Long Range Planning for 50th anniversary

Congratulations on your upcoming milestone. You have posed a good question.
We have been to Europe, Hawaii, Sydney Australia and the south island of New Zealand. So I think that maybe somewhere on the Pacific Rim or a European river cruise. I would love to go to the African continent or the Middle East but the danger is too much for me. My wife wants to go to Tahiti. It is a tough choice when the world is so big and so much to see.
If you can answer "what is best for us? Someplace we know and are familiar with or someplace that tests our excitement?" then you may find your answer.

Good luck!

If you want to go to Europe I would suggest something little bit more exotic where not so many people go like Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania. I put them in the order from the easiest for independent traveler to more demanding. And another secret there, don't tell anybody, prices are significantly lower there than in western Europe. A lot of mountain scenery in all those countries. Last three have also beautiful mostly sandy beaches. Slovakia is the easiest to travel to because it's in Schengen area and it's on Euro.

What about an around the world trip? Many airlines have special deals where you can create your own trip for a set fee, rather than paying by the leg. We did this with British Air (and it's associated airlines)for my husband's 50th birthday. These were their rules then. The trip must last at least 11 days and no more than 3 (or was it 6 ?) months. You can only travel in one basic direction- east to west or west to east, in other words you can't zig-zag back and forth (exceptions for transfers only). We were gone for 15 days. Here's what we did- US to London (happened to be there for the 7-7 bombings- that was ... interesting) did a day trip to Cardiff Wales. London to Hong Kong then Hong Kong to Sydney Australia. I think we had 3 or 4 nights in London, 2 nights in Hong Kong and 6 nights in Sydney. Then Sydney to San Francisco (1 night I think), then home to Charlotte. All of the flights were overnighters, so we saved a bit on hotels that way. By the way, we flew business and first class the whole time.

We had planned and saved for several years for this trip. You have time to do the same. Check with the airlines- see what the costs are now. I think the plan is available for coach and 1st/business both, but not certain. At one time I know US Air was doing a similar program.

With something like this you could hit a few 'familiar' stops and some new ones, too!

How about renting a villa in Tuscany ( bike the hill towns)
Croatia and Slovenia (so beauitful, great wine, less people, cheaper)
We are heading to Basque area of France and Spain this month (unique area to explore) Lots of hiking, kayaking, walk part of Camino de Santiago.

How about this -- you print out the thread on "Travel While You Can" and celebrate your 50th anniversary NEXT June -- maybe by going back to where you were married, or where you had your honeymoon. Carpe Diem.

Wondering where you went on your honeymoon, and if a thread there provides inspiration, if not a desire to return.

How about island-hopping through Greece? Pick an island chain and use ferries to wander for 3-4 weeks. This would be a memorable, relaxing, romantic trip, where you would enjoy endless beautiful sights, great food, wonderful people.

If you choose the Dodecanese, you can work your way from Rhodes up to Samos, and take a day trip to amazing Ephesus in Turkey, and then fly back to Athens from Samos. (Note: Samos is not in the Dodecanese, but is a short ferry hop from Patmos, which is.)

If you choose the Cyclades (which we're doing next May-June) you can start in Andros, visit the well-known (Mykonos, Santorini) as well as the lesser known (Amorgos, Milos) and again fly or ferry back to Athens.

We've always traveled in Greece in September, for great weather. October might be a bit late, as some of the islands begin to shut down and the ferries run less frequently. I'll report back on the May-June experience next year.

You could go in mid-March and ski in Europe! Then stay for 90 days and celebrate your 50th anniversary in Europe :-)

Congratulations!!

Lots of good suggestions here. Here's some more information that will factor into our planning.

First, we try to go somewhere every year so we're not waiting for our 50th for the next trip (in fact we leave for Amsterdam in exactly two weeks from today - "Travel while you can").

Second, we live within 50 miles of where we married and our honeymoon was on the way to my first duty station - Grand Canyon, Disneyland, San Francisco and Yosemite (we have hilarious bear stories).

Third, my wife has a mild form of auto-immune issues and we have to avoid sunny and hot/humid climates (we've done the Hawaiian Islands and while Tahiti and Greece are on my list, they're pretty much out for my wife now.)

I have been following this discussion as we are similar in age and interests. My husband and I plan almost every trip, and certainly the celebratory ones, around physical activity---hiking or skiing. This has taken us to some wonderful places. We spent my 60th birthday hiking in Switzerland, and his 70th hiking on the South Island of New Zealand. We celebrated my retirement by going to the Dolomites for a week of hiking. We have also enjoyed some wonderful walking in the UK just because.

Might you be interested in something like that? Neither the Dolomites nor Switzerland would be particularly crowded in June (the earliest I would recommend for hiking vacations). Nor should it be hot. The main season in these mountain areas does not start until July. Both offer beautiful landscapes, lovely hotels ( we always book rooms with balcony), great food ( especially the Dolomites), and a warm welcome, as well as cultural sights and activities for non-hiking days.

Another place to consider might be Alaska. We have two favorite wilderness lodges I can highly recommend if you are interested.

Lola, we're active vacationers too. A vacation sitting on the beach isn't for us (although I enjoyed snorkeling and sailing when we were in Hawaii). I had a knee replacement last October and this coming trip to Amsterdam and Belgium is planned expecting lots of walking (along with a day in Paris to celebrate my 69th birthday). Before my knees went totally bad about 10-15 years ago (in retrospect, I put off the knee replacement way too long), I carried a pedometer on one of our trips in London and typically averaged 10-12 miles a day. I'm not quite back up to that yet, but I'm working on it.

So, yes, an active vacation is what we are planning for our 50th. Whether it's hiking, skiing, or sightseeing it won't be sitting around.

Ray,
For a 50th Anniversary........and that is a BIG accomplishment to really celebrate.....congratulations!!!!

But, for a 50th Anniversary, if you want to do something truly special, book a few nights at Ashford Castle in Ireland (email about specials they can offer you on a deluxe room), enjoy the Hawk Walk thru the School of Falconry at Ashford (you can view the experience on YouTube). Then hop up to Scotland and do a journey on the Royal Scotsman (I have not personally experienced that, but still on the bucklist...maybe for my 50th anniversary if we live that long :)

With those two very special components, you would be not only celebrating in grand style in a very memorable way, but you would also be giving a nod to both of your heritages. And, as you know, the sun is not strong in both of those countries, so that should help w/ your wife's need to avoid harsh sunlight.

Wishing you a joyous anniversary celebration, continued wonderful memories, and many additional happy (and healthy) years together. Not many people can say they are celebrating their 50th! We are a little less than a decade behind you in anniversaries.

Those are good suggestions too! We've spent a week in Dublin researching my wife's geneology and soaking up Guinness and the Book of Kells. We also did a week in Inverness while looking up my ancestral home in Kyle of Lochalsh.

The Ashford Castle looks very interesting, although it's a lot more formal than our usual travel style. We've wanted to see western Ireland so I'll have to do some research about the local area there. The falconry isn't a draw - my alma mater flies falcons at every football game - but the country side is spectacular and we've certainly paid more for less in London on a nightly basis. Transportation options to get around to local sights will be my main research concern. When we were in Dublin we rented a car and I swore I'd never drive in Ireland again - had too many close calls, and I still had good reflexes then! It's bad enough being on the wrong side of the car and road and shifting with the left hand, but none of the streets go in a straight direction and the signs are in the middle of the block and not on the intersections!

When we were in Scotland, my knees were on the verge of getting really bad and we weren't able to do any hiking so revisiting the highlands to hike is also on my bucket list.

Might get around to these before our 50th.

If you'd like a driver in the western part of Ireland, look up Tony McGann with Doolin Taxi. He is very reasonable, reliable, humorous, and really knows that part of Ireland. He used to run McGann's Pub in Doolin when he was younger, so everyone knows him.

He drove us two years ago, and by time we would have rented an automatic, paid the extra insurances, fuel, tolls and parking, it did not cost at much more to have a driver. And, he acted as a sort-of tour guide. He took care of all his own overnights, and for days that we did not need transport, he did other trips. Can't say enough good things about him. And, it also meant my spouse could enjoy the scenery along the way, without having to concentrate on road, sheep, or worry about making a wrong turn.

If you all are up for it, it would not be in June, but sign up for a National Geographic Expedition to Antarctica (mid-January is best). My nephew did the trip in high school, and he is extremely well traveled, and kept telling us no other trip compared. Now that we've been, we understand the feeling. Unbelievable. Private message me if I can provide more info.

Perhaps a voyage with Hurtigruten - the Norwegian passenger/freight ferry service that offers year round voyages through Norway's fjords to far flung coastal communities. http://www.hurtigruten.com/en/