Only about 34 hours left.

That’s just two meetings, three classes, five cups of coffee, one large stack of papers to grade, two meals to prepare, one bag to pack and two children to entertain from now – and all that, of course, is after I write this column.

We’re going to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky this weekend, the first real “vacation” we’ve had since Panama City beach beckoned to us in 2000.

And, I am here to tell you, we NEED a vacation.

So, we’ll leave Saturday, driving up the most boring interstate in the world (the Western Kentucky Parkway) to get to a national park where we’ll tromp around in a huge, musty cavern and look at fascinating rock formations.

My husband and sons, who do not usually share my enthusiasm for such “educational” experiences, will likely have more fun watching cable in our Cave City hotel room and swimming in the available outdoor pool.

They will also want to spend entirely too much time in souvenir shops, which means we'll cart home all sorts of junk along with the required been-there-done-that T-shirts.

Sound idyllic? Of course, I realize it’s not a trip to the Bahamas.

But for those of us who typically spend time off by staying at home or traveling for family reasons, going ANYWHERE becomes akin to manna from heaven.

I’ve been to Mammoth Cave before, many years ago, and I have also visited caverns near McMinnville, Tenn., and in North Alabama.

Go to the Web site (www.mammoth.cave.national-park.com) and you’ll find that the park offers a wide array of activities, such as cave tours, hiking, fishing, boating and canoeing, bird-watching, camping and educational programs for adults and children.

What you won’t see featured on the Web site, but you will see at the park, is an abundance of raccoons. The creatures particularly love campers because campers tend to leave food in accessible places.

I love to camp, too, but I don’t think my 3-year-old is really ready to spend quality time in the woods.

For that matter, my 10-year-old will worry himself sick about the possibility of seeing snakes during our trip, and will regale me with his fears from the minute we exit our driveway.

My husband will take it all in stride – which really means he'll simply tune us all out, drive the van and pester me for directions when necessary.

See, I can always count on him.

So why am I looking forward to this trip?

Consider that we spent our summer up to our collective eyeballs in paint, stain, sawdust and vinyl siding, while attempting to work and keep our home running at the same time, and the reasons we need to “get away” become painfully obvious.

I’ve got to get out of here, if only for a couple of days, and just play.

OK, 33 hours and counting …

Tomi McCutchen Parrish is an instructor of Communications and loves to travel, but rarely leaves town. She’s really, really happy to be going somewhere.