Summer might be over, but that doesn't mean you might not still be
making plans for one last chance at a family getaway before school
starts. If you're among those (me included) who have realized time is
running out for that last road trip of the summer, consider these
suggestions for some wacky family vacations, courtesy of a recent
survey by Harris Interactive commissioned by Best Western International.
Have to Hit Hawaii:
After more than 30 years, The Brady Bunch
still has the "lei" of the land, as more respondents (39 percent) chose
the family's exotic "Hawaiian Adventure" as the wackiest vacation trip
they'd most enjoy.
Make Mine the Mountains:
About one-third (31 percent) indicated they would most enjoy a trip to the mountains, like in 1999 movie, "The Great Outdoors"
that starred Dan Aykroyd and John Candy. Adults in the Northeast were
least likely to indicate they would most enjoy a trip to the mountains
(23 percent), compared to adults in the Midwest (36 percent), South (35
percent) and West (30 percent).
Absolutely, Amuse me:
A quarter (25 percent) indicated they would most enjoy an amusement park vacation, like the one the Griswold family takes in "National Lampoon's Vacation."
Larger households were more likely to indicate they would most enjoy
such a vacation (40 percent for households with 5+ members, compared to
29 percent for households with 3-4 members, 20 percent for single-
member households and 21 percent for two-member households).
Exotic Excursions:
In
general, younger and middle-aged adults were more likely to indicate
they would most enjoy taking an exotic vacation (45 percent of those
aged 18-34 and 44 percent of those aged 35-54, compared to 29 percent
of those aged 55 years and older). Single, never-married adults were
more likely to indicate they would most enjoy taking an exotic vacation
(47 percent forsingle, never married adults, compared to 38 percent for
married adults and 31 percent for divorced, separated or widowed
adults). Students (52 percent) were more likely to indicate they would
most enjoy taking an exotic vacation compared to those employed
part-time (46 percent), employed full-time or self-employed (41
percent) and retirees (28 percent). Regardless of who you are, or where
you go, don't let it turn out like the one the Stevens family enjoyed
in "The Even Stevens Movie"!
by Brandy Schaffels
Contributing Editor
