Friday OT #2 - Permanent Vacation

[Angie]

We apparently have about six inches of snow coming to mid-Iowa, so let's put that aside and think of better things.

What is your "vacation mode?" Are you looking to relax on a beach? Stay super busy? Just drink your whole way through? Go see historical sites? Are you Vacation Type A, or Vacation Type B? Do you have any family/friends/significant others with whom you travel - do they match your vacation mode?

I am very, very Type A. I set up a heavily-packed itinerary of all of the best things to do in any place we go - just in case we never make it back, I want to get every second I can out of it. I don't relax particularly well (I like to have a project or mission), so I like to plan everything out... even relaxing. Janny likes to do some stuff - but he's waaaaaaay more Type B than I am. He ideally wants to sit on a beach with a drink in his hand, maybe leaving for a few activities/sites, but not many.

 

[Al_4_State]

I can't relax in the traditional sense. No lying on beaches, no laying around hotels. Constant action. I also don't take long vacations. I've never been outside of Iowa for more than 7 consecutive days in my adult life. I hate the feeling of getting behind.

My vacations generally revolve around going from place to place, generally by vehicle. Spend a day or two in one place, and then move on. My day usually starts with a big outdoor activity that ends sometime in the early afternoon. Then it's bar hopping and exploring the town we're in on foot until dinner. Eat dinner somewhere local. Possibly have a night cap or two, or just go back and go to bed - depends on the next day's activity.

Here's a sample itinerary for a trip my wife and I took this past winter.

Thursday: Leave NE IA late afternoon. Drop dog at in-laws as we drive to Denver. Start driving through night.

Friday: Wife and I have swapped driving/sleeping. Arrive in Idaho Springs, CO around 9AM. Work out, check into hotel, take quick nap. Head out and explore the town on foot. Visit breweries, have dinner, in bed by 8:30-9PM.

Saturday: Wake up around 5AM and start heading over Continental Divide for A-Basin. Get to A-Basin in time for opening. Ski till 3 or so. Head to Boulder, check into hotel there, go out for dinner and drinks. In bed by 11 or so.

Sunday: Wake up whenever, go for a run in Boulder. Head to Ft. Collins around late morning. Check into Hotel @isukendall. Tour Fort Collins breweries and hang with our hosts.

Monday: Leave Fort Collins around 6-7AM, back in NE IA by dinner.

I'm guessing a lot of people would look at this and find it the opposite of relaxation, but that's how I'm wired.

 

[pulse]

I would spend every single vacation skiing if I could. I guess I could go ski in the Andes in the summer but that would be over the top.

I used to hate beaches, but I’ve become a fan as a way to chill from working life. I do love sailing so that has something to do with it. I enjoy local cultural activities but it doesn’t always win out.

 

[jcyclonee]

For me, it depends upon where we are on vacation.

I can't just sit and do nothing often but where we are makes a difference in the pace.

If we are in a city, I like to stay busy and see as many of the "sights" as possible. I try to plan a daily itinerary with lots of walking. I just really enjoy exploring cities on foot and people watching.

If it is tropical, I like to participate in what the area offers but take breaks and have time to relax and just act a bit silly to embarrass the kids.

To be honest, my favorite thing about vacation might be when I wake up, have a cup of coffee and don't worry about what needs to be done at work or around the house.

 

[Cydkar]

Sitting on a beach, doing nothing, might be my worst nighmare.

Beyond that, I'm just open to new experiences. I don't need to cram my vacation chock full of activities but I prefer a vacation doing/seeing things that I won't have another opportunity to do. Whatever that may be. I would say that I'm a moderate planner but not too intense.

 

[SCyclone]

Definitely Type B. I consider vacation a disconnect from the stress and rigidity of work, so I tend to prefer just hanging out and "ad libbing", if you will.

Now, if we are someplace like, say, Yosemite, or another vacation destination, then yeah - I'll make some plans to do some things. But for the most part, I'm just ready to unwind.

 

[Angie]

I can't relax in the traditional sense. No lying on beaches, no laying around hotels. Constant action. I also don't take long vacations. I've never been outside of Iowa for more than 7 consecutive days in my adult life. I hate the feeling of getting behind.

My vacations generally revolve around going from place to place, generally by vehicle. Spend a day or two in one place, and then move on. My day usually starts with a big outdoor activity that ends sometime in the early afternoon. Then it's bar hopping and exploring the town we're in on foot until dinner. Eat dinner somewhere local. Possibly have a night cap or two, or just go back and go to bed - depends on the next day's activity.

Here's a sample itinerary for a trip my wife and I took this past winter.

Thursday: Leave NE IA late afternoon. Drop dog at in-laws as we drive to Denver. Start driving through night.

Friday: Wife and I have swapped driving/sleeping. Arrive in Idaho Springs, CO around 9AM. Work out, check into hotel, take quick nap. Head out and explore the town on foot. Visit breweries, have dinner, in bed by 8:30-9PM.

Saturday: Wake up around 5AM and start heading over Continental Divide for A-Basin. Get to A-Basin in time for opening. Ski till 3 or so. Head to Boulder, check into hotel there, go out for dinner and drinks. In bed by 11 or so.

Sunday: Wake up whenever, go for a run in Boulder. Head to Ft. Collins around late morning. Check into Hotel @isukendall. Tour Fort Collins breweries and hang with our hosts.

Monday: Leave Fort Collins around 6-7AM, back in NE IA by dinner.

I'm guessing a lot of people would look at this and find it the opposite of relaxation, but that's how I'm wired.

I totally, 100% get this. This is also how I am - I don't just sit and relax at all, and I don't like to go to chains for anything. I can sit down at home for free, why would I spend money to go somewhere else and do that the whole time?

I have a travel app that I use. I research the **** out of things online, and then map each day out with it - down to what I have found are the best items to order. I've gone to Rome w/my mom the past two Mays - the first time we went, we literally walked off of the plane at 8 am after an all-night flight, and I made her do all of this immediately:



We only walked 7.7 miles that day, which made it by far our lightest day - but it was awesome to do all of the things.

 

[Cyientist]

Our trend on week-long vacations has been to stay in the same place 2 or 3 nights and then bounce to somewhere within 3 or 4 hours for another few nights.

We are light planners as far as actually locking in an itinerary. We do a lot of research on what is available prior to going, but don't have much set in stone in case we find something else we would rather do. Basically we will have a rough draft of an itinerary, but the only thing locked into place is where we are staying and our flights.

 

[wxman1]

I am a middle ground guy. I enjoy doing stuff especially when it is unique to the destination (hiking in the mountains, snorkeling in the gulf etc.) but not all the time. I damn well better be able to nap and do nothing as well. My wife is about the same for the most part. As far as destination goes...there are so many interesting places around this country alone that I refuse to be just a beach or just a mountain kind of guy. Can't wait to get to New England, Pacific NW, northern Wisconsin or Minnesota etc.

Compare that with her family that only really thinks LA, Orlando and cruises exist and when in Orlando especially you must be in the park from open till close.

 

[Bret44]

 

[MeanDean]

More a type B I guess. Don't want every second scheduled. That sounds too much like work - "We HAVE to do this NOW! Then THIS, then THIS!" GTFO! LOL.

But I do like to schedule stops and usually the reservations for a driving trip. I do get nervous thinking about not being able to find lodging (or getting stuck at some $300 a night luxury resort when I am only showering, sleeping and going).

My other problem with traveling is I tend to worry about missing flights or any scheduled transportation. Thus I'm rarely relaxed the day of travel or the day before returning for any vacations including air travel. I envy those who can wait to get to the airport a few minutes before their flight. I am more comfortable being at the gate well before time to board. So often am one of the first ones checking in for my flight.

 

[CYdTracked]

Not much for the types of vacations that are beach/resort/cruise variety. Usually plan some things to see or do in advance then improvise once we get there and either come across something or have someone there recommend some things to do or see.

Our honeymoon was in Hawaii (mostly in Maui then 1 night in Honolulu which turned out was a good choice as it's too "touristy" of a location) but we didn't really spend much time on the beach, mostly did a lot of sight seeing and tours of things there, probably half of it we decided to do once we got there and our hotel had kind of an informational thing in the mornings with breakfast that we picked out some stuff we hadn't booked before that we got to see a lot of the local cultural stuff off the beaten path.

 

[madguy30]

Generally if I go somewhere I want to immerse myself in the place and go about it as the place comes to me and tend to avoid touristy spots full of lines.

Any itinerary-ish vacation I've been on was stressful and missed the point.

 

[BCClone]

I just like not having to be forced to get the kids ready for school and I like to go eat a breakfast someone else made. I will research major things for each day but leave open time for the wife and kids to decide what to do (I make sure I ask them before we go if there is anything they have if interest). Many times things I mention to the family, they think it’s dorky but you can tell they have fun while at that place.

 

[mj4cy]

I can adapt. Whatever I do, I just want it different than where I live. Teach me something about the local history, let me see the ocean or mountains ect.

 

[Angie]

Not much for the types of vacations that are beach/resort/cruise variety. Usually plan some things to see or do in advance then improvise once we get there and either come across something or have someone there recommend some things to do or see.

Our honeymoon was in Hawaii (mostly in Maui then 1 night in Honolulu which turned out was a good choice as it's too "touristy" of a location) but we didn't really spend much time on the beach, mostly did a lot of sight seeing and tours of things there, probably half of it we decided to do once we got there and our hotel had kind of an informational thing in the mornings with breakfast that we picked out some stuff we hadn't booked before that we got to see a lot of the local cultural stuff off the beaten path.

We're looking pretty hard at a tropical destination in this coming fall for our anniversary - my husband wants an all-inclusive and a beach, while I insist on finding an island with plenty of variety in the local options so that I can do excursions to non-beachy crap. Places like the Bahamas and Aruba are gorgeous and relaxing, but there's not much in the way of activities that aren't beach-related. I'm having way more luck with a place like Curacao - I can go on a submarine while he relaxes, which is perfect.

 

[jcyclonee]

I am a middle ground guy. I enjoy doing stuff especially when it is unique to the destination (hiking in the mountains, snorkeling in the gulf etc.) but not all the time. I damn well better be able to nap and do nothing as well. My wife is about the same for the most part. As far as destination goes...there are so many interesting places around this country alone that I refuse to be just a beach or just a mountain kind of guy. Can't wait to get to New England, Pacific NW, northern Wisconsin or Minnesota etc.

Compare that with her family that only really thinks LA, Orlando and cruises exist and when in Orlando especially you must be in the park from open till close.

We're trying to plan a trip with neighbors and one of the places being discussed is Orlando. When there, I do feel obliged to spend the full day at the parks when we go. This year (our kids are old enough to take care of themselves for the most part), we discussed sending the kids to one park while we go to Epcot and do the drink around the world challenge. We'd never actually do this but it sounds fun.

That being said, I hope we don't go to Orlando. It's exhausting.

 

[Angie]

I just like not having to be forced to get the kids ready for school and I like to go eat a breakfast someone else made. I will research major things for each day but leave open time for the wife and kids to decide what to do (I make sure I ask them before we go if there is anything they have if interest). Many times things I mention to the family, they think it’s dorky but you can tell they have fun while at that place.

I have a little less luck being Type A when the kids are involved, as they definitely need more downtime and flexibility. When we went to Disneyworld and Universal in 2018, I DID have mapped out the fast passes and where you were supposed to go at what time of day to beat crowds, to try and give them more grace and flexibility at times that were crowded and busy. But that was fairly transparent to them.

 

[mcblogerson]

Ideal vacation is traveling to Europe or Asia and packing in as much as possible.

Since I have a demanding job and grade school kids involved in everything, I do enjoy a blow off some steam beach vacation in the winter months.

 

[wxman1]

We're trying to plan a trip with neighbors and one of the places being discussed is Orlando. When there, I do feel obliged to spend the full day at the parks when we go. This year (our kids are old enough to take care of themselves for the most part), we discussed sending the kids to one park while we go to Epcot and do the drink around the world challenge. We'd never actually do this but it sounds fun.

That being said, I hope we don't go to Orlando. It's exhausting.

One day sure. 3+ days all day at the parks...F that.