To wrap up the month of May at Sunday Stills, let’s share our favorite vacation spots. As more of the world gets vaccinated against Covid-19, masks are coming off and the world is opening up! Hallelujah!

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”

John Muir

This week, I am sharing my favorite vacation images from my archives. Now, some of you world travelers, like Sarah, will have to choose your favorites, (aren’t they all though?).

“Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.”

Seneca

While you think of your favorite vacation spots, remember why we take vacations. In my retired world, every day seems like Saturday and I’ve been on a perpetual vacation for a few months. But think of a vacation in broader terms, like leisure and travel, and how they are all connected. My point (finally) is this: How do the concepts of leisure, vacation, and travel make you feel? Would you say that these words invoke healing when you experience their manifestation?

According to Marsha at Always Write, her newest WQWWW (Writer’s Quote Wednesday) is “healing” and I suggest this is what time off does for us in the form of a vacation, leisure time in a hobby or physical activity, or travel! This quote speaks volumes:

“In matters of healing the body or the mind, vacation is a true genius!”

Mehmet Murat Ildan

Join me as I share my galleries of trips down memory lane and hum along to the song titles. I apologize in advance for any earworms created. You will notice how many of my favorite vacation spots feature the colors blue and green, which ties in nicely to Tina’s Lens-Artists challenge this week!

I Left My Heart in … a US National Park

“Within National Parks is room–glorious room–room in which to find ourselves, in which to think and hope, to dream and plan, to rest and resolve.”

Enos Mills

My family spent a LOT of time visiting national parks, notably Yosemite and Sequoia, since they were in California. Last July, I spent a couple of hours in Sequoia with Marsha, when she lived 30 minutes away in Central California.

  • Yosemite Valley with Bridalveil Falls
    Yosemite Valley
  • South Rim of the Grand Canyon in snow
    South Rim of the Grand Canyon
  • Golden Black Bear
    Meandering Black Bear in Sequoia
  • Two Bloggers
    Terri and Marsha

Down In Mexico

“Never underestimate the healing power of these three things – music, the ocean and the stars.”

Unknown

My windsurfing husband dragged me to Baja, Mexico three times to the La Paz area. In nearby La Ventana is incredible windsurfing and kite boarding. I took my turns windsurfing in the Sea of Cortez as well as some stand-up paddling. A great vacation spot!

  • Terri peeks at a whale shark
    Swimming with Whale Sharks
  • Windsurfing in Baja
    Windsurfing Sea of Cortez
  • Baja Sunrise
    Early Baja Sunrise

California Dreamin’

“Nature itself is the best physician.”

Hippocrates

Because I lived in California most of my life, I spent the first 20 years in San Diego and the rest in Sacramento (Northern California). On two San Diego vacations, I met fellow blogger, Janis, for lunch twice, and one lunch there with Liesbet, who I met in Sacramento! Since 2009, my vacations consisted of summer weekends at the Sacramento River Delta, with occasional visits to Yosemite. It has been my goal to stand-up paddle on every significant body of water on vacations!

  • SUPPING Mammoth Lakes
    Paddling Mammoth Lakes
  • SUP session at the delta
    Finishing a SUP race in the delta
  • SUP session in Lake Tahoe
    SUP session in Lake Tahoe
  • Stand Up Paddling
    Morning stand-up paddle session in Mission Beach, San Diego.
  • Standing beside Mono Lake
    Enjoying Mono Lake, didn’t bring the SUP
  • Three new windsurfers enjoying a light-wind day

By the Time I Get to Phoenix

“Walk in nature and feel the healing power of the trees.“

Anthony William

Arizona was and still is a winter vacation choice. Not only did we meet fellow blogger, Ingrid and her husband in North Phoenix two years in a row, my brother and recently my stepdaughter now live in the Phoenix area. Winter roadtrip 2022 is in the works!

  • Sedona Red Rocks
    Gorgeous Red Rocks of Sedona
  • Snow on Red Rock of Sedona
    Snow on Red Rock of Sedona
  • Desert Beauty
    Beautiful Cave Creek
  • Saguaro cactus
    Saguaro Cactus
  • Desert Botanical Gardens
    Walking through the Phoenix Botanical Gardens

Blue Hawaii

“Leisure, some degree of it, is necessary to the health of every man’s spirit.”

Harriet Martineau

I’ve been lucky to travel to the Big Island of Hawaii in 2018 and 2019 with the goal to fix up and sell my husband’s house on the Hilo side. The house is dilapidated and needs work that we just cannot do at this time in our lives. This year we will make final arrangements for its sale. During these weeks, we did manage to do a bit of relaxing and exploring after taking care of the home. Hilo is not the tourist mecca like Kona is, but it serves as the county seat where most of the government infrastructure is housed. Hilo is also the wettest city in the US. In 2018 we visited Volcanoes National Park before the last eruption took place. In 2019, I got to visit the Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Gardens with fellow blogger, Graham. We had a blast taking tons of photos!

  • Hawaii's Black Sand Beach
    Black Sand Beach, Hilo
  • Visiting Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory
    Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory
  • Lonely Fisherman
    Lonely fisherman casts his net on Hilo Bay
  • Hilo Bay View
    Overlooking Hilo Bay
  • Gate to Botanical Gardens
    Entrance to the magical gardens!
  • Purple hibiscus flower
    “Blue Bayou” Hibiscus hybrid

Viva Las Vegas

“Life’s short. Eat dessert first, work less and vacation MORE!!”

Lia Mishell

Las Vegas, Nevada is known for its casinos and nightlife. It’s also a great place for winter RV camping. In 2018, our winter roadtrip to the Southwest was cut short by unseasonable cold and snow, so we high-tailed it to Las Vegas as our last stop and enjoyed a pleasant week. Unable to visit Antelope Canyon that borders southern Utah and northern Arizona, we stumbled on the Valley of Fire State Park just an hour northeast of Las Vegas. I still got my slot canyon fix and plenty of hiking! In 2018, we met up with fellow blogger Maria, formerly of Sagittarius Viking, still on Instagram.

  • Sam's Town Sign
    Sams Town RV Park
  • Sams Town RV Park
    RV camping at Sam’s Town
  • Entering the Narrows of Valley of Fire
    Entering the Narrows of Valley of Fire
  • Canyon Drive
    Driving through Valley of Fire
  • Ancient Anasazi Petroglyphs
    Petroglyphs in white domes area, Valley of Fire
  • Red Rocks Nevada
    White Domes Area

I sum up my vacation experience thus far with this meme I created when I was teaching leisure education and management at Sacramento State University. These surfboards were situated at a windsurf resort. I took the picture and added this thought to help make the point about taking time off of work or other obligations and enjoying leisure time!

Sorry, couldn’t make it…had a mandatory board meeting.

You Are My Home

“Come to the woods for here is rest.“

John Muir

One year ago almost to the day (May 2020), my husband and I stood together on our property for the first time.

Happy on our half acre

We’ve come a long way in one year, figuratively and literally! We are moved in and enjoying everything that goes along with building! All during a pandemic, no less.

New mfg home

Our vacation of choice in 2021 will be a “staycation” since we are new to our home and hoping people visit us as we continually move in. Will the unpacking and getting everything just right never end?

If camping in an RV counts as a vacation, then our 2-month stay in North Spokane RV Park was quite lovely despite winter/early spring-living while we waited for our home to be ready.

Like this Canada Goose family enjoying their home near a local lake, we expect to enjoy all the area has to offer. Submitted for Lisa’s Bird Weekly.

Canada Geese Family

We plan to take some local overnight and weekend trips to the German/Bavarian town of Leavenworth; the Columbia River Gorge near Mt Hood, Oregon—motivated by windsports; and Sandpoint, Idaho; and beyond.

I know several bloggers who live near these areas, so lets meet up when the time is right!

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

  • Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
  • Title your blog post a little differently than mine.
  • Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post. I also recommend adding your post’s URL into the comments.
  • Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
  • Use hashtag #SundayStills for sharing on social media.

June Themes are on my Sunday Stills Photography Page

Sunday Stills is a wonderful community of bloggers and photographers who desire to connect with one another. Each week I share the links from the previous post so you can continue to meet and support each other. And with that…

Good Gray Matter in these Blogger’s Links

I am looking forward to seeing your favorite places where you vacation and relax! Speaking of relaxing, Sunday Stills is taking a break next Sunday as my family celebrates a long Memorial Day weekend. See you in June and have a great week!

SUPSIG

© 2021 Copyright—All rights reserved—secondwindleisure.com

Published by Terri Webster Schrandt

Now retired, I am former university adjunct faculty, self-published author, and retired recreation and parks practitioner living in Eastern Washington State near the Idaho border. Second Wind Leisure Perspectives is my blog about living a leisure lifestyle that includes fitness, photography, and fun.

134 thoughts on “Sunday Stills: Favorite #Vacation Spot”

  2. Good HEAVENS Terri – quite a post this week! I’m curious how long it took you to put it all together 😊. I’m sure you’ll get some wonderful responses giving us an amazing view of the world’s hot spots. Enjoy your staycation, sometimes they are the most fun of all!!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thanks, Tina. Compiling it took a few minutes, lol! Long story, but uploading images without internet has been a slow pain! I looked through my ridiculous media files and pared down my favorites. Then the quotes and headings got worked out, bit it took me several hours. I finally got satellite internet, but the day I began creating the galleries, WP was acting up! Probably 10 hours worth of work this time. I was so glad to see your theme late Saturday! I love how things work out. I’m quote looking forward to staying close to home a while!

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  6. Wow! I love this post. You did work hard. I wonder if hard work is healing. I actually think it is. You had so many technical issues that other problems faded into the background for the ten hours it took to create this post. Most of my posts do that that long, especially my interviews and other regulars. A great break from the real world but leaving not enough time for real vacations, right? Thank you for mentioning me and WQWWC. That post should get lots of attention if people can tie it to yours. And who doesn’t love vacations and need a place to show their vacay pictures. You have done a beautiful job. Your quotes are fabulous, too. I love Tina’s quotes on her post, too. I can’t say enough about all the aspects of your post. It’s fab. BTW, after talking to Cee this week, I ordered a new camera. a Sony point and shoot with two lenses. It’s mirrorless and light and even takes videos. Talk to you soon.

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    1. How exciting to get your new camera, Marsha! We’ll need to catch up this Tuesday! Missed you all. I’m glad you liked what I did with the post…leisure needed to be front and center and “healing” was the perfect complement to the theme! I love when that works out. I started my blog with the intent to teach more leisure education and have gotten away from some of that theoretical stuff the professors like me love to bore everyone with, LOL! I’m so darn glad I got this satellite internet. Who knows when the fiber will ever be linked. My daughter and her BF are flying up here from San Diego this Thursday to spend Memorial Day weekend with us. I can’t wait to see her and we have a lot of the area to show her, plus a big family BBQ on Saturday to have her meet her step cousins! A whirlwind “vacation” indeed!

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    1. Thank you, Kirstin! As much as I loved those vacation spots, I’m ready to explore new ones sooner than later. Thanks for the heads up about Leavenworth. I imagine Christmastime would be busy! I’m sure I will be amazed by it any time of year, hopefully this summer!

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  8. Nice trips down memory lane, Terri. It’s always fun to remember past vacations. Even the less successful ones seem better with time. Where you live now, you’re in striking range of a lot of great parks, both in the U.S. and up in Canada, when things open up of course.
    I wondered what you would do with the house here. Selling is probably a good option. It’s so hard to maintain a property unless you’re there regularly, especially on the wet side of the island.
    Here’s my offering this week: https://grahamsisland.com/2021/05/23/road-trip-to-hawaii-tropical-bioreserve-and-garden/. You’d be very happy to see how good the garden looks. They took advantage of the shutdown to get a lot of work done there.

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    1. It was fun and seemed like a theme that fit the time of year, Graham. Hans has to work with a real estate attorney in Hilo, an issue with the title. Once done, we shall sell and move on! Doesn’t mean we won’t be back to visit the BI and others! I’m off to check out the post!

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  10. Terri,
    I’ve been looking forward to this post since you previewed it, and you didn’t disappoint. Your pictures are excellent, and a lot of the spots deserve further research, which I will do. Since we spend about six months in our RV, it is hard to choose a favorite spot. When we return home in the fall however, we schedule two weeks in late October at Edisto Beach, SC to unwind and savor the salt breeze. Always have a relaxing time…

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    1. Thank you so much, Joe, that means quite a bit coming from you as someone who has extensively traveled! And taken amazing photographs to boot! And who could choose their favorites since they all bring back at least one precious memory. Gorgeous shot of the beach in the comments! Thanks!

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    1. Woohoo, part of that 10 hours was scouring through the media files, then trying to create the galleries as WP acted up the entire afternoon. Every time I would create the gallery it would not show up. I gave up and came back the next day and they were there. Can’t blame the internet for that one! ;/

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  16. Wonderful vacation photos and memories, Terri! I think I last saw you in San Diego as well, when we had lunch at Panera’s with Janis. It seems like such a long time ago now! Your summer destinations this year sound lovely. Especially the Mt. Hood region. Enjoy your staycation!

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  21. What wonderful images and memories Terri, you have certainly had some amazing adventures! I agree with that quote ‘Nature is the best physician’, as we’ve just been away for a few days of cycling in glorious autumn weather and have returned home feeling relaxed. You’re right, despite being retired and every day seeming like a holiday, it is actually a very different feeling ‘getting away’ and having a break from the usual. I felt so carefree while away, for the first time in a long time. I’ve written about it here and your prompt was very timely, so many thanks! https://debs-world.com/2021/05/23/a-cheeky-little-getaway-across-the-border-sundaystills/

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    1. Thank you so much, Debbie! I’ve been lucky to have adventurous parents who took us on endless camping trips as well as a hubby who is spontaneous! You and I share a thirst for adventures and love to chronicle them with photography and words!

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      1. That is so true Terri, family trips while growing up has certainly helped my adventurous spirit too plus my husband is like-minded! We do share a thirst for adventures and I’m always happy to share through my words and photos – you’ve summed it up perfectly!! Many thanks, I loved this prompt 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  22. Wow, this was a joyful and joy filled post of many memories. I love when I get to meet up with bloggers in real life and you sure have. My fave place is just one,..but it is in the area where we now live. Like you, vacations are more staycations for retirees (and I admit, we are not able to afford travel and my husband is far more comfy at time) Have a great visit for the last weekend in May. See you, in June.

    https://www.denysewhelan.com.au/denyse-blogs/was-a-fave-vacation-place-sundaystills-63-2021/

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  23. Wow Terri, you really packed a lot of vacation beauty into your post today!! I’m with you on the National Parks; for those of us who live in the West the choices are endless! I love all your photos from Arizona, especially snowy red rocks in Sedona and Saguaro. The Big Island is so special, wish I had a house there myself, but I don’t see that happening, so will just have to vacation from time to time! I hope to be back with a post of my own later. 🙂

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    1. Thanks, Susanne! I probably have a lot more but these would be my faves and ones I have the better images for. Believe me when I tell you the Hilo house is way off the grid and in the middle of nowhere…so no, lol! It needs to go. We’ve stayed at a nice B&B in Hilo right by the beach. Very few tourists there as most prefer the Kona side. I’m hoping to get to your side of the state soon!

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      1. My husband and I have gotten our Covid vaccinations and are healthy as have our sons and daughters-in-law. None of us have had Covid. Our two teenage grandchildren will be getting their vaccinations soon. In this very strange time, we consider ourselves so extremely fortunate but I’m brought to my knees by how so many have suffered. We’d planned a family vacation to Kauai for our entire family – June 2020. Cancelled of course. We’re going to try again for summer 2022 when we hope the world is safer and kinder.

        Liked by 1 person

  27. Hi, Terri – You’ve hit so many of my favourite vacation spots in one post. National parks, Mexico, California, Arizona, Hawaii, Las Vegas and Washington — so much to see and so much to love.
    Thank you for sharing this. I hope to join you at Sunday Stills again soon!

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  30. Your vacation adventures are our kind of vacation adventures. I can’t wait to go somewhere for a couple of weeks and leave the comfort of my house. Awesome diary of your travels! LOL! 🙂

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      1. I will try to get my post done, but not sure now. I missed our call on Tuesday because of a viral Tik Tok that has sent orders to my shop in large waves. I was caught off guard. I haven’t been on the blog in 3 days because of it. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Oh, that’s a great idea. I have about 1/2 of it done and it would be a waste to not finish it. That makes me happy! 🙂 Hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend. We have a funeral in GA tomorrow and I’ve got a lot of catching up to do on the shop. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Enjoy the time with your daughter. I’m glad she came to visit. I’m sorry you have a funeral too. I hope to get to the beach one day this weekend or maybe on Tuesday after the crowds thin out. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  31. Hi Terri
    Great theme for May
    And love the photos you shared
    Best wishes on the building and settling in! So fun and a lot of work
    And I ca see why the staycation happened because the place is so new
    –

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Hi Yvette! I know you were on a break! Jump in when you can. I’ll be on a break the last Sunday–Memorial Day weekend, but you could certainly post over the next two weeks. I like to include the previous week’s post into my next post. I’ll be looking forward to hearing about your shortened vacation!

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  36. Thank you for the link to my blog 😀 This is going to be a tough one for me, as I usually say that my favourite destination is the one I’m going to next, and I don’t have any photos of that! Although come to think of it, Paris is a particular favourite and we hope to go there in September if the rules relax enough. Oh but … I featured Paris recently for the ‘Grey’ theme! And I’ve featured many of my other favourites too, as almost every post I publish is about a place I have loved visiting 😆

    I guess I may just sit this one out and enjoy seeing what everyone else posts and no doubt adding more places to my travel wish-list as a result! Some of your choices are already on that list, like Mexico. I love the way you used the song titles to pull the different places together 🙂

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    2. Haha, I had to link because you are one busy traveler with countless destinations, Sarah! Like you could choose a favorite! I have visited Yosemite 26 times and the more I go the more it is my favorite because it feels like MY backyard, so I understand how you would feel about Paris! I like that we both used California Dreamin” LOL! Great minds and all 🙂

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  39. I haven’t taken a “vacation” since I retired (at least I don’t call then vacations anymore… how do you vacation from retirement? 🙂 ). You have photos from many of my favorite places and I’m so anxious to get out and about again! I know there are fewer reasons to visit San Diego for you but I sure hope you come “home” now and then so we can get together. Enjoy exploring your new environs!

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  41. You’ve sure got us all in the holiday mood with your photos, Terri. Given we’re experiencing the wettest May on record since records began in 1862, the thought of warmer weather and sunshine is something I’m looking forward to.

    Here’s my favourite holiday place for the last few years.

    In the distance is the harbour town of Padstow which is in Devon in the UK. Such a quaint little town that had everything, including great fish and chips. I hope to go back one day.

    Have a great week.

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    1. That is crazy about your weather, Hugh! These unusual weather patterns really make one wonder about climate change. I’m glad I could provide a bit of holiday spirit in the travel galleries. Padstow looks charming and here’s hoping you can get back there soon!

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  52. In my delight at having gotten my post published and linked I forgot to comment on yours! I love the quotes you pulled together. Great photos of so many amazing places. It’s a wonderful trip down memory lane but I get you on the time consuming part. There is no fast way to search those darn media files hence mine is missing the Ireland photo from 2014! Thanks again for hosting.

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  61. My husband and I recently decided that our favorite weekend getaway is ordering Chinese take-out and staying in our apartment! We lived on a boat for 5 years, and our apartment reminds us of the Air BNB’s we would go to, to get away. 🙂

    Your new house is beautiful! Enjoy!

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  62. With your photography skills you could make a trip to the 7-11 look like the most enticing vacation spot. I love the Phoenix area. Never tire of photographing the cactus and the mountains and the wildflowers there.

    Glad you are moved into your new home. It is lovely. Enjoy this summer of settling in. Sounds like your winter road trip south will be a good time to visit with several loved ones.

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