Sometimes in college, we forget about the things that are the most important to us. We go out all the time, party with our friends, and focus on our studies (sometimes). When it comes to breaks such as Spring Break, we instantly think of going out of the country with our best friends, or going on a cruise with all our sorority sisters. While hanging out with our friends is great, we sometimes have to think about our families. Being away in college for so long can be hard for us and sometimes it can be even harder for them. They constantly miss you and don't want to call you 24/7 because they know you have such a busy schedule. Sometimes, instead of taking the cruise, or going to Panama for the weekend, consider going on vacation with your parents.
Going on vacation with your parents doesn't have to be boring. In fact, it can actually be a lot of fun. About a month ago, I went to St. Augustine with my mom. We went to the beaches, got to climb up the lighthouse, did a lot of shopping, and even got to stay in a hotel that looked like a castle. When you go on vacation with your parents, you learn things about them and about yourself that you never would have known. I found out a lot of stuff about my mom simply from hanging out with her in a new city, while making new experiences. We got to walk around the oldest city in Florida and met a bunch of really interesting people. We learned a lot about the history of the city and even talked to some people who have lived there their whole lives! We found some really unique places to eat at, and even got to experience some crazy shopping experiences as well. Even though I wasn't at the parties that weekend with all my friends, it was great simply because I got to spend quality time with my mom.
While everyone was on cruises and around the country with their friends, I went down to Key West with my dad. I know what your thinking: isn't Key West all drinking and partying? Did you do that with your dad? Well, some of it, yes! We went into some of the bars that had music playing and we sat down to listen, but there was so much more to do than just that. I got to experience so many new things on this vacation with my dad. For example, we stayed in a house boat! That's not something everyone can say they have done. A lot of my friends get sea sick or would never even consider staying on a boat overnight, but me and my dad decided to have a little adventure of our own. We even got to check out an underwater hotel in Key Largo. While most everyone was drinking, we also took a tour of Key West on the Conch Train, took a sunset cruise in the bay, got to experience Mallory Square, and event went to a butterfly garden. The experiences we had were like no other, and I'm grateful I got to experience it with my dad. The great part was, many of the things we did, like the conch train, my dad use to do every weekend with his dad. It was like he was passing on the tradition by doing those things with me.
No matter how you decide to spend your time on vacation, it will always be great. Next break, consider taking a vacation with your family, even if it is only one person in your family. You never know what kind of experiences you'll run into. One thing is for sure, the memories will last a lifetime.
