The Secret to Better Vacations–Do Less

Making Vacations What They Are Intended to Be–A Break

Have you ever come back from a vacation more exhausted than when you left?
I used to try to see and do everything at each destination—packing in all I could from dawn to dusk. But a recent trip to wine country in Walla Walla, Washington made me think twice about that approach. It reminded me that sometimes the best travel memories are made when you actually… do less.

Resisting FOMO

Curt and I had decided to spend the last day of our family visit trip last week with just the two of us in Walla Walla, with the plan to visit several wineries. Our first stop was Amavi (which translates as “I loved”)—it was a spot our daughter had recommended. As we sat out on the deck, sipping wine and taking in the beauty of the vineyards and mountains in the distance, I also really soaked in the beauty of the moment.

Everything about our visit was just… perfect. I loved every one of the wines we tasted and had appreciated them even more as the young man from the winery patiently described each one and explained the differences in how the grapes were grown, harvested, and transformed into wine. It was quite interesting and left me wanting to learn more.

Anyway, eventually, I glanced at the time and realized we’d need to leave soon to make it to the next winery before their tasting window closed. I mentioned this to Curt, but he suggested we skip the rest. At first, I hesitated. That little voice in my head—the one conditioned to "get the most out of every moment"—was whispering to me that we’d be missing out.

But then, as I looked around, sipping wine in the breeze, I realized: we didn’t need more. This one experience was already complete in itself. So instead of rushing off, we took our time, were able to leisurely get ready for dinner and even were able to wander into D’Oliva, an olive oil shop before our reservation. There, we had fun sampling vinegars paired with infused olive oils. I had no idea how delightful mixing vinegars and oils could be—and we ended up buying several to bring home for salad dressings, dipping fresh bread in, and for marinades.

At one point, the woman assisting us noted how she intentionally limits the number of samples people try—because too many can overwhelm the taste buds. It struck me about how true that was, and how well it mirrored my thoughts earlier at the winery: how fewer experiences can lead to deeper enjoyment.

Doing Just Enough

Another example of less is more came earlier in the trip. We’d landed in Spokane around noon and had planned to break up our four-hour drive to Helena with a long hike. I was looking forward to stretching my legs after sitting on the airplane all morning. But our grandson requested that we take a short hike instead, so we could get there sooner. So we decided to do this—and it turned out to be just what we needed.

We hiked for about an hour on a very scenic trail overlooking Lake Coeur d’Alene. We took a few moments at the top to rest and watch bald eagles soar overhead. It was really lovely and plenty of time to stretch, breathe, and reset. It recharged us without draining us before the remainder of our drive.

Resist Trying to Do It All and See It All

One of my favorite parts of this trip was actually the simplest. We spent a couple of slow days at our son’s airbnb lake house—no agenda, no pressure. Just paddleboarding, ping pong and pickleball with the grandkids. We had relaxed conversations in the shade of the trees and it all was simply replenishing in a way a packed schedule never could be.

On the way home, I reflected on how easy it is to fall into the trap of doing it all—especially if that’s the pace you grew up with. Thoughts like “I might never come back here” or “We’ve got to get our money’s worth” can push us to overload. But this trip especially emphasized to me that in chasing more, we miss the quiet magical moments that come from simply being there.

Looking back over the years, I realize that some of my most memorable vacation moments weren’t about sightseeing—they were about connecting with others and soaking in the beauty of wherever we found ourselves.

The days with fewer plans were the ones that gave us space to feel and enjoy—space for presence, laughter, and rest. Doing less allowed us to relax and fully enjoy what we were doing, instead of rushing through it. Thinking about this reminded me of how deeply our overall energy 

So, if you have a trip planned this year, I hope you’ll think about this video and build some cushion into your days. Leave some space. Allow for serendipity. And in that unplanned time, I hope you find presence—and the quiet magic that unfolds when you stop trying to do it all.