Three Spontaneous Vacation Ideas

“A vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what you’ve been taking.” – Earl Wilson

Why You Should Take a Spontaneous Vacation

We take vacations to get away from the stress, rigidity, and responsibilities of day-to-day life. Vacations are supposed to help us “unplug” and relax. Many of us hang a lot of hope on the big vacations we take every year. You know, the ones you’ve planned perfectly? You’ve already decided where you want to eat, what concerts you are going to see, what tourist traps you will and won’t visit, and which family members you will spend time with. You make sure you have a picture perfect outfit for each day. Once you plan and book everything, you still spend your free moments in lala land planning it down to the second even further. The anticipation is all consuming. You start to hate work because you aren’t on your magical fairytale vacation. You are on some loose-weight fast diet.

That’s how it goes for me anyways. I felt that way this summer when I visited Denver, Seattle, and Portland. While I’ve gotten the chance to see the world from my well planned trips, I don’t always get a chance to recharge. I might leave my email and my watch behind, but I still feel like I’m glimpsing at my phone every 30 minutes to make sure I’m making the most of every moment.

When I got an invitation to visit a friend in the Outer Banks recently, I still didn’t accept right away. I found myself assuming I was busy or it would be too much to plan to go. The thought kind of stressed me out, honestly.

Then, about two weeks ago, my world was spinning at home. (Thankfully things have slowed down!) In the midst of it all, I suddenly remembered my friend’s invitation and looked at the calendar. I blocked four days off, told my partner to do the same, let my work know, and threw a random pile of clothes and bathing suits into my suitcase and my boyfriend’s suit case. All we had was an address and a few good friends waiting on the other side.

I made sure I crossed off any major personal and professional goals before the trip and made plans afterwards or any I knew I wouldn’t reach. I didn’t want to think about anything while I was gone. I wanted time to think through the big stuff and let new ideas and inspiration come to me.

We had no plans, no schedule, no goals. We didn’t spend money on the stay, simply gas, food, and drinks. We returned truly refreshed.

I want you to feel the same way! Don’t tell yourself you can’t do it. Don’t let stress and exaggerated expectations keep you from pulling trigger.

Here is a list of unscheduled, no cost vacation opportunities:

1. Friends and Family: Think about your people who a. love you and b. live somewhere cool, somewhere refreshing. Maybe it’s your grandma. Maybe it’s your coworker who likes you a lot and alwayscinvites you to stay at his place at Virginia Beach. Stop rolling your eyes. Just say yes to someone. Since they are close to you, be kind. Bring a hostess gift, bring your own food, towels, and toiletries. Clean up more than after just yourself. Don’t make them feel like you weren’t even there, make them feel like it was even better that you were there!
2. Nearby State Park: State Parks aren’t just for camping and hiking. Most state parks have fully equipped cabins and even hotels on site. Splurge on the good views and a cozy bed. Bring all the snacks, reading material and red wine. Sync your sleeping schedule with the rise and fall of the sun. Start a fire, it’s one of the most meditative activities. Find a state park here.

3. Staycation: You don’t have to drive very far to get away. Check out local hotels and Air BnB listings in your area. Find a cool location with something different. Make sure you aren’t cramped in the space and have room to be free. Maybe look for a place with a porch and a view. When you get there, pull up Yelp and search for a nail salon, ice cream shop, or wine shop nearby. Explore a corner of town you’ve never seen before.

When was the last spontaneous trip you’ve taken? I’d love to hear about it and take notes!