Turning 50...Looking for ideas!

[kjay]

I just received the April issue of National Geographic Adventure (Harrison Ford on cover) and the April issue of Outside (The Travel Issue). Both have some really great adventure trips. A lot of ideas in both of these monthlies. Good luck and good hunting.

[Aquila]

I jumped out of an airplane for my first midlife crisis (right after getting myself a leather jacket). For the second one, I bought a hot new vehicle (Trek Pilot). I'm sort of looking forward to number three. (None of these has been tied to birthdays specifically, though.)

I really recommend doing a parachute jump. It's so beautiful up there. Or I'd try SCUBA maybe, or something?

Or a really good walk with your pup! That's always good.

Happy birthday soon.

[Bad JuJu]

I've taken a Womantours trip that was wonderful. It was a short one (4 days on the DelMarVa peninsula, which I stretched out to 5 by doing a day on my own), but they take such great care of you, and they find some interesting routes to ride and unique places to stay.

Slowbutsteady, the "Okefenokee Challenge" sounds like a great idea too. One of my best friends is turning 50 later this year and she wants to kayak the Okefenokee. Maybe I can talk her/train her into doing the cycling part also.

[KathiCville]

Hi....Have been checking out some of the options suggested. What great ideas! So far, the one that looks like a serious possibility is a week-long cycling trip by WomanTours along the Natchez Trace. I'd get to spend my birthday reliving the Battle of Vicksburg, LOL!

More ideas welcomed! And, by all means, if you have summertime ideas, toss 'em into the mix. Who knows, I could spend the whole of 2008 marking my half-century! Might be terrific fun.

Kathi

[SheFly]

Happy Birthday (early)! I'm turning 40 the following month, and have already started planning... I'm racing the day before my bday, and after the race, will host a big party in our yard. I want to have all of my closest friends and teammates there to help me celebrate. And of course, there will be cake .

The first week in June (3 weeks after my bday), I am headed to CA with 2 good friends for 4 days of riding - Napa, Sonoma, Santa Cruz Mtns and a coastal route. I haven't been on a vacation "away" for about 3 years, so I am really looking forward to this one.

However you choose to clebrate, I hope it's wonderful!

SheFly

[IFjane]

Who knows, I could spend the whole of 2008 marking my half-century! Might be terrific fun.

Kathi

I wanna help! I'm SURE you need someone else along to add to the frivolity!

[shootingstar]

Since you live in Virginia, you aren't far from trying something foreign...

go into Quebec ...there is whole bike route, protected from cars ...in the southern part of province from the Montreal area and east...Velo Quebec. http://www.velo.qc.ca/english/index.php The name of the system is Route Verte (Green Route). I believe 4,300 kms. total of all their bike routes.

Yes, you will hear alot more French there...and Montreal, Quebec City you would love, if have ever been curious about francophone culture.

I've cycled on the route and have cycled several times in both Monteral and Quebec City several times. Some cobblestone areas of the city..since areas date back to 1600's.

I turn 50 next yr. and haven't thought of a special experience yet.

[Zen]

go into Quebec ...there is whole bike route, protected from cars ...in the southern part of province from the Montreal area and east...Velo Quebec.

Ooo la la! I would love to do that!

[KathiCville]

Shootingstar...

Thanks for the link to the Route Verte! What a great concept....I've visited both Montreal and Quebec City a couple of times, but it's probably been 20 years.

Any idea what the weather is likely to be in that area in late April? Still pretty cold? Or will spring be kicking in?

I'm waiting to hear back from WomanTours about the Natchez Trace trip. I might be too late to get in. They'll know on Monday whether or not the last spot has been taken.

[Crankin]

We did a supported tour in and around Quebec City in 2006. You rarely hear English in Quebec City and it really felt like I was in Europe. It was awesome. I think it might be pretty cold there in April, though.
My anniversary is in December. For our 25th, we did a bike trip to the Czech Republic and Austria. But, we waited until the next summer. Maybe you could plan some local things for April (DelMarVa sound great) and a bigger trip later on.

[KathiCville]

Thanks, everybody, for your ideas, with special thanks going to SouthernBelle and BadJuJu for the tip about WomanTours. They let me know this morning that there's one opening left on their 7-day Natchez Trace tour (Mississippi) during my birthday week, so I've pounced on it! The Natchez Trace has been on my "visit someday" list for a while, so this will be a perfect chance to enjoy it at a beautiful time of year.............As for the other suggestions (except for jumping out of a plane, LOLLLLL! NOT brave enough!), I'll definitely explore them for non-birthday and general mid-life crisis purposes.....And I love the notion of cycling pieces of the Route Verte sometime in the summer, when Virginia gets unbearably hot........Again, thank you, thank you! .............. Feel free to keep posting more ideas!

[Starfish]

How about this!?!

http://dinnerinthesky.com/index.php

[KathiCville]

Tooooo fabulous, Starfish! Something to think about for my 60th!!

[tulip]

I have a friend who rode the Natchez Trace and found it delightful. I think you chose well.

La Route Verte is way up on my list. I've been to Quebec (Montreal, Quebec and the Saguenay) and love it every time I go. It's best to know some French, and don't expect to sound anything like it does in France! As much as I love Quebec, the food (outside the cities) is really pretty dreadful, though.

[sundial]

Kathi, these are domestic get aways and are bike friendly.

Mackinaw Island in MI--only allows horse and buggy, bicycles or foot traffic for transportation.

Lopez Island--very cyclist friendly and located in the San Juan islands. We stayed in a B&B on Orcas Island and LOVED it. So very scenic and beautiful.