Kathryn Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 When was the last time you took a vacation that wasn't to visit family? I just realized mine was 2004, before kids. We were at the beach in Florida. We'd paid for the week but left after just one day ahead of the evacuation for Hurricane Charley and weren't able to get our money back because we left 12 hours before the evacuation order went into place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Three weeks ago. We try to do several small vacations a year, or maybe one bigger trip somewhere and a couple of small ones. We're only a couple of hours from the mountains and about four or five from the ocean, so no flying necessary to get to a nice locale. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Last summer we want to San Francisco. It was an amazing trip we still talk about. I am foregoing any future vacations (at least that's the plan till I change my mind) until I replace carpeting in house with wood floor. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 dh grew up always visiting "family" for their vacations. (so did my mom. that may have been one reason she had zero interest in her out-of-state extended family.) we rarely visited dh's mother on vacations. (mine was local.) If we visited his mother, it was usually for someone's funeral that dh wished to attend. (the last time he went to one - 11 years ago? -, was his mother's husband's funeral, and dh flew down alone. mil (90) is 20+ years younger than fil's family.) so - we went to Yellowstone in june. three of my adult kids came with us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelenNotOfTroy Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 We spent a week at the beach with my parents 5 years ago. Oh, and my parents, my son, and I spent the night in a hotel an hour from home a couple of years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 several years now, last vacation was flying the six of us to California to see my folks, do beaches and D'land and drive up to Yosemite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 We drove to Colorado in June for a 10 day trip. My kids did a music camp while we were there. It was wonderful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 When was the last time you took a vacation that wasn't to visit family? I just realized mine was 2004, before kids. We were at the beach in Florida. We'd paid for the week but left after just one day ahead of the evacuation for Hurricane Charley and weren't able to get our money back because we left 12 hours before the evacuation order went into place. That's a long time ago! I had a baby *literaly* in the middle of that hurricane. We're on vacation now, but it's not a real vacation. We're at my mom's house. Our last real vacation was a year ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomtoCandJ Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 About 2 years ago we went to Virginia. Next week we are going to Missouri for a few days. Otherwise it's all in state travel. Ugh I need a kid free vacation (ok more like dh takes the girls to the park or something for a few hours and leave me in peace at home) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Just hubby and I? We came home from one last Friday. (Beach/Kitty Hawk) The two of us, our two non-married kids, and my mom (& not to her house)? The end of May. (Lake Ontario) We've also visited relatives in between those two times, but I don't generally count those as vacations. They are - sort of - but they're different. Last use of our passports... well, Canada doesn't count for me since my mom lives on the border (and that would have been July)... so Feb/Mar. (Bahamas) Not counting family, it will probably be until Jan or Feb for our next one - unless we opt for a couple of weekends away to visit college boy and head to a college reunion. (separate options) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 We went to the beach for 4 days last month. We take a vacation of some kind pretty much every year. Sometimes we skip a year, but other years we've been known to go on two, so it all evens out :laugh: Vacations keep us sane and happy! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithManor Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 June 26 - July 5. Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, Black Hills, Devil's Tower, Minuteman Missile site...absolutely wonderful family vacation. Oh and the last weekend in July we drove ds to MTU for ecology camp so made a very nice U.P. drive and then turned around and did it again the following weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 I'm assuming staying 90 minutes away from here at my parents house for the weekend doesn't count. Last year we spent TWO nights at Great Wolf Lodge. The year before we spent ONE night at a hotel in the local city and went to the Toronto Zoo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valley Girl Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Maybe 2003? It was just a weekend somewhere small kids would enjoy. We don't even get away to visit family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 We went to another state for a wedding in May. We went to the beach last fall. No vacation for us this year due to financial constraints. Maybe for several years. Dh and I have never been on vacation that was just us since kids were born. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 2003 if a homeschooling conference counts. 1998 if checking out a new place to live counts. We used to visit my parents almost every year, either at their home or at my late sister's homestead, before my divorce. I got divorced in 1994. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 We went to Europe for 3 weeks in May. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 A week in a rented cottage in Devon in early July. I do live in a lovely part of the world, so I don't yearn to travel much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 In 2009 we went to Destin. We used to take about 3-4 weekend trips a year (low budget) and usually one big vacation every 2 years (usually involving a beach). I'm having some beach withdrawal. :crying: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmichigan Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 In 1996, or so we went to Disney (before kids). We took an overnight trip to a water park a few hours away somewhere around 2006. We have taken a few trips up north to visit my in-laws (I don't consider that a vacation. ;) ) DH takes 2-3 weekend trips a year to go ATV riding up north. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junie Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Our last real vacation was 3 kids ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Depends on what you call a vacation I guess. Last week we traveled to dh's grandmother's memorial service, after that we took two days to go up to where we originally met. It was a nice lazy two days seeing our old colleges, taking walks, eating remembered food, swimming in the hotel pool, playing mini-golf. It was sort of a vacation, I guess? We do a lot of that - tacking stuff onto other trips to see family. Before that, in September, we went to Niagara Falls for a few days and took a day to go to Toronto. That was a good little vacation. We did stop to see dh's family, but that was more the opposite - we tacked them onto our trip. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SproutMamaK Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Genuine question: does a night at a waterpark with the kids count as a vacation? We'll go away to Great Wolf Lodge (or another local waterpark) once or twice a year, but just for one night. Not sure if that counts as a vacation or not. If not, it's been since 2009, and that was camping with the kids. A vacation OTHER than camping and/or visiting family has never happened that I can recall. We're taking 4-5 days to go camping again in September, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kroe1 Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 I live in a resort. Technically, I vacation every day. But, the only time we leave town is for dance competitions. Oops, I forgot I had a moment of craziness a few weeks ago and took my self to Disney and did some of the adult only tours. Geez, best weekend of my life. How could I forget that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 We try to take one on spring break, summer and fall break. Our last one was June. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Staycation, 2 years ago. Destination vacation, 9 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73349 Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 We went to see family in May. We went to Disney, but only because my dad wanted to go, last October. Two years ago I went to visit a friend out of state by myself and meet her baby. I think it was about three years ago that the three of us went to the beach for a few days. DH and I last went somewhere other than to visit family, by ourselves, in Feb. 2007. Montreal. ETA: We've never been camping. I like to travel; DH does not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 1994. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 I wonder if there are some different definitions of "vacation" going on. Some people have included things like a weekend camping and others have not. I know that money is tight for many, as the OP said, but have the people who are saying it's been 5+ years really not done a night at a hotel or a weekend camping or anything like that in that time? ETA: If that's the case, I'm sorry. Or, I hope you are content with that - I know some people just don't like to travel. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 / Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 We went skiing in Garmish this past winter, stayed for two nights, to celebrate dh's return from an 8 month deployment. We've got a week planned on the west coast beach in October that I'm thrilled about! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink and Green Mom Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 We drove from FL (home) to New Orleans for a 5 day vacation last week. We moved to FL 3 years ago. I am still trying to figure out where people in FL go on vacation. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHASRADA Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 We haven't had a "real" vacation since we've been married (almost 24 years). Even our "honeymoon" was one night in the hotel where the reception was held, in my hometown. Part of that is because dh's family lives overseas, so any vacation budget we may have had went to visiting them. So while we have done our fair share of international travel, it hasn't been to a destination of choice, and staying with a zillion inlaws (no matter how sweet) is not a real vacation. Any travel within the US is always visiting family or close friends. I haven't flown domestically since I was 14. I am blessed that my parents still live in my beloved, picturesque and relaxing hometown, so visiting them for a weekend every couple of months, getting out of the house and away from responsibilities feels like a mini vacation. When the kids were little, my parents had a very nice camper and we would camp with them for a week or two in the summer, but without dh. We dream of being able to take the dc to Disney someday (I went every spring break growing up), but I have no idea when we'll be able to afford that. ETA: I forgot dh and I went to a religious conference in Toronto in 2004. We drove, and dBIL let us use his miles for the hotel. It was the weekend of the Thailand tsunami. We also spent a couple of nights in a hotel (just dh and I) while looking for a rental when we relocated in 2007. Dh has had a handful of interviews this year, 3 hours away. Each time he takes one of us with him (a big dc or me). It's not a destination city, but it does involve one night in a hotel and meals on the expense account. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 I guess it depends on what your definition of "vacation" is. We went to the Grand Canyon for 4 days in June and over Memorial Day Weekend we went to family camp. Those are all relatively short. If you mean a cruise, or a week in Florida or something.... then never. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 I wonder if there are some different definitions of "vacation" going on. Some people have included things like a weekend camping and others have not. I know that money is tight for many, as the OP said, but have the people who are saying it's been 5+ years really not done a night at a hotel or a weekend camping or anything like that in that time? ETA: If that's the case, I'm sorry. Or, I hope you are content with that - I know some people just don't like to travel. We've done a night or two in a local hotel suite to visit (and eat and swim) with family once a year or so. Money always seems tight, but we've also been restricted due to our big dogs not doing very well with strange places and not being comfortable with house/pet sitters. It pains me to say it but, just under a week after loosing our last big dog, I'm starting to think about our expanded options. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Well, "vacation". I'd have to use the term pretty loosely. I find them not to be very "vacationy" when one has younger kids. We have taken several shorter trips fairly recently. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Last summer. I really need one now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheres Toto Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 We were supposed to go to Hershey Park earlier this year but couldn't because dh started a new job. :sad: Dh and I did take a few days for my birthday a couple weeks ago. We went to South Jersey for a gathering of some of his high school friends (kind of a post-reunion reunion) and I pushed to stay in a hotel instead of at his parents for a couple of the nights. We did 2 nights in a hotel, went to the reunion, to the beach, out to lots of great dinners, to a bonfire, then spent one night with his parents before coming home. Last year we didn't do much but we used to go camping two or three times a year - usually here in NJ or in PA, and I would count those as vacations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scholastica Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 The beginning of the summer. We try to take one good one each year. We do go see family, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Two years ago. We tend to do a short vacation annually but last year was a crazy year so we didn't plan any. This year we are thinking of Montreal and Ontario or Europe for snow season. We went to Europe for 3 weeks in May. Did you do free and easy or tour group? We are planning to go to Europe for a vacation. Kids want to visit the Eiffel Tower. We hope not to drive this time round and either take a tour package or use the metro, eurorails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camelfeet Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 I went to Paris for two weeks in May. We went there because DH was sent there for work, but so it wasn't a vacation for him. With no work obligations and not to visit family... we went to Vietnam for two weeks in February. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Last month. We mostly take camping vacations to be budget mindful but we make taking a number of trips a year a priority. Once we aren't on as tight of a budget (my husband is in school), we will resume taking 1-2 non camping trips a year. We do love to camp though and that won't stop. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithManor Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 I should also say that I spent two weeks in France with my sister this past February. I was thinking "family vacation" or something with DH when I answered before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Last one I've gone on was maybe 3 or 4 years ago? Dh has taken the kids on a couple without me. (I bailed at the last minute due to my health.) Having them gone for a week was actually heavenly for me and recharged me more than any vacation ever has. I did have a sort of a vacation a few years ago when I traveled across the country to see a specialist for a few days. Of course half the day was spent in a doctor's office having tests run on me but I did get to stay in a nice hotel and got time alone. Wait. . . mentioning hotels made me realize that last year I did travel with the kids twice to family weddings. I don't know if I should count those as vacations or not since we did technically vacate but it wasn't relaxing at all for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikslo Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 End of June, to the beach. DH never vacations with family outside of our immediate family unit. If it is a visit to see extended family, it is NOT a vacation. :) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Driving home from one right now . We went to Universal Studios in Orlando Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SemiSweet Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 We went in April to Thailand, Cambodia, and South Korea, though it was technically to visit family, those are places I have always wanted to go, so it was definitely a vacation. On Monday dh and I will leave for Kauai for 4 days for a kid free resort vacation. We try to do a big one every year or two and as many smaller ones as we can reasonably afford. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 When was the last time you took a vacation that wasn't to visit family? I know it's semantics but I don't consider it a vacation when I visit family unless family is meeting us at a vacation destination. I enjoy visiting family but that's what I call it "family visits". Vacation is going somewhere by choice, that may or may not involve family meeting us there. We meet my parents somewhere about once every year or two, and do long weekends with one of dh's siblings once or twice a year but that involves everyone getting to travel. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithManor Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 I know it's semantics but I don't consider it a vacation when I visit family unless family is meeting us at a vacation destination. I enjoy visiting family but that's what I call it "family visits". Vacation is going somewhere by choice, that may or may not involve family meeting us there. We meet my parents somewhere about once every year or two, and do long weekends with one of dh's siblings once or twice a year but that involves everyone getting to travel. I agree, and especially since I often ended up doing a huge amount of the cooking, grocery shopping, and laundry for the entire clan, and when the kids were little, the other relatives expected me to supervise their kids because "this is our vacation". GRRRR....I always came back exhausted and wishing I never had to go again. That's when dh finally said, "NO" and we stopped traveling to Florida to see his side of the family. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrittanyM Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 We are on our way to camp with our new to us tent trailer for three nights with friends right now. Last weekend we took our trailer 40 minutes up the mountain for one night to try it out. DH and I went to the homeschool convention in Southern California last month and stayed in an airbnb guest house with our youngest (who is 10 months). And the last time we stayed in a hotel was when we went to Southern California in April just to get away for two nights. I haven't been out of California since 6 years ago when we flew to visit friends in Tennessee and Kentucky. In January DH's brother is getting married in Texas so we will be going out of state then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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