She is a a school teacher (has July off, the month we'll have off), so what do we do or where do we go? It has to be crazy for us travelers, and more importantly special. Who has a place or a special idea?
The place is mind-blowing. It covers every single requirement.
Extreme sports+Skiing/snowboarding+stunning scenery=Queenstown in the Lower South Island.
Native cultural experiences+idillic uninhabited islands+stunning scenery=Bay of Islands, North of Auckland on the North Island
Volcanic activity+amazing hiking+incredible beaches=Rotorua and general east coast in the North Island
This list could go on for miles. I lived there for three years and travelled to almost every corner of the country and the place just blew me away. Do it!
How adventurous are you?
South America If you a re a beach person, route 1, if you are more an outdoor person route 2.
Route 1 -> Santa Marta ---> Cartagena de Indias (colombia)-> Leticia --- ferry through the amazonas --> Manaus (Brasil) --> Buenos aires (argentina) --> Iguazu Falls --> Rio Do Janeiro.
Route 2 ==> Tierra de Fuego, Torres de Paine --> Buenos Aires --> san pedro de atacama(Chile) --> Salar de Uyuni --> Titikaka lake (bolivia) --> Cusco & Machipichu (Peru) --> Galapago's Island.
Europe:
Cultural Cities. (low cost routes inside Europe are extremly cheap if you book in advance). London --> Seville --> Barcelona --> Paris --> Rome --> Firenze --> Venice --> Berlin --> Instabul.
Twenty-four-hour sunlight, landscape that looks like an epic fairy tale, friendly English-speaking people, extremely well-maintained infrastructure, whale watching, not particularly crowded, tons of little ferry rides past and through beautiful fjords.
Only drawbacks: a bit pricey due to the location and the robust Norwegian currency. Also, I wouldn't call it a culinary trip - although you can eat reindeer (pretty much like venison) and whale (ethically interesting but delicious), and beers from Mack are pretty solid.
Cinque Terre in Italy isn't crazy but would be relaxing and offers some awesome hiking, but it can be pretty much done in a day.
One of the trails between the towns has the lovers lock, http://www.travelsignposts.com/Italy/wp-content/uploads/2010... which could be a special place to go.
The mountains and Inca ruins are absolutely stunning; even in July it should be quite temperate there (it doesn't really freeze), but, since it's winter, it won't be hot so you'll need a modestly warm jacket.