This past week we snuck away for our first *real* vacation in a long, long while. According to my kids, it was their first *real* vacation ever, because apparently going to visit your Grandparents in Michigan doesn’t count as a *real* vacation, even if you stay in a hotel, swim in the hotel’s pool, spend a day at the beach, go to waterslides, and do other fun vacation-y stuff. A real vacation involves going somewhere other than Grandma’s or Grandpa’s home state. Who knew? Now I do.
Our first *real* vacation involved a stay at Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City. It was ideal in every way. First, we really needed to get away and spend some quality time together. I think my favorite part was just hanging out and talking. We spend a lot of time talking in our regular life, but there’s something about vacation chat, the kind of chat that comes from the monotony of driving in a car, that just can’t be beat.
On our drive home, Collin shared this gem as we collectively pondered the concept of the Easter Bunny. “First of all, bunnies are mammals. It’d be much more reasonable to have an Easter chicken than an Easter bunny.” An Easter Chicken. Why not? Sounds “reasonable” to me.
So this year we got a visit from the Easter Chicken. The Easter Chicken, ironically enough, brought the kids a giant chocolate bunny and other little goodies tucked into a basket similar to the ones the Easter Bunny used in the past. I have to admit, and I’m probably alone in this, but I rather enjoy this phase we’re in. We still decorate eggs, hide them, and do Easter baskets, but there’s no more worrying about trying to justify the existence of a bunny over the more reasonable concept of a chicken. I like that. It has a certain simplicity that really appeals to me.
But I digress. Back to the *real* vacation.
The second reason this vacation was ideal was because I really disconnected with life at home. And this, my friends, is getting harder and harder to do. Not just for me, but for all of us who are wireless or connected to everyone everywhere 24/7. Yes, I checked my email, but only once a day, and I only responded to mission-critical emails and sometimes not even those. Our Internet access was a bit sporadic…and this suited me just fine. On top of that there was no Facebook. No Twitter. No blogging. No real connection to anyone or anything except for my family. And this was good.
It was the waterslides, eating out, playing in the arcade, and staying in a hotel that made it a *real* vacation for my kids. But for me, it was completely disconnecting from my *real* life that made this past week a *real* vacation for me.
Oh, and while I was away I read a *really* good book, which is always a treat, whether I’m on vacation or not. I’ll share more about the book later this week—it’s one I think you’ll really love. So I’m excited to share.
In the meantime, I would love to hear your thoughts on taking *real* vacations. Do you disconnect from the real world or do you stay connected via your cell phone, lap top or other electronic device? I’m curious to know if I’m the only one who craves complete disconnection from the real world while vacationing. I’m happy to be back…but boy it felt good to get away.
I’m with you – a real vacation in my world is leaving everything behind and driving to destination. I love a good roadtrip. This past summer we drove from WA to MN with our 18 month daughter – we don’t own a laptop or portable DVD player and 85% (or more) of the time we didn’t have cell coverage. (Welcome to the sticks!) It was great!! I loved snapping pictures out the window as we went (my blog header is one of them) and I love our “car conversations”. It always amazes me – even though we see each other everyday – my husband and I hardly played the radio while we drove because we were talking the entire 4 days there and 4 days back.
We went on a real vacation in 2006 and it was great! My husband worked really long hours and was exhausted on the weekends not to mention being “on call” (he’s not even a dr!) so a well needed vacation was in order. We made it really clear to his employees/coworkers not to call during this week off and it was great to decompress and not have work calling distracting him. I also am a strong believer in setting boundaries and seperating work and home at times as you can’t live and breathe them all the time.
I have separation anxiety if my modem’s disconnected …
http://notjustlaura.blogspot.com/2009/04/disconnected-vacations.html
We spent 2 weeks in Aruba last year and it took us almost the first full week to unwind. We loved not being able to get/make calls, no internet (that I didn’t think I could go without). It was great being able to disconnect from the everyday life! Best vacation ever for us!
We went on a cruise this fall for our 20th wedding anniversary. Because of CrAzY high prices for internet and cell phone coverage, we were literally out of touch for almost eight full days. My husband was a different person without all of the stress of work & church hanging over his head. I think part of being on vacation is being literally away from it all.
We take at least one *real* vacation a year, and yes, I think this disconnect is great so you can actually unwind. BTW, we took our older kids to the Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City – looks exactly the same – I needed the water to melt my “wicked” witch.
I totally disconnect when I go on vacation (we call it holidays :))
I delegate my email and don’t even take my cell phone – it’s absolutely wonderful!
We’re going to Ireland in 13 days’ time and I can’t wait to totally disconnect again!
We totally disconnect during vacation…no cell phones (we take them with us in case we need to call out but otherwise they are off), no computer, no email, nothing. And it’s fabulous! Last year we went to St. John and stayed at an eco resort that didn’t even have tv’s in the room. Now THAT was completely disconnecting and I would do it again in a heartbeat! Glad you enjoyed your vaca!
I never check email or voice mail on vacation, who cares. I will call home to my mom and sister and talk with them or let my daughters talk to them. I like the my kids have full attention from their dad when we go on vacation. He will call home once a day to make sure everything is running fine with the business. Personally I wouldn’t considering that the guys that are running the show know what they are doing 100%. I take my cell phone, for emergency (as in 911, not calling friends) and leave it turned off.
My girls are allowed to bring their Nintendo DS’s and DVD player since we are usually driving a long distance. It keeps the fighting and whining down. But they know when I say turn it off and look at something they’ll do it.
It’s funny when you get back home and check blogs and facebook, etc you realize there really wasn’t that much that you missed. Even though you check these things out daily, or mulitple times a day, when you are home. Kinda like watching a soap opera, you don’t have to watch every single day to keep up with the story.
So I guess I love to disconnect whether the vacation is 3 days or 13.
I’m not on Facebook or Twitter, and I believe it’s for the better (for me!). But I do agree with you: vacations are best when you can ‘get away’ from everything in your regular life. Like when we were all little kids…no phone, no internet, just AWAY. Even better if there is no TV signal (however, I will bring the laptop for DVDs and free cell!).
We did the Great Wolf in Wis. one year…what a great place! Lots of fun all in one place. Hope you are feeling refreshed and renewed!
My husband and I are both employed in the technology sector, so we have made the conscious effort to disconnect on our vacations – although we take the cell phone with for emergencies. It really is blissful and allows us the necessary time to rejuvenate ourselves. We have found that it gives us the opportunity to really connect with each other and our son, as well as see things that we usually miss when we are buried in our machines. There is a whole world out there that is beautiful – without the benefit of some electronic enhancement.
We took our first “real” vacation last week…at a similar place- Wilderness Territory at Wisconsin Dells. It was great because it was just my husband and I and our 4 kids…laughing, playing and just being together….no people to see, no technology. We left the kids’ Nintendo ds’ in the car, and left the laptop at home. It was wonderful…and we can’t wait to do it again!
How did you guys like Great Wolf?? We’re going to the one near us (WA state) for 4th of July weekend, and we’re super excited!!
We loved the Great Wolf KC. My then 18 month old was traumatized by the “tick, tick, tick, tick” of the big water bucket. We still had the best few days there and would go back in a heartbeat! Glad to hear you had a good time!
I don’t mind getting rid of TV, Internet, and the phone for vacation. Of course my husband is addicted to his internet connection and ESPN at this point but I think when we went on our Honeymoon almost 8 years ago and had none of these things, it was really wonderful to just spend time together. Sitting in front of the TV is not spending time together. 🙂
I’ve been to the Great Wolf Lodge in KC! Good times! I love the shopping center that is just right across the sea of parking lots! Gald you had fun!
Good for you, Aby! Sounds like you really enjoyed it…And I love Collin’s observation about the Easter Bunny! LOL!