Marco Garcia for The New York TimesFor our birthdays, my very generous parents surprised my three sisters and me with a “bonding” vacation and carte blanche to travel anywhere to do so. We are living across the country from D.C. to San Francisco, range in age from 27 to 21 and with varied interests and athletic abilities. We’re looking for a place that will provide some quality down time, but also some activities to accommodate both a medical student and an adventurous trail runner. We’re hoping to travel during the Christmas holiday. Does such a place even exist?
Rachel Meyer, New York City
Indeed it does. The key is narrowing your options.
Given your desire for outdoor activities, winter weather will rule out Europe and most of North America. Instead, look eastward. Though it is Hawaii’s high (and sometimes rainy) season, Oahu could be an ideal destination for both relaxation and active fun. In her recent “36 Hours” column (July 7, 2011), Jocelyn Fujii said Honolulu, on Oahu’s south shore, “has never been hotter,” with plenty of music-filled oceanfront lounges and new restaurants, like Masaharu Morimoto’s Morimoto Waikiki ( morimotowaikiki.com). About 10 to 20 minutes south of the city, you can hike or jog in Kapiolani Park (honolulu.gov/parks), at the foot of Diamond Head, a volcanic tuff cone, or surf Waikiki Beach (waikikibeachservices.com).
On the island’s northern coast, Kailua is the place to kick back at a beachfront bungalow (patskailua.com; $100 to $600 a night) and spend some down time with your sisters. In his article “My Kailua” (Sept. 2, 2011), Lawrence Downes described it as “greener, quieter, lower and slower,” with plenty of art and antiques to be found in town, along with kayaking and kite surfing in Kailua Beach Park.
Another option is Argentine Patagonia, where you will find opportunities for skiing and road trips to view amazing feats of nature. In her recent article “In Argentina, Glaciers by Way of Patagonia” (Sept. 16, 2011), Brienne Walsh traveled more than 1,100 miles from Bariloche, in the north, to the Perito Moreno Glacier, near El Calafate, at Patagonia’s southern tip. She made stops in Esquel, where La Trochita steam rail chugs through the Andean foothills; at the Bosque Petrificado Sarmiento forest; and, finally, Parque Nacional Los Glaciares.
And in “Bahia Bustamante: Argentina’s Secret (and Private) Answer to the Galápagos” (March 4, 2011), Danielle Pergament visited the “edge of the world” for a few days at a private sheep farm (bahiabustamante.com; rates start at $215, including meals), where she was bombarded by wildlife.
If you have time for the long voyage, consider Sydney, Australia, which Celia McGee, in her “36 Hours” column (April 11, 2010), described as a haven for young people “in the midst of a historical revival,” with Victorian bazaars, plenty of pubs and a waterfront that has been “reborn as an arts and culinary neighborhood.” It’s also the official birthplace of Australian surfing.