Travelling: stuff you like to experience

[shootingstar]

For sure, Cataboo if we're snowshoeing at a resort somewhere ...it is spending lots of time each day outdoors in the mountains and in the woods.

That's our local "cultural" scene" --Mother Nature in her glory.

However in the winter, there's only so many hrs. one's body can be outdoors without getting cold.

It's been nice for some of the ski resorts, we drive for less than 1 hr. to a winery for a meal.

[Crankin]

I only do supported bike touring, so the "cultural" things are built into the trip. Of course, you are free to partake in as much of that part of the tour as you want to.
The reason why we liked our tour in Andalusia so much is that that Cycling Country, the tour operator we used, is a small business, run by a young couple who hire 1-2 other guides a year. They only do a few trips a year; the one we did took us through the small city where they live. We got to experience their toddler screaming, because she didn't want to go to day care! Not only did we get to see the regular sights in Seville, Granada, and Cordoba, we got a real close up view of the life of regular residents. After the tour, DH and I spent 3 days in Malaga, where we continued walking everywhere and exploring; there were lots of tourists there from the UK, and, as a beach town, it was a little more focused on tourists, but we were still able to get off of the beaten path. We took the bus to the wrong stop and ended up spending the day at the beach, where all of the locals go. So much more interesting than the area set up for tourists.

[Cataboo]

However in the winter, there's only so many hrs. one's body can be outdoors without getting cold.

That is what good gear is for - to keep warm.

As a nod to my old age, I now will stop during a ski day to get a hot chocolate for 20 mins or so. I never used to be willing or happy to do that, but someone who was skiing with me last year got some frost bite in her toes (despite the fact that we did stop a couple of times to let them warm up.) I used to neurotically plan things so that I got the last chair up the mountain just as the lifts were about to close so I could take the longest/hardest run I could find down. Typically I won't bother driving somewhere afterwards for a nice meal (that does depend on whom I'm with), but if I'm at a remote ski resort, I will be perfectly happy to just stay at the resort.

I guess I've lived near the free smithsonian museums for most of my life - so when I see museums in other countries that I have to pay for, I have no desire to pay to go see a museum. If it's an exhibit that I can't possibly see locally some variation on, I'll do it - but only if I'm very interested in it. That typically won't cover art museums, unless it's more archaelogical old art (greek statues, the elgin marbles, the nike, incan art or egyptian mummy type stuff)...

[limewave]

I like visiting cemeteries. I find it very peaceful and interesting.

When I visit someplace new, I like to have a "free structure" to my tourist activities.

For example, I would plan my day to spend the morning and early afternoon exploring and wandering around by foot or bike. Go back to the hotel to freshen up, rest for a bit, then head out to a museum for a few hours. I find it stressful to pack in a bunch of planned activities. I want room in my schedule for flexibility based on how I'm feeling that day.

I have girlfriends that I sometimes travel with. They have to plan out what we're doing every minute of the day, complete with a printed itinerary and directions to everything. It's so stressful.

[Karma007]

I am all about the food and the pubs! Lucky for me, DH is happy anywhere he can get a decent beer. I like looking at local art and handmade crafts, but really, I want a comfy chair, a cold brew, and a big plate of what the locals are noshing on.

[indysteel]

I like visiting cemeteries. I find it very peaceful and interesting.

When I visit someplace new, I like to have a "free structure" to my tourist activities.

For example, I would plan my day to spend the morning and early afternoon exploring and wandering around by foot or bike. Go back to the hotel to freshen up, rest for a bit, then head out to a museum for a few hours. I find it stressful to pack in a bunch of planned activities. I want room in my schedule for flexibility based on how I'm feeling that day.

I have girlfriends that I sometimes travel with. They have to plan out what we're doing every minute of the day, complete with a printed itinerary and directions to everything. It's so stressful.

You and I approach trip planning similarly. At least on city vacations, I like to have one or two planned things each day; the rest of time I go with the flow. I can only handle being in a museum for an hour or two anyway, before my head explodes. The rest of the time I wander.

I've spent a lot of time by myself in Paris. The time of day I always found my challenging was after things start to close but before it's "acceptable" to eat dinner, i.e., from about 6 to 8 or so. I usually would set up shop at a cafe or see a movie or I'd have an early dinner and then see a concert or something.

[crazycanuck]

Shootingstar, explain why "mother nature" as a cultural thing is bad??? I don't get it.

When I think of Canada, I see mountains & prarie to experience..what's the problem? When people think of Australia, beaches.

Cultural icons aren't just buildings.

Anywho..

When I visit a new place, lead me to a natural environment or allow me to experience how other nations live. Sit in a cafe and people watch or just walk and observe.

I too love going to cemetaries & old battlefields. When my dear was on his way home from working in beijing, he had a weekend in Hong Kong. I had him walk to the Commonwealth Grave Commission Site...l.
I want to go back to Washington to visit the Wall and Arlington Cemetary.

[shootingstar]

For sure, Cataboo if we're snowshoeing at a resort somewhere ...it is spending lots of time each day outdoors in the mountains and in the woods.

That's our local "cultural" scene" --Mother Nature in her glory.

However in the winter, there's only so many hrs. one's body can be outdoors without getting cold.

It's been nice for some of the ski resorts, we drive for less than 1 hr. to a winery for a meal.

Are you referring to this comment of mine, crazycanuck?? Did I infer that Mother Nature was bad?

I don't get it. I just finished saying we do the outdoors stuff like snowshoeing, cycling too and enjoy in the wonderful stuff. I just get COLD after 5-6 hrs. out there in the winter. And when I get cold, I can't really enjoy it as much. So I'm human. So I have to go indoors to something nice and maybe interesting.

My personal blog http://cyclewriteblog.wordpress.com has all kinds of stuff about our trips for both : outdoors, Mother Nature & the cultural stuff. My admiration blog. It's not a ranting blog.

[zoom-zoom]

I have girlfriends that I sometimes travel with. They have to plan out what we're doing every minute of the day, complete with a printed itinerary and directions to everything. It's so stressful.

My MIL was pretty steamed that we did not share a structured itinerary with her including phone numbers where we were staying while we were on our HONEYMOON (we only had reservations for 3 of the nights we were there...the rest of the time we just drove and stopped where we felt like stopping for the night)! Her rationale was that she wanted to be able to reach us in case of a family emergency. Seriously...like we could do anything about it from halfway across the continent and on an island (Nova Scotia).

I'm just thankful that this was pre-cell phones.