The day finally came and it was more like a trip to the dentist than it was a trip to Disneyland. We wandered around, got lost so many times I'm curious if we ever actually knew where we were and couldn't find a place to eat to save our lives. And when my husband can't find food, it's almost like a huger induced Hulk situation. I'm pretty sure the term hangry was invented specifically for him. I went home a little heartbroken and a lot confused. How could this have happened? Was this incredible city a case of smoke and mirrors or had I just gone about it all wrong?
Our second day trip was a bit better thanks to friends leading the way, but still didn't have the figurative fireworks I was hoping for. (It did however have literal fireworks! It was the 4th of July!)
Finally, I got my shot to do things right and make up for my failed attempts. My husband and I planned a "just us" weekend away- our first since our 2 kids were born. I was determined to redeem myself this time. I dug and hunted and spent more time researching than I did studying for my college biology final. This is the type of insanity Pinterest was invented for, right? And I did it. I absolutely nailed it! We had the best time and couldn't wait for our next trip.
Now after planning several vacations this way I know I will never go back to just winging it. It has taken our okay trips with occasional bouts of hangry husband syndrome to the dream vacations we always imagined! It requires some work but just like a juicy pot roast, it's oh so worth it.
So here it is;
5 Steps To Planning The Perfect Vacation
1. Plan your trip in sections. For our New York trip, I planned by borough. I had one sheet for each section of the city we planned to hit on our trip.
2. Research things to do- Make a list for each area, then narrow to what sounds like it could be a good fit for you and your trip.
3. Include addresses and times (if applicable)- I had one sheet with all the things we were interested in doing in Brooklyn and specifics of location and times. We decided Brooklyn had to be our Saturday destination since Brooklyn Flea was a non-negotiable stop. But once we were done at the flea market, we glanced at the list to see what else we wanted to hit nearby.
4. Research the best places to eat in the area- On the bottom of each sheet was a list of some of the best places to eat in that area that were enticing to us with a range of prices and styles (sit down, super popular with a long wait, stop in and take it on the road, etc.) and types of food which made it much easier for us to enjoy our day and grab a bite of amazing food close by whenever we got hungry.
5. Do not try to do everything on the list!!!- That is not the point! We had one or two things in each section we really wanted to do and several others were solid options for us. But if you are loving what you're doing, don't be in a hurry to move on. You're on vacation for crying out loud! It's mean to be enjoyed! This way it gives you some great ideas for things you would like close by if the first few stops don't take up your whole day and you don't want to move on to another area.
Most of all, do the planning, bring the list, and then go relax and enjoy your vacation!
Kel
So what are your favorite vacation tips and secrets?
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