Family Vacations

When I was growing up, we always took summer vacations. These trips lasted anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks. The locations varied. 

My mom was the vacation planner. She sent away for brochures, booklets, and hotel information. And then she planned the route, the sights we'd see, and booked hotels along the way (usually by mail).

My dad was content with fishing. His favorite vacation spot was the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. One year, we stayed in some cabins along the lake, and we returned for two or three years after. There was a beach, a dock, boats, and, of course, we got to do all the kitschy things around the touristy area.  We also went to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky once or twice. I can still remember, with amazement, the large cafeteria that was in the cave. 

The summer after 8th grade, we took our biggest trip—a three-week vacation to California. We took the southern route as we traveled west. I'm guessing that much of the trip followed Route 66, since we were leaving from the southern suburbs of Chicago. My dad was a bit of a "Look kids, there's the Grand Canyon" kind of guy as we drove by. However, we did stop at various places to take in the sights. My most vivid memory of that part of the journey was stopping in Needles, California. I still remember getting out of the pool and drying almost immediately - it was SO hot. 

In California, we went to Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, and Universal Studios. Then we headed up the coast to San Francisco. We stayed in an old hotel somewhere in the city, and I got to wander around a bit on my own. My mom and I walked to Chinatown to have dinner, and we were served by a waiter who looked like a movie star. 

Coming back east, we took the northern route. We picked up a hitchhiker in Yellowstone. She was working there for the summer and sightseeing on her day off. I decided I would work in Yellowstone when I got older - something I never did.

But the overall theme of this three-week trip was one of dealing with my siblings. My little brother was about 10 months old at the time, and he cried whenever we went out to eat. We started taking turns so we didn't have to take him into a restaurant. And my oldest younger sister got car sick - ALL THE TIME. It made for an interesting trip. 

Other than visiting family in southern Illinois or Iowa, that was the last big family trip I can remember taking. But as long as they were able, my parents still took trips each summer. Most of the tales we heard about their trips were rehashes of the various meals they had along the way. The sights along the way just weren't that important!!

This week's #52Ancestors prompt was TRAVEL.