This Saturday, I’m finally going to get around to going to the Global Wildlife Center. I’ve been wanting to go there for years. It’s only about half an hour from where I live. Why is it that locals are the last people to visit the nearby attractions? Anyway, I’m jazzed about it. Giraffes are my favorite animals and I’ll get to see them up close and personal. I love zoos, but this should be even more fun.

So that’s the day trip that I’m about to take, but I’m also planning this year’s real vacation. Last year, we went to Gatlinburg, and that was loads of fun. This year, I’m leaning towards either San Antonio or Santa Fe. I’ve never been to either, and they both sound great, but I’m torn between the two. I want to be able to shop in some great little shops. I want to be able to see some fantastic scenery. I want to visit some cool historical places and art venues. Finally, I want to be able to take some kick-ass photos.

I plan to go during a warm month, because winter and cold just don’t spell F-U-N to me. So, if either of those places are renown for their winter activities, that means nothing to me.

I’d love anyone’s opinions on which of those two places I should choose for this year’s vacation. And if you know of any fabulous websites that really give me a better feel for their ambiance, I’d appreciate that as well. Most of the well-known sites that are listed in the top 10 of any of the search engines just don’t show enough to tell me what the place is really like.

Finally, if any of you actually live in one of those cities, it would be fun to meet up with you for lunch one day. I don’t have either the city or a date set, but when I do, I’ll get in touch.