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Most full-time employees in the U.S. receive about 10 paid days a year, not counting federal holidays—that’s compared with as many as 40 days off for employees in other countries.
Even worse, about half of us take no time off at all, squandering more than $52 billion dollars in benefits. And despite complaints from family members, 61% of us take a vacation but continue to work, checking work email from the beach.
It's not just about leaving money on the table: Research from Gallup found that workers who take routine vacations are happier than those who don’t take regular trips, and earn more.
Whether you are traveling far afield or choosing a stay-cation, the goal is to maximize the restorative benefits of vacation and return to the office recharged and more productive. To do so, you need to disconnect. A few tips:
Identify a colleague who can serve as your backup for any time-sensitive elements of your job. Make sure that person has all the essential he or she needs to cover your work.
Use out-of-office functions for voicemail and email. Let people know that you’re away, when you're returning, and -- for any tasks that can't wait till your return -- who your backup is.
To avoid being overwhelmed by too much email on your return, set up a few filters and alerts to help you prioritize organize incoming messages.
If your job requires you to check in, pick a specific time of day and let people know when you’ll be available -- or when you'll contacting them -- so they can be prepared to discuss any issues that need your attention.
Scope out more than 30 vintage planes and even try a flight simulator at the Air Mobility Command Museum, in Dover. See if you can spot the 1951 Stratotanker and the four-passenger Blue Canoe. Mr.TinDC—FlickrSee how the other 1% lived at the Frick Art & Historical Center, which includes 2,000 artifacts from industrialist Henry Clay Frick’s gilded age life. courtesy Frick Art & Historical CenterTake a detour off the turnpike and say hello to the resident barred owl, peregrine falcon, and eastern screech owl at New Jersey Raptor Trust, a hospital for birds of prey. In Millington, about 30 miles off exit 12. Mark Newman—Getty ImagesVisit the Atlanta childhood home and church of a national hero at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. Show up early and you'll secure a spot on the Park Ranger-led tour of the 1895 Queen Anne house where Dr. King lived —and dreamed—during the first 12 years of his life. Getty ImagesExplore rare manuscripts, medieval maps, and the largest collection of British art outside of the U.K. at the Yale Center for British Art. The Louis I. Kahn-designed building reopened in May 2016 after a $33-million renovation (none of which will be retro-financed by you). Michael MarslandBoard a legendary naval ship that first launched in 1797—now retired to Boston’s harbor—at the USS Constitution Museum. (By the way, sturdy "Old Ironsides" is mostly made of white oak, pine, and other types of wood.) Steven Senne—AP PhotoBone up on the author who helped named the local football team at Baltimore’s Edgar Allan Poe Collection at Enoch Pratt Free Library. Among the treasures: Poe's original manuscripts, letters he wrote to his future bride (when she was only 13), and a lock of his hair. Sure it's a little creepy, but consider the source. Carol M. Highsmith—Getty ImagesInvite yourself over to Thomas Jefferson’s friends house, the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site. He was a principal author and signer of the United States Constitution. NPS PhotoMeet and greet the shaggy-legged Clydesdale horses on the Budweiser tour in Merrimack. Yes, you’ll also get free pours of beer. Randy Duchaine—AlamyPose for photos at Foamhenge, the somewhat less sturdy replica of Stonehenge, in Natural Bridge. Foamhenge is made entirely of styrofoam. Bob Brown—Richmond Times-Dispatch/APRemind yourself that Manhattan is an island and go kayaking off Pier 26 on the Hudson River. Hard to believe in New York, but use of the kayaks, life jackets, and even the sunblock really are free. courtesy Downtown BoathouseSee what life was like on a ye olde tobacco factory and homestead (circa 1852) at Duke Homestead, in Durham. courtesy Duke Homestead State Historic SiteClimb to the top of the 1898 Beavertail Lighthouse—the third oldest in the country--for a sweeping view of Narragansett Bay. This "new" lighthouse replaced the original wooden one, built in 1749--and not exactly fire-safe. Jeremy Edwards—Getty ImagesBirdwatch for Red-eyed Vireo, Rusty Blackbirds, and more than 100 other winged species at the 250-acre Green Mountain Audubon Center in Huntington. There's a great butterfly garden, too. Steve Maslowski—Getty ImagesPeer inside the reconstructed, single-room log cabin where the 16th president was born at the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace, in Hodgenville. Don’t miss a look at Sinking Spring, the natural underground rivulet that supplied the Lincolns' drinking water. David Perry—Lexington Herald-Leader/MCT/Getty ImagesGet a commanding view of Great Smokey Mountains National Park—and, on a clear day, 100 miles into the distance—from the perch at Clingmans Dome, some 6,643-feet in elevation. Sean Pavone—AlamyTake a flight into military and aviation history at The National Museum of the US Air Force. The brand new, $40 million dollar space shuttle building opens in June. Ken LaRock—U.S. Air Force photoTake a break from the epicurean pleasures of New Orleans' French Quarter and join a ranger-led tour of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Most every building has a story--or two. For instance, Gen. Andrew Jackson was a frequent dinner guest at 417 Royal Street, the home of Edgar Degas’ grandfather. John Coletti—Getty ImagesCatch an old timey Deep River Grinders Baseball game; they play by the original 1858 rules of baseball (no mitts!) in Indiana’s South Shore. Daniel White—APBone up on civil war history at L.Q.C. Lamar House Museum, a Greek Revival home in Oxford. Don't remember Lamar? He earned a chapter in JFK"s "Profiles In Courage" for helping smooth North-South relations after the war. He certainly had the credentials, having served as a congressman, a U.S. senator, a cabinet member, and a Supreme Court justice. courtesy Visit Oxford MississippiSee leopards, lions, and lowly leaf frogs at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo, open 365 days a year. Don’t miss the Farm-in-the-Zoo Dairy Barn where you can meet and greet goats, cows, and chickens. Raymond Boyd—Getty ImagesWander through 67.5 acres of manicured grounds at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Among the 30 themed gardens: an Irish rose garden, wild Alabama woodlands, and a Southern Living magazine-inspired garden (featuring native dogwoods and Florida flame azaleas). Stephen Saks—Getty Images/Lonely Planet ImagesPretend you’re a Light Keeper at Lubec’s 1858 lighthouse at West Quoddy Head Light Keepers Association, keeping your eyes out for seals and humpback whales along the coastline. John Greim—LightRocket/Getty ImagesTake in an $8 million, Vegas-esque extravaganza at the Branson Landing Light Show, an hourly water geyser, fire, and light display that goes off to the tune of "The Star Spangled Banner"--and occasionally "Living on a Prayer" and other more uptempo pieces. courtesy Branson Landing Light ShowGawk at works by Mary Cassatt, Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol, and five centuries of great American artists at the Moshe Safdie-designed Crystal Bridges Museum of Art. How can they afford to roll back the admission price to nothing? It was founded by Alice Walton, not far from the little family business in Bentonville: Walmart. Timothy Hursley—courtesy of Crystal Bridges MuseumRide out a facsimile storm in a replica schooner at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center before eyeballing the shipwreck artifact gallery—and thanking your lucky stars you’re on dry land. courtesy Great Lakes Maritime Heritage CenterYou'll want to keep your arms inside your vehicle at all times on the 27-mile Big Cypress National Preserve loop road. The swampy, tree-lined drive is thick with gators and their hungry reptilian friends. Arto Hakola—Getty ImagesCool off with a swim in Austin’s Barton Springs Pool. Admission is free from 5-8 a.m. and again from 9-10 p.m. Kyle McLaughlin—Getty Images/Lonely Planet ImagesExplore Hollywood history at The Field of Dreams movie site (“If you build it, he will come”), on farmland just 25 miles west of Dubuque. Bring baseball gear—you’re welcome to play. Daniel White—APTake a sweet “train” ride through the Pleasant Prairie warehouse of Jelly Belly, where the 30-minute tour includes a bag of the candy. Ron KuenstlerExplore outer space through the 1935 Zeiss telescope at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, which just received a $93 million renovation. You might recognize the observatory from its star turn (get it?) in James Dean’s 1955 film, "Rebel Without a Cause.” Andrew Kennelly—Getty Images/FlickrStep inside a starchitect’s masterwork at Frank Gehry’s Weisman Art Museum. Among the current exhibits: Andy Warhol’s pop prints of the American West. Raymond Boyd—Getty ImagesHike the rainforest-shrouded 611-foot-tall Multnomah Falls waterfall, 30 minutes outside of Portland. Dasar—Getty ImagesTake a leisurely walk or a fly-tying class at Wichita’s Great Plains Nature Center. Keep your eyes out for the great horned owls in the trees and the Black-tailed prairie dog in the ground. Mirko_Rosenau—Getty ImagesObserve the artisans at work at the Blenko Glass Company, which has been welcoming visitors to its Milton factory since 1921. There's a gallery of vintage colored and stained glass as well as a glass garden. If you're lucky, they may let you take a turn on the blowpipe. Kenny Kemp—Charleston Gazette-Mail/APSee how many of the 160 species of fish you can spot at the Aquarium at the Silverton Hotel, among them triggerfish, leopard sharks--and live mermaids. After all, this is Vegas, baby. courtesy Silverton CasinoPlay paleontologist at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, where you can see fossilized menoceras and beardogs from the Miocene age found on-site. NPS PhotoSkate under the city skyline at downtown Denver’s Southwest Rink at Skyline Park. One tip: go in the evening, when twinkly lights overhead add to the romance (and people will be less likely to notice if you take a spill). Karl Gehring—The Denver Post/Getty ImagesVisit “where the buffalo roam”—the Theodore Roosevelt-founded Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, on 1,674 acres. courtesy Sullys Hill National Game PreserveQuench your thirst on the way to Mt. Rushmore and the Badlands at Wall Drug Store, a Midwestern road trip staple since 1931. The shop, in Wall, S.D., became famous for giving away free ice water (and still does) to parched travelers. And you can still get a cup of coffee for only 5 cents. Universal Images Group—Getty ImagesClimb 3/4 of a mile in switchbacks up Mount Sentinel and get a hummingbird's eye view of Missoula’s iconic "M", built by University of Montana students in 1908. It’s best to go at sunrise or sunset, when the surrounding mountains and valley below are bathed in surreal, pink light. Tom Gautier—Getty ImagesTake an hour sailboat cruise on Seattle’s shimmering Lake Union, free every Sunday with the Center for Wooden Boats. Joel Rogers—Getty ImagesSpot sturgeon, salmon, and trout from the underwater viewing windows at Morrison Knudsen Nature Center in Boise. There’s also an informative "stream walk" where you might spot a beaver dam or two clogging up the waterfalls. Getty ImagesFeed your inner paleontologist at the University of Wyoming’s Geological Museum, in Laramie. Highlights include the 75-foot Apotosaurus skeleton and a chance to watch fossils being cleaned and prepped for possible display. Matt Bilden—U.S. Air Force photoHike the trails and play on the Mountain Challenge course at the Olympian-worthy (literally) Utah Olympic Park in Park City. Gene Sweeney Jr.Dig for hourglass selenite crystals at the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. Yes, you can take them home. Randy Duchaine—AlamySee petroglyphs carved into stone at the circa 1300 A.D. pueblos at Petroglyph National Monument. In a way, you might call these ur-Emojis. Mark Newman—Getty ImagesRide the Scottsdale Trolley on its 45-minute tour through downtown, Old Town, and the Main Street Arts District. They come every ten minutes, so you can hop on and off as often as you want. Mark Summerfield—AlamyGo ahead and yell "Mush! Mush!" at the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Headquarters, in Wasilla. Just remember that the dogs you'll meet there are officially retired from racing. Jim Watson—AFP/Getty ImagesWatch Polynesian hula dancers get down near the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, at the waterside Kuhio Beach Torchlighting and Hula Show. And don’t forget to say mahalo. Getty ImagesScore free tickets to the bone-chilling tour of Ford's Theatre, where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. The catch: you have to show up at 8:30 a.m. for same-day tickets (advance tickets are $3). Maxwell MacKenzie—Ford's Theatre Society
Researchers have found that the benefits of vacation evaporate quickly, probably because workers immediately return to the stress of their jobs. To reduce the pain of reentry and keep those good feelings intact, consider coming home a day early to get your chores taken care of before you go back to work. And whenever you need a refresh, trigger memories of your trip by looking at your photos and souvenirs.
