I am going to Ontario for my brother in law's wedding. I am hoping to visit TO, Ottawa, Montreal and maybe even the Maritime provinces.

We also plan on going to NYC for a couple of days and then to Boston.

We will probably do our weekend getaways to Whistler as well.

Well, as I've been in Ireland and trapsing about Europe for the past 6 months, my cash is pretty much shot. Any traveling I do during summer will be for triathlons!! YAY! But most of them are in PA/OH. May spend one race weekend on Lake Erie (but it is in september, so I'll be swimming the beach in my wetsuit!).

But for my spring break (starts friday!) I am going to take a cycle excursion into the Northern Irish countryside. I was going to go to scotland or the continent, but I just can't afford it (had a bit of a fiasco the past few days). I'm going to hire a road bike and some paniers, hit the road and head north to ultimately end up near Portrush/Portstewart/Coleraine and see Giants Causeway. I'm planning on just going up the Antrim Coast and staying in 2 hostels. The treck is about 80 miles one way. I'm not sure if I can managed the whole 80 in one day, but it'd be worth a shot.

When's the season over at Whistler? Do they stay open later?

-Rudey

Whistler/Blackcomb Mountains will be closed for skiing/boarding by the end of April, however, it's a whole different world in the summer - hiking, mountain biking, canoing, rafting, kayaking, wind surfing, swimming and so on.

I am not a skier, so I actually prefer Whistler in the summertime. Plus it gets incredibly hot up there, which I love.

Oh sorry :) I've never been there in the summer but in the winter it's awesome.

-Rudey

I'm still waiting to interview for a job this summer teaching at a smart kids camp.

So far, I'm going to San Fransisco!!! YAY!!! Hit up a little Price Is Right and Disneyland while I'm out there, too. Its my first trip to the West Coast, so I'm excited. I'll probably hit up Atlanta, too, since I seem to head there about twice a year to visit my best friend.

The cool thing about the smart kids camp is that it is in Hawaii, and I wouldn't have to work weekends. So I'm pretty excited about the opportunity. I'm hoping to get that, not because I think it will be a vacation, but because the weekends will leave me time to explore out there as well.

So far I've got a weekend at Outer Banks with the husband, a weekend at the beach with my AXO family, Chicago for convention in July, then a week in New Hampshire at our family cabin that my grandfather is selling after this season :(

Ahh.. and you should be excited !!!!!!! :D :D

Re: Summer Vacations - 2006
 

You are picking the worst time of the year to go there. It will be winter by July and that means winter storms. In Costa Rica they are a big deal. The prime time to go is March, April and May during the spring break months. If you do not mind my asking what camp are you going to? Most if not all camps do not supply extra boards when your board snaps from the waves. When I would go each time we brought a minimum of 3 boards each. May I also suggest being watchful of your passport. People pay big dollars in central and south american countries for US passports.

Re: Re: Summer Vacations - 2006
 

I've heard about the storms but everyone says something different - either they are awful or nothing at all. I haven't decided on the camp but most of the camps supply their own boards. I don't think I'll be bringing my own because the more I think about it, it would be a hassle. If my lazy friend would get off his bum I could do it in May but we'll see.

-Rudey

Re: Re: Re: Summer Vacations - 2006
 

The storms depend on varying factors such as El Nino and La Nina. The surface temps of the water in both the Atlantic and Pacific play a big part in how the winter will look storm wise. I made a mistake and did not research the weather patterns and the frequency (and ferocity) of storms during each weather pattern. May would be a good time to go but July or August in my eyes during the current weather patterns is just plain stupid. If you get stuck down there it is a royal pain in the ass. Storms aside, if you lose your passport it will take 2 weeks before you can get a new one. I was caught in a storm and lost my passport AND I got stuck in San Jose for almost a month. That was the last time I did not research the weather patterns for the area.

What ocean will the camp be teaching you on? I assume the Pacific? And be careful of the snakes there if you do any hiking or shroom picking (it is really popular among americans). Snakes are everywhere and even the smallest are extremely venomous. A guy that was with us one trip was bitten by a fer-de-lance snake and didnt even know it till he saw blood coming out of his calv a little while later. They are really hard to see and account for 80% of all bites. They are extremely leathal.

Here is a picture of one:

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/smallan/Snakes/boat.jpg

They are really small and almost invisible away from the beach. Good luck and stay safe!

Re: Re: Re: Re: Summer Vacations - 2006
 

I'm not planning on going past June so we'll see. I'm looking at Safari, Samara, withs rock, or green iguana for the camps.

My other option is this http://www.bajaoffroadtours.com/ so hopefully i'll have this all planned out soon.

-Rudey

Portrush is awesome...if you can, get to the Ramore restaurant. Desserts to die for. =) My husband and I spent about 3 days up there wandering around and loved it. We had hoped to get back up there when we were in Ireland for our wedding but didn't have a chance this time.

Hilton Head and the Cape.

I really haven't given the summer a lot of thought yet. I can usually only schedule long weekends but they'll be at
-a convention at the Mall of America (I'm still trying to figure that one out!)
-Chicago, of course.
-St. Louis, maybe. ;)

Plus, a week outside of DC, researching, and checking up on some old friends & relatives. This will be with my mother & Buffy, again health permitting.

I also plan to spend Thanksgiving in Williamsburg. I went online for reservations and their prices are crazy-cheap! Anyone know what the gimmick is? Sheraton Suites don't usually go for $69.99 a night, with a full breakfast!