Emma and Jake sat down on their living room couch, ready to plan their upcoming vacation. They browsed through travel brochures and websites looking for the perfect getaway.

Jake spoke up, “I think Alaska would be great. We can get a cabin on a lake, get away from the city and noise. I can catch up on some reading, and we can go hiking, maybe camping, and get close to nature—clean air and pure water.”

“Sounds peaceful," responded Emma, but I prefer to have a little excitement added to my vacation. While I like reading and nature, I prefer the thrill of a roller coaster ride, or bungee jumping. I like mountains and lakes too, but I prefer beaches and the ocean. I was thinking Orlando, Florida.”

Emma and Jake seemed at odds, each one talking about their ideal destinations. One wanted to relax with nature, the other wanted thrill and excitement. 

They sat together at the dinner table and had become very quiet. Then Emma spoke up. “I think we’re going about this all wrong. Obviously Alaska doesn’t’ work for me and Florida doesn’t work for you. What if we try to come up with a third destination?”

“How do we do that?” asked Jake.

“Let’s prioritize what we each want most out of our vacation. What’s most important to us both?" said Emma.

“That we get away from our everyday routines and spend some time together.”

“Agree. So it really doesn’t matter where we go or what we do, as long as we’re together.”

“That’s true, but my biggest priority is getting away from the city," Jake added. "I deal with traffic and people every day. And my tech work is complicated and I deal with complaining people all the time, I need some peace and quiet. Those are my top two priorities.”

“Okay, and my work is in an office," said Emma. "It’s quiet and there’s only three of us. We mostly work on our tasks independently. So I do need at least a little excitement. That’s my top priority.”

Emma and Jake took out their phones and started searching for new destinations.

After some research, they discovered Branson, Missouri. Branson has a unique blend of relaxation, beautiful nature, and exciting activities.

Jake got excited. “Branson, Missouri! It’s in the mountains and it has a lake so large it’s got a long beach called Moonshine beach. But that’s not the best part, Silver Dollar City theme park has lots of rides and an awesome roller coaster called the Time Traveler. And get this, not only is it super fast and twisty, but the seats spin. That should be exciting enough for you.”

“And I was just reading here,” said Emma. There’s a lot of nature trails. And we can rent a cabin in the mountains. That should work for you, shouldn’t it?”

Realizing that Branson, Missouri, provided the perfect balance for their vacation preferences, Emma and Jake happily agreed on their destination. They booked a cozy mountain cabin in the heart of Branson's natural beauty, eager to experience the best of both worlds - relaxation and excitement.

It turned out to be the best vacation ever.