930 Forums
=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: ggw on April 27, 2011, 10:02:01 am
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Has anyone been to the Oregon coast (specifically Cannon Beach, Manzanita, Rockaway Beach)?
How about the San Juan Islands?
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I drove the Oregon Coast many years ago, but don't remember specifically where I went. Sorry.
Our summer vacation this year consists of a week in Oregon (Portland/Mt Hood area/Bend area) followed by Labor Day weekend in Seattle (Bumbershoot Festival).
If my wife had her way, every vacation would be spend in the cabin we stayed in last year in St. John.
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You'd hate it mate....place is overrun with smelly tree-hugging hippies!
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You'd hate it mate....place is overrun with smelly tree-hugging hippies!
and lesbians. lesbians love oregon.
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I drove the Oregon Coast many years ago, but don't remember specifically where I went. Sorry.
Our summer vacation this year consists of a week in Oregon (Portland/Mt Hood area/Bend area) followed by Labor Day weekend in Seattle (Bumbershoot Festival).
If my wife had her way, every vacation would be spend in the cabin we stayed in last year in St. John.
you forgot to say fook somewhere. you are now required to say fook all the time, until it gets old.
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You'd hate it mate....place is overrun with smelly tree-hugging hippies!
and lesbians. lesbians love oregon.
There's an innuendo going begging there....but I just can't think of one.
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Oh the Oregon coast is the summer is so dreamy. Sitting in the sand wearing your best beach parka, sippin on hot chocolate and feeling the wind freezing your hair. And the best part is that when the fog lifts, you can see the fog.
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i was at cannon beach several years ago on a day trip while visting portland. not sure i could help you much, we mostly went to just sit on the beach. i bought a nice stunt-kite at a neato kite shop.
summer vay-cay for me this year is 2 weeks camping in quetico (aka the boundary waters (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boundary_Waters_Canoe_Area_Wilderness)). canoing, camping, hiking, fishing for dinner, doing nothing - aaaaaaaaaahhh...
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No summer vacation for me. I'm saving my leave for.....
Two weeks in October. When I'll be getting married in the Outer Banks. Spending a week there with my best friends in a ridiculously lavish house for a beach wedding and pool party/barbeque reception. Then the next day I'm off to Tulum for a week.
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Has anyone been to the Oregon coast (specifically Cannon Beach, Manzanita, Rockaway Beach)?
I'm dating a girl who grew up there. I'm happy to ask her any questions you may have...
How about the San Juan Islands?
Been there a couple times. Lovely scenery, nice ferry ride. I felt a little isolated though and the night life is very limited. Great place to disappear to though.
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obx with the family. relax city
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If your kid is to the point of walking, you're not really going to be doing much relaxing.
obx with the family. relax city
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Has anyone been to the Oregon coast (specifically Cannon Beach, Manzanita, Rockaway Beach)?
I'm dating a girl who grew up there. I'm happy to ask her any questions you may have...
How about the San Juan Islands?
Been there a couple times. Lovely scenery, nice ferry ride. I felt a little isolated though and the night life is very limited. Great place to disappear to though.
If she's dating you I have a question for her.....does she know what she's got herself in to?
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If your kid is to the point of walking, you're not really going to be doing much relaxing.
obx with the family. relax city
That's the beauty of the beach. I just finished a vacation in the worst state in the country - Floriduhhhh - and actually enjoyed myself at times because the kids played in the sand and I could sit in a chair wearing dark glasses and look at the ladyfolk. There was a point where I barely moved and didn't say a word for 82 minutes. And then my wife came down, thanked me for being in charge and asked if I wanted to go running or something "for yourself".
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once hey know their limitations where the ocean is concerned and not to eat sand, going to the beach with kids is beyond awesome. It's pretty awesome before that, too.
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It's pretty awesome before that, too.
You mean the intercourse? Yeah that was rad!
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One of the plusses of having one kid is I can still afford to go on vacation. One of the minuses is that I can't sit there while my kids play...I have to be the second kid. (or in the case of my creative daughter...the other doggie, or Diego's sidekick, or Dora's sidekick, or the sidekick of whoever she is pretending to be.)
I am going to South Beach Miami in August for a work conference. Not sure how pleasant that's going to be. Word is that office budget issues may prevent travel to same conference next August...when it's in San Diego. That sucks.
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If your kid is to the point of walking, you're not really going to be doing much relaxing.
obx with the family. relax city
that's what grandparents are for
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How come you only had one kid? I mean, I'm JEALOUS AS SHIT but am curious about why people just have the one. My wife was pretty insistent on having a second, and I wasn't turning down frequent nuts so ~poof~ second kid. And now I'm back to hanging out in gas station bathrooms.
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My mom can't swim, so i wouldn't trust her with my daughter on a beach.
The in-laws live in Indiana. The Indiana dunes aren't the outter banks.
If your kid is to the point of walking, you're not really going to be doing much relaxing.
obx with the family. relax city
that's what grandparents are for
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Hell, I was lucky to get my wife to have sex with me once. Twice? not a chance.
Actually, one kid was our plan from the beginning (mutual idea) and we've stuck to it. The fact that the first one was so perfect just added to the argument not to have a second.
How come you only had one kid? I mean, I'm JEALOUS AS SHIT but am curious about why people just have the one. My wife was pretty insistent on having a second, and I wasn't turning down frequent nuts so ~poof~ second kid. And now I'm back to hanging out in gas station bathrooms.
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sorry your parents and in-laws have subpar watching-kids-in-a-specific-location skills
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And unlike the rest of my peers, they didn't pay for the damn down payment on my house. Useless they are, let me tell you.
sorry your parents and in-laws have subpar watching-kids-in-a-specific-location skills
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neither did mine, but they're money at watching kids
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One of the plusses of having one kid is I can still afford to go on vacation. One of the minuses is that I can't sit there while my kids play...I have to be the second kid. (or in the case of my creative daughter...the other doggie, or Diego's sidekick, or Dora's sidekick, or the sidekick of whoever she is pretending to be.)
I am going to South Beach Miami in August for a work conference. Not sure how pleasant that's going to be. Word is that office budget issues may prevent travel to same conference next August...when it's in San Diego. That sucks.
UGH! Good luck with that south beach trip. Miami is a third world country shithole that probably has goats and chickens running through the streets by now. If you want to get around may I suggest you polish up on your Spanish because it's not the primary language down there....it's the ONLY language down there.
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Hell, I was lucky to get my wife to have sex with me once.
Something even I have not managed to accomplish despite offering myself to your wife many times...
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Yeah, our first beach weekend is coming up next month with a perfectly mobile kid. Should be fun and not at all relaxing.
If your kid is to the point of walking, you're not really going to be doing much relaxing.
obx with the family. relax city
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i am also going to portland oregon! headed there in june for 5 days. a couple days in portland and then off towards the coast.
and i'm supposed to be going to puerto rico in a couple weeks but thus far have managed to make no arrangements whatsoever. a couple days in san juan and then i guess i'll tool around the rest of the island. any rec's from anyone? i dont know how to scuba, windsurf or kitesurf so that's off the table and i'll be going alone.
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Lily, a lot of these tourist places have lessons for beginners where they teach you and take you out to something simple. You might want to consider some snorkeling. Super easy and very relaxing. But make sure you go with a group and not alone. Will be safer for you. Just don't forget to load up on the sunscreen on your back. Think they probably still have a tour of the Bicardi plant and some old sugar plantation or castle. Should be in all the brochures and the concierge should be able to set you up with some group tour. There's probably a couple group party outings on boats. Those things are big in the Caribbean and can be fun with the right group of people, assuming the weather is with you.
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I got my scuba license in the Cayman's after about 45 minutes in the pool and a 50 foot wall/shelf dive. It think it was $75 for a half day of lessons/diving.
Not saying it was the safest thing, but things are just a little down there...
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i was at cannon beach several years ago on a day trip while visting portland. not sure i could help you much, we mostly went to just sit on the beach. i bought a nice stunt-kite at a neato kite shop.
summer vay-cay for me this year is 2 weeks camping in quetico (aka the boundary waters (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boundary_Waters_Canoe_Area_Wilderness)). canoing, camping, hiking, fishing for dinner, doing nothing - aaaaaaaaaahhh...
How about some Canadian suggestions?
I have been looking at Lake Louise and Cape Breton.
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I got my scuba license in the Cayman's after about 45 minutes in the pool and a 50 foot wall/shelf dive. It think it was $75 for a half day of lessons/diving.
Not saying it was the safest thing, but things are just a little down there...
Yeah, that sounds about right. In Cayman Brac they even offered underwater Nikon camera rentals for some great photos.
Btw, that 'castle' I mentioned is a fort now that I think about it.
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I got my scuba license in the Cayman's after about 45 minutes in the pool and a 50 foot wall/shelf dive. It think it was $75 for a half day of lessons/diving.
Not saying it was the safest thing, but things are just a little down there...
define "got my scuba license". i doubt it's PADI or any other recognized organization - those take a week of classes to earn.
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^ Pretty sure it's just some sort of 'resort' license. The very lowest and most basic you can get designed for those particular types of resorts. I use to know but can't remember exactly but it doesn't really carry outside of that visit from what I understand.
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define "got my scuba license". i doubt it's PADI or any other recognized organization - those take a week of classes to earn.
Take your "rich world" organization and shove it. This was vacation...
My "license" works anywhere PADI is not recognized, which is just about everywhere besides the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, Japan and Switzerland.
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My "license" works anywhere PADI is not recognized
aka places where you don't need a license in the first place ;D
who cares what i think? you went scuba diving! one of the greatest things in the world, IMO. damn, now i wish my summer vacation could be somewhere where scuba'ing is an opton. dammit.
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and i'm supposed to be going to puerto rico in a couple weeks but thus far have managed to make no arrangements whatsoever. a couple days in san juan and then i guess i'll tool around the rest of the island. any rec's from anyone? i dont know how to scuba, windsurf or kitesurf so that's off the table and i'll be going alone.
el yunque is an easy day trip, great hiking trails ... if you have a couple of days, i would highly recommend taking a puddle-hopper or ferry to vieques or culebra, small islands off the east coast
also great sport fishing, but you'd need to find a group to have it make financial sense
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was the first one pity sex? ;D
Hell, I was lucky to get my wife to have sex with me once. Twice? not a chance.
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I can’t believe I am finally in Long Island….never been here…we are in central Islip
Got to say weather is gorgeous
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I can’t believe I am finally in Long Island….never been here…we are in central Islip
Got to say weather is gorgeous
Sidehatch came into this world via a hospital in West Islip… have you visited the monument yet
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I can’t believe I am finally in Long Island….never been here…we are in central Islip
Got to say weather is gorgeous
Sidehatch came into this world via a hospital in West Islip… have you visited the monument yet
TAN (SIDEnote??) -- we need to come up for a separate word for "monument" for structures built to commemorate ignoble events. We shouldn't use the same word the Flight 93 "monument" as we do the Washington Monument.
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Denonuement?
A portmanteau of denouement and monument.
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Denonuement?
A portmanteau of denouement and monument.
Thats pretty damn good!! I have no idea how it should be pronounced but A+ for effort.
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I'd guess day-non-yu-ment
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I can’t believe I am finally in Long Island….never been here…we are in central Islip
Got to say weather is gorgeous
Sidehatch came into this world via a hospital in West Islip… have you visited the monument yet
Yea we discussed Sidehatch…
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Driving around Babylon and West Islip
Is Babylon sisters about Babylon?
Haven’t stumbled on your monument yet…
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Haven’t stumbled on your monument yet…
well after much handwringing, it was decided that it would be closer to the ocean, so if you go to the beach, you can't miss it
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipMMLwLtf2XTYj_hvcmcOeyslh2568m7jY8wZzLP=s680-w680-h510)
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We just drove there earlier…I had no idea 🤷♀️
Nice tribute and well deserved
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We just drove there earlier…I had no idea 🤷♀️
Nice tribute and well deserved
You’ve misspelled “denonuement” as “tribute.” I get it’s a new word and all but that wasn’t even close, man.
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Driving in the hamptons….you in Julian?!
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I just booked our Summer Vacation 2024!
Book early for the best deals.
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Driving in the hamptons….you in Julian?!
I only visit properties equipped with helipads.
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I just booked our Summer Vacation 2024!
Book early for the best deals.
First mention of Space vacation 2024... Hueling... jUlian?? Someone keep tally.
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I'm also driving to Toronto tomorrow for a work conference that starts Sunday. Work conference for me, summer vacation #2 for my wife and daughter.
I know I'm going to end up wishing I went alone.
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I'm also driving to Toronto tomorrow for a work conference that starts Sunday. Work conference for me, summer vacation #2 for my wife and daughter.
I know I'm going to end up wishing I went alone.
I feel like the space family is a package deal no matter what.
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I'm also driving to Toronto tomorrow for a work conference that starts Sunday. Work conference for me, summer vacation #2 for my wife and daughter.
I know I'm going to end up wishing I went alone.
I feel like the space family is a package deal no matter what.
Oh, I've definitely already decided to do next year's work conference alone.
This one involves a stop to see Grandma for a few days on the way home. I don't know if Grandma really cares that much about seeing her only grandchild, and I'm fairy certain that granddaughter cares even less, but at least I'm creating the opportunity for it to happen.
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Now we are in a lighthouse in Montauk
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Now we are in Lewes. We had to drive through an insane megastrip mall to get here.
Waiting for my bistro burger. I hope the caesars dressing doesn’t come back to bite me.
I really need a record store fix.
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I really need a record store fix.
good luck at the DE beaches for that
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i mean, there's Extended Play in Rehoboth...
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There are record stores but not going to get the time…..
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Space...
If by chance I stumble upon Portugal this summer and most likely only have 3 nights/4 days to visit a beach... what does the resident expert suggest?
Azores? - does a flight to and fro make this not worth it due to time?
Madeira? - does a flight to and fro make this not worth it due to time?
Algarve?
Any other coastal beaches/towns to scratch the beach itch without going too far?
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Space...
If by chance I stumble upon Portugal this summer and most likely only have 3 nights/4 days to visit a beach... what does the resident expert suggest?
Azores? - does a flight to and fro make this not worth it due to time?
Madeira? - does a flight to and fro make this not worth it due to time?
Algarve?
Any other coastal beaches/towns to scratch the beach itch without going too far?
Too far from where? Are you staying in a city for some other period of time. Lisbon? Porto?
If you specifically want beaches, I wouldn't go to the Azores or Madeira. They do have beaches, but they're nothing to write home about. You go to Madeira for the rugged hiking in a variety of settings (probably to my families chagrin) or to the Azores for less rugged but still beautiful hiking. The beaches are the icing on the cake, but the cake is much better than the icing.
If you're starting in Lisbon, Cascais is nearby. Short 30 minute train ride from Lisbon. I haven't been, but have heard good enough things about it. There are probably other beach options close to Lisbon, but Cascais is the only one I looked at. If you're willing to drive a bit further(or train, or fly), the Algarve is 2.5 hours away by car. Wife and daughter loved it so much that we're headed back in a couple of weeks, in spite of it being 5 hours each way from our (different this year) origination point...which is Porto. So I've picked the Algarve (Lagos, but some of the smaller towns look nice too) twice over Cascais...
If you're starting in Porto, there are plenty of options closer than the Algarve that are between Porto and Lisbon, but none of them stood out. Nazare is an international surfing destination that seems pretty cool (and I think has a separate calmer beach), two hours from Porto and 90 mins from Lisbon, but we elected to hoof it all the way back to the Algarve.
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Space...
If by chance I stumble upon Portugal this summer and most likely only have 3 nights/4 days to visit a beach... what does the resident expert suggest?
Azores? - does a flight to and fro make this not worth it due to time?
Madeira? - does a flight to and fro make this not worth it due to time?
Algarve?
Any other coastal beaches/towns to scratch the beach itch without going too far?
Too far from where? Are you staying in a city for some other period of time. Lisbon? Porto?
If you specifically want beaches, I wouldn't go to the Azores or Madeira. They do have beaches, but they're nothing to write home about. You go to Madeira for the rugged hiking in a variety of settings (probably to my families chagrin) or to the Azores for less rugged but still beautiful hiking. The beaches are the icing on the cake, but the cake is much better than the icing.
If you're starting in Lisbon, Cascais is nearby. Short 30 minute train ride from Lisbon. I haven't been, but have heard good enough things about it. There are probably other beach options close to Lisbon, but Cascais is the only one I looked at. If you're willing to drive a bit further(or train, or fly), the Algarve is 2.5 hours away by car. Wife and daughter loved it so much that we're headed back in a couple of weeks, in spite of it being 5 hours each way from our (different this year) origination point...which is Porto. So I've picked the Algarve (Lagos, but some of the smaller towns look nice too) twice over Cascais...
If you're starting in Porto, there are plenty of options closer than the Algarve that are between Porto and Lisbon, but none of them stood out. Nazare is an international surfing destination that seems pretty cool (and I think has a separate calmer beach), two hours from Porto and 90 mins from Lisbon, but we elected to hoof it all the way back to the Algarve.
Sorry... I realized I could've communicated that better. We'd be in Lisbon (but really just trying to figure out if our short trip is worth it and if we can pack in a beach trip too). Most likely the entire trip would only be 7 night-ish. Appreciate the guidance and checks out!
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Paging space...
Ok space... getting closer. For reasons outside of my control, we only have 7 full days in your favorite vacation country. One of those days will prob. be ruined due to over night flight.
But from your expert opinion, would 3 nights in Lisbon followed by 3 nights wandering around the closer coastal towns be enjoyable?
Having a hard time getting on board with driving an extra 200 miles to Lagos when we have such limited time. TIA.
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Paging space...
Ok space... getting closer. For reasons outside of my control, we only have 7 full days in your favorite vacation country. One of those days will prob. be ruined due to over night flight.
But from your expert opinion, would 3 nights in Lisbon followed by 3 nights wandering around the closer coastal towns be enjoyable?
Having a hard time getting on board with driving an extra 200 miles to Lagos when we have such limited time. TIA.
I guess it really depends on what your family members are looking for.
My favorite vacations are always the ones that combine two or more geographic destinations. I once went only to Paris for a week and found it a couple days too long and wish I had combined it with another location. Same when I went to Barcelona and surroundings for a week. I think you could easily "do" Lisbon in a couple of days (plus the one landing/recovery day), and combine it with something else. It's a smaller city, with less tourist sites. It's more about a vibe than about tourist sites (compared to cities like Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid...) And the vibe is great...
With a week and a beach requirement, I'd do Lisbon+Lagos. Or without a beach requirement, Lisbon+Porto. Or if it were just me travelling solo, I'd do Lisbon+Madeira.
Though with younger kids, I can totally see why you woudln't do the Lisbon+Lagos option and prefer to just stick to Lisbon and surroundings.
Other people. my wife for one, prefer to dig in and stay at one location for a whole week. She would totally agree with your decision to forego the Algarve. But she's also the type of person who who rather go to a yoga studio or a smoothie cafe in Lisbon than a tourist site. She wants to be part of the city and slow down her life on vacation rather than see everything.
The only coastal town near Lisbon that we went to was Sintra. We did a day trip by train. It has some cool tourist sites (though my wife and daughter would tell you they are "a waste of time.") But make sure you book in advance...it's also unpleasantly crowded.
Sorry I'm not much help. I haven't been to any of the surrounding area of Lisbon other than Sintra.
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Hey Yada, you'll probably be too busy with the Douro Valley reds, but if you're looking for a brewery stop, Dois Corvos in Lisbon is the best brewery in Portugal. They have a couple of taprooms, one of which is in a cool non-touristy part of town. Didn't go to the original location.
Also get yourself some pastel da natas.
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Also get yourself some pastel da natas.
Fortunately or unfortunately I've had a dozen in a few days
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Hey Yada, how was Portugal?
Anybody else married to a 50+ 200lbs+ person who starts bitching and moaning that "this is not relaxing and a vacation should be relaxing" anytime they are asked to walk anywhere more than 10 minutes away (almost always the next eating or drinking experience, because "I don't like tourist things, and I don't like being around people.")?
A couple of highlights of our trip:
The first full day in Portugal, Father's Day, we got a leisurely 11:30am start walking in Porto. We had no definitive plans (see the part where spouse and kid refuse to do tourist attractions.) However, I'd read enough about Porto to know that the spirit of Porto emanates up from its' river and across its' beautiful pedestrian bridge. So I suggested we saunter down to the river, and grab some breakfast on the way.
This involved maybe a 30 minute walk from the hip, studenty neighborhood our Airbnb was in (that we had spent the first partial day in.) Knowing that walking is frowned upon by two third of the family, I allowed Google Maps to pick the quickest route.
About 15 minutes into the walk, my spouse started bitching and screaming that I "picked the most unscenic route possible, and why can't you fucking pick a more scenic route." Well, I think because Goole Maps doesn't tell you which routes are the most scenic?
At this point, my teen picks up on the negative energy being spewed, and proclaims that she's not walking an inch further, and she wants to go back to where we came from and eat at an acaii bowl place (I think Portugal is the birthplace of the acaii bowl?). When told that "No we're going to keep walking toward the river and we'll grab something on the way, quite possibly even an acaii bowl," she flat our refused to walk any further and starts loudly demanding for us to give her cash so she could go off on her own (again, on the first full day of vacation.) When reminded by her parents that it's Father's Day, she proclaims multiple times that "It's not Father's Day in Portugal." She take the 30 Euros cash that I give her and starts quickly walking the other way. My spouse decides that she doesn't trust her 16 year old alone in a city she's never been in, chases after her, and leaves me alone for the rest of the day. I did make it to the bridge and river, alone, and it was lovely. When we meet up again later, I am reemed out for being selfish and not giving in to our child's demands (which, again were to walk 15 minutes right back to where we started, the 30 minute round trip being the female limit to the amount of walking desired in a day.)
The second story involved our time on Madeira. We had a 5:50am flight that got us to Madeira at 7:30am, and with a 4pm checking in time, we had time to kill. So I noted that there was an amazing hike on the coast just 20 minute from the airport. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/portugal/madeira--2/miradouro-de-sao-lourenco-cais-do-sardinha-pico-do-furado We drove there any my daughter started screaming that she was not going on the hike, that she would just wait in the car. After many tears and pleading, she ended up going, purposely hiking much faster than her fat old parents. My spouse demanded that I try to keep up with our daughter (no way my spouse could) to ensure that she remained safe. I managed to stay close enough, and dare I say that both of them ended up loving the hike. It was just that fanastic.
My biggest planning error was planning a hike the next day. That was this hike. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/portugal/madeira--2/pico-do-areeiro-pico-ruivo-achada-do-teixeira. I paid around $100 to have a service pick us up in the city, crop us of at the start, pick us up at the finish, and drop us off back in the city. No way was I going to ask them to do that hike as an out and back...my wife is not physically capable, and my daughter is not mentally capable.
We stayed in in amazing villa with stunning seaside views (best Airbnb we've ever stayed in, by far) about 35 minutes outside of the city. So we got up early, drove the crazy Madeira roads to the city (or I should say I drove them, as my anxiety ridden wife would never attempt such harrowing driving), and parked near our pre-arranged pickup spot, which I guess was a small apartment building with nothing much else around. As we awaited the eight seat tour van, it becaume obvious, I needed to take a shit.
So we were actually parked near a small abandoned house with lots of overgrown weeds, so taking an outdoor shit was possible, and taking it outdoors seemed the only option. I also had some paper towels, so paper was available. As I departed the car, my wife handed me a pack of wipes and one free wipe and said "Don't destroy the package." Confession #1: I've never used a package of wipes. Confession #2: I'm very nearsighted.
I managed to find a good crouching spot and take the shit without getting any on me. I used the first wipe and realize I'm going to need a couple more. So I carefully rip open the package, taking extra care not to completely destroy the package. I manage to complete the job, head back to the car, and hand the wipes back to my wife.
Within seconds, she explodes with ten times the fury my ass just did, screaming that "how could I be such a stupid idiot, you destroyed the pack of wipes." I found this odd because I had managed to make the smallest possible opening possible. She fould that incredibly stupid because apparently the packaging is such that she had already opened it (but why would she ask me not to destroy it if it was already open? She could have told me that and instructed me how to take the wipes out of the already opened package) and how could I do such a thing (because I'm nearsighted and I had shit running out of my ass and don't know the workings of a pack of wipes). In spite of my best apologies, she literally screamed at me and called me names for 20 minutes straight until our ride arrived. We were the first ones in the van, and there were several other pickups, so she changed her voice to a whisper and continued to berate me, call names, and threaten divorce for the next 25 minutes as other hikers joined our van.
Once we had all the passengers picked up, the driver started telling details about the hike. He totally oversold the difficult of the hike, and warned us that it was very cloudy and foggy and we might not see much. He even offered to drive people back to their pickup point after the initial dropoff (no refund, and he was driving that way anyway) if they didn't want to hike in possible foggy conditions. I asked him if this was common and he said "No, 99.9% of people do the hike, we only ever had one Italian couple who took them up on the return offer."
So we get to the dropoff point, and it's could, cloudy, foggy. No rain. And my daughter starts screaming and crying that she's not going to do the hike. My wife decides she doesn't want to do it eithter due to the overselling of the diffculty by the driver. So they become the second couple to everr turn back and not do the hike. As for me, this was a bucket list hike, and I was going to do it every in total fog. The first 20 minutes offered no views, but then I turned a corner into a valley, and the views were glorious for much of the rest of the hike. And the hike ended up being fairly easy (very smooth pathway, no boulders or rocks or roots to navigate.)
The final story involved our second stay in Porto. We had flown back form Madeira, rented a car and driven six hours each way, so ny daughter could spend her 17th birthday in the Algarve. After similiarly aborting another hike in the Algarve https://www.alltrails.com/trail/portugal/faro/pr1-lga-sete-vales-suspensos (We actually planned to hike less than half of it), we drove the six hours back to Porto the next day.
I had planned a rental return the next morning at the city location, but I noted that I was early enough to do the dropoff before the 7pm closing. After safely depositing the girls at the Airbnb in Vila Nova de Gaia (historic area right across the bridge from Porto) I navigated some crazy hills, one way roads, and rush hour traffic to make it there before 7.
I had cheaped out on the liability insurance, but taken extra special care in driving and where I parked the car, and no way did I hit anything (it was parked safely in Lagos most of the time.) However, the Sixt man found a couple of scratches that he claimed I put in the car. I explained that this was not possible. Perhaps the moral of the story is to try to communicate better at the time of pickup (and to pay the fucking liability insurance), even if the guy giving you the car is a Brazilian who doesn't know two words of English. Don't take his word for it, always check for scratches..their records may be incomplete. Anyway, I'm going to owe Sixt $400 for two small scratches I didn't do, and they've lost a customer for life.
After that debacle, I had a 65 minute walk back to the apartment. The Metro would have cut it to 40, and Bolt to 30, but I like walking, and there was a good craft beer stop and city to explore, so I chose to walk. After some dinner and some surprisingly good craft beer (this place had Cantillon in bottles), I headed home. Note: I have a cheapo five year old phone whose battery drains pretty quickly. I was still about 15 minutes from home (maybe 10:30 or 11 pm by this time) and my last message to my wife was " My battery isn't going to last, I'll figure out how to get home."
Mind you taxis don't seem to exist anymore, and I didn't see a cop the whole time I was in Portugal. So I did my best guess as to how to get home. I even made it to a park that I knew to be four minutes from our place. I even found a map in the park there that showed the street were were staying on. Though oddly the map was about eight feet in the air and it was dark and super difficult to read. The confusing thing is that there are different levels to the part of town, with tricky stairs and different bridge levels. I essentially thought I know where to go, but it seemed impossible to get there. I probably asked a dozen people for directions, some of them even mapped me on their phones. Others insisted that I was on the right road, because the name of the road I was looking for shared the name of the Metro stop (it was not that road, nor did the road I wanted even touch the road they were telling me was my road.) Anyway, I got hopelessly lost for a long, long time until I found the parking lot near our place and asked someone for directions, which guided me to our place. Thank goodness, I was finally home. It was actaully kind of an adventure...it got tiring but I felt like I had stubbornly accomplished something on my own and it reminded me of being lost in European cities in 1989 without GPS or a good map.
I entered the door code correctly, but the door wouldn't open as my wife had dead bolted it. She proceeded to let me in and immediately started calling me a "stupid idiot who can't even figure out how to open the door" (kind of tough when it's dead bolted) and that she was worried sick and had visited the police station 15 minutes way and was having them call all of the area hospitals. When I was finally able to explain myself (it's tough when are being berated in multiple long paragraphs and told that you are not allowed to talk.), I was told how stupid I was and alternatively that I "must be lying, for sure you were off with a tranny doing disgusting things" (* I have never had sexual relations with a trans person). I was told how stupid I was, that I should have just asked to borrow someone's phone to cal lher so that she could come get me and guide me home (no doubt lodly berating me for everyone to hear.)
I realize it is hard to be lost for three hours, but trust me...the lack of road signs, numerous locals giving erroneous directions, and the tricky in the dark multi-leveled terrain that I had not previously traversed made it all possible. But honestly, it wsa kind of fun.
Anyway, I'm so, so glad my next trip is a solo work trip to the PNW which I have tacked some solo travel on at the end. (See my post last year in this thread about my work trip to Toronto) Hey Sweetcell, wanna meet up in Seattle for a beer, or have me drop by the homestead?
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Classic Space
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If you need a place to stay while you're figuring out how to get divorced, let me know.
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Part of me hates this Yada/Space Portuguese hegemony but also part of me wants to go to Portugal in 2025 and they’re dropping **just enough** usable recon on the country to be viable.
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Also to Space who is going thru a coupling that is just nasty, as a person who had publicly went thru/is finishing up a divorce as awful as imaginable, please let your kid get to college and separate as kindly as you can control.
This is real bad man. Love you, but man, you all have to get out of this before this goes off the map. Both good people but this needs to end.
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Wow... I can only hope and assume some of this narrative is for effect but that sounds horrific.... and I have many questions starting with why the hell did you drive to and from Lagos in 24 hrs?
As for my trip... it was legitimately perfect minus a dud of a michelin meal and the covid I currently have.
Edit: sixt is the worst rental car agency I've dealt with in my life. It took us three hours to get our car upon landing in Lisbon, however I got a discount since I'm not a gawt damn pussy.
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Sorry bad writing maybe.
Two nights in Porto, four in Madeira, (flew back to Porto, flying Madeira to the Algarve much more expensive and no direct flights), four nights in Lagos, three nights in Porto (Vila Nova de Gaia).
We also had a one night layover in Brussels where we drank Cantillon and DF from the tap and got frites and waffles late night. That was actually hella fun (except for my always carsick daughter puking in the Bolt.)
I think after 20+ years of vacations it's pretty clear we want different things in a vacation. I want adventure and to a lesser extent education,as I regard my everyday life is pretty boring. She wants relaxation, as she regards her everyday life as stressful.
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I would get along with your wife….
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I would get along with your wife….
She doesn't see the point of live music and thinks less of those who do....she those who love live music need to find some real hobbies and interests, where they are the doer rather than passive observers.
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Is this just another passive way of invalidating you as a person, or does she have any interesting hobbies on offer? Is watching the Food Network superior?
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Is this just another passive way of invalidating you as a person, or does she have any interesting hobbies on offer? Is watching the Food Network superior?
She's really into yoga and self-improvement. And supporting our daughter in her endeavors. And is she definitely one of those workaholic people who work far more than 40 hours.
I have plenty of "active" interests that don't involve being a consumer...running, biking, hiking (to a lesser degree camping and backpacking), homebrewing...well maybe not plenty but at least a few.
I don't hang my self-worth on being a fan of live music. Just not sure how well my wife would getting along with Hutch. :)
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Ok I finally read Space.
All I meant was I also am not into hiking….more into relaxing or doing nothing actually
Who am I to judge? If Space is ok with the situation….
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If you need a place to stay while you're figuring out how to get divorced, let me know.
space ain't giving away half of that gubment pension.
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Ok I finally read Space.
All I meant was I also am not into hiking….more into relaxing or doing nothing actually
Who am I to judge? If Space is ok with the situation….
Oh, I never said my wife wasn't into hiking. She's just dropped quite a bit in fitness level from the triathlon competing, marathon running woman I fell in love with many years ago. I'm still up for as much physical challenge as I can take at my age (no more marathons, but still run 15-20 miles week, bike on non-running days, and do strenuous hikes when I can), she wishes "they'd make all hikes 20% shorter, and there were better food and drink options along the way."
Conversely, she wishes I'd work longer and harder and make more money, as opposed to me being content with falling short of (what she sees as) my potential.
No situation is ideal. You either learn to live with your situation, try to improve the situation, or get our of the situation. We're shooting for a combination of the first two.
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Makes sense.
Some of what you describe though is so so far from “ideal”….
At the same time what you describe is more common than people might think…guys just don’t talk
And I just don’t get the sense you guys are working to make things better….how are you doing this? You are way past the point of needing couples counseling…
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I mean you have to be honest. Do you and your wife think you have a problem or do you think this is ok or normal? I get the sense you are resigned to the fact that this is the way it is and that it’s ok and not really a big deal.
More worrying is what you guys are modeling for your daughter….
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(https://frinkiac.com/meme/S08E06/624172.jpg?b64lines=IEkgU0xFRVAgSU4gQSBCSUcKIEJFRCBXSVRIIE1ZIFdJRkUKb24gdmFjYXRpb24=)
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I mean you have to be honest. Do you and your wife think you have a problem or do you think this is ok or normal? I get the sense you are resigned to the fact that this is the way it is and that it’s ok and not really a big deal.
More worrying is what you guys are modeling for your daughter….
Yeah, there's too much to go into and an internet forum where I'm only semi-anonymous isn't the best place to go into it. I do appreciate your concern and that of others...if we ever meet at a show, first beer's on me...
Suffice it to say I don't think we knew each other that well when we got married and we're two very different people. Though we do have some commonalities we bond over and that help keep us going.
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I mean you have to be honest. Do you and your wife think you have a problem or do you think this is ok or normal? I get the sense you are resigned to the fact that this is the way it is and that it’s ok and not really a big deal.
More worrying is what you guys are modeling for your daughter….
Yeah, there's too much to go into and an internet forum where I'm only semi-anonymous isn't the best place to go into it. I do appreciate your concern and that of others...if we ever meet at a show, first beer's on me...
Suffice it to say I don't think we knew each other that well when we got married and we're two very different people. Though we do have some commonalities we bond over and that help keep us going.
I mean... marriage is ever changing. I can only assume you've been married longer than me based on your age, but no doubt things are going to change over a 20 year time line.
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Hey Yada,
How would you rate the Portuguese food and women (the latter previously panned by Hutch)?
You ended up going to Lisbon and the Algarve? Was the Algarve worth the drive?
How was Olivia Rodrigo?
Do you have a burning desire to go back or is it a one and done?
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Yeah full Olivia Rodrigo report please!!
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Conversely, she wishes I'd work longer and harder and make more money, as opposed to me being content with falling short of (what she sees as) my potential.
have you been talking to my wife?
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Hey Yada,
How would you rate the Portuguese food and women (the latter previously panned by Hutch)?
You ended up going to Lisbon and the Algarve? Was the Algarve worth the drive?
How was Olivia Rodrigo?
Do you have a burning desire to go back or is it a one and done?
As mentioned above and I don't want to rub salt in any wounds, but the trip was damn near perfect.
Our first Euro trip with our kids and it was better than expected... In terms of food, I found the food either absolutely delicious or not good at all... Wasn't much of an in between. I typically don't eat sweets or coffee or at least try to refrain but I ate chocolate croissants and Pastel de natas pretty much every morning, washed down with some sort of caffeine bomb... For lunch it was almost always a sweaty meat on a baguette. In terms of women... I mean, I'm not too picky but there were beautiful women everywhere, however, I can't confirm if they were all truly Portuguese, a visitor, or a different ethnic group living there.
The Algarve region was absolutely stunning and I'm glad with your advice we ended up not going to any of the islands. Would've been unneeded and overkill from my perspective. Our home base was right on the water in Lagos and we hit up a couple of the surrounding towns as well as did a portion of that hike you mentioned above. I did get caught up in the maze of downtown Lagos that was a space moment with my wife and children yelling at me. I ensured not to drive back to the town area again.
Lisbon was also killer and reminded me a lot of Barcelona, parts of Italy, etc. Would I go back? Hell yeah... will it happen? Who knows... Like multipe amazing places in the world, it's rare to get back to a faraway land due to many constraints. Ive only been to Spain and Italy twice... every other place in the world only once.
Lisbon we did nothing but pound the pavement... Walked I'm sure 5/10 miles a day... Did a tuk tuk tour. Hung in the squares... watched Futbol Americana. Ate a ton... drank lots of beer/red wine. Dat's about it.
O-Rod... I'm now a huge fan and her show was incredible. Admittedly, it was my first true pop star concert and it was insane. The noise in the arena was something I've never experienced, the decibels must've been off the charts. I even shed a few tears witnessing the complete joy my youngest daughter had and passing the torch of the love of live music. Beers were also only $5!
The end.
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Glad you had a damn near perfect trip! Thanks for the review. It sound like your Algarve and Lisbon impressions match mine.
I probably overemphasize the negative in my review. My wife and daughter had glowing reviews of our 2023 Portugal trip, especially the Algarve and Lisbon. Upon return last year, they kept saying they wanted to go back to the Algarve and also go to Porto. So a month later, when I found RT June tickets for $470 each, I jumped on it. (I myself wanted to use miles and go to northern Spain, but I just couldn't turn down that price...the 2023 June trip was even cheaper, about $370 each!)
Then my wife got cold feet and started wishing I hadn't booked Portugal again. But now, she seems to have a a positive take on it all...or is at least putting on a happy face about it. :)
Anyway, a lot of Youtubers swear by Porto over Lisbon...I completely disagree. Nothing wrong with Porto...it reminded both my wife and I of Bologna (though perhaps prettier with worse food). But if I ever go back (definitely won't in the next five years, but I could see it happening in the next 10....), I'd definitely pick Lisbon over Porto. Also, those fucking hills of Lisbon. Love them. I don't think I'd ever have to run or ride a bike in Lisbon. I'd get enough cardio just walking the city.
I didn't really discover Madeira until after I had our first trip booked and I wondered if we should have gone to Madeira over the Azores (only went to Sao Miguel), and I'd have to say yes, I liked Madeira better. In part because of our stunning but cheap (less that $190 a night with all fees included) Airbnb but also because the hiking and scenery was more stunning. Neither had beaches worth mentioning. I'd got back to Madeira if I could get the same or a comparable Airbnb. Though there's plenty of other islands I'd like to visit where I could get better beaches, and plenty of other (mainland) places where I could get better hiking.
The Algarve, specifically Lagos, remained a favorite for my wife and daughter. Me too, but I'd call it equal with Lisbon and Madeira. Again ,we sayed in Old Town Lagos, and this time our Airbnb was a big improvement. I think overall it had four levels (three of which we inhabited), with an awesome view of the sea from the second floor balcony and third floor rooftop.
The weather was awesome too. Highs in Porto ranged from 65-75, 70-75 in Maderia, and the 80's in Lagos. (Last year we went two weeks later and suffered through a heat wave in Lisbon and Lagos.
Four of my five favorite food experiences were in Lagos/Carvoeira. Though caveat that they included an Italian place, a Thai place, an Indian place, and a seafood place. We flexed and ate some chicken, but no red meat. So not much traditional Portuguese. In Porto they have some kind of meat monstrosity called a francesinha https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesinha, but the closest we got to it was the vegan version my wife had at the vegan place we went to. It was...interesting.
I agree about the women. Plenty of lovely women (I'm 57, so not terribly picky either), not sure if they were native Portuguese. I don't think they were Brits, who seemed to be all over the place in the Algarve.
Had a bottle of Cantillon in Porto and on draft in Brussels. Lots of red wine everywhere. Went on a port wine tour and tasting at one of the port caves in Porto. Not a sweet wine guy, but it was pretty good nonetheless.
I think pastel de natas are more featured in Lisbon, but I had my fair share. Mostly from Pingo Doce but they were still tasty.
I think we'll probably skip Europe next year. Also, likely go on vacation without the kid for the first time since before she was born in 2007, which should be interesting (and honestly, likely with far less drama.)
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fresh back from 6 nights/7days hiking/backpacking/camping on the olympic peninsula with the fam. covered about 20 miles total so pretty chill pace, set up our tent on the beach every night. saw seals lazing on the rocks, sea otters floating on their backs eating urchins, bald eagles fishing (one shat on our tent on july 4 - MURICA!!!111), a racoon's attempted thieving, deer jumping in tide pools, and children becoming almost hypothermic because they wouldn't get out of the frigid Pacific. desperately needed a shower and a beer upon return, but gawdang that was a great getaway. wife only chewed me out a few times, otherwise got along great despite her nursing a cold/fl thing. slightly sore back because i had to shoulder a ridiculously heavy backpack to make up for her weakened state. would do again in a heartbeat.
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fresh back from 6 nights/7days hiking/backpacking/camping on the olympic peninsula with the fam. covered about 20 miles total so pretty chill pace, set up our tent on the beach every night. saw seals lazing on the rocks, sea otters floating on their backs eating urchins, bald eagles fishing (one shat on our tent on july 4 - MURICA!!!111), a racoon's attempted thieving, deer jumping in tide pools, and children becoming almost hypothermic because they wouldn't get out of the frigid Pacific. desperately needed a shower and a beer upon return, but gawdang that was a great getaway. wife only chewed me out a few times, otherwise got along great despite her nursing a cold/fl thing. slightly sore back because i had to shoulder a ridiculously heavy backpack to make up for her weakened state. would do again in a heartbeat.
Wow, that's impressive! Did y'all hike that one way with two cars? Or did you go 15 miles and figure "Yeah, now seems about the right time to turn back?"
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Did y'all hike that one way with two cars? Or did you go 15 miles and figure "Yeah, now seems about the right time to turn back?"
there is a private shuttle service that goes from one end of the route to the other. so we parked at the south end, hiked north, and on the last morning i got up before the clan, hiked out and caught the shuttle back to our car. i then drove back to pick up the missus & sprogs.
this was our 4th or 5th year doing some portion of this hike, and clearly the word is out. never seen so many people on the trails and so many cars parked everywhere. might need to find a new option for next year since we really value isolation and the absence of idiots (aka other people) when we head out into the wilderness.
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Hiking. Kill me.
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We did several multi-day backpacking trips before we had the kid. Both of our backpacking trips with her (one in the Olympics, the other in Colorado) have been aborted failures. I think that ship has sailed.
I dream of doing (at least part of) the hut to hut Mt. Blanc hike or the Alta Via 1, but it's looking like I may have to do them by myself, or find a friend who's interested.
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We did several multi-day backpacking trips before we had the kid. Both of our backpacking trips with her (one in the Olympics, the other in Colorado) have been aborted failures. I think that ship has sailed.
I dream of doing (at least part of) the hut to hut Mt. Blanc hike or the Alta Via 1, but it's looking like I may have to do them by myself, or find a friend who's interested.
take hutch, that would be a bloggable story if I ever heard one
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I also never took Sweetcell as someone with a people allergy. But maybe it's just a case of a needed annual reset? Or maybe it's just that nature is best experienced without other humans doing annoying things?
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I also never took Sweetcell as someone with a people allergy. But maybe it's just a case of a needed annual reset? Or maybe it's just that nature is best experienced without other humans doing annoying things?
the people allergy is very specific to back-country camping (although i'll admit that as i get older, i see it creeping into other parts of my life... ;D ). we love nature, in its natural state, and it kills us to see how many people can't figure out leave no trace, pack it in/pack it out, proper human waste disposal, not ruining a beautiful experience by blaring music from a bluetooth speaker, etc. i'd love to be able to shrug and say "you do you", but their idiocy ruins my enjoyment. only option is to avoid them.