For those with the time, financial resources, and an adventurous spirit, taking an extended vacation can be restful, relaxing, and a welcome break from the ordinary. And with proper planning, your trip will be even more enjoyable. Preparing your home and finances before your time away, for example, will help you to have more peace of mind on your trip and help your return back to "normal life" go even more smoothly when you return. But when it comes to the more abstract aspects of getting the most out of your extended vacation in the long run, a few mental tricks can help you carry the physical rejuvenation, reduced stress levels, and overall feeling of happiness long after you lock up that beach bungalow in Bali or step off the boat of your 3 week European cruise.

Prepare. If you're taking an extended vacation at a place with a completely different culture and maybe even a different language, doing your research before you go will help you by getting all of the preliminary cultural differences out of the way. Learning just a few commonly used phrases in the language can help immensely. Researching ahead of time can help you to feel more comfortable at your vacation spot sooner-- and the more prepared and at ease you feel, the sooner and more completely you'll be able to enjoy your vacation.

Plan Ahead. Before you embark on your extended vacation, sit down with your travel companions (if there are any) and think about the goals and expectations you have for the trip. Do you want to sight-see five days a week or are you planning on getting a lot of work done while you're away? If sitting on the beach all day everyday is the way you'd like to spend your time away, do that...but having a plan will help you and your travel mates to be on the same page when it comes to enjoying the vacation you deserve. And if you can accomplish this without feeling tied down by it, scheduling your vacation time in advance can help you get the most out it. Having a schedule will help you maintain some sense of normalcy and keep you on track if you want to be productive yet still fit in a lot of leisure time.

Personalize your experience. For many vacationers, personalizing their vacation experience while they're away will help them to feel more connected to the experience when they return. To do this, try to incorporate cues into your daily life when you return that are connected to specific vacation experiences. Keeping a journal during your trip, collecting items for a scrapbook, and taking photos along the way are some ideas to help you to remember your vacation long after your memories begin to fade. Did you have the most delicious spaghetti at a hole in the wall family restaurant in Italy? Take a photo of your family there, maybe with someone you had a conversation with at the restaurant, and write in your journal about the sights, the sounds, and the flavors that made the meal so unique. Any way you're able to connect vacation experiences with your senses will prove valuable in extending your vacation even further. Psychologists refer to this behavior as "behavioral reenactment." If you loved the decor in your beach house so much that merely entering the room made you happier and your sleep better, think of ways you can incorporate similar decorative elements from that room into your bedroom at home.

Located at the very heart of Europe, Prague's prime location around the confluence of trade routes has blessed this unusually beautiful city with culture, art, and over 900 years of architecture. Because of its rich culture and history, Prague is often likened to Rome. With all this great city has to offer, you should plan to spend at least three days in Prague, the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic. Stroll along the cobblestone streets of the old town, observing the remarkable architecture of the buildings and churches, and marvel at the magnificent Prague Castle, which also bears the distinction of being the largest ancient castle in the world.  Other notable sites include the Lennon Wall (decorated with John Lennon-inspired graffiti and Beatles lyrics), the National Museum (containing over 14 million artifacts), and The Metronome, a 75-foot tall, functioning metronome that looms above the River Vtalva and serves as a popular meeting and skateboarding spot for local youth.

Prague is divided into two parts, separated by the River Vltalva. On one side of the river lies Prague Castle and the Little Quarter, while the other side features the Old and New towns and the area known as the Jewish Quarter. The bridge that connects the two, Charles Bridge, is a tourist attraction in itself. Decorated with a continuous alley of Baroque styles statues and statuaries, the bridge makes for a romantic walk by night or a lively cultural experience by day, when performance artists and vendors set up along the bridge.

Make sure you enjoy at least one inexpensive lunch or dinner in a Prague pub, washed down by an ice-cold, world famous Czech beer. Museums, art exhibits, shopping, and musical and other cultural performances throughout the year should keep the majority of travelers busy, and for the younger folk Prague offers a lively clubbing scene. Make sure your visit to Prague includes a railway ride to the top of Petrin Hill-- it's known to many as one of the most rewarding city views in all of Europe. Whether you enjoy Prague's balmy summer breezes or brave the snowy cold of winter, you'll likely find yourself agreeing with famed Prague-born author Franz Kafka, who said of the city: "Prague never lets you go..."

If you love history and you're planning a vacation, then why not combine the two? Regardless of whether you want to stay in the United States or are feeling extra adventurous, there are many destinations to choose from. From traveling to Philadelphia and visiting the Liberty Bell or journeying to Cairo to view the ancient pyramids, you're sure to find a historical vacation that fits your unique set of interests and budget. Traveling to some of the world's best known sites and landmarks will not only make for a fun vacation, but you'll enjoy learning more about the world in the process by learning what made the world what it is today. And if you're traveling with children, you'll enjoy the fact that your children will be learning and becoming more informed citizens of the world. Here are some of the most popular US historical tours:

1. Salem, Massachusetts: Tour one of the many museums dedicated to the 1692 Salem Witch Trials, tour the home of Nathaniel Hawthorne and his inspiration for his novel House of the Seven Gables, or tour one of the town's many beautiful historical residences. The Witch Dungeon Museum offers live reenactments of the Salem Witch Trials based upon actual archived court transcripts.

2. Savannah, Georgia: Take a ride on an historic Savannah trolley, where you can enjoy views of the city's beautiful homes and tree-lined streets and parks. Trolleys not your thing? Take a carriage or walking tour by day, followed by a night ghost tour, or join many others on a literary pilgrimage as you take the Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil tour, where you can see many places featured in the novel and various locations around the city where the movie was filmed.

3. San Francisco, California: Tour some of the city's most famous downtown buildings, gardens, and historic landmarks during an architectural tour of the city, or take a ferry to the notorious island prison of Alcatraz. To lighten the mood, enjoy a visit to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) or the San Francisco Zoo. And no visit to the Golden Gate city is complete without a ride on a cable car (there's even a cable car museum!), and don't forget to visit Pier 39 at Fisherman's Wharf, the third most visited tourist attraction in the nation.

For many travelers, culinary adventure is as important as sightseeing, a key part of truly appreciating a place. But, like many other adventurous activities, eating with the locals should be undertaken cautiously... food safety is as important abroad as it is when you eat out in the states, so carefully selecting the foods you eat and where you eat them should be an important part of the dining out equation. That said, a little dining adventurousness can go a long way, and here are some tips to introduce your palate to the new colors, flavors, and textures of the foods you encounter on your vacation:

Ask around. Asking the front desk staff or concierge at your hotel for restaurant recommendations is a good place to get started. But instead of asking them "Where is a good place to eat?" ask them where the locals eat instead. Locals often frequent the true culinary gems that may be off the beaten path and off the radar when it comes to travel guides and the like. These establishments usually offer style and flavor at a fraction of the more popular eateries in town, and because locals frequent them they'll likely be more casual and less crowded with tourists. It may be a hole-in-the-wall or a few blocks off the beaten path, but worth the extra travel.

Seek out the local specialties. The old expression "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" is exactly the theme here. In other words, travel isn't the time to take comfort in eating at familiar chain restaurants and the typical cuisine you eat at home; instead, eat haggis when you're in Scotland and try the schnapps in Germany... because, as another old adage goes, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." You don't have to be taking a wine tour in Sonoma or eating at a Le Cordon Bleu restaurant in France to fully experience the culinary delights on your vacation, but if you have to eat and drink to sustain yourself anyway, why not make it an adventure?

Food Safety. No one wants to spend a moment of a vacation sick, and a bad case of food poisoning abroad can rob of you of many valuable days of your vacation. Fortunately, following the locals when it comes to dining options will help to keep you safe and less likely to fall victim to food poisoning. However, particularly if you're in a developing country, do your research to determine if the food and water at your destination is generally safe. It may be necessary to avoid drinking the water unless it's bottled or has been boiled, as well as only eating fruits that can be peeled and avoiding raw vegetables completely. And if you're insistent on eating street food, only eat at the busy vendors that seem to be frequented by locals... they're likely the safest bet.