Where should I go?

April 18, 2016 • 2:00 pm

This is an experiment in crowdsourcing a vacation trip, and, given my strong opinions about travel, may not work. I have some trips scheduled for fall, and even next year, but they’re all work-related. This summer: bupkes. I’d like to get away for about two weeks or so, and my criteria are these:

  • Not really far away, as when I travel a long distance, as to India, I want to stay at least a month.
  • Not expensive (i.e., not Scandinavia)
  • Not full of tourists, even though I’ll be one
  • Local cuisine must be decent
  • Things to see and do (I’m not a beach-y kind of person)

This may be a tall order, but if you can suggest and tout one place to go, I’d be mighty grateful. And if I wind up going there, you can have either an autographed hardcover of FvF, an audiobook of the same, or a paperback of WEIT. (Cats drawn in the books, of course.)

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The ethereal rice pudding (with trimmings, fruit and praline to be added) at my favorite Parisian restaurant, but I wouldn’t go to that city between the end of May and the middle of September. I find October optimal, as it’s cooler and the great cold-weather food begins to be on offer. By the way, you help yourself to the riz au lait from the bowl on the left, which holds about half a gallon. Dessert à volonté!

193 thoughts on “Where should I go?”

  1. How about Tybee Island, GA? Right next door to Savannah….not covered up with tourist…lots of local seafood…has a beach…lots of “watering holes”…

  2. I would recommend Maine. Husband and I stayed in Rockland. We also did a windjammer cruise for a few days. Our ship the Stephen Taber (and what I hear most of the ships) have excellent food and wine.

  4. Is Hawaii too touristy for you? If not, I would advise a temporal progression: start on Kaua’i, then Maui, then the Big Island. The differences in geology resulting from the ages of the islands are fascinating. (O’ahu is perhaps best avoided. It really is too touristy, though the Arizona memorial would good to visit.)

    And then there are the birds and the reefs, not to mention the Drosophila (though I’ve seen only one picture-winged Drosophila in three visits).

    Of course there’s great food all over.

    1. If you want to see picture-wings, here is the recipe (learned on sabbatical with Hampton Carson). Put some over-the-hill mushrooms in a plastic bag, sprinkle with a little water and yeast (if convenient). Put it in a warm place until it gets thoroughly disgusting. Go deep into the interior of one of the islands (where there are still remains of native vegetation). Smear mushrooms onto the bark of several trees. Set up a circuit where you check each tree every half hour or so. Many species of picture-wings will come to feed on this delicacy.

    2. I love Hawaii. I want to go back again some time. I really like Big Island but I’d like to check out Maui. Of course, for Canadians with our currently crap dollar, it’s expensive.

  6. Hawaii. Big Island has tons of geology and interesting wildlife and easy to escape populace. Kauai is also filled with very interesting species above and below the water. And then Molokai and Lanai are more or less without many tourists.

  7. Have you been to Montreal? The food there is pretty good. Though I’ve only been there for swing/blues dancing and after you’ve been dancing all night almost all food taste good.

  8. The Pacific Northwest. Seattle, Vancouver, Victoria, the Olympic Peninsula, the Cascades. After July 4, when the rains stop and the weather is fantastic.

    2. I agree and with our garbage dollar in Canada, Jerry can go to Vancouver on the cheap. I’d also recommend Vancouver Island and Victoria (on the island).

    3. This would be my suggestion, too. Several years ago, Husband and I did a fantastic 3-week tour of the extended Pacific Northwest, driving from central California to visit the Oregon coast, the Portland area, Newberry Volcano and vicinity, and then headed up to see Seattle, the Olympic Peninsula, Victoria, and Vancouver. Were I to truncate that trip, I’d focus on the last four destinations.

  9. I think a lot depends on what sorts of things you want to see and do.

    If it’s arts and culture generically, I’d suggest the biggest and oldest big city you’ve not been to yet or recently — New York, Tokyo, Rome, somewhere like that.

    If it’s more outdoorsy, the same for the National Parks.

    If it’s something more specific…well, that specificity will narrow things down a lot….

    Cheers,

    b&

  10. The Commonwealth of Kentucky, as I believe it has the potential of being the Colorado of the Eastern US (if it wasn’t for the overt conservatism and the political power of the coal companies).

    – Louisville
    – Lexington
    – Bowling Green
    – Other random assortment of smaller historic towns
    – Bourbon Trail
    – Mammoth Cave
    – Red River Gorge
    – Lake Cumberland
    – And your favorite… the Creation Museum

    Of course, this is all spread throughout the state, but Kentucky is on the cheaper end and the scenery is beautiful for driving around.

    I’m also just a poor grad student and want a free copy of FvF.

  11. Have you been to the Canadian Rockies? I’d love to go back there and see the Burgess Shale sites. The mountains and wildlife are spectacular and the parks are huge, so one could easily spend weeks there.

    There are lots of tourists in the summer, of course, but the area is so large that I think you could find solitude quite easily.

    1. With some leverage on Jerry’s connections, he might even be able to get access to the new Burgess Shale site in Kootenay National Park, announced in 2014.

  12. I suppose San Francisco is either too far or too obvious? But if not, that gets my recommendation. A perfect place because in summer you don’t get summer weather; food of course amazing; great walks and bike rides right in the city, not to mention cable cars; and a great place to break up a trip with a jaunt outside the city, drive up the coast to Carmel or whatever. Or just bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito and beyond, lots of places to rent bikes near the bridge base for that purpose.

    1. If you get to the SF region, loop on down to Monterey and take a wale watching tour (for a preview, watch the PBS/BBC show Big Blue Live). Kayaking among the sea otters is pretty sweet also.

    2. SF area:Lots of ethnic food, tidal pools, Monterey Bay Aquarium, fantastic seafood, world-class hiking where you get hills, ocean, and giant redwoods in one hike, amazing produce, great climate, atheist groups.

  13. Have you considered a trip to Victoria BC, if you haven’t been there previously? It’ll be cheap due to the Canadian dollar depreciation.

    It has great weather & access to stunning scenery & Gulf Islands around the larger Vancouver island to explore.

    The Gulf Island are picturesque and have terrific cold water tidal pools to explore, if you like that kind of thing.

    You could also do a few days up to Tofino for whale watching & hiking.

    Butchart Gardens in Victoria offer quite a variety of plants to see.

    End of sales pitch.

    1. As an Islander, I would second that pitch. Botanical Beach at Port Renfrew has amazing tidal pools and great PNW ambience. There is also the prospect of pottering about in the Gulf Islands looking at sculpted sandstone (laid down during The Flood, of course. In March of that year, if I recall.) from our semi-vintage wooden boat. For great scenery, flying or boating in to Princess Louisa Inlet is a unique experience.

  14. Consider Canada. And not just any place in Canada but west coast Canada, perhaps even specifically Tofino (Canada’s Hawaii).

    Not far, and cheap due to very low Canadian dollar.
    Great food, lots to see and do. My wife and I run a vacation rental here so I’ll make it even cheaper for you by offering discounted accommodations.

    Rain forrest, native culture, wild life, fiords, beaches (the exploring kind not the just lay around kind)and much more.

    Here’s a good video highlighting Tofino’s awesomeness! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdkHia1UPsM

    1. If you do go to Canada’s west coast try to visit Haida Gwaii for a couple of days. It is a magical place with forest, mountains, ocean and my daughter would love to meet you.

      1. I absolutely second that suggestion.
        Some time ago I saw a ‘Golden Spruce’ mentioned somewhere on the web so I had to follow that trail: and it’s true, from the photographs I’ve seen of that place (especially those of some French guy – Flavien M. I think) it is indeed best described as ‘magical’, even if the Golden Spruce is no more.

    2. I’ll echo the Canada recommendation. Your dollar will go far, here 😉 I live in Toronto, which has great food options – they don’t call it the city of neighborhoods for nothing! Toronto always has some kind of festival going on in the summer. I will also echo most of the other Canadian recommendations: Haida Gwaii, the East coast (the Cabot Trail, PEI, Newfoundland…), Quebec City or Montreal for old-world charm…

  15. Have you been to the Galápagos? I assume yes but it’s where I’m considering for my next big trip so thought I’d throw the option out there.

    2. I’ll second Sicily. Wonderful mix of cultures and great food, not crowded, amazing history.

  17. Locations: Where your friends, fans and family are. Food will taste better and sights more interesting.

  18. If you can go early or late in the summer (beat the heat) and can tune out Mormons… St George UT. SW part of the state. Lots of pretty desert landscapes.

    Snow Canyon is just outside of St George. (Remember the movie “The Electric Horseman”? Much of it was filmed in the canyon.)

    Anyway, St George is a good location for day trips to Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, and Grand Canyon (north rim).

    If you need some “civilization” you can make a day trip to Vegas.

  19. I lived in Germany for 13 years, and did a lot of traveling in Europe. My favorite place in Europe was Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany. It’s somewhat touristy, though not so much in the summer, but it’s beautiful, and within driving distance of Switzerland, Austria, and northern Italy, assuming you’ll ever want to leave. Beauty, restful hikes, mountainside restaurants with wonderful food, short excursions to sights like Neuschwanstein castle, among other fairy tale locations. I would move, and live there forever if I could.

  20. Hi Jerry, you really should think about coming to South Africa. It meets all of your criteria except (and this may be a deal-breaker) it is admittedly as far away (if not further) than India. During your summer (which is when you want to come) there will be far fewer tourists than in our summer. However, the weather is still fantastic in our winter. Cape Town (and the Western Cape generally) is the real tourist magnet, but its weather is comparably lousy in our winter. But you could happily spend all of your time in the north of the country doing wildlife safaris and the like. The weather in that part of the country will be warm, the food is great and, best of all, our currency has been beaten into submission and so you will get fantastic value for money. At R15 to the US$, you can honestly enjoy five-star + luxury for very little money. You don’t need more than two weeks doing wildlife tourism etc and so two-three weeks would be the ideal time to come in our winter.
    Regards, Adrian

      1. Lucca in Tuscany!! Great medieval city completely surrounded by walls that are treed and have a road but no cars!! Great food: Tadeucci (for traditional raisin bread) chifenti for torte, il Veneto (for to die for gelato). There are a lot of great restaurants off the beaten path that are reasonable. Lots of great hiking in the nearby hills. La croce and il Panettone come to mind. And not far in garfagnana there is a great resort called il casone in the apuane that will get you away from the heat. It’s reasonably priced, the food is great and the service beyond friendly. And you are a short train ride away from florence and pisa. Florence has some incredible museums beyond the uffizzi. There are science museums dedicated to medicine and one that houses Galileo’s telescopes.

        1. Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena, Lucca, Florence, Monteriggioni, etc. etc.

          Music in the piazzas, great food, wine, art. So much to see and do.

          In fact. Why am I still here??

  23. Belize! And two weeks is just about right to visit the ruins, the barrier reef, the wildlife, the waterfalls, and enjoy the great cuisine. You can skip the lovely beaches if you insist.

          1. Oh, sorry. The Chan Chich Archeological Project excavating the Maya city there. If JAC were a young college student, it would be perfect for him. 🙂

  24. Every place is so touristy in the summer. If you can put off your get-away until winter I highly recommend Yellowstone in the winter! You are ferried about on snow vehicles, the bison have snow on their noses and hot bubbly rainbow-colored pools melt through the snow pack. The wolves are out hunting too. It is quiet and magical.

  26. There are great places in the US. I’ve been to many national parks, but Yellowstone is missing. I guess you’ve been there, but if not, how about a trip to Wyoming. Summer temperatures are nicely 70 to 80 °F, though Wikipedia says there are occasional thunderstorms (which I would like).

    Other than that, Galapagos or (northern) South America is probably too far away?

    1. I was thinking of suggesting Ecuador too, even though Jerry has been here before. It really isn’t far away physiologically- approximately the same time zone as Chicago, and a pair of four hour flights. The Amazon is now very accessible while still being wild; that probably was not true when Jerry was here last. And tree towers into the canopy, and canopy walkways, now make tropical forest bird-watching a real delight.

      But the noms in Ecuador are rather lacking. Except perhaps on the coast, where there is good seafood.

  27. I have two recommendations. The first, as already mentioned, the Canadian Rockies, Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper. The problem is that there are lots of tourists there in the summer, and it might be difficult to get reservations this late in the spring. The Chateau Lake Louise is definitely recommended, especially if you can get a room overlooking the lake. Also, don’t miss the ATV ride out onto the Athabasca glacier, on the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper.

    My other suggestion will not be so overrun with people, the Columbia River Gorge. Fly to Portland and rent a car. There are many places to stop, take in the sights, and to relax, like Multnomah Falls, which is probably the most popular spot in the area, and Oneonta Gorge, which is close by but is not so popular. Stay in the Columbia Gorge Hotel in Hood River, drive up to Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood, where there is not much going on once most of the snow melts, but there’s a great view of Mount Hood. There’s lots of history in that area. The gorge is where Wooday Guthrie spent a month writing songs for the WPA during the Great Depression. The old Columbia River Highway is now a biking/hiking trail west of Hood River to the area of Bennevikle Dam. I have been there several times, and I never get tired of it. The climate changes in a few miles from temperate rain forest near Cascade Locks to semiarid near Hood River to high desert by the time you get to The Dalles. Great place.

    1. I mis-stated Guthrie’s employer. It was the BPA, Bonneville Power Authority, not the WPA.

      A different song was running interference in my brain.

  28. The southern side of Lake Superior, especially around the Keweenaw Peninsula: history, history-shaping geology, copper mines, moose, maybe a view of the Northern Lights.

    1. Red Rock Canyon, even closer, and not so crowded once you get a few miles from the entrance.

  31. Istria is a peninsula jutting out into the Adriatic. Three countries, Croatia, Italy, and Slovenia own different bits. The cuisine has an Italian influence(ice cream and pizza are considered to be almost as good what can be found in Italy. Truffles and decent wine abound. Pasticada is a wonderful beef stew served with gnocchi. There are lots of Roman ruins and gorgeous scenery including caves. Maybe a little too beachy and fishy but then without the fish, there probably would be a dearth of cats.

    http://www.istriaoutsidemywindow.com/2014/08/adventures-of-south-indian-cat-in-istria.html#.VxU7DRN95TY

  33. Jerry- How about Quebec city in Canada? A touch of Europe without the hassles. A favorable exchange rate and numerous world class restaurants make it a good choice.

    1. Some future brothers in law, my future wife and I once had an epic pub crawl through Quebec City. There are, of course, lots of other wonderful things to see and do there. I think?

  34. No specific place to suggest (I don’t get out that much…) but check out the offerings by the http://www.roadscholar.org folks. Zillions of options plus lectures and mini-tours with information about what’s there locally. (It’s a non-profit; I have no interest in the business.)

      1. FYI:

        It used to be called “Elderhostel” but I have heard they got tired of jokes suggesting it was just trips by grumpy old people.

  35. Equador! Good food, good people, good nature.

    And just outside of Quito you can stand on “the middle of the world” and hang a testicle in each hemisphere.

    2. I think P. puk has it: Go visit Lou Jost in Ecuador. Take your camera gear and get ready for exotic food. The Brazilian-Peruvian Amazon is another inexpensive treat if you can get good guidance.

      1. You’d be welcome, Jerry!! Lots of reserves and birds and insects to see. My only fear is the quality of our food….not quite up to the standard I’ve seen on your food posts.

  36. The constraints that you have set are a bit tough. In Europe, I could think of

    1. Portugal (warm, food)
    2. Bosnia (cheap, green, incredible history)
    3. UK: Wales, Cornwall or Devon (pretty and pleasant)

    Croatian coast ticks all the boxes except the “not full of tourists” – it is teeming with tourists in summer. Late September/early October would be best.

    1. Or Dorset (the county has no motorways), staying in Lyme Regis, and walking along or visiting various parts of the scenic Jurassic Coast. Inland there are stately homes, castles, Roman ruins and Iron Age earthworks to visit. Monkey World – the largest primate sanctuary. Many excellent fish restaurants and good pub food.

  37. You can do worse than the Gaspe Peninsula in Quebec. Fantastic scenery, great fresh seafood, interesting geology, cheap Can $.
    Fly to Quebec City and rent a vehicle for a week. You won’t regret it. Side benefit of visiting Quebec City itself. All Americans I know who have visited have been mightily impressed with it.

  38. A big cat sanctuary/preserve, so you can enjoy many different kinds in one place, all rescued and respected.

    I know of one in Texas that doesn’t let tourists in, and I’m aware of one in Florida which reaches out to the public in order to bring in donations. The latter is apparently larger, but the mountain lion at the former purred back at me though his fence…

    1. +1

      What Jerry wants is a Venn diagram where at least one of the circles contains the opportunity to interact with the big cat type of his dreams, especially since he doesn’t have to consider anything more, really, than what would be most pleasing to him.

  40. Peru isn’t too far away. Good food (in Lima at least) and while the main sites get lots of visitors, they are still amazing.

    1. And if not Peru, then Bolivia which is even more amazing in some respects. The scenery is stunning, there aren’t millions of tourists and it’s culturally fascinating. The food isn’t great though, admittedly.

  41. Two weeks, Professor ?

    You may appropriate my thinking and plan: EVER since returning in July y1997, from my three – week pilgrimage driving solo from Iowa to Whitehorse, onto a ferry at the Yukon River there, in to Boundary, then on to Tok, then Fairbanks and finally into Anchorage with five flights within Alaska thereafter (Barrow, Nome, King Salmon and the salmon – grasping grizzlies of Brooks Lodge, Juneau and on to the Alaskan Marine Highway ferry at Haines for the three – day Inside Passage to Bellingham’s port), an Amtrak to Seattle and finally a Frontier flight back to Omaha (planes, trains and automo – Toyota chassis campers), I have wanted to do this road trip: the Canadian and USA Great Lakes’ tour.

    Summertime I want to drive northeast through Iowa’s Effigy Mounds (shaped like animals as bears and birds) first, then on to Superior (Ashland, Wisconsin, has a wee and very, very fine Northland College abutting the Lake’s shore), then the seven sloooow hours through Michigan’s stark and remote Upper Peninsula, experience crossing the Mackinac Bridge (in a Yugo = N O T ! ), drop down through the sloshes of Lake Huron to the isthmus at Detroit to thus pass on in to Ontario’s side and its Lake Erie, Niagara’s three falls, of course, and splash circa Lake Ontario. Back to Chicago in one day’s drive — if need be !

    From Chicago, commencing the Lakes with Michigan ‘d be likely, not ?! Try, however, as an initial send – off, say, to not miss out on northeast Iowa’s Effigy Mounds !

    Blue

    ps At the Anchorage Airport, I had had my chassis w/ camper placed in to long – term parking. And flew up there to it at my cost a kiddo’s good friend who used the Toyota for his and his partner’s vacation as they after their summer school term concluded and using ten days’ time in August that summer drove it back to me in Iowa.

    pps Actually, I am also wanting to do ~a six – week deal of exploration all around the Hudson Bay west to south to east (as our foremothers and fathers must have done, not ? or someone’s ancestors anyhow likely did !) IF I can find a road thereabout those parts, then continue road – tripping east on to and through (by way of ferries and bicycles and whatever else) all of Canada’s five Maritime provinces ! September to October = featuring autumn colors thereat.

    ppps Perhaps this Great Lakes’ Sojourn meets all of your criteria. Throughout the whole of the Upper Peninsula ? You’ll be .it. = .the. only tourist ! I can almost, by way of those stark and remote Laws of Physics, guarandamntee it !

      1. And IF you, PCC(E), have left over a couple of days’ time ? and’re so close to your home by then ?

        Why, drop right on down from Ontario to here, first: UNDERneath Tennessee’s Cumberland Mountains ! the Caverns’ Bluegrass Underground !

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NakxSVO-kc&feature=share = 32 MILES long and … … 3,000,000 YEARS in the making !” for yet a(nother) ” ‘magical’ MUSICAL adventure !”

        Blue

  42. Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. Book in time to spelunk. There are “rigorous” tours. You look fit enough.

  43. Last summer I did a great road trip through the Northern Plains, hopping from park to park:

    1. Nebraska – Agate Fossil Beds, Chimney Rock, Scott’s Bluff
    2. South Dakota – Wounded Knee, Badlands, Minuteman Missile, Jewel Cave, Wind Cave.
    3. Eastern Wyoming – Fort Laramie, Guernsey State Park (great CCC work and Oregon Trail Ruts) and Devil’s Tower
    4. Montana – Fort Union Trading Post (but my daughter loved the drive from Devil’s Tower northward).
    5. North Dakota – Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Knife River Indian Villages

    It wasn’t an expensive trip, and the food can be wonderful, especially if you like beef.

  45. If the UK isn’t too far/too expensive then might I suggest one of the most lovely and yet most unknown parts ? The Welsh Marches … Shropshire, Herefordshire and Monmouth. Beautfiul scenery, castles, pubs and few tourists ( well … a few in Ludlow 🙂 ) plus you can always pop over the other side of Offa’s Dyke into Wales. Chester, Shrewsbury, Hereford …..

    1. The same destination I would have suggested. It’s one of my top places to visit but by the time I can really afford to go there they’ll already have finished the E-ELT on the neighboring Cerro Armazones.

      On the other hand, the opposite side of the continent isn’t that bad either: I’d say pay a visit to the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha.

  47. Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, in particular the Parrsboro shore area. Highest tides in the world, terrific seafood, amazing diversity of beaches, dinosaur museum, rock hounding and fossil hunting, near the world famous Joggins fossil cliffs, spectacular scenery, virtually uncontacted and undiscovered, you may not want to leave and that would be ok with us.

  50. After living there for 11 years, I can recommend Key West; even in the heat of summer, it’s worth experiencing! It’s fun to wander the streets in Old Town, to eat the local conch salad & fritters–and of, course visit the world’s most famous cats at the Hemingway Home.
    KW is a small island, but there’s a lot of things to see & do over the course of a week or so–especially if you factor in a trip to Fort Jefferson (a colossal monument to something-or-other). You’ll experience the clearest water and best view of sea creatures in the US.
    Oh, and the local musicians are great–especially at Schooner Wharf bar and the Green Parrot.

    1. Agreed. Our daughter settled there, so we’ve been a few times. For what people think of as a tourist destination, Key West is wonderfully intimate, what with the Playskool airport and all. Summer is off-season, obviously, but after the sun sets, it’s really quite pleasant. Find the Rum Bar.

  51. Southeastern British Columbia. Favourable exchange rate, beautiful scenery, attractive small towns (Revelstoke, Nelson, Fernie, Rossland, to name a few). Lots of fun places to eat. Way fewer tourists than the Canadian Rockies in the summer. Great hiking, biking, mountaineering, canoe/kayaking, rafting and other activities too numerous to mention. Okanagan wine country is nearby. Wildlife viewing opportunities. Alpine wildflowers. I’ll stop now!

  52. Pais Basco in northern Spain, especially San Sebastián and Bilbao (there’s a Guggenheim museum there). The food is superlative there and it is not crowded with tourists. The countryside in northern Spain is so different to southern Spain’s. There’s a beach there where the K-T boundary is exposed and you can see the line caused by the famous meteoroid strike that did in the dinosaurs.

  53. El Paso, TX. Or perhaps the greater South+West Texas/NM/AZ area. I’ve missed your stream of cowboy boot posts, so why not take a tour of the home of some great makers? Caboots, Little’s, T.O.Stanley, Legendary, etc. in El Paso, Tex Robin in Abilene, Paul Bond and David Espinoza in AZ, and all the green chile dishes you could ever want in NM.

  54. Southern Utah! Take a week or two to see all the amazing National Parks. Exceptional ones include the Grand Staircase Escalante and Capitol Reef near Fremont.

    1. I hesitate to recommend places in the lower 48 because JAC has probably already visited them, but I plan on rambling around the four corners area for two weeks in September. Best done on a motorcycle, but that is not in cards for me this time, darn it. Pueblo ruins, southwest cuisine, Navajo and Hopi culture and art, incredible scenery, and the freedom of wide open spaces.

      1. I am leaving this Friday afternoon on a week long riding trip with a few friends, most from the US and 1 from the UK, to the mountains in the area where NC, SC and GA converge.

        We used to do this trip about once a year, but this is the first time I’ve been able to do it for several years. The bike is all ready, just finished prepping it last night. Well, except I should have gotten new tires. The tires on it are almost brand new, but even with brand new tires on these week long trips I have to manage them carefully.

      2. If you like craft beers…plan a stop in Dolores, CO (between Telluride and Cortez) and sample the ESB. It is among the best I’ve ever had (and I’ve had a few). Dolores River Brewing is a hidden gem in a tiny town. Food’s great, too.

  55. If you’re looking for some R & R Asheville, NC has a lot to offer. Beautiful hiking, good food, all kinds of music including local roots music, an interesting eclectic arts community and some nearby curiosities like the Biltmore Estate.

  56. Canada is a great choice and meets all of your criteria. Here’s a website to help you choose a locale:

    http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/index.aspx

    I have a soft spot in my heart for Newfoundland and Labrador. One of the best meals I ever had was in L’Anse aux Meadows on the northern tip of the “Rock”. And be sure to spend a day or so on the Labrador side of the Belle Isle Strait.

    1. I second this suggestion. This is the perfect time to travel in Canada on the US dollar. And summer on either coast is beautiful, with plenty of delicious local seafood. I know you were in BC not too long ago, so if you haven’t been to the Maritimes and are looking for some place new, then a trip to Newfoundland and Labrador is ideal.

  57. Mexico City, Mexico. It’s cheap, close and has many museums, cultural buildings not including the ruins outside the city.

    1. Seconded. I recently had a vacation in Mexico City and was stunned – blown away – by the food, the museums, the architecture, everything. It was amazing.

    2. Yes! This is what I was going to say! I plan to take my son for 2 weeks in 2017. Museums, great food, and affordable.

      There is a very amusing b**g: MidwesternerinMexico.com by the wife of an embassy employee (she’s from Nebraska- my home state). Not sure they are still in Mexico but the b**g has a ton of pictures and stories about their experiences living there. I started at the oldest entry and read all the way through, felt like I traveled, if only vicariously through her!

  58. If you really want to avoid tourists you might try Big Bend National Park on the Texas/Mexico border. The park is popular in the winter and spring but in the summer you can have the place to yourself. The time I went in the summer there were about six people, other than rangers, in the entire park. It felt like we were the only people left alive on earth. I presume the summer crowd is light because the thought of the heat turns people off, but it’a actually mild in hills/mountains where the lodges are and you can day-trip out into the hot Chihuahuan Desert without spending your whole time in the heat.

    1. I concur. My wife and I have been to Big Bend in August/September a number of times and it is a terrific place to get away, with the Chisos Mountains lodge quite comfortable even without AC. It is definitely remote but with some decent amenities if you know where to look. Things to do:
      – hike and camp. Great dayhiking and camping (both in backcountry and at sites with Facilities).
      – birding, herping, botanizing.
      – stargazing (if you go in August the Perseids will peak and the dark skies of that area are stunning).

      Amenities:
      – the mountain lodge rooms are decent, not fancy (but the location in the Chisos Basin is terrific)
      – the lodge restaurant is functional but nothing to write home about (or photograph)
      – there are a few decent Mexican places in Study Butte/Terlingua and there’s the Starlight Theatre (a relaxed hangout for a post-hike beer or two as well as dinner).
      – Further outside the park are some excellent lodging and food and drink in Alpine, Marathon, and Marfa.

      One could even combine BB with a couple of nights of camping and hiking in the Guadalupe mountains.

  59. Hard to do because I don’t know where you’ve been! But here are a couple of suggestions:

    Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. A quaint, clean town with lots of nice little places to eat. And of course near the Falls.

    Victoria, B.C. Butchart Gardens is a must, lots of places to eat. Hikes on Vancouver Island where you can find giant slugs.

  60. The island of Crete. Great antiquities (Kronos and much more) and delightful local cuisine. The locals are warm and friendly and prices reasonable.

    1. I was going to suggest Crete; I am going there in a few weeks (3rd time). All you said, plus good hiking. There are good and cheap bus services to most of the island. Flying from Chicago would involve just one stop via one of the major European hubs such as Heathrow or Schiphol.

  61. Nova Scotia already mentioned, so I’ll say the Hebrides Islands off of Scotland.

    1. I was going to suggest Crete; I am going there in a few weeks (3rd time). All you said, plus good hiking. There are good and cheap bus services to most of the island. Flying from Chicago would involve just one stop via one of the major European hubs such as Heathrow or Schiphol.

  62. I’de suggest either the San Juan islands off Bellingham wa, or the Canadian gulf islands just north of there, and save quite a few days for Victoria.

  64. You could hike a portion of the Cornwall COast Path in atheist-friendly England. I like the area around and including Port Isaac (aka Portwenn if you’re a Doc Martin fan. It meets all your criteria except price and crowds but it’s worth it (to me).

  65. How about Chile? You can spent about a week in San Pedro de Atacamam and about a week in the central region (Valparaiso, etc)

  66. How about Ireland?
    Dublin is well worth a visit and then there are lots of interesting towns and villages and fabulous countryside, especially in the west.

    1. Yes. I was going to make that recommendation. There is much to see in two weeks, and it’s easy to get around because, sadly or no, the country’s been underpopulated for very many years. If I were to go again, I’d spend more time in Dublin. Very interesting city. The Long Room at Trinity College is something you cannot imagine until you’ve seen it. Seeing pictures of it, you have to assume it’s CGI.

      1. I’d give Dublin two days at most, some very good places to see, pubs to drink in and some good places to eat. You could easily spend a week in Dublin but there are so many different places to go in Ireland

        Brun na Boyne, megalithic tombs

        Skellig Michael in Kerry

        Cliffs of moher and the burren.

        Belfast is an interesting place to visit as well

  67. In keeping with the suggestions for Canada (you don’t have to leave the continent but you’re in a different country! and our dollar is crap right now!), might I suggest:

    1. Quebec City: one of the oldest European settlements in North America; different language; lots of good restaurants. (Although it can get a bit touristy in the summer).

    2. Cape Breton: island at the north end of Nova Scotia; lots of great hiking; remnants of Scots Garlic culture and language; the French fortress of Louisbourg.

    3. St John’s, Newfoundland: amazing food, friendly people; distinctive English dialects and culture.

  68. Cyprus.

    We spent a week in Northern Cyprus, which we hugely enjoyed, so two weeks should give you access to the whole island.

    There is a huge sweep of history from Phoenician times (mountain-top palace ruins) to the present (the division of the island and its abortive reunification), with ruins or extant buildings reflecting all the successive rulers of the island. Visit a mosque that is a medieval cathedral with a minaret! See a huge Roman amphitheatre!! Climb to the top of a Crusader castle!!! (We bottled on that one.)

    Noms are good, but may become very repetitive over two weeks. There’s a good café culture.

    /@

  69. Of course, if I had to decide today and leave tomorrow, I’d pick either Munich, Munich, or maybe Munich.

  70. I can recommend the Dominican Republic because I know the place very well.

    In case you decide to go there for a short vacation, I would suggest staying in the capital, Santo Domingo, where there is plenty to do and it is full of great restaurants, historical places (colonial), and Dominicans are very friendly and welcoming.

    Obviously, it is always best to know someone there, so you don’t have to be guessing where to go and what to do all the time, but still you can manage to figure it out. Most people are very helpful.

    Even though Spanish is the local language, most Dominicans can communicate in basic English without problems. Even if you stay in the capital (Sheraton, Hotel Santo Domingo, and others), you can spend a day at the beach, as some are just less than hour away by taxi. Oh, and US dollars go a long way too.

    I can guarantee that the cuisine is fantastic, ranging from great Italian restaurants, French, Spanish, and local specialties, including great seafood places.

    Fly from Miami and in about three hours you’re there. Take a taxi to the city and in about an hour you are enjoying a nice cocktail at the hotel pool, and talking to locals.

    If you need more info about this, you can email me directly.

    Take care.

  73. Me, I’d hole up in one of the cabins (with woodburning fireplace) at Big Meadows in Shenandoah Nat’l Park. Dining hall in the lodge immediately adjacent along with internet. But you’ve probably been there.

    So since there are a lot of suggestions for the Pacific NW, include Lake Quinault Lodge in Olympia Natl Forest while up there. Very cool place, and you can go canoeing on the lake.

  74. Medellin, Colombia. Gorgeous city in a mountain valley…springtime all year round, flowers abound, Botero museum, great public transpo, warm friendly people, fresh, delicious food and the coffee can’t be beat. Speaking of coffee, while there, one may venture over to the coffee growing axis or Ehe Cafetero. Almost directly south from Chicago.

  75. Santa Fe, N.M.

    I’m going there for my 13th time next month. It’s like being in a different country without leaving the USA. It has history, diverse cultures, a festive spirit and its an “art mecca.” It’s a place to relax and absorb a captivating ambiance.

  76. St Pierre and Miquelon is off the coast of Newfounland, Canada. It’s a French territory: Euros, Citroens, and, of course, French cuisine. I’ve never been there, but it’s the first thing I thought of when you said you wanted somewhere close with fewer tourists!

  77. For cheapness, chilled out people, great food good wine, beer, available though not in most places), great weather all year around, great music, very photogenic, and touristy yet definitely not yet sophisticated touristy (tiny aiport, flights to Paris, Milan and Luton only; 2.5 hour bus to Marrakech), I seriously recommend Essaouira on the Atlantic coast in of Morocco.

  78. Pittsburgh? One hour flight, food is highly touted by those trendy types, cool neighborhoods, Carnegie Museum Natural History, Warhol Museum, Fallingwater, Pirates game in one of the most beautiful baseball parks in the US, funiculars…oh and lots of craft beer.

  79. A recommendation from having been there for work: Lille, in northern France. A walkable old European city. Language is no problem, it being an English tourist destination. An art museum second, in country, only to the Louvre, and a quirky old natural history museum. For a biologist, it’s where Louis Pasteur achieved fame. Could you find enough to do for two weeks? Don’t know.

  80. Personally, I’d do a tour. Rent a car and drive up the Eastern coast.

    Alternately, I’d spend two weeks in D.C. I could spend a week at the Smithsonian easily. Plus, with your credentials, you could get some real behind the scenes access.

    The other option I would do is a week at a dude ranch. There’s one (I forget the name) that is on the Yellostone border and you can take all-day horseback rides into the back part of the park (where no one really goes). Most of them are really laid back and you can do as much or as little as you like.

  81. Why not Queretero, Mexico? This is the birthplace of the Mexican nation, and it has the air of a medieval city. It is not too big, and relatively safe. Lots of dancing, great food, art galleries, and an exotic fauna and flora.

    1. Looks fabulous! What does ‘relatively safe’ mean? I certainly don’t like the look of the murder rate!

  82. Montréal & Jazz of course. Stay at the Chateau de l’Argoat which is more like an upmarket B&B than a hotel in terms of personal service. Great part of the city & get your Fairmount bagels served at your table for breakfast!

    June 29th to July 7th: Festival International de Jazz de Montréal

    1. And if you’re there on July 1 it’s also Canada Day and Moving Day!

      I was there for my friends’ wedding so we got to experience all that.

  83. You could circumnavigate Lake Michigan, stopping in Traverse City, head to Mackinac Island, cross the straits of Mackinac on the Mackinac Bridge, circle around and come back to Chicago via Wisconsin.

    You could just go to Traverse City which is very cool. You might want to avoid the Cherry Festival, July 2-9,
    http://www.cherryfestival.org/
    when it is overrun with tourists but get there immediately thereafter and enjoy real cherry products. These are sour cherries (Wisnie in Polish) which you have enjoyed in Poland. Great foodie culture around TC. Mario Batali has a house nearby:
    http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/07/celebrity_chef_mario_batali_at.html

    TC has an opera, symphony and a film festival, July 26-31:
    http://www.traversecityfilmfest.org/

    And great natural beauty. The eastern shore of Lake Michigan is much more interesting than the west side.

    Mackinac Island is worth a visit as well.

    1. For two weeks? :)) I drove to Jushua Tree National Park during my trip in CA, only to see what Jushua trees look like — I just got the U2 album “Jushua Tree”, my first U2 album, of cause it run to my top album lists right away.

      New York New York! Professior, come back to visit your old friends!

  85. Well, I don’t think anything beats this suggestion…
    The Galapagos Islands trip with Richard Dawkins as your host http://www.steppestravel.co.uk/cruise-the-galapagos-islands-with-richard-dawkins/overview

    I’m actually going… (I see it as a trip of a lifetime- Evolution wise)
    The food is said to be excellent…..
    The only possible downside Jerry … having ME as a travel companion to explain in tedious detail exactly why we really do have free will –

  86. It’s a bit far, but you might try Tashirojima, an island off the Pacific coast of Japan where the cats – all well-fed & healthy – outnumber the people. There are some tourists, all of whom of course are cat-lovers, but I don’t think it gets too packed with them.

  87. PCC, you could consider flying in to Nairobi. The deal breaker is the distance but you will forget about that as soon as you land.
    Our flora and fauna is breathtaking. You have seen the photos, I guess.
    It is not touristy.
    The food is good.

    1. I was thinking of suggesting Kenya, but I am not sure that it meets PCC’s criteria. It is quite a long way: best is probably to pick up a Kenya Airways flight from CDG or Schiphol (KA codeshare with KLM and AirFrance). KA are pretty good: friendly and responsive. Trouble is, because of codesharing, one can end up on KLM or AF. My last flight back from Nairobi, on KLM, was the worst long-haul flight that I have ever endured.

      Noms can be unimpressive. There is no really attractive local food. There are good restaurants: the Tamarind in Mombasa was described when I first went there (1978) as the best between Cairo and Cape Town; it has not declined in subsequent visits. The main problem is the size of the portions: most of the starters would make an adequate main meal. It has a sister restaurant in Nairobi , the Carnivore, where you can try a dozen different meats. Zebra and Hartebeest are excellent, but the ambience is poor. Malindi has two good restaurants. The worryingly named I Love Pizza, by the fish market, does first-rate basic meat and seafood dishes (and even pizzas!): ideal for lunch. A couple of minutes farther south The Old Man and the Sea is very good, though quite expensive.

      The other big problem is getting around. KA flights between the main centres are good, especially since they have replaced their nasty little 737s with Embraer 190s. Buses are available on busy routes, but a bit primitive and crowded. Once when we stopped by the prison at Mtwapa, a policeman got on, and sat next to us, with a prisoner heading for trial in Mombasa handcuffed to him. Taxis are expensive. Matatus (minibuses) are less intimidating than they used to be, and very cheap, but usually very crowded. I wonder if it is no coincidence that it shares the same stem with the Swahili matata, meaning “trouble”.

      With all that said, I love Kenya. The wildlife viewing is outstanding, from relatively inexpensive day trips to luxurious safaris. The scenery is terrific, there are some outstanding historical sites, such as the former slave-trading tows of Gedi and Jumba, and the amazing Homo erectus site at Olorgesailie, and the people are friendly and relaxed.

      1. I think he could take SwissAir though that will be a long flight or fly Qatar Airways.
        There are restaurants that serve local cuisines. In Nairobi he could enjoy steak at the Brazilian steakhouse.
        He would be spoilt for choice in the coast all the way from mombasa, through kilifi to malindi and watamu. He could go to Lamu one of the oldest towns in the coast.
        Matatus are as you say, less intimidating.
        As for taxis, there is Uber and I think they are reasonable. I haven’t used one.
        You should come again Richard and bring PCC along. I will meet you at the airport

        1. Do you live in Kenya? I provisionally plan to go there again in early 2018. It would be great to meet you.

  88. Hi Jerry –

    You should consider Australia. It sounds farther than it is, but you can do a one stop flight via Dallas Fort Worth and then arrive directly into Sydney. Going to Brisbane or Melbourne would be a one-stop flight via LAX. (I do not mind the length of trips but the number of airport stops and the likelihood of delays or missing a connection. Great for Australia despite being far in absolute terms.)

    The prices in summer (our winter) would be from 1.5 to 2k USD return flight. Melbourne would offer you the best food, markets, cafes, and entertainment. Brisbane the best weather and beautiful accessible surroundings (and a host ;-)). Sydney is just plain beautiful. A flight to Tasmania, where I would highly recommend you go, might be pushing it for a two-week trip but not for a three-week trip. And of course there is the outback, and the southwest … but they are similar trips to that to Tassie.

    Hotels could be expensive, depending on what you’d like to do, and reserving quite early can work to your advantage. Renting a car can be nice too, but all cities have good public transport. So, depending on your desired budget, Australia might be a tad expensive, but this might always be true regardless of when you decide to come.

    If you decide to come, I can give you ideas! If you can’t make it this time, keep it in mind for a future trip.

    Cheers,
    Daniel

  89. The Canary Islands, Hierro for a small out of the way place with volcanos and unique flora. There is La Palma with its caldera, pine and laurel forest, Lanzarote for superpb volcanic landscape. And there is decent local food and wine, too. Most tourists stay on the beach it is easy to avoid them.

  90. How about Newfoundland (where I am from) or Anglesey (north Wales – where my husband is from so I know it very well). I can highly recommend both: not too touristy, friendly locals, fresh seafood and amazing scenery/hikes, etc.

  91. How about the Azores? Four hours from Boston via Sata airlines. Cheap airfare. Doesn’t appear particularly tourist heavy. Portuguese inspired food with an emphasis on excellent cheeses, seafood, mini-pineapples and chorzo to name a few. And apparently John Wayne’s favorite steakhouse is there too.

    I’ve never been, but would like to check out some of the endemic flora and might go this August. For some reason, the Azores (nine islands) reminds me of perhaps a sleepy New Zealand stuck in the Atlantic.

    Just a thought.

    Mike

    1. I really would love to go there. Only native mammal is a bat. I really wish it were a few hundred miles further north though!

      I wnder what the bird life was like before humans – was it Galapagos-rich?

  94. Hi PCC:

    I just moved to Beijing from SF two weeks ago to teach English. You and I are almost the same age so we have the same reference points. You also probably know my newphew’s husband. He’s working on his PhD under Dr. Shubin. I just rented a beautiful 2 BR 2 bath apartment here so you would be living in high style. Unfortunately, the landlord won’t allow me to have a cat. Like you, I’m cat-crazed. Also, an MOT. I don’t speak Chinese. However getting around is amazingly easy as the subway is extensive and all signs are in English. Food/drink is ridiculously inexpensive. Best of all, it’s one of the atheistic countries in the world! People are friendly, too. Actually, best of all, free accommodations. I plan to have many friends/family visit but you’re most welcome to be the first. See my b**g that I set up to learn more.
    Cheers!
    Brian

  96. Hi Jerry: What about Iceland – noms are awesome, bookshops are great and not too many people.
    Its much cheaper than it used to be and you will want to go back.

  97. What about going to glacier, Banff, and Yellowstone. Beautiful scenery and the major crowds have died down towards the end of August. We usually fly in and out of salt lake city and rent a car.

  99. I did not read the other comments.

    A list, in no particular order:

    1. Southern Utah, if you can go before June. Especially Zion, Capitol Reef, Cedar Mesa

    2. Nova Scotia: Gorgeous coastline

    3. Newfoundland. Who do you know who’s been there (besides me)? Beautiful place. I’ll bet it’s still pretty unspoiled (I went in the 1960s).

    4. Jasper & Banff. Go hiking every day and take some of the more obscure hikes. Still probably the most beautiful mountain area I’ve been to. Hike to Berg Lake if you have the legs for it.

    http://www.berettaconsulting.com/barbarossa/Miscellaneous/Misc_10-Mar-10/Mt%20Robson%20and%20Berg%20Lake%20Sep-1981%20Scanned%20from%20slide%204800%20dpi.jpg

    5. Drive the US 101 from Olympia, WA, arounf the Olympic Peninsula, and then all the way to San Juan Bautista, CA, then take the CA 1 to San Luis Obispo, then the 101 again to Ventura, then the 1 again to at least Carlsbad, CA. Stop wherever the notion takes you. Lots to see.

    6. Take the Inside Passage ferry trip to Haines, AK. Rent a car and see some of the Yukon and Alaska.

    7. One of my all-time favorite places: Provence, France. Least expensive place in western Europe I travel to. Fly to Nice, rent a car, stay away from the coast. Rent a car (Avis has been good for us in France). Stay in Gîtes and explore the countryside. I can most highly recommend the Vaucluse which is the heart of the Cotes du Rhone AOC.

    https://www.google.com/#q=gites+de+vaucluse

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