We all have a favorite vacation, a time and place that, if we could, we'd return to in a heartbeat. But what makes a vacation special? What distinguishes between a favorite vacation and just a boring overnighter at a hotel?
Traveling companions
The people you go with on vacation can make a world of difference when it comes to the amount of fun you have. There are a few things to consider when going on a trip with someone.
"The mood of your companions affects the mood of the vacation," Chance Cox, a senior at Da Vinci Academy, claims. These people have a "substantial" influence on the amount of fun you have.
If your companions are grouchy, they're not going to want to do anything fun. Go with someone who you know is going to be positive and is going to want to have a good time. But remember, you also need to have a good attitude as well -- don't you go around being the party pooper.
Something else to consider is how close you are to the people you're going with.
"I think if you're with people you care about, the trip means more to you," says Makayla Bottoms, a Clearfield High senior. "You grow closer as relatives or friends and create fun memories together to look back on. Going on a vacation with someone that you don't like or aren't close with, there isn't an incentive to do something meaningful."
Mitch Sailsberry, a junior at Layton High, loved going to Seattle because he was with his family. He said that between high school, college and married siblings, they don't get to spend a lot of time all together. He enjoyed being with them and seeing where his parents are originally from.
Entertainment
Once you're on vacation, what do you do? A vacation is supposed to be a time to relax, but it's also a chance to try new things.
Don't waste your vacation doing nothing but sitting around and sleeping in, you can do that at home. Try something new, see something new, or do something you love.
On his trip to Hawaii, Ryan Tholen, a senior at Northridge High, learned how to snorkel and "went diving with fish. (He) found a street with a big arch of about 100 trees (that) was so pretty and cool to go under."
Jenna Matsumura, another Northridge senior, had a "blissful" trip to Cancun where she got to go parasailing and shopping.
Both of these teens went exploring and really turned their family trips into a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Other ideas for entertainment would be hiking, fishing, shopping and exploring. Even if you've been somewhere a million times there's still something fun to discover.
Location, location
Where you go for vacation, as well as your accommodations, will influence how much you enjoy the trip. Not every place is perfect for every person.
Some teens absolutely love the great outdoors and are just fine without a shower or flushing toilet for a few days. Others might prefer touring historical sites or shopping.
Riley Slaughter, a senior at Layton High, enjoyed his trip to Disneyland because they didn't have to rough it. He hates camping, but he loved staying in a hotel that looked like a castle and being able to go to the park for a whole week.
Darlene Frazier, a senior at Da Vinci Academy, said her favorite trip was a cruise from Alaska to Canada. She enjoyed "the fact that my whole family was there and we were on the ocean together."
A trip to Maui in 2004 was a hit with Kaleb Sherwood; the Northridge High junior enjoyed "just exploring the mountains."
More destinations
Bottoms says "going to California with my family this past summer was the BEST. ... Being with my family and sharing new experiences with them was the best part. I loved seeing the views and trying new things."
If you do end up somewhere lacking entertainment or accommodations, try to make the best of your situation and find something you enjoy.
"I went to Vegas one year for a few days and stayed at the worst hotel I've ever been in," Bottoms recalls. "I loved going to Vegas and doing fun activities, but (that) was the worst hotel experience I've ever had."
Vacations are a chance for adventure but keep in mind that you can't control everything about a trip. However, you can control your attitude. Stay positive, be happy, and relax. Who knows, maybe the unplanned adventure will turn out to be the best part of the trip.
TX. correspondents Morgan Briesmaster, Northridge High; Kimball Gardner, Clearfield High, and McKayden Howard, Da Vinci Academy, contributed to this story.
* * *
Hillary Slaughter is a senior at Layton High School. She loves reading, crafts and "the great outdoors." E-mail her at hilleymae@hotmail.com.
Comments