dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I have been to Alaska and in fact lived there for a while. It is a beautiful state, no doubt about that. I have also cruised the inside passage to Alaska and had a great time. It was my first cruise.

But one of my best cruises was after flying to Barcelona, spending three days there and then taking a cruise in the Western Mediterranean and ending up in England. Since that cruise I have spent more time in Barcelona and toured Mediterranean cities. I love Barcelona and in my opinion would go back there any time I could afford it. People are friendly, it is a foreign land and has plenty of beauty to record on an SD card or 10.

Dennis

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

Although Alaska inland passage is on my bucket list, I also added a river cruise on the Nile on board the M/S Sudan.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

If you are going on a cruise to Alaska AND you are physically active AND you like good food BUT not incredible gluttonous quantities, you might consider the Uncruise option. You can fly into Juneau and then cruise on a small (80 passengers or so) ship. Each day you'll have two opportunities to kayak, take a skiff to the shore and hike, etc. the food and service is quite fine and the bar is open. If you want to sit on a floating hotel with 500 other sedentary individuals, then this is not for you. Different strokes, and all that. They have cruises to other places as well: Galapagos, Central America, etc. they cost more-- but in my opinion you get more. Just another POV. Good luck

Violameister Loc: michigan

We just completed a Nile cruise, albeit not on the M/S Sudan. There are literally hundreds of boats the size of the Sudan and a bit larger travelling the same route as the Sudan, and many are very luxurious. I must say, the sights to be seen are fabulous. Definitely a bucket list experience. The geography and history are so overwhelming that the boat almost becomes unimportant.

mdalbertson

My wife and I just did a really cool combination of cruise and land. We went down to Peru for a week, did Sacred Valley, Cusco, and hiked the last 6 miles of the Inca trail (about 6-8 hours), then went back to Lima and caught the last half of a Holland America cruise that went to Peru, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Ecuador, Mexico, and ended in San Diego. Fantastic. I took 3000 pictures during the 21 days. If you haven't been to Macchu Pichu, it's "must". If you have an interest, let me know, because I used a great company to help book the Peru portion of the trip.

rck281 Loc: Overland Park, KS

Do to Hawaii for beautiful.

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

Sadly, I can't do every one of the suggestions given. At least not at the same time.

I haven't closed this thread, nor have I counted the number of similar suggestions, but I get a sense the majority of respondents are pointing me toward Alaska.

You know, Alaska is the one state of the union I have NOT been to! I have spent time in every other of the 49, but not the largest. One of my co-workers comes from Alaska, and another is taking his second vacation there in a month or two.

For those yet to respond, I am looking for something 9 to 14 days in duration. My home airport is Dulles International near Washington, D.C.

Twinbro Loc: North Central Arkansas

We did a 3 day cruise combined with a 7 day land journey. SUPER

iosa Loc: Fairbanks, AK

Come to Alaska (yes, come: this is my home) in the fall. Bring a suite of lenses. You'll want telephoto to capture wildlife on the coasts and up into the interior as far as Denali National Park, and a fast wide angle lens to capture aurora in Fairbanks at night in September. (if you come before September, probably it'll be too light to see the aurora)

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

I feel obligated to suggest that counting votes may be misleading here. For my own part, I talked about Alaska because that was the only one of your candidate destinations I have visited. Alaska is spectacular and you should go to experience the grandeur of it all, but other destinations that I have not visited may offer as good or better photo opportunities.

fuminous Loc: Luling, LA... for now...

Who needs recommendations? Close your eyes and imagine… Think of those National Geographic images that have been playing in your head for thirty or forty or fifty years: Go there.
Remember a story once read where green mountains slid into blue sea, spotted with mostly naked ladies offering pearls, conch and adventure: Go there.
As Harry Nillson sang, “I'm going where the sun keeps shining Thru' the pouring rain, Going where the weather suits my clothes, Backing off of the North East wind, Sailing on summer breeze And skipping over the ocean like a stone. You can go anywhere but wrong….

Years ago, the Palace Saloon, in Fairbanks, Alaska, was venue for a show to entertain the bus loads of tourists herded in for “local color” (a very good show, I’ll add, and so was the show at the Malamute Saloon in Ester). One skit featured Claudia Lively (yes, I had a crush) who narrated the opening premise with a story of receiving a letter from an “outside” (of Alaska) friend who asked, “What’s Alaska Like?” Claudia sang the answer to that question with reference to sunlight on cheeks, silence, the smell of fresh water… but the refrain was, “Come to Alaska, come for yourself and see…”
And that’s the thing. Of course I’m promoting Alaska but the idea is that you must go for yourself and see… anywhere! You can’t have another’s experience and why would you want it? Pick a spot and go!

For the last few weeks, I’ve been researching Timbuktu. Yes, that Timbuktu… the one that’s “… all the way to…” Fly from Bamako to Timbuktu or hire a car, and driver… three day’s drive all the way to Timbuktu… Will I get there… maybe… but, it’s a spot picked….

Jim white 43 Loc: Richmond, VA area

On cruise lines, try either Oceania or Regent, both part of the same company, and nothing to do with Carnival. Use small ships, up to 1200 pax, and most are 660, which is wonderful. Suggest a cruise from Dubai to Capetown, Barcelona to Dubai, or around the Mediterranean, or Alaska. You can do well arranging your own shore excursions on CruiseCritic.com and save a ton vs what the ships will charge. Enjoy!

UTEP65 Loc: Lake Royale, NC

Thanks!