I enjoy reading the CC vacation threads. But I notice that people like to “vacation” differently.
For instance, spending time in museums - not on my vacation list generally. (except children’s museums when the kids were young).
Tours - not on my vacation list. Having to sit and listen, watch and listen, be tied to a schedule - does not appeal to me.
Themed parks/Historical Places - not on my vacation list! ( do you think less of me?!!)
ON my vacation list:
Water - lake or ocean
Beach - the less people, the better
Walkable terrain - the more I can walk and not rely on transportation, the better.
Local parks - walking, hiking, running, etc. - we find the best local parks wherever we go.
Local food - casual but good local food.
Local bakeries/Ice Cream - literally this is a must for our family. We scope them out on every trip and fully enjoy!
Sometimes, unique shopping. A store we might not have at home. A flagship.
Bookstores. No two are alike!
That’s it. Paint me a vacation with those things and I’m all set. Every time.
My idea of the worst possible vacation would be one of those all inclusive resorts where the commercials show people lounging in sun during the day and whooping it up at those fake parties by night. Oh please no. About one hour at the beach is plenty. Yes to some museums or historical sites. Yes to tours for an afternoon or a day, especially to an environment I’m not familiar with, coffee farm or tidal marsh for example. Yes to shopping. No to hiking or walking of any kind. (All I can think is when can I stop doing this.). I like to ride a horse or take a raft down a river. Congenial company is a must. Traveling with just one other person gets old fast.
I went on a five day short trip to FL. Went to the beach, went for some walks, went to the Circus Museum in Sarasota, went out to dinner, sat by the pool and read, relaxed!
Historic sites and architecture. Botanic gardens, local plant life. Museums, but not all-museums-all-the-time. Local indie stores, especially bookstores. Local restaurants for long leisurely meals – I ate my way through Montreal. If there’s a way to avoid driving, I’ll try to find it. Don’t like hiking but will walk miles between the attractions I listed here.
@abasket Lubec, Maine? It’s really low-key; we rented a house for a week a couple summers when the kids were middle-school / high-school ages. There’s a boardwalk where you can see pitcher plants! I got way too excited about that.
Any type of trip that includes flying down mountains in the snow.
I literally can’t sit still, have no interest in museums, historical sites, amusement parks, beaches longer than 1 hour. cruise ships ( shoot me now), train trips, book stores, antique shopping etc. I don’t care what I eat and so I have little interest in exploring restaurants.
@RightCoaster No interest in amusement parks? But you have “coaster” in your name. LOL
I love being out in the sun but I hate sitting in it. Prefer to be on the water (in a sailboat, kayak, raft, etc) rather than in it. National parks are big favorite (with Yellowstone and Zion at top of the list). Places where you can hike or bike. No interest in shopping. Historical sites and museums are fine but in limited doses.
My must haves are lux hotel and great restaurants we can walk to and I’m good to go. Activities can include relaxing on the beach or at a pool, museums, botanical gardens, historical sites and just exploring the area. We also really enjoy renting bikes and exploring bike trails in cities we visit. It’s a nice change from sitting around in the sun and sightseeing.
What a vacation will never include: camping (even glamping,) or a rustic cabin; or amusement parks of any kind. Not interested in national parks, either. I was sent on a teen tour cross country when I was 14 and had enough of National parks to last a lifetime.
We enjoy it all! Beach all inclusives to get away from winter but it includes snorkeling or diving, boat rides,walks on the beach. But also sightseeing and exploring trips all over the world visiting museums, churches, immersing ourselves into the culture. Important to me is also trying all the local foods and drinks. Those trips, where we might average five to ten miles of walking each day, often feel like we need a vacation after our vacation!
I forgot to add that I seem to be the perfect candidate for one of those bike tour operations that shuttle you around and get you set up for cycling the Tour de France course or thru some large foreign country. I get the catalogs all the time, and I think I’ll probably do one. Riding my bike around, and having someone go by me some food and then leaving me alone so I can get some rest sounds perfect. No shopping, no tours of famous houses or libraries, etc. I just whiz right by on my bike and I can say I saw it. Perfect!
I can’t choose, it’s like picking a favorite child.
Beach…but with interesting sightseeing and local shopping. Restaurants with atmosphere and view!
Vegas…love it! I love to get dressed up and bar hop at the casinos., I’ve become quite the lounge lizard with a martini in hand. Shows, dining, Love it all.
I like historical places like Italy, food tours, tours in general with good guides.
I hate any physical exercise besides walking about on a vacation.
I want to see natural sights, preferably with wildlife. I don’t mind rustic accommodations or sleeping on the ground, but I do not want to plan/shop/cook meals.
I don’t want to visit any cities, except maybe as the first or last day while traveling to a more interesting place. I have a special hatred for cruises… locked up with thousands of people and you can SEE the beautiful beach in the distance but you can only visit for a few hours at a time.
My favorites that I’ve done:
Pack trips (horse riding) in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Wenatchee National Forest, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Stock-supported backpacking to Havasu falls
Snorkeling/SCUBA trips to various Carribbean islands
Rafting the Grand Canyon
My dream vacation list would include:
African safari
Kayaking from island to island (I will need to be in far better shape!)
