It was so much fun while it lasted! Alas, our 2009 Dream Trip Contest ended on Friday. We'll announce who will win a $25,000 vacation to anywhere he or she chooses in our November issue. In the meantime, feast your eyes on this image--one of more than 19,000 contest entries:

This melancholy shot matches our mood at the end of the 2009 Dream Trip Contest, and reminds us that even the best-laid travel plans can go awry, often because of the weather.

"We were disappointed by the rain in Olympic National Park," writes Dream Trip entrant desertbill in the Dream Trip entry "Make the Most of a Rainy Day." "We made the most of it by using our rainbow umbrella and its brilliant cheerful colors in contrast with the almost black-and-white scene. Since this day, we take a bright cheerful umbrella to places where rain is likely. It makes for a nice photo prop."