SKIP YOWELL, one of the founders of JanSport, talks about his holidays
What's your earliest holiday memory?My family lived in Kansas, in the US. My dad and I loved to go out west on vacations, and going to Yellowstone National Park is just a phenomenal memory. It's such a beautiful national park. In one area we had a bear come up and put its paw right on one of our windows. We'd never even seen a bear before.
What was your worst holiday?Three years ago I was going from where I live, in the San Francisco area, to Loreto in Mexico. I had to transfer to Los Angeles, but the plane had mechanical problems in Oakland, so we couldn't get to LA on time to get our other flight. So it ended up being my worst vacation because I didn't get to go. I am a pretty easy-going, laid-back person, but that was upsetting because I was ready to head for the sun and water.
What was your best holiday?In 1980 I went to a trade show in Munich, in Germany. From there I took off to Athens and spent a couple of days viewing the Acropolis and the Parthenon. I had one of those books, Greece on Five Dollars a Day. I took a ferry to Mykonos for a few days, then took a boat over to Ios and finally landed in Santorini. I just fell in love with Santorini, and I've been back there three times.
If budget or work were not a restriction, what would be your dream holiday?Time is always the most valuable thing. With a little more time I would do an around-the-world trip. I really like history and mountains – I've done a lot of climbing in my life – and the water, so I'd like to tie those together for a six-month trip. Some day I'll do that.
If you had your pick, who would you bring on holiday with you?The first person I'd have to bring is my wife. I've also travelled a lot with my daughter Quinn, who is 23. She spent a year in Italy two years ago, and she speaks fluent Italian. She has gone to Sicily and Sardinia with us, and she is great to have in some of those out-of-the-way places.
What's your favourite place in Ireland?It's a great place to travel to, and I always encourage people in the US to put Ireland on their list. My favourite places are the pubs. One of my first experiences was several years ago when there was an Ireland-versus-Australia rugby match on. The excitement of people was unbelievable.
Your recommended holiday reading?James Michener's books, in particular Hawaii. He uses factual information on the area even though they are fictional books. In 1984, on an expedition to Everest, I travelled to Tibet. So Seven Years in Tibet by Heinrich Harrer is always really special to me. We were one of the first western teams that were allowed into Tibet.
Where will you go to next?My wife wants to go to Machu Picchu, in Peru.
** Skip Yowell is one of the founders of JanSport
** In conversation with Genevieve Carbery