After years of talking about it, I’m finally starting my own vacation website! You can learn more about me here, but the most important thing you should know is my philosophy on vacations. What does the word vacation mean? Well, according to the ultimate source, Merriam-Webster, a vacation is “a period spent away from home or business in travel or recreation.”
Let’s just put it out there – I am NOT a homebody! My husband and friends can tell you that I’m constantly planning my next get-together, mini-adventure, or extended trip. The minute one is done, I’m on to the next! Now, let me make it clear – I have nothing against homebodies. I wish I could be more of one, as sometimes I overextend myself and drive myself into the ground. My best friend Elaine can tell you she’s never happier than when she’s at home with her family, cooking and relaxing. I enjoy those moments as well, but only fleetingly. Then I get the vacation itch – and I won’t stop until I scratch it.
Now, to bring the conversation back to my philosophy: just because I’m not a homebody doesn’t mean that I have endless time, money, or energy for vacations. I have two small children, 5 and 7, who are both in school full-time. I have a job as a grant writer for a nonprofit organization that I love. I have a husband, a lot of family in the area, and friends going back to my childhood who live within 20 minutes of me. That does not leave me a lot of time for vacationing.
That is why my idea of a vacation is not always a long, extended period of time spent in an exotic location. That would be nice, but I may get that opportunity once a year. No, for me, a vacation can be as simple as a day trip to a state park or even a two-hour hike in the recreation area down the road. The most important components of a vacation for me are RECREATION (taken right from Merriam-Webster) and EXPLORATION.
Here are my definitions of those two words. RECREATION – doing whatever you feel like doing! I know that is very broad and could involve sitting on your couch watching reality TV. However, that is why you have to combine recreation with EXPLORATION – having a new or different experience away from home. It doesn’t have to be brand new – obviously, you can go on vacation to the same place over and over – but it has to be different than your everyday life. In this way, exploration is less about physical exploration (although that is certainly part of the fun for me!) and more about trying new things and having new experiences.
The second part of my vacation philosophy is about seizing the moment. We’ve all heard people say, “when I have more time,” “when the kids are bigger,” or “when I’m retired.” Well, guess what? Life isn’t fair, and we don’t know how much time we have or what obstacles will come our way down the road. That’s why viewing life through the framework of many small vacations is so important to me, as is seizing the moment! While I know that it may be hard to take your small kids on a 10-hour road trip to see your 80-year-old aunt, or fly across the ocean to experience a completely different culture, just don’t ever tell yourself you’ll have the opportunity again someday. Because, we all know, someday doesn’t always come.
Now that you know my philosophy, you will understand where some of my posts are coming from. Since I am based in the DMV (DC/Maryland/Virginia), a lot of my focus will be on vacations in this area. However, I definitely plan to bring you along on all my bigger vacations and anywhere I have researched and plan to go someday.
It should come as a surprise to no one that I have chosen my first blog post to be about my most favorite place in the world – DEEP CREEK LAKE! In the Northwestern part of Maryland, sticking out like a thumb into the foothills of the Appalachians, lies a world that seems more like the coastal forests of Oregon than the East Coast, and more like Alaska in the winter than the much more temperate Maryland. (In fact, Deep Creek Lake sees a higher average yearly snowfall than Fairbanks, Alaska.) The natural beauty of the area and the remnants of old-growth forest in nearby Swallow Falls State Park evoke a feeling of being in another world. Stay tuned to learn all about my recommendations for Deep Creek Lake, Maryland.