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JANEAN

My husband and I have made weekend getaways out of discovering the hot springs in our state of Colorado. There are private tubs we have rented by the hour where you can bathe in the nude, and there are beautiful rivers with hot springs that we make our own little pool out of by arranging the river rocks around us. We have talked about our hopes and dreams and take some time to pray about them. It is romantic to be in God's creation, unwind, and enjoy the sensuality of water and caressing one another. We have made a vow to find all the hot springs in the state and explore them together this year.


MEMORY

For our 20th anniversary (five years ago), I booked us a flight, accommodation from Friday to Monday, and made arrangements with DH's boss that he would not be in on Friday and Monday. I then arranged with my Mom to ask my DH to take her to the airport as she was going to Durban for the weekend. He agreed and I told him I would go to the airport with him. We got to the airport quite early so that we could have some breakfast with my Mom before we leave. Imagine the shock on his face when he finally realised that HE, and not my Mom, was going to Durban!

It took a mumber of white lies and careful planning , but it was worth the while. He spoke about it for almost the whole year!


DOMINIQUE

Two years ago for Christmas I bought my husband 4 NASCAR tickets in his hometown so he could go with his best friends from highschool who were still there. It turns out he wanted me to come with him (I didn't really care to), so we double dated with his best friend and wife.

I knew I needed to learn a little about the sport to enjoy or appreciate it so I started watching it with him and watching the driver interviews so I could pick a driver to cheer for ...

Well, it's been a year since we went to the race and we're still watching races together and going to another one closer to home this summer and we are participating in a "fantasy racing league" together ... this little trip has lasted as fun for us for over a year now!


SOPHIA

My hubby's favorite type of vacation: any place where we can go and just focus on us and our time together. It can be a theme park (although he can't ride roller coasters or the thrill rides due to his disability) or a vacation to the beach or the mountains. Therefore, we plan vacation time every year as a family with our children where our family is the focus, but my hubby and I plan a few days every year where it's just the two of us. We try to do this at least three times a year. It may be for only one day, or it can be up to a week. I usually dress to please him and act more flirty during our vacations together. I take him shopping with me prior to our vacation time together and let him help me pick out what I'm going to wear. He loves that! Also, my hubby and I share a hobby together ... photography. We both have our own cameras and we take them wherever we go. In fact, we are taking a day this weekend to go to a nearby state beach park that offers all sorts of things to do, including nice nature trails, piers where you can watch wild dolphins swim by, an old fort to explore, etc. We plan to enjoy walking, talking, taking photos, laying on the beach, and more. As long as I center my attention on him and us during our time together, he is a very, very happy man.


MELANIE

I try to create sexual memories by doing something he won't expect: a temporary tattoo; a sexy dress; booking a room with a hot tub, skipping a meal to seduce him. If we're on a family vacation, I've asked the grandparents to take the kids for a bit and surprise him with an empty cabin and daytime sex. It takes so little to make him feel so special.


CHRISTINA

I don't have any locations that I can think of that would be specific to make hubby's happy for vacation, but I do have an idea for what to do while on vacation. When my hubby and I went on vacation for our first anniversary I secretly packed a card and small goodie (like his favorite candy, nuts, etc.) for each day. Then, each morning when he either was in the shower or otherwise preoccupied I would slip a card and goodie somewhere he would find it. He was surprised the first morning, really surprised the second morning and then started to try to catch me sneaking it out after that! It turned out to be a fun and memorable part of our mornings while on our anniversary trip. The cards I picked were just the $1 cards and were a bit cheesy, but were great fun.


KRISTI

My husband and I went to DisneyWorld for our first anniversary for a week. We had lots of fun, but the best part of the trip was going to the ESPN Club. His face lit up like a little boy. It was so beautiful and I loved getting to share that time with him.


CARA

Vacation ideas . . .

1) Some of our husbands are really sensitive to hot weather. Unlike myself who could leave the windows open all summer, my husband starts getting cranky around the end of May because he is so hot and sweaty. So, when planning our next vacation, I am trying to keep that in mind as I pick a spot that will please us both.

2) Our honeymoon was wonderful, and we had plenty of sex ... but because we were both virgins, there was a lot of awkwardness and emotional stress for me as we added sex to our relationship for the first time. So, for our first anniversary, we are planning another trip focused on being together and intimate - this time with less stress around sex!


TONYA

My husband loves baseball. So, we always include a major league baseball game in our vacation. He loves going to the game and loves the fact that his family is with him.


MEG

We try to make every trip some sort of 'combo', to incorporate relaxation and action, and enjoy it to the fullest. One of my co-workers owns a ranch out in Wyoming, so this past January, my husband entered his name in a Wyoming non-resident hunting lottery, never expecting his name to be drawn. However, we received word in February, that his name was drawn and he was granted a hunting license!!! So, we've mapped out a road trip from PA to Wyoming this fall, stopping at Mt. Rushmore, The Badlands, Devil's Tower, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone Park and made reservations at our friend's ranch.

While at the ranch, my husband can hunt and fish, while I do things I love (cook, read, horseback ride and hike).

We are currently spending several months renovating a new home for us to hopefully finish by August. We expect this roadtrip to be the perfect ending and reward to all of our hard work! We can't wait!!!!!!!! Such a blessing :D


KRISTI

We live about three hours from Eureka Springs, Arkansas (we live in Oklahoma). We got married there. They have tons to do, including shows and a historical scenic downtown with a bunch of shops and old-time photo places. At the Crescent Hotel, you can take romantic carriage rides through some of the historic district. There is a lake with cabins and camping. For a getaway, our "favorites" among this town are the nice Bed and Breakfasts that are a nice weekend escape and the Passion Play, which includes the play about the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. There is also a Bible tour which is divided up into the New and Old Testaments with three stops in each division that people get off of the tram and walk around and listen (and talk to) a Bible character that gives historical and Bibical information. It is REALLY cool. There is also a Bible museum and an art museum. If you get the package deal, there is a meal included. This is a great couple's getaway, as well as for church groups. For more info.


KATE

For YEARS, without money to spare for vacations, we took trips in our livingroom. A map of the world on the wall, a blindfold and a pin. We would play "pin the tail on the donkey" with geography. Saturday afternoons found us in the Bookstore Wharehouse - reading! About the destination pin pointed (or another if we really didn't like the first stab). First we read about the pin point, then our other interests. A date at the book store was a highlight for us (2 hours on Saturdays at 4:00pm, after chores). Twice a month, we would allow ourselves to buy one book each not above a certain cost, "barter"-able (we are both voracious readers). It was fun, it was educational, but we took trips in our minds that were far better than the real thing! No jet lag!

Then a few years ago we began planning retirement. We went back to pin the tail! This time on ideas! We challenged ourselves to think outside of "all our boxes" for each item. Example: We want to build our dream home (not more than 1200 sq ft, ergonomically designed (our age!), we build, environmentally responsible, still a place for grandkids to enjoy) So we said - What is outside the box for this? Hubby wants a stream to flow through the livingroom. I want to build in cob (clay/sand/straw mix) for the connectivity to earth. Both things outside our life "experience".

The whole point? Take that magic carpet and fly together! It's cheap, it's fun and you can go where ever you wish. Guaranteed you'll "come home" with a smile on your face (at the end of the evening as you head to bed ...)

Thank you, Lori, for reminding me of this - a wonderful walk down memory lane!


KAREN

My husband enjoys trains, personally I can take or leave them. On our first annaversary I surprised my husband by taking him to "The Red Caboose Motel" in Strasburg, PA, where you sleep in a caboose. The next day we toured the train museum near by.

For our 25th anniversary I made reservations for the same place. I packed our bags (without him knowing, my daughter helped with this) and told him I wanted to take him for a drive. He was so touched by my taking him back there. This time I took him for a train ride in the dining car for dinner, and an Amish horse and buggy ride, he was like a little boy he was so excited. I also packed my sexiest nighties and tried them on in a fashion show just for him.

The trip was 6 months ago and he still talks about it like we just got back. Doing something that is all about him makes a big difference.


HANNAH

My family never did the annual family vacation thing. My husband's family did. His father is very big into planning and has a sheet listing 25 years of vacation plans, going back to the mid-90's. My husband and I saw it lying out one day when we visited and while my response was to laugh at the "over-planning" (in my opinion), my husband quickly recognized a pattern. The list was a list of everywhere his parents wanted to go in their lifetime. The earlier places were places that were family-appropriate vacations, and as the list progressed, became progressively age appropriate. The vacations listed in 5 and 10 years from now involved progressively less walking as they aged.

I was impressed, and my husband and I have mutually decided to make an annual family vacation a high priority.

This year, he is taking me to DisneyWorld for the first time in my life.

Planning out vacations is important. Try make a list of all the places you want to go and prioritize it. This will give you something to look forward to every year.


KASI

My husband and I enjoy doing things outdoors, so we have set a goal to climb to the highest point of every state. So far, we have done 11 of them, from Colorado to Florida. It makes for a fun, mutual goal and has taken us on some great adventures as we searched for back country roads.

Even if you are not into hiking, you could aim for staying in a bed and breakfast in every state, hunting for the famous pizza parlor in town, etc... Having a common goal is a great way to make vacation time a team building experience for the two of you.


KELLY

My husband often travels for work. I try to make him comfortable when he's away from home by keeping his overnight bag packed and ready. (I also keep one for myself, just in case I get to go along at the last minute!)

Travel is much easier for me if I don't have to try to remember to pack everything, so I keep a set of toothbrushes, brush and comb, etc, in the bags, as opposed to packing the ones from the house. Special touches are nice, shower gel and a "scrubby", refillable containers of our favorite shampoo and conditioner (nicer than the stuff in the hotel!), and a little medicine kit with antacids, allergy meds, tylenol, pepto and such for emergencies. A bottle of water and some trail mix or other snack is nice too. Dont forget a cell phone charger to keep in the same bag!

I'll admit that the overnight bags have gotten a little bigger as we think of other things that make travel easier, but it reduces the stress level of travel a lot because you KNOW you havent forgotten anything. And he loves getting to the hotel to see what suprises I've packed.

I'm not always happy about the business trips (pregnant now, and pouty), but try to handle them as graciously as I can. He comes home feeling loved and a little spoiled - which always works out well for me!


SHARI

My husband is in the military and had to go to another base for a symposium for a week. I decided to pack up and go with him. While there, we explored this town and found out there was a natural mineral spa that we enjoyed, as well as a movie theatre close by, and some beautiful walks in some fairly remote areas. The best thing was that the military allowed so much money for his trip, since it was business and including meals and hotel, that we didn't have to put out any money from our own pockets. We enjoyed five nights away from our six children, in a nice hotel, and only a week short of our first anniversary


LISA

Soon after we first got married, we each made a list of 10 or so things that we would like to do in our lifetime. One of the things on my husband's list was to take a train ride up the coast (we live in So. California). For our anniversary one year, I asked him if he could take a week off of work for a special anniversary trip that I was planning, but I didn't tell him anything else about it. I had saved up for a number of months and made train reservations on the Amtrak train that goes all the way up the coast from here. We spent about 2-1/2 extremely relaxing days on the train going up, then did some fun things in Vancouver, Canada, for a few days, and spent another relaxing 2-1/2 days coming back down on the train. We both had a great time, and he got to check one of the things off of his list! He still talks about that trip and says that it was one of his favorite things that we have ever done together and also one of the nicest things that I have ever done for him! (Wish we could do it again sometime!)


SARONA

My husband is a fan of woodworking and of David Marks from the show "Woodworks" on the DIY channel. I went to his website and paid for a private class for my husband as an anniversary gift. His studio is up near Napa Valley, and we live in So. Califorinia, so we spent one day wine tasting together, and the second day he spent about 10 hours working hands-on alongside his "idol." I spent that day checking out more wineries and just driving around the beautiful countryside. (With three kids at home, I didn't mind the "alone" time.) At the end of the day I sat in David Marks' beautiful garden, watched the sun go down, read my book, listened to the buzz of the saws, and then finally saw my elated and fulfilled and totally jazzed husband emerge from the workshop, totally happy and content and completely impressed by this gift I had given him. It was worth every penny, and it did amount to quite a few pennies, but I would absolutely do it over again because it meant so much to my husband. It was one of those things we'll never forget.


JENNI

With six boys at home, getting away for a vacation can be a challenge. My husband and I decided that we would always celebrate our anniversary but every five years, we would go away - ALONE (we do sneak away for a day here or there other times). Last year he really wanted to see his favorite team play baseball; however, their schedule and ours didn't coincide. So, we went white water rafting instead (this was a real stretch for me, but it was fun). We rented a cabin with a hot tub & a private view. But his favorite thing we did, was I made a baseball game for him. It was set up like a board game (moved around using dice). There were cards for each base (first base was almost non-sexual & third base was very sexual) & a picnic hamper full of "goodies" that went with the game. An example - third base might say "model an outfit" then in the hamper were a stack of wrapped modeling items labeled with things such as "wild thing" or "pretty in pink" or "bottoms up". We had so much fun with this game that when we came home, we still play it and remember our vacation together. He also mentioned that if he liked baseball before, he loves it even more now.


RACHEL

My husband and I are young and have only been married a few years, so we do not have much money to spend on vacations. So instead of going out of town, a few times a year we make reservations to spend a one or two nights at a fancy hotel in our city. We get a fancy room with a jacuzzi tub. We go out to dinner at a nice restaurant or sometimes order room service. I usually buy some nice lingerie to wear, and then we just spend the evening together at the hotel. It is a nice way for us to get some together time with out spending too much money. We feel like we have gone away for the weekend, but we really haven't gone very far.


[no name given]

My husband use to work for his dad in the family business. I worked with him part-time. After secrectly arranging with his dad for us to have a long week-end, I kidnapped my husband. I secrectly packed suitcases. I was driving us to work that morning. My husband was a little annoyed when I took the "wrong turn" and would have to take the long way to work. I then handed him a message telling him that he was officially kidnapped for the weekend and no ransome would be accepted! We stayed at a hotel about 2 hours from home. We went bowling, out to eat, and just relaxed with each other. It was alot of fun.


NIKKI

We live about 90 miles from the most beautiful beaches in the world (Destin, FL). We love to go in the off season. In late fall or early winter we can go to the beach and rent a motel room for $50 a night (the same room costs $150 right now!). We can stay a couple of nights and eat out in nice restaurants for less than $200. The sunrises and sunsets there are magnificent. Try some off season travel in your area. The whole point is to be together so why not go when the crowd is much less dense.

While on vacation go to the more expensive theme restaurants for lunch. You can usually get the same foods at a more budget friendly price. When we go to the beach alone just as a couple or with our children we go to "supper" right around 4 pm because we still get the lunch prices but the night atmosphere. There are also a lot of the theme restaurants that give early bird specials if you get there between 4 & 5 pm. There is also no waiting for a table at this time of the day.


SHEILA

It doesn't really matter, but I'm orignally from Destin/Fort Walton Beach, Florida and I just wanted to second the notion about us having the best beaches in the world! They are beautiful ! Condo and townhouse rentals can also be decently priced in the off season, at $200-800 a week. They can be more expensive then hotel rooms, but they have all the comforts of home (lots of room, TVs, dvd, internet, etc.) and are usually right on or close to the beach! I'm getting married on a different beach in the same area and instead of renting hotels for out of town guests and getting an expensive room for our honeymoon, we are renting condos for the week. Just another idea.


STEPHANIE

My husband & I went on a Caribbean vacation before our first child came along. We got totally hooked on scuba diving (something my husband had always wanted to do). When we got home, we had so much fun taking the 6 week scuba course together. It was an expense, but we saved up & bought used scuba equipment for us both. We have since had so much fun planning our trips together each year. And now that our children have come along, since we have already invested in the equipment, it is very economical for us to take off & go scuba diving for the day in local lakes & rivers. It is so fun for us to build our vacations around this shared hobby, and it gives my husband the adventure that he craves!


KARIN

The most bonding holidays my husband and I have been on are those in a foreign country. The only familiar thing is each other, so experiencing all the different tastes, smells, and culture throws us together in a way that we don't get when we holiday in our own country, when he tends to take everything, including me, for granted. You in the US have such a wealth of countries around you, like the Caribbean, Mexico, South America, why not try somewhere else?


LAURA

We cannot afford to take a big fancy vacation this year (or most years, for that matter!) so we're taking a "vacation at home." We live in a beautiful city with so much to offer, so we're exploring the places at home that most tourists go see, especially the things we've never done or have taken for granted. We've discovered some great "hole in the wall" restaurants, seen some interesting sights, and simply enjoyed being together. Even better, this can be a once a week date for us!


TAMMY

Last summer my husband and brother were planning a trip to Alaska to go fishing. When they invited me along, I wondered if I could handle the rustic conditions they would be living in ... an old fishing boat for a week??? Well, I jumped on the invitation and considered it an adventure! My husband is an avid fisherman and has spent many vacations with my brother and father fishing. This was the first time I was invited! And I LOVED it! There were days that I fished more hours than they did! It was a working vacation without much sleep, but it was one of the best experiences of my life! And my husband was so excited to find that his wife enjoyed fishing so much! He was proud that I worked so hard on the crab and shrimp pots. And I impressed my little brother as well! A great vacation doesn't have to involve 5 Star resort or daily walks on the beach! After 20 years of marriage, it was fun to find something that we both love to do so much!


MARYJEAN

My husband hadn't been fishing for several years (except with the boy scouts) -- in fact, not since his first wife's illness and death. For his birthday weekend, I wanted to send/ take him fishing (I DON'T fish). Though it took me several phone calls/emails, I managed to rearrange his on-call schedule, consulting schedule, and a dental appointment without his knowing it (yes, I did feel a bit guilty looking at his planner & phone list to see who to call ...). Then, I reserved a cabin at Herrington Manor Lake in Western Maryland (I don't camp either ~), arranged a day with a fishing guide at Deep Creek With, and made hotel reservations for the first night. With the help of a friend who was visiting for several weeks, we purchased the supplies, planned the menus, loaded the car, packed his stuff & mine, and I headed off to work that Thursday. I strategically timed delayed-arrival email messages to give him a couple of good thoughts about the upcoming weekend to throw him off the trail . And then "kidnapped" him from his workplace (where he has a regular consulting contract and they already know me) mid-day. He was surprised, and once he recovered from the initial shock that this wasn't just an afternoon picnic, very cooperative. We spent one night enroute at a Holiday Inn (the only hotel in town, really) and then two nights in a fully equipped state park cabin. Friday morning, as he checked his email on the hotel highspeed access, he was beseiged with birthday cards -- from me, and from others. And, he received a Message (powerpoint presentation) explaining where we were going that morning, and what time his fishing trip would start. He was thrilled! That weekend, he fished, we played, and talked, I cooked for us, and we hiked and picnicked a little, (I can't walk too far yet after the hip replacements) and escaped from all world demands. When we came home Sunday afternoon, he was relaxed, and felt thoroughly spoiled, and well-loved. This week, we are in Disney World. I needed to attend an medical conference, which was happening here at Disney Coronado Convention Center, and my employer was picking up the convention costs for me. I asked my husband if he could get away to come along. So, we're at Disney for six nights -- paying for his plane, one extra night at the hotel, and his food. And of course, our park passes and his golf-green fees (he hasn't played golf for years either -- his clubs are over 28 years old!) for three of Disney's Championship courses. This is terrific!! He can out-work/ out-play me anyway, so he's spending the time I'm in conference sessions playing golf or doing the more strenuous park activities, and we've spent every late afternoon & evening enjoying the parks and the resort together at my speed. Much more fun than coming with a work colleague!


FATIMA

My husband and I are planning a two week trip backpacking through Europe this fall. This is a HUGE trip for us both financially and emotionally as we have not been on vacation in several years.

We can't wait to go ­ but as most people know planning a vacation is a big part of the fun! Because we are in strict "save for the trip" mode, we really can't afford to do anything else this summer.

So one evening last weekend ­ I sent my husband on a long trip to the grocery store. While he was out ­ I pulled out our guidebooks, put some opera on the stereo, lit some candles on the porch and pulled out a bottle of French champagne, and cheese and crackers I had hidden in the fridge. When he got back from the store ­ he was greeted with a candle lit porch and a glass of bubbly. We spent the evening together trolling through guidebooks, sipping champagne, listening to opera and dreaming about our trip and everything we want to do while we are there.

My tip is to make planning your vacation a "vacation" in itself!


JOYCE

I made reservations at a nice restaurant overlooking the city. The restaurant just happened to be on top of a very nice hotel. We went to dinner, then as we were in the parking garage to leave, I opened the back door and grabbed the overnight cases I had packed for both of us. I had gone earlier in the day and set up the room with candles and music. During a bathroom break while eating, I went and lit the candles and turned the music on. My husband was so surprised and talked about it for a long time. Several years later, I did the same thing and he still fell for it (or so he said). But now I think I'll have to find a new way to surprise him like that!


ANNA

Sometimes the vacation doesn't have to be a large trip away from home. My husband and I have recently moved into the town he was raised in and his best friend from high school still lives nearby. About 2 - 3 times a month (we don't have kids yet) I release him from his responsibilities at home to go and be a kid again himself. He loves being able to play videogames, walk around town or hike in the woods, and talk with his best friend. It is a mini-vacation for him right here at home. And I usually get to go and spend that evening with a close friend as well. We both win.


JENETTE

I was having a difficult time with my siblings. I called work and said I needed to take the day off. My husband wasn't working that day either. We got in the car and just started driving. After awhile, I asked him where we were going, he replied, "I don't know. Isn't this fun? Just relax." We checked out a scenic scene, enjoyed walking and giving our legs a stretch. It was fun to see other families enjoying nature as well.

Then he remembered a day trip his parents took him on as a child. I remembered going there for a field trip. Amazing what the mind remembers. The Monastery looked nothing like my brain remembered. We bought some of their famous honey and a postcard. We sat through the presentation regarding a Monk's life. My husband asked so many questions, so we got to sit through a special presentation. My husband was convinced it was just what he needed to gain perspective on life.

We stopped at Subway and took our sandwiches to the local park. It was so hot that day, we decided to wade our feet in the lake. As we waded, we watched a family ride skidoos. I must say, this day was the second best day of my life, my wedding was the first.

A few months later my hubby was having a bad day, I mailed him the postcard. As I was writing on the postcard, remembrance of that day flooded in and put a smile on my face. My husband called and we started talking about our 'Don't know where we're going but will be there soon' day.


JENN

My husband likes to Goecache, and I made up one for him. At work I left him a clue in his paycheck with directions to a second location (his car), where I left a second clue with directions to a hotel front desk for a third clue. The third clue contained a room key. I was waiting for him with an overnight bag, candles, etc. I had enlisted help, slipping a note into his paycheck from the secretary, who LOVED the idea, and the hotel desk clerk who thought it was really romantic.

My husband loves to talk about his "Jennocache".




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