OT: Dream Vacations in Military History

[GaryChildress]

Saw a topic titled "My Dream Vacation" and it made me think of this cruise I saw advertised where you spend a whole month (or maybe it was 3 weeks) sailing the South and Central Pacific, stopping off at some of the locations of fighting during WW2. I think it included Guadalcanal, Truk, and a number of other Islands. The whole cruise was apparently geared around the WW2 in the Pacific theme.

Other than spending a week at Bora Bora, I think such a trip would constitute my ultimate dream vacation. My second runner up for a dream vacation is actually a trip I took a few years back through the Florida pan handle. I visited the naval air museum at Pensacola and the Battleship Alabama in Mobile and a small air force museum (I forget where). Saw a LOT Of old planes during that vacation. I highly recommend the naval air museum at Pensacola. Awesome place!

If you had your pick of vacations, what would be your dream trip?

[GaryChildress]

For anyone interested, here is the old thread I created with pics from my Pensacola, Mobile trip. Ahhh, memories... [8D]

tm.asp?m=1157068&mpage=1&key=

[JeffroK]

We have a growing industry in Battlefield tours.

Number 1 is Gallipoli, followed by the Western Front of WW1.

I'd like to see a Tobruk/Alamein tour joined to a Sinai/Beersheba/Palestine tour.

[geofflambert]

I'd like a battlefield tour of Armaggedon, I mean, how many battle sites can you visit before they happen?

[bigred]

ORIGINAL: JeffK



I'd like to see a Tobruk/Alamein tour joined to a Sinai/Beersheba/Palestine tour.

yep..casablanca, kasserine, tobruk, el Alamen and the adjacent depression(i would like to see why it is restrictive to movement), sicily, salerno, monte cassino***.

[geofflambert]

ORIGINAL: bigred

ORIGINAL: JeffK



I'd like to see a Tobruk/Alamein tour joined to a Sinai/Beersheba/Palestine tour.

yep..casablanca, kasserine, tobruk, el Alamen and the adjacent depression(i would like to see why it is restrictive to movement), sicily, salerno, monte cassino***.

I think in the Qattara Depression, a tanker truck cannot carry enough water to even keep its own radiator functioning. You might as well march your army into the Mediterranean.

[JeffroK]

Qattara Depression is traversable, it would have been possible to move a light infantry force through but would rely on Jeeps or similar sized trucks.

Bagnold of Long Range Desert Group fame was one of the first to drive across.

There are a few East-West tracks plus some "passes" coming down from the main desert.

A bigger problem is that it couldnt be done very quickly, could be easily blocked and would be totally open to aerial interdiction.

[denisonh]

I want to hike from Port Moresby to Buna along the Kokoda Trail. My vacations have to involve walking as I am an old grunt...

[bigred]

ORIGINAL: denisonh

I want to hike from Port Moresby to Buna along the Kokoda Trail. My vacations have to involve walking as I am an old grunt...

ElCid did that.

[catwhoorg]

The top one for me would be a trip to Pearl Harbour.
For family reasons I'd like to see the old RAF Ranchi as well.

Been to Normandy, various WW1 and WW2 battlefields in Europe.

[tigercub]

don't try you will need a chopper to fly you out.

Tigercub

[geofflambert]

I'd love to get on the Missouri but that long plane ride bums me out. Someday maybe. I wish you could catch a tramp steamer like in the old days.

[MateDow]

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress

Other than spending a week at Bora Bora, I think such a trip would constitute my ultimate dream vacation. My second runner up for a dream vacation is actually a trip I took a few years back through the Florida pan handle. I visited the naval air museum at Pensacola and the Battleship Alabama in Mobile and a small air force museum (I forget where). Saw a LOT Of old planes during that vacation. I highly recommend the naval air museum at Pensacola. Awesome place!

If you had your pick of vacations, what would be your dream trip?

I've always wanted to go the Museum of the Air Force in Dayton OH.

I got to go out to the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson AZ and really enjoyed that. I'll have to make time to go back there again some day.

Pearl Harbor with the Missouri, or pretty much any other place that has a battleship to tour.

I enjoyed the Texas in Houston, which is nice because they let you into the engine rooms. They even periodically offer a tour where you go into the bowels with flashlights. I haven't managed to be in town when that one was offered yet.

[MineSweeper]

I am going to visit the USS Wisconsin next week.....90 minute drive to Norfolk Va. I will take some pictures and share them to all, weather permittting....Had to go to Williamsburg Va for business today and saw the CVN Enterprise being ripped apart while driving over HRBT (Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel)....[:(]

[Mundy]

ORIGINAL: MateDow
I've always wanted to go the Museum of the Air Force in Dayton OH.

A most excellent place. I try to get there every other year. However the restaurant at the Naval Air Museum in Pensecola has the USAF one beat easily.

Ed-

[Mundy]

Next week, we're staying for a week at Hershey, PA.  The wife wants to see all things chocolate.  I get to hang out at Gettysburg. 
 
One day wasn't enough last time.
 
Ed-

[Jim Stevens]

ORIGINAL: bigred

ORIGINAL: JeffK



I'd like to see a Tobruk/Alamein tour joined to a Sinai/Beersheba/Palestine tour.

yep..casablanca, kasserine, tobruk, el Alamen and the adjacent depression(i would like to see why it is restrictive to movement), sicily, salerno, monte cassino***.

You know seeing and experiencing the local terrain really gives you a better feel for what armies were up against. When reenacting the American Civil War battle at Murfreesboro, Tennessee we had several days rain before the event. It was there while trying to march in an orderly column of four that I learned first hand why mud played such a factor in movement of units in my wargames. It took us forever to get down that road reducing the march to a single file at times. We were nearly late for the war!!!

[Jim Stevens]

ORIGINAL: Mundy

Next week, we're staying for a week at Hershey, PA.  The wife wants to see all things chocolate.  I get to hang out at Gettysburg. 

One day wasn't enough last time.

Ed-

Take the helicopter tour of the battlefield if you can. Well worth it...

[Jim Stevens]

Does anybody know if the Russians still offer a tour of WWII sites in their homeland?

[TOMLABEL]

MineSweeper,

How far are you from Ahoskie? That's where my SO is from. That's about how far we had to drive to Norfolk when we went to go see BB64 and the base. Just curious....