JJ5

And actually, we do have friends and close ones, and I have too- worked physically and hard for long, long days. It's not just "back in the day" when people worked real work. Not everyone has a white collar job, although most Fodorites probably do. But don't speak for all of us, as if our jobs were without any physical labor.

And my Dad lifted garbage cans for 55 hours a week, worked a salt truck and still wanted to adventure on vacation- so I guess it's more relative to the personal choice. Some people don't have one desire to leave a deck chair- except if it's for obtaining a tasty morsel or drink.

kureiff

Karens: That is our favorite kind of romantic vacation, too. One of our best vacations was to Moab where we biked and hiked everyday. I like a lot of activity during my vacations.

J_Correa

I think whether people want a relaxing or active vacation depends a lot on what else is going on in their lives.

Right now I am half way through a particularly tough semester of graduate school and I work full time. Sitting on a beach sipping alcoholic beverages and reading for a few days sounds lovely to me right now. As such, I planned a camping trip right after finals so I will have the option to sit around all I want - or go hiking and beachcombing as the mood strikes me. I wouldn't want to sit around at home because there is too much work to do there. I wouldn't actually relax.

Last summer we took a similar camping trip and it was lovely to be able to read by the river in the afternoons or nap. Just what I needed to recharge.

Later this summer, we have a trip to Germany planned, which will be a very active trip. By then, I plan to be absolutely recharged and ready to go.

seetheworld

I wouldn't consider travel for business relaxing. Maybe early in a person's career it's exciting, but when you are doing it for umpteem years, it becomes old fast. Sure there are great dinners and nice perks such as FF miles and reward points, but in the end a bowl of cereal looks real good sometimes.

In fact, the only way I'll get to Charleston, SC is if I tag along on a business trip, because if it's a business travel destination, it won't become a vacation destination. That's the rule.

Stephanie

Ever since 2001 when I moved into my late maternal g-ma's house to live I don't want to travel. I live on same property as Mom and we have a nice sized yard and I will be taking off time this summer (July 4th) and just stay at home or go to the Grove City PA Outlets or some other local destination. Just last March 3rd we travelled 36-40 miles over to Newell, WV and toured the Fiestaware factory and then went onto Rogers OH and went to the Friday flea market and I really enjoyed myself and returned home easily by 5:30p. Some of the best places are 500 plus miles away!

PamT

Every year we travel to Mexico in February to do nothing but lie on the beach, read books and rest.

My husband works ~70 hour weeks and he needs a vaction that involves no computer, no phone, no "connection" to work in anyway. He doesn't "rest" at home at all because he works even at home-so there are no "lazy" days.

Summers are a little better because I can coax him away on a Sunday afternoon for a convertible ride if its nice out

Travel is stressful for me - but just the part of getting there and home. The middle part is great!

We also take another vacation during the year (last year we went to Europe-this year it's DisneyWorld with our whole family) where we run from morning to night trying to fit in as much sight seeing as possible.

We both love to travel but have noticed that as we've gotten older it is more stressful and tiring. I specifically remember being in Ireland in September about 1 week into the vacation and saying to my husband that I was ready to go home!
After all home is where the heart is Pam

JJ5

Yes, it definitely changes with age- but at the same time, regardless of what is happening in my life (2 jobs, sick parents etc.) I still find find it almost impossible to "sit". That's work for me. I read everyday- I've never slept as much as other people do. My daughter doesn't either.

If I want to "veg" out- I go to Michigan and try to lay on the deck or on a raft, but to tell you the truth that very seldom lasts more than 2 hours and then I'm going to a vineyard or fruit picking or doing something else at the local Southwestern Michigan University's little Museum.

So you see, some of us just don't "relax" by laying there. I do think it's partly genetic. I've tried to beach or pool sit. After my first book, I'm done. And I read fast.

Ozarksbill

Comments as I respond to different ideas. First, I can say that age is indeed a factor and that getting older means more stress in highway driving and the rest. Just look at how younger drivers weave in and out of traffic, no stress at all!

Then I can see that what some want on a vacation others might not. And the same person will want different things the same day, e.g., vigorous hiking in the daytime and then restfully reading a book in the evening. Also while some might venture forth to see far away places with strange sounding names, others are content with simply dining out or a trip to the mall. I remember someone looking puzzled about my intended trip to Ireland: "Why are you going there? Do you have family in Ireland?"

As to generalizing about all people wanting the familiar and comfortable, well I'm guessing that there isn't a one among us who doesn't appreciate his/her own bed with just the right pillow, having good friends to chat with, glancing out the front window at those tulips in bloom, looking at the morning paper and the mail every day, shopping at a grocery store where you are familiar with where items are, having that loving pet jump on your lap, knowing that you have a job to go to every day, and all the other routines in life.

ozarksbill

girlonthego

Travel is not very relaxing. I am married to a man on the move "mr.onthego"! He can't sit still!
His motto is you can sleep when you get home.
I love to get up and tour in the city vacations. The only time I like to sit around and relax is at a beach house vacation. Even on an island, we tend to only sit for a short period of time. My DH is always planning the next activity! For our trip to Hawaii, I have tried to pre plan things so that we have the right balance of enjoying our resort and seeing everything!
I admit I like to see it all on vacation too. I find the most stressful part is getting there. I find the most fun part is the planning and research. The best is when you sit down in a restaurant that someone on Fodors recommended and it is the best place you eat in all week! Every time we dine or do an activity on vacation now, he asks, "Was this recommended by your Fodor friends?"
So, I would say a few days relaxing at a beach is nice, but I can sit by the pool in the backyard and relax. Vacation is for seeing the world...

suze

ozarksbill- OK I confess, you got me with the "loving pet" part... i do miss my cats when I travel. That said, i truly do not miss my mail, grocery store, job, etc. etc.

Tess

Interesting thread! My husband and I were dreaming the other day about retirement (we're in our mid-40's so it's a few years away) and how we look forward to long weeks of travel. Ozarksbill, your trip sounds wonderful--being able to stop anywhere that looks interesting instead of trying to cram as much as possible into a trip is truly a luxury for us right now.

With a 17 year old and a 14 year old, plus two demanding jobs and aging parents (plus our beloved basset who really is our third child), we divide out of town journeys into 'trips' and 'vacations.' Trips we take often--soccer tournaments, dance competitions, school functions, University of Nebraska football games--those are trips. Absolutely fun, but we come home exhausted. I wouldn't trade the memories for anything but the older I get, the more I long for my own bed at the end of this trips.

But vacations! That's where we hop in the car or on a plane and leave the rest of the world behind. My favorite vacation was the 7 day Caribbean cruise our family took 2 summers ago. The kids' cell phones didn't work on the ocean, MSN wasn't accessible and we had total family time for an entire week. Absolutely blissful. Of course, Mr. Tess was antsy by Day 3 but oh well...

jjah

This thread made me finally realize something. Now I know why I am permanently exhausted. My husband, daughter and I have been expats now for over 8 years. We have lived in 3 different countries during that time. All we have done is work our butts off and travel every second we get to try and make the most of the experience - great - yes, expensive - absolutely. But definitely worth it. Sure does explain why I'm stuffed.

claire_bluesky

Like someone else said, certainly the getting there and getting back are stressful. I always feel so happy and relieved when we arrive at our destination whether it's our hotel or arriving back home. While we are on vacation, we are liesurely about it. We seek out hotels, villas, etc., with fabulous views and good restaurants nearby, and always spend at least a day just relaxing and enjoying our view. We do half-days and also sleep late sometimes. We enjoy the activities but we also make time for relaxing. My husband works very long hours so he needs some down-time. I enjoy just sitting back soaking up the view. My 13-year old daughter hasn't complained yet. It's true we could relax on our own porch but it wouldn't be the same.