Top 10 Vacations

The following are my Top 10 Vacations of all time:

1. Disneyworld...the Lipton time
With 6 kids in private schools for 12 straight years, we didn't "vacation" much. So a trip like this wins hands down. Disneyworld, Epcot Center, Gatorland Zoo, Kennedy Space Center, meeting Andre Agassi and Jennifer Capriati at the Lipton International Tennis Tournament. And for those of you keeping score at home, this was also the same trip that the Butler's first ate at an Olive Garden. Historic.

2. Jamaica
Our honeymoon. Without a doubt the single most relaxing trip I've ever been on in my life. All inclusive. Massages. Golf. Tennis. Horseback riding. River rafting. I didn't think there was anything that could have spoiled that trip...until we showed up at the front desk to check-out only to find that our travel agent had booked our plane ticket a day early and we were supposed to have one more day at the hotel. How hard is 8 days and 7 nights to calculate?

3. Martha's Vineyard
Pumpkin pecan pancakes, the leaves changing color, playing Monopoly, and rain outside your window. It doesn't get much better than that.

4. Europe...with Kerri
Paris, London, Dublin, Barcelona, La Cadiere, Nuremberg, Paris in 14 days. Planes, trains, and automobiles to say the least. We saw it all. And half of our family!

5. Europe...with Zach
Zach, I only put hers ahead of yours because she lives with me and has a greater ability to inflict daily pain on me. You only get Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the occasional J-High reunion to inflict pain. Two words: glass pitcher.

6. Black Butte
Like the Disneyworld trips...historic. Bike riding, golf, tennis, horseback riding and yet--at the same time--no need to do anything. And it didn't hurt that the Chetwoods/Mainwairings/etc. were usually there.

7. New York
Not a relaxing vacation per se, but you are at the center of the universe when you are in New York. The best hotels, the best restaurants, the best shopping, the best shows, etc. Although I don't think it would be nearly as much fun if it weren't for the TKTS booth.

8. Las Vegas (all of them)
Never sentimental, but always fun. Grown-ups get to have vacations too!

9. Oregon Coast
"Lincoln City, going to Lincoln City, here we come!" "Rockaway, I'm going to rock-a-way to Rockaway!" 'Nuf said.

10. Summer Drives to Nana's
3 days of driving with 6 kids in a station wagon. How can that be fun? I don't know...but in some ways, I almost remember those trips better than any of the others.

Other Contenders: Carmel/Monterey, Sun River, Cancun, Cabo San Lucas