Graduation Vacation?!

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So... I graduate in August from my FNP program. THANK GOD! I am so ready to be done!

So, to celebrate, I am planning a big (ish) vacation for my husband and I. Although he did not actually go through the program, he has put up with me, so I'd say we both deserve it!

In the past we have enjoyed smaller vacations, going to state parks, hiking, seeing waterfalls, etc. We have never really been on a beachy vacation.. we're not huge beach people, but wouldn't mind being somewhere that had beach and other attractions.

Here's a list of what we had in mind, maybe...

Alaskan cruise (seems confusing to plan.. and pricier than I expected)

Yosemite

Yellowstone

Hawaii (probably out of our budget for this yet)

Riviera Maya

Virgin islands

St Lucia

Not sure what I want to do. The more I look at pics of the islands, I keep thinking I don't want to spend 7 days on a beach. But I also do want to spend 7 days hiking in a forest either. I have looked at all inclusive, I like to eat.. alot... but I am not the type that really wants to be waited on hand and foot.. I'm pretty laid back and go with the flow...

Any suggestions? I have a fairly decent budget and this will be one of the biggest vacations weve been on so far...

What did YOU do when you graduated??

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I went to work after graduation - lol!

However, we did an Alaskan cruise and it was great. Now I have to say that we used to live in the interior of Alaska so we were familiar with Alaska and the locations we went to. It was very nice. July and August are the only months to go - bring layers: sweatshirts, light coat, lightweight gloves. No beaches but AWESOME scenery.

St Thomas - been there several times too. Gorgeous place, geared for tourists. We've done several Caribbean cruises and we have also done a villa rental in St Thomas - we've rented cars there too. I love this place and if it wasn't that my kids and grandkids are here I would push to move there.

Riviera Maya - been there also on cruises and then did an all-inclusive. We are not big drinkers or partiers, we wanted a more romantic feel to it so we did a couples only resort - it was new, big, and very nice. Crime is an issue for tourists in some parts of the cities so if you go off-resort go with a tour from the resort.

Hawaii - been there a few times too. Since we lived in Japan for 3+ years, we call Hawaii West Japan. Street signs in Kanji (Japanese language), very crowded streets (much like Tokyo) - I'm not a big city person so this wasn't really my idea of a great vacation but we were visiting family stationed at Pearl.

National Parks are big on my bucket list. I've travelled quite a bit and lived overseas for multiple years in multiple countries but personally I like the US best.

Good luck and congrats on your upcoming graduation

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

Jumping off point for many Alaskan Cruises is Vancouver BC, an awesome town.

Costa Rica is supposed to be really nice too.

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Specializes in LTC & Private Duty Pediatrics.

Yellowstone is completely awesome in August. If you can swing it, hit the park the day after Labor Day. Weather is still nice, most of the park facilities are still open for another week or two, wildlife is moving around (getting ready for winter), and most of the tourists have cleared out.

If you are into fly-fishing, this is when you want to go. Hardly anyone will be fishing, and all the streams (where you are allowed to fish) will be open. Did you know the Yellowstone River inside the park does not open to fishing until July 15th (to allow the native cutthroat trout to spawn in peace).

I was there Labor Day weekend 2002, and spent 2 hours walking/hiking the 5 miles back into the 1st meadow on Slough Creek. This is a world famous location for fly-fishing. Couldn't believe that I had the entire meadow to myself (unheard of). Caught and released around 30 cutthroat trout that day. Had to wait for a moose to get out of the way (was standing on the trail) on the way back to the car.

Ended up driving over to Cooke City that evening. Found an old hotel/restaurant/bar, around 10 at night. No one else there, so I ended up eating a spaghetti dinner and talking with the waitress (actually helped her clean up/vaccuum the place). She gave me the phone number of a hotel to crash out at that night (only $25/cash). Ended up spending the night, until about 3 in the morning, talking about fly-fishing with the hotel owner. We actually tied about a dozen or so flies that night while trading fishing stories.

The next morning, I headed back to Denver, Colorado (where I was living at the time). Actually, ended up using the experience as the basis for my undergraduate nursing school admission thesis (it's somewhere here on allnurses.com ... can find by doing a search).

Anyhow, it's something to think about.

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I graduate (hopefully) in Dec 2018 from Univ of Pgh - DNP/PMHNP program. I am actually planning on driving down to Disney World about 10 minutes post graduation. Not sure if I will go to the parks or just lie around in the hotel for an entire week. I'm already 3 years into the program am so utterly ready to get it over with.

Whatever you do ... have lots of fun. :)

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Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

Europe!!!

Biking tour in France, River cruises down the Rhine, Food tour of Italy. Croatia is the new hot spot in Europe. I haven't been yet, but it looks gorgeous!

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Meh, Alaska is okay.... If you want a relaxing vacation I would pick something else.

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Specializes in ED.

My goal is to trek to Everest Base Camp after graduation or passing the boards! 1.5 more years!

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First of all congrats! We celebrated by going to Mexico, stayed at Excellence Playa Mujeres with some friends and it was amazing! Went for 5 days, all inclusive, adults only. I would say you could be "waited on" as much or as little as you wanted. Some of the others look like more work than I wanted, which was to lay by the pool and beach and relax with NO school books! haha

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

TexasNP - I endorse that resort too - it was too cool!

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Specializes in Peds OR as RN, Peds ENT as NP.

Had a December graduation. Went to Costa Rica-amazing!

For my first "NP vacation" explored Canadian Rockies... August/September is great time to visit.

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