Beech Tree News Network

According to “Summer Vacation Travel Statistics” using 2015 data (http://www.statisticbrain.com/summer-vacation-travel-statistics/), about 45% of Americans take a summer vacation. More recently, May survey data by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research said that 43% of Americans won’t take a summer vacation (“Poll: Many Americans Can’t Afford Vacation,” Daily News, June 18, 2017, p.12A). The statistics haven’t changed too drastically. Although I haven’t taken a vacation every year, I have enjoyed the ones I’ve taken. 

Vacations are beneficial in many ways. In “Health Benefits of Taking a Vacation” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jill-l-ferguson/health-benefits-of-taking-...), Jill L. Ferguson explained that vacations reduce stress, help the heart stay healthy, improve mental health, and improve relationships. Centerstone, a not-for-profit community-based behavioral health healthcare network, said, “Vacation helps shrink stress and anxiety while boosting the mental and physical health of the entire family.”

Thinking about my previous vacations, I realized that not all vacations are equal. Some stand out more for a variety of reasons. I asked friends and family about their vacations: “Where was your favorite vacation? And what made it your favorite?” Their responses were:

•My favorite vacation was when we went to Orange Beach. My cousin got married there, and my whole family got to stay at the beach for four days. It was so much fun!

•My favorite was probably Branson for all the go kart tracks and the food.

•Disney World because of our kids having fun.

•My daughter’s Make-A-Wish trip to Disney and Universal Studios.

•My favorite was our Christmas cruise to Nassau, St. Martin and St. Thomas.

•I think it is the Tuscany area of Italy for the scenery, five-hundred-year-old villas, and ancient villages. I love the relaxed pace and emphasis on family, food and experience. I love European history, art and architecture, so every moment was heaven. 

•St. Thomas because of the food, beach, and scuba diving.

•Disney in Orlando! It’s a magical place!

•I guess when we went to Disney World with my cousin. Great time! Disney made it special! Of course, there was the Germany trip. Can’t forget about that one! Lots of history in that trip: old churches, places we bombed. Those old churches were amazing! Also, saw where Jesse Owens won his metal in the ’36 Olympics.

•I agree (with the response above). We also took good ones with my brother and his family to Hilton Head Island and with the extended family to the Smokey Mountains. Any trip is great to me! But Germany was probably the best. We did so much and went to so many places – even Holland!

•When our children were little, we took a vacation to Walt Disney World, and seeing their faces light up at all the magic of Walt Disney World was priceless. As a bonus, it was the first time flying for all four of us!

•Aruba because of the company, the breeze, and laid back atmosphere!

•Holbox, because it's just island life. It’s an authentic Mexican island town with no worries or stress, the food is amazing, and it's probably the prettiest place I've ever seen.

•Holbox, Mexico, because of the food, the ocean, the resort and having my wife and two of the girls with me.

•Holbox, because it's a cool and different place. It's an island; I got to use my passport; I got to fish in the ocean and ride horses on the beach.

•Any vacation that I get to bond with my family is a good vacation. A favorite was the Hilton Head vacation because I was with family, the beach and pool were great, and I rode the bike trails with my son. It was a good time!

•I love to travel, and daydreaming about trips I hope to take is a daily pastime. It’s hard to choose a favorite vacation, but experiencing the beauty and comfortable climate of Aruba with my best friend was fantastic. Another favorite destination closer to home is Mackinac Island, Michigan. I will be going there a third time in September. The atmosphere there draws me back with its horse-drawn carriages and beautifully-maintained historic homes. They also have flowers and fudge shops everywhere!

Writer Tim Cahill said, “My idea of a vacation is staying home and doing short day hikes, floating the river and things like that” (https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/timcahill523883.html?src=t_v...). I haven’t taken a vacation every year, but I’ve enjoyed the ones I’ve taken. But then again, Cahill’s idea of a vacation has great appeal, too.