There are few things in life that trump taking a trip with your best friend or a group of friends for that matter. Hanging out in your home town is one thing, but traveling to a place where nobody knows your name can be a whole ‘nother story! You know the saying (and now ad campaign) "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." Well, let’s just say you could apply that to all your trips with friends…"What happens in ________, stays in ________. If your friends are like mine then you know that the over-embellished stories will follow! So, they may not exactly *stay* in said town, but that shouldn’t stop you from letting loose and having tons of fun!
I think the best trips are created to match your mood, don’t you? If you’re feeling like laying low and being pampered, then you should go for a spa weekend. If you feel athletic and adventurous then you should go backpacking, right? Let’s go with this theme for some fabulous travel ideas based on mood…
Your Mood: Over-stressed and in need of pampering
Your Adventure: Napa Valley for a spa weekend
Take a trip to beautiful Napa Valley for a weekend of wining, dining and fabulous spa treatments! Take the Wine Train to create an experience to suit your mood. This ride can range from a nice lunch and a tour of wineries up to a Murder Mystery Dinner on the train with you and your best friend in costume to play along. Follow up your wine train adventures with a rejuvenating mineral or mud bath, soothing massage and a fabulous facial.
Your Mood: I feel like conquering the world
Your Adventure: Camping in Yosemite and hiking Half Dome

Hiking Half Dome is a safe way to conquer a mountain without having any technical climbing skills, but at the same time getting to the top makes you feel great! You’ll need about 12 hours (give or take) to hike up, hang out at the top, and hike down again so eat a hearty breakfast and pack a good lunch before you go! For those that are experienced, you can actually rock climb up the other side of Half Dome instead of hike and rely on the cables. Best of luck!
Your Mood: Rough & tumble
Your Adventure: Horseback riding at a Dude Ranch
Dude Ranches can be found all over the United States. Once you get out on the ranch and start working the cattle, it won’t even matter what state you’re in because you will be so far removed from what most of us know as reality. With that said, you’re just a well off to choose a ranch that’s close to home and give it a whirl. I guarantee that it will be unlike any other vacation you’ve ever had (unless you work on a cattle ranch already). It would be wise to take a few horseback riding lessons before you go so you can focus on working the cattle and not on how to ride a horse.
Your Mood: Marathon retail therapy
Your Adventure: A multi-day trip to the Mall of America
Many people say that retail therapy cures everything. At the very least, it makes you feel better temporarily, right? If you’re a believer then you’d more than likely enjoy a multi-day trip to fabulous Minnesota for a super marathon in the Mall of America! This is a 4-story mall folks with 520 stores, 50 restaurants, an indoor amusement park with more than 30 rides, an aquarium, a flight simulator and so much more. It’s the only mall that I know of that offers a visitor’s kit and travel packages. Major bonus: no sales tax on shoes and clothing!
Your Mood: Adventuresome
Your Adventure: African safari

Venture to beautiful South Africa for a wonderful safari where you’ll encounter all kinds of wildlife and amazing discoveries. Depending on the safari you choose, you may venture out for most of the day and return to a thatched hut at night OR you may camp out every night. It depends on what you want out of the safari, but do whichever you prefer. Do you want to help hunt for your dinner or do you want to sit down and be served?
Your Mood: Up for a good challenge
Your Adventure: Train and compete in a triathlon
Training for a triathlon is a great way to spend time with your best friend. The longer the distances that you plan to race, the more training that’s required. In addition to being a great bonding experience, a fabulous challenge for your mind and body, it’s also the perfect excuse to travel to new places. Triathlons happen all over the world. Find one in a place you’d like to visit and book your trip! Be sure to arrive several days prior to the race so you can acclimate to any climate changes and try to stay at least an additional week after the race so you can enjoy the area.
Your Mood: Need for speed
Your Adventure: Cedar Point Amusement Park
If you’re a roller coaster afficianado then you must make your way to Cedar Point in Ohio! They boast a whopping 17 roller coasters which is more than any other amusement park in the world. What more could you ask for from an amusement park? I know, more roller coasters, cheaper prices and a multi-day pass. I couldn’t agree more!
Your Mood: Relaxing day/party night
Your Adventure: Cabo San Lucas
Take your adventure to the beaches of Cabo San Lucas. This is a great place to relax by day with your best friend on the beach. Enjoy your time gossiping, drinking and playing in the water. If laying on the beach isn’t your speed, you can take a variety of stimulating boat rides. Top off your relaxing day by bar hopping and dancing the night away.
I could probably write another week’s worth of posts about traveling with your best friend, but I think this gives you some really good ideas of places to go and things to do. If you have any other ideas to contribute, leave a comment and I’ll add it to the list. Enjoy!
Happy Traveling/Searching/Shopping,
Payton