Periodically, I am asked by some of you for my “best” trip, meal, experience, drive, train ride, or hotel. So, without making the list too big, here is a snapshot of the best. And best probably means favorite!
Best Hotel
Rasa Sayang in Penang, Malaysia
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Casa Palmero at Pebble Beach, CA
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Old Course Hotel, St. Andrews, Scotland
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The Peninsula Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
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The Datai, Langkawi, Malaysia
Best Train Ride
The Trans Siberian Railway, Russia
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Anywhere on the Shinkansen in Japan
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The California Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco
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The Sunset Limited from LA to Nawlins for the Super Bowl
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The Coast Starlight from Seattle to San Francisco
Best Drive
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Chile, from top to bottom, with a side trip to Argentina
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Costa del Sol, Spain through Seville to the Algarve, Portugal
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Scotland, to play golf at St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Troon, and Turnberry
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Round Trip to Portland to pick up our little Lexi.
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Southern Utah to visit Moab, Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce, and Zion National Parks.
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The Serengeti, Tanzania, Africa
Best Meal or Dining Experience
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Prosser Farms farm to table dinner by Tom Douglas
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Kaiseki dinner at n/naka in Los Angeles
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Black hoof pork Shabu Shabu dinner in Kyoto
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Tomato soup and grilled ham and cheese sandwich at Lima, Peru airport cafeteria
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Hamburger at El Tovar Restaurant at the Grand Canyon, AZ
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Dinner at the Normandy, Oriental Hotel, Bangkok
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Food stalls in Batu Ferringhi, Penang, Malaysia
Best National Park
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Bryce Canyon
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Arches
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Grand Canyon
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Grand Teton
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Glacier
Best Experience
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Amazon Rainforest
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Angkor complex in Siem Reap, Cambodia
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Champagne tasting in Champagne, France
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Jet boating in Queenstown, New Zealand
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Zip lining in Monteverde, Costa Rica
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Driving Chile, from top to bottom
Best American city
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Seattle
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San Diego
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Chicago
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Memphis
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Boston
Best Golf Course
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Pebble Beach
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St. Andrews
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Carnoustie
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Bandon Dunes
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Pinehurst
Best Museum
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van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
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Musée d’Orsay, Paris
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Smithsonians, Washington, DC
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Chicago Art Institute
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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, OH
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Musical Instrument Museum, Scottsdale, AZ
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Experience Music Project, Seattle, WA
Best Foreign City
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Tokyo
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Bangkok
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Cape Town
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Rio
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Queenstown, NZ
Friendliest Countries
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New Zealand
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Spain
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Australia
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Japan
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Argentina
Best Flea Markets
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Chatuchak Market, Bangkok
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Aloha Stadium Flea Market, Honolulu
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Camden Market, London
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Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
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Inle Lake Rotating Market, Burma
Best Ice Cream
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Sheboygan, WI
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Port Douglas, Australia
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Lake Okanagan, British Columbia
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Superior Dairy, Hanford, CA
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Lappert’s, Kapaa, HI
I am sure you either do not agree with my rankings, or find some egregious omissions. Maybe tomorrow, I will do a list of the worsts!!!
