While I’ve discussed considerations regarding travel, I have not talked about actual travel destinations. I’m going to mention a few in this post.
First on the list is Tybee Island, Georgia. Tybee Island is a barrier island on Georgia’s coast which used to be a 5ish hour drive from where I used to live. The last time I visited Tybee was on a business trip in September 2022, and I am very much overdue to visit it.
Sadly, there are no direct flights to the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport from SeaTac, but at least there’re some decent non-Atlanta connection options on various carriers.
I’ve been wanting to visit Tybee for two main reasons: the first, and one I discovered earlier today in fact, is the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force is on the way from SAV to Tybee or the reverse. I last visited this museum in 2012, and I would like to see the restored B-17 “City of Savannah” they have there as well as visit the gift shop again. The second reason is to get souvenirs from Tybee Island. I brought two mugs home to my parents from there purchased from T.S. Chu and Co. on that trip in 2022, and those were disposed of during my move. I would like to replace these with similar from Chu’s. I’d likely go off season and try to get a beach-facing room at the DeSoto Beach Hotel, which despite being further up the beach than some other hotels, was a favorite of my parents, and I have a precious memory of staying there in early 2001 with them.
Proper beach trip out of the way, let’s talk more business-related. The next on the list is Orlando, Florida, for the Orlando Hamcation. I know Florida isn’t exactly safe for trans people like me right now, but maybe one day sometime in the future it will be. I always enjoyed working this hamfest, and going to Florida in February was always fun. While I won’t be working the show, it will be nice to touch base with old business contacts, and who knows, I might get invited to dinner by them for old time’s sake. Not likely, though it would be fun.
I’d probably end up staying at one of the hotels I’ve stayed in for work in the past on Orlando trips.
Next up is Dayton, Ohio. I have two reasons for this one too: the first is the Dayton Hamvention, and the second is the National Museum of the US Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. I’ve been meaning to visit this one for quite some time, simply because there’s a B-36 there, among other things. I could make a combo trip of these. I’d likely fly into Cincinnati and drive up to the Dayton area for simplicity’s sake. Also to avoid the slow service at DAY’s restaurants on the Sunday of Hamvention. I’d probably leave a day or two later anyway.
Back to Atlanta for goings-on there is, of course, on the table, but I’d rather not talk about that right now.
Until next time!