I haven't taken any kind of real vacation in a nigh over two years now, and I am planning to take some sort of excursion to parts-unknown this summer. As most of you know, I normally just load up Amos in the CRX and hit the open road, but I am open to other suggestions.

I think it is vitally important that I get the ball rolling now. "Failing to plan is planning to fail" and all that.

Pictures from previous trips:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/willie4741/sets/72157619882717267/

My initial thinking on the topic, assuming I end up just doing another roadtrip, is one of these trips (in no ranked order) :

- a southward trip down through Nevada, to southern California (the eastern nature-y part, near Death Valley, not the cities on the coast), then across Arizona and New Mexico, through Texas to Austin and spend a long weekend there before heading towards the east coast (Maybe Florida), then returning back across the mid-north west camping my way back through Colorado and Wyoming. Lots of miles on the blue highways, avoiding the interstate whenever possible. Seeing lots of roadside attractions.

- a quick drive to Minnesota, then a week or so camping/canoeing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. http://www.bwca.com

- a northward trip, going through Northern Idaho (which I have not seen yet) straight into British Columbia, just wandering around camping in the Canadian national parks up there, then over to Alaska and take the Alaska ferry service http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/index.shtml from Anchorage to Seattle and camp back across the Cascades and maybe Hell's Canyon.

- a nor'easter trip across the top states, all the way to Maine, maybe back across Canada.

- a mountain rental over in Oregon for more gentrified relaxation. http://www.vrbo.com/142607

- a really a fast southward jam across the flatlands of middle America, towards the East coast, see folks in North Carolina, then jam to Georgia and spend required family time (a day or two, MAX) then spend a few days on quiet beach in Florida or one of Georgia's coastal islands before another cross-continent jam home.

- a really a fast southward jam across the flatlands of middle America, towards the East coast, see folks in North Carolina, then jam to Georgia and spend required family time (a day or two) then spend a fortnight backpacking the Appalachians....

-N16 http://crxcommunity.com/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=33095&start=0

- Screw all that driving, I should spend my time just toting a pack over the mountains here in Idaho. Get healthy and see some wilderness before it's all gone.

Other random thoughts:

-a week or so island-hopping in the Caribbean on a bare-boat charter. I know a couple of of sailors, but so far I haven't been able to get any of them interested, and I don't know how to sail a boat. I was thinking this would be a good way to learn.

-I have heard good things about Belize; affordable and good salt water fishing and not anti-American.

-a beach rental in Oregon and charter a boat to do some deep-sea marlin and/or shark fishing.

Then, of course, there's always Vegas.....

I'm definitely going to do something this summer, and I'd like some input before I simply strike out on my own.
I am optimistic and open for any suggestions. Give it some thought and get back to me.

What would you and your dog do if you had a month of free time?