It’s time for a Summer Saturday giveaway!!!
Two times on this site I have given away American Eagle silver dollars and each time it’s been very well received.
So I thought I’d do it again!
Plus I thought I’d make it a bit fun — we can all celebrate the great places everyone will be visiting this year!
Here are the details of the giveaway:
- I’ll be giving away 10 American Eagle silver coins to ten winners (one coin per winner).
- To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment below giving your vacation plans for the rest of the year (no length or topic required other than that). I can’t wait to hear about the great places you plan to visit!
- Be sure to leave your email address when you leave the comment so I will know how to reach you if you win (the email address will not be visible to anyone other than me).
- The winners will be drawn at random from the commenters.
- The drawing of winners will be held on Tuesday, July 17, 2018.
- Once I hear from all winners I’ll mail out the cards (you’ll want to get them soon, right?)
- As with most giveaways, there are rules. Here they are.
Good luck!!!!
Camping in a National Park on the north shore of Prince Edward Island and Bay of Fundy for two week.
No plans this year, saving to go on a family cruise next year.
Just been to Antelope Canyon and Sedona in Arizona with Chem’82 friends from college. Now it’s time to plan for mom’s 86th bday in San Diego…get a DI (Dance Instructor) for herself as she loves to ballroom dance. Mind you, she can dance all night with her “all-bling” high heels dancing shoes! In November, I’ll be doing the 5k Rock and Roll marathon in Las Vegas with high school friends. By December, the entire family plans to go to Oahu to check out our brother’s place and spend the Christmas holiday there where the weather is warm and the ambiance is relaxing away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Off to Paris and Stockholm – 10 days total
I have a great bar in Stockholm for you. It’s called Akkurat. Great beer and whisky selections
Just left Charlotte a week ago and now heading to Charleston, SC. Hopefully the place ill be retiring to in a few years.
Fly fishing in Oregon for Steelhead in the fall, NYC in November to celebrate my 35th wedding anniversary and hanging out with my family at home over the Christmas holiday. I am truly blessed this year.
Using Delta SkyMiles I started earning 29 years ago (wow!) to fly our family Juneau, Alaska for 5 days for hiking and sightseeing a glacier, then on the Alaska Marine Ferry System (the frugal family’s cruise ship) to Ketchikan, Alaska to take the kids salmon fishing (we’ll stay in out first hostel as a family in Ketchikan due to high lodging costs elsewhere), and fly to Seattle for two nights of sightseeing and 4 star hotel accommodations (purchased through Hotwire, my favorite hotel booking site for families), before heading back to hot Texas.
Nice! Thanks for mentioning the Alaska Marine Ferry System. I’ll look into that!
The ferry is a cruise without all the extras. The scenery is the same.
I want to discover more beautiful Romania this year, I have free transportation like a student, so I need to use that, i would like to visit Timisoara, Brasov, Sibiu and Cluj Napoca city, Transfagarasan road, and the greatests castles of the country.
So far this year we have been to Honolulu for 21 days. Been to Hutchinsons Island in Florida. Flew to Brussels and then a river cruise thru Belgium and Holland and then flew to Berline. Completed a 3 week tour of China.
Next Up: Besides a few staycations at our North Georgia mountain Cabin we will Fly to a Family Reunion in Minneapolis. First class Air to Copenhagen to take a 12 day SilverSea cruise of the Baltic Sea for a surprise trip for my wife on our 23rd wedding anniversary. Fly to Michigan to attend the Garden Show at the Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island. Fly to Milwaukee and drive to Bloomer, WI to attend 50th High School Class Reunion. Fly to NYC and then a road trip thru New England for beautiful leaf colors. 21 day Viking Ocean cruise from LA to Miami thru the Panama Canal and several stops in Cuba over Christmas and New Year. And Jan 17th do a 26 day Regent Cruise from Sydney to Singapore to start off 2019 vacations.
Wow! Lots of great ideas here. Thanks!
I am exhausted just reading that. Haha. Amazing! Enjoy!
Can you pack me in your suit case? 🙂 What a great trip.
The Baltics are great. We did St.P, Estonia, Stockholm and Oslo back in 2010
Bike through South Island in New Zealand.
combo of sonoma and camping in yosemite national park
Our Travel plans are more modest because we have a 2 month old baby. Drive from Western NY to SE
Minnesota for a family reunion. We’ll hit a water park in Wisconsin on the way. We’ll also do a week trip to New England in the fall.
No exotic plans for current time frame. Total hip replacement surgery completed and on recovery trail. Plan on sitting on the dock and watching watercraft moving up and down intracoastal waterway. Relaxation is plan of day.
Riding the Ferris Wheel in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Going to Vegas in October to enjoy the clear skies and fresh air
Travel through the amazing and undiscovered cities of European Russia wity my wife and little one
We are going to MN for sister in law’s wedding and to see the rest of the family. Then we are going to Orange Beach for some much needed relaxation.
I’m changing jobs so I won’t have any vacation time. We’ll be doing day and weekend getaways. When the weather cools a bit we are planning on a two day kayak trip to an island where there is an Indian burial mound.
Our good friends were kind enough to invite up to their home in Vermont in late August….. excited to go hiking and escape the heat here in the South!
Adirondacks in July.
London/Amsterdam in August.
Barcelona in December.
We are going to be in Barcelona in December as well.
DragonCon in Atlanta over the Labor Day weekend.
London next weekend (will already be in Holland for business).
With family over Thanksgiving & Christmas. ( NC).
Just got back from Spain (a wedding on my wife’s side of the family), headed to Boston for a weekend in August, and Nashville for a wedding in September
Went to the Outerbanks last week. Will go to Maine to see my sister soon to celebrate our birthday!
We are going to Jackson Hole Wyoming for a week. Been there before and the family loves it. I would suggest it to anyone!!
Thanks! I’ll look into this idea as well!
Visiting Kohler, WI to golf and hike. Absolutely beautiful this time of year!
5 days in Saugatuck, MI, spending it on the beach on lake Michigan.
Tasting wines and hiking in the Finger Lakes region.
Kicking off early retirement with a trip to Margaritaville. Going to see Jimmy Buffett in Las Vegas in October.
Boy Scout Camp for a week with my son. It’s his first time spending the week away from home in the outdoors. We’ll have a daily Polar Bear Swim, campfires, and there are no electronics allowed. Plus, it’s a very economical vacation. He can’t wait. Neither can I.
Early July was a week at Lost Valley Ranch in Sedalia, CO. Next up will be a trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota in September after crowds have died down.
I’m looking into a solo trip to the BWCA. Hope I can make it happen!
Headed to N.C. mountains to stay in cabin and fly fish on Wilson Creek.
Thanks for mentioning Wilson Creek. I’ll look into this idea as I love fishing.
Great stream, beautiful area and trifecta (Brown, rainbow, brook) present throughout…enjoy!
Our family went to Phoenix to visit family before heading to Vegas for 3 days. I also have a guys trip to Austin in August and my wife and I will be leaving the kids with grandparents to go to Nashville in September.
Spending next week on a lake in SW Michigan.
Ocean city, MD for
Leaving in one week for a hiking vacation in Glacier National Park with my college-age daughter. Travel-hacked the Southwest companion pass so saving mucho dollars on the cross country flights!
Going to the Pacific Northwest to do some hiking. We live on the east coast so this will be our first time there.
Paul, you are going to have a wonderful time out there. The landscape is very different and quite beautiful.
I just got back from long weekend in Baltimore down at their Inner Harbor. I’ve wanted and tried to go to Baltimore several times over 30 years but had not been able. Next month I am off to the North Georgia Mountains to stay at a friend’s new retirement house. My dog is going to have 22 acres to run on. Looking forward to it!
Going to China and Japan! Will be visiting with my wife Beijing, Shangai, Tokyo and Kyoto.
August: Chicago Illinois staycation.
September: An Air BnB for 2 weeks along the Fox River in Illinois for smallmouth bass fishing.
October: Stamford Connecticut for my nephew’s wedding.
November: San Francisco California to visit my old college roommate.
December: Knoxville Tennessee for Christmas.
Tucson, AZ in the blazing hot Summer. Why? Because hotel and flights are a lot less expensive this time of year.
Ocean city Maryland. It’s a great family beach and Assategue national park is nearby for viewing wild horses.
This giveaway is great not only for a chance to win a silver coin, but to get vacation ideas! As a recent retiree, I appreciate the inspiration and choices I may not have though of on my own!
Agree! Informative and amusing! Was not even familiar with other places. Thanks for all the tips!
We have a 10-yr reunion in Charleston coming up in August. Can’t wait for that one. Also, a trip to Nashville and some camping will round out the summer.
We just had baby #3 so we don’t have any big travel plans coming up… that said, we are seeing Elton John when he comes to Washington DC in September. I think it’ll be awesome to see a legend like that perform in person!
We go to Destin, Florida. We rent a house that is a 5 minute walk to the beach in one direction, shopping and restaurants 5 minutes the other direction. Destin has beautiful beaches and clear water.
visiting Lake Junaluska, NC for a few days of relaxation in the North Carolina mountains
Going to Napa in September to revisit our trip there last October when the wildfires broke out. Plus, firstborn going off to college so need wine to cope with that major milestone. Ha!
Rosemary Beach, FL with 15 of our closest family and kid’s cousins all sharing one big house. Also, a new adventure on the horizon is a puppy. I’m sure our two full grown cats will be thrilled!
Phoenix, AZ for me.
Ocean city MD. In the fall the Blue Ridge Mountians.
Scotland
I’m going to a wedding in Williamsburg VA the end of this month. No other plans, because we’re saving for a big family cruise in 2019.
We love Colonial Willamsburg.
Road trip this September to the home of my dream car: National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY. Don’t own one yet, but I see it in the garage!
Road trip to National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY. Don’t own one yet, but I see it in the garage!
Boston to Montreal cruise.
My wife and I are still planning. Our youngest heads to college this fall so we will be semi-empty nesters. We have not vacationed much in the last 3 years due to serious health issues. For Fall, probably some three day weekends to the Hill Country of Texas and spring 2019 maybe an overseas trip using United Points and Excursionist perks.
I’ve already done quite a bit of traveling this year. Planning to spend a week in Merida, Mexico City & Belize in November. Plus Labor Day weekend in San Diego if I can book it with points!
Waterskiing, kayaking, boating on beautiful Bitterroot Lake in Montana. Cherry picking and hiking around Flathead lake in Montana.
I’m taking my family, including my new granddaughter, to Pensacola Beach.
Road trip to Wichita KS for our 30th wedding anniversary. Why Wichita? That’s where we were married in 1988 🙂
Heading out to the Finger Lakes in NY today! Yay?
Taking the five month old son on his first flight to visit the wife’s brother and his family in Chicago for a week. Wish us luck as we are now that couple with the baby on a plane. Just hoping he falls asleep as soon as we take off so everyone around us doesn’t complain.
Since we are expats living in Hong Kong, we’ll continue to explore this part of the world before our return to USA next summer. Heading to Indonesia in Oct and Taiwan in Dec.
Camping at the beach in NC and visiting family in VA.
Los Cabos Mexico for and all inclusive beach vacation, can’t wail!
Two trips! Wife and I went to Jamaica a few weeks back and the entire family is heading to Florida.
My plan is to visit Shanghai, China, the best city in the world. Far better than NYC.
I’ve heard great things about Shanghai. I’ll look into it. Thanks for mentioning it!
Going to Wildwood, NJ for the week. I am surprising my 8 year old daughter with tickets to the water park and unlimited rides for a day. She been asking me about it since I told her that we are going to Wildwood. She loves building sand castles with her big brother and going into the ocean. She also loves to play boardwalk games. I do anything for my daughter and son.
Greece and Italy Cruise!
When I am off work in August I will be in Costa Rica for a couple of weeks. Swell dependent, likely in Pavones in the deep south for most of the time. In September I am visiting friends in Victoria, BC on Vancouver Island, near Washington State, and then my family in the mountains of British Columbia, near Montana before riding my motorcycle down through the USA from there to south Baja. Then in late October I fly to Mexico City and then Oaxaca de Juarez to observe the Dia de los Muertos festival and then to the Pacific Coast before returning home to Baja to complete a 35 km Trail Run. In December, I will spend time with my family again, being home at Christmas for the first time in 5 years.
2019 should be even better – XTerra offroad Triathlon in Costa Rica, Surf trip Peru, Boat surf trip to the Mentawis with some of my closest friends, followed by retirement by the end of the year likely.
Wow. Nice! And you’re not even retired yet!
First trip is driving up to Chattanooga, TN (from Florida) and staying in one of the train cars in The Chattanooga Choo-Choo (which is a hotel now) and visit the area. Then up to Indianapolis to the Crowne Plaza Union Station hotel to sleep in, yes, another train car. We also will tour the area. On the way home, we will stop off to visit Daniel Boone’s grave site in Kentucky and then visit friends in Atlanta, GA before heading back to Florida.
Second trip, we are camping in Alabama at Jellystone Campground in a tent for two days.
Next time I leave town will be to fly to see family in TX for Thanksgiving.
Denver for 2 Cardinal games with the Rockies in late August, French Lick in Indiana, Branson, Mo for a week, And Panama City Beach when the weather cools here.
I will be leading a group of Boy Scouts into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
I will be leading a group of Boy Scouts into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Still doing the work thing but will ride my motorcycle around Northern California ending up in Reno NV for Street Vibrations in September. Will ride around the area for a few days as it’s a great time of year in the Sierra’s.
Camping in Tahoe, ca or somewhere along the coast.
We are heading to Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburg, TN in August. Rented a cabin for a mini family reunion.
I April We returned from an 8-day vacation in Florence & Rome, Italy. We plan to spend Thanksgiving and for our anniversary (which happens to be Christmas Eve) we will be at the Cancun Ritz Carlton.
Vacation was in January in WDW – wish I had had more time
My wife retired from full time teaching after 32 years in her district. We will be taking a two week road trip the first time in the 28 years we have been married in SEPTEMBER woo hoo. All vacations revolved around her work schedule and breaks. All at prime times and expense. So far nothing is final but there is a wedding in Philly September 29, so maybe some time in the Poconos, then to Philly for a couple of days, down the coast toward Willamsburg VA, Visiting Thomas Jefferson’s estate Monticello, Shenendoah National park, and any place that looks great along the way.
September a European River Cruise down the Danube. Last January, a 2 week Panama Canal Ocean Cruise. Had to cancel a 2 week Holland and Belgium land vacation due to surgery in May.
I’m on permanent vacation!
Staying local this year. Having our big 30 anniversary next year!!!
Continue doing a staycation visiting highlights around my area of Wisconsin for a day or a weekend being sure to deviate from daily routines and truly making it a vacation
We have to weeks to spend in northern Minnesota. Starting week one today and week this fall. Going to enjoy Kid Rock outdoor concert later this week!!!
Just moved from Denver to St. Louis and still getting established, so only trips to Texas to see family during the end of year holidays.. Discovered your site just after moving and am really enjoying the content!
My wife and I, along with our 3 and 5 year old are headed to Cape Cod to stay at my in-law’s cottage. It is too small for the 6 of us but we make it work. I think we will need a vacation after, though.
Two of our sons are in high school now so we are thinking the family vacations are coming to a brief hiatus for a few years. With that in mind we want to have a few more experiences than normal this year and next. Spent a week in San Diego in Mission Beach with family and friends, which was a great time. Next headed to the Gulf Shores in September/October to visit our niece, her husband and their two daughters. We will catch an Alabama football game, Roll Tide! Then we plan to spend the day after Christmas through New Years in Telluride skiing as a family. One of our favorite places in summer and/or winter.
Going to Lake Placid for a weekend in August. Out first vacation alone in a long time. 🙂
My wife and I are celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary on Aug 3. We will travel to North Carolina to visit our only son who is a career officer with U.S. Army Special Forces.
Taking my Husband on a surprise cruise to Cuba for his Birthday!
A week in the western mountains of Maine disconnected from internet, phone and work. Just me, my family, a lake, and a mountain to hike.
Just head back home to visit family.
A couple of long (golf) weekend nearby trips and a stay-cation… saving this year for more extraordinary trip next year.
Planning to take a family trip to Yellowstone in August before we take our youngest to college. Then trip to Aruba in October for our nephew’s wedding. Also, may go with some friends to Stuart, FL in November.
Sequia National Park is in my vacation plan.
No trip this year because I will retire in February (Yea Retirement!) and so I am saving for my Australia trip in May which I have designated as my Retirement gift to myself.
We are excited to be going to London for the first time this fall to see the sights and watch the SUPER BOWL CHAMPION Eagles play!
Michael, what fun to plan an international trip to watch the Eagles play. Great memories being created. My husband is a super Eagles fan too and you have given me an idea for a future trip. thank you
We will try to make it to another national park. We went to Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon and Arches last month.
Heading out for a cruise tomorrow for the first time ever in my life. Planning to visit Yosemite National forest over a weekend in late summer.
I have an Airbnb in Vail, and every time it turns over, or almost every time, I go there, from Denver to clean it up, wash the linens, etc. It’s really nice, and, being semi-retired, this is the first summer I’ve had the opportunity to spend some time during the week there. It always feels like a vacation!
Also, I’m thinking about heading to West Yellowstone late summer, early fall, and check out the wolves!
Went to dc for company reunion and smokies for hiking in June; still planing later in year
No plans. Saving up for a trip to Aruba.
Dublin, Ireland. My wife and I just arrived this morning. We already have visited Trinity College. It is a wonderful city. It is great for walking. This trip is to celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary. The best part is that our flights were free as the result of travel hacking.
Actually we’re on a pseudo-vacation right now. Our daughter will be a high school senior next year so we are driving around visiting the out of state colleges she wanted to look at. We flew from Texas to Indiana to visit Purdue, then drove to Ohio State, then drove to Penn State, and are now on the way to Colorado State. Later this year (over the Christmas holidays), we are going on an extended family (12 people in all) Caribbean cruise!
I live in Las Vegas, so I’m always on vacation! I’m 10 minutes from the strip. But I also went to a family reunion in Ohio last month and saw friends that I hadn’t seen in 50 years.
Already enjoyed three fun vacations. A week in Tennesee in April, doing genealogy research and meeting extended family for the first time followed by 5 days in Michigan in May at a genealogy conference with my cousin and just came back from a long weekend Curling tournament in Bucks County, PA. Excited for September when we will head to South Carolina to check out a few areas as potential retirement locations. We crunched all the numbers and could retire now. We decided on a 1 – 3 year plan to start seeking where and build up reserves a bit more. Still have 6 vacation days available that might be just staycation and keep working on the project to declutter and downsize possessions to be ready for an easy move at full retirement.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming to take my Mom to celebrate her 80th birthday!
mount rushmore
Mackinac Island in Michigan . I cannot wait.
My vacation plans are to go to Orlando in the Fall and attend FinCon18 thanks to certain benefactor 😉
I am sharing an Airbnd with two ladies – one being another scholarship recipient. I am flying to and fro using my travel rewards miles from my Chase Sapphire Preferred card.
As an extrovert, I am so excited to meet people in person!
Traveling to San Francisco
Hiking and sampling breweries on Minnesota North Shore this summer, the same in Oklahoma / Caprock Canyon road trip this fall. Probably Mexico beach time in December.
My husband and I plan to go diving in Belize in November. We got certified to Scuba dive while in Thailand last year and can’t wait to do it again!
Just some weekends at the cabin up north and a couple trips to Phoenix to visit our son at ASU in the fall.
Holiday in The Drakensberg, Cathedral Peak Hotel. Mountain climbing, Outdoor activities, including.. Horse riding, playing golf etc..
Being retired is fabulous and we really enjoy traveling. Next up is Germany for 3 weeks, visiting my mother’s family (my uncle, aunts, cousins) and visiting military locations where my father was stationed. We decided to splurge and use American Airline miles for lie flat seats to Frankfurt so we will be rested when we arrive– at least that is the plan.
Then Myrtle Beach for 1 week, wonderful South Lake Tahoe for 2 weeks, Las Vegas 4 day trip and the next long trip will be Big Island of Hawaii. We will be in Kona, HI for 3 weeks right after Thanksgiving to mid December. Then it will be time to plan for 2019. I enjoy reading everyone’s vacations to gather ideas.
Earlier this year we had several wonderful trips as well but the two incredible ones were the Super Bowl in Minneapolis to watch my husband’s team win and hiking in Utah at Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. I didn’t realize my husband had a bucket list for a football game but I am so glad we spent the money to make his dreams a reality.
Enjoy life everyone!!!
Nice ideas. I’ll look into some of them. Thanks!
I will be swimming, fishing, picking wild mushrooms and sipping local wines in the Fingerlakes, NY.
will take the kids down to san diego for a weekend and do the animal park and legoland!
Have a family reunion first week of August in Illinois (driving from Texas). September will then give way a 10-day trip to the Riviera Maya (near Cancun, MX). November will be a glam-camp in Oklahoma where we rent a home (cabin) that sleeps about 16 (though we fit about 22) in it. Tentative is Vegas in December as it is not booked yet.
Great idea for comments.
We have a few plans. I must confess that we are not very FIRE- friendly when it comes to vacation. It is probably our largest vice in what is otherwise a frugal lives.
We have a few days in Vero Beach tied to a 7 night Disney Cruise in August. In November we are heading down to Walt Disney World (adults only) to run a 10K and enjoy the Food & Wine Festival for a few days.
Can’t wait!!
Our family will be bicycling in southern Spain in December.
Leaving for Idaho today. Taking the kids to Silverwood theme park then heading south for explorations for the week. Still figuring out Christmas plans and next year.
Currently in Denali National Park, heading to Hawaii for 2 weeks in Oct.
I’m going to San Diego in September!
No vacation plans this year as we put more away in savings for a home purchase next year.
Family reunion in New England next month. A quick trip to Boston a few weeks later. In September we’ll travel to Iowa to visit my mom. Another trip to New England for either Halloween and/or Thanksgiving.
Heading to India for work, but for vacation I’ll be visiting family in Utah and Idaho.
Jamaica this fall with my wife. It was originally planned with another couple in March but my mother in law passed away so we postponed our trip.
My summer plans consist of Interning in Portland, Oregon. It’s my first time in the state. The weekends I explore the city, jump in think tanks, and climb mountains.
Looking to climb mount Hood next week ??.
Europe in September (Latvia, Lithuania, France, Switzerland, England), Fincon on the way back from it in Orlando, then Orlando to Salt Lake City to visit my boyfriend. In November Denver for Cents Positive retreat.
Traveling to Southern California to spend time with my grandfathers youngest sister who is 82. Looking forward to talking with her and listening to all of her fun stories.
I’m headed to Tokyo! The research is in full-swing and I’m excited to be using miles for the flights. Looking forward to being overwhelmed by all the people.
I’m also traveling to Ohio, but that’s a little less adventurous
Travel to Edinburgh, Scotland
I love Edinburgh…
I’m going to a wedding in Greece
The beaches in Hawaii
Flying into Denver, renting a car and exploring the Rockies ending up in Telluride.
I’m also traveling to Edinburgh,Scotland next month. We’ll see the military tattoo. 2.5 week vacation!
Doing a family roadtrip across Texas all the way to Georgia, up the east coast to New York, and back down across Arkansas. Visiting relatives, friends, and camping in national parks!
Currently spending time with family at LBI, jersey shore. Going to Newport Beach area in the fall.
Thanks for a great newsletter! I’ve shared it a lot with family and friends!
Loved visiting Ko Olina, Hawaii, last month to celebrate our 25th anniversary. Nothing else planned other than weekend trips to college football games.
I’ll be working a bit harder and picking up some extra shifts that a local hospital needs covered – AND – I’ll be living vicariously, as I scroll through all the comments and read about the cool places folks are going to.
Going to the ballpark. A day there with friends amounts to a few hundred dollars. Good seats, refreshments, and the odd souvenir can sure add up!
We’re going to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, baby !!
It’s an amazing target destination – you can spend an entire day reliving Rock & Roll history.
Also, the surrounding area of Cleveland waterfront is a beautiful place for people to gather on a hot Summer night !
Going Europe in two weeks, with stops in Bordeaux in France, Zurich in Switzerland and London in the UK. That’s for the summer, and then will probably try to do a California road trip with family for Christmas (instead of staying home!)
Taking the motorcycle for 12 days to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Cape Britian and try to squeeze in the family reunion we’re actually going to Nova Scotia for!
Heading north along California coast to Crescent City to get some good hikes in next month.
Destin, Florida, Colorado Springs, Disney cruise
Planning on going to Frankenmuth, MI in late Nov early Dec.
We don’t get any snow in Texas and it is difficult to get into the Christmas spirit.
Frankenmuth is a town where it is Christmas year round.
We are going to Cancun in a few months. Thanks.
Taking a road trip to Nantasket Beach for a few days in Hull, MA then going to a wedding in Connecticut. Combined the trips to be more cost effective!
Just finished boys motorcycle trip through the Adirondacks, stayed in Lake Placid.
Heading out to Seattle in September for the music scene and to do some Orca watching! Also, in the early stages of planning a 10-day hiking trip in Ethiopia in March!
Planned to visit Srilanka. I will be visiting to see all the Tea Estates in the hill country, Wilpaatu Safari Sanctuary, the Ancient Cities , Sigiriya Fortress etc.
Lake Squam in New Hampshire
I am going to Ogunquit, Maine in August. One of the most beautiful and peaceful places on earth.
We’re on vacation now in Rosemary Beach, FL. No more plans to travel the rest of the year.
Already went to Baku, Azerbaijan. Next my 13 year old goes camping in Canada and our family will spend Thanksgiving in Tulsa. Love credit card travel points!
Balitimore to check out the aquarium and maybe catch an Orioles game at Camden Yards.
Fly to Sacramento to visit my grand baby Rapunzel and drive to Eugene to see my sister.
An extended work trip to see MN family and forests
Disney end of the year
We’re taking a family trip to.the Wisconsin Dells!
Denver in August and possibly Colorado Springs since you’ve just so eloquently described it. Williamsburg, VA later in the year!
Oregon trip for the family.
A week in Ocean City NJ and a week in the Cayman Islands. A nice balance 🙂
Nothing coming up this year, as of now. Just had a significant remodel, so that was our “fun” for a while. And, oh yeah, we did Disney, so there’s that.
Gonna take a few weekend trips, but haven’t determined where yet.
I have already had the trip of a lifetime. In April, I suffered a cardiac arrest and my two California children rushed to my side. My youngest lives in the UK and it was difficult for her to drop everything and come. So we went to see her in June when I recovered. Even though I am 77 and she is 47, I still cried as I hugged her. I had thought that I would never see her again.
Williamsburg VA. We will be there for a week and get unlimited admission to Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens and Water Country USA!!
CW is great during Christmas time. We have free passes as well and haven’t made it up there in awhile.
Planning for a cruise this December.
Going to Washington DC for a week for my son.
Vegas Baby – I have invested in a pair of Jimmy Buffett concert tickets for Oct. 20th – can’t wait!
Heading to Tuscany region with my wife, my parents, and my sister’s family. Flying on miles obviously 🙂
My family and I are heading to the beach: the Outer Banks of North Carolina!
Mount Rushmore and Grand Canyon!
Love the idea of sharing vacation plans. It’s fun to see what types of trips everyone is taking. We will be doing a babymoon late summer/early fall in advance of baby #3, due in January. Nothing like preparing for a new baby than a week at the beach. ??
Going to Turkey for a week. Have never been before and am excited to go.
Mike
Me and my family plan on having some seaside fun in Ayia Napa, Cyprus this year. Since we live in Europe and have seen most of the beaches on the continent, we believe Cyprus offers the most bang for the buck and the kids love it.
With regards to the winter, Tirol in Austria is our choice usually.
We are going to Europe over Christmas, specifically Berlin, Prague, Budapest, Bratislava, and Vienna. This will be our first overseas trip with our daughter who will be 18 months by the time we go!
The Christmas Markets are great over there!
Key west!
This is fun!
We’ll be staying in a Yurt at Cape Lookout State Park on the Oregon Coast. https://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?parkId=134&do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage
We’ve just finished a 3-day visit to Breitenbush Hot Springs, which I highly recommend as long as you don’t mind soaking with naked hippie types. https://breitenbush.com/
Thanks for doing the giveaway. I love the website. For vacation this year I plan to go to LA and San Diego to visit my in laws and go to Legoland/sea world/beach respectively with my wife and son.
Pensacola Beach, watch the Blues fly! enjoy some beautiful water and beaches. Oh yes great food too!
Breton Island, Nova Scotia and Maine. It’s the first trip on my own, exciting and terrifying.
Taking my mother hiking in the Rocky Mountain National Park for her 90th birthday in Sept. Then going bike riding for a couple of days using rails to trails in the Grand Canyon of PA in Oct.
Flying to nyc, staying there for 2 days and then driving to Niagra falls for labor day ling weekend.
Camping in British Columbia!
I’m leaving Fresno, CA next Friday with my girlfriend. We will spend a bit of time at the Grand Canyon and then off to her home in Albuquerque, NM where with any luck (and the the prayers of those reading this) we’ll establish a new life together and soon be married.
an october week in portland oregon
Taking my grandma’s ashes to the Great Smoky Mountains to spread. Making a vacation and celebration out of it….which she would have loved!
Iceland (just got back)
Hilton Head Island, SC later this month
Scotland and Ireland tour with family. Virginia for a wedding in August. RV trip to Sedona in September.
Traveling to Ecuador with a great group of folks to take clean water units to indigenous tribes in the Amazon and to do a makeover at an orphanage in Ecuador that desperately needs assistance. Call it a voluntour trip because I will be sightseeing as well.
Gatlinburg TN !!! Nothing like relaxing in the mountains
Moving back home to Iowa after serving in the Army. Home sweet home 🙂
Alaskan Cruise
Going to Mexico for dental work. The beach is a bonus.
Trip to Greece post thanks giving with my sister to celebrate her 50th birthday. I have been building up points on a travel redemption points card since last year to cover travel expenses.
In October headed to Cancun Mexico and O’ahu, Hawaii in November!
Already had one trip down to S. Fl. Haven’t decided where to go next but camping is always an option.
Going to Sonoma to settle 1 daughter in school. Then on to Bellingham to settle in the other. Hope to drive back through Washington and Oregon and Northern California.
I’ll be heading to Chile (again) and Uruguay this fall. I’m hoping to refine my Spanish skills a bit more.
Alabama in September to attend the Auburn vs LSU football game with my dad. War Eagle!
Bodega Bay, Ca for crab fishing with the family on kayaks! We had so much fun last year, we’ve already booked our vacation for next year too!
We are going to Paris and Ireland.
We plan to travel to Charleston to spend the holidays with my mother. I will also be completing a two-year post-doc next summer and we have plans to take a celebratory trip. That desitination is still in the works.
Visiting New Orleans this Fall and heading to Chicago for Thanksgiving.
My daughters and I are excited to be going to the ELO concert at the Pepsi Center in Denver this August. We will be traveling from OKC and spending 3 days in Colorado Springs before heading to Denver for our last 3 days. We can’t wait!
We are taking a fall colors cruise up the Eastern coast up into Canada and “landing” in Montreal where we plan to spend several days. First time to Canada so very excited.
Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Relaxing!
Might be headed to Nashville in September for a concert (still planning) and visiting some friends in Orlando a couple times. Love the downtown there.
Heading back to San Diego, then big bend national Park!
We already went on a vacation, a road trip from the PNW to Florida with stops along the way in the Redwoods of N. California. We also stopped at Bryce Canyon and Moab in Utah. This was a road trip to relocate for work so some of it was fun, but a lot of it was just driving. Next year we are hoping to do a proper vacation and honeymoon combo in Spain!
9 day cruise through the Caribbean islands.
Stay cations this year but likely Canada next year.
21 day cruise in the Caribbeans
My wife and are doubling a friend’s wedding in Las Vegas this October by extending 2 extra days to get some alone time and leaving the kids with the grandparents.
We have a cruise planned in December and possibly a camping trip in the fall.
I was planning to go to DC so that I could finally go to the Smithsonian museum. A dream for many years. But unfortunately, my aunt passed away and I will be using the money to attend her service in CA.
We live in the Bay Area of California and It’s my wife’s and I first full year of retirement, so we probably planed too much, but here it is.
January, house sit for friends in Sedona, one week. Thinking about moving here now.
February, Grand Canyon, great time to come, only about 35 vehicles in the parking lot and weather was great.
March, visit friend in Pasadena, 4 days
April, off the the Oregon coast, one week.
May, Yellowstone National Park, one week. (Should have stayed longer, it’s overwhelming)
June-July (here now), our cabin in Idaho, for hiking, biking and trout fishing. (We’ve eaten enough trout for a lifetime.
August, Maui with family, one week.
September, Yosemite, family member getting married. 3 days. Then off to Pennsylvania to visit family, 2 weeks.
October, Lihue, HI. With friends, one week.
November-December hang out with family and friends at home.
I am so glad we lived below our means for many years, now we can play.
Wow, such great plans by everyone. So glad to be a part of financial independence living. June was spent in Newfoundland and Labrador Canada with a tour group and a friend of mine from Toronto that I met doing the Rocky Mountaineer Tour of Western Canada last year. I just returned from a long weekend in Chicago with a local friend and fellow volunteer doing some volunteer work and playing tourist for the Alzheimer’s Association Early Stage Advisors Group. I am an advocate. I have Younger Onset Alzheimer’s at age 56 and am living life to the fullest! I just heard from a life long friend from New Orleans who now is a full time Nanny for her two little grand children that she has a week off and will be visiting me in DC so the end of July is now fully booked, can’t wait to staycation in my hometown with my great friend. The rest of the year is still tentative but my Toronto friend is planning a trip through the Halifax Canada area and my number one bucket list item is a week or more island hopping in Hawaii (maybe winter 2018/2019) primarily on a private live aboard sail boat (with captain of course) but must secure a few friends with the time off from work and $$ to share the cost which isn’t really more than a nice hotel in the islands. A fall trip to GA help my mom celebrate her birthday and be back home in time to vote for the mid term elections.
We are doing a screen free vacation to the Smokey Mountains in the fall. Looking forward to some time without any social media or calls or texts. We will bring the dog and do some hiking and dreaming.
My husband, my son, my grandaughter and I, will travel from Puerto Rico, to Atlanta, Ga., to visit my other son and his family. It’ll be a Christmas family reunion. My other son and his family will also travel from Austin, Tx and my daughter from West Virginia. Yes, all four of my children together. After Christmas, will take a road trip to a sky resort in Tennessee. Can’t wait to see all my children, their wives and grandchildren together for the first time.
Going to Rio with the family in August.
We went to DC earlier in May, thenwife hasn’t had a vacation from the kids in several years. We ate at Chef Jose Andrea restaurant, the James Beard Award winnings Dabney and visit museums and took a sailboat ride in Annapolis!
Weekend house in lake George and a week at beautiful blockisland
Texas Road Trip – Dallas to Forth Worth, Fort Worth to Austin, Austin to San Antonio, San Antonio to Galveston. A good mix of history, science, art and beach for the whole family!
Driving to Durango with our granddaughter. Then over to Telluride for a day. Staying in Durango to use our points for free hotel!!
a week in Tuscany!
September a weekend in LA
Great Blog.
Our family just returned from a 2 week road trip (3 kids, 2 dogs, my wife & I) to Colorado, Wyoming (Jackson Hole – our favorite vaca spot) and Montana(family reunion in a vrbo house on Flathead Lake – 37 people!) 4200+ miles made easy w a big rig that gets great milage (diesel) & cash back cards & pre-booking everything.
Next trip is a family (wife’s) reunion to Ohio this week and then a week in a cabin in the N. Georgia mountains for Thanksgiving.
Counting days to freedom but we’re on our way.
Making a road trip through the Grand Canyon, Zion, and Bryce…
Heading to Boston, Cape Cod and Newport for a long weekend. We will seeing the Eagles in Concert on Saturday night.
I will be heading Palo Alto for business at the end of the month
Follow by a well earned family Vacation with wife and kids to Punta Cana in August.
Late August visiting family in the Hamptons!
Should be fun!
South Carolina for golfing with my buddy.
Rented a lake house in Gladwin, Michigan.
Going to Salt Lake City, Utah.
Hey there! My wife and I will be using our SW companion pass to visit Boise in early December and hopefuly have fresh powder as we do some snow-skiing. We try to ski annually and this will be a first for Idaho skiing. Keep up the good work.
Myrtle Beach
Vacationing in New York
Guatemala next week for a missions trip and Texas the week after for the birth of first grandchild.
A short vacation to Minneapolis Minnesota.
I’m heading up to MA for my cousins wedding in October. Then, my fiance and I will road trip it back to FL, taking indirect routes to check out new things.
Crater Lake! Then a slow drive through Oregon wine country. Really looking forward to seeing this beautiful part of the country.
I did that last Fall. Beautiful trip.
I am not debt free yet so no vacations until January. I would use the coin as inspiration to make me keep thinking about being debt free and eventually financially independent.
mini vacation to Nashville & hopefully a west coast visit too!
I’ve been recuperating from surgery since last November so taking a vacation is long over overdue and much needed. A friend just opened a restaurant and food shop in Harbor Country Michigan so we’re going to visit, stay in a b&b, and do some wine tasting.
Putting finishing touches on a round trip from Seattle, to Canada, driving plus ferries rides to Vancouver island, with my wife and two boys……can’t wait
I’m looking forward to a vacation in Switzerland later this year. I have some travel hacks planned to cut the costs since it can be a pretty expensive place to visit. It’ll be a great opportunity to practice speaking German which I started studying last year.
We just got back from Washington DC. I took the kids to see the Capital Fourth show in person. It was hot that week but we had a lot of fun with the museums. I hope to get in a beach weekend before the end of summer.
Hi John,
We were actually on our way home today from a very relaxing and fun vacation from So. Cal when I read on my Google news feed about your blob ESImoney.
It captured my interest and so far I’ve got to say I love it.
Vacation Info:
Anyway, two years ago we took our children to Sea World, Lego Land, Disneyland and Newport Beach, CA. all in one trip. Let’s just say it was not the most relaxing of vacations, but our children loved it and they had tons of exciting times, so it was worth it. They are only young once!
On that vacation our children asked me if next time we could just take a vacation on the beach – my response was, heck yeah! So, we just unpacked today from our 10 wonderful relaxing days on the sunny beaches of Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach! It was such a nice relaxing vacation, riding beach cruisers on the boardwalk, catching the waves, chilling in the sun, snorkeling on Corona Del Mar, renting a boat and cruising the harbor, eating ice cream and pizza at the fun zone and relaxing poolside at the condo. It was my kind of vacation. Everyone had a great time!
I think we’ll do a trip to the east coast to go see family in the fall.
Anyway, like I said, your story sparked an interest and I look forward to reading your blog. Oh and yeah.. I would kindly love one of those American Eagle Silver Dollars!
Mt. LeConte…hike…this fall
I plan to travel to San Diego, LA , Orlando and Haiti.. My first vacations in 3 yrs been working trying to get of student loan debt!
Trip to Beaver Creek CO in September for 2 long time Floridians looking to begin seeing more of this beautiful country.
Dropping a pile of cash on a remodeled bath. It’s overdue and have been looking forward to getting it done.
Travel to Ireland and Scotland, a bucket list item for my wife.
Saving for a graduation trip next summer for our rising seniors, so no plans for the rest of the year.
We are headed to Sanibel Island next week then a week in Aruba prior to Christmas. Beach = good!
I’m actually leaving for a week in Denver tomorrow! I’m excited, I’ve only been through the airport twice. We’re headed to Red Rock, a work-related detour, and the Colorado Ren Faire – in costume – this weekend. Other than a few weekend jaunts, that’s it for me this year.
Punta Cana Dominican Republic in August which is all inclusive and includes some deep sea fishing. Then going to New Orleans to watch the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles play the New Orleans Saints this fall.
Going to Southern Minnesota for a family reunion!
Heading to the beach in South Carolina in August and then Taiwan in November to visit family.
Will be going to Atlanta, GA and the mountains to the north for a few days each.
Heading out to Winnipeg to compete in a Masters Ultimate tournament. Looking forward to getting out of the Texas heat for a week!
Next vacation will be in the forest of central Pennsylvania!
I will be spending 2 weeks out west. Denver, Keystone CO, Dinosaur National Park, Grand Tetons, National Dark Sky Reserve, Zion National Park, Moab. I usually take some time off in September but haven’t planned it yet. Also take off the week of Thanksgiving and the week between Christmas and New Years for staycation or day trips.
My wife and I are planning on going to Quito Ecuador before I have a knee replacement. We have been putting this off for a very long time and i feel that my quality of life will improve.
I purchased season and dining passes to Six Flags this year so every other Sunday, that is where you will find us. Next weekend will be a trip to Ocean City. Next month, we will fly to Ft. Lauderdale for a few days and then take a cruise to the Bahamas.
Ahhhh, vacationing at our cabin in northern Minnesota. Sandbar, golf, fat tire biking….
And today we firm up a mission trip to Puerto Rico over Christmas break.
NYC and Nashville this year. Maybe New England yet before the snow flies
We spent 4th of July visiting family back in NC. Now we are planning a trip to Colorado this fall.
Going to Delhi, India and Bangkok,Thailand in August. Its going to be hot and sticky….but different.
No plans for the remainder of this year. I was in Costa Rica and Fiji and that exhausted the bulk of my travel budget for the year. My next planned trip is to Eygpt, early next year… time to start saving!
Germany to watch my wife run the Berlin Marathon. This will be her 3rd of six world majors having completed Chicago and Tokyo, London and New York are next then Boston. We’re travel nuts having visited all 50 states and over 40 countries, but from a financial standpoint I can tell you traveling to major cities during large events isn’t the best way to stay within your travel budget.
We are going to Tanzania for 10 days to see the Great Migration with a UC Berkeley Alumni “Cal Discoveries” travel group. We also visit the Olduvai Gorge and Lake Victoria.
Two years ago we went on their trip to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos which was fantastic. Two bucket list places in one trip!
Headed to the Catskills in Upstate New York for two weekends with family. Then to DC for some work/vacation time.
Well, coming from France and staying in PA for a while, then looking forward to a US trip.
This year, we will have a trip to Hershey!!!
I’m new to this site just signing up today. Actually no vacation plans because my son only is getting married 8/18/18 therefore hubby and I have only thought about wedding prep. So, long story short our vacation has been – my husband attending his son’s bachelor party in NOLA last month and me attending the bachelorette party in Grand Rapids, MI the end of this month.
Destin, Florida for a week-long family vacation!
We already traveled to Asia this year with 2 kids (3yr and 1yr old) so we’re done for a little while until they are old enough to be a little more self sufficient. This summer we are selling our house and moving!
Virginia Beach for the ocean, dolphins, ocean boardwalk, Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center and genealogy research in the Norfolk and Chesapeake libraries. Later in the year, Tahquamenon Falls State Park and taking in the beauty of upper Michigan.
Doing a trip around Utah – Lived here for a two years now and decided instead of an out-of-country vacation, my girlfriend and I would load up the car and do a camping vacation to get around and see as much of the state as we can fit into a three week period. Very much looking forward to it. We’ve recently really pumped up how much we are saving each month as well, so it’s great to do a local-ish trip, where we can keep our costs pretty low and enjoy sleeping under the stars 🙂
Zakynthos and Torino
My brother-in-law is renting a house in Bar Harbor, Maine, in September so I think my hubby and I will go biking and hiking with him for a week.
Großefehn Germany. Extended family there.
One this amazing about northern Germany in the Summer. NO BUGS!
They don’t even have screens on their windows.
Over the years I’ve been trying to do the right thing – saving & investing/saving for retirement, 529’s for the kids, a rental property, and finally I decided to do something for myself, I bought a corvette! It doesn’t make sense on paper but sometimes you need to reward yourself and It’s been a dream since I was a kid. Mid August I’m heading to Spring Mountain Motor Resort outside of Las Vegas (thinking it’s going to be a little warm!) for a 2 day corvette driving school.
A simple trip to Nevada for an extended weekend.
Been doing the 50 state tour with our son, but decided to take a year off as we only have 8 left and 3 more years to complete. So this year we are vacationing closer to home ~ camping in county and a State Park for a week – Copper Falls State Park in WI.
In Japan at the moment. Off to hike the Kumano Kodo trail next week.
Have plans for a mountain retreat in Colorado at the end of the month and a weekend in Zion in early August.
Trying to work out a work trip to Shanghai in the fall.
Heading to our beautiful beach front house in Manzanillo, Mexico for Thanksgiving. We still have a few weeks available into next year if anyone interested (sorry for the self-serving plug :).)
Who’s got the best jet lag cures?
Heading to Venice, Italy for a 10 day cruise. Venice to Rome. Looking forward to it!
We have two vacations scheduled for the remainder of 2018. My first vacation is a staycation to New Orleans, LA for a weekend. My 13 year old shih tzu is dying of congestive heart failure and this staycation is an opportunity to give her another traveling experience close to home. She loves taking walks in her stroller so we plan to stroll the mornings and evenings away in Downtown New Orleans. For me, this is another opportunity to make memories with her and have a cost effective getaway. Our second vacation is to Point Clear, Alabama to the Marriott Grand Hotel Resort. This getaway will be for 4 days and will be a nice reprieve from work. This getaway is our little taste/glimpse into the life we are trying to build with our savings and investments. Thanks for the wisdom you are sharing with this site.
No vacation planned yet, will be attending a family reunion in Southern Idaho, that might be it this year.
I just had a weekend in Nantucket, MA with my Mom and Sister for a 10th annual girls trip – we do it BnB style!
I will be staying with a girlfriend for 2-3 days on Cape Cod in August, as well as going to a Folk Festival for a weekend in Maine – camping!
Late September I’m going to NYC with a girlfriend to see my first Broadway play, we’re taking the bus and we’re staying with a friend!
In October, I’m heading to Tampa Florida for a service weekend of a non-profit I’m involved with.
Later in October I’m heading to Atlanta for a friends wedding and staying with my cousin who lives there!
That’s it for this year!!…
No traveling for me this year. Paying down debt.
Going to San Diego. Never been to the west coast so I’m excited to go!
Just got back from a week on Cape Cod – town of Brewster. Very relaxing.
Visiting family in Tampa, FL yet looking forward to the Colorado mountains and the Four Corners to explore my favorite area.
Playing in the waves at Myrtle Beach with a round or two of golf thrown in.
Planning on hitting up Medellin, Colombia. Friends are down there and I hear its beautiful.
I will be going to Mount Rainer National Park. Beautiful mountain!
We are just going to staycation in the DC area. We’re planning to do some hikes at the top of the blue ridge. We plan on doing a nice loop up by Harpers Ferry that includes some time on the AT.
Going to Mount Rainer National Park.
For us it will be a 3-4 day family getaway. The first day we will stop by one of Kenosha, WI lake beaches,then spend the night in Milwaukee,WI. Day 2 and 3 attend baseball games at Miller’s park (the least expensive tickets available). In the final day we will visit a water park. So, I hope to stay within budget while having lot’s of fun.
Belize, to snorkel and scuba with the kids!
Going to one of the nicest small towns – Healdsburg. Park your car and don’t get back in until you’re ready to leave.
Just like last year. No vacation. If I could sell my business we would all take a much needed one
We are staying relatively local, roadtripping around Southern California in search of new beaches and parks to visit!
Was hoping to get back to the east coast this coming week to see family after not being able to for the last 3.5 years. Planning to take my kids to Busch Gardens and/ or Water Country USA while out there. However, my kids are older now and it looks like they might both have job interviews next week instead. Glad I held off on buying tickets! Now hoping we can plan this trip in August before the fall semester starts. Uncle Sam sent me to Colorado and even though I was resistant at first, it has really grown on me. So now I feel like I’m on vaca anytime I’m off-duty. Highly recommend Colorado Springs and Colorado in general to anyone reading this!
This giveaway has ended.
Winners were selected from comments as noted above.
The winners are as follows:
Anthony Beckman
George
Rod Moore
Deb
Fred
Karen S.
Steven Epler
Randy Lasater
Jon
Brett O’Neal
There may be more than one of these names who commented, so you’ll know you’re the right one if you get an email from me. Be looking for it.
Congrats to the winners and stay tuned for more giveaways!