So my husband is on a biking trip with his brothers. Riding from DC to Pittsburg. Although I think in writing it doesn’t sound as fun as it is most likely going to be! They’re riding along an old canal and then following an abandoned train track. Three brothers and John’s daughter’s husband. John, the oldest brother, rides cross-country all the time. And just returned from a trip to Belize where he biked with a group of like-minded individuals. And Robert J., the son-in-law, is a marathoner and former bike racer. My husband and his brother Jim are not quite as athletic, but following close behind, so I know they’ll all have a marvelous time.
This is the second trip like this they’ve undertaken. The first, a trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, was a celebration of my husband’s fiftieth birthday. And I think the trip started a trend. And since I’m the original couch-potato girl, I’m delighted he’s found such a great group to adventure with. 
Me, I’ll stick to adventure on the pages of my book. Although, that said, I am looking forward to a trip to London (my second favorite city) this fall. Going to be a fabulous time—and also with like-minded people (although one of them is turning into a marathoner and the other is walking daily—so I may have to get off of the couch for self-preservation!)
Are you a doer or a relaxer? For all the couch potato bit, I’d much prefer a vacation filled with things to do—just not biking or running or any other unnecessary physical activity 
! Anyway, how about you? Is your idea of a dream vacation to bike across the country? Or would you rather eat scones and cream and sip piping hot tea? Or maybe a vineyard in California? Or a little beach time? What’s your ideal vacation setting?
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Total relaxer here! I don’t want to do any activities on vacation. I want to stare at beautiful things, sleep late, and read.
That said, I do envy the people that do the adventure vacations. I think if my life wasn’t such an adventure every day, I would be more game to have adventure on a vacation.
I love stare at something beautiful!!!
Dee, I’m definitely a relaxer. I don’t mind walking a good way to reach something cool, but a hiking or biking or canoeing trip just is not for me. I hope the guys have a great trip!
I think they’re having a blast. They’re blogging the trip on tumblr. So I’ve been “riding” along with them. Definitely my kind of adventure –reading their blog
York Dee. You want to do York with its Shambles, famous church and Jorvik. York is one of my favourite places here in England.
I used to be athletically adventurous. I no longer can keep up with anything faster than a snail. I grew up on the beach, and enjoyed the long walks along the shore and surfing and fishing and all that. Now, since seeing the skin doc and being told NO MORE SUN I sadly avoid it at all costs.
My ideal vacation? It really does not matter where. As long as its with my husband and daughter and they are happy. Florida would be their choice. My family is there (free bed and food) and they are centrally located (so we can do the Disney thing a few days then leave my kid behind with family and my husband and I can swing down to the Keys and chillax.)
Funny thing is, I expected many things when I moved to England. I cannot find mead. Tea houses are rare. And I only just tried scones with clotted cream and strawberries. Because they are not too easy to find!
I’ve been to York. Absolutely loved it! And for great scones and clotted cream –go to Cornwall and/or Devon! FABULOUS!
I have not been on a good vacation in years. Yes, I have been to our cottage and friends cottages.. But I have not travelled far a feild since my last road trip with my Aunt. We went to see friends of her in Boston and we drove from Toronto, Canada. We took two days to get there, staying with another friend of her in Utica NY… It was fun because we could stop and start when we wanted to. I am the type that likes to explore all the little towns and villages along the way. I like to see what great treasures I can find.
I have done the trips to Ireland and Scotland. Visited family and done a lot of exploring there too. But I have not been there since the late 90′s. I need to get back there.. I am not one for hiking and riding and now even walking long periods can be tough. But if I can find a place to stop, have tea and scones and find a nice place to read, well lets just say it would be heaven..
The road less taken is always the better one in my opinion! And yes to reading and tea. Yes Yes YES!
Adventure for me is discovering new things, whether it be buildings, facts, foods, drinks, people… I like discovery. I don’t like discovery that involves great athletic skills, however.
So you can count me out on the long distance run adventures, climbing or biking adventures, rafting adventures, skiing adventures, or adventures in tight spaces (claustrophobic).
I love that! And I think that’s adventure for me too! Discovery!!! Cool. My new thought for the week! I probably would love athletic things if I was remotely athletic. But I’m a clutz. Pure and simple. And there is just no getting around it!
Maybe that’s why my heroines are always so kick-ass!
I would love to do that trip. I really would, especially if there was someone there to fix my bike if it breaks. That’s my problem with biking. I need a bike guy, lol!
Dee, I promise, no marathons or bikes or gymnastics. Just some gentle walking about xoxoxo
With tea and scones!!! And yes, totally on the bike fix guy! Which my bil is –so if you go with them you’re all set!
Gentle, the key word is gentle. Not sure Julia London’s idea of gentle is my idea of gentle.
I like a combination of both relaxation and adventure. Our last Hawaiian vacation alternated between days at the beach and ATV tours, Zodiac boat rides, and hiking. I love exploring cities–and if those explorations include tea and scones, so much the better:)
I remember you telling us about that trip. Sounded like so much fun. And I think alternating is a great way to go!
I think I could keep up with Jacquie’s adventures, for the most part. Though not on the tennis court and I probably won’t get near anything called pickle ball.
But it does sound like a lot of fun. I actually want to move to her neighborhood!!!
If I lived in her neighborhood, I would have tried the pickle ball by now. I might even be a pickle ball champion. Alas…
In recent years we have been to Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. While there we have hiked trails in national parks, visited museums, shopped (and I don’t like to shop), etc. We use to crew for hot air balloons when our kids were younger and lived at home. Our vacations are rarely quiet. My husband spent a week sailing with his brothers last October. We were camping the entire month of October in Myrtle Beach. The dog and I stayed at the beach and I enjoyed the entire week reading books. I had a great time. Chewie wants me to add that we walked six or seven miles a day, too, (not all at one time though).
Oh Sandi, that all sounds like so much fun. Crewing for Hot Air Balloons that so amazing!
While the biking and more adventurous stuff sounds exciting, I’ll take the scones, cream, and tea, thank you. I want my vacations lazy and relaxing enough that I don’t need another vacation to recover from it. I would love to go to Scotland and walk all over creation, though. That could be relaxing. Right?
Actually Scotland is so beautiful that I think walking all over would in fact be relaxing. Always wanted to do a walking tour of the Scottish Highlands or England’s lake country. And at the end of every day– tea and scones!
I know who to call when I’m ready to go! You game?
Wouldn’t it be fun!
It would be awesome!