Vacation bound I wish

I don’t know about anybody else but I am ready for a much-needed vacation — one that involves no computer, no emails, no phone calls and quite frankly, not even my cell phone.

That might be hard, though, considering we take our phones everywhere and anyone at any time can contact us. But a vacation is needed so much that I would consider leaving my phone at home. I took a few vacation days right before Christmas but that didn’t count because I spent those days baking, cooking and taking care of last-minute shopping.

I know it’s only January and there are several months before summer when family vacations typically occur. But I want to get away now and I’m thinking a vacation that involves water, beaches and sand. These are the types of vacations people normally dream of in the middle of winter when the temperatures are frigid. This winter, though, has been so mild that those who are avid hikers and bicyclists are out enjoying it.

We’ve considered going to Hawaii this summer because we have never been there and it sounds like such a relaxing place. But that will depend on what sort of travel deals we can get. Our youngest is getting braces this summer so that is a priority at this point.

The past two years our summer plans have consisted of staycations which was nice because it allowed us to see areas of our beautiful state that we have never visited before, and I highly recommend doing that to everyone reading this. However, this time I want a vacation that involves packing up and boarding an airplane.

According to www.budgettravel.com the top 10 budget travel destinations for 2012 are Azores, Egypt, San Diego, Atlantic Canada, Belize, San Antonio, Poland, Taipei, Kansas City and Athens. Somehow I don’t see how one can travel to some of these destinations on a budget although they do sound nice. And going to Kansas City doesn’t appeal to me as a dream vacation but if anyone desires to go there, the website does state there are reasonable flights from Denver.

Additionally, there is a list for the top places to visit in the United States at www.lonelyplanet.com. These include New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, San Francisco, Hawaii, the Grand Canyon, Florida and New Orleans. The website didn’t specify a specific city in Florida or Hawaii so one is to assume it encompassed the whole states.

For me personally, I can handle a Vegas trip right now. I’m not a gambler so it would be a long weekend trip to visit my friends and have some much needed “girl talk.” It would in essence be going home. I most certainly could get a good deal on an airplane ticket there too.

At one time I really wanted to go on a cruise but I really don’t desire to anymore and I’m betting a lot of people feel the same way given what happened to the Costa Concordia. If that’s the case, the cruise industry will be sure to lose a lot of money so it may well be that those companies will offer some good deals in the near future for those still willing to get on board. Too good to pass up perhaps.

If anyone is thinking of destinations that are kid friendly Orlando and Los Angeles are topping the list of the top vacations for families in 2012, according to www.familyvacations2012.com. These destinations, of course, include visits to Disneyland, Disneyworld, Universal Studios, Sea World, Magic Mountain and the Kennedy Space Center.

Whatever the destination is this year, though, there is plenty to see and do and get some relaxation in.