There’s not enough spontaneity in your life.

Your day is a series of deadlines book-ended by trips to the elevator, the office snack drawer and depending what’s on TV, that 7 p.m. spin class. (Your teacher is cute, but his squeaky voice, amplified by a wireless microphone, annoys.)

A crescent beach … a sunset … are just what you need.

Proponents of the unplanned vacation will find a deal in Destin condos, where the Gulf of Mexico waters are still warm and the high-rises are eager to fill their rooms during the slower fall and winter breaks. Florida’s Emerald Coast has some of the most pristine beaches in the state, offering less kitsch (not that Dade County’s Coral Castle doesn’t have its charm) and centralized living that allows visitors to stay in one place, thanks to on-site restaurants, multiple pools, parking, fitness rooms and tennis and basketball courts.

For a husband looking to surprise his bride with a long weekend away, you can’t beat it.

The two of you can also go shopping at the Silver Sands Factory Outlet, snorkeling, para sailing and golfing, then retire to your quarters to watch the dolphins from your balcony. The condo above rents for $100-$150 a night through Dec. 26. Do it. Shock her.

She’ll be impressed for years.

If Ivanka Trump can get married in the fall, then late-year weddings must be the new black. Or in her case, the new lace sleeve. (An impeccable style modernized by Vera Wang)

Maybe it’s the cooler weather or the buildup to the holidays, but brides and grooms are warming up to hosting their big day in October, November and December. But not everyone has a Trump-sized budget.

Perhaps you’re one of those couples who recognizes the importance of the union, but you’d rather save your dollars for a splashy honeymoon or first home. Smart.

It’s just one day, right? One day that can equal $$$.

When it comes to the honeymoon, Mr. and Mrs. have a bounty of affordable options in vacation home rentals. From Florida vacation rentals to Cape Cod house rentals, there’s a hideaway for every bank account. Had to cut 50 of your closest friends because the numbers weren’t working? You’ll forget the guilt when you’re tanning poolside in your Miami Beach vacation condo or testing the sauna in that Utah chalet.

In rough economic times, road trips shouldn’t  be out of the question or staycations in your very own zip code. With added baggage fees on major carriers, both may be the ways to save airfare for other costs like entertainment or the occasional meal out.

And if you’re newlyweds who simply don’t have enough vacation time accrued to take that getaway of a lifetime, consider a long weekend or “teaser” honeymoon. Save the sightseeing for another time. This is one case where its OK to spend most of your time in the room.

To clarify, that’s the city of Steamboat Springs, whose city council is revisiting the regulation of vacation home rentals and property managers.

Known as “Ski Town USA,” Steamboat Springs has become a hotbed for second-home purchases thanks to its reliable snow drifts and luxe, roomy accommodations. On VacationHomeRentals.com, Steamboat Springs vacation rentals are stunners, where hot tubs with mountain views, private saunas and Viking appliances introduce skiers to the good life.

However, some vacation home owners argue that the regulations place undue burden on those who have been following the rules, The Steamboat Pilot & Today reported. Points of contention: fees associated with adhering to a city compliance, parking rules and an agreement that calls for private homeowners to sign off when their roads are used to access vacation home properties. City officials, meanwhile, claims that the rules are effective.

The debate prompts officials to review the ordinance and submit suggestions on next steps by the end of the year.

Have any vacation home owners–in Colorado or elsewhere–encountered similar issues? Talk to me on Twitter @checkincheckout or leave your comment here.

With Christmas less than two months away, you’d better believe that the retail blasts will be on, whether that’s your inbox, television or weekly circulars. But presents aside, what do the holidays mean to you?

For moi, it’s the lights, the tree, bundling up and stuffing my face, but I’m open to creating new traditions with my own family. Would that include travel? Maybe.

In my quest for a non-traditional idea for the holidays, I found the Alaska vacation rental above, quite possibly the most affordable vacation home I’ve stumbled across in 276 posts or so. The log cabin rents for just $375 a week until May 15, 2010. The adorable cottage sits on Cottonwood Lake, where rainbow trout are yours for the catching (or releasing, if you’re merely into the sport). It’s pretty cold now (28 degrees, teens at night), which is why the deal is so good, but for you tropical climate dwellers, a winter in Alaska may just be the novelty you need.

Everyone in Florida has seen a pink flamingo, but what about the Aurora Borealis, which dances across the sky in spearmint, indigo and fuchsia swirls? Or what about a real reindeer? (Nature geeks, I know they’re called caribou in the U.S.)

Ask Santa for a Patagonia coat for Christmas, and head up North. Now that’s going rogue.

Tonight’s tomfoolery–MJ, the Gosselins and Gaga oh my!–will have all of us thankful for that extra hour of sleep, but in some places, daylight savings time isn’t practiced.

In territories and states like Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Hawaii and Arizona, residents don’t need to turn their clocks back. If you’re spending Halloween in a Hawaii vacation rental, your location’s tropical latitude ensures plenty of daylight in whatever season.

Lucky Hawaiians.

What is it like to be spoiled with so much sun?

Southwest Airlines and American Airlines just sweetened the pot for winter travelers: Fares as low as $25 each way to U.S. cities like Houston, Los Angeles and Chicago. The caveat: You have to book by Thursday, Oct. 29.

The deals on both carriers are valid on travel from Dec. 2 to Dec. 16, and Jan. 5 through Feb. 10. Fifty- to $100-each way flights to tourist destinations like Orlando, Miami and Nashville also exist, but for my taste, a winter visit to a Texas vacation rental sounds right up my-soon-to-be-snow-clogged winter alley.

Think about it.

Why on earth would you want to fly from Chicago to St. Louis in January? That’s like going from one tundra to the other.

Give me brisket, a 10-gallon hat and live music. Who cares if it’s only 60-degrees? That’s probably 60 degrees warmer than the Windy City.

So quick. Book your tickets. Cure the winter blues before that first dusting of snow.

We’ve all had Martha Stewart envy.

A Hamptons vacation home landscaped with a garden of organic produce, fresh herbs to pepper our from-scratch meals with and a backyard big enough to host an elegant, yet intimate wedding reception. Heck, you’ve paid a mint for the same New York vacation rental for years–why not get in on the game now?

Mortgage rates are at all-time lows. Prices are plummeting. If you wait for them to sink further, will you be missing out on the pastoral paradise?

Perhaps.

Second-home ownership–or any home ownership–is not to be taken lightly. Heed the advice of a realtor who knows the market, and determine what style of vacation home suits your lifestyle, whether it’s a condo, cottage or mansion. Take factors like location, amenities and upkeep into account.  Think about hidden costs. Can you afford to maintain the property yourself or hire a management company to deal with tenant issues?

While that $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit doesn’t apply to purchasers who won’t be using the property as their primary residence, by all accounts, now is a good time to strike the MLS.

Landlords: Any more advice for consumers who seek to purchase a vacation home?

This year, it’s pretty much a given that Black Friday and Cyber Monday shoppers will be able to score incredible sales on electronics, clothing and toys. The folks who wake up at 3 a.m. to stand in line at Best Buy are an aggressive bunch, and during this downturn, retailers are more than willing to dangle the deals.

Some of us, though, are happy enough with turkey and kickin’ back with our family. But what if you’re single and don’t necessarily want to go home this year? (Sorry moms, but as much as we’d love your homemade apple tart, we can’t return for every holiday.) Here’s a solution: Round up three solo friends and rent a Tennessee vacation rental.

The property above will be discounted from Nov. 25 to 29 to $585, the price of three nights for four. At almost 1,000 square feet, the Sewanee vacation home is still bigger than lots of city apartments if space prevents you singletons from gathering. Plus, how many places have a strawberry patch, private ponds and canoe on-site?

Of course, there’s the issue of whom cooks what, but that’s the fun of a community kitchen. You all get to taste (and test) together, and the pressure is at a minimum.

So what if you’re a Thanksgiving orphan. Think of it this way: If the stuffing is too soggy, your friends probably wouldn’t take as much offense as Aunt Cindy.

From State College, Pa., to Rochester, Minn., the cold has reared her frosty head. Winter has come early, and folks aren’t happy about it.

Well America, it looks like it’s going to be a long, blustery season, so it’s time to think about that warm weather vacation ahead. Counter seasonal affective disorder with thoughts of the other powdery stuff: the sandy, er, rocky beaches of California.

Now is as good a time as any to reserve your California vacation rental.

For you lucky Bostonites, flights on Virgin America are going for as little as $100 each way to Los Angeles if you purchase your ticket by Oct. 27. And why wouldn’t you want to? That white stuff during last week’s Patriots-Titans game wasn’t your TV on its way out–it was a blanket of snow, and the Pats’ earliest snow game on record, according to a FOXNews.com report.

Sure, it’s cool and pretty initially, but come January, when all the holiday lights are down and the roads are left a hard, slippery, grey, slushy mess, a weekend in California will be calling your name. Do it. Your UGG boots will need a rest.

It’s almost time to start making your list and checking it twice, and maybe start nixing the frivolous purchases of the past. (Does every relative require a Hallmark limited edition ormanent? Come on now.)

Besides, experience gifts are all the rage. Haven’t you heard? Presents that will have the recipient asking, “Why did I never do this before?” Like smelling a Colorado Aspen for the first time, and maybe even cutting down his first Christmas tree.

Or heck, why not skip the iPod stocking stuffers and go on vacation together? Let me count the reasons for spending the yule in a Colorado cabin rental.

1. Because cabins mean fireplaces, roasting marshmallows, wearing obnoxious snowmen and reindeer sweaters, and perhaps catching a glimpse of reindeer in real life.

2. Because you’ll likely be skiing, too. You’ll need to after the green bean casserole, sage sausage stuffing and fudge log cakes.

3. Because if you’re going to be stuck with your relatives–all 20 of them–it may as well be in an eight-bedroom house complete with a pool table, hot tub, bar and multiple flatscreens. Just think of all the joy you’ll have when battling over who gets the last Wii control.

4. Because it will most likely be a White Christmas. (Stranger things have happened, but I’d wager my third born that there will be snow somewhere in Colorado in December.)

5. Does a Christmas tree get any more beautiful when lit inside a log cabin?