Dreaming of the Unique Travel Destination – Part 4
Welcome back!
If you have been tracking this repeating topic you’ve landed on episode 4 and I’m staying in North America for my picks today If you want to skip back to my previous picks and catch up, you can find the first post here, the second post here and the third here. I’ll start things off with the vacation we actually have booked for later this month to Charleston, South Carolina. This vacation is a LONG time coming and so needed I can’t begin to tell you. We’ve had a really crazy year and the hubby and I are flat out exhausted. A nice long getaway is exactly what we need. My second choice is beautiful Vermont and honestly, I’ve had a hard time pinning down just one place to explore there, and finally we’ll head a little further north to Alberta Canada and the stunning Banff.
Charleston, South Carolina
According to Google, Charleston “is defined by its cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages and pastel antebellum houses, particularly in the elegant French Quarter and Battery districts.” Now, tell me THAT doesn’t sound appealing!
For me, Charleston is one of those lovely old cities that is so rich in history and charm I’m certain every moment we are there will be time well spent. I’m fortunate enough to know a few people who live in the area so I’ve tapped them for ideas of things to do, places to see and info on all the best places to eat and the list is long!
Top of the list is Downtown, King Street, and South of Broad in Charleston proper. From there we’re hoping to spend a little time exploring Mount Pleasant and Johns Island. We’re actually staying on Edisto Island, about an hour South of Charleston, so we’ll be exploring the island and spending some time on the beach (weather permitting). Since this is a vacation we are actually taking, I will post photos when we get back of some of the highlights.
Stowe, Vermont
I think I mentioned I was having a hard time deciding on just one place in Vermont to go to. I blame Baby Boom (1987). I probably watched that movie a dozen times (much to the hubby’s chagrin) but honestly what captivated me was the setting. Vermont. In all its stereotypical glory. The photo above of Stowe, pretty much sums up what I’m sure everyone thinks of as Vermont. The whole state looks like that. Right? LOL! Yeah, probably not, but even so, the idea of all that autumn color, New England architecture and maybe a tour through a Maple Syrup Farm all sounds really appealing.
Stowe is just one of the areas I’d love to explore. Things to do include an assortment of shops, boutiques and the Helen Day Art Center where you can check out exhibits of Vermont-based artists. For a day in the great outdoors, the Stowe Recreation Path is a 5 plus mile paved path through woods and meadows along the river and a view of Mount Mansfield. (source: planetware.com) Not too far away from Stowe is Mount Mansfield and Smuggler’s Notch. For sweeping views, Mansfield would be hard to beat. Mount Mansfield is Vermont’s highest mountain and (also according to planetware.com) affords visitors the chance to hike above the ridge line. Pretty cool for a flatlander!
Check out this link to planetware.com for even more info on 16 top-rated attractions in Vermont.
Banff, Alberta Canada
Banff has been on my bucket list for a very long time. I heard about it years ago from some friends who went and their photos, much like the one above, were so stunning I knew I had to add it to my list of must-see places. When we would go is the actual question here as Banff receives over 4.5 million visitors a year between June and September according to the Banff National Park website. Wowzers. With that many visitors each year, it’s good that there’s a lot to see and do. The park website offers a comprehensive listing of area attractions guaranteed to satisfy any age group or athletic ability and there are several different lodging options. Booking EARLY seems to be the way to go and according to another travel site I stumbled on OneWorldOneYear, being the early bird will definitely pay off. Also among their travel tips are when to visit Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, a strong suggestion to be sure and visit Jasper. However, if pressed for time on the way to Jasper, making the drive part way will afford you with a pretty good viewing of what the area has to offer for scenic splendor. Me thinks this is one of those trips I will need to really plan ahead for!
That’s all I have for this time, but my final post in this series will be next week with another trip o’er the pond!
Happy travels!
