Photo Vacation Bucket List

[THXGEEK]

So....

I turned 61 this year and retirement is 3 years, 1 month and 14 days away (not that I'm counting). As long as the economy and my retirement funds cooperate (and assuming no intervention by the Lottery Gods), I'm starting to plan for the retirement adventures that lay ahead.

There are many sights I have not seen in Northern America. Acadia National Park. The Grand Canyon. Denali in Alaska. Banff in Canada (assuming the Canadians are still speaking to us Yanks). And so on. But I want to take a whole-Earth approach. With my Scottish and Finnish heritage, those wonderful countries are definitely 'in'.....

What photographic journeys have YOU taken that should be on one's 'bucket list'? What lessons have you learned? What would you do (or never do) again?

Thanks!

 

[tpatana]

With my Finnish heritage, I can say don't go there (the winter scenery is quite nice, but you'll freeze your X off). If you go in the summer, "Karhunkierros" has nice hiking around forest and lakes. I got some decent pics there few years ago.

One item on my bucket list is the Mt Fuji sunrise climb. You start climb in the evening and (plan to) reach the summit before sunset so you can watch (and photograph) sunrise from the top.

Trying to think other things that would be exciting to shoot:
-rent sail boat to travel around nice island area, catch sunsets/sunrises at ocean+islands views (maybe SE Asia)
-Africa safari (maybe include climb to Kilimanjaro)
-Rio Carnival (and maybe Amazon (not the one in Seattle))

 

[Woodbadger]

Definitely an African Photo Safari. We went this June and it was a life changing experience.

 

[Bucolic Old Sir Henry]

It would be remiss of me not to mention my little country in the Deep South. About 1,700 km (1,000 miles) north to south, with tropical beaches at the top and fiords, glaciers and rainforest at the bottom, plus volcanoes, desert, game fishing, big trout in the lakes, and a very photogenic cultural heritage, both tangata whenua (people of the land, Maori) and the colonial Brits. Just about every possible photographer's subject, and great wine and food. If you do come down here, do not try to "do" the place in two weeks as so many do, but give yourself some time to explore.

Of course, as a local, I do far too little exploration of my own backyard. But I would really, really like to do one of the wildlife trips down to the sub Antarctic islands to the south of us. Fantastic, but expensive.

From the bucket list: would love to explore parts of India, and not just for the food. ;-)

 

[PKM-UK]

Hi Craig,

We're not normally 'name droppers' (but you did ask!).

A few years back - before things got complicated by this and that - we sat down and came up with our bucket list and were fortunate to have ticked off most of the big hitters before our plans went belly up.

Places we've really enjoyed (in the order visited with [combined tours linked]): Cuba, Thailand, Mexico, [Vietnam and Cambodia], China, [India and Nepal], [Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Brazil], [Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa]. (Clearly, change is constant - so due diligence is always essential. All of these trips were done with guides as part of an organised group - although in Cambodia we were lucky to be all by ourselves in a group of two!).

The year everything got canned we had Iceland and [Chile and Patagonia] lined up - luckily with free cancellation, which contributed to our camper van.

Also on our list - pending retirement as they required more time to explore in detail - were: Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and The United States. (This year we did visit the latter, albeit only briefly, and we have at least one more tour there in the outline planning stage. Iceland is still on the agenda, but the Chile/ Patagonia trip has more than doubled in price and our original itinerary is no longer available, so it's scrubbed. Probably.).

Moving forward, the trips we now foresee will all be independent travel (the guided tours were good for safety/ security and getting around tricky places).

Naturally, we would also recommend our 'home travel favourites': England, Wales and Scotland. Across the channel, Europe offers a wealth of interest.


We find researching what we'd like to see and planning the trips around that is a good chunk of the fun to be had (along with post-trip photo processing!).

Lessons learned? Packing Cubes, you can never have enough memory cards (a back-up strategy also gives peace of mind), always have a spare lens on hand (just as we started to tour Angkor Wat in Cambodia my EF24-105mmL decided to self-destruct and my 'spare' EF40mm became an instant huge hero!), cheap lightweight plastic shopping bags are fantastic for coping with rain (we had 4-seasons in an hour at Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro - everyone cleared off to the cafe, we got the shots - and soaked - but the cameras survived), if you can get to places early (or late) it will be easier to get 'people-free shots', be patient - remember has a right to be there, take lots of images - but remember to lower the camera and take a look around too, have fun and savour every moment, on long tours filled with activities try to keep a diary, if you get hassled by local touts don't answer (they wont know what nationality you are/ which language to use), if you do have to be rude to anyone (e.g. barging in to get a good shot) speak French, and finally - a big smile takes you a very long way...


Good luck with your retirement and travel plans...

Phil and Karen

 

[MikeZ]

I retired several years ago and time is now on my side. I would second the African safari (did one a couple of years ago and well worth it). Planning an India safari for tigers and elephants this Spring. Certainly Europe. Italy, Spain and Portugal offer great history and architecture. The Netherlands - so much packed into such a small place, and English spoken by everyone. The UK - so much history and natural beauty, and a calmer pace (outside of London). Antarctica is on my list, sooner rather than later. Back to Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Canada (Quebec City for its flair to Calgary for the stampede), Key West and Seattle.

I also agree with Phil on lesson's learned. Don't spend all of your time with an eye glued to the viewfinder. Enjoy what that location has to offer, the culture, the food and the people. And like Phil suggests, if you annoy someone, just speak French!

 

[MikeCMG]

English Lake District - Rydal Water, Tarn Hows, Grasmere

Canadian Rockies - Moraine Lake, Peyto Lake, Columbia Icefield

Switzerland - Kandersteg, Laterbrunnen Valley, top of the Schilthorn

Norway - Eidfjord, Hardangerfjord

Apart from the Lake District, I visited the others in the old point-and-shoot days, so need to go again to do it properly now I have a real camera !

 

[THXGEEK]

Wow! So many awesome ideas! Some were on my radar, some were not.

I've cruised the Alaska inner passage twice, but sadly, without my current gear (will happily go back again, but with appropriate land-based excursions). I had not considered the 'river cruises' thru Europe, but that looks like a real option.

The topics and exotic birds are a must, especially since I've lost weight and the tropical heat will be more easily endured.

So I'm thinking that I'll start with the more distant & exotic locations first (Africa, SE Asia, Australia & New Zealand) and save the closer CONUS locations for later (better health and more robust finances in my 60's vs 70's), but who knows. With all the political, economic and climate changes coming fast and furious, I think I'll need to stay flexible and just go when the opportunity is at hand.

Thanks to everyone for their ideas! Keep 'em coming!




Here are few pics from Yellowstone, many years back. My sister had just graduated from the university of Montana with her law degree and we figured we'd visit Yellowstone since we were in the 'hood.

• Join to view EXIF data.

 

[THXGEEK]

Enjoy what that location has to offer, the culture, the food and the people.

Absolutely! If the food and culture are not part of the journey, then why bother?

And like Phil suggests, if you annoy someone, just speak French!

Duly noted! I shall begin practicing my perfectly awful dialect of 'French' immediately. (Self-disclosure: I have a tin ear, took 2 years of French in High School - the last on a 'pass/fail' basis - and almost failed! AND could NOT conjugate a verb if my life depended on it! I live in great awe of those folks who can effortlessly speak multiple languages!) Therefore, I shall channel my inner 'Steve Martin' when I do commit the inevitable faux pas... "Omelette du fromage. Omelette du fromage. Omelette du fromage...."



(With full and complete apologies to our wonderful friends in France!)

 

[Only RF]

If you re around the Grand Canyon area the Arizona Petrified Nat park is astounding. Landscape is like an alien planet. Sedona and Flagstaff are awesome. We stayed in Old Town Santa Fe and drove down to Hernandez to see the spot where Ansel took the moonlight. Bosque del Apache is just south of Albuquerque. We wound in Phoenix to stay with friends. One of our most memorable drives in the US. Side note: I'm huge Tommy Bolin fan and we stayed in Sioux City, Iowa where he was born and raised.

Plan for Banff. Quite a few tourists and we read they restrict the amount of vehicles coming in. Otherwise the Rockies are spectacular. The drive from Banff to Jasper is amazing.

East coast. We loved Maine. Nova Scotia. Halifax wharf area has dozens of great bars. Peggy's Cove, Mahone Bay, Lunenberg, Digby, Cabot trial and the list goes on. Newfoundland also incredible. Gross Morne National park. Great whale watching 20 minutes out of St John's. I think Canadian should visit the east coast. They should send depressed kids listening to Nirvana out there for a few months to get in that cheery East coast music.

 

[Bryan Conner]

One that I had on my list, but marked off, is Iceland. The landscape as well as the people are definitely some of the best on the planet.

One that is still on my list is the Italian Dolomites....as well as a boatload of other locations in Italy.

 

[Bucolic Old Sir Henry]

One that is still on my list is the Italian Dolomites....as well as a boatload of other locations in Italy.

The Dolomites are the most beautiful mountains I've ever seen. I've skied there in winter, when they're spectacular, and walked a little in summer, when they're jaw-dropping. In either season, they have the happy knack of having restaurants/bars in the most unlikely places - just when you need them...

Also: Venice. Florence. Etc etc. My main tip is to stay in the city, so that you can be there before and after the tourists arrive and leave and you can photograph things without throngs. And for Venice, get the water taxi from the airport to your hotel. One of the great boat trips!

 

[Photofarmer]

People tell me ya gotta have your wits about you in super touristy spots in Europe camera theft is common a target

 

[ACEkin]

Consider a trip to Turkey. Depending on your interests, you can see historic sites as well as nature. Istanbul (despite its unusual growth) has much to see. Then, the Aegean region offers ancient gems, Ephesus, Miletus, Troy, and small towns like Ayvalik to visit. A little further, in inner Anatolia, you will enjoy the wonderful Cappadocia and Fairy Chimneys, early period churches, and underground cities, I mean that. Derinkuyu is an underground city with 7 levels of living, and is connected to Kaymakli, another underground city, with about a 9 km underground connecting tunnel. I have not even mentioned the prehistoric Catalhoyuk and Gobekli Tepe yet! Wherever you visit, enjoy your new membership in ClubRET!

 

[Bryan Conner]

People tell me ya gotta have your wits about you in super touristy spots in Europe camera theft is common a target

I have lived here for 15 years and traveled somewhere to touristy spots each year and have never had a problem or even felt in danger theft wise. I also don't know of anyone who has been robbed while traveling around Europe.

 

[MikeZ]

I have lived here for 15 years and traveled somewhere to touristy spots each year and have never had a problem or even felt in danger theft wise. I also don't know of anyone who has been robbed while traveling around Europe.

I have also traveled extensively in Europe, from the '80s to the present, and have never had an issue. That said, I'm a big city kid and instinctively know and avoid trouble areas. Situational awareness is key.

 

[THXGEEK]

Situational awareness is key.

+1 for good OpSec.

 

[Photofarmer]

know two guys one the just snatched the camera and other was in I think Italy took all his camera gear from vehicle in a hotel drop off.