December is a fun, festive time in the Mid-Atlantic, and we’re avoiding travel as the holidays approach. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t already dreaming up our next adventures! 2024 is a couple of weeks away, and we have a few things planned for the coming year. Let’s start with the more obvious one.
#1: Staying Local
Primarily we’re going to continue to explore the Mid-Atlantic USA, from New York down to Virginia. It’s not quite the South, it’s not quite New England, and the region has a blend of colonial past and cosmopolitan present. After all, the country’s largest and oldest cities are here (not to mention its capital)!
There’s a lot of outdoor fun to be had, too. The Appalachian mountains, Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay provide popular hiking, biking, and watersport options. We’ll post our recommendations as we try new activities and visit new places.
Of course, we’ll probably visit other regions of the USA too. But those adventures haven’t been brainstormed yet :)
#2: Europe Family Trip?
This is a big trip that’s still in the idea phase. But we’d like to make our first international trip as a family (toddler included) to the Tirol region in Austria. Why Tirol? Well, after months of impressive research, Janina discovered her ancestors moved from Tirol to Peru in the 1800s!
Tirol has fantastic attractions besides familial history. Depending on the season, I want to go skiing or riding mountain coasters. And I plan to break up my days at the beer gardens. You know, live like a local. And obviously we are going to visit a castle or five. Austria is full of beautiful looking day hikes as well, and it’s only a short drive to Italy if we decide to extend the trip.
#3: The Big One: CHOQUEQUIRAO
It’s called “The Other Machu Picchu”, and its name means “Cradle of Gold”. But Choquequirao receives barely a fraction of the number of visitors as Machu Picchu! This might change, as there are plans to install a cable car to the site. We want to witness the Cradle of Gold before it’s as packed with people as the DC Metro’s Red Line at rush hour.
Currently the only way to Choquequirao is by foot, and it’s a strenuous 4-5 day hike. Although the lower altitude is easier on us folk coming from zero feet above sea level, the trek is more technically challenging than the Inca Trail.
Let’s just say we’re going to be getting the most out of our new gym membership as we prepare for this hike!
Choquequirao: Cost Breakdown
We’re a few steps ahead on planning for this trip and almost have the funds in our Travel Savings. First, I’ll show you the cost breakdown for our trip. And then I’ll explain where you can save money or where you may decide to spend more.
| Item | Cost | Number of Days |
| Plane Tickets (2) | $900-2,000 | 2 |
| Stay in Cusco | $280 ($70/night) | 4 |
| Hike to Choquequirao with Peru Summit | $1,600 ($800/person) | 5 |
| Incidentals (Food, Taxi, Souvenirs) | $280 ($70/day) | 4 |
| Total | $3,060-4,160 | 15 |
For Cusco, we’d like to spend two days to acclimate before a hike, and two days afterwards to recharge and explore the city. We love Ninos Hotel, but a hostel works if you’re looking for something more budget-friendly.
You don’t need a guide to visit Choquequirao (another way the site differs from Machu Picchu). But this is unfamiliar terrain, and we’ll get more out of the experience going with someone who knows the trail and the region’s culture and history. Peru Summit is our go-to for tours in the Cusco region because of their experience and use of only local guides.
You may want to add more to incidentals if you are going to splurge on nice meals and souvenir shopping. Baby alpaca wool is splendidly soft, but it’s not cheap!
Finally, we didn’t include insurance in our budget, because our health insurance company covers international travel.
Conclusion
Although we’re inside a lot more this time of year, we’re not necessarily at home all day. This region comes alive after Thanksgiving with old-world style Christmas markets and festivals. We may post a few articles on our favorite markets or places to visit during Christmastime. But in reality this is a slow time for our travels and the blog.
We wish you all a wonderful holiday season, wherever you may be or however you celebrate. And when it’s over, on to another epically fun year!!!
