Turning 50...Looking for ideas!

[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.

[kjay]

Glad you're going with WomanTours. I've biked with them twice, and I really like them. Super people!

[KathiCville]

Love the Mackinaw Island and Lopez Island ideas! I love going to places where cars are a no-no.....Definitely tucking those away for future trips.

Glad, too, to get more confirmation that WomanTours and the Natchez Trace are a great combination. This morning I ordered a short travel/history guide to the Natchez Trace and picked up a collection of short stories by Eudora Welty. The university library here in town has a copy of Welty's "Some Notes on River Country" (I think I've got that right), a long essay about the Natchez Trace and surrounding area. (What can I say? I'm a geek and a historian, so I'll be reading like a fiend before I go!!)

[jesvetmed]

If considering coming to the Northwest and hitting the San Juan Islands, keep this on your idea list: http://www.tulipfestival.org/

Some beautiful views if you hit the timing right, and an organized ride, also. But, sometimes a lot of traffic, especially on weekends.

[Zen]

Ooo ooo, I wanna go to Mackinac, too!
we can go to Quebec after

[IFjane]

(What can I say? I'm a geek and a historian, so I'll be reading like a fiend before I go!!)

Kathi - you are one of the "funnest" geeks I have ever known! (I threw that word in in case you can use it in a future book!

[Bad JuJu]

Congratulations on getting into the Natchez Trace tour! I'd love to bike the trace someday, too. And WomanTours is such a responsible company. Their ride leaders are the best. Plus, a week of cycling with a bunch of other women--how can you beat it? Did you tell them you're celebrating your big birthday with this tour? I think you should--they like to make a big deal about anything like that.

Now, here's your mission (should you choose to accept it LOL): We (or at least, I) will want a full report of the experience when you get home. On my last tour, I kept a little journal (a little pocket Moleskine notebook works great) and wrote in it every day about where we went and what we did. I also tucked in things like ferry tickets and other memorabilia and left some pages blank and pasted in photos when I got home. Finishing up my little "scrapbook" extended the experience for me, and now I have a nice little memento of the trip to page through whenever I need inspiration. See the electronic version here on my blog.

Mostly, though, have a glorious time!!!