someone <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />
mentioned

TEXAS is a nice place... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />

ARK

For a cold spot, try Utah. Great skiing, great seclusion and romantic settings.

http://www.homesteadresort.com/

http://www.sherwoodhills.com/

http://www.grandamerica.com/

http://www.bearriverlodge.com/reservations/index.htm

Of all the four, I think my stay at Grand America was most memorable at Christmas time. They have a little garden cafe that feels like a slice of the most heavenly home breakfast room you could ever imagine - instead of your normal restaurant tables and chairs, they have these plush almost sofa feeling chairs. The brunch menu on a Saturday morning includes fresh fruit, smoked salmon, omelets, crepes, breads of all kinds, etc. While we were eating, we watched Santa come in in his shirt sleeves, sit down by the tree, inspect some of the presents, and then leisurely walk around to just a few of the tables. There wasn't the clatter of dishes in the background, just sweet romantic feelings and warm family feelings too. The rooms and the views are spectacular on all sides. And you are within 30 minutes of every major ski resort (and some less well known, but oh - so fun if you like to ski) in Park City or Salt Lake City.

Sherwood Hills and The Homestead are both more accessible to cross country skiing. They are both more rustic in their settings; Sherwood Hills has changed ownership lately so I can't give a personal recommendation on the current situation, but I really enjoyed my stay over a Thanksgiving weekend there.

The Homestead has naturally flowing hot springs; the rooms are almost individual cabins with old fashioned furnishings. If your wife is an antique nut you definitely will want to spend at least one or two nights there. Restaurant was fabulous the last time I was there.

The last one I have never stayed at personally - and their web site is a bit confusing - comes across like a real estate ad instead of describing their resort. But if you want to try something new and get completely away from the city environment, you will want to give this a try. If you have never been on a snowmobile, you will want to give it a try too.

With Grand America and Homestead, you are less than 6 hours by car from several major world wonders, such as the Grand Canyon, Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon, Snow Canyon, Zion's Canyon, etc. And again, playing on the romantic get aways, if you decide to warm up a bit and head south, St George is about 30 degrees warmer than Salt Lake, so you can go from winter sports to sweater hiking through red rock country (which is then only two hours from Vegas... - which I understand is a lot of fun New Years Eve).

http://www.zioncanyon.com/places/stgeorge.html

Couple of favorites for me with family is Steamboat Springs Colorado for skiing. When the skiing is over, you can go into town where it still has the old west clapboard sidewalks. For additional fun there is a Hot Spring water slide in town. I went about 10 years ago.

Another fun place is Lake Tahoe. It's a really great place. Romantic and scenic.

Bob, I recommend Western Australia. It's a little bit closer than the rest of Oz. You can stop off in Singapore either on the way there or back and enjoy a night in fab Raffles Hotel (do it on the way back and make it a surprise). Then I would start down at Albany (you can whale watch here) and just work your way back up to Perth via Denmark, Walpole, Bunbury (dolphins), Fremantle (kind of like Covent Garden by the sea) and then onto Perth. You really would have a super time. There are the most amazing wildlife parks - kangaroos, koalas galore enroute. If you are waiting for a 3 week break, it would have to be a UK summer which equates to Oz winter when the weather would not be so great. You couldn't fail to love it. TT

Yo Bob - how much can you spend and how big a "production" to you want? i.e., are you a "cruise ship", "all inclusive resort" tourist or a "get away from it all" type?

I know my way around most of the Caribbean islands, but I do not have first hand experience with the "all inclusive" type resorts. I've seen 'em, just never stayed at one.

Are you a boater? A sailing charter (bareboat or crewed) is a terrific way to spend family time, see the islands like no cruise ship can, go where you want, get away from the crowds, and have no one deciding when you get to eat.

Another idea is to locate a rental villa on one of the islands and "camp out". You can do your own food shopping and cooking to avoid eating out every meal - saving money - and still find plenty to do for adventure, i.e., not relying on an "all inclusive" to hold your hand, and your wallet! I can recommend some specific islands if you're interested.

Keep in mind that the Christmas season in the Caribbean in the most expensive time to go.

WAT

WAT, I don;t really like or need opulence. Just comfort. I don;t pay more than $6k to spend 2 weeks in the Keys plus catering & stuff, and it chokes me to spend ten grand plus elsewhere.

I've looked at the carribean last night and accommodation really is expensive at Xmas. I dunno. You'd think it would be easy !

I'm getting some flight prices right now. What you reckon to Grenada?

** BTW I don;t do 'all inclusive' either ! We love to sample local life, food, entertainment etc. if I tell you that our favourite summer holiday is island hopping in Greece, you'll see I mean it ! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> DOn;t sail though. Wouldn;t know what to do.

<small>[ March 14, 2005, 09:56 AM: Message edited by: b0b pure* ]</small>

I haven't been to Grenada since the mid '80s, so my knowledge of options there isn't current. It likely is less expensive than some of the other Caribbean islands since it has had a tumultuous history the last 15 years or so, but still has all the Caribbean-type attractions.

If you think a sailing charter may be interesting, you can get a crewed charter in which you don't need to know what to do - and you can learn. These are not cheap, however.

Consider a villa rental ashore. See what you can find on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. I've never done this and don't have an estimate on the costs, but I know there's plenty to pick from and likely cheaper than all inclusive, if you do some of your own cooking. Again, Christmas season is the most expensive and likely hardest to arrange due to the demand that time of year - that's why it's the most expensive!

WAT

Bob,
Here's an idea I've wanted to use for myself the last few years. How about a cruise? Great deals and they go where the sun is hot and warm! And these ships are great for kids! I mean they are like floating amusement parks.

Cruising is the best! You pay one time and unless you let yourself get dragged into all kinds of side ventures and trips all you end up doing is leaving the tip.

Of course my wife can figure out ways to spend money anywhere! LOL We always end up getting shipments from the various ports of call we visit. I mean Bob, you haven't lived until your wife come to you and lets you know that she just saw the wonderful diningroom table and it's an amazing bargain at $5000 dollars! LMAO! At least I did, (LMAO that is)until I came home from work one day and found a new table in my diningroom!

I must say, that I went a bit "balistic" over that one! Told her that it wasn't bad enough that she cheated on me with my best friend; now she was having a secret affair with my bank account!

Ho Humm and so the world turns...every day another little adventure with my wonderful little EXXXXXXXXXX-WW.

Coach

Hi Bob,

This place Is north of Banff, and IMHO a nicer place to be. Fewer people and designer shops. (A mall in a National Park is a travesty)

You can ski, skate or just hang out around the fireplace. Food is second to none. If you go and like it, don't tell too many people....trying to keep it quaint.