What is your Favorite Type of Vacation?

Do you love a peaceful break or an exhilarating adventure? A faraway land or a familiar favorite? When you're able to break away from the everyday for a vacation, what is it that feels like the best way to refuel and reconnect? Asking 6 moms this question, the variety of answers is a vast as our families. While the magic mix of elements that make a vacation truly special is a personal cocktail, we all seem to agree - the people, the wonder and the peaceful moments make any destination a remarkable getaway.

Hear how Jen paints a vacation masterpiece, how Rebecca has a comfortable favorite vibe, how Ashley varies around her travel companions and how Kim has settled into a yearly rotation - all while embracing the wonder of this beautiful world.

Jen, Bespoke Travel Designer from @GlobalonDemandTravel

I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but the world really is such a beautifully diverse place. People, landscapes, cultures, food, history, wildlife—it’s endless. I get such a rush from experiencing something new. That moment of wonder when you're seeing something for the first time—it never gets old. I even cried seeing glacier water for the first time in Norway, that unreal turquoise-green. And yet, I also recall a time in Ibiza with my husband. At the end of a week in the Mediterranean, we spent eight hours, just reading, listening to music, sipping drinks, and soaking up the day. It was absolute heaven. And that’s the thing—I love exploring and learning and walking through history, but I also need those peaceful, grounding moments. For me, the best vacations are all about balance.

Planning a trip feels like putting together a puzzle—or even painting a little masterpiece. I love mixing it all together: the hiking, the history, the local food, a little adventure, and some downtime. That combination is what makes it all feel complete. I can’t pick a favorite type of vacation because, honestly, my favorite is when I get a little bit of everything. That’s where the magic happens.

Rebecca, Woman's Leadership Coach from @PleasantlyAggressive

I want to be the person who enjoys exploring faraway lands, but I’ve realized that just isn’t me. My default has become renting a lake house with minimal distractions and minimal plans.

I grew up in Michigan, where weekends and vacations centered around lakeshore destinations. I find comfort and restoration when I spend time on the lake. Evening fire pits, grilling burgers, and fishing off the pier are predictable and simple, but bring me so much joy. If we find ourselves in need of entertainment, there is usually a putt-putt course and ice cream shop nearby. The simplicity helps us reconnect with each other. There is no agenda to stress about, no big decision-making to distract us, and no friends or family to interfere. Just the four of us making memories.

Ashley, Millennial Mom Nutrition Coach from @AshleyBreaksTheCycle

My favorite kind of vacation really depends on who I’m with. When I’m with my kids, I love anything that brings out the fun...think rides, waterslides, pool time, and alllll the ice cream. When I’m with my husband, I crave a little mix of adventure and relaxation. Hiking, biking, exploring new places during the day, followed by a good meal, a spa treatment, or some quiet reading time by the pool.

And if it’s a girls’ trip? I’m all in for sun, sand, and yummy cocktails. Give me a beach or resort pool, a cruiser bike to explore town, and maybe some dancing or late-night laughs. The company shapes the vibe and I love them all.

Ali, Book Aficionados from @The BookClubCart

This is honestly a hard question for me to answer, because each type of vacation fills my cup! First off the excitement of a vacation to any destination brings me joy! The count down, packing list, and plans for the trip are such a fun aspect of vacation.

I think for me, the type of vacation that is my favorite is more reflective of the season of life and the time of year that I am experiencing. The prospect of a tropical sun filled vacation in the beginning of March during the long winter months of Chicago is everything to me! Summer time, I’m looking for adventure with my family; whether is is local or in faraway lands! Fall vacations are a time I look forward to a more chill/cozy destination; quality time with close ones I love.

Lastly, but definitely not least, sometimes my absolute favorite vacations are staycations at home, but minus all the chaos of the usual activities. Slower mornings followed by allowing everyone to do the things that bring them joy as individuals and as a family. This one forces me to slow down- which is hard for my personality.

Emilee, Book Aficionados from @The BookClubCart

Family vacations really give me life. I love the slow down and the separation from our busy day-to-day. My kids are young and therefore we’ve always chosen familiar and chill vacations. However, as our kids are getting older and we’re starting to push them on sightseeing and later nights, we are seeing them embrace a busier and more adventurous type of vacation.

The last couple years we have been consistent with our two main vacations… our spring break vacation in Florida and our summer vacation on the east coast. Our spring break trip is always in Marco Island where it’s guaranteed to be warm. Additionally, we are able to see grandparents and cousins while we are down there which adds such a specialness to the trip. Our east coast summer vacation is spent in Edgartown, MVY; a place where we have fallen in love with as a family.

This past Christmas, we took the kids to New York City, where we pushed their limits of walking and staying up late while sightseeing and taking the subway everywhere. It was one of the most fun trips we’ve ever taken, and the kids did amazing. We knew after that we are ready for something bigger and more adventurous. No plans as of yet, but we did get the kids passports and are ready to travel!

Kim, Home Connoisseur from @Reverie.and.Root & Founder of Spilling Goodness

A vacation that feels like an eye opening break from the everyday, with room for a little adventure, a breathtaking view and time to soak up the surroundings is my favorite mix of magic for a getaway. We've found a bit of a rhythm for our family vacations that mixes up the type of trip at different times of the year.

For the past four years, we've suprised our kids with the plans for a trip on Christmas that we take over New Years. These trips have all been about going and doing - skiing, Disney, Rose Bowl and San Diego so far! For me, they can be stressful to plan, full of excitement and while they create awesome memories and I thoroughly enjoy them, I rarely come home feeling recharged. Reconnected - yes. Rested - not at all.

Then, for Spring Break, we find a beach. These are typically my favorite vacations. I just need sunshine, a pool, sand and a good place to run. My kids love to play in the water - everyone is entertained and it is a great mix of play time and chill time. Lastly, in the summer we typically visit a lake in Wisconsin. The sunset on a lake can still my soul (deep, I know) - and there is just something so peaceful about the water. My husband loves being on a boat and my kids love nothing more than tubbing their hearts out. I'll occasionally water ski, but am just as happy spotting from the boat. At the end of the day, being together in a beautiful place is really my favorite place to be.

Pin this post for later: Favorite types of vacations