Best Vacation - Cherryville,MO

We travel a lot. And have been to many countries all over the world, Japan, Russia, Spain, Italy, etc. One of my favorite places to visit here in the US is New York City. We've taken the kids, just my husband and I have gone on trips and we've gone with extended family.

But my VERY FAVORITE vacation, EVER was a girls trip I took in 2005. Seven women chartered a catamaran and sailed the British Virgin Islands.
The ONLY decisions I had to make were what time I was getting up, which suit I was putting on and when I was going to bed. It was the most relaxing 10 days I think I've had in my life!

Cruise to Alaska. Loved everything about it! What a beautiful state and we only scratched the surface in what we saw up there. Had a fantastic time! We even had an indoor cabin on the ship and it didn't matter ... still my favorite vacation.

Wow that is a hard one! I have had so many wonderful trips that it is hard to narrow it to one. Last year my husband turned 50 and we decided to go to London and Paris. That was a wonderful trip. We had so much fun just the two of us!

My most memorable would be two years ago, for my parents 50 Anniversary we all went to the Dominican. I think this is my favorite because it was the last trip my mom was able to take. Mom suffers from Frontal Tempural Dementia and is now is a nursing home. So I would say that was my best vacation ever! Good memories were made on that trip.

Florida trip. We were invited to go with my in-laws (then, just my boyfriends parents) to St.George Island for Christmas. We spent 10 days in a beach house. There were dolphins that swam past our place every morning one way, then back in the evening. lol. I was really nervous, because it was my first time meeting his family. (his parents, younger sister+her boyfriend, younger brother) We were from Idaho, and left during a blizzard, with the temperature ranging from -10 to -15... the plane landed in 75' weather. Hee hee hee. The ocean was chilly, but really not much cooler than our Idaho lakes (which are usually pretty cold because they get all the snow runoff...) so we were able to swim and everything. Hubby and I had some very fun, and fairly romantic times. I tasted gator tail for the first time (not really a fan... reminded me of gizzards...) The best part (although it is sad...) was that my fiance got to spend those 10 fun filled days with his little brother who died 2 weeks later. His family lived on the other side of the country so they only saw each other 1-2 times a year, if that, and it was nice that he had good final memories.

Our 2 week honeymoon to Greece. We booked a hotel room for the first night and the last, and the rest of the time we were on God's good humor. We ended up getting on a ferry overnight to Crete for a few days, took a short cruise on the Mediterranean, then jumped on a bus to Delphi, a few hours north of Athens. We eventually made it back to Athens for the last night before boarding the plane home. It was the most romantic, spontaneous, and incredible vacation I've ever had.

My husband and I took a two week vacation and drove up the East Coast. Started in Virginia Beach with stops in Philly, Baltimore, NYC, Boston and Portland, ME and Niagara Falls (on our way back). We didn't make any reservations, just drove and used our AAA book to find hotels. We stayed at each place til we had seen what we wanted to see and then went on to the next destination. It was a blast!

Newport, RI... one year anniversay and our version of a "baby moon". We squirreled money away for a year for the trip (didn't do a honeymoon) and lived like the Kennedy clan for 5 days... lobster, wine, beach side, etc. Amazing! We know that we won't be able to do that again for a long time... too many responsibilties now!

Believe it or not, it was a camping trip!

We had a great location along the Columbia River, in Washington State. Hubby and I had ALL the kids, (even the nephews) and the dog, that means 7 kids and just us 2 adults but it was perfect!!!
~There was a hot thermal layer on top of the water that was amazing.
~We had a HUGE spontaneous mud fight and the pictures are hilarious.
~Went on a 'spooky' midnight hike and starred at the starry sky finding and pointing out all constellations we could find.
~Tried to make our own shelter 'Bear Grylls style' just for fun.
~Went for a drive and found our own private beach for a picnic one day but we had to swim across the lake to get to it, that was hilarious, hubby had to swim with supplies out of the water and over his head and I took the 4 smaller kids, the teenagers had a blast racing across with the dog!

So many fun things happened on that trip...We will all have those memories for forever, guaranteed!

*My hubby is the BEST camper known to man! He loads and unloads the car, sets up all the tents, organizes loads of outdoor fun, makes spectacular fire...all in all a perfect, sexy camper, I love it!

I love to travel and am in the process of trying to figure where to go for our summer vacation. I don't know if I can pick the best vacation I have been on because I have so many favorite places for vastly different reasons. My husband and I went to Machu Picchu in Peru and it was the most amazing place I have ever been, absolutely breathtaking. I also loved Iguazu Falls in Argentina/Brazil for its natural beauty. The Cliffs of Moher in Ireland are sentimental since my husband proposed there. Also loved Italy, seeing my dad's hometown, going to Florence, sitting in a piazza having dinner and listening to a violinist. Loved Paris and taking a night cruise down the Seine river. All of these trips were just my husband and myself.

With my daughters I loved going to NYC; the energy of Times Square, the relaxation at Central Park and seeing them join in a drumming/dance circle with the performers, them playing the giant piano at FAO Schwartz, and enjoying Broadway. Going to Mexico and seeing my husband's hometown and the pyramids at Teotihuacan. We also enjoyed going to California and enjoyed the beaches and San Diego Wild Safari Park.

To me the best vacations are because I am experiencing a new and amazing place on Earth with my loved ones!

Happy travels!

One, Assateague Island in Maryland. My family went there every summer for 13 years. Since us kids are all grown now, my brothers and I are getting together so we can go, just us kids and our friends and family, and I'd love to make this a tradition again. There are so many things for kids to do, there's wild horses, and of course, THE BEACH... the boardwalk is really close too. SO fun for all ages.

Two, when my fiance and I went to DC for New Years Eve. We stayed in this little retro hotel (can't think of the name but it ROCKS!!) We got into VIP parties, were voted 'best new years eve kiss', then hit the Lincoln Memorial right after the ball dropped. Who gets to do that?! FOUND IT! http://www.hotelhelix.com/

Three, camping on the river with my family. That always rocks :)

Four, when we rented this cabin called Thistle Britches in Gatlinburg, TN (or maybe it was Sevierville, same difference). W were close to all the touristy stuff, and the view was BEAUTIFUL. Nothing like waking up in the morning and having coffee on the deck while watching the clouds float up over the mountain. We were right there by Dollyworld, Parrot Mountain, and Splash country. It's worth the 7 hour drive for us!!

Just 2 months ago, we did 2 weeks in Florida, including 8 days at Disney World, 1 day at Sea World, and a 3-day Disney Cruise. The Disney Cruise was AMAZING - absolutely PHENOMENAL! And we are talking 2 adults, 2 teenagers, and a 3 year old! We can't wait to go again!

2 weeks in Costa Rica with our then 2 yo ... what an adventure!! The beautiful beaches, the sometimes squirrely 12-person commuter flights (4 of them!), the Costa Ricans themselves -- so nice and great lovers of children! I highly recommend taking 2 weeks off at a time if you can swing it; it seems like after the first week is done, that's when you really start relaxing and settling in :)