Take a Vacation

[Jeff Lebowski]

I have to believe it was a joke. Not a funny one, but a joke. The only thing that gives me pause is that this is not my mom's sense of humor at all. She'd flip out if I did something like this to her. And I doubt its my siblings' work. They are not dying to go on any vacation with me (pun intended).

Also annoying is that I've called every member of my family just to confirm the dumb joke, and not a single one answered or has called me back.

[Moliere]

I like your mom.

I typed the same thing but didn't post it since it sounded creepy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[falafel]

[falafel]

I like your mom.

I typed the same thing but didn't post it since it sounded creepy.

I'll mark you both down as mother-lovers.

[Commando]

Who can tell me about Thailand? I'll need to SCUBA dive a couple of times and probably want to do the Phucket thing. What else should I be doing?

Thailand is amazing. Phuket is pretty touristed out-- if you must, go there just long enough to get a boat out to Koh Phi Phi for your pristine beach fix. Bangkok has really cleaned up its act in the last 10 years and is a pretty fun base of operations, but most people will tell you to just hit Chiang Mai, enjoy the food, and rent scooters or motorbikes for little day trips.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

We are havin a great time soaking in the glorious sun in Southern California after a long and dreary winter in the EUG. Not excited about the drive home in a couple of days though.

[Shaka]

The lawyers at my company all angle to go to Calgary in the summer so we can take a long weekend to Banff. So far, I have only gone in January.

Great place in the summer. Even better in the winter. You're a lucky man.

[Shaka]

Thailand is amazing. Phuket is pretty touristed out-- if you must, go there just long enough to get a boat out to Koh Phi Phi for your pristine beach fix. Bangkok has really cleaned up its act in the last 10 years and is a pretty fun base of operations, but most people will tell you to just hit Chiang Mai, enjoy the food, and rent scooters or motorbikes for little day trips.

Great advice. Thanks!

[chrisrenrut]

Thinking of heading north to Banff this summer. Maybe July or early August. Anyone been there?

So much to do in Banff. You will love it.

Lake Louise is a must. Bring your hiking shoes and bear spray, and hike to Lake Agnes, and grab a snack at the Tea House. If you are in shape, continue to the other end of Lake Agnes and then hike up the Big Beehive. You can't beat the view of Lake Louise from up there, but it is a steep trail. You can then hike down the other side and end up on the far end of Lake Louise, and either head back on a nice flat stroll, or if you still have energy, hike up to view the Plain of Six Glaciers. At the junction, my dad headed back, and my brother and I sent up to see the glaciers. On the way, a Japanese tourist asked me to take his picture with the glaciers in the background. Just as I took the picture, a huge chunk of ice fell off the glacier. I heard it more than saw it, but that Japanese tourist got one of the coolest vacation pictures ever.

Allow some time to drive over to Moraine Lake as on your way back to Banff.

We rented a condo through VRBO that was very nice, and very reasonable. It was near the train tracks, which might have contributed to it. Only one train went by at night while we were there. This was in July about 5 years ago, before Airbnb was a big thing, so it might have changed.

We didn't spend a lot of time in Banff proper, but I read about a few hikes and activities that I would have liked to do. I also would have liked to take a day trip up to Jasper on the Ice Field parkway. It's about a 3.5 hour drive each way, but it's probably one of the most scenic roads in the world. We were on motorcycles, and after riding 3 days up, and looking at a 3 day ride back, I couldn't convince my dad and brother to spend day of sitting on their motorcycle seats for 7 hours, no matter the destination or scenery.

[Jeff Lebowski]

So much to do in Banff. You will love it.

Lake Louise is a must. Bring your hiking shoes and bear spray, and hike to Lake Agnes, and grab a snack at the Tea House. If you are in shape, continue to the other end of Lake Agnes and then hike up the Big Beehive. You can't beat the view of Lake Louise from up there, but it is a steep trail. You can then hike down the other side and end up on the far end of Lake Louise, and either head back on a nice flat stroll, or if you still have energy, hike up to view the Plain of Six Glaciers. At the junction, my dad headed back, and my brother and I sent up to see the glaciers. On the way, a Japanese tourist asked me to take his picture with the glaciers in the background. Just as I took the picture, a huge chunk of ice fell off the glacier. I heard it more than saw it, but that Japanese tourist got one of the coolest vacation pictures ever.

Allow some time to drive over to Moraine Lake as on your way back to Banff.

We rented a condo through VRBO that was very nice, and very reasonable. It was near the train tracks, which might have contributed to it. Only one train went by at night while we were there. This was in July about 5 years ago, before Airbnb was a big thing, so it might have changed.

We didn't spend a lot of time in Banff proper, but I read about a few hikes and activities that I would have liked to do. I also would have liked to take a day trip up to Jasper on the Ice Field parkway. It's about a 3.5 hour drive each way, but it's probably one of the most scenic roads in the world. We were on motorcycles, and after riding 3 days up, and looking at a 3 day ride back, I couldn't convince my dad and brother to spend day of sitting on their motorcycle seats for 7 hours, no matter the destination or scenery.

Very helpful. Thanks.

My wife and I love to hike. We do it almost every day in the hills above our house so we would love to do some hikes.

What time of year did you go?

[LiveCoug]

Dude reunion weekend in Chicago in May. Good things to do and eat? Gonna hit up Cubs Yankees and hoping for a Blackhawks playoff game...

[hostile]

Dude reunion weekend in Chicago in May. Good things to do and eat? Gonna hit up Cubs Yankees and hoping for a Blackhawks playoff game...

I try and hit Gene & Georgetti when I'm there.

[chrisrenrut]

So much to do in Banff. You will love it.

Lake Louise is a must. Bring your hiking shoes and bear spray, and hike to Lake Agnes, and grab a snack at the Tea House. If you are in shape, continue to the other end of Lake Agnes and then hike up the Big Beehive. You can't beat the view of Lake Louise from up there, but it is a steep trail. You can then hike down the other side and end up on the far end of Lake Louise, and either head back on a nice flat stroll, or if you still have energy, hike up to view the Plain of Six Glaciers. At the junction, my dad headed back, and my brother and I sent up to see the glaciers. On the way, a Japanese tourist asked me to take his picture with the glaciers in the background. Just as I took the picture, a huge chunk of ice fell off the glacier. I heard it more than saw it, but that Japanese tourist got one of the coolest vacation pictures ever.

I hope these links to Google Photos work. I loved it so much, my wife and I went back two years ago.

Expect rain while you are there, the mountains make their own weather. Usually not heavy rain, just be prepared to deal with drizzle.

I had forgotten, but we actually stayed in Canmore, not Banff. It's about 20 minutes from Banff.

Moraine Lake's water is more clear, and the mountains around it are more rugged. It's different enough from Lake Louise that it is worth the time to stop by.

https://goo.gl/photos/9GHfoBtJZp3kiZ7U7

[chrisrenrut]

Very helpful. Thanks.

My wife and I love to hike. We do it almost every day in the hills above our house so we would love to do some hikes.

What time of year did you go?

The first trip was in July. My wife and I went back a couple of years later in September, and got snowed on hiking around Lake Louise.

[bluegoose]

I hope these links to Google Photos work. I loved it so much, my wife and I went back two years ago.

Expect rain while you are there, the mountains make their own weather. Usually not heavy rain, just be prepared to deal with drizzle.

I had forgotten, but we actually stayed in Canmore, not Banff. It's about 20 minutes from Banff.

Moraine Lake's water is more clear, and the mountains around it are more rugged. It's different enough from Lake Louise that it is worth the time to stop by.

https://goo.gl/photos/9GHfoBtJZp3kiZ7U7

Wow! Those pictures are incredible.