I grew up with family vacations in W Dennis and Dennisport on Cape Cod.
MY Grandparents and then my parents had 2nd homes on the Cape.
We loved it and thought that the Cape was the best.
My grandpa on my dad's side had a family home on the ocean in New Brunswick, where we visited once a year in the summer.
My Mom's mom and sister had a place in Florida and as an adult I visited there often as I could.
So, i really wanted for nothing in the travel department as a kid or young adult.
My husband grew up going to NH on the weekends to a cottage in the woods and near a lake in Wakefield NH.
Flash forward to now......
It is now ONLY about Aruba.
Those other places I just mentioned..."sure they are ok"

We love Aruba...... and are just not quite as happy with the things that were "the best" not so very long ago?
Aruba raises the bar HIGH.
EX:
Paul and I are here in York Maine...."Vacationland" visiting the kids and grandkids. We are thrilled seeing family, but are wishing we were all in Aruba (where it is warm and sunny) instead.
Tracey D and her husband went on a summer vacation in July to S Carolina or the OBX......and had a BLAST. It was not an inexpensive venture. They had lots of friends with them and lots of fun. However, in her mind she was dreaming about "Aruba".
Aruba, although we love it (some of us adore it) , has a way of making travel destinations that we always used to love....not quite as appealing as before.
Dear husband has a big birthday coming in November. I have been stashing money for 2 years for a nice trip for him. About 8 months ago, I presented him with a few choices....Ireland, Panama Canal Cruise or Pacific Northwest. He chose Aruba. 'Nuf Said.
Your thoughts?