Vacation Fun With Your Loved One

As women, we seem to always be on the go. Whether we're at home, work or on the road, it seems that we are always busy and have to do something every minute of the day. I don't know about you, but I'm so used to having to push myself in order to do everything that is needed each day that I don't know what to do with myself when I do have a spare moment! I'm sure you can relate. But how can we take a break from all that insanity and spend some time with the person we love? If we were to go on vacation with our significant other, what are some things we can do? If you go to a resort or on a cruise, they will often have plenty of activities to participate in. However, some people don't like having to plan things in advance and like to be able to 'do their own thing'. While some people say they would never leave the hotel room (*wink*,*nudge*), here are a few suggestions for other fun things to do with your loved one.

• Go on a horse-drawn carriage ride. When my husband and I went to St. Augustine, FL for our honeymoon, part of the couples' package was a horse-drawn carriage ride through the historical district. A midnight ride like ours is a fun and romantic way to see parts of the city you might otherwise miss. I've seen similar things offered in mountain towns and out-of-the-way places, especially during Christmas or Halloween. There's just something about the sound that horseshoes make when they touch the cobblestone roads that makes you feel like you're in another time.
• Speaking of historical districts, taking a stroll through the downtown parts of some cities is a great way to experience some 'local culture'. Pretty much every town I've ever been to with a downtown district has a section with a lot of Mom-and-Pop restaurants, old-fashioned candy shops and stores that sell handmade crafts. If you go during the right times of the year (especially around summer holidays), you might find a street festival with a lot of locally-made food items, crafts and street performers. When I went to Edinburgh, Scotland in 2001 with some friends, we caught a bit of what they call the Fringe Festival. Basically, it is a huge annual street festival that runs through the entire month of August. We saw singers, acrobats, comedians, jugglers, etc from all over the world-one group was even from Togo, a small country in western Africa! Be prepared to drop some cash, though, because the food and crafts can get kind of expensive. It's worth it, though, to have something you can't get anywhere else.
• Take lessons such as horseback-riding, skiing or scuba diving.
• If you want to do a cross-country tour, rent an RV.
• Be sure to visit at least one locally-owned restaurant! When I take my husband to see my parents outside Wilmington, NC, we always make it a point to take him to a Mom-and-Pop seafood restaurant. Like most coastal cities, there are several there that could put Red Lobster to shame! For things you can take home with you, visit a local fudge or candy shop. I can guarantee you that you'll find something (orange cream fudge, anyone?) you can't get elsewhere.

These are just a few ideas of things to do if you want to get away with your significant other, but don't have the time or money to go to a fancy resort. While there is a lot to be said for resorts, sometimes the best trips are the ones you make for yourself.