Reporter's Notebook: What It's Like to Follow Obama on Vacation

— -- The primary difference between following President Obama on an official trip and his 16-day summer vacation: pack shorts.

That's not to say that getting the assignment to travel to Martha's Vineyard is some relaxing getaway. Similar to every time the president departs the White House, the entire West Wing goes with him, and that includes the press corps.

Crews, producers and correspondents are on alert around the clock, monitoring world events and the political news of the day to elicit a reaction from the White House and, if necessary, put the press secretary or the president on air in the makeshift briefing room.

Meanwhile, even as he tries to stay out of sight in Massachusetts, cameramen track Obama's movements looking to stake him out as he tours every golf course on the island.

To get a closer look behind the scenes of Obama's vacation, watch the ABC News reporter's notebook video above.