Vacation Brain

Despite the fact that this winter has not been bad at all--no freezing temps, snowstorms, and ice to put visions of warm beaches in my head, I am still already craving summer vacation, especially because it's looking like Will is going to have a little time "off" (he'll still be writing papers etc.) before he goes back to clinics in mid-June. Also, because we haven't had any snow days YET, I'm kind of hoping we don't end up with any AT ALL, because that means we would be out of school on May 22nd! AMAZING. Every year I've taught in Liberty we've had between 5 and 9 snow days...which is crazy and we've almost always gone till Memorial Day weekend or after. May 22nd would be so early! So...here is our potential vacation list for late May/June 2012.

OPTION 1: OREGON COAST/PORTLAND/SEATTLE (Katie's Pick!)
We went to the West Coast two years ago but only did California stuff--which was a wonderful trip--but I've heard from various different people recently who've traveled there that the Portland beer scene, NW Oregon Coast, Seattle and San Juan Islands are fantastic as well--this seems up our alley, a good mix of beautiful scenery, fun cities and a part of the country we've never been before.

(Oregon Coast)

(Seattle City Living)

(Whale Watching in the San Juan Islands, WA)

OPTION 2: BOSTON AND NYC (Will's Pick)
I think Will wants to go here to check out what life would be like to live here someday--maybe when Residency time comes in a couple of years and I'm definitely up for a trip to check it out. I did this trip with my family when I was probably 5 or 6 (right Mom?) and actually have lots of memories of this trip still. In fact, probably one of our family's most classic trip disaster's was on this vacation in NYC when the valet wrecked our car and we had to basically tie the driver's side door on for the remainder of our trip and all the way back to STL it was SO loud! Needless to say, at age 5 or 6 we did not paint the town the way we would now and it would be an experience to see Ground Zero, maybe a Broadway show and I know exploring Boston would be really fun too.

(Swan Boats in Boston)

(NYC Skyline)

OTHER OPTIONS:
I'm up for any trip and things have come to mind like visiting family on the east coast in Richmond and North Carolina with a detour to the Outer Banks in NC, or possibly the Southwest to visit our sweet friends Clare and Craig in New Mexico, we could go to Durango, Santa Fe and more out there too. I think we're definitely doing a US trip, as much fun as it would be to try and plan something big and overseas, I don't think we're ready for that this year.

Now...we just have to get through the next few weeks to see how Will's spring schedule will pan out with his dissertation defense and then we can really start planning!

In the meantime, I am pumped for Spring Break with my mom and dad (and hopefully Will too!) in Destin, FL! So, I guess I should look forward to that trip first, then we'll talk summer vacation!

What trip would you recommend??? If you had to choose between the options above, what would you pick??!! Want to go with us??!! Always open for suggestions and dreaming!

Love,
The Messamores