Ah! It is officially summer! Time to break out the sunscreen, find out what book everyone is reading and enjoy those Summer Fridays. But before you put that vacation time in, remember to stop and ask yourself what kind of vacation you want, and how you want to feel afterward.
Consider these popular options.
THE QUIET GETAWAY
The best option for anyone truly looking for a rest. No phone, no goals, no fancy parties. This kind of trip is about turning off and staying off.
Post vacation feeling: Tranquility and luxuriously relaxed. Blissfully unproductive.
Best options: Quiet beach towns, lake houses, spas.
THE ADVENTURE
Bored of the daily grind and need a little adrenaline, consider an adventure trip. These trips usually focus on activities rather than an actual location. Adventures are best for the sportiest and extreme-loving among us, but also for people looking for more minor, family-friendly thrills, like amusement parks.
Post vacation feeling: Rejuvenated and ready to tell stories.
Best options: Mountain climbing/hiking, amusement parks, scuba-diving and skydiving.
THE EDUCATIONAL TRIP
Perfect for traveling solo or with a family, and educational trip can make an impact long after the day you return home. Traveling to a new country, exploring new cultures, visiting museums, going to theatre – basically anything that helps enrich you culturally – is considered an educational trip. Unlike the adventure, educational trips are about the adventures your mind can go on.
Post vacation feeling: Smart, knowledgeable and sharing a kinship with other people
Best options: A new city or country, Colonial Williamsburg, NYC (for its plethora of museums, theatre and cultural diversity), a place that speaks a different language
THE ROMANTIC ESCAPE
Needing to get some excitement back in your relationship or celebrating an anniversary, romantic escapes are constructed around connecting with your partner. Yes, a romantic escape could also be an adventure or educational trip, however, they difference is priorities. A true romantic escape prioritizes the romance over the adventures.
Post vacation feeling: In love and blissfully connected. More knowledgeable (and hopefully secure) of your partner and you relationship
Best options: Paris, Quebec, a spa, a secluded spot.
SUN AND FUN
For those of us looking to blow off some steam, sun and fun vacations usually include more booze, more beach and more party. Relive spring break pasts and maybe do something you will regret the next morning – all while getting a tan and spending more than you expected.
Post vacation feeling: Tired, but with stories.
Best options: Cruises, Caribbean islands, Florida beaches, resort towns.
THE ROAD TRIP
A sister option to adventures, a road trip is not for everyone. A great option for people who do not need much of a plan and like a some time cruising down the highway.
Post vacation feeling: Accomplished and having seen many things. Sleepy.
Best options: Cross Country in Two Weeks, Up the Pacific Coast Highway
FAMILY BONDING
Yes, family bonding can happen on any type of vacation, but family bonding trips are based solely on that bonding – and usually mean you are visiting family, or revisiting a place that is important to the family.
Post vacation feeling: Connected to your family.
Best options: A faraway family member’s home, a town someone grew up
Communicate with the other people you are traveling with, and determine which kind of trip you all want to have. Of course, there are combinations of the above trip, but really zeroing in on the kind of break everyone is needing will only result in a more successful trip for everyone.
Happy Summer! And remember our sunscreen!
