What are your summer vacation plans?

[TooFarTampa]

I did a lot of research on CR and after ruling out all the really cool, treehouse type, boutique hotels, I finally decided on the Four Seasons in Patagonia (I know, sort of boring...). Mainly because of superb location, A/C (so many others didn't!!) and I was kinda worried about snakes, monkeys and stuff! That's when I think I found Abacos.
Thanks for the Abacos info and links. We are definately going to Nippers and that pig roast. And definately checking out the bronze foundry, Pete's Pub & Gallery.
I would go tomorrw if we could!

Be sure to go to Fodors.com for CR info, too. They have a great forum too.

JR did you mean the Four Seasons in Costa Rica, on Peninsula Papagayo? Hubby and I were lucky enough to go last year at this time, and we had a blast! There wasn't a whole lot to do in the area, but the scenery was beautiful, there were a couple of day trips to take, yes we saw monkeys and did some river rafting, and the Four Seasons is exquisite. The service was amazing. It was very interesting and relaxing and educational also.

If you go ... DON'T miss the canopy tour. You get to zipline through the forest, dangling 200 feet in the air. :clap_1: It was, without question, the most funn I have ever had. It's my "zen" moment, the one I love to go back to in my mind. Make that funnn. Three Ns.

 

[Santiago]

Is this the swimming pig place?????

Sueshore, The swimming pig place is in the Exumas, Staniel Cay. Highly recommended.

 

[Miss Kitty]

Sueshore, The swimming pig place is in the Exumas, Staniel Cay. Highly recommended.

before I die, I must go see those swimming piggies!!!

 

[Rudyjohn]

JR did you mean the Four Seasons in Costa Rica, on Peninsula Papagayo? Hubby and I were lucky enough to go last year at this time, and we had a blast! There wasn't a whole lot to do in the area, but the scenery was beautiful, there were a couple of day trips to take, yes we saw monkeys and did some river rafting, and the Four Seasons is exquisite. The service was amazing. It was very interesting and relaxing and educational also.

If you go ... DON'T miss the canopy tour. You get to zipline through the forest, dangling 200 feet in the air. :clap_1: It was, without question, the most funn I have ever had. It's my "zen" moment, the one I love to go back to in my mind. Make that funnn. Three Ns.

Yes, that was it. It was late last night when I posted and I knew it started with a "p". Sounds like you would highly recommend it! Good to know.

 

[InletBchDweller]

JR did you mean the Four Seasons in Costa Rica, on Peninsula Papagayo? Hubby and I were lucky enough to go last year at this time, and we had a blast! There wasn't a whole lot to do in the area, but the scenery was beautiful, there were a couple of day trips to take, yes we saw monkeys and did some river rafting, and the Four Seasons is exquisite. The service was amazing. It was very interesting and relaxing and educational also.

If you go ... DON'T miss the canopy tour. You get to zipline through the forest, dangling 200 feet in the air. :clap_1: It was, without question, the most funn I have ever had. It's my "zen" moment, the one I love to go back to in my mind. Make that funnn. Three Ns.

That is one thing that I have already planned on,....what else??

 

[TooFarTampa]

That is one thing that I have already planned on,....what else??

IBD I'll go back to my itinerary and see if I can give you more specifics about the day trips we did. (Though I would have done the canopy tour two or three times if I could have!!!.) I do remember their mojitos were outstanding! :clap_1: :clap_1: :clap_1:

 

[Paula]

Kurt, I suggest that you drive the Maine coast, starting in Portland and ending in Bar Harbor. It is absolutely beautiful in July. The native Mainers think that it is too hot (they have about 4 days when it reaches into the 90's) but I always thought that it was great. The towns that you will pass through are charming and you can't beat the lobster rolls sold along the way!!! I find it to be a very magical place.

Kurt, I highly recommend Maine as well. If I had a lot of money, I would definitely buy a place along the coast of Maine. It is interesting to see how different the beaches are there than SoWal -- they are rocky, brown sand, and have a beauty of their own. I used to live in Rockport, Maine, and Portland, Maine. I think back very fondly of those days -- beaches (shells, sea glass), light houses, lobster right off the boat -- you can find places where you buy lobster and they steam it for you together with the corn on the cob, fried clams, the down home you-can't-get-there-from-here culture, the ruggedness, the informality. Maybe you'll meet George Bush and family if they're vacationing at their Maine compound this summer. Start a thread on Maine if you want more advice and we can tell you our favorite places to stay and why. Also, poke around VRBO for places in Maine -- you could fly into Portland and go north or south from there. I think north will be less crowded.

 

[Paula]

As for what we're doing this summer:

We'll to go SoWal for two weeks - one at the end of June and one in mid-August.

We're going to Tuscany to my father's home town area late July/early August -- 20 relatives from the US are going around the same time to have an informal reunion together and to see some of our relatives there (I have an aunt, some first cousins, and others, as well as some friends from my days there as a carefree young adult). It will be fun to see our daughters go to the same places I used to go to. They have a cousin their age there so ideally they'll get together a lot. We rented an apartment (VRBO) within walking distance of one our favorite hang-out places that has morning coffee and pastries, panini, ice cream, nice Italian drinks, people playing cards at outdoor tables, outdoor dancing during the July/August festivals, etc. We'll spend most of our time locally, but take bus trips maybe to a few places such as Lucca (great old walled city) and Viareggio (beach). We'll stay away from cities like Florence and Pisa because they'll be too hot and way too crowded.

I go to Hong Kong for work (teaching) in early June for a week, and that always feels special even though I'm working.

It should be a fun summer. Next year I hope to spend 2-3 weeks in SoWal in the same period and perhaps go to Maine as well.

 

[Allifunn]

As for what we're doing this summer:

We'll to go SoWal for two weeks - one at the end of June and one in mid-August.

We're going to Tuscany to my father's home town area late July/early August -- 20 relatives from the US are going around the same time to have an informal reunion together and to see some of our relatives there (I have an aunt, some first cousins, and others, as well as some friends from my days there as a carefree young adult). It will be fun to see our daughters go to the same places I used to go to. They have a cousin their age there so ideally they'll get together a lot. We rented an apartment (VRBO) within walking distance of one our favorite hang-out places that has morning coffee and pastries, panini, ice cream, nice Italian drinks, people playing cards at outdoor tables, outdoor dancing during the July/August festivals, etc. We'll spend most of our time locally, but take bus trips maybe to a few places such as Lucca (great old walled city) and Viareggio (beach). We'll stay away from cities like Florence and Pisa because they'll be too hot and way too crowded.

I go to Hong Kong for work (teaching) in early June for a week, and that always feels special even though I'm working.

It should be a fun summer. Next year I hope to spend 2-3 weeks in SoWal in the same period and perhaps go to Maine as well.

sounds great, Paula!

 

[Paula]

Yup, I'm looking forward to the summer. I think I'm going to get some cds or podcasts to relearn my Italian. We used to speak it at home sometimes, but I haven't spoken it in many years now. But I sure remember how to swear in Italian because my grandmother who never spoke English had -- ahem -- shall we say a bit of a potty mouth and we spent a lot of time with her.

And I'm really looking forward to my May trip to SoWal right now -- see you soon Allifunn and whoever else is going to be around.

Ciao.