Where do you go for vacation?

Every year, I try to make it a point to "get away from it all" for at least a few hours at a time. Whether it's day trips to local parks and attractions, a day in the "Big City," or a plane ride somewhere far away.  This year, we're doing home improvements. Not much of a vacation, but the budget only covers so much, doncha know.

I've resigned myself to the fact that I'm not going anywhere this year. We had a "big trip" last year, but even DH is wishing for a little getaway while he struggles through demolition stages prior to rebuilding. We'll probably manage a weekend away somewhere - probably within driving distance.

What kind of vacations do you like? Cities? Mountains? Beaches? The desert? National Parks? Museums? We've done all of these, and I have to say that at different times, all of them have their appeal. I enjoy quiet nights, gazing out over the ocean/lake, but I'm done after a day or two at the beach. Cities have their appeal as well, but again, not on the top of my list. Conversely, DH is done after a day or two hiking across the desert or through the mountains, although he enjoys taking pictures at the national parks. We generally try to diversify our trips so that I have my "middle of nowhere" places and he gets his "bustle of the city" places. Last year's trip took us to major cities as well as out of the way villages. Me? I'm writing a story about one of the places we stopped (that small village feel) that made my favorite places list, and him? He wants to go back to the bustling city. So much to see and we didn't get nearly enough time there. I agree, but I'd still go back to my small village first.

It's all about compromise in the end. I did enjoy that bustling city (although I have to say he wasn't as impressed with my little village). Different strokes, and all that sort of thing. DH is an engineer. He has an analytical mind that is stimulated by trying to figure out how things work. Seeing engineering marvels and architectural anomalies. Me? I'm the romantic. I can appreciate his views and find all those things interesting, but I'm more captivated with a perfect setting. Rolling hills, brilliant colors, unusual rock formations, flora and fauna, glittering waterfalls. Things man can't recreate. God's thumbprints from where he's shaped and sculpted the world.

A few years ago, we went to Las Vegas and Utah and Arizona. The first part of the trip was to Bryce Canyon. The colors and the rock formations took my breath away. For me, it was more intimate than the Grand Canyon. I loved it.  DH loved the photo ops, but got tired of it pretty quickly. We went to Page, Arizona, to Antelope Canyon (which is so much of a tourist trap, and yet is so highly unique that I'd still recommend it), and DH was equally impressed with the construction of the bridge across Lake Powell as with the natural landscape. When we left for Vegas, he was anxious to be back to civilization and all the glitter and architecture that makes that city so unique. While I can appreciate the singular appeal, as we drove through the desert, closer to the city, when DH tried to appeal to my sense of "wow," I'd already been wowed by the canyons.  I simply smiled and said to him, "you didn't complain for my part of the trip, so I won't complain for your part." Don't get me wrong, we both enjoyed everything we saw. It's a matter of measure. How many canyons can you see before you go "eh?" and How many casinos can you walk through before you are overwhelmed?  It was a great trip all around.

Where do you go to get away from it all? To the urban jungle? Or to the far reaches of civilization?