Life Your favorite childhood vacation. - Page 4

**Rain Man** · 05-21-2009, 06:09 PM

What was your favorite vacation where you still lived with your original nuclear family and vacationed with them?

For the purposes of this question, assume that a "vacation" was any outing where you slept away from home for more than two days.

Poll coming, but it's also an open-ended question.

My family only took four vacations outside Missouri during my childhood: Disneyland when I was 2, Texas when I was 5 or 6 (more of a work trip for my dad), Washington, DC when I was about 12, and Tennessee when I was probably 14. We also did smaller trips in Missouri, but almost never spent the night - generally Six Flags or Silver Dollar City, then back that night. We never went camping or anything, either - maybe twice in my childhood for one night each, maybe just once.

The DC trip was the big one for me. First off, I got to pick the destination, which was very nice of my parents. They asked me and my sister where we wanted to go, and I don't know if she had any ideas and I really, really, really, really, really wanted to go to the Smithsonian. So we went there (drove all the way from Missouri) and saw all the touristy things. I really don't remember much about it, so it wasn't a life-changer or anything, but I remember being all stoked about it, and I wasn't disappointed at all.

seclark · 05-22-2009, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowanian

I enjoyed the canoe trips to Current River-Jacks Fork.

we'd camp down there a bunch...one time we were all sitting around the camper and my old man jumped on one of the mini-bikes and took off bare-footed. as he was riding around, some kind of weed slid between his little toe, and the one next to it and snapped it straight-out sideways from the other 4. we all thought it was funny as hell, but were afraid to laugh.
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**Lumpy** · 05-22-2009, 11:46 AM

My parents couldn't afford much, so my 'vacations' were spent at a lake. My favorite memory was my dad surprised me w/ a bamboo fishing pole when I was around 8 or 9 yrs old. Every time I would cast and get a nibble, I would pull back using all my strength. Next thing my family would see is a fish flying up in the air. They would always scream, "she caught one, take cover!". Although I never had the luxury of a 'real' vacation like most kids... I wouldn't change a thing.

patteeu · 05-22-2009, 12:38 PM

I voted for "road trip with no central focus".

It was actually a road trip from KC to LA to visit an aunt for my parents, but they took several days on each leg of the trip and we did some sightseeing in LA as well.

On the outbound trip and we visited places like Carlsbad Caverns, Tombstone, AZ (Home of the Gunfight at the OK corral. My dad was a big western fan), Fort Huachuca (where my dad was stationed in the Army), White Sands and a short trip across the border into Mexico just to say we'd been there.

While staying at my aunt's house, we went to Disneyland, Knots Berry Farm, Universal Studios, Catalina Island, and the beach (*shiver*).

On the trip home, we visited the Grand Canyon, the Four Corners monument (only point in the nation adjacent to 4 states), Mesa Verde (cliff dwelling ruins), the mountains of Colorado, and the hot springs swimming pool at Glendale, Colorado.

My second favorite childhood vacation was a similar road trip to visit a different aunt who lived in West Virginia and to spend a few days in Washington DC. Loved all the sights in DC, but it wasn't as memorable to me as our trip out west.

RJ · 05-22-2009, 12:40 PM

In my day we didn't have childhood, it was too expensive.

patteeu · 05-22-2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJ

In my day we didn't have childhood, it was too expensive.

seclark · 05-22-2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patteeu

Mesa Verde (cliff dwelling ruins)

i'd love to check that out.
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patteeu · 05-22-2009, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seclark

i'd love to check that out.
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It was one of the highlights of the trip. We took our kids out to see my wife's family in Phoenix a few years ago and modeled that trip off of my childhood vacation. We made two passes through Colorado instead of hitting some of the southern sights, but Mesa Verde was a *can't miss* as far as I was concerned.

**Iowanian** · 05-22-2009, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seclark

we'd camp down there a bunch...one time we were all sitting around the camper and my old man jumped on one of the mini-bikes and took off bare-footed. as he was riding around, some kind of weed slid between his little toe, and the one next to it and snapped it straight-out sideways from the other 4. we all thought it was funny as hell, but were afraid to laugh.
sec

The only thing I didn't like about Current River was the plethora of snakes....copper heads, water snakes. I swear every morning someone had a 3-4' water pilot coiled up next to the tent

We always had a big time "diving for treasure"...plucking pop-beer out of the river.

When I was a kid, we found a tupperware container full of something I didn't know what it was....my dad said "oh, you found some funny cigarettes".

I didn't know why there were funny, but there were probably 20-30 of them........and now that I think about it......they sure giggled after we went to bed. I may have to ask dad about that.

Fish · 05-22-2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seclark

we'd camp down there a bunch...one time we were all sitting around the camper and my old man jumped on one of the mini-bikes and took off bare-footed. as he was riding around, some kind of weed slid between his little toe, and the one next to it and snapped it straight-out sideways from the other 4. we all thought it was funny as hell, but were afraid to laugh.
sec

I can remember water skiing at Glen Elder lake as a kid. I was about 15 or so. I ended up getting my skis crossed on a nasty fall, and when I came out of the water, my little toe was angled perpendicular to my foot. I was hooting and hollering, and my uncle comes over to take a look. He said something like "Lemme see here", and yanked my toe straight with no warning. Ohh hell the pain... Damn toes are sensitive.....

**Iowanian** · 05-22-2009, 01:36 PM

I had a pretty bad collision with a van in 96. bent the steering wheel in half, broke the column, shoved it into the dash...stuck the top of my head about 3-4" into the windshield...that was with my face, head and chest.

The thing that hurt the worse by far was my broken pinky toe.

ROYC75 · 05-22-2009, 01:43 PM

Table Rock Lake.

Sully · 05-22-2009, 01:43 PM

I can tell you the worst....
5th grade (maybe 6th?) My mom pulls me out of school.
We drive to Oklahoma City in an old Ford Ranger to pick up her aunt...
...and then drive to Maine and back. I ride in the back under the old camper (just the shell-type) the whole time. No radio, no one to talk to, just some books (which 5th graders love for long trips!), the sound of the wind through the cracks, and a matress laid down between me and the metal bed.

patteeu · 05-22-2009, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sully

I can tell you the worst....
5th grade (maybe 6th?) My mom pulls me out of school.
We drive to Oklahoma City in an old Ford Ranger to pick up her aunt...
...and then drive to Maine and back. I ride in the back under the old camper (just the shell-type) the whole time. No radio, no one to talk to, just some books (which 5th graders love for long trips!), the sound of the wind through the cracks, and a matress laid down between me and the metal bed.

So you didn't really care for Maine? Or was it Oklahoma City that rubbed you wrong?

seclark · 05-22-2009, 02:11 PM

"we've driven through three states so far...knock on that back window a few times to check on sully."
sec

**Donger** · 05-22-2009, 02:12 PM

Our annual trip to the south of France and Spain. The drive sucked, though.

View Poll Results: My favorite childhood vacation was to a [major focus of trip] ....
U.S. - Disney location	7	12.07%
U.S. - Non-Disney Amusement park	1	1.72%
U.S. - Beach trip	2	3.45%
U.S. - Mountain trip (either camping or not)	11	18.97%
U.S. - Forest/camping trip	5	8.62%
U.S. - Resort (main focus was staying on site)	4	6.90%
U.S. - Visit to extended family	2	3.45%
U.S. - Big monument (e.g., Mount Rushmore, Grand Canyon)	1	1.72%
U.S. - Some place known for tourism (e.g., New York, Las Vegas, San Francisco)	1	1.72%
U.S. - Some place not really known for tourism (e.g., Indianapolis, Dallas)	1	1.72%
U.S. - Road trip with no central focus	3	5.17%
Cruise	2	3.45%
Mexico	2	3.45%
Canada	1	1.72%
Europe	1	1.72%
Other foreign area not mentioned above	0	0%
Something entirely different	6	10.34%
Never went on a childhood vacation	7	12.07%
My family is gypsy. Vacation to us was not traveling.	1	1.72%
Voters: 58. You may not vote on this poll

05-21-2009, 06:09 PM
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3338491 VARSITY	Your favorite childhood vacation. What was your favorite vacation where you still lived with your original nuclear family and vacationed with them? For the purposes of this question, assume that a "vacation" was any outing where you slept away from home for more than two days. Poll coming, but it's also an open-ended question. My family only took four vacations outside Missouri during my childhood: Disneyland when I was 2, Texas when I was 5 or 6 (more of a work trip for my dad), Washington, DC when I was about 12, and Tennessee when I was probably 14. We also did smaller trips in Missouri, but almost never spent the night - generally Six Flags or Silver Dollar City, then back that night. We never went camping or anything, either - maybe twice in my childhood for one night each, maybe just once. The DC trip was the big one for me. First off, I got to pick the destination, which was very nice of my parents. They asked me and my sister where we wanted to go, and I don't know if she had any ideas and I really, really, really, really, really wanted to go to the Smithsonian. So we went there (drove all the way from Missouri) and saw all the touristy things. I really don't remember much about it, so it wasn't a life-changer or anything, but I remember being all stoked about it, and I wasn't disappointed at all.
Posts: 141,338

05-22-2009, 12:38 PM	#48
patteeu The 23rd Pillar Join Date: Sep 2002 Casino cash: $10019237	I voted for "road trip with no central focus". It was actually a road trip from KC to LA to visit an aunt for my parents, but they took several days on each leg of the trip and we did some sightseeing in LA as well. On the outbound trip and we visited places like Carlsbad Caverns, Tombstone, AZ (Home of the Gunfight at the OK corral. My dad was a big western fan), Fort Huachuca (where my dad was stationed in the Army), White Sands and a short trip across the border into Mexico just to say we'd been there. While staying at my aunt's house, we went to Disneyland, Knots Berry Farm, Universal Studios, Catalina Island, and the beach (shiver). On the trip home, we visited the Grand Canyon, the Four Corners monument (only point in the nation adjacent to 4 states), Mesa Verde (cliff dwelling ruins), the mountains of Colorado, and the hot springs swimming pool at Glendale, Colorado. My second favorite childhood vacation was a similar road trip to visit a different aunt who lived in West Virginia and to spend a few days in Washington DC. Loved all the sights in DC, but it wasn't as memorable to me as our trip out west. __________________ “Boy, you all want power. God, I hope you never get it.” - Lindsay Graham
Posts: 110,871

05-22-2009, 12:40 PM	#49
RJ Supporter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: In a shotgun shack Casino cash: $9965202	In my day we didn't have childhood, it was too expensive.
Posts: 14,931

05-22-2009, 01:36 PM	#55
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $4778454	I had a pretty bad collision with a van in 96. bent the steering wheel in half, broke the column, shoved it into the dash...stuck the top of my head about 3-4" into the windshield...that was with my face, head and chest. The thing that hurt the worse by far was my broken pinky toe.
Posts: 61,525

05-22-2009, 01:43 PM	#56
ROYC75 Time For Your Wake Up Call !!! Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Barn Yard Casino cash: $5699400	Table Rock Lake. __________________ Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That's what's insane about it. John Lennon
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05-22-2009, 01:43 PM	#57
Sully It Goes On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Lees Summit Casino cash: $10026331	I can tell you the worst.... 5th grade (maybe 6th?) My mom pulls me out of school. We drive to Oklahoma City in an old Ford Ranger to pick up her aunt... ...and then drive to Maine and back. I ride in the back under the old camper (just the shell-type) the whole time. No radio, no one to talk to, just some books (which 5th graders love for long trips!), the sound of the wind through the cracks, and a matress laid down between me and the metal bed. __________________ "And I don't wish that girl any bad luck," he said, "but I hope she gets hit with a car." - Tommy Lasorda
Posts: 18,295

05-22-2009, 02:11 PM	#59
seclark MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: nemo Casino cash: $1709900	"we've driven through three states so far...knock on that back window a few times to check on sully." sec __________________ "Mr. seclark. Wrong for gravy, wrong for jelly, wrong for biscuits." -rj "If every Planeteer who was disliked by another Planeteer stopped being a Planeteer we wouldn't have any Planeteers." -rj
Posts: 13,399

05-22-2009, 02:12 PM	#60
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $10369900 VARSITY	Our annual trip to the south of France and Spain. The drive sucked, though. __________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
Posts: 180,683