Italy is the place that I’m most looking forward to returning to out of everywhere I have been. I have spent a good amount of time in France and Spain, and while I’m looking forward to exploring both place many more times, Italy is my favorite in that part of the world for the food, culture and natural beauty. My favorite big city in the world is London and we made a promise to ourselves that we will find the time to go back every 2-3 years.

Would love to go back to Japan now that I’m not an extremely poor student. Would also love to go to Korea and eat for a week.

For local trips, I love Santa Barbara, Palm Desert, SF and Carmel/Monterey. We try to do some sort of combo of those every year for a long weekend. We like doing long weekends in NY, Chicago and Seattle to name a few. Would like to do a golf and bbq trip at some point in the mid-west. This list could go on and on.

quote:

Originally posted by scbeerman:

good golf and good food is high on my list.

When I played in Ireland last year, all the locals said they fly to Portugal to play.

I have a friend from Ireland here in Dallas, and she said the same thing.

quote:

Originally posted by Nimitz:
Gotta' be San Bernardino or Compton. I'm a masochist and these places really appeal to my latent, self-loathing.

Try Richmond, CA

The locals in Ireland were looking for warmer temps. Ireland has at least 20 world class courses, and I have not heard of one in Portugal.

quote:

Originally posted by scbeerman:
The locals in Ireland were looking for warmer temps. Ireland has at least 20 world class courses, and I have not heard of one in Portugal.

...and cheaper beerman. Ireland is broke and nearly destitute by their complete socialism. The stories I could share with you could be a Ph.D level study at the Wharton business school.

They fly to Portugal for the week, play 27 holes a day, eat and drink with great freedom, fly business class and still have money to burn compared to their homeland.

Let's chat the next time we share wine together.

Socialism or their imitation of our fraudulent real estate/mortgage securitization scandal? Or some combination thereof?

Oh yeah, Scotland is great also.

Paris-- culture, food, wine, people, ambiance. I absolutely love walking the streets, pretty much aimlessly, for hours.

Prague, London, and Barcelona are my and my wife's other favourites, but Paris holds a very powerful place in our hearts. And San Francisco, for exactly the same reasons as Paris, is high up there as well.

That said, we're looking at Antarctica at the end of this year. Gonna eat me some penguin!

quote:

Ireland is broke and nearly destitute by their complete socialism .

quote:

[Some of the Irish] fly to Portugal for the week, play 27 holes a day, eat and drink with great freedom, fly business class and still have money to burn compared to their homeland.

Which is totally the sign of socialism run amuck! (And has nothing to do with unregulated investment markets and irresponsible government austerity measures)

W+A,

I am sure that you have stories on the Irish economy, and I agree with your assessment of socialism. As far as the golf, I know that the top tier courses in Ireland are pricey, as the tour operators have different rates. Since I only go every three years, I am glad to pay for the "lifetime" experiece. The Portugese golf experience seems similar to what we have in Myrtle Beach, lots of good golf and sun (hopefully cold beer fits in here) for reasonable prices.

Spent 3 months in Australia, loved every minute, especially the people. I'd probably park in Sydney, but Byron Bay is very laid back as well.

Florence is my favorite in Italy, and after my wife's first visit 6 years ago, she agrees. As noted, everything you want, all within walking distance.

Strictly beauty, Hawaii has to be it; pick an island, each more beautiful than the next.

Florence and Siena, Lake Como, and the Irish countryside in County Cork.

Beaches of Rio
Cliffside restaurants of Oia, Santorini
Franschhoek a short drive from Cape Town
Scenery of Stellenbosch wine region
Diving on Great Barrier Reef
Biking the hills of Woodside, CA
Highlands, N Carolina
West end of Curacao
Back bowls of Vail
Top of 99 Chair at Canyons
Santa Margheritta, Italy
Incas Trail, Peru

Ardeis in Seminole

quote:

Originally posted by scbeerman:
W+A,

I am sure that you have stories on the Irish economy, and I agree with your assessment of socialism.

Beermen, you will not believe the stories I was told by taxi drivers, bartenders, hotel managers, restaurant owners and such. Their people under 30 are exiting the country like they did in 1900.

I have a friend here from Ireland, and she warned me. There is an inn and bar in Cork that has been there since the 1800's with my last name, and the current owners children are thinking of moving in lieu of taking over the business from their parents.

Also, please understand I'm not saying go play golf in Portugal in lieu of Ireland, not in the least. That would be silly. I was only saying I was shocked how the Irish went to Portugal to play golf instead of playing in Ireland and Scotland. ($$$)

I'm getting lots of great ideas for my next vacation!



Keep them coming!

The reason that the Irish flee to other places for golf is that the famous Irish courses charge us "crazed" golfers big money to play the bucket list courses.

VB - I have been to Florence (not the town that I grew up in in SC) and Lake Como. Totally agree.

quote:

Originally posted by scbeerman:
The reason that the Irish flee to other places for golf is that the famous Irish courses charge us "crazed" golfers big money to play the bucket list courses.

Trust me, I understand.

Uluwatu, Bali, Inndonesia: Inexpensive, country, laid back, and close proximity to world-class barrels. Plus the wife can shop her hearts content up north island.

Kandui resort is my bucket list.

quote:

Originally posted by Jabe11:
Uluwatu, Bali, Inndonesia: Inexpensive, country, laid back, and close proximity to world-class barrels. Plus the wife can shop her hearts content up north island.

Kandui resort is my bucket list.

Ahh... Balangan beach. I would love to take my wife to stay at Alila for a few days and then to the Ubud Hanging gardens for a few more.

Most visually impressive: Close call between Bora Bora, Yosemite, and Queenstown, NZ

Most culturally impressive: Rome

Most frequently visited and thoroughly enjoyed every time: San Luis Obispo County, CA