My Journey from Quick Getaways to Dream Trips

Travel is a big part of our lives. My husband and I love escaping on long weekend getaways and taking a couple of longer vacations each year. It is usually just us two. We prefer the all-inclusive resorts when visiting the Caribbean islands. Sandals have been our go-to for several years and they never fail to amaze us. We have stayed at other all-inclusive resort chains, including Couples Resorts in Jamaica and Riu in Costa Rica. I wanted to summarize some of our favorite trips here. In future posts, I will go into detail about my favorite destinations and all they have to offer.

One benefit of living in Florida is being close to several cruise ports. A 3- or 4- night cruise makes for a much-needed long weekend to destress and unwind. I love cruising for the ease and convenience they offer. If I could, I would cruise every month. But work and duty calls. Another highlight of being in Florida are the many theme parks. I would not call myself a Disney guru. I have been there more than I can count. I have stayed in a variety of different places, from on-property resorts, off-property resorts, local hotels, air BnB’s, you name it. In addition to the Disney parks, we have been to Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure, and Busch Gardens, which is in Tampa. Florida’s beautiful coastline is home to some of the best resorts in the US. We have taken long weekends to the Keys, Sarasota, Siesta Key, West Palm, Pensacola and Saint Augustine. The list can go on and on.

One of my favorite destinations so far has been Costa Rica. Its natural beauty and adventure-filled atmosphere have left us with life-long memories. We stayed at Riu, which is an all-inclusive resort but not adult only. This was no problem for us. The property is large with multiple pools and many activities to keep everyone entertained. Costa Rica has everything from the beaches to the jungle and mountains. There were countless activities, adventures and beautiful sites.

We also make an annual trip to Las Vegas, a city that never sleeps. We always find a show or a concert to go to, and we try to spend at least one night walking up and down Fremont Street (people watching is great entertainment). We like to gamble and will spend a lot of time visiting the many different casinos throughout the city. We have done helicopter tour rides into the Grand Canyon a couple of times. We rode in a boat up the Colorado River, explored Grand Canyon West. Also have visited the Meow Wolf Omega Mart. This is an experience all on its own and highly recommended if you are not sensitive to loud noises, bright flashing lights or optical illusions.

Then there is the yearly girls’ trip where we can relax and catch up on life. Our destinations are always changing, could be Disney, Chicago, NYC or Savannah.

My husband’s daughter recently moved to New Hampshire with her husband, and we have already flown up to visit several times. I expect this to be a frequent travel destination for us. I grew up in Maine and sometimes miss the changing of the seasons, so I am excited to be able to go back to New England.

I’ll end this introductory post to tell you all that I am excited for my dream trip this year! We are taking a week-long Mediterranean cruise in September. We do not have any activities or excursions planned yet, but I am most excited to visit Santorini. The whitewashed buildings, blue-domed churches and breathtaking sunsets are something I’ve always wanted to see in person. Stay tuned for my post on this trip — Greece, here we come!

Thanks for reading, Next up will be my personal reviews of the above locations.

I think of myself as an expert weekend getaway planner. After briefly sharing some of my experiences with you, I am excited to continue the love and sharing of my knowledge.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Caribbean page.