The 100 Best Vacations
to Enrich Your Life
by Pam Grout

Reviewed by Nancy Huang

Next time you’re considering the usual humdrum getaway to a luxurious hotel or sunny beach resort, think not about where you want to go, but rather, what you want to do. Have you ever wanted to live like John Wayne, riding horses all day and sleeping under the stars at night? Study whales while sailing on the St. Lawrence Gulf? Practice the art of tai chi on the lush beaches of Costa Rica? It’s all perfectly doable.

Vacation time becomes your own personal adventure with travel expert Pam Grout’s latest book “The 100 Best Vacations to Enrich Your Life.” Catering to a growing interest in “life-enhancing” getaways, Grout’s book offers a hodgepodge of exciting, almost-wacky travel ideas that offer a detailed description of the vacation, including price, things to do while in the neighborhood, and full contact info.  Sidebars listing travel tips or interesting facts are also helpful.

The book is organized into four categories. “Arts & Crafts Getaways” includes suggestions such as honing your creativity at the Iowa Summer Writing Festival and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp.  In “Volunteer Vacations,” work for a week at Habitat for Humanity or your favorite national park. “Brain Retreats” take you to places like Hawaii to monitor volcanoes, or Washington D.C. to get an insider’s look at U.S. politics. If a relaxing retreat is what you desire, “Wellness Escapes” suggest several hiking trails and unique spas all across the country.

Whether or not Arizona Cowboy College or the Skip Barber Racing School sounds like your fantasy escape, this book’s suggestions are enough of an inspiration to get you dreaming up your own off-the-wall vacation. It’s the must-have guide for even the most well-traveled jetsetter.

Retail price: $19.95