I head to Fairbanks, AK, next Tuesday.

Then I fly from Fairbanks to Oregon, landing in Portland, and exploring around there, and then driving down to Crater Lake N.P., where my brother works.

On 7/22/2025 at 11:12 AM, DrPhilly said:

I've got an upcoming trip to Bergen, Norway in a few weeks. Anybody been there?

Next April, I'll be on a trip with about 12 Americans (mix of some still working and some just retired) visiting Morocco. I'm not the organizer so I'm not sure what they are planning and mostly I'll just go along for the ride and enjoy the scenery. If you've been to Morocco then please let me know what things to do or to avoid.

Norway is on my bucket list. Never been to a Morocco, but have a full trip planned out there…just need to find the time to go.

From researching, Morocco is…complicated. World class scammers. Marrakech is preferred by most tourists. Depending on how much you enjoy some grittiness, the other cities and towns may have more or less appeal. Marrakech has some incredible luxury resorts, spas, and restaurants. They have some really interesting excursions that range from a local rocky desert around the Atlas Mountains to 3 day glamping trips into the Erg Chebi region of the Sahara (the classic big Sand dunes, desert sunsets, and crazy starry skies).

Anyone here been to Yosemite? I'm sure most of you have. Learned this year that, for now anyway, our kids are largely done with the beach so now I have to figure out what else to do with vacation and I've always wanted to go here. Realistically, how much time could we spend? A few days? A week? Not sure if there's enough to do for a whole week. I don't do climbing or heights so, while my kids might elect to do some of the more adventurous hikes like Half Dome I would not. Thinking 3 or 4 nights in Yosemite, then a few around redwood forests. Does that give enough time to do it justice? Asking for a friend. Serious replies only.

On 7/30/2025 at 9:53 PM, xzmattzx said:

I head to Fairbanks, AK, next Tuesday.

Then I fly from Fairbanks to Oregon, landing in Portland, and exploring around there, and then driving down to Crater Lake N.P., where my brother works.

Enjoy your trip.

Daughter and son in-law were in OR in June. From Portland they drove out to the coast and spent the week going down the coast, staying at a different place each night. Went into Crescent City for the redwoods then their last night was at Crater Lake. There was still snow there. While helping her plan this trip I did see where the Park is closing for the next 2 years. They returned Medford to Seattle to PHL, and they were pretty delirious when they arrived to pick up their dog from me.

Today, they are on the road to Vermont for the weekend. Dog went with them. She is aiming for 40 states by age 40. VT will fill in the east coast.

12 hours ago, DiPros said:

Enjoy your trip.

Daughter and son in-law were in OR in June. From Portland they drove out to the coast and spent the week going down the coast, staying at a different place each night. Went into Crescent City for the redwoods then their last night was at Crater Lake. There was still snow there. While helping her plan this trip I did see where the Park is closing for the next 2 years. They returned Medford to Seattle to PHL, and they were pretty delirious when they arrived to pick up their dog from me.

Today, they are on the road to Vermont for the weekend. Dog went with them. She is aiming for 40 states by age 40. VT will fill in the east coast.

My brother sent our family a picture of snow falling on the solstice. But it has been melting fast since then.

The park is not closing. What is happening is that a trail down to the shoreline of the lake is closing, most likely permanently. This is because the trail is 700 vertical feet, with constant switchbacks, and if you go down, you must come up. Too many people have not been able to make it back up, and then they have to get rescued. The park has gotten tired of rescuing so many people, so the trail is closing at the end of the season. That also means that boat tours of the lake will end, since obviously you need to be on the shoreline to get onto a boat.

I am flying into Portland, then going up to Astoria to see the coast, see Lewis & Clark sites, and see Goonies sites. I'll see Portland for a day as well. Then I have a day to drive down to Crater Lake, and will stop in Salem to see the capitol, and stop in Eugene to see the University of Oregon campus. The rest of the time will be in Crater Lake with my brother.

On 7/31/2025 at 3:56 PM, The_Omega said:

Anyone here been to Yosemite? I'm sure most of you have. Learned this year that, for now anyway, our kids are largely done with the beach so now I have to figure out what else to do with vacation and I've always wanted to go here. Realistically, how much time could we spend? A few days? A week? Not sure if there's enough to do for a whole week. I don't do climbing or heights so, while my kids might elect to do some of the more adventurous hikes like Half Dome I would not. Thinking 3 or 4 nights in Yosemite, then a few around redwood forests. Does that give enough time to do it justice? Asking for a friend. Serious replies only.

If you have a whole week, maybe do Yosemite, and then Kings Canyon N.P. and Sequoia N.P. Kings Canyon and Sequoia get a quarter of the tourists that Yosemite gets, and it has a lot of the great views and huge trees.

Lake Tahoe, if you are willing to do some driving, can be tagged onto a Yosemite trip.

14 hours ago, eagle45 said:

Lake Tahoe, if you are willing to do some driving, can be tagged onto a Yosemite trip.

Tahoe is nice

We just got back from a half day fjord cruise out of Bergen. I’ll see if the wife has a nice photo to post.

Went to the bank last night. Friend invited me to open diamond club seats. We had a blast!!!

scandalous! I heard the guy in the phanatic costume is a republican!

I’m headed to San Sebastián, Spain in a couple weeks. I’ll be there for a week. Anyone ever been, have any recommendations?

I rafted on the New River near Fayetteville, West Virginia. We got wet.

I was just in Alaska earlier this week, and am now in Portland, Oregon. I'll be going to Crater Lake NP tomorrow.

In Jackson Hole for the week. It’s…complicated. I think I like it here, but we’ve been surrounded by wildfires and a constantly raining cold front, so it sucks. Haven’t seen the sun or a clear patch of sky for 3 days. I sense that it’s pretty cool here, but I can’t even see the mountains through the fog and ash.

On 8/7/2025 at 3:22 AM, Blazehound said:

I’m headed to San Sebastián, Spain in a couple weeks. I’ll be there for a week. Anyone ever been, have any recommendations?

Sheet, didn't see this until now. I went with some friends about two years back and we loved it. The beach, all the great food, etc. How was it for you?

10 hours ago, eagle45 said:

In Jackson Hole for the week. It’s…complicated. I think I like it here, but we’ve been surrounded by wildfires and a constantly raining cold front, so it sucks. Haven’t seen the sun or a clear patch of sky for 3 days. I sense that it’s pretty cool here, but I can’t even see the mountains through the fog and ash.

Very cool and very expensive. I'd certainly go back.

16 hours ago, eagle45 said:

In Jackson Hole for the week. It’s…complicated. I think I like it here, but we’ve been surrounded by wildfires and a constantly raining cold front, so it sucks. Haven’t seen the sun or a clear patch of sky for 3 days. I sense that it’s pretty cool here, but I can’t even see the mountains through the fog and ash.

Spent a week there in December a few years ago (actually we stayed in Idaho, just over the Teton Pass). It was cold, but the views are incredible. Did some wildlife tours that were cool. One of the coolest airports due to the view of the Tetons when you land.

7 hours ago, DrPhilly said:

Sheet, didn't see this until now. I went with some friends about two years back and we loved it. The beach, all the great food, etc. How was it for you?

It was amazing. The place itself is breathtakingly beautiful and the food and drinks were absolutely off the charts, and dirt cheap. The energy in the town was awesome and the local folks were quite friendly. I’d highly recommend it to anyone.

The only downside is no direct flights from the US, at least that I am aware of. We had to fly into Madrid, take a short flight to Bilbao and then take about an hour car ride from the Bilbao airport to San Sebastián. It makes for a fairly long travel day!

4 hours ago, Blazehound said:

It was amazing. The place itself is breathtakingly beautiful and the food and drinks were absolutely off the charts, and dirt cheap. The energy in the town was awesome and the local folks were quite friendly. I’d highly recommend it to anyone.

The only downside is no direct flights from the US, at least that I am aware of. We had to fly into Madrid, take a short flight to Bilbao and then take about an hour car ride from the Bilbao airport to San Sebastián. It makes for a fairly long travel day!

Yeah, I guess the connections aren't great. I would have thought you could find something thru London, Barcelona, or Madrid but that set of connection(s) you had to deal with sounds crappy. We flew into Biarritz and then drove a rental car about 1:20 or so into San Seb.

8 hours ago, mikemack8 said:

Spent a week there in December a few years ago (actually we stayed in Idaho, just over the Teton Pass). It was cold, but the views are incredible. Did some wildlife tours that were cool. One of the coolest airports due to the view of the Tetons when you land.

From the cottage. So nice this weekend

2 hours ago, DiPros said:

From the cottage. So nice this weekend

Holy crap! Theres something angelic appearing about that sun.

On 8/30/2025 at 1:10 AM, DiPros said:

From the cottage. So nice this weekend

nice, where are you Di?

Weather finally turned...definitely enjoyed it out here.