8 destinations for milestone anniversary trips 

8 destinations for milestone anniversary trips 


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40TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TRIP IDEAS ANNIVERSARY GIFT: RUBY The red rock formations in Sedona, Arizona, are known to attract travelers looking for spiritual energy. Getty Images U.S.


DESTINATION: SEDONA, ARIZONA The resplendent red rock formations are said to promote rejuvenation and healing via invisible vortexes that emanate healthy energy. Sedona also appeals to


hikers and ATV aficionados as well as people who love scenic drives. Visit Red Rock State Park for easy hiking trails and book a couples massage at one of the spas around town. Fall asleep


in a luxe room, suite or cottage/villa at L’Auberge de Sedona (rates start at $500) or Enchantment Resort (rates start at $450). RV parks and bed-and-breakfast accommodations abound. Alma de


Sedona Inn offers rooms with private balconies and views of the ruby-red landscape (rates start at $250.) The menu varies, but breakfast lovers may enjoy homemade muffins and lemon ricotta


pancakes during a stay here. It’s easy to get lost in the moment staring at the 151-foot-long reclining Buddha statue in Bangkok, Thailand. Getty Images ABROAD: BANGKOK, THAILAND People who


are passionate about fine gems can bond over beautiful jewels in Bangkok. Thailand was once known for mining rubies, but ruby cutting by skilled artisans is the draw here today. Order custom


pieces from reputable outlets including the many shops in the Jewelry Trade Center and S.J. International. Craving Thai cuisine? Try a food tour or night market tasting outing in a


_tuk-tuk_ motorized rickshaw. Around every corner in markets and alleyways, you’ll find fiery curries, tangy pad thai, sticky mango rice and scrumptious chicken satays. Dine on contemporary


Thai cuisine at Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin. Away from the bustle, see the 151-foot-long reclining Buddha statue at Wat Pho, where you can book a traditional Thai couples massage. Find romantic


five-star lodging under $250 at the Shangri-La and Banyan Tree Bangkok. 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TRIP IDEAS ANNIVERSARY GIFT: GOLD Couples can sit side-by-side and enjoy the view in luxury


cars aboard the Rocky Mountaineer train. Al Seib/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images U.S. DESTINATION: THE ROCKY MOUNTAINEER TRAIN Celebrate a half century of togetherness lounging side-by-side


in cushy seats on the luxury Rocky Mountaineer train (rates start at $1,699 a person for two days, including lodging for one night), called the gold standard for train travel. Riding the


rails from Moab, Utah, to Denver, you’ll go where cars can’t travel, streaming past canyons, whimsical rock formations called hoodoos and whitewater rafters on the Colorado River. Onboard


hosts offer entertaining commentary about Western history (you’ll pass one of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’s hideouts) and serve chef-prepared breakfast and lunch accompanied by wine,


beer or cocktails. Upgrade to SilverLeaf Plus service for access to a glass-roofed viewing car. The trip includes an overnight stop in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, where you can soak in


soothing hot springs and have the option to stay in the historic Hotel Colorado, where Theodore Roosevelt once laid his head. Another option: Uncommon Tours’ Great Western Holiday is an


eight-day outing from Denver to Santa Fe featuring vintage Pullman sleeping cars, some overnights at hotels and a stay in Santa Fe (rates start at $3,995 per person for seven nights). The


Queen Mary 2 can be a love boat for people who want to travel across the Atlantic Ocean and celebrate their anniversary at sea. James D. Morgan/Getty Images ABROAD: TRANSATLANTIC CROSSING ON


THE _QUEEN MARY 2_ You deserve pampering on your 50th, so a cruise vacation that involves unpacking once and never having to arrange meals or activities is a well-deserved reward. Expand


your horizons with the gold-standard transatlantic crossing from New York to Southampton, England, aboard the Cunard line’s storied _Queen Mary 2_. That means afternoon tea, white-glove


service, formal evenings and dancing cheek to cheek (rates start at $639 per person for eight nights). Music lovers can opt for an Oct. 4 cruise to England, with stops in Boston and


Newport, that includes onboard performances by the National Symphony Orchestra, starting at $1,639 a person. The ship offers accessible staterooms and restaurants. For the ultimate


experience, select Princess Grill or Queens Grill Suites (rates start around $3,809 per person for the Princess Grill), with private balconies and special dining rooms. Take a windblown


selfie near the bow, and you’ll feel like king and queen of the world. Also consider an Atlantic passage or other itineraries on the all-inclusive Seabourn and Silversea cruise lines.