What is the point of Vacations??

From past blog entry’s, you can probably see that there are several different places people can label as “vacation spots”. Most people don’t consider summer camps to be a vacation or they don’t think they can consider a place a “vacation spot” if it’s in their town or not at least 500 miles away. So than what is a true “vacation spot”?? And what is the whole point on going on vacation?? We go to different places all the time, but I don’t think we consider why we go to these places and why it’s such a blast.

Probably the most common reason we go on vacation is to get out of the house. Most everyone lives in the same house for about 90% of the year, and it can get pretty dull and boring looking at the same walls for that long. So, vacations become great getaways, places that give you a new view. In Puerto Rico, I would wake up to the sound of birds and the ocean sweeping along the sandy beaches. At my upstate house in New York, my view in the living room for the morning is the lake itself, with the sun coming up over the mountains. The different perspective is refreshing and keeps us on our toes.

Another very plain and simple reason we go on vacations is to try something new. This reason is very similar to getting out of the house, expect instead of just having a different location, you have dissimilar activities to entertain yourself with. Vacations open up new activities for you to experience. I have never been on a ferry since my trip to Burlington Vermont, nor have I set foot on a stage since the Washington Street Players camp. Different places allow you to try different things, and not just activities. Food also becomes an experience. Hamburgers and pizza can get a bit boring after a while, so when you do to different countries, they offer diverse types of foods to enliven your taste buds. Variety in activities and food make going on vacation a much more accepted idea for the family.

There are though, reasons we go on vacation that we as teens don’t really consider. One of these reasons is to spend time with our family. I completely understand that at home mom and dad can really be pains, and don’t get me started on all the arguments with brothers and sisters, and how unnecessary most of them are. The truth is, we get sick of our family a bit too quickly. Vacations give us a chance to spend stress-free time with our siblings and parents, and maybe some of you relatives as well. Almost every place I have been to has been with my family, immediate and extended. I go to New York with my entire family, cousins, grandparents, you name it. I feel as though, vacations give us the opportunity to see our family from a different perspective. They become the people we experience all of these different things with. We are able to share laughs and meals and rime together. Away from a normal schedule, where the kids have homework and sports, and the parents have work, it gives us an opportunity to fully appreciate each other away from the hustle and bustle. But, going on vacation doesn’t mean you always go with your family. Many people also go on vacation with their friends. Camps are an example of being on vacation with your friends. I have gone to the summer homes of my friends in past summers, and I find that’s it’s the same concept. When you’re with a friend, it can make the place you’re at a lot more fun and exciting. If you are one on one with good friends, you become that much closer. It’s like with your family. When you take a person out of their element, or their every day routine, they become a “different” person, and you learn that much more about them. Friends are the most important people in your life when you are in high school, so going on vacation with them makes it that much better. There is a saying that goes “it’s not where you are, it’s who you’re with”. That basically sums up that whole paragraph into one sentence.

Vacations also give us something we really don’t really consider. We mention these things all the time whenever we tell friends or family about where we went. The places we see, food we eat, and activities we do all give us memories. The main point of vacations is to gain memories, and hopefully memories that will stay with us for a long time. All of the places that I have been to have “given” me the best memories I have. When a place isn’t exciting to us, or if the vacation we took was too similar to our normal home, we don’t really have positive things to share about it. These memories are forgotten, or placed in the back of your our minds. Vacations where we really enjoyed ourselves, or where we did something or tasted something for the first time, create the best memories. When we return home from these vacations, we can’t wait to tell our friends all about the trip and what you did that they didn’t. Memories are very important. They allow us to remember the good times, and learn from the not so good times. Vacations create these memories that we may or may not treasure for the rest of our lives. But the main intent for going on vacation with family of friends is to give us the opportunity to have remarkable memories forever.

I have only been to about a dozen different places, but I probably have a million memories from them. All of the vacation spots that I have mentioned in my blog, whether I have or haven’t gone to them, will definitely create some amazing memories. Remember, vacations do not need to be a “by-yourself” experience. Go with family and friends, because they make the ride that much more interesting. The different places you see, the diverse people you meet, and the original food you try all contribute to who you are. I have no regrets from my past vacations. They were all completely breathtaking experiences. So, vacations aren’t just excuses for getting out of the house. They are meant to exciting and memorable experiences.

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