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Vocation vacations

Mixing work with a final summer trip

Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of summer. Labor Day weekend marks the end.

Memorial Day weekend sees few people observing its true meaning, and Labor Day weekend will see even fewer celebrating its namesake. Indeed, most people will want to forget about their jobs during the long weekend, and travel providers, looking to wring every last dollar out of the travel season, are more than happy to offer up deals to help.

Looking over the field, I found one travel provider that has come up with a creative marketing campaign that capitalizes on both work and vacation. Site59 has offered special work-themed, travel packages to a number of off-the-beaten-path destinations around the country. Among them: Mechanicsburg, Ind., Secretary, Md., and even Hooker, Ark.

This is a clever idea that I’m taking one step further. I’ve found burgs in every state of the union where, depending on your line of work, you could enjoy a weekend trip and celebrate your job at the same time. Here’s my list of vocations and avocations matched to appropriate out-of-the-way places around the country.

  • Accountant -- Billings, Mo.
  • Basketball player -- Knightstown, Ind.
  • Cardiologist -- Hartwell, Ga.
  • Chef -- Bigfork, Mont.
  • Citrus grower -- Fruitland, N.M.
  • Civil engineer -- Bridgewater, Vt.
  • Drunk -- Barview, Ore.
  • Electrician -- Sparks, Nev.
  • Entrepreneur -- Prosperity, S.C.
  • Exterminator -- Zap, N.D.
  • Financial advisor -- Economy, Pa.
  • Firefighter -- Ashaway, R.I.
  • Florist -- Flora, Miss.
  • Freeloader -- Gratis, Ohio
  • Geologist -- Volcano, Hawaii
  • Geometry teacher -- Triangle, Va.
  • Knife maker – Edgemoor, Del.
  • Lawyer -- Justice, Ill. (I know. This is a stretch.)
  • Marketer -- Sells, Ariz.
  • Meatpacker -- Slaughter, La.
  • Merchant marine -- Salem, N.Y.
  • Meteorologist -- Good Thunder, Minn.
  • Nuclear physicist -- Red Cloud, Neb.
  • Olympian -- Winner, S.D.
  • Ophthalmologist -- Seymour, Tenn.
  • OSHA Inspector -- Little Falls, N.J.
  • Percussionist -- Drum Point., Md.
  • Philosopher -- Wise, Va.
  • Plastic surgeon -- Sagamore, Mass.
  • Podiatrist -- Blackfoot, Idaho
  • Poker player -- Bluffdale, Utah
  • Postal worker -- Stamps, Ark.
  • Potter -- Clay, Ky.
  • Preacher -- Kill Devil Hills, N.C.
  • Professor -- College Place, Wash.
  • Quality-control inspector -- Okay, Okla.
  • Radio commentator -- Tok, Alaska
  • Ranger -- Troup, Texas
  • Roofer -- Trussville, Ala.
  • Sandwich maker -- Mayo, Fla.
  • Seamstress -- Needles, Calif.
  • Servant -- Butler, Wis.
  • Sharpshooter -- Rifle, Colo.
  • Sheriff -- Marshalltown, Iowa
  • Solar panel installer -- Suncook, N.H.
  • Stuntman -- Hazardville, Conn.
  • Teamster -- Union, Maine
  • Tool and die maker -- Millett, Mich.
  • Tuba player -- Big Horn, Wyo.

And where might you find me on Labor Day weekend? Try Odd, W.Va., of course.

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