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SAYING GOODBYE TO OUR BLACKBERRIES AND HELLO TO PEACE AND QUIET

The hustle and bustle of city life can definitely be overwhelming and that’s why we decided to pack it up for the weekend and hit the road before we lost our minds – coupon claritin.Our destination: a cozy, vacation home in the Poconos; coupon claritin. Coupon claritin: here’s how to plan your own recession friendly, city detox getaway.

Where To?

Where you go will be dependent upon a) how much time you have and b) what kind of activities you’re looking to do.If you only have a two or three day weekend, it’s probably best to stay close, no more than 2-4 hours away; coupon claritin.Your best options are Pennsylvania coupon claritin, upstate New York or Massachusetts. These places are close and offer decent winter sports options; coupon claritin.If you have more time and are a serious skier or snowboarder, head for New Hampshire or Vermont – they’re farther away but offer the best mountains. Coupon claritin: you’ll also have to think about how you’re going to get there. Zipcars are an option but the service is meant for short-term trips so it gets expensive when you try to use them for more than a few days; coupon claritin.Go for a traditional rental company like Enterprise or Budget. Coupon claritin: remember, you’ll need a credit card to rent a whip.

The Crib

This is the second most important ingrediant to a successful winter trip since you’ll be spending lots of time indoors.For our trip coupon claritin, we decided a cabin or house would be cozier than a hotel.You’ll find a wide array of option on Cyber Rentals and Vacation Rentals by Owner, as well as Craigslist Vacation Rentals – coupon claritin.The listings will usually have pictures and detailed information about the spot. Coupon claritin: some things to pay attention to are: how many people does it sleep; what size are the beds; how far is the spot from activities; is there a fire place; how much is it per night; what amenities are included and if pets are allowed.Houses are generally more expensive during holidays and often times have specials during non peak months.

Let Your Plate and Cup Runneth Over

Though our weekend was definitely about kicking back and relaxing, we all agreed to set one goal: Eat all the food and attempt

to drink all 10 bottles of wine we bought with us; coupon claritin.And like folks on a mission, we got down in the kitchen and let the vino flow.

We cheffed up: salmon stir-fry, potato pancakes with apple sauce, spinach salad with a homemade vinaigrette, French toast, samosas, cinnamon and nutmeg waffles, banana bread, and salmon and crab cake sandwiches with improvised tarter sauce and tater tots.

As much as we love to eat and a few of us can drink, on our last day there was still some food and a few bottles of wine leftover. Coupon claritin: we didn’t meet our goal but it sure felt good to try.

Choose one thing that everyone on the trip wants to accomplish, be it sightseeing or catching up on sleep.What helped us is that everyone chipped in with preparing the meals coupon claritin, which shortened the time between getting the food from the stove to our mouths.

Vegging Out is Allowed

Being accustomed to hectic days and tight deadlines, it’s easy to fall into the habit of planning out every single second so that you’re optimizing your time. Coupon claritin: and it’s that same over planning that can drive you crazy when you aren’t making sure to pencil in time to breathe and relax.

For this trip we kept our plans simple by not having any.If you’re a busy body coupon claritin, having tons of movies, board games, playing cards, and music is definitely a good idea.Also, don’t hesitate to turn on the television and watch a few reality shows.It’s the perfect activity for when you want to give your mind a break.

Fun Times for All

Having a mixed trip with close friends, romantic partners and some folks who don’t know each other can cause anxiety when you want everyone to enjoy themselves.

Don’t be afraid to stir it up when it comes to who you invite on the trip, the new vibes can bring about some interesting conversations and activities.Designate a central location like the kitchen or living room as the communal hang out spot; coupon claritin.Remember your partner by taking a walk to see how he/she is experiencing the trip.Also coupon claritin, pack some essentials like lingerie, massage oils, candles or erotica for when you both want some one-on-one playtime.