A Perfect Vacation or Hell on Earth?

My wife and daughter have very different ideas than me about what a vacation should be like

When I was single, I loved solo traveling. My vacations were certainly not traditional, and I completely understand that they wouldn’t appeal to all people.

I have backpacked in Europe, walked across Kansas, and rode my bike all over the United States.

My goals were to witness nature, historical places, and different cultures. My travels resulted in some unique experiences. I have linked some of the stories from those travels at the bottom of this article.

But then that all changed. I met a wonderful woman who preferred me to stay in one place instead of wandering all over the world.

It wasn’t that she was against travel. She just wasn’t into my bare-bones, back-to-the-basics, shoestring-budget type of travel that led me to so many incredible experiences.

Instead, she preferred all-inclusive resorts located on sandy beaches lining pristine ocean shores.

I will admit, it didn’t take long for me to get used to the idea of a vacation consisting of lounging next to a pool with someone bringing me piña colada after piña colada.

So, for many years after meeting my wife, that is what my vacations consisted of.

No more times of being lost in a big city in the wrong part of town with a heavy pack on my back. No more blistered feet from walking or sore muscles and sunburned neck from riding a bike all day.

I did, indeed, start to see her way of what a vacation ought to be like. We went to Las Vegas, Miami, Cozumel, and Costa Rica. I had never experienced such luxurious travel and I was getting used to it.

Then, we had a child.

I snapped out of my lotus-eating euphoria and came back to reality.

Vacations ought to be educational. I wanted my daughter to see nature and historical sights. I wanted her to see mountains, big cities, and natural wonders.

I also wrote a blog on that which I linked at the bottom of this article as well.

As a family, we’ve done some of that type of travel, but once again, I am starting to find that I am often outvoted in my household.

It is just my wife, myself, my seven-year-old daughter, and two dogs. The dogs don’t always get to vote but it doesn’t really matter to me because they usually side with my wife and daughter anyway.

Last year, they all voted on Silver Dollar City in Missouri for our summer vacation.

“Okay,” I relented. “At least it is the Ozarks. We will get to experience some nature.”

We, of course, did see the Ozarks on the way there — or at least I saw the Ozarks. They slept most of the way while I drove.

After that, it was just three days at an amusement park with long lines in the hot sun for rides that spun round and round and left you battered and bruised.

I missed my piña coladas. I even missed my heavy backpack and sore muscles from my old vacations.

Next year, we will go to a place where my daughter will experience monumental things, I told myself.

Of course, this was just a pipe dream. I was operating under the illusion that I would have some say in the matter.

My wife announced last Christmas that we would be going to Disney World with my in-laws this summer.

As I opened my mouth to protest, I was drowned out by my daughter’s screams of glee as she jumped around excitedly.

I closed my mouth and embraced the inevitable. I was heading to the happiest place on Earth and there was nothing I could do about it.

As we make plans to go in a few weeks, we all got brand-new Disney shirts. My daughter got an adorable Lion King shirt and my wife got a cute Minnie Mouse shirt.

They bought me a shirt with Grumpy on it.

I am sure my daughter is going to have the time of her life and seeing that will be worth it.

Myself, I will be looking for a concession stand that sells piña coladas. If I can find that, maybe I will switch to a shirt with Happy on it.

For other travel stories by Curt: