Vacation Ideals: 15 Key Things that all Vacations Need to Include (6-10)

February 04, 2016 1 Comment

6. Planned periods of...spontaneity

Everyone likes the idea of getting lost while traveling... so you should totally do it!! Planned periods of spontaneity allow you to follow your intuition and gut-feeling, which are an essential part of travel! So make time in your schedule to do some impromptu-unplanned exploring. Not planning activities and just doing them also leaves room for serendipity: unplanned ideas or actions that lead to astonishing and beneficial results. For example, running into a girl at 5am on the London (England) transit system, after a full night of "socializing," getting told there is a London trial marathon starting in two hours, and deciding on the spot to run it with her is serendipity. Winding up in the hospital 15 hours later is not – that's just a product of horrible decision making... (stay tuned for that blog post)

7. Planned periods of...planned periods

Everyone likes the idea of getting lost while traveling... but really, if you don't plan your vacation before going on it, you are going to waste time planning during your vacation – that's time away from exploring your new wonderland!! My recommendation is to make a list of exciting things that you want to do – in advance – then plot them within a manageable time frame, so that you can accomplish all the things that you set out to do! Also, think about local friends and tour guides who can show you hidden and local secrets – natives know the hotspots.

8. Travel with people you love (family and close friends)

I can't put my finger on this one, but something about being halfway around the world, in a country full of strangers or "foreigners," makes me feel that much closer to the people I am with. Okay, no, wait, I have it, "the closeness of family is emphasized by the contrast of the big world" Also, my adrenaline-junkie/masculine side would never admit this, but maybe I am nervous being outside my comfort zone and having family and friends there to offer comfort and support gives me peace of mind. Okay, no, wait, now I actually have it, "it takes being really far away to experience feeling really close together" – now that's a paradox!!!

9. Appreciate the little things

"Where ever you are, be there." It's that simple. If you are on a promontory (word drop) looking out at a bay in Australia, Greece, Costa Rica, etc. – take it all in. Live in the moment and appreciate the little things.

10. Learning...

S***, did I just end part 2 of vacation ideals with learning... Everyone's favourite word thanks to 15+ years of schooling, which tainted that word for the rest of our lives!! But wait, let me defend myself, Winston Churchill hit the nail on the head when he said, "I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught." When we are forced to learn we don't like learning, but the reality is, we learn things everyday and when we are the drivers behind our quest for knowledge, we are addicts, glued to the subject or activity for hours on end. Learning makes you a better version of yourself – Blake Cronyn, first words ever spoken, copyright 1989, trademark, patent no. 109578930 – remember that next time you travel.

Thanks for reading! Here's part two of my Nelson, BC trip where I try to live out these vacation ideals!!