2025 Travel Plans

My travel plans have been extremely interrupted this year by my car situation, but on fb today one of my memories is from 11 years ago when my sister and I were touring western PA. Featuring the quote, "If you get on a plane and fly someplace to ride rollercoasters, I think you're officially a rollercoaster nerd."

So just to follow up with the executed 2025 plans thus far, we did go to Hawaii (O'ahu) back in March and had an absolutely stunning time there. Zero regrets on the island choice, either. Between the beautiful sunrise hikes, beaches and various activities (UTV's at Kualoa Ranch, Cocoa Farm, Farmers Market, Breweries/Food/Coffee, etc) all the activities across the island was perfect for us. We absolutely will go back to visit the other islands, but I would recommend O'ahu to anyone that wants a lot of activities. We hardly did anything at all in Waikiki as we had a car, so outside of staying on the edge of the main strip, we were out and about each day. But it was nice to have all the stuff within walking distance and it was open late when we arrived back late evening to the hotel.

We also did Poland/Germany in May which was an incredible trip. Krakow was a wonderful city, we loved it. We visited Energylandia and also did Auschwitz-Birkenau which was something, to say the least... No words, really. Then of course the salt mines, ate at the milk bars and just had a great time. Flew to Munich for the second half and did all our favorite stuff, plus finally made it to Garmisch-Partenkirchen to take the cog train up to the top of the alps and that might be one of my all-time favorite vacation moments ever. It was unreal. At the summit having a beer, some lunch, sled riding and taking in the view above the clouds? Next level stuff.

Lastly, we do have one more trip planned this year... Japan!

We are fitting it in after all... We already have flights and hotels locked and loaded for early November. Flying into Tokyo, home from Osaka. Park wise, just likely DisneySea and Universal, we want to focus more time around the cities and such and not park hopping. Mentally preparing for that 14 hour flight from Newark (CLE->EWR->HND) but at this time we are booked in Premium and I have my upgrade request in for Polaris. Hoping between my status, full-fare premium ticket and all that we have a good chance to have a bed on that flight!

I am thinking I might do a "photo TR" of our Hawaii and Poland/Germany trips one day to post up here in the TR area. I don't want to write a wall of text about everything, but some cliff notes and a bunch of photos might be more interesting.

The other islands are better, but partly I feel that way because Honolulu feels like South Florida, and not in a good way. Kauai might be my favorite place on the planet thus far.

If we are talking non coaster trips now, in addition to my trip to Ireland, Scotland and England which was amazing I also did a Rockies trip this summer. Hit Teddy Roosevelt, Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. I also crossed another location off my bucket list, Banff/Lake Louise and it was everything I expected and more. The area was drop dead gorgeous.

Jeff:

Honolulu feels like South Florida

That is why you leave the city.

I'm taking about the city proper. Kualoa Ranch is not in Honolulu. Oahu has other stuff, sure, but it doesn't have a Waimea Canyon or Nāpali Coast.

The nice thing about Kaua'i (my favorite) or the Big Island (a close second) is that there is no Honolulu you need to leave. That said, my trip next year does include a return to Oahu, with a home base at the Hilton complex in Waikiki. I will pair that with one of those other two, but not sure which one yet.

I don't really ever need to go back to Maui, particularly while they are still recovering from the fire---and that is going to be a while.

Non-millionaire here... I stayed in a cabin at the lodge at Hocking Hills State Park for a few days last month. If you've never been, it's near Columbus, and it's dreamlike. It was during the heat wave, unfortunately.

I'm going to Nags Head next week (after a day at Kings Dominion). Never been there. Kind of excited to spend time with my cousins and relax on the hotel balcony facing the beach.