MikeT: You got the right idea. That's why we leave Miami on a Saturday. And don't get to Key West on Wednesday. 'Bout 30-35 miles a day. Keys speed. Heck, you could even do it on a conch cruiser! (Get an awful sunburn, though...)

Hi! Good question. I am wondering if jam packing vacations goes along with our society these days. Most people get 2 weeks of vacation a year and want to make the most of their time and money during vacation. Sometimes, I will hear people talk about their trips and say "I need a vacation after my vacation." As for me, it depends on the destination. My husband and I went to Playa del Carmen for our honeymoon a few years ago and we really just hung out on the beach the whole time except walking into town one day. That is what we wanted to do though. We are now planning for a trip to Europe in 2005 and I know that we will stay pretty busy seeing things but I know we will relax as well. It does depend on your personality but I think if you stay too busy on vacation you can get burned out.

Good thought Mike. We want relaxation but also want things to do if we ge the urge. Nothing over the top, just some nice sightseeing at our leisure.

Reading this post made me realize an interesting pattern I have fallen into these last few years. Months before a trip I do tons of voracious research and make copious notes and schedule each day. When we are actually there, we enjoy the relaxation part of it so much we don't want to go running around. (This is especially true of tropical vacations.) Like many others here, we keep a few key things and go with the flow the rest of the time. On a recent trip to NYC for instance, the weather was so beautiful we sat for hours at an outdoor cafe people-watching. On another day we had a blast watching the dogs jump in and out of the water at Bethesda Fountain in Central Park. It's the unexpected things you make time for that make a trip special.

I try really hard to take a relaxing vacation every once in a while. I teach full time, plus my hubby and I own a business, plus I'm active in clubs and politics. I NEED to relax. If I'm at home, there is always something I should be doing. I also have an aging mother who needs more time for little things she needs done. If I'm home, I feel obligated to do all those things that are piling up. I hardly ever have time to relax at home and just read a book! Vacation is for that. But at least a third of my trips are business related and, if not hectic, they are at least busy with "required" things to do!

This must be why I cruise or go to a beach (FLA, Oahu etc) alone!! No hubby, no phone, nothing to do but veg out!! I go at my own pace and do only what I want to do!

I am fortunate in that I have lots more than the typical two week vacation every year. I get to travel on "major" trips at least 4 or 5 times a year, often covering both Asia and Europe in the same year.

So to answer the original post... YES, I take vacations just to relax (when I can).

No, I find sitting around "relaxing" to be boring. If I wanted to do nothing, I could do it at home where I'm guaranteed a comfortable bed, a wonderful shower, and as much room as I need. Fortunately, my husband agrees, so it works for us.

Don't like the beach much, just people watching loses it's appeal quickly, and I always feel like I'm missing something.

For me, great vacations are: a Western ski week, a theater weekend in NY, or going someplace new and learning what makes that place special.

I too do not like to sleep in when on vacation, however, I'm not a party/night person who stays up late (usually in bed by 10 pm). I always rationalize that if I wanted to sleep in late I could have stayed home. Actually getting up early is so pleasurable, the crowd is still asleep, especially if you go to a popular beach resort, and walk around at 6 or 7 a.m. It's like having the beach all to yourself. What is also nice is a Saturday/Sunday morning stroll in D.C. right at or around the Capitol - no tour buses around the Smithsonian Air & Space yet, no loud noises.

I am definitely a night person, especially on a city trip. I love to take in the vibrancy of a city at night. That means I do like to sleep in a little in the day. That being said, I do a lot of planning in advance to make sure that I know what I want to do and see in the day. I agree with others that it is best to have a plan but also to be willing to go off-plan, depending on how you feel, what you stumble across, what the weather is like, etc.

Just relax....NO WAY! Way to borning for us. We like to travel while on vacation to different locations, hike, sitesee but we will take time to relax at beautiful different settings along the way.

Utahtea

I don't think I have ever taken a vacation that others would deem relaxing. I travel to see new things, not relax-- I can stay home and do that. When I travel, I want to get the most out of my trip and for me that means seeing as much of the area as possible in the limited time given.

We are such voracious TRAVEL JUNKIES that being on the go exploring IS relaxing! We try to see and do as much as we can everywhere we go, but always leave wiggle room in case something catches our eye. Having said that, we do love the long beach weekend but even then we try to find something new and special to do. Again, to us, that IS relaxing.

As my fave jon bon jovi says, you can sleep when you're dead!

Interesting replies.

I think that I probably am one of those people who just doesn't like being scheduled. I read people's trip itineraries and they sound more akin to the Bataan Death March then a vacation. We must do this, this, this, and this today. Sound too much like work.

Admittedly, however, I don't have kids so I don't need to keep them entertained so that's not my priority. If I want to come back to the hotel in the middle of the day and take a nap or put my feet up, I do. Maybe I'm just really lazy. <g>

I've enjoyed the responses too.

For me, and my family, doing more active-type activities is what's relaxing, or rather, what makes the vacation a change from the everyday routine. I recently realized (duh) why I'm not interested in a spa day or vacation - when I have free time (ha), my idea of fun is to go biking or horseback riding, not sitting around indoors.

That's not to say that on either grownups-only or kids-included vacations we don't do slower-paced things, too. We include leisurely breakfasts, time on the beach watching seals, picnic lunches, and so on. And our city trips always include people-watching and cafe-sitting (or playground-sitting with takeout coffee).

And I'm mid-range on the pre-scheduling. For our upcoming trip (with kids), we've had to make reservations for several activities in advance. But other than that, we have a "must-do" list and a "maybe-do" list, and we'll do whatever we feel like doing at the time.

I have never relaxed on vacation. The closest I came was when I was on an Alaskan cruise and we didn't port for 3 days. I loved the scenery, but I was bored just being on the ship. All of my past travels have been filled with things to do and see.

I couldn't imagine going to NYC and spending my precious vacation time reading a book! I used to think that people who wanted to "just go lay on a beach somewhere" were dull twits with no interest in other cultures, history, etc. But then I realized that many of those people are parents with hectic schedules filled with mommy/daddy chores. I don't have children, so if I want to go home after work and relax with a glass of wine, a book, a facial or what not, I can indulge my whims.

On vacation, I am looking for adventure and excitment; but I do understand why some people just want to chill and relax because they can't in their daily lives. Thankfully, their are places for all of us to enjoy

I'm also a 'non-relaxer'. I get bored to easy. And when I am somewhere new I have to see and do everything.
I have traveled with people who are not like this but we take time to go our own way during the day and maybe meet up for meals.
I usually don't refer to my trips as vacations but as trips.

there not their! I need to proof read my posts as well!

We mix it up. A relaxing vacation is 4 days in the carribean or something. European vacations are more hectic. However, I don't cram the days. If I see 80% of what is on my list, I consider the trip a success. I ALWAYS kill the day at 4pm so we can nap in the room for a few hours before heading out to dinner and our evening stroll or theater plans. I find this works well and keeps the hubby from getting too much 'overload'.

MikeT - LOL at the Bataan Death March comment. I don't like to be scheduled either. I like things to be more open ended so that we can adjust our plans if there is something interesting along the way. I like to have lodging taken care of and a few things planned, but also allow time for "Hey, what's that over there?"

I'm a chaise lounge by the pool/beach with Juan bringing me fruity umbrella cocktails kinda girl. My husband is an action and adventure kinda guy.

We alternate days.

Mike I am with you on that one!! Heck I love beach Vacations and just lounging and having no set plans!!
I just got back from a long weekend in Hawaii where I did almost no sightseeing. Just a drive around the island. I had fun, I relaxed and it was fine for me.
We stayed in Key West last summer. Chilled at the hotel and wandered around downtown, it worked for us.