Explore eight bucket-list destinations

SAN JOSE, Calif. — It’s been a year of adventures and plenty of globetrotting for Bay Area residents, who have celebrated major anniversaries and fulfilled dreams from California to Paris — hey, Mickey! — Norway and Fiji.

Here are eight “bucket list” trips they’ve taken — and now have tips to share about — from exploring the fjords of Flam to diving with whale sharks to channeling a little royalty, too.

Fiji celebrations

Campbell, Calif., residents Paulette and Brent Wilkinson celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in September with a 12-day trip to Fiji. “We visited the Coral Coast of the main island of Viti Levu and then stayed at the Likuliku resort on Malolo island,” Paulette said. “While on Viti Levu, we visited Natadola Beach, considered the most beautiful beach in Fiji. We also learned about and helped support the endangered Fijian Crested Iguana at the Kula Wild Adventure Park.

“Because it was our first trip, we participated in a traditional kava ceremony. There are a few etiquette rules to follow: You must sit cross-legged while on the mat — called the apei. Men are served first, unless a woman has special status. Ideally, you should drink the kava in one gulp without making any negative facial expressions. Fortunately, we were able to do so! The Fijian people are warm and welcoming. We were greeted with a hearty ‘Bula!’ everywhere we went. Fijians consider visitors family, and we were told ‘welcome home’ many times.”

Travel tips: “Fijians dress conservatively. We’d read before traveling that we should cover our shoulders and knees when in villages, but after arriving, we learned that it’s best if you dress conservatively anytime you aren’t swimming. Be sure to avoid packing short skirts, shorts, dresses or tank tops. We noticed numerous signs at our hotel on the main island of Viti Levu requesting that guests respect Fijian culture by dressing conservatively.”

Diving in the Philippines

Concord resident Sylvia Rodriguez’s trip to the island of Cebu offered plenty of adventures underwater and on land. “Aside from the amazing people, scuba diving and canyoneering, I most appreciated the warm and welcoming nature of the Filipino people,” she said. “Oslob is a municipality on the southern tip of the island of Cebu. It’s known for being one of the top destinations in the Philippines for whale shark watching. The town’s popularity is due to the daily appearances of whale sharks at the beach of Tan-awan, where tourists can swim, dive and watch them.”

Travel tips: “You do not have to be a scuba diver,” she said. “There are plenty of snorkeling opportunities, and you can still meet these magical creatures on the surface. They may even skim your feet. In addition, I would recommend SB Canyoneering, if you want the adventure of a lifetime. You can jump off cliffs and into ‘Gatorade Blue’ waterfalls. It’s a magical place, must-see bucket list.”

Riding the Inca rails

The Peruvian trip taken by San Jose residents Emma and Mario Ramirez in August was pure “bucket list.” “What a beautiful place to visit!” Emma said. “We traveled by Peru’s Inca Rail, a panoramic train, to the country’s most famous site, the ancient sanctuary of Machu Picchu. The UNESCO World heritage site is the ultimate example of Inca architecture.”

Travel tips: “Check with your doctor before going, because the altitude is quite high. Remember to dress in layers, because it allows you to stay comfortable. Don’t forget good walking shoes, because you walk and walk! There’s lots of steps and uneven terrain.”

Riding the Rockies rails

If ever there was a case to be made for the famous “it’s the journey, not the destination” quote, it’s the epic train ride taken by Bill and Sharon Gegg of Pleasant Hill, Calif. “Sharon has always wanted to take the train — The Canadian — through the Canadian Rockies from Vancouver to Toronto,” Bill said. “The train takes four days, so if you want to get (there) faster and cheaper, take a plane. But if you are interested in the journey, take the train. The pace is slow, and you will sit for hours in the Dome car, watching the world go by. The scenery is spectacular, and it will be a memory forever.”

Travel tips: “There is no Wi-Fi or even regular cell service, so bring cards and books and load up your tablet with novels. If you really like good coffee, don’t drink the train stuff. Bring your own ground coffee and a hot water kettle — brew in your cabin. The food and service in the dining room are very good.”

In the land of fjords

In May, longtime Concord residents Kanda and Kamala Alahan celebrated their 50th anniversary in Norway, Kanda’s mother’s homeland. “A highlight of the trip was the Bergen-bound train ride from Oslo across the central plateau, stopping at the Myrdal station and taking the famous Flåm Railway down the steep mountainside to the heart of Norway’s stunningly beautiful fjord country, a world heritage site,” Kanda said. “To take the daily ferry from there to Bergen, the city at the head of fjord country, was also unforgettable.”

Travel tips: “Arrangements can be made for the various connections individually, or tours can be arranged simply through Norway in a Nutshell or other tour companies. Like in all of Europe, the tourist season means a lot of crowds. We’d recommend coming early in May, just after the snow has melted, and the crowds are still small.”

A mammoth road trip

The Wild West’s spectacular sights were the aim for San Jose residents Ken Kelly and Linda LeZotte last spring as they embarked on a trip that included stops in Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming in May. In South Dakota, they stopped at Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial, Deadwood, Sturgis, the Badlands and Black Hills and “our favorite — a functioning mammoth dig in Hot Springs, South Dakota,” Linda said. “We saw herds of buffalo, longhorn sheep, Rocky Mountain goats, antelope and thousands of groundhogs. The drive from Nebraska to Wyoming was spectacular.”

Travel tips: “May was a perfect time weatherwise, cool but not cold. Don’t miss the shootouts and other actor portrayals in Deadwood. Walk completely around Devils Tower (in Wyoming) and take the trails to Mount Rushmore. Give yourself plenty of time to drive through the Badlands and Black Hills. The mammoth dig in Hot Springs, as well as the museum and film at Mount Rushmore, were awe-inspiring.”

In the land of the mouse

Four generations of Raymonds — including Joan Raymond of Scotts Valley, Calif., and Kaylee Raymond, Noelle Raymond and Joelle Vega from Ben Lomond, Calif. — had a girls’ trip to Disneyland this spring. “It was a busy, fun time watching the 3-year-old discovering the magic of Disney,” Joan said. “Great-grandma wanted things easy, so we had a car service that provided a car seat pick us up and take us to our hotel near Disneyland, where we had a stroller waiting for us that we rented online. So easy not to have to take all that through airport security, etc. We used the ART Disney area bus that stops near most local hotels and drops you at Disneyland. “

Travel tips: “Joelle had an appointment to be dressed and made up as a princess,” Joan said. “Be sure to book that ahead of time, because they fill up quickly with future princesses!” The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Fantasyland offers royal makeovers ($75 and up) for kids ages 3 to 12.

In French land of the mouse

Lifelong Disney fans — Santa Cruz residents Mark and Jenny Daniels and their daughter, Kimberly Grover, and two of her children, Ian and Mia Grover from Lafayette, Calif. — “fulfilled a dream,” Kimberly said, with a trip to Disneyland Paris in June to celebrate Mark and Jenny’s 50th anniversary. The trip highlights included “riding Phantom Manor, which is similar to Disneyland California’s Haunted Mansion, and enjoying Champagne from the Champagne cart on Main Street!”