An overworked mother in need of a break might find relaxation by vacationing one of these three unexpected cities.
"A mother's work is never done," as the old adage goes. Mothers of the modern era, many of them integrated into the business world as well, have an increasingly difficult time extracting themselves from the demands of their daily routine long enough to take a legitimate vacation. In fact, many mothers (working and otherwise) seldom take a break at all.
When presented with the opportunity, however, they might find themselves intimidated just by the amount of work involved with the logistics: airplane tickets, hotel stays, dining reservations, etc. When they're looking for a break from the obligations of family management, the last thing they want to do is have the manage something else""even their vacation.
Therefore, while exotic locations like Hawaii and Corfu might come to mind in the initial planning stages, such an excursion will undoubtedly present more hassle than true relaxation. A "mom on the lamb" should consider the convenience of domestic travel, as it is cheap, straightforward, and relatively guilt-free. The ideal domestic vacations for a solitary female traveler looking for relief are the Wisconsin Dells, Nashville, and San Francisco.
The Wisconsin Dells has earned notoriety for being a "family vacation spot," and it is true that the area is rarely frequented by adults without their children in tow. However, outside of the highly trafficked summer season, the Dells can be a surprisingly relaxed area. The main streets are lined with antique shops, such as Cornerstone Gallery or Oak Street Antique Mall, which offer surprising deals for the astute shopper. Furthermore, the permanent fixtures of the tourist industry, namely the luxury day cruises and spa services, would be much better enjoyed without a husband or children to worry about entertaining simultaneously. During the winter, the Wisconsin Dells even offers first-rate skiing at the Christmas Mountain Village, and who ever said you had to go skiing in a group? The solitary time on the trails and the subsequent unwinding in front of a roaring fire might be just the relaxation an overworked mother needs. The best aspect of the Wisconsin Dells, finally, is that if you can not escape your family for the entire time, it would be quite easy to construct two paralell trips. Perhaps your husband could play mom for a while?
Nashville, similarly, offers a wide range of adult-oriented activities. One of the main, family-focused attractions, Opryland Theme Park, has been torn down and replaced with the towering Opry Mills, a gigantic shopping mall with enough selection and breadth to rival even Minnesota's Mall of America. For the country music enthusiast, the Grand Ole Opry should not be missed. The absence of squirming children might allow you to soak in the unique, century-old atmosphere the ampitheater has to offer. The most popular hotel in Nashville, The Hermitage Hotel, is said to embody southern hospitality. This means that even the single traveler will be pampered from sunrise to sunset by the incredibly attentive staff. The Hermitage's website even touts a "concierge service to the utmost," including local entertainment options and bookings, luxury automobile rental, and massage therapy. For a mother unsure of how to tackle the city of Nashville first, The Hermitage might be a wonderful launch pad. Finally, the nightlife in Nashville makes it uniquely suited to entertaining a mom without her family. Many bars feature both country music and standard, mainstream music to accomodate all interests. While the sea of cowboy hats and boots might at first be intimidating, a woman on her own will find that the persona of the "Southern gentleman" lives on through the respect and consideration shown toward females in this southern city.
San Francisco is the third, but by no means the least attractive, option for a mother looking for a short break. The city is so popular that finding a weekend package for any price range is pleasantly simple. Some packages cater just to the "shop-a-holic," while others are more oriented toward women interest in art and other cultural aspects of the vast city. San Francisco has also earned notoriety for its spectacular spas, including the Red Door spa just outside of the city. Here, instructors not only pamper you with facials and massages, but they also instruct you as to how to find the best balance in your life. When looking for air fare, as well, keep in mind that San Jose International Airport is close enough to San Francisco to be feasible, and the tickets for San Jose are often slightly cheaper given its slightly lessened popularity.
Mothers work as hard as any other professional, and therefore finding vacation time for them alone is just as important. Any of these three locations- the Wisconsin Dells, Nashville, or San Francisco- will both cater to and refresh the mom who needs a little time off from motherhood.
