Yeah, yeah, I know – everyone needs a vacation. But, did I say I NEED a vacation? No I didn’t. I said I want a vacation. There is a big difference. I don’t need a vacation – which implies that I’m over worked, tired, or just plain need a break away from the day-to-day life that is working full-time. In all honesty my job ROCKS! I love what I do. Every day is a new adventure and I get to learn new things and face new challenges all that time. So, I don’t need a break away from it.

More to my point – I want a vacation. I want a couple of weeks, a week, or even just a weekend with just my husband and my kids. We could go to the beach and chill, hit the high traffic pavement of Disney, or just stay home with the phones and internet turned off as we play board games and eat my husbands famous guacamole. Avocado is a “smart” food after all. 🙂

So, what would my dream vacation be? I’m not really sure. It would have to have something for everyone. That would mean – a golf course for my husband (and my kids since they love to go to the driving range), a pool for me (because I prefer the pool to the ocean), the beach for my kids (because they love to make sand castles), an outlet mall for well – all of us (because we do love to shop), and some great local restaurants, because while I’m on vacation I don’t like eating at the same restaurants I could eat at back home!

Over the past three summers we have: (1) Rented a house on the beach, (2) Did the Disney thing, and (3) Took the ocean by storm on a Royal Caribbean Cruise to the Bahamas.

Although I enjoyed all of the trips I think Disney was my favorite. Why? Well, for starters my kids. I loved watching their faces light up every time a new princess walked by, or when Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck gave them hugs. There is just nothing like seeing your child meet their favorite Disney characters to make your heart melt.

Don’t get me wrong the beach had its advantages too. For starters the beach was the most relaxing of the three vacations – and for that I will go back (sooner rather than later). DISNEY IS NOT RELAXING!!! Don’t let anyone tell you that it is. You walk all day and end up carrying your sleeping children the last mile to make it back to the hotel shuttle at the end of the night.

At the beach you chill all day, take a stroll on the beach, and eat light healthy meals. At Disney although you get all the exercise you need to work off your food, the food you do get is greasy mass-produced Buffett style food that tastes like it was cooked two hours before you ordered. Plus – there isn’t a lot of variety when dining at Disney.

Wait, I didn’t mention the Cruise did I? Well, you see – that is because although I did enjoy myself (a lot) I don’t plan to go back. I get motion sickness (ALL THE TIME). Put me in a car for longer than thirty minutes and I feel sick. So, being on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean for five days (four nights) I literally wanted to throw up 90% of the time, even after taking medications to prevent motion sickness, wearing the silly looking sea bands around my wrists, and chewing ginger gum! Yes, I did it all. And did I manage to not throw up? NO! I threw up two out of the four nights. So, for that reason alone, and I think it’s a good one, I don’t plan to return to the ship!

Well, those are my thoughts on vacationing – What are yours? Where have you been lately or where are you planning to go? Share your vacation stories here, because if who else wants to hear them?!

Have a creative day 🙂