With the exception of a 1031 exchange, what you do with the proceeds from the sale of real estate doesn't matter. If you have a gain on the sale, that gain is taxable. Since you state the sold property was a 2nd home/vacation home, it is not eligible for capital gains tax exclusion unless it was your primary residence for at least 2 years of the last 5 years you owned it, counting back from the closing date of the sale.
Since personal use property does not qualify for a 1031 exchange, we can pretty much rule that possibility out.
