Jenny Hollander When it comes to vacation , I'm choosy. (Picky, according to my husband.) I'm anti-humidity, anti-insects, anti-crowds; my expectations for hotels are sky-high; and my ideal vacation is an activity taster menu of sorts, with space for water activities, fine dining, nap time, hiking , beachside cocktails, and minimal travel. As has been pointed out to me—mostly by said husband—this asks a lot of a single vacation. Enter: Shoulder season.