Thursday, February 7, 2008

Vacation

Today I realized I need a break. I was putting on a sweater to go out and get a cup of coffee when I looked down and realized ... I had just finished a big cup of coffee. Yes, it's that lethargic feeling you get when you haven't had time off for a while. I'm so burned I even want to delegate my delegating. Rather than going the extra mile, customers seem like a nuisance. That's when you know you need a break, when your customer service skills begin to suffer. Or maybe it was my friend Carl stopping by to tell me he's taking a six-month sabbatical backpacking trip through Southeast Asia. Sigh. I'll have three weeks in March when my wife and son are gone, so I was thinking of taking a trip. I've got enough frequent flyer miles to get to the moon (via coach). Where to go? I figure 4-5 days max.

17 comments:

  1. Head East and hike in the mountains. Walk around in Monterrey. Canned, I know, but it's what I'm thinking of doing.

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  2. When I have time off, I like to hang out in the back room at this local game store...


    Oh wait...


    That might not work so well for you.

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  4. I can use my miles for hotels and airfaire. With only 4 days, my flying range is limited, so I was thinking Hawaii or Mexico. A road trip is another idea, but that's much more expensive, although it has the advantage of not having to plan it too far in advance.

    I might also look into some sort of retreat as well.

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  5. Me and my wife had been going to Hawaii for 4 years straight (1/year), but the last time the airline pissed us off. Enough to sour my chances of heading out that way again.

    Which sucks, 'cuz I like it there.

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  6. I'll second Monterrey, though.

    Nice place to just kickback and listen to the ocean. And the aquarium.

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  7. My favorite place to relax and get away from day-to-day life is Yosemite.

    My favorite place to get away from day-to-day life (less relaxing though) is a camping trip to the desert.

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  8. Grand Canyon AZ.
    Flagstaff is a great little town, and some driving in the rental car will take you to Sedona, very beautiful place.

    Or, if you are more rugged, you can go down into the canyon on foot or on burro and camp for a couple of days.

    Either way, have a great time. You deserve it.

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  9. Well, I'm biased towards Monterey, but your other options sound promising.

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  10. I used to camp in the desert a lot when I was in college, but I'm now more interested in comfortable beds and coffee shops. So far, Monterrey sounds like a no-brainer, AND it's close enough and cheap enough (miles for a hotel room), that I can go multiple times instead of some blowout trip.

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  11. Just be sure and stay away from the hamburgers. On our last trip there, as long as I ate seafood I was fine, but when I decided to have a burger I came down with food poisoning.

    If it's your first trip, do the tourist thing and see the aquarium, take the bay tour (something I haven't actually ever done, but keep meaning to do), drive some of ten mile drive, etc.

    Just to be pedantic, Monterey, CA is spelled with one 'r'. Monterrey is in Mexico.

    Oh, and if you want to see the sea lions up close, the best place I've found is to walk to the end of the Coast Guard pier.

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  12. Monterey is sweet.

    When you go with the family, be sure to go to Dennis the Menace park. It is incredible. I have fond memories of it from when I lived there ages 2-9 (ages ago); and it still has some of the same play structures.

    *Recommended*

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  13. You guys have me thinking Monterey now. I'll probably plan a trip just myself in March; drinking coffee, reading, sleeping in a bed where small children don't kick me in the neck, that sort of thing. If I can get my miles to cover the room expense, then I might do it on a regular basis.

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  14. librarian said: "I have fond memories of it from when I lived there ages 2-9 (ages ago)"

    Dare I ask what decade that was? I lived there while at a similar age range during the seventies.

    Gary: Monterey is a nice place to relax. If that's the main goal of your trip, then it would be hard to beat. Of course, that assumes that your idea of relaxation doesn't need to include sunbathing. It's usually not the best place for that :-P

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  15. Sunbathing isn't important. In fact, I prefer a lodge-like setting with a fireplace and stormy weather. You can get that a lot along the coast in Winter, and it's off season too.

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  17. Fulminata -

    I lived in Monterey from 1968 - 1975 or so. I went up through 3rd grade to Foothill School...

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