Beirut as a base camp and day tripping out makes a lot of sense. There will be snow in the mountains (you can visit one of the ski resorts if you want) and I don't know how that may effect roads. Personally I wouldn't want to drive in Lebanon as the roads and driving are a little crazy, besides it is cheap and relatively easy to get around with public transport.

Places to visit outside beirut: ski resorts, tripoli, mleeta, baalbek, byblos... Depends on your interests. You should have no trouble filling 7 days.

In terms of safety Lebanon is as safe as it ever has been in recent times. If there is a terrorist attack its likely to target Hezbollah areas of Beirut (which as a tourist you have no real need to be near). Biggest danger is probably the roads.

yes road trip in the car. We would like to stay 2-3 nights in each place so wondering if great smoky mountains will be good to spend 2 days at? Would sevierville TN be an okay base and are there some easy trails to take a toddler to?

If you mean November 2018 and the 4 day Inca Trail you have to book soon as the first half of November is already sold out. We did not do a trek (we did a one day hike on our own) and so I can't recommend tour operators but I have heard good things about Wayki Trek. Do a search on the TripAdvisor forum. Permits and entrance fees will be included. Food as well. Tents and sleeping pads will be provided. You can rent a sleeping bag from them. I don't know about poles. If you want to hike up a mountain at MP (Huayna Picchu or Montana) you have to let them know as that will be extra.

There are alternative treks like Salkantay, Lares, Ausangate ... Some take you to Aguas Calientes and MP at the end of the trek. But if you want to enter MP through the Sun Gate that is only possible if you book the Inca Trail.

Climbing Mount Rishiridake was a highlight (so to speak :-) of my time in Hokkaido -- a challenging scramble, and the reward of epic views over the Sea of Okhotsk -- but that was under perfectly clear conditions and out of season (hence not crowded); summer crowds and haze may well temper that experience... The cross-island hike on Rebun was also nice, though not quite as memorable (I hear the cliffside trail is much more dramatic). Yes, though: Rishiri/Rebun are at the end of the line so to speak, and not on the way to anywhere else - except Sakhalin Island in Russia!

If the whole Daisetsuzan Traverse is more than you want to take on, the route between Asahidake and Kurodake - the "Ginza line" I've heard it called - can be stretched out over a few days of camping at and around the mountain hut campsites. Until recently, this was to be the highlight of my plans this summer.

I believe the Daisetsuzan pika are unique to the area.

Be aware of warnings to filter water in Daisetsuzan due to the risk of truly nasty-sounding tapeworm infection (infestation?)

Not sure the current conditions, but back in the day Meakandake was an easily hiked active volcano which gave dramatic views of blasted volcanic landscapes - and just the slightest chance of a pyroclastic flow event during the climb!

I hate to rain on your parade, but I think this is way too ambitious with a one year-old. First, Boquete. Driving at night (after 6 pm) in Panama is not a safe idea. Even though Boquete is only 45 minutes from David, I wouldn't attempt trying to find someplace I haven't been in the dark. Signage is very poor. In the interior, it's common for people and livestock to walk in the middle of the road at night without lights or reflective clothing. Often, road construction is left unmarked with no barricades. And, if you do breakdown, you are usually stranded until daylight.

With the exception of Isla Coiba, Bocas del Toro probably has the best snorkeling. I wouldn't call it "excellent." The reefs, like Coral Cay, that are closer to Bocas Town have been damaged by tourists and warming water. They are so shallow that people would stand on the coral. They also broke off a lot of coral and sponges. And, much of the shallower reefs have been bleached. The better sites are further east around the Zapatillas Islands. Getting there takes well over an hour in an open boat. And, that's the other thing ... the water taxis and dive/snorkel boats are all open pangas. That's true for nearly everywhere you go snorkeling in Panama. Even in the boats that have canopies, you're still exposed to rain, spray and sun.

I think you might have a more relaxed time and see more by splitting your time between Panama City and Boquete. Or, you might consider El Valle (El Valle de Anton), which is in the mountains, a little less than two hours from Panama City. You could pick up a rental car at Albrook airport and avoid the city's horrible traffic. El Valle has a couple of nice trails ... La India Dormida (The Sleeping Indian) and Sendero Gaital. La India Dormida is a couple of miles and it takes you by two waterfalls near the Piedra Pintada (Painted Rock). Sendero Gaital is my favorite hike in El Valle. It's a 1 1/2 mile loop with a fabulous viewpoint of El Valle below, the opposite rim and the Pacific beyond that. Strong advice: don't take the entire loop. When you come to the T, go left. Return the same way. The other side is very steep, very rocky and very slippery. Other attractions in El Valle -- small zoo, thermal warm springs/mud baths, botanical garden and orchid nursery. Also, zip line at Chorro El Macho.

There are also some good trails in the jungle in and near Panama City. The Metropolitan Natural Park is less than 15 minutes from the central city. If you get there early enough, you're likely to see ñeques (agoutis), coatis, sloths and many birds. The Pipeline Road and the Plantation Road are both excellent trails for spotting animals and birdwatching. Both are near Gamboa, about 30 minutes from the city.

Hey there, apologies for the vagueness, not intentional. I did not want to be any more of a burden for information than I already am.
We arrive in Casablanca on the 4th of April, leave from Casablanca on the 24th. Given the excellent information we have received we would go to Marrakech via train, then on to Tarudant and onward to some smaller coastal communities eg. Merlit. Or reverse seafood first then to Tarudnat. Our choice in coastal towns, at the moment, is based on keeping away from crowds.
Make our way to the Riff Mountains via train by-way of Marrakech. Unfortunately there would be some backtracking getting back to Marrakech.
I am unsure of Chefchaouen, but my wife is not, so I'm going.
As with most travellers we do have a list of "musts". Mine is small. As Morocco sounds exciting, culturally, culinary, and of natural beauty, my "must" is simple. The slow night train between Tangier and Marrakech.
Again, apologies for the vagueness. And thank you for the information. One question, of a personal nature if I may be so bold, what is your favourite meal and where? I will understand the reluctance to say "where" as popularity may ruin a good thing.
Thanks
Al

There's more to see in the Black Hills than just Mt. Rushmore. BTW, they are actually small mountains (7,242 feet is the highest point). For example, Crazy Horse Monument, Wind Cave National Park, Custer State Park (a state park of national park quality with bighorn sheep and bison) and Roughlock Falls Nature Area is located in Spearfish Canyon. East of the Black Hills is Badlands National Park. Custer State Park has Sylvan Lake, the jewel of the Black Hills. Iron Mt. Road (16-A) is an incredible 17-mile experience with 14 switchbacks, three pigtails and three tunnels. It starts at Hwy 16 and goes south to Hwy 30.

There is much to see/do in Yellowstone: Besides Old Faithful, the main attractions are the Lamar Valley which has roaming herds of bison and elk plus wolves feeding on them at dawn, (guided tours are available) and the Great Canyon of the Yellowstone which has a steep, deep canyon with waterfalls and hot springs.According to one poster, wandering around Geyser Hill at night, is a magical experience. Hike the two-mile Yellowstone Lake Overlook Trail to a high mt. meadow with a fantastic view of Yellowstone Lake and distant mts. One can ride bicycles on a path from Jackson to Jenny Lake in the Grand Teton National Park. Of course, many of these activities depend on whether or not there is snow nor not on the ground.

Thanks again for the tips.

I have a compass, and I now have maps for Daisetsuzan. Don't know if I want to navigate exclusively with them in the middle of a fog storm though! I'm basically praying for good weather, so all this planning doesn't go to waste. Anyway. And I think we're going to try and share a sleeping bag, rather than buying another one just for a couple of nights. So we really need nice weather. :-)

How do you generally do vis-a-vis estimated trail times in Japan?

I normally beat them easily enough, but I'll have a heavy pack this time around, so will need to rest relatively frequently. It's not going to be like my run up and down Fuji last year! It seems there's a campsite on the way to Kurodake, so we'll get there (ensha'allah), see how we're feeling, and decide if we're up for moving on. We'll bring enough supplies for 2 and a half days on the mountain, just in case, I think.

I don't travel with a stove, so no fuel, and no boiling water. I'll check up on my tablets (I don't think they're actually iodine) and see what they're supposed to kill.

Moving on to Shiretoko:

I've found two lovely day hikes that I'm interested in. Probably just one. They are:

Iozan - Can be hiked as a day-hike from the Kamuiwakka waterfalls trailhead. Technically you're supposed to get permission in advance, but I believe you can also just turn up and write your name at the gate. Access is only by shuttle bus, which gives serious time limits. Alternatively if we were feeling nuts, we'd walk on to Mt. Rausu. I think that trail is open? We'd then have to try and hitchhike back to our car though.

Rausu - Can be hiked as a day-hike from Iwaobetsu Onsen. We can drive there, and park the car freely, it seems.

Any thoughts on which mountain might be more rewarding if we were only to do one? I assume bears are likely on either hike.

Shorter hikes include around the 5 lakes, and perhaps something off the 334? I'm a little confused, to be honest. Getting information on hiking in the park seems a little complicated.