Help me decide where to travel this autumn!

but there is no poll here.

Tsk. So slow!



I think you should go to Bulgaria and/or Romania. I once worked with someone from Bulgaria and what she had to tell about how it was growing up there fascinated me.

Then, I think you should NOT spend three weeks at Vince's house but maybe a weekend, and then hop around and visit some of the rest of us too. I bet you could get a number of visits lined up. Then you could be "the one in the know" about "what they're really like". Definitely visit Haggis. I feel sure you'd be welcome. We'll fix you up with a body cam in advance, and stuff.

I was going to say Bulgaria, too. *highfives Kylabelle*

My son spent 3 weeks in Bulgaria with his girlfriend's family. He absolutely loved it. He came home with some "artifacts" I'm a little worried to have...clay amphora-shaped things. Not ancient, but not young. *gulp* The girlfriend's uncle is an amateur archaeologist and has loads of things in the house. Suffice it to say, LOTS of history, gorgeous mountains with lots of hiking and varying landscapes. And of course, The Black Sea is to die for. And you'll be there at the grape harvest (or shortly after).

The Bulgarians are very warm people in my experience.

Do stay away from cray's house. I know you have a thing...you could get there and never leave.

New Orleans is a must. If not now, sometime. I've never been past the Mississippi (except to cross the bridge into AK from Memphis to say we did) and even I've been to NOLA several times

You don't have to party like an animal there. There's so much else to do! But I would walk around when folks are partying, because you have to see that aspect. Find a bar and just listen to the music Then go to Cafe Du Monde and have a coffee.

I don't know what else there is to enjoyably see across the deep south, because things are spread out enough to make for uncomfortable times in the heat. There are some plantations nearby. Some cruises are fun! If you can visit a bayou, that would be awesome. But it's going to be very humid and buggy to do some of that. I wouldn't make a whole day of it without having a nice cafe with air conditioning to recharge in!

That's actually a cool idea!
My suggestions (although I like yours, except for the eggplant part!)
Wales (History! Gorgeous! Go up to Snowdon, yeah, beaches but not like Aruba beaches!)
I know you said no beaches...but...blow the budget (is there one?) and go to the Seychelles! Far, far away from anywhere else!
Mendicino California, yeah more beaches but relaxing, fun, kinda gone to tourist seed but still...lovely place
Steamboat Springs, CO. No beaches! I spent a lot of time there when I was in grad school (CSU- had a ski condo there) and in the fall it is fabulous. High country...aspen...great hikes, I don't cycle but there is a trail through town along the Yampa...the hot springs
I would totally say Montana but our falls (in the nw) are dicey- can be nice but can also be grey, rainy and cold.

anyway...fun!!!!

so could we.

CassandraW said:

I'm afraid to visit cray after what he did to HitchBOT.

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I knew that was all bluster.

We went to New Orleans last year for a week for my 65th birthday. I fell in love. I still go to nola.com almost every day to see what music things and food related festivals I'm missing. Go to NO in late October or early November. Halloween there (which was an accident of scheduleing) was a hoot. If you decide on NO, I'd be glad to give you info on where we ate, where we listened to music, and what 'sights' we took in. We didn't rent a car, stayed in the French Quarter, and walked miles every day.

MM

and, yes, you need a vacation

New Orleans is my favorite US city. Mac forgot to mention satsumas, which are a wonderful lovely type of tangerine. You can have as much fun as you want in NOLA, and everything except Bourbon Street is quite kid friendly if you have little ones with you. Even then, Bourbon Street isn't as nutso as people might think, especially during the day and if the kids are old enough to not be shocked by nudity, drunkeness and drug deals going on pretty much in the open. Hey, real people living real life. The food is absolutely beyond divine, and the atmosphere is very free and libertine without the chintz of Vegas. History too! Autumn is the perfect time to go, since it's not likely to be 100 F with 95% humidity (and therefore less stinky--the city does have an odor). The alligators are still out if you go early enough, which makes the swamp tours more worth it.

Fly into Memphis (do Beale Street!) and drive down Highway 61 through Mississippi if you are a fan of Blues music. Eat at the Blue and White in Tunica, MS. Get the fried chicken.

I haven't been to NOLA since the hurricane (wow! 10 years already!). I might have to remedy this at some point soon

CassandraW said:

I have friends in Jackson, Mississippi, and I had some thoughts, if I did New Orleans, of starting there and driving south to New Orleans. And yes, if I did that, I absolutely planned to work some blues (and some jazz) into my trip.

Fun fact -- I met my Mississippi friends in Greece (on the island of Santorini). They've been up to New York since, and left me with an open invitation to come down and see them in Jackson.

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11-year former Mississippi resident here. There isn't much to see along I-55 between Jackson and New Orleans. Go west to Vicksburg, see the battlefield, then follow the river to historic Natchez. The Windsor mansion is near Natchez, and burned in the 1890s but all the stone columns are still standing. Good and spooky!

A lot of people enjoy the Gulf Coast through Mississippi, Alabama and Florida (the "Redneck Riviera") but unless you like casinos or beaches there isn't much else. I'd strongly suggest, as I did earlier, starting in Memphis, seeing your friends in Jackson, then see Vicksburg and continue along the river to NOLA.

If you are going to drive, and stay in the French Quarter, plan on $35-$75 per night (yes, I really mean per night) in garage fees.

MM

I'm a genealogy hound. Go to Lithuania.

If you do go to Memphis, get ribs at the Golden Rendezvous if it's still around, and definitely visit the Peabody Hotel when they are leading the mallards to the fountain pool inside the lobby It's a gorgeous lobby anyway - grab a glass of wine, too, and lounge a bit!

Just do whatever you want. Gah! Stop hassling us!

But Germany. The Black Forest.