Some things in life deserve a lot of thought: how to invest, where to live, what to watch on TV tonight. You might add planning a vacation to that list, and we would too…sometimes. How exciting would it be to point to a spot on the map and just go?! When you fly (or drive) by the seat of your pants to an unexpected vacay, the memories are unlike any others. Now, where did we put that atlas?
The Great Escape
"We really enjoy amusement parks, especially the rush of a good, fast, crazy roller coaster. We've ridden 20 to 30 coasters together and plan to return to Europe (we honeymooned in Holland and Belgium) to try some European coasters. One summer my husband, Cullen and I were watching a television show about the top coasters in the world and we knew we must ride the Millennium Force, which was voted the number-one steel coaster in the world in 2005. We were so inspired that we hopped in the car and headed to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, from our then-home in Roanoke, Virginia!"
-- Tracee, 31, Hollywood, Florida
Sentimental Value
"On our second wedding anniversary, Christian told me to pack my bags and bring enough clothes for different types of activities. We jumped on the freeway, and I soon realized that we were going to Long Beach, California, the city where we met. When we got there, our hotel room had a view of the Long Beach Bay from our balcony, there was Champagne in the room and chocolate-dipped strawberries on the bed (I love that cheesy stuff), and he made dinner reservations at the exact restaurant where we first laid eyes on each other. It was such a short trip, just one night, but it was his thoughtfulness that was the highlight for me."
-- Amanda, 27, Hacienda Heights, California
Cross-country Getaway
"My husband, Sim, and I had planned to go camping for a couple of weeks at Wilsons Promontory, a national park on the coast of Victoria in Australia, which is near home. But two days before we planned to leave, it rained and rained and rained some more. And the forecast called for more rain! We waited it out for a couple of days and then gave up, jumped on the Net, bought a pair of plane tickets, and three hours later were flying across the country to the beach area of Queensland. Our destination was Main Beach, which is on the Gold Coast. We swam with seals and took a helicopter ride over the ocean. Those six nights were the best holiday we've had in ages."
-- Lin, 27, Melbourne, Australia
In The Stars
"This spontaneous trip took place five years ago, before DH and I were married, actually before we were officially dating, and it was the most amazing week of my life (besides our honeymoon in Jamaica). I left a note on the table for my roommates that read, 'Went to Florida. Be back later!' After driving 18 hours, we got a hotel room on the ocean, went swimming, and just hung out together for a week. We started officially dating the day after we left for the trip. We were in the car when, just jokingly, Ian said, 'Will you be my girlfriend?' And we kind of laughed about it, and I said 'Sure!'"
-- Jamie, 24, Hudsonville, Michigan
Bay Area Bliss
"DH and I pulled a less extreme Jennifer Wilbanks three weeks before our June 19, 2004, wedding. Between me graduating from college and the wedding in a few weeks, there were fittings, finals, and feasts to be juggled, and the stress was unreal! We found a last-minute San Francisco vacation package on site59.com and did not tell anyone our plan until we were en route to the airport. We had a fabulous time together down at the pier, eating clam chowder and Ghirardelli chocolate, and riding the cable cars. It gave us the chance to reconnect and remind ourselves that our upcoming wedding was just the beginning of our lives together. Now that we are married, we still take impromptu trips to keep our sanity and the romance alive."
-- Pamela, 27, Urbana, Illinois
A True Haven
"Nick and I lived in the metro Detroit area at the time of the big blackout of 2003. It was the hottest part of the summer, and being without air-conditioning was barely tolerable. We made it through the first night in our apartment, but the next morning we woke up stinky and sweaty from the lack of running water and extreme heat, did some calculations, and decided to make a run for it. We took the car that had the most gas and headed three hours to West Michigan (where there was power). We spent the day in Grand Haven, swimming, lying on the beach, watching the sun set, and eating at our favorite pizza joint, the Clover Bar. By the end of the day we had heard that the power was back on in our area, and we headed home. While our friends sat home in their stuffy houses without running water (read: no flushing toilets), we had a wonderful day in the sun enjoying ourselves. It's one of my favorite memories."
-- Lesa, 26, Bryan, Texas
by Grace Jidoun
4/23/08
See more:
Love/Sex,
travel for two