Do you want a trip or a vacation? 

For a long time, I thought they were the same thing. It meant leaving home and going somewhere fun. I would get on a plane and fly somewhere Pinteresty.

On the surface, these can look eerily similar. Both require travel preparation and time away from your normal routine. The motions you go through to get to one is similar to the motions needed for the other.

A word of warning, be cautious that you accurately set your expectations of what you are going to experience as they are very different. If you are traveling with your family or others, make sure you know what they are expecting as well.

Trips help you see new things and expand your horizons. Often they are centered around a key attraction or a historic site. They open your eyes to really old things, unique stories, or exotic cultures.

A vacation allows you step back and relax from the rigor of daily life. This can best be summed up by the beach or the mountains. The specific location is not as important as making sure you have your feet in a beach chair while relaxing next to the ocean water.

Do you see the difference?

Both are needed, but don't confuse one for the other.

 If you want a vacation and take a trip, you will come back more exhausted than when you left.

If you want a trip and take a vacation, you could be bored and not enjoy the rest and relaxation. 

Be careful. If you want to relax, don't plan a trip where you see tourist spots for 8 hours a day. That is not relaxation. If you want to experience new things, sitting on a beach for 8 hours will likely not do that either, unless you consider people watching a form of entertainment.

Understand why you are traveling and plan accordingly. Both types are needed and can provide tremendous value. Be intentional about the trip or vacation and most of all enjoy it!