What is Your Dream Vacation?

By Janice Carter and Lee McKenzie

Janice here. When Lee suggested “What is your dream vacation?” for today’s post, my first thought was Wow! How will I ever narrow it down to a single place? At the same time, I realized that in the past, I’d have answered that question many different ways.

Before kids and marriage, I’m sure I’d envision something exotic as well as thrilling and adventurous. Even though that’s not the kind of person I am – or was, even then. But I do know that’s the kind of risk-taker I’d have liked to be in another lifetime or in a parallel universe.

Later, as a mother with two very young children, my idea of a dream vacation would have been a weekend anywhere and any place, without kids. I did have that opportunity, but when they were old enough to eat, dress and use the bathroom with no assistance so the sensation of freedom wasn’t quite as exhilarating.

When the kids were off to college and I was still working full-time, my dream vacation was a 4-star, all-inclusive resort in Cuba during one of the busiest times of year if you were a teacher in Ontario – March Break. I remember the early scramble to the beach to get a ‘palapa’ and lounge chairs, the long, lazy mornings that merged into early afternoon and the promise of poolside cocktails or another foraging at the all-day buffet. Even the unexpected encounter with a student and her parents—what were the chances?—was only slightly discombobulating. (Did I mention I was a teacher-librarian?)

Retirement meant we could vacation any time of the year and we had a wonderful opportunity to swap houses with another couple who live in western Canada but own a beachside house on the Gulf of Mexico in the Yucatan. Their daughter, who lives in Toronto, was about to give birth to their first grandchild and someone (could it have been me?) had the brilliant idea of exchanging homes - our wintery Canadian one for their winter refuge in Mexico.


I think we got the best part of that arrangement, though they’d argue otherwise. Sadly, their second grandchild was a summer baby!

I guess any vacation can be a dream one if it means an escape from stressful, busy lives. But in my golden years (or should I say silver?) the lure of luxury and pampering is irresistible. I’m opting for a first-class European river cruise with all the perks (Verandah Suite?) followed by a stay at a world-famous hotel somewhere….anywhere.

Until that hypothetical lottery win, I’ll continue to enjoy my own version of a dream vacation here at Garden Island with various members of my family – a high end bottle of domestic sparkling wine and a couple of steaks. The first-class part? Letting the others clean up.


***

Lee here. My list of dream vacations is so long, it’s difficult to narrow them down. And virtually impossible to take, unless I win that lottery Janice mentioned. Like Janice, I'm not very adventurous. To make matters worse, I hate flying. Really hate it, always have, and so that's a limiting factor. Still, I can dream! So, selected from my very long list of dream vacations, here's a sample:

A trans-Atlantic crossing aboard the Queen E.

A rustic lake-front cabin at remote Lake O’Hara in the rugged Canadian Rockies.

A rafting trip through Grand Canyon. Can you imagine?


Hiking in Iceland. So beautiful.


But the reality—now that I’m a grandmother—is that my ideal vacation is all about family and very different from my dream vacation. Wading in tide pools and building sandcastles by day.


Mesmerizing seaside sunsets with a glass of wine in the evening. Laid back, relaxing, and the perfect way to recharge.


I may never to get Iceland or cruise the Atlantic on a luxury ocean liner, but I can never spend enough time with family.

So our question for you is...what’s your dream vacation? Do you think you’ll take it someday? And if not, how do you spend your ideal vacation time? We hope you’ll share, and we wish you a wonderful summer.

And until next time, happy reading.

Lee and Janice

Comments

  1. Loved your story of the house swapping (there must be a book idea in there somewhere :) Like you, I have a lot of places I'd love to visit. If I didn't hate flying so much and traveling wasn't so expensive, I'd go to New Zealand and Thailand!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don’t dislike flying, Cathy, but admit to night-before insomniac jitters. We went to Thailand years ago, before kids. It’s a beautiful country but long flights aren’t very appealing these days. As to house swapping...hmmm...I’m sure it’s been done but maybe a unique take on th idea? :)

      Delete
    2. My favorite house-swap story is The Holiday. I watch it every Christmas! I could never manage a flight to New Zealand, but my daughter has been there twice. I live vicariously.

      Delete
  2. I love this post because I love to travel! Adventures or just going away alone to a place for a writing retreat. I went to Scotland last summer with six others and the focus was the Orkneys and other West Coast islands and ancient sites. It was one of the best trips ever. I love the idea of house swapping--my older sister has this as formal arrangement with Home Exchange, and it works for her because she has a great loft in downtown Chicago, where so many people want to go. I get to tag along sometimes, once in Iceland over one Christmas and another Christmas in a downtown apartment in Dublin. Put me near water, ocean, lake, or river, and it's always the best vacation. Now my whole day is going to be musing about Cuba and that river cruise--wow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. House swapping m Chicago sounds very appealing, Virginia (hint hint) and you’re lucky your sister included you in the deal! Many of my friends and family have been to Iceland and it sounds like a unique place to visit. You must like fish though. My sister-in-law sent a pic of a menu featuring “rotten shark”!

      Delete
    2. Virginia, I'm envious of anyone who has been to Iceland. And I love fish! We've never done a house swap, but there are some great vacation home rentals online these days, especially if you want to get a large family group together. Much cheaper than a hotel, and a fully equipped kitchen saves money, too.

      Delete
  3. I still want to visit Ireland in my lifetime. But I really hate flying any more as they keep tightening spaces in seating.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Roz, I hate being crammed into an airline seat, especially for a long flight. We often pay for the extra leg room seats and that’s worth the expense. Ireland sounds like a lovely country...one more for my list!

      Delete
    2. Roz, I hope you get to kiss the Blarney Stone some day :)

      Delete
  4. We went to Cuba a year and a bit ago. My husband had food poisoning the second day, and so that is not a memory we wish to revisit. Last December we were in Martinique in a beautiful isolated villa that was right on the water, but only a five minute walk from a bustling tourist town. Incredible. This winter, we're taking the boat south to the Caribbean, which will be pretty awesome ( hope). But there are so many places: Scotland and New Zealand both sound amazing, Greece would be a spectacular place with the boat, I'd love to see the pyramids...

    Now how am I going to get any work done today?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sailing to the Caribbean sounds like a real dream vacation, Kim, if I didn’t have to actually be on a sail boat! 😜😜

      Delete
    2. Oh, the pyramids. Adding those to my list.

      Delete
  5. Odd as this may sound, I'd love to visit Russia. My husband and therefore kids have Russian heritage, and because of that I studied the people and its wild history. A intriguing, complicated land.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Russia does sound amazing and I think there are cruises that go there. Would love to see The Hermitage! Do it!

      Delete
    2. I agree--do it. I was lucky to visit Moscow in the '70s--I know, an odd to go. But when the bus from the airport rolled into the center of town it was snowing on St. Basil's cathedral. Talk about a postcard. I understand the river cruises that include Russia are quite spectacular. I've put them in the back of my mind, too.

      Delete
    3. Virginia, do you have photos of your visit to Moscow? I'm thinking...future blog post!

      Delete
  6. We're going to be RVers in 9 years. I can hardly wait. We'll summer in Canada first, so send me any ideas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So much to see and do in Canada, Pamela. And maybe Garden Island could be on the list?? But 9 years is a long time.....

      Delete
    2. The Canadian Rockies will not disappoint. Banff, Lake Louise, the Columbia Icefields, Jasper...breathtaking. And if you make it as far west as Vancouver Island...how does high tea sound?

      Delete
  7. Replies
    1. You said it Callie! And to be honest, sometimes the dreams are more fun.

      Delete
    2. I think Albert Einstein said "Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions." So let's dream on.

      Delete
  8. Yes, what Callie said! I love most every vacation, and I love coming home every time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So do I, Liz. Always makes home seem so much more welcome.

      Delete
    2. Me too, Liz! In fact, I love home so much that I've been known to have the occasional stay-cation...

      Delete
  9. Someday, we want to do one of those river cruises across Europe. Hubby has done the 3 week Grand Canyon rafting trip. He loved it. Great photos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ooh, rafting. That sounds adventurous...like sailing to the Caribbean. But I loved looking at the Grand Canyon from above!

      Delete
    2. Beth, I so envy your husband that trip! I have stood on the rim of Grand Canyon, which is breathtaking, but to be in it and looking up must be awe-inspiring.

      Delete

Post a Comment