Vacationing is traveling away from one's home for recreation, tourism, experience, reflection, or other reasons unrelated to work. Historians trace the vacation back to ancient Greece and ancient Rome, where citizens left the major cities to attend athletic competitions and lounge in coastal towns.
> Ancient Romans took trips to the coast to beat the heat. (Read)
> Estimate the costs of an ancient Roman vacation. (Explore)
The American vacation took hold in the late 1800s as developers and religious groups began constructing tourist destinations along the coast and in the mountains. In the 20th century, labor laws guaranteeing time off and the lowering price of automobiles led to the modern American road trip.
> "Vacation" wasn't common for Americans until the mid-1800s, when it became a luxury for the wealthy. (Read)
> Thomas Cook invented modern tourism in the 19th century by creating package tours and travel guides for aspiring travelers. (Read)
> William HH Murray spurred American interest in rustic retreats, characterizing them as necessary respites from the country's oppressive urban centers. (Read)
The expansion of commercial airlines popularized international vacations, though rising costs have prevented many Americans from taking advantage of the many available options.
> A 2024 report found that the average American vacation costs nearly $2K per person. (Watch)
> Europeans, on average, have roughly double the amount of vacation time as Americans, thanks to a long-standing belief that leisure benefits society. (Read)
Discover more:
> For centuries, European aristocrats made travel a rite of passage with "Grand Tours" of the continent. (Read)
> Sales of Airstreams, the sleek silver RVs, surged during the American postwar road-trip boom as the brand pitched tourism as a lifestyle. (Read)
> Check out a list of the weirdest roadside attractions. (Explore)
