I plan AMAZING vacations!! It brings out my full creative energy.
But mostly I take crummy, ordinary, uninspiring, excursions to overpriced tourist-infested dead zones where the locals either want to grab my butt or sell me nasty food...And that's America folks.
Your trips sound bad. I avoid those problems for the most part because I prefer being outdoors and I don't mind being slightly out-of-season. I've been pretty lucky with weather. (Hope I didn't just jinx myself!)
I'm not a big planner. I like to just go and let it happen. My husband was a planner which only became unbearable when he found road maps, city maps, attraction maps, park maps.................SCREAM!! It's smart on one hand, but for a more free spirit, a little dumbfounding. When we were still kids (20/21) we went to Europe the first time. No idea about anything. It was so much fun. We got in trouble over and over and just had the time of a lifetime. I've had bigger more expensive trips, but that one was the most fun I think.
It sounds like the two of you complimented each other well. Glad you have such a wonderful memory!
I've been working on having a more relaxed approach with an upcoming trip. I have an idea notebook for jotting down particularly intriguing-looking spots. My plan is to let these guide me as I set off without a specific plan each day, and I intend to have at least one day with no driving at all.
My only plan is to make sure the few things I want...really, really want and my animals all are safe (that means in my view) and sound the next time I move.