So why not cut out the distractions -- oh, like a visit to the Louvre or the Vatican -- and go on a vacation designed for shopaholics?
The theory of Ecocare can be widely used in clinical TCM, health care by Chinese medicine, and research and development of TCM health products, as well as in agriculture, gardens, landscape, and leisure vacation designs for the demands of health care by Chinese Materia Medica.
If you've already conquered Thomas Keller's casual Ad Hoc and his exclusive French Laundry (or are still on the months-long waiting list for the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star restaurant), another Wine Country foodie adventure awaits a vacation designed by the master chef himself.
How many girls are spending their summer vacation designing stoves?
The counselors are bright, energetic, and enthusiastic". Cornell's Adult University (CAU) offers acclaimed education vacations designed and led by Cornell faculty.
Even the carriage-trade tour company Abercrombie & Kent (www.abercrombiekent.com) has recently started a Signature series of vacations designed for spontaneous journeys to places like the Galapagos, China and Botswana.
Mr. Keeling's company, Floripa Vacation Homes, designs, builds and sells houses a short stroll from Praia Mole, a well-known Atlantic beach on the east of the island popular with surfers, whale watchers and — in the summer months — Brazilian fashion industry executives.
While our family vacation was designed to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, I can't help hoping that the accessibility and acceptance we encountered would be an everyday experience for all of us.
Ms. McCarthy was a little wary of vacations specifically designed for spawning: "Can you imagine a cruise ship where everyone around you is trying to conceive?" she said.
It is possible to go on a vacation staring a design or luxury hotel if you happen to know the right places.
