I ever had at a Northeast beach was Wildwood, NJ, boogey boarding with my children and nephews in the Ocean, as well as going to the water parks on the piers. Their amusement piers are excellent - my oldest son and I rode the one roller coaster at least 20 times, if not more. I always forget it's name, but it's the wooden one. "GOOD TIMES!"

[FreebirdSucks]

Montreal - lots to do and take in. English speaking city inside of Quebec, whereas Quebec City is Francophone. St Catherine's offers lots to see and take in, totally new culture..

Iceland is nice, also

[redawg]

Exactly how am I supposed to take a comment like that? Yes, there are gay people here. Yes, there are even a few gay bars here. It's still one of the most popular vacation spots in the world. Come down and check it out, you'll see why. Sup yankee rose It is really hot here. Lots of peeps here have a/c but it messes up my sinus cavity so I don't use it. When you have to sing 5 or 6 days a week (2 shows a day often) you have to take care of your nose and throat. Miss all of you back in Pennsylvania

[CHICKSINGA]

We've been all over the country but Kauai in 1996 and 5 times to New Orleans Jazz Fest were the best!

[Larry]

I really liked Hollywood. We went to the Whiskey-a-Go-Go and the Viper Room for live music and toured around some of the touristy parts of LA. Then we drove out to Palm Desert and checked out a few places.

Paris was amazing from an artisic standpoint. The buildings and bridges are very beautiful. Also, I visited Jim Morrison's final reating place there.

However, nothing beats getting a buzz and stumbling down Bourbon Street in New Orleans. I love wandering in and out of the bars and listening to all types of live music.

Other notables: Nashville TN, Las Vegas, Newport Rhode Island, New York City, Niagra Falls, San Francisco, Austin TX, South Beach Miami.