Most of you know I’ve been on vacation in FL this week. So, I thought I’d keep it light and breezy. We’ve been staying in a beautiful condo on the beach since Saturday. We’re leaving tomorrow, and it’s always sad to go.
This is a picture of my grandkiddies. We rented a boat today. My daughter took this cute pic on Shell Island of them perched on this weathered log. I love the sunlight in their smiles. We saw many dolphins, and just missed touching them as they swam by our boat. I think dolphins are magical, beautiful creatures. It was amazing watching them swim so close, and we reached into the water hoping to touch one. One day I want to swim with them too.
Thinking of all the beautiful places in the world, I thought it’d be fun to chat about a few you love, or most want to visit. Since our stories take readers to many places, what’s your favorite place to visit, or maybe somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit but haven’t yet. I love the ocean, so anywhere close to that is ideal for me. I also dream of visiting Ireland and Australia one day. And Michelle’s Africa seems very beautiful to me as well.
LaDonna, sounds like you’re having a wonderful time! Returning to reality is always a drag after a great vacation.
One of my favorite spots is Yaddo Gardens in Saratoga Springs, NY. It’s a mansion turned artists’ retreat. Past residents include Truman Capote, Sylvia Plath and Aaron Copland. I find it a magical place where the famous residents’ spirits inhabit every blade of grass.
Hope to see you here one day, LaDonna
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I’d love to visit Tuscany again, this time with my husband, and Zanzibar and Victoria Falls are also places I’d love to go.
Kathy, the artist’s retreat sounds right up my alley. And you’re right, I’ll be doing the dreaded laundry when I return tomorrow. Oh, well, we had a glorious time. No complaints.
Michelle, you’ve been to Tuscany? Is it as beautiful as in the movie, Under The Tuscan Sun? I wanna go there too! Also, thank you so much for coming to my rescue this a.m. My pic was too large, and one of my grandsons was out of frame. Michelle reduced it, and saved the day! A blog mommy we all depend on.
Fun question, LaDonna, and your grandkids look so cute. You’ll have to email me the bigger picture so I can see them better.
England, Scotland, Ireland are on my list. Also South Africa and Australia. Tuscany is Michelle’s idea, but it sounds so good, I’ll add it to my list too.
LaDonna, I am seriously envying you right now! I love the ocean, too, and I’m hoping to take another trip soon to Gulf Shores, Alabama, the lovely beach that is just a short drive from my house. There’s just something so beautiful and peaceful about the waves of the ocean as they lap against the shore.
One of the best places that I have ever visited was Grand Cayman. Talk about beautiful beaches!
And with all the shipwrecks so close by–wrecks that you could take mini-subs to go see–ah, well, that was pretty close to heaven for me.
LaDonna, I have been there, and it is very beautiful. I love the idea of a walking holiday there. The ones where someone in a car takes your bags from hotel to hotel, and you walk through the country-side, stop for lunch where you feel like it, and then end up at the next hotel in time for a well-deserved dinner. I’ve told my husband my first real writing money is going towards that holiday
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And pleasure about the pic. What are blog mommies for?
Edie, I’ll fly that pic your way! Also, I forgot Scotland.
How could I forget Braveheart country? So many places to see!
Cynthia, sound too fun! Okay, I’ll add Gulf Shores to my list, it’s closer than FL.
I wanna take one of those subs in Grand Cayman too. I love watching those travel/discovery shows on exciting places, and the mysteries they carry.
Michelle, your holiday sounds wonderful! I was just thinking today, I’ll be writing like crazy just to see all the wonderful places on my list.
What a fun way to spend money, though. We’ve seen some very beautiful, retired people here that are the epitome of health and happiness. It’s contagious.
I love what you said about your grandkid – you love the sunshine in thier smile.
I’d also love to see you here in Australia and I too would love to see Michelle’s Africa – fell in love with it thhrough Wildbur Smith books at an early age. And Ireland.
I would also love to see New York and San Francisco – hopefully doing the later July next year for Nationals.
And one more place I’d love to visit is New Zealand – land of Lord of the Rings. So much beatiful country and so diverse from volcanic mud springs to beautiful rainforrests.
There is probably a lot of place I’d love to see but I guess I’ll just have to be content with visiting the world in my mind where I set my books for a while.
my favorite place in the world is the small beach at the Princeville Resort Hotel in Hanalei Bay Kauai
A walking tour of Tuscany sounds like heaven. The only catch for us when it comes to vacations is getting someone we trust to house-sit and take care of our cats and dogs. If we took a trip to Tuscany like that, I’d want to go for at least a week, and it’d be tricky to get a sitter for that long.
Glad you’re having fun at the beach, LaDonna!
Sounds like you’re having a terrific time in Florida. The grandkids are adorable. Great photo.
One of the most beautiful places I’ve even been was Ayers Rock in the Australian Outback. Magical. I caught a tour bus that would take you out there at about 5:00 a.m. You’d stop about a mile away and watch the sun come up and bathe that rock in too many colors to list, changing with each minute. Everyone was silent, the wind was the only sound as we watched the magic of the sunrise over the desert.
I’ll never forget that.
Tracey, I hope you’re at National next year. I’d love to meet you. Also, New Zealand sounds wonderful too. Hubby and I loved the Lord of The Rings. Breathtaking scenery is right.
Karin is that in Hawaii? Sounds very private, and beautiful too. I loved the image of small beach. Having been here for a week, surrounded by condos and beach lovers, small is sounding very appealing right now.
LaDonna,
I’m so jealous, I’d love a vacation by the beach. A warm beach.
I love the ocean, but so far every ocean vacation I’ve taken over here in the Pacific NorthWest, has been cold and windy. Freezing your butt off on the beach weather.
As for places I’d like to visit. South Africa is at the head of my list, followed by the Highlands of Scotland, Ireland and Egypt.
Hey, Lynne! Yep, you and John are in the same boat as parents with small children; babysitter, or they go with you. You’re lucky you have such a cool sister, though, who watches them for ya once in a while.
Liz, you’ve mesmerized me with your description of Ayers Rock! Just added it to my list. Sounds like a spiritual place as well. Oh, forgot to add I’d love to walk the ley lines across Spain too. And thanks about the photo. We spent the evening taking pics on the beach tonight. My daughter downloaded 185 digital ones on her computer when we got back, and I was in awe. I had no clue she was clicking away so much!
Theresa, I love your list. Egypt would be cool too. Can you imagine the sunrises and sunsets across the deserts? And I bet your neck of the woods is breathtaking too. Cold, but very beautiful I imagine.
Liz – great discription – but it’s not call Ayres Rock any more. It’s returned to its aboriginal name of Ularu and it is a very spiritual place to the aboriginal people.