My sweet Hubby while taking the sunrise picture at Hilton Head Beach
When I was a kid taking a vacation meant visiting my grandparents and helping them on the farm. It was fun because I liked the village life where my grandparents lived. My expectations changed when I became a teenager. I wanted to go to a beach or family vacation, which never happened because my parents wanted to see or felt obligated to visit their relatives and parents.
I never thought I would feel the same way when I grew up. Unfortunately, I sometimes do. However, it doesn’t change my decision about my vacation plans because I strongly believe that we all should have some quality time doing what we prefer. So, I do my best not to let my mom try to control me 5000 km away. I prefer traveling to different places, discovering new cultures and new cuisines, and spending time with my husband rather than using it for family visits.
This year was extraordinary. Because of the Covid 19 pandemic, we couldn’t plan our vacation the way we dreamed of. We still did our best to make it fun with the current circumstances. We did not want to take a flight during the pandemic, so we planned a two-week road trip . Considering we’ve been working from home since March, we were ready to get away from Michigan.
First, we traveled from Michigan to Pittsburgh, which was a lovely stop. It is a beautiful city; we had no idea of the topography of the city, which was quite hilly. We also had a chance to see our friends who lived there. We had a lovely time discovering a new destination.
Then, we visited Washington, DC, which was lovely. However, the museums and some of the other capital’s attractions were closed. It was still worth it to stop there. The food was delicious, and we had a chance to try some Turkish restaurants around the area. We walked quite a lot and took advantage of the beautiful weather.
Washington, DC, Washington Monument
Our next stop was Virginia Beach, which was only 4 hours away from Washington DC. We did not have a lot of expectations. We did not want to drive very long, so we used Virginia Beach as a stopping point. Even though it was rainy, it didn’t bother us. Also, we had one of the best breakfasts of our trip. We walked by the beach and had a relaxing time. The best part of Virginia Beach was shopping. There was a lovely outlet center, which we ended up shopping for around 5 hours because the prices were irresistible.
Java Surf Cafe and Espresso Bar, Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach Walk
During the rest of the trip, we visited Raleigh, Charleston, Atlanta, Hilton Head Island, Cincinnati, and Columbus. While my husband was driving, I was like a little kid trying to find restaurants at which we could eat. We loved North Carolina and Hilton Head a lot, which made us think of moving to that area in the future. The nature was beautiful where ever we went, and even just driving from one state to another state was worth it. We exercised, discovered new places, and tried so many new restaurants. It was a good break, which boosted our energy and motivation.
Tennis game at Raleigh, Pullen Park
We were happy because we were finally away from our home and didn’t have to think or talk about our work. Also, taking a road trip allowed us to talk about our future plans and listen to some audiobooks and current news. It was a great feeling knowing that we did not have to call into any meetings for a while or would not be dragged into another urgent issue at work. Even though we were aware that our busy work was waiting for us, it was a great relief to be able to stay away from our laptops and work e-mails. What is more, it reminded us life is not all about our little world in Michigan.
Hilton Head Island
Regardless of how much we love our homes, where we live, or our jobs, we all need to take a break from our regular routine and take a vacation. Taking a break or going on a vacation doesn’t mean running away from our busy work and everyday chores; it means taking the chance to evaluate our lives and have some quality time away from our routine. If we use this time wisely, we can have a more fulfilled and motivated life when we are back from our vacation.
Overall, I believe that taking a vacation and having some quality time that makes us happy and refreshed is a great investment for our well-being. As Matthew Karsten says beautifully, “Investment in travel is an investment in yourself”, because once we refresh our minds, we will have a better approach and renewed energy which to tackle everything which is in front of us.
I’m a Project Manager with a deep passion for both professional and personal growth. Designing and building the next generation of vehicles is incredibly rewarding, but it comes with its challenges—especially for someone as emotionally invested as I am!