Thoughts on a Family Vacation
Are we There Yet?
Are We There Yet?
There are so many wonderful and magical places in the world to visit and experience. The word vacation means different things to different people. Daily life with busy schedules jammed with multiple sports and school activities makes the idea of time that enables us to reconnect and cement our family relationships a motivation to expend time and resources on a vacation. Studies have sought to explain the why we are willing to splurge on a holiday. A travel industry study identified nine motives for pleasure as opposed to business travel, “escape from a perceived mundane environment, exploration and evaluation of self, relaxation, prestige, regression, enhancement of kinship relationships, and facilitation of social interaction, novelty and education. (Crompton, John L, 1979). It made me examine my own motivations for pursing my wish for a dream vacation. In addition, if I were to examine the rational and motivations that would pique my family’s interest, I would be able to use their impulses to make my case. How could knowledge of these reasons and motivations assist me to convince my family that a trip was worth pursing?
Family vacations are an American institution, part of the American dream. It goes along with Beaver Cleaver, a house in the burbs and hazy images of long summer days swimming at the creek, building sandcastles at the shore or improving our intellects as we explore the culture and architecture of Europe. Mother, Father and two well behaved, tow headed kids, who are excited, engaged and grateful to spend time with their happy and relaxed parents is the ideal that is sold to us by smart and savvy admen and the ‘Priceline Negotiator’. Are this images attainable or just a Hollywood inspired mirage?
Images of smiling faces, relaxed and happy, toasting ‘Smores’ around a camp fire are what pops unbidden to my mind, when I think of a vacation with
Are We There Yet?
There are so many wonderful and magical places in the world to visit and experience. The word vacation means different things to different people. Daily life with busy schedules jammed with multiple sports and school activities makes the idea of time that enables us to reconnect and cement our family relationships a motivation to expend time and resources on a vacation. Studies have sought to explain the why we are willing to splurge on a holiday. A travel industry study identified nine motives for pleasure as opposed to business travel, “escape from a perceived mundane environment, exploration and evaluation of self, relaxation, prestige, regression, enhancement of kinship relationships, and facilitation of social interaction, novelty and education. (Crompton, John L, 1979). It made me examine my own motivations for pursing my wish for a dream vacation. In addition, if I were to examine the rational and motivations that would pique my family’s interest, I would be able to use their impulses to make my case. How could knowledge of these reasons and motivations assist me to convince my family that a trip was worth pursing?
Family vacations are an American institution, part of the American dream. It goes along with Beaver Cleaver, a house in the burbs and hazy images of long summer days swimming at the creek, building sandcastles at the shore or improving our intellects as we explore the culture and architecture of Europe. Mother, Father and two well behaved, tow headed kids, who are excited, engaged and grateful to spend time with their happy and relaxed parents is the ideal that is sold to us by smart and savvy admen and the ‘Priceline Negotiator’. Are this images attainable or just a Hollywood inspired mirage?
Images of smiling faces, relaxed and happy, toasting ‘Smores’ around a camp fire are what pops unbidden to my mind, when I think of a vacation with
References: Crompton, John L., "Motivations for Pleasure Vacations," Annals of Tourism Research, October/December 1979, VI(4):408-424. Kristof, N.D. (2010) The happiest people. Retrieved 5/20/1 www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/opinion/07kristof Retrieved 5/21/2012 http://www.lonelyplanet.com/costa-rica