Vacations Aren’t Just for Play

Greetings from Missouri, where we had a lovely weekend after several rainy, dreary days last week. We’ve now sprung forward, and the warm weather (then, scorching hot weather) we’ve come to expect will be brightening our days (bearing down on us like a lamp in a torture room) before we know it. Kids will be rushing out school-house doors and away from computer screens (that’s a bizarre combination for one sentence, right?) to begin their summer break. And, most of us are already planning an annual family vacation or summer weekend getaway.

Some years ago in my Writing Life Part I, I wrote about four distinct travel personalities that I had identified over the years. I want to re-visit that topic today, help you identify your preferred TP, and make a case for the one of those that should always be included in your plans if you still have kids at home. Lend an ear, friends…

Here are the four as described way back when; my personal favorite may or may not be obvious.

Learners – They like museums and architecture, history and culture. They keep a full itinerary while on vacation. Learners do not waste an opportunity to gain knowledge about a new place. They may even record the trivia they acquire along the way. (Is that weird?)

Adventurers – These are the bungee-jumping and ski-diving folks. They like a hard day of play, along with a healthy adrenaline rush. Whether at the beach, the mountains, or an amusement park, they strive for adventure and a break from the ordinary routine. (That’s weird! Are you trying to kill yourself?)

Admirers – Soaking up the natural beauty of a destination is what these travelers enjoy. They feel energized by landscapes and vistas unfamiliar to their own. Admirers enjoy hiking and camping, boating and fishing. They seek inspiration during their respites from the daily grind. (That was a fun morning; not let’s get to it.)

Relaxers – They just want to chill. Relaxers have no agenda other than to do exactly what sounds good in the moment. Lounging on a beach with a cold drink, taking long naps, savoring good meals – that’s their style. Vacation means escaping real-world stressors and plans. (Rigor is setting in here!)

Back to Writing Life, Part II… If you haven’t already found yourself among those descriptions, here is a super scientific self-test to help you zero in on your TP type with ease.

Travel Personality Self-Test…

For each section below, fill in the circles for items you either have done and would enjoy doing again or haven’t done, but would like to do in the future:

Section I:

Ø Scoured the beach for sea shells in the early morning hours

Ø Viewed the Synchronous Fireflies late at night in the Smoky Mountains

Ø Sought out the perfect locale for watching the sunset at most any travel destination

Ø Driven out of your way to take the slower, scenic route

Ø Toured the Dells of the Wisconsin River

Ø Marveled at the brilliant colors of Yellowstone’s hot pots

Ø Imagined voyages of long-gone seamen and picnicked on Rhode Island’s rocky beach

Ø Petitioned your kids to “look at the scenery” on the long drive

Ø Asked all humans to “get out of the frame” when getting the winning shot

Ø Purchased a National Park Passport with the hopes of stamping each and every one

Section II:

Ø Chose the “wildest” ride when selecting your Durango, CO whitewater rafting excursion

Ø Traveled to Ohio to ride Cedar Point’s Millennium Force; bought the t-shirt, too

Ø Rode Parakeet Pete’s Waterfront Zipline before exploring Branson’s music scene

Ø Driven out of your way to take the more “exciting” route; think cliff-hugging

Ø Jet skied off of Myrtle Beach

Ø Participated in extreme food-eating challenges to get the complete culinary experience

Ø Dreamt, while at the Grand Canyon’s edge, of the modes of transport into and over it

Ø Petitioned your kids to “look up the go-kart place” before arriving at the destination

Ø Reminded photographer friends to get the “action shot”

Ø Created a list of the most exhilarating amusement park rides to survive before dying

Section III:

Ø Delighted in spending a couple hours exploring the National Mustard Museum

Ø Stood in awe at the work and sacrifice of the men who built the Mackinac Bridge

Ø Toured Frank Lloyd Wright’s school and desert home, Taliesen West

Ø Driven out of your way to read some juicy roadside plaques

Ø Visited graves of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane — after reading the stories of both

Ø Signed up for a food tour to get the flavor of the city you were visiting

Ø Pondered plantation life from varied perspectives after touring 2+ Antebellum homes

Ø Petitioned your kids to finish their Highlights Which Way USA workbook while enroute

Ø Took time to photograph monument inscriptions for future reference

Ø Located a presidential library guidebook to ensure you don’t miss even one

Section IV:

Ø Booked a yoga class and a massage upon arriving at your resort

Ø Packed coloring books, puzzles, and board games for family condo time

Ø Lingered longer than the learners at shopping areas and souvenir shops

Ø Reserved cabanas, lounge chairs, sleigh rides, or hot tubs before arriving

Ø Found relaxed, but yummy restaurants with bonus points for music and outdoor dining

Ø Allowed yourself to sleep late before hustling to the beach for the day

Ø Scheduled a dinner cruise with entertainment, views, and food for all-in-one experience

Ø Petitioned your kids to sing vacation tunes on the way (i.e. Jimmy Buffet)

Ø Purchased group pics by roving photographers at relaxed restaurants and cruises

Ø Resolved yourself not to make plans or learn stuff; “vacations are not cerebral”

Once you have completed your assessment, count the number of darkened circles for each section.

Determine which section had the highest number of filled-in circles, and that is your Travel Personality.

The key is as follows: Section 1 = Admirer, Section II = Adventurer, Section III = Learner, and Section IV = Relaxer.

Download a Travel Personality Self-Assessment

Why is it Important to Know Your Travel Personality?

More and more families and friends are traveling together. It’s helpful to know what the preferences and objectives are of those you’re traveling with, because there can definitely be competing interests. My husband and I frequently travel with my sister and her husband, and all of our kids (though, most of our kids aren’t really kids anymore). And, among the four of us adults, there are four different Travel Personalities. It’s a challenge! We’ve learned that we have to make an effort to satisfy at least some of the needs of each member of the group. And, we’ve learned that who we’re with is more important than what we’re doing.

Which TP is best?

Clearly, that’s not a legitimate question, because each of these types has merit. Vacations should be exactly what each traveler needs to refresh and rejuvenate.

I don’t think God gave us this beautiful world so that we could go through life without taking time to just soak it up. Our country is full of breathtaking natural wonders, and what better time to absorb those than on vacation when one has a minute to actually do so. Admirers don’t take that gift for granted. They want to fill their senses with the beauty of the environment. Doing so blesses their weary souls.

And, really don’t we all need to step out of our comfort zone sometimes. There’s nothing like a heart-stopping thrill to bring about raucous laughter and squeals that tend to come far less as we grow older. A little excitement is great for reminding us of our youth, and those Adventurers never fail to return home with good stories to share with co-workers.

Lots of us in America are geared toward achievement and accomplishment, and we have to make a concerted effort to slow down and just be in the moment. Our relaxer travel friends — they have the mindfulness thing mastered. They are able to just be. Just enjoy. Just savor moments without agendas or tasks; we can learn a lot from these travel types.

Now, there is one left. You know what it is. It’s the Learners. By now, you may have figured out that while I like to have varied and multi-dimensional vacays, this is my preferred TP.

Why Should Parents be Learner-type Travelers?

If you still have the opportunity to influence, teach, and guide your children — if your kids are still young enough that you have that chance — work some of the Learner-type travel into your vacation this summer.

Here’s why…

Learning vacations allow kids to see beyond their little part of the universe. Through educational travel, kids observe different lifestyles, ethnically diverse communities, varying geographical environments, and more. These experiences build understanding and empathy, helping kids to develop a broader perspective about the world they live in. By exploring a Native American reservation. By traveling via public transportation that is unfamiliar or unavailable in their own communities. By attending worship services at a church or temple where you’re vacationing. There are countless ways to introduce your young person to people, places, and cultures different from them.

Career education is taught to middle and high school students, but there’s no better way to introduce kids to career options than through intentional travel. Places like the The National Submarine Museum, Carr Valley Cheese Factory, the Mackinaw Bridge Museum, Asheville’s Biltmore Mansion, and Miami’s Wynwood Walls expose kids to military and civilian careers in electronics, engineering, agriculture, construction, design, architecture, culinary arts, gardening and landscaping, tourism, and visual arts. Whether it is by seeing working windmills across the plains or coal mines in West Virginia, these activities introduce children to jobs and careers they may never have realized existed.

It’s difficult to discern truth. We hear about “cancel culture” and banned books and programs in schools that may or may not align with your family values. We parents have to actively combat forces of evil, hate, and immorality. If your values aren’t being taught in school, educational travel allows you to further instill those values — whether it’s an abiding love for baseball, a deep sense of patriotism, an appreciation for the arts, a desire to learn about Jazz greats, or a heartfelt need to honor heroes of the American west. Through activities chosen and shared together as a family, you convey to your kids what activities, skills, world views, moral codes, and attitudes are important in yours.

However you choose to spend your time off this spring and summer, blessings to your family as you do it!