¡Hola de México!
That’s 95% of what I remember from high school Spanish.
There are as many reasons to travel as there are travelers. It is not just about getting your picture taken with the latest cartoon creation… not that there’s anything wrong with that. But sometimes you may want to add a side of education to your adventures.
You all know by now that I LOVE to travel. In fact, I am in Tulum, Mexico as I type this. We came for a wedding, but left time for a few adventures! We’re headed to the Mayan ruins today, for example.
Some destinations that have little to do with adventure or relaxation, and everything to do with learning about a historical event by putting yourself in the middle of it. Oregon trail travel packages will likely be high on the list for that kind of trip.
Side note: anyone else remember the Oregon Trail computer game?!
It’s likely your next trip will either be for adventure or relaxation. Often the choice you make is a result of the business you happen to be in. If your job is sedentary, you might be looking for some type of adventure to get the blood pumping. If your job is very stressful, you’re more apt to be seeking relaxation.
Paragliding in Interlaken, Switzerland
There is a big difference between these two kinds of vacations. From preparation to destination to activities, your choices will be quite different! Here is what you need to know:
Choose One
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when going on vacation is attempting to do it all in a single trip. You will end up doing nothing very well. And by the time you get home, you will feel like you need a vacation. That unsatisfied feeling is most often the result of not focusing on either adventure or relaxation. Trust me, I made this mistake going to Italy a few years back – we planned VERY differently on this recent trip.
One of the biggest challenges to choosing a theme are those spectacular locations that are conducive to both high adventure and deep relaxation. The Welk timeshare contact page on social media provides an excellent example of a location that can be both relaxing and adventurous.
The key point to remember about the Welk timeshare locations is that they are minutes away from San Diego Safari Park, beaches, and LegoLand. The Temecula Valley wine country is also within reach. There is a lot going on at a place like that. And that is exactly why you have to decide upfront what kind of vacation you want to have. We were looking for a combination of relaxation and adventure last year when Vegas, Lucie, and I spent Christmas at the Palm Springs resort!
A Restful Retreat
If what you want is a restful retreat, you will be looking for a place that feel decadent and offers impeccable service. You know the kind… one of those places where room service is so laughably expensive that you will want to try it once just to say you did.
You will want to pay extra for the hot tub in the room and the waterfront view. You want it to be just a few steps away from the beach because a few steps from your luxurious room is as far as you ever want to travel.
For this type of vacation, you will also want to save some of the budget for fine dining, sight-seeing, and of course, everyone’s favorite, shopping.
Another great activity for a relaxation-focused trip is photography. Forbes list the world’s best destinations for travel photographers in 2016. But you don’t have to go all the way the Chile for beautiful pictures. The world is full of beauty at almost every turn. Wherever you go for your relaxing vacation, just remember to bring your camera.
Tuscany really DOES look like a postcard.
Sleepless Adventure
You don’t have to go zip lining through Bootleg Canyon for the adventure vacation of a lifetime. There are lots of places in the world devoted to sleepless adventure. Whether it’s rock climbing, skiing, surfing, or reliving the old west cattle drive Oregon Trail-style, the possibilities are endless!
The thing you don’t want to do is overspend for your accommodations. You want to be in the room long enough to care. You will be spending the kind of days that will have you asleep before your head hits the pillow. The only creature comfort worth splurging may be a good masseuse. If you are anything like me, you are going to have a few kinks to work out. After that, its back to the Running of the Bulls.
My current view
Have the best vacation possible by not trying to do it all in one trip. Get the best room you can afford when it is time to relax. And go for the most adventure when it is time to play. It’s all about balance!
[Tweet “Traveling for Adventure vs. #Traveling for Relaxation: Here’s What You Need to Know!”]
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There’s so much to do and see in the world… I get overwhelmed sometimes thinking about it!
Are you more of an adventure or relaxation vacation person?
What is your dream vacation?
Let’s just say we do adventure with the kids and relaxation (with a smidge of adventure) when we’re alone!! You know I have to have SOME adventure in every trip but, I also want to feel like I took a vacation when I come home.
I also did not know there was a LegoLand in San Diego. Hmmmmm. Boys are dying to go there and I did not want another trip to Florida, so thank you for that. Also thank you for the 30 seconds of Mexico. I really needed that as I woke up to 3 inches of snow and a 2 hour school delay.
Send champagne immediately!
Enjoy Mexico!!!!
The nice thing about where we just went was that they had a huge kids program – like they even had their own jungle building!
If you ever make it out to SD’s Legoland, we MUST hang out. The kids can go to Knott’s Berry Farm too (an amusement part).
If you’re stranded, I hope it with champagne. Pairs well with sugar cookies. 😉
You make such a great point. And when I needed to hear this morning. I have it in my brain I could do a restful retreat with adventure day trips. Now I’m thinking I may need to separate the two out L!
I think you CAN do it, but you have to do it over a longer period. To much running around is exhausting… that’s when I feel like I need a vacation after my vacation!
I would agree–pick one or the other or go for a long enough time to do both, but it might require a change of venue, etc.
Just make sure you don’t get dysentery.
Or cholera.
I visited Tulum a few years ago and loved it! It was definitely more of a relaxing vacay but we did an excursions with zipling and rapelling and also went out off the resort out in downtown Playa del Carmen. We are headed to the bahamas in February for a trip that I’m sure will be most relaxing with a little bit of adventure thrown in! Enjoy Mexico 🙂
I wish we’d gotten over to Playa del Carmen! Next time!
The Bahamas are so much fun. Can’t wait to read about it!
I guess you could say that most of the time we travel for family or for adventure; our mountain vacations are usually for relaxation. 🙂 I love how you drew the distinction. <3 It's SO AWESOME that God Almighty has made a big big world to explore. We won't even explore it all in this life time.
Mountain vacations are one of my favorites! We have two coming up… though most of the time will be spent skiing. 🙂
I think you need to be a full on travel blog. And then invite me to tag along. Next stop New Zealand! You’d love the bungee there. /and wine… duh
If I could get paid to travel… I’d be in heaven!
I always try to do it all! Loving this travel series
We can’t do just one or the other usual. Too much gogogo is draining and too much sitting around is boring. So we always make sure our trips are long enough to intersperse days of doing nothing with adventure.
The length is key! We’ve tried to pack WAY to much into under a week before and it’s stressful!
I am more of an adventure girl – I like to explore on vacations.
Same here! Vegas and I are forever compromising… and sometimes I leave her behind to lounge!
Most of my vacations tend to be of the adventure variety, but not in the traditional sense. More like trying to find the best burger in SE Asia, trying to find our hotel while tripping out, getting on a 10 hour bus to a city I’ve never heard of, etc. Hahaha
This does not surprise me at all. LOL! And I bet you have a blast doing it!
You know that I LOVE to travel too! I usually go more for adventurous trips with some relaxation mixed in. I’ve definitely gone on trips that were amazing, but so go-go-go that I came home feeling exhausted! Ha, I have a Welk timeshare and NEED to get on looking up where I want to travel to with it next year… so many possibilities!
I hope that Mexico was a blast. You mentioned the other day that you’re in town now for a bit….and I’m obviously leaving for 2 weeks next week! Haha. Let’s catch up in January lady! 🙂
Right?! We’re using ours in February for Tahoe, but did you know Colorado is open now?
Of course you’re out of town. LOL! January it is!
Right now I just want relaxation. I would settle for a solid night’s sleep without interruption. The tiny human has been up the last three out of four days. I didn’t gt a pedicure or massage yesterday since I could barely function. I chose a power nap instead. Sigh.
Send me Mexico pictures so I can live vicariously through you.
Oh friend… she’ll grow out of it. Have a drink. Have 12.