Time for Vacation Planning

Driving down the highway heading home on the last day of vacation or any short trip we invariably will say to each other, "so, where do you want to go next."  The anticipation and planning of a vacation is a great part of our enjoyment.  Don't get me wrong, I love the vacations themselves.  Invaiably I want to move to that area.  It lasts until I realize that in winter I would have snow up to, well, places it should not reach.  Vacations are for the moment, photographs are forever.

My wife is a great researcher and we plan things out pretty well in advance.  We try to not overplan but somehow it gets pushed aside.  Of course, we did get closer to being "loosey goosey" on our November roadtrip.  We went to New Orleans via Tallahassee and the Gulf Coast.  It was a great adventure.  Two weeks and 2200 miles in a car together.  The good part is we were still best friends when we got back.

Some trips turn out better than others but if you plan early, they seem to be less stressful.  We don't care for the big box hotels.  We prefer to stay in bed and breakfasts whenever we cThere you get the feeling of being in a home and get a chance to talk to others over breakfast.  That is a good way to get ideas of places to see or not to see.  It works for us, especially,if the cost is reasonable.  We are not resort people.  We have stayed in "Old Florida" motels with the flashing neon Flamingo on the roof and the window unit running all night.  We don't like to spend all of our money on the rooms. 

Funny things happen when we make reservations.  During the planning of our  Grand Canyon trip, my wife found a place from the "fifties" that was a roadside motel in Holbrook, AZ.  The rooms were stand-alone units of concrete shaped and painted as indian wigwams.  I told you we like funky.  While calling for reservations I asked, "what do people do when visiting Holbrook."  The woman said, "nothing here, they usually go to Winslow and stand on the corner."  I thought she had fallen and hit her head.  My wife got it immediately, standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona. It is a famous line from an old Eagles song.  I felt pretty stupid.  Would you have gotten it?  Be honest.  There is actually a statue, standing on the corner and a lot of tumbleweed.

So, now it is time to start thinking about our next great adventure.  We enjoyed our trip to the Grand Canyon a lot.  Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Park weren't too shabby either.  When we went to Yellowstone we did not get to go everywhere.  Bryce Canyon area has been discussed in Utah. Utah sounds pretty good. 

Last July I fell and had to have surgery on my left knee.  New Orleans was quite a test being only four months later.  The walk up to the second floor was not fun but with a lot of grousing and a few colorful words, I made it.  By the time we go anywhere it will have been about a year.  It will be about as healthy as it's going to get.

Where are you going for vacation?  Dust off the atlas and get cracking.  It's gonna be here before you know it.  I love to travel the roads.  It also helps to have a great partner to go places together.  So, make your plans and reservations and have a good one.  Happy travels.

Michael Kaynard is a local photographer who lives in West Ashley.  You can view his photos at http://kaynardphotography.webs.com or contact him at mkaynard@gmail.com or 843-412-2299