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of Flagstaff on the way to the Grand Canyon and ended with a calming drive through the desolation of I-40 in San Bernardino County. This trip takes the right frame of mind, not to mention physical condition; we slept in that little car. Being so close to home, we knew we could go back anytime. This helped relinquish the pressure of getting our moneys worth, leaving only the thrill of exploring with friends.

I've taken more meticulously planned weekend vacations that were just as fun, and just as good for the soul. This one weekend vacation to Memphis, TN was one such trip. It was only one hour flying time from DFW International Airport. Hotel and flight miles made this trip economical, a big plus in making more dollars available for fun. We stayed just blocks from Beale Street. All we did was enjoy the hotel amenities, breakfast in bed, a tour of Graceland Mansion and one night on Beale. We had dinner at a great restaurant, a carriage ride to and from the hotel and good music; the Mississippi River is there, too if that's your cup of tea. If you don't fly much, taking a trip like this can make a weekend feel like a week, believe me! At the time, I had been on maybe six flights, so it felt nice to fly away. Since then, I've logged a half-million air miles and have become somewhat desensitized to that sensation of escape at lift off. If you relate to this, try the train. New Orleans, Atlanta and Chicago are a few good candidates for a nice weekend vacation just a train ride away.

Other good weekend vacations I have taken are road trips to Ontario, Canada. I mastered the weekend vacation doing this while working in the Detroit area. Unless you jet set to another country regularly, crossing the international border to the north can heighten the thrill of a drive. This is when you want to kick it up a notch with the planning. On my first drive to Canada, as an adult, I went with my license only. I got the third degree crossing back to the U.S., as travel documentation requirement changed since my last visit to Canada in 1984. It is best to get a passport; all travelers will be required to have one upon re-entry to the U.S. by summer of 2009. U.S. currency is accepted but change is given in Canadian, and debit and credit cards automatically convert according to the current exchange rate. Much of the fun was just driving from city to city in Ontario. Canadian cities, by and large, are more compact and better designed for foot traffic, and urban sprawl seems kept to

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