Take a Vacation

[BigPiney]

Just got back from a 9 day family vacation to England. We were celebrating my son's college graduation ("What? A lot of people go to college for seven years..."), as well as my wife's 50th birthday.

We spent the first 4 days in London, with Covent Gardens being our home base. We loved the neighborhood, and it was super easy to access to all of the monuments either on foot or on the Underground. Could have spent a few more days there to see everything that we wanted without feeling rushed.

We then drove out to the southwest countryside and spent 4 days, with Bath as our home base to visit the Cotswold region. Absolutely loved Bath and the surrounding area. Tons to do and see in Bath itself, and the drive up to the Cotswolds was fantastic. The Instagram famous villages, like Bourton-on-the-water, were totally overrun with tourists, so while they were pretty, they weren't super enjoyable. But the smaller, lesser known villages were amazing. The countryside was a nice break from the hustle bustle of the city.

Our last night was in Oxford. We wanted to see the universities and the city center. Oxford was crazy busy. So many tour groups with, what I assume were high school students from all over the world. The campus was gorgeous, but it is largely closed off to visitors, so we weren't able to see much there. City center is fun, but also just crazy busy. Even on a Tuesday. Can't imagine what a weekend would have looked like. Oxford was a nice place to spend our last day, as it is an easy drive to Heathrow for an early flight.

Driving on the left side of the road is still mentally exhausting, but it was much easier than my first time last year in Barbados.

Overall, can't recommend England enough. Would love to go back and explore more of the island, including up north and into Scotland, some time.

That sounds like the trip I did with my family in 2020 right before Covid. It was awesome.

[Bo Diddley]

Just got back from a 9 day family vacation to England. We were celebrating my son's college graduation ("What? A lot of people go to college for seven years..."), as well as my wife's 50th birthday.

We spent the first 4 days in London, with Covent Gardens being our home base. We loved the neighborhood, and it was super easy to access to all of the monuments either on foot or on the Underground. Could have spent a few more days there to see everything that we wanted without feeling rushed.

We then drove out to the southwest countryside and spent 4 days, with Bath as our home base to visit the Cotswold region. Absolutely loved Bath and the surrounding area. Tons to do and see in Bath itself, and the drive up to the Cotswolds was fantastic. The Instagram famous villages, like Bourton-on-the-water, were totally overrun with tourists, so while they were pretty, they weren't super enjoyable. But the smaller, lesser known villages were amazing. The countryside was a nice break from the hustle bustle of the city.

Our last night was in Oxford. We wanted to see the universities and the city center. Oxford was crazy busy. So many tour groups with, what I assume were high school students from all over the world. The campus was gorgeous, but it is largely closed off to visitors, so we weren't able to see much there. City center is fun, but also just crazy busy. Even on a Tuesday. Can't imagine what a weekend would have looked like. Oxford was a nice place to spend our last day, as it is an easy drive to Heathrow for an early flight.

Driving on the left side of the road is still mentally exhausting, but it was much easier than my first time last year in Barbados.

Overall, can't recommend England enough. Would love to go back and explore more of the island, including up north and into Scotland, some time.

Sounds like a great trip!

[Northwestcoug]

We loved the Cotswolds also, and yeah Burton on the Water was too busy. Some of those smaller towns were the perfect stereotypical English village.

We started our trip in Oxford and it was also pretty busy then. I really liked it. But we had a lot of energy and enthusiasm at the beginning so maybe the crowds didn't bother us as much.

[bluegoose]

We loved the Cotswolds also, and yeah Burton on the Water was too busy. Some of those smaller towns were the perfect stereotypical English village.

We started our trip in Oxford and it was also pretty busy then. I really liked it. But we had a lot of energy and enthusiasm at the beginning so maybe the crowds didn't bother us as much.

Our favorite of the villages was Castle Combe. Only a couple of blocks long, and the crowds were largely limited by the long walk from the small parking lot.

I'd like another try at Oxford. I usually like the energy of fun, crowded area. I think I was just tired after going hard for 8 days.

[Bo Diddley]

Our favorite of the villages was Castle Combe. Only a couple of blocks long, and the crowds were largely limited by the long walk from the small parking lot.

I'd like another try at Oxford. I usually like the energy of fun, crowded area. I think I was just tired after going hard for 8 days.

Yep, great little village. It was pretty sparse when we visited. Had lunch at the pub. The walk around the church was fun too.

[Omaha 680]

Rather than provide a top ten, I'll recommend for now that you choose two or three areas from the following four: Salzburg, Val Gardena in the Dolomites, the Bernese Oberland, and/or Lake Como (on the way to Milan). You can use trains or rental car for any of these, although I wouldn't get one if you're going to Zermatt (more in a moment). Vienna's nice (I lived there for a year) but this time around I'd focus on the mountains.

Salzburg. My sentimental favorite. You can spend at least 2-3 days here doing the following. A walking tour within the old city--just walking around, is a lot of fun with beautiful photo ops. You can take a Sound of Music tour (wish I were there to provide it, as I got to know all of the sites very well). A tour or drive out to the Salzkammergut (Lake District) and Hallstaat (unquestionably one of most beautiful villages on the planet) and the nearby salt mine (more interesting than you might expect, would be a great day. Or go west to Berchtesgaden, Konigsee, the Jennerbahn (chair lift to some fun hiking areas) and Hitler's Eagle's Nest. Lots to see and do. Be aware that Salzburg Music Festival is held every August. Hence, lots of tourists but also lots of superb musical and theatrical productions.

Val Gardena. The western side of the Dolomites (Cortina in the east) that we loved. Lost of gondolas and other lifts that will take you to spectacular views and fun hiking (and parasailing!). My wife's photos from this area look so good you'd think she spent hours editing, but she didn't. So many great views. A couple of days here would a lot of fun.

Bernese Oberland. Stops here could include Luzern, Zermatt, Grindelwald, and Muerren (a presonal fave), all with a lot of great views, hiking, etc. Luzern is more cosmopolitan than the others, and Zermatt (Matterhorn) can be overrun with tourists, but you can't go wrong with any of these. Our hotel balcony view in Muerren was breathtaking, with three peaks, including Eiger, in plain view. From there we took a gondola up to Piz Gloria (Bond's On Her Majesty's Secret Service) where one can see forever (or at least as far as peaks like Mont Blanc).

Como. Just an hour's drive north of Milan, one can stay in Bellagio (the town, not the hotel) and take a ferry to several charming villages that surround the lake. Say hi to George Clooney.

Anyway, pick a couple of areas (or others) and I may be able to provide some additional tips. Don't worry about making the absolutely best choices. There are so great things you won't go wrong, and you also won't come close to seeing everything. But it will whet your appetite for more visits later.

This was extremely useful in our planning so thank you very much. We are only here together 8 days and after suggesting several different itineraries, my wife opted for one that maximizes the amount of places we see, but will not be extremely relaxing:

Overnight flight to Munich with morning arrival
First night in Munich
Second night in Salzburg
Third night overnight train to Zurich to pick up Swiss car rental
Fourth night Interlaken
Fifth night Tasch (outside of Zermatt)
noon train to Milan
Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth nights Milan

We are doing Dachau, the Eagles Nest, and as much sound of music stuff as we can squeeze in. We are going to an opera (only 90 minutes, my kind of opera!) at the Felsenreitschule which is the theater where the Von Trapps performed at the end of the movie when they escaped from the Nazis. So thanks again for the tip on the music festival. Lots of performances to choose from.

Who knows what we will get to see in Switzerland for the short time we are there. I just learned they have year round skiing on the Matterhorn and the resort is on ikon so I told my wife I really don't have a choice and need to take at least a few runs. The last three nights in Milan is just to relax some and use it as a base to go up to Como on a day trip if we feel like it.

After the wife leaves our base for work will be Sondrio, visiting project sites in Tirano and Colorina. Unfortunately no Vajont Dam. We will be about a 4.5 hour drive away from our work hotel base, and my wife and I don't go anywhere near it.

[BigFatMeanie]

...
We are going to an opera (only 90 minutes, my kind of opera!)
...

Let me guess: is the short opera either Gianni Schicchi or Pagliacci? They're two of the most famous short operas and either one is worth seeing.

[Copelius]

I've played the lawyer in Gianni Schicchi.

[BigFatMeanie]

I've played the lawyer in Gianni Schicchi.

One of the funniest operas around, and one of my favorites.

[Moliere]

Sounds like a fun trip. I love Zermatt and recommend the gondola to the top of the place where you can ski year round, except when I was there in 2022 there wasn't enough snow to ski on so that idea got nixed. We got off the gondola at the second to last stop and just hiked down to the town, which was fun since we ran inot some interesting bridges and areas and the hike was all downhill, which made it more fun.

Interlaken is amazing but overran with tourists...but you need to take the train up to lauterbrunnen and decide to either do Schilthorn or jungfrau.

[Omaha 680]

Let me guess: is the short opera either Gianni Schicchi or Pagliacci? They're two of the most famous short operas and either one is worth seeing.

Three Sisters.

I have never been to an opera.

[tooblue]

This was extremely useful in our planning so thank you very much. We are only here together 8 days and after suggesting several different itineraries, my wife opted for one that maximizes the amount of places we see, but will not be extremely relaxing:

Overnight flight to Munich with morning arrival
First night in Munich
Second night in Salzburg
Third night overnight train to Zurich to pick up Swiss car rental
Fourth night Interlaken
Fifth night Tasch (outside of Zermatt)
noon train to Milan
Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth nights Milan

We are doing Dachau, the Eagles Nest, and as much sound of music stuff as we can squeeze in. We are going to an opera (only 90 minutes, my kind of opera!) at the Felsenreitschule which is the theater where the Von Trapps performed at the end of the movie when they escaped from the Nazis. So thanks again for the tip on the music festival. Lots of performances to choose from.

Who knows what we will get to see in Switzerland for the short time we are there. I just learned they have year round skiing on the Matterhorn and the resort is on ikon so I told my wife I really don't have a choice and need to take at least a few runs. The last three nights in Milan is just to relax some and use it as a base to go up to Como on a day trip if we feel like it.

After the wife leaves our base for work will be Sondrio, visiting project sites in Tirano and Colorina. Unfortunately no Vajont Dam. We will be about a 4.5 hour drive away from our work hotel base, and my wife and I don't go anywhere near it.

If you have time, I suggest taking the train from Milan to Varenna, lac Como and then take the ferry taxi to Bellagio, and then to Villa Carlota and walk around the gardens. From there you can take the ferry taxi to Como, and then a train back to Milan.

Don't forget to also see the Bone church in Milan: Santuario di San Bernardino alle Ossa, and be sure to stop for a Panzerotti Luini in Milan—it's worth waiting in line.

[tooblue]

pansezerotti.jpg

[Bo Diddley]

...

Panzerotto? I've never been to Milan, but that's what Lens is telling me. Do tell.

[falafel]

Salzburg. My sentimental favorite. You can spend at least 2-3 days here doing the following. A walking tour within the old city--just walking around, is a lot of fun with beautiful photo ops. You can take a Sound of Music tour (wish I were there to provide it, as I got to know all of the sites very well). A tour or drive out to the Salzkammergut (Lake District)

Wait a minute... is Salzburg just Lake Town???