I have a serious problem and I'd like your help. I like natural things like trees, rocks, water, mountains and combinations of them. My wife likes man-made things (she thinks Las Vegas is wonderful). I think southwest Ireland is beautiful and really interesting. I'd like to go back. My wife wants to go to Sicily because it has old ruined temples and such. Is there a compromise? Money isn't a problem - at least not a major one. Help!!!

I don't believe I've actually been to a country where there isn't both manmade stuff and natural beauty. Actually, I'm pretty much thinking all you've managed to rule out is Antarctica, and possibly more remote parts of the arctic. Pretty much everywhere else you should be able to split your holiday.

Of the places I've been, I would particularly recommend:
- Turkey - there's never a situation I don't recommend Turkey...in this case it's full of natural vistas where you'll be tripping over some ruined civilisation of other.
- Greece - Full of manmade buildings (bother modern and ruined), but take a walk out from town and it's phenomenally beautiful. Delphi is a great example of this.
- Britain - Can't go wrong here...they've got everything and it's conveniently jammed together into a small island.
- Romania - Every possible type of natural beauty packed into a small package, plus it's full of small towns, castles and other man-made stuff that's well worth seeing
- Quebec - The cities are great, but, well, they don't call it "la belle province" for nothing. I lived on the south shore of the St. Lawrence for a few months, and could never quite get over the beauty of the setting.

Indeed I don't think I understand why going back to Ireland is an issue. Just sell her on the castles and cities and towns, and then drag her out to enjoy the view, too. And though I've never been to Sicily, have they somehow managed to eradicate nature there? I have been to nearby Malta, one of the densest countries in Europe, and there was still natural beauty to be seen.

Sicily:

Ireland:


Stop fighting.

You could try what my husband and I do: taking turns. He gets to plan a big trip, then it's my turn.

He likes history and urban places, but also enjoys nature. My first priority is nature, then I go for the other stuff. So we just keep alternating. I chose Africa, then he chose Easter Island. I chose Australia (Kangaroo Island, Red Centre, and Kakadu), then he chose Italy. I chose the Amazon, then he chose a road trip across the US south.

Plus we also travel to wherever the world science fiction convention goes, because we both love SF. That's managed to take us to Japan, Britain, Melbourne Australia, Montreal, and lots of US cities. Maybe you can let a joint interest drive you places too.

My son keeps asking when he gets a turn, but I just tell him it's when he's ready to pay.

Thanks for the response. I'll take her to Hawaii in November and maybe she'll go to Ireland with me in May. If not, I may try a solo trip.

I just got back from the Outrigger Waipouli Beach Resort in the town of Kapaa on Kauai. I think I've earned Ireland!