It’s about that time….SURPRISE VACATION 2014
You guys. It’s my favorite time of year. SURPRISE VACATION! Which actually coincides around my birthday, which I intend to celebrate all summer long so it’s like double the awesomeness.
Okay. Surprise Vacay has been a longstanding Dalkin family tradition since we were kids. In case you haven’t followed along on years past… here’s the deal.
When we were kids my parents would throw us birthday parties. Obviously. Well, turns out, kids like to cry and get upset and somebody would ALWAYS cry or pout. No one likes a pouter. So my parents decided to stop throwing birthday parties and instead they’d plan an epic surprise vacation for us each summer.
It’s basically the highlight of my life. I’m obsessed. We get somewhere in the realm of 8-10 clues each year and we have to figure out where we are going. Some years we’ve figured it out, others we’re totally surprised. One thing is always certain…. I’m always wrong. My sister sometimes figures it out, my husband has been known to do the same… but I’m always, without fail, 100% wrong. I think it’s because I have this burning desire to go on safari in Africa and no matter what clues my parents send over I somehow make them fit into an African safari. Clearly, I have issues.
So…. The time has come! Dalkin Family Surprise Vacation 2014 is upon us. We’re heading out end of July for 9 days and the clues are starting to roll in. I’m posting them here (because, duh!) and hoping that you guys can help figure it out!
Clue #1: Come on, we need to get out of ….., like nomads. Ugh, stinks, can’t get it to budge……
Clue #2 Are you sure? I am not sure…. I am sure. Should we play on the sand??
Clue #3 Onward to the supreme law , just a few more steps, how enlightened we will be.
Clue #4 Jiminy Cricket did it
Clue #5 Walking the eighth C, how great it would be!
Clue #6 Check your watch between 46th and 47th for a tasty treat.
Clue #7 The perfect places to rest with those you love: Horse drawn linen for love birds.
Clue #8 Drew Brees and Coach Madden, stranded together.
Clue #9 What is that I hear, both east and west; is there h,i,j,k,l,m,n,o around?
Clue #10 Returning to the Disney theme: A safe place for Bambi.
Also – punctuation has been known to play into the clues in the past!
In case you’re going to play along with us – here’s a list of where we’ve already been so you can rule those out!
1. Alaska (click on over to see clues and my dad’s commentary on this trip!)
2. France (click on over to see clues and my dad’s commentary on this trip!)
3. Bahamas
4. Banff, Canada
5. Italy
6. Turkey + Greece
7. England + Scotland
8. Cancun/Tulum, Mexico
9. Hawaii
10. Napa
11. New York + Washington DC
12. Las Vegas
13. Texas
14. Disney World
And here’s an example of these twisted clues/explanation from the past:
Noisy Sheep. Tasty Pig. Ah
Noisy Sheep – what sound does it make: Baaaaaaah
Tasty Pig – what’s a tasty pig: Ham
Ah
Put them all together: BAHAMA.
Welcome to the Dalkin fam. We’re totally awesome/weird.
Australia?
they were just there a few months ago WITHOUT ME!
Israel???
I love this idea! What fun!
Egypt! “Come on, we need to get out of “Dodge”, like nomads (they ride on camels) Ugh, stinks, can’t get it to budge (camel also)
Egypt was my first inclination as well.
I think maybe New Zealand!
I do the same thing with my son. I dont throw big parties anymore for the same reasons you listed above. But we always have my sisters and brothers and grandparents there the day of. Just for the pics and cake.
This year we are off to Hawaii tje Dianey Resort. He has no idea.
Thank you
Pamela and Brandy are right. So awesome if that is where you are going.
This is the most fun idea ever! I have absolutely no idea how to decipher that clue though!
love this every year – one of these years i’m making my parents take us along with you! 🙂
OMG YES!! and tell them they should be taking us to the galapagos next year!!!
I love this tradition. can’t wait to hear where you are going!
It’s finally here! Ahh!! I will figure it out!
Nothing can stop me mama and papa Dalkin 😉
This is awesome, I love it!
Such a great idea! Could it be trekking gorillas in Uganda?!
THAT WOULD BE EPIC!
Gaby! Do you remember any of the clues for Texas? My husband and I do this and I’m surprising him with Austin this year and am just starting to plan our clues. Can’t wait to see where you go this year!
oh man I don’t! that was one of the first ones and I was 9 years old! sorry!
Sounds like Egypt! 🙂
With all the camles and pyramids. Awesome!
Another tipp for future vacations: Germany! One of the most interesting countrys ever (and i don’t say that, because I am german :D). Nice old buildings, castles, green forest everywhere and huge churches! You would love it! 😉
I still think Dubai
Dodge, Nomads = Dodge Caravan! Camels stink and won’t budge. Morocco!! 🙂
Patagonia. Definitely. You’re welcome.
Belgium & the Hague or Egypt?
Clue 1: Nomads = gypsy, vikings, wanderers, romani? Get out of here? Get out of Dodge? Stinks = Peeyew
Clue 2: Waffle or flip flop
Clue 3: the 374 steps stairway “Montagne de Bueren”
Who am I kidding. I don’t know.
Hmm, Egypt is a good guess, but I’m thinking maybe Israel. The “eighth C” could be the Dead Sea, and the “supreme law” could be the commandments…and Jiminy Cricket = Jesus Christ!
Galapagos Islands
You’re going to Egypt! The Dead Sea you can float in because it’s so salty and travel like nomads on camels!!!
I say Jerusalem, Israel! If I’m right mail me a souvenir!
Jimminy cricket (Jesus Christ) did it (walked on water).
Walking the 8th sea (Dead Sea) how great would that be-
Onward to the supreme law- um, God’s law,
Need to flee from Jerusalem!
India…just sayin’
have fun!!
There is a cloud of sheep farts over Newzealand, does not budge, populated by Europeans…
It’s Israel!!
India!
Egypt is the place as Mount Sinai is in Egypt (walking the eight C).
I think you are going to Morocco!
1. “Dodge” … Caravan! And camels are stinky and stubborn
2. Flip flops! Perhaps a beach? Casablanca is on the water
3. Not sure
4. Camping in the desert and wishing upon stars!
5. Erg Chebbi is a “sea of dunes”, and clearly starts with C 🙂
6. Also not sure yet.
This is fun!
This is so fun but I have absolutely no idea! I can’t wait to find out!
46th and 47th parallel? Hungary? Canada? Russia?
I still like my Egypt guess, but now I’m also kinda thinking India.. maybe Morocco?
I let my husband loose on this, with his superior methods of solving cryptic clues. So far he is baffled, but I think he’s intrigued and will work on it.
I got my husband, with his superior cryptic clue solving abilities, on the case. He confesses to being baffled so far, but maybe he will crack the clues eventually.
I initially thought in terms of time regarding between 46 and 47, about twelve and a half minutes to the hour? No idea what it could mean, though.
The 46th and 47th sounds like the latitude of Earth. But are talking north or south of the equator? South doesn’t have that many options. Just the extreme part of South America and a touch of New Zealand. So it has to be north of the equator then. And unfortunately, that’s all I got!
I have no idea where your going BUT it sounds like so much fun! Maybe they are giving you all the wrong clues because your finally going on your safari trip! Lol (here’s to wishful thinking! )
linen comes from flax – native to middle east and india
love birds are native to Africa
Drew Brees is a “Saint” and Coach Madden is “John” – St. John?
I got nothin’. This is frustrating! I feel like I am failing an IQ test.
Where is my post waaaay back about shipping my brownies and cookies to CT and bringing back some za’atar because it is Israel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is definitely Israel:
Jiminy Crickett (Jesus Christ).
The walking the eight C- the dead sea.
Drew Brees- a Saint, and Madden (John)- Saint John- lived in Jerusalem.
Still haven’t figured out the horse drawn linen clue.
Mr. and Mrs. Dalkin, you are killing me here…lol
#1. Get out of dodge…caravan…camel trek (Egypt)
#2 Flip flop…sandy beaches (Egypt) but going to another place
#3 Traveling (onward) to Jerusalem (Bible..supreme law)
#4 Jesus Christ walked this
#5 Mediterranean Sea (this is also knows as the GR8T sea)
#6 Even bigger guess here…Check your watch (look at your view) between (across) 46th & 47th (one minute..mn) tasty treat (caramel) Mt. Carmel (Holy mountain of Israel)
#7 Chariot ride for 2
#8 Saint John, islands (located off of Southern Egypt)
#9 waves…h to (2) o = water…might be going on a boat
YUP!!! I guessed that last night and my dad confirmed that it h2O!!
I’m betting the middle east somewhere. Egypt might be dangerous right now politically for tourists. But Israel would be fantastic … “going or not going” might lead to the Jews wandering 40 years in the desert. And walking the eighth “C”, might be the parting of the Red Sea? Hmmmm. I like this tradition – I can’t wait to find out where you’re going!
And I mean “Dead Sea” not Red Sea. I need sleep now.
I still stand by my guesses. Egypt to Israel then down to St. John’s on the Red Sea, which is apparently a great place for diving.
Well the eighth CONTINENT is Madagascar….so maybe there!
Okay, I am sticking with my original guess of Israel !!! So if I am correct, I will make it easy for you and can ship to Sarah in SF!
#6 Jiminy Cricket – “When” u wish upon a “Star” is really “Win” which gets you to “WINSTAR Casino” in Oklahoma… have fun playing blackjack http://winstarworldcasino.com
I have no clue where you’re going but I want to go with you. Pretty please?
#9 U hear “sounds” east and west. H2O East sound and west sound are in Washington near vancouver.
#8 San Juan Islands is near Vancouver translates into Saint John http://www.visitsanjuans.com
You are going to Austria!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Visit the Azores in Portugal.
It’s definitely Israel.
10. “Israel has the largest herd of Persian fallow deer”- Bambi would be safe here with all of the other deer in Israel!