I've talked before about the importance of going on a "road trip"
with someone you've met recently and think you might really like.
I'm on record as seeing this as a valid test of compatibility.
But lately, I've begun to think that perhaps a friggin' long flight
might be just as good an environment for seeing how well you two really
get along as a weekend's worth of "windshield time".
Maybe.
If you can combine the two, even better.
With that in mind, here's my top ten list of the most killer trips
on Earth to take with a woman. They're in no particular order because
it's too tough to decide which is the best. Besides, it depends on the
mood you're in and what time of year it is, right?
- Arizona
Catch
a plane to Phoenix, rent a car and drive up to Sedona and on to the
Grand Canyon. From there, hit Holbrook where you'll find old Route 66
stuff, the Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert. Then, roll the dice
and drive on out to Monument Valley (which actually extends into Utah)–it's worth it. Then, high-tail it
back through the forests of mid-Arizona and spend the last day or so
hanging out in Scottsdale before flying home.
- Italy
Fly
to Rome and take it all in. Get a railpass and take the three-hour
train to Florence. From there, take the half-hour ride over to Pisa and
walk the city. Then, go to Venice for a day or two. Drink the wine,
feel the passion, have dinner off the beaten track, take pictures with
the owner of the restaurant, and then go back and do the wild thing on
the roof of the hotel. Wake up the next day and do it all over again.
- California Wine Country
Fly
to LA. Have lunch on Venice Beach. Rent a car and drive up through San
Luis Obispo county hitting as many wineries' "tasting rooms" as you can
handle. Sober up. Hit the 101 and drive Big Sur until you get to San
Francisco. Enjoy. Reverse.
- Paris
You'll think I'm nuts, but go in the wintertime. Enjoy all the sights, go to the top of the Tour Eiffel, walk the Champs De Elysee
have a late lunch at a bistro and then do it all over again…at night.
Walk everywhere, like you also should have in Rome. Kiss constantly.
Then, eat dinner at midnight–after all, you're on vacation. Grab a
train (not literally) and go to Nice or Monaco for a day or two.
- Buenos Aires
The flight is long, the steaks are ridiculous, the tango makes you horny and everything is dirt cheap. Take the "Buquebus"
across the "river" to Uruguay (of all places) and disappear for the
afternoon…you'll thank me for it. Go in April or May when it's
beginning to be Autumn there. Drink the Malbec, eat some Locro and wash it all down with bottle of Quilmes. You will not want to leave.
- New York
The
Big Apple will make or break your relationship. Either you'll get
frustrated by everything and end up in a huge argument, or you'll never
stop laughing. It'll be one or the other. But if you're both laid back,
it'll be the latter. Just bring lots of cash. Go to the top of the
Empire State, each lunch at the Deli, and see a show or two. Whatever
you do, don't rent a car.
- Hawaii
Go
straight to Maui. Rent a used Suzuki with no roof, turn off your cell
phone, lose your watch and have someone wake you up from this dream a
few hours before your flight back to civilization. Buy a logo hat from the ABC store
and wear it around when you get home, just because it looks hilariously
generic and nobody knows what it is…unless they've been to Hawaii.
- Rio De Janeiro
OK,
granted…she'd better not be the "jealous" type since the women in
Brasil are amazing. Nonetheless, the vibe of this amazingly beautiful
place is so flat-out fun that anyone who can fog a mirror should have a
great time. Hang out in Copacabana and Ipanema, on the beach by day and
enjoying the amazingly social atmosphere all through the night. Take
the cable car up the Loaf and go make out in the rain forest when you
get there. Spend at least one evening drinking caiparinhas with the locals beachside.
- London
See
all the sites, have afternoon tea. Enjoy the simple fact that you flew
this far and are in a completely different country, yet everyone still
speaks the language–sort of. If you've never gone clubbing before, go
clubbing in London–even if it's just at the Empire or the Hippodrome.
Take the tube and ride the Millennium Wheel. Go to the Tower Of London
and thoroughly enjoy all the opportunities for completely politically
incorrect banter that exist there. When you're done with all of that,
take the train to Edinburgh, stay at a bed and breakfast and enjoy. Do
this in the summer so there will still be daylight at midnight. It's
cool.
- Seattle
Have a "Starbucks Date" at the original
Starbucks, take pictures and laugh about it. Go to the market. Take the
ferry, make out, and look forward to the return trip. Drink more coffee
by day and have a great beer or four by night. Rent a car and drive to
Mt. Rainier or Vancouver…or both. Take a jacket. Enjoy the scenery.
Remember, your mileage may vary…literally. Absent from my list,
notably, are Australia and the entire Pacific Rim. I just ran out of
room.
Remember, I've also left off "resort" areas where you fly in and
stay in one place for a while also (e.g Vegas, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta,
etc.) because that would obviate the point.
I've also spared you any place with potential political unrest or
any other ridiculous travel hassles. That doesn't make for a
particularly nice experience for her, right? |
