Many thousand miles of travel - IV

I just realized that I never posted a 2010 edition. 6 months late, but here we go! (See previous 2009, 2008 and 2007.)

Oregon/California Coast: I had done the Pacific coast highway going south from SF, this time, I did Seattle to SF. The coastal redwoods are like nothing else on the planet and I feel truly grateful to have had a chance to experience the majesty of these humble giants. Trying to capture the beauty in a photograph is nearly impossible, but here's a sample (click thru goes to flickr to view a bigger version)

Montreal and Thousand Islands: Fun roadtrip. Absolutely loved the Montreal bagels!! The Mont Royal park was lovely and Old Montreal has a certain charm to it. Thousand Islands is a touristy detour.

Switzerland: By far the highlight of the year. As I like to say, if Steve Jobs were to design a country, it'd be Switzerland. The country is engineered to perfection! We did - Zurich (during the Zurich Fest!), Lucern, Geneva, Jungfrau and a ton of other small towns. Great trip. Unforgettable on so many counts. Cannot imagine the astounding beauty everywhere in this country, be it the lakes or the mountains. I also did the Canyon Jump - definitely the most brave act of my life yet! ;) Here's a picture of the enchanting Swiss Alps


Cape Cod / Martha's Vineyard: Continuing our explorations of the New England. We had a great time on the island and the pretty beaches. Rented a moped for a day which was tremendous fun!

Boston: You get the idea .. New England! Boston is a lovely city. Lots of variety packed in a small city. Boston reminds me of San Francisco a lot. There's a lot of culture in this city, from history and food to just places to hang out and be with people. A lot of old-world charm.

Fall trip - Vermont and upstate New York (Thacher state park): Can't blame us this time! New England is best for fall colors. Vermont is pretty of course, but the highlight was the Thacher state park and the Indian ladder trail. Breathtaking fall colors and a delightful weather. Overall, I'd say Thacher is a hidden gem. If you're around, definitely worth going.

Atlanta and Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Seeing off Aniket and Moush. Tons of fun with the gang at the German themed village of Helen and around. Did a Halloween night super-scary maze. People dress up really scary and you're in a maze with no way to get out. Not for the faint of heart. Also did the magical underground Ruby Falls (pictured left)

Los Angeles: Thanksgiving. The highlight was the Getty. Great architecture! (Didn't bother much with the art though). Also hit the charming gardens at the Huntington Library and the ever so pretty Malibu and Santa Monica beach.