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When I was a kid, we spent the summer weekends at the lake. Many times those were long weekends which made the fun last longer. We swam, we boated and generally lazed around for a few days eating most of our food over an open fire.
I wouldn’t trade those memories for anything, though I’d always wished my family was the type who took the long vacation far from home. I can only remember us doing that a few times, and it was pretty clear my dad wasn’t the type who enjoyed driving endlessly. We weren’t the Art Griswold family vacationers, but it was dangerously close to it!
I was in my twenties before I ever visited Disneyland in LA, or saw Mt. Rushmore, or spent a vacation at a posh resort. Sorry, I don’t count the little cabin tucked in the woods by the lake that was little better than shelter from the sun and rain. 
On my first trip to California, I soaked up every detail with glee, something I’m sure I wouldn’t have done when I was much younger. I fell in love with the beach, with the soothing sounds of waves lapping on sand and rocks. It was a whole new world to this Midwest girl! It’s still a favorite place to unwind.
I think Webster’s Dictionary defines vacation perfectly, (especially 2 a & b.) 1: a respite or time of respite from something 2 a: a scheduled period during which activity is suspended b: a period of exemption from work granted to an employee for rest and relaxation 3: a period spent away from home or an act or instance of vacating.
Yeah, rest and relaxation. Now that’s a vacation!
What about you? Did you have favored vacation spots with your family? What’s your rest and relaxation ideal getaway?
Today is the last day to enter the giveaway at Jaunty Quills. All you have to do is comment for a chance to win a Sony e-reader!
Filed in: Writers and Writing
Jun 30th
2010
8:27 am
Crystal B. Said:
My husband and I enjoy renting a cabin in the Smokey Mountains in TN. It’s peaceful and serene but close enough to go site seeing.
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Jun 30th
2010
8:37 am
ruth Said:
A vacation is somewhere special with the one I love. Mainly a quiet, secluded beach which is my favorite place.
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Jun 30th
2010
8:40 am
Margo Maguire Said:
My husband’s west-coast cousins are coming to visit in a couple of weeks and the Michigan branch of the family is taking them on a Big Lake camping trip. Yeah, they’ve got the Pacific Ocean, but there’s nothing like our Great Lakes!
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Jun 30th
2010
8:47 am
Melanie S. Said:
Our summer vacations were always traveling to visit family in CA. Two of my favorite memories are with my grandma, our daily excursions to the library and the harbor to take a little stroll and stop and read on the benches overlooking the ocean. Whenever I am able to get out there I still love to sit on those same benches, it is one of the most peaceful places I have ever been.
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Jun 30th
2010
9:33 am
donna ann Said:
nothing special for vacation these days, just going home to visit mom. when i was a kid it was either wildwood, nj or cedar point & visiting my aunt’s family near cleveland oh. we alternated btwn locations each year. my dad was a firm believer in going away for vacation each summer.
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Jun 30th
2010
9:38 am
eap Said:
my favorite vacations are just days at home with no distractions (phone, internet, etc.)
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Jun 30th
2010
9:38 am
Gillian Said:
We went camping in a tent my entire childhood, except for one fall. My dad pulled us out of school for two weeks and we drove down the West coast, from Seattle to San Fransisco. It was amazing. Then we came home and he argued that our vacation was very educational, and refused to have us make up two weeks of homework.
Good times.
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Jun 30th
2010
9:50 am
Shana Said:
We used to go to Big Star Lake in Michigan when I was kid. Those are good memories.
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Jun 30th
2010
10:10 am
Karen H in NC Said:
I’m a Michigan girl, born & bred and I think my favorite weekend getaways were the trips I took during the peak color in Michigan’s UP. The color in the Keeweenaw and the Porcupine Mts are not to be missed. In fact, saw my first black bear traveling the back roads of the Porcupine Mountain Wilderness Park. It really is God’s Country up there. I’d live UP North if it weren’t for the snow fall. Can’t take those winters anymore…even in my home town in SE MI.
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Jun 30th
2010
10:14 am
Christi Said:
We are going to Myrtle Beach for a family vacation.
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Jun 30th
2010
10:18 am
catslady Said:
My parents didn’t really believe in vacations – I can remember a couple of weekends an hour or two away. I made up for it when I got married – my husband and I traveled for 15 years before we had children.
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Jun 30th
2010
10:20 am
Quilt Lady Said:
We didn’t take vacations much when I was growing up! To me a nice mountain cabin away from everything where its quite and pieceful! Or just relaxing at home with a nice book with nothing to do!
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Jun 30th
2010
11:02 am
elaine Said:
Vacation is going to see and reconnect with family and make up for the 11 months we missed each other, Meet the babies, the new husbands or boyfriend, HAve big dinners all together, eat marshmallow around a fire and rest the next day looking at the shinning sea.
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Jun 30th
2010
11:14 am
Laura Said:
Ideal vacation spot for me would be a house on the beach or a cabin in the mountains. In both places I would be able to take my dogs and just get away from everything for a while with a stack of books and relax.
One of my favorite places to go for fun though is Las Vegas. So much to do (and I’m not a big drinker or gambler so that’s only a very small part of my entertainment when I go there).
Among the places I hope to see before I die – Italy and France.
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Jun 30th
2010
11:32 am
Mitzi H. Said:
As an adult, my favorite vacation spot is still Kona in Hawaii. As a child, my favorite vacation was a trip to my cousins home in Orange County and fun at Disneyland and the beach.
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Jun 30th
2010
12:40 pm
runner10 Said:
I love a beach vacation. That is the perfect way to relax.
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Jun 30th
2010
12:47 pm
Janette Kenny Said:
I’ve only just driven trhough the Smoky Mtns, but they are beautiful. I hope to go back one day and really spend time there, Crystal.
Ruth, that’s so true! And I love the mountains, just about anywhere.
I have friends that have always vacationed at the Lakes, but I’ve not been there yet. One day, Margo.
Those are wonderful memories, Melanie. So agree about the beach and ocean being an idea reading spot.
Donna Ann, you dad is right. Getting away from the rouine is so crucial.
eap, that is about the only time I really unwind — iof I’m lucky enough to have absolutely nothing to do.
Wow that sounds like fun, Gillian.
Shana, I feel the same about our lake jaunts with family.
Well, after hearing Karen H’s comments about MI, I really do have to pay a visit. In the summer — I don’t do those cold winters either!
A nurse in our clinic is heading to Myrtle Beach too, Christi.
That’s ythe way, catslady. Carve out your own vacation memories — sounds like you have a lot of memories to store up.
That sounds like fun, Elaine. I’d hate to be far removed from all my family.
Laura I’d love to find a place to get away with my dog. I keep hearing about dude ranches in the west that allow big ol’ mutts like Sam. One day…
Mitzi I’m still a kid at heart when I go to Disneyland. This year I’ll visit Disney World for the first time. Going to Hawaii is my dream vacation.
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Jun 30th
2010
12:51 pm
Mary M Said:
I think one of the greatest aspects of a vacation is coming back and discovering the things that were bothering me before I left aren’t bothering me anymore. It puts everything in perspective.
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Jun 30th
2010
1:10 pm
Gail Said:
We try to take two vacations sometime each year. . . one with the kids . . . think theme park, roller coasters, water parks and a mini one with just my husband and I. . . think restful beach, weekend spa date, secluded cabin.
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Jun 30th
2010
1:19 pm
chey Said:
My ideal vacation would be going to Hawaii! (when it’s winter at home).
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Jun 30th
2010
1:32 pm
Lulu Said:
Off-season to avoid the crowds and on the shoreline. That’s all I require. Oh and a steady supply of caffeine and an internet connection.
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Jun 30th
2010
1:33 pm
Maya M. Said:
I’m paying a lot of attention to your fond childhood memories, because – I’m in process of packing up the three juniors for a long weekend at the cottage. They love going there, I love that they love it, but the truth is, it’s a bloody lot of work for the parents. I do it in the hope that I’m paying it forward for when my future adult children say ‘Mom, those were our best childhood moments, ever!’ rather than ‘Did you really have no clue how much those horrendous weekends scarred me for life????”
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Jun 30th
2010
3:05 pm
RobynDeHart Said:
Oh, I’m all about the beach. There is nothing in the world like sitting in a chair and watching and listening to the ocean lap at the sandy shoreline. It’s the most relaxing place in the world for me. I love to travel and to see different parts of the world, but when it comes to a vacation what I really want to do is find a nice reclining chair and snuggle up with a good book while the gentle waves and the cries of the gulls lulls me. *sigh*
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Jun 30th
2010
3:16 pm
Nancy Robards Thompson Said:
Every summer, my husband’s work takes him to a conference in Palm Beach and we get to stay at the Four Seasons. For three or four glorious days I get to pretend to be a lady of leisure in the lap of luxury. It’s heaven.
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Jun 30th
2010
3:23 pm
Christy Said:
One day I’d like to go to an all inclusive resort. Sit on the beach and read all day with a cute boy bringing me umbrella drinks…..I amy be 90 when I get to do it but I’m going to one day.
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Jun 30th
2010
3:39 pm
EllenToo Said:
Once my youngest brother was old enough to enjoy traveling we took a long vacation every year. My dad would do all the driving and we would take side trips if something interesting came along (This is where I get my habit of doing the same thing). The best vacation with my family was the summer after I graduated from high school….we drove to California and visited Disneyland and the San Diego Zoo and everything on the highway to San Francisco and everything in San Francisco. Then we cut across the country to home here in Texas.
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Jun 30th
2010
5:03 pm
Maureen Said:
I grew up in New Jersey and we would go to the shore. Even though I am very fair I still loved laying on the beach, walking the boardwalk and buying salt water taffey.
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Jun 30th
2010
5:08 pm
Danielle Said:
I don’t recall a family get away, but I do have many fond memories of trips with my friends. The best ones are the cruise in the Bahamas and my Spring Break trip to Florida where 5 of my friends and I stayed in a National Preserve Beach in a cabin about 300 ft from the private beach. Amazing.
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Jun 30th
2010
6:23 pm
kris Said:
we had a cottage on cape cod and spent every summer there, most of the days were at the beach. I never really envisioned going elsewhere, because we never were given any other choice. and I certainly didn’t appreciate having that much….we definitely took it for granted. my first trip on a place (or anywhere else for that matter) was to Mexico on a geology field trip. it was after the big Mexico city earthquake and we studied the damage and then drove around the country studying various other geology/topographical sites. since then I haven’t stopped and have been to almost all the 50 US states and a whole bunch of European and Asian countries.
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Jun 30th
2010
6:33 pm
Stephanie Said:
I love the Columbia River Gorge. There are so many places to hike and many beautiful waterfalls to see and swim in. The water is really cold though! I’m also a big fan of a trip to the mountains, which I haven’t done since I was a kid. Luckily I live near the ocean, which is probably my favorite place. I take walks on the beach whenever I get the time.
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Jun 30th
2010
7:35 pm
Jane Said:
I love Hawaii and have been to the Big Island and Oahu. I would love to visit Maui someday. I also enjoy cruises and hope to go on a Mediterranean one with stops in Italy and Greece.
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Jun 30th
2010
7:51 pm
Linda Henderson Said:
I don’t vacation much any more, but when I could I liked going to Branson Missouri and Eureka Springs Arkansas. Both my daughters got married in Eureka Springs and it’s beautiful there.
Good luck to everyone on the giveaway.
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Jun 30th
2010
10:00 pm
marietted Said:
Originally from New Jersey…so my summers were spent going down the shore, broadwalk strolls, orange cream ice cream, Italian sausage sandwiches. Ahhh what memories.
This year going on a Disney cruise, can’t wait.
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