vacations--what trips your trigger?

[iris lilies]

ApatheticNoMore mentions Amtrak in another thread where we were touching on the concept of "vacation."

That caused me to think about one aspect of vacationing--getting there. I like the idea of Amtrak, perhaps because it is novel.

in recent years i took a short vacation to a small Missouri town on the Amtrak line. I walked to the Amtrak station from my house, got on the train and rode it for a couple of hours, got off, and walked to my reserved place at the B & B.

I reversed that process for return teip.

I counted that little vacation as refreshing because it was simple. i used my feet and only one motorized conveyence. When I have to use cars, taxis, airplanes, shuttles etc in one trip, that is not simple.

[Ultralight]

Beaches, nice ones with clean water I can comfortably swim in.

[Float On]

I like renting out a house or condo so I have a home base.
Our best family vacations have involved either a house in FL on the Gulf Coast side; house in Santa Fe, NM, walking distance to square; condo in Breckenridge, family condos at Hilton Head, SC or use of a family friend's cottage in Beaufort, SC.
I like having enough room to spread out, ease of day trips, a place to cook some of our meals (with local flavors and ingredients).
AmTrak isn't anywhere near me but having sat a whole weekend doing an art show/wine tasting event in Hermann, MO watching the AmTrak pulling up every hour or so at the station next door, I was very envious of those close enough to a station to just take a ride somewhere and enjoy the day or weekend. When DH and I would split up to do art wholesale shows in Philly and Baltimore we'd take the train back and forth to meet each other for dinner at night. So convenient.

[Alan]

What trips my trigger? Water, woods and mountains. Driving not so much, but what are ya gonna do?

The wife and I spent Christmas and New Years on North Carolina's Outer Banks with the motorhome parked 50 yards from the ocean. April was a week in West Virginia, white water rafting on the New and Gauley Rivers. Late June and early July was a three week trip west to Colorado and Utah with rafting trips on the Green and Gunnison rivers. This past weekend was a long boys weekend when my 14 year old grandson and I spent 3 days in Tennessee white water rafting the Ocoee River and engaging in an epic paintball battle. While we were in TN, my wife and 2nd grandson were in West Virginia doing a scenic railroad trip on the historic Cass Railroad.

She and I will probably do another West Virginia rafting trip in October during the New River Gorge 'Bridge Day' event and then finish out the year on one of the Carolina coasts, probably Hilton Head, over Christmas.

We tend to like vacations.

[pinkytoe]

We like to do carless vacations. Went to Vancouver and Victoria a few years back and did air, train, bus and multiple ferries to get around. Also any trip involving either mountains, rivers and or oceans makes me melt. Amtrak from Denver to Salt lake is very scenic.

[catherine]

Since it's so fresh in my mind, Vermont with family trips my trigger. Simple, clean, no crowds, lots of memories of prior vacations, snowmaking pond for my dog to swim in (and does she LOVE to swim), little towns to meander in, mountains and lakes.

[iris lilies]

I like renting out a house or condo so I have a home base.
Our best family vacations have involved either a house in FL on the Gulf Coast side; house in Santa Fe, NM, walking distance to square; condo in Breckenridge, family condos at Hilton Head, SC or use of a family friend's cottage in Beaufort, SC.
I like having enough room to spread out, ease of day trips, a place to cook some of our meals (with local flavors and ingredients).
AmTrak isn't anywhere near me but having sat a whole weekend doing an art show/wine tasting event in Hermann, MO watching the AmTrak pulling up every hour or so at the station next door, I was very envious of those close enough to a station to just take a ride somewhere and enjoy the day or weekend. When DH and I would split up to do art wholesale shows in Philly and Baltimore we'd take the train back and forth to meet each other for dinner at night. So convenient.
Hermann is very cute! I just wish we didnt have to drink Missouri wine when there.

[razz]

Something new or really unique to learn about or discover is 'the' priority. Ease of transport makes it a delight. Loved Puerto Rico to discover how the whole slave trade really got started, the mixed population living now and story of the early aboriginals in the area. St. Augustine FL was wonderful as I had puzzled for years why anyone would start to develop an area with snakes, swamps, alligators and really high temps.

[Teacher Terry]

WE love taking all different types of vacations. I don't love the getting there aspect but it is worth it to put up with hassles to get there. Thursday we are leaving for an 10 day Alaskan cruise. Cruises are great if you pick a good cruise line with so much to do and great food, etc. WE also take long RV trips to national parks and to visit people. We love to go to Europe and explore one area in depth. We do not like the 10 countries in 20 days types of trips and never do bus tours or guided tours. We take at least 1 big trip a year and some years we take 2. When we take the RV we take all 4 dogs. I miss the dogs if we don't take them and 3 weeks is the longest we have been away from them. We also will take small driving tips with the car to places that aren't too far but fun to go to.

[IshbelRobertson]

This year our holidays have been
Me to Australia for my sister's health emergency just over 5 weeks.

corfu for an annual holiday three weeks.

Cornwall, one week.

Isle of Mull, six days.

Bruges for a long weeend,

Back to Cornwall for about three weeks in late September.

I put up with the travelling because there is no choice!

[freshstart]

One of my fav vacations was taking the train to NYC, staying for 10 days on the Museum Mile and just do museums as we pleased. I remember I loved that trip but the actual museum going, dining out, the suite hotel are memories that have been lost.

I love getting a dirt cheap cruise to Bermuda in the shoulder season

[herbgeek]

We don't really like groups of people, so my favorite vacations involve few crowds. Not fond of big cities. I like to take vacations slightly off season for the crowd factor. When we've done things like cruises, we try to do the opposite of what other people are doing (like stay on the boat when everyone is visiting a port).

I like to alternate between vacations where we explore new places, and vacations where we go back to a favorite place and just chill/let our brains scab over. For many years, that was renting the same cottage with my family on Lake Champlain north of Burlington.

I prefer the flexibility of car travel. Plane travel is a big hassle these days. Have not taken a long distance train ride, but that sounds fun.

[Float On]

Hermann is very cute! I just wish we didnt have to drink Missouri wine when there.

I came to like the Hermannhof wine that weekend. Or maybe I just drank so much it didn't matter any more. It was a new poorly done art show. First and last year.

[CathyA]

What's this vacation of which you speak? We don't do vacations.........even when we need them. DH is the only head guy of his company and can never leave. But to be fair.......neither of us fly, have never really wanted to leave our pets with anyone/or a kennel. So it's our own fault. But I always thought I'd love to be in a cabin in the pacific northwest........or go to some of the big birding places around the country.

[Teacher Terry]

I have known people that never got to take vacations until they sold their business, farm, etc.

[razz]

Just a note, Cathy - it seems that your place is where people dream of 'getaway vacationing' from the pictures you have posted.

[HappyHiker]

We both love nature and pretty places. Really enjoy gentle hikes, canoe or kayaking, Rails to Trails, live theater and music. We live near the ocean so are drawn to mountains, rivers, lakes and woods. A change of scenery is refreshing, yes?

Lately we've been doing car trips no further than 2 days away to towns with outdoor recreation and cultural possibilities. We like to rent a cabin or a room with some cooking facilities. Don't like eating every meal out and we watch our diets so want to cook some even if it's simple things like salads.

Would love to go to Europe more (have a lengthy bucket list), but the expense of airfare and the pain of flying keep us from going.

The key motivators for us are "easy and pretty."

Been thinking about exploring pet/house sitting in trade for accommodations. I've been pet-sitting for about 4 years now (a pet owner for 50 years!) and have some wonderful clients (two-legged and four-legged!) locally who have me stay in their homes while they're away. It's great for the pets and I've stayed in some nifty homes with nice gardens and lots of books. So far I've not signed up with any of the online services, but do think about it. But it might be a busman's holiday, too.

[CathyA]

Just a note, Cathy - it seems that your place is where people dream of 'getaway vacationing' from the pictures you have posted.

That's sweet of you to say, razz! We definitely do enjoy this place. :)

[Florence]

I hate travel so of course for the last 48 years I have been married to a person who loves to travel. I live on 4 lovely partially wooded acres, I have a butterfly garden, and bird feeders, and 100 year old oak trees. For much of my life I had to leave my home every day and go to work. Staying home with my cats and quilting and books is my vacation. You guys can go sit in traffic or stand in airport lines, I like my own bed and bathroom and kitchen. YMMV.

[catherine]

I hate travel so of course for the last 48 years I have been married to a person who loves to travel. I live on 4 lovely partially wooded acres, I have a butterfly garden, and bird feeders, and 100 year old oak trees. For much of my life I had to leave my home every day and go to work. Staying home with my cats and quilting and books is my vacation. You guys can go sit in traffic or stand in airport lines, I like my own bed and bathroom and kitchen. YMMV.

I essentially agree with you, but I am so grateful for the opportunity to travel for business. Sure, it's fatiguing, but it's so much fun for me to go to different places. I love flying, I love hanging out in airports, I love new places and new experiences.

I just got off a plane 2 hours ago. I'm in Dallas for two days and then off to San Francisco mid-week, then home on a red-eye and then to Florida early next week. I'm having fun. It's not "vacation" for sure--not with hours and hours of work while I'm here, but it's still fun.

I do feel guilty about the carbon footprint of all my travel.... I'm hoping that someone will come up with a solar-powered airplane.

[Gardenarian]

History, museums, foreign cities.
There is great natural beauty where I live, and lots of variety within a couple of hours drive - lots of great day trips.

I love traveling in Europe and want to do more! Next year dh and I are thinking of driving to the east coast and then taking a flight to Iceland. From there, to Sweden, Germany, Italy, and beyond.

Dh is very tall and can't handle long flights. I'm 5'4" and feel cramped in plane seats.

I am concerned about the carbon footprint, too...

[CathyA]

I've heard that a "vacation" can just be doing anything different than your usual routine. That's true. When DH has a meeting to go to in the evening after his work, and I don't have to have the same schedule/make dinner, etc., it feels like a mini vacation!