Author guest post with Marion Deeds
Ten Best Vacation Spots
1. St. Augustine, Florida. Founded in 1565, this is the oldest city in the USA, influenced by the native indigenous culture and waves of colonization; first the Spanish, then the English and the post-Civil War Americans. It has a basilica cathedral, gorgeous architecture, pirate history, a wonderful lighthouse, and the Alligator Farm. The bonus of the Alligator Farm is that it’s become a natural rookery for many species of birds; herons, spoonbills and egrets. Great photo opportunities, crazy history, great food.
2. Yosemite Valley National Park/Mono Lake. Yosemite Valley, in southeastern California, is more than just a place of stunning natural beauty. It’s also a living classroom, showing us exactly how glaciers shaped the terrain. From its waterfalls, to the meadows, to the various lakes, to the sheer gleaming stone peaks, everywhere you look you can see how the planet works. East of the park, near the town of Lee Vining, you can visit the beautiful and strange Mono Lake, a high-saline lake surroundedby intriguing natural calcium carbonate formations called tufas.
3. Iceland. Iceland takes its tourism seriously, with lots of bus tours and overnight tours. There is plenty to see and do in the capital, Reykjavik, including visiting microbreweries or the penis museum (seriously), catching a show at the Harpa concert center, or just walking the city admiring its murals. If you’re there in August, the Iceland Heritage Day festival provides free public transportation, and lots of music, art, drink and food. Outside of the city, you can see glaciers, volcanoes, the continental rift, birds, Norse historic sites, a museum on Norse magic, and whales.
4. The Big Island of Hawaii. Oahu is better known and caters to tourists, but the island of Hawaii has the tallest mountain in the world, Mauna Kea. They start measuring from below sea level, but still, the category is “tallest,” not “highest.” You can drive up to the observatory, go to Volcano Park and see an active caldera, visit black sand beaches and the Place of Refuge. On the western or Kona side there are plenty of glitzy resorts that have luaus and organized trips, but I like Hilo, on the east side. It’s more of a regular town. Everywhere you go you will find beauty, and probably some great art. And did I mention coffee bean plantations?
5. Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The festival lives in Ashland, Oregon, on the western side of the mountains. Over the decades, the festival has branched out tremendously from the Stratford bard, including new works, works from traditionally under-represented communities, and musicals. It isn’t the only thing to do in or near Ashland. There is hiking, biking, camping, and fishing nearby. The town is packed with great restaurants, bars and shops.
6. Portland, Oregon, is a great food and drink vacation site. The city’s various districts have distinct personalities and different activities. In the Pearl, visit Powell’s Books. You can wander in their color-coded rooms for days. There’s a great Museum of Science and Industry with lots of hands-on exhibits. Portland is proud of its brewpub culture and its coffee. Like Ashland, there are plenty of outdoor recreational activities within an hour of the city.
7. Mendocino, California. Great food, great bars, great galleries. Beautiful Victorian houses. A botanical garden five miles north of the village. The Gallery Bookshop. Stunning views of the Pacific Ocean from the headlands and the bluff. Kayaking and whale-watching opportunities. All that is great, and for me it’s a place to let the tranquility sink in until it’s bone-deep.
8. Monterey Bay, California. Go for the sea otters and the aquarium.
9. Seattle, Washington. The Chihuly Garden and Glass Exhibit, the Museum of Pop Culture (they’ve got a Dalek!), and the Space Needle, all at Seattle Center, are good reasons to visit the city, but there’s plenty more to see and do. Visit the Seattle Art Museum. Check out walking tours and underground tours in Pioneer Square. This is another city making a name for itself with its restaurants and bars, and it has a great symphony. If you’re afraid of heights, skip the Space Needle.
10. The San Juan Islands, Puget Sound, Washington. I don’t know if I really believe in magic or not, but the San Juan islands are magical. An hour-long ferry ride takes you to these lush, forested islands. Orcas Island is the one I know the best, and to my surprise it’s not named for the killer whales you can sometimes see in the sound, but for a viceroy of Mexico who funded an expedition to the sound. There is something about the light on the water that transports you, far beyond the mainland you left an hour ago.
