Casting Around for a Topic
Someone suggested I write something nostalgic today, and that’s a tall order when your life has reached the three‑quarter‑century mark. Most of my memories feel downright vintage now. But that got me thinking about vacations — and how wildly different they are now compared to when I was a kid.
Planning vs. “We’ll Figure It Out”
As an adult, I planned my vacations meticulously. Hotels booked. Airline tickets secured. Rental car reserved. Tours and attractions scheduled before I ever left the house.
Back then? I don’t think we were quite that organized.
The Road Trip Era
One big difference was the road trip. Today we have super‑duper safety seats and booster seats, but “back in the day” we kids just climbed into the back of the station wagon. It became our play area, nap space, and sometimes the dog’s spot too. No seat belts. No rules. Just vibes.
We drove wherever we wanted with no sense of time. Hungry? Look for a restaurant that looked decent. Ready to stop for the night? Watch for Vacancy signs. No Hotels.com. No Trivago. You took your chances.
Growing up in a tourist town, we judged how well the season was going by how many No Vacancy signs were lit up along the strip.
Maps: The Lost Art
I’m still a champion map reader — not just because of vacations, but because my first job had me on the road. No GPS. No turn‑by‑turn voice telling you what to do. You opened a map or a map book and figured it out.
I’m amazed at how many people, especially younger ones, would stay lost forever if they had to read a map. I’ll forgive them if they can’t fold it.
Getting Lost Was Normal
A couple of years ago, I was driving to upstate New York to visit family. I told them I was detouring to a waterfall, but I guess I took too long because my cell phone started ringing — “Where are you?” Back in the day, there were no cell phones, and even when they arrived, there were plenty of dead zones. You could disappear for a whole day and no one would notice.
Getting lost on a road trip was expected. Honestly, sometimes I still set out knowing something is west or north and just head that way. When I was in Tennessee looking for elk on back roads, I had no idea where I was — dead zone, no GPS, no clue. But I had a full tank of gas, so I kept driving. Eventually you’d see something familiar or someone you could ask. And Yes, I did find elk.
And yes, we asked for directions. “A‑yuh, down the road apiece.” “Left at the old firehouse.” “If you get to the light, you’ve gone too far.”
Maybe that’s why I think of travel as an adventure. It keeps me from getting upset when things don’t go exactly as planned. Some of the best things I’ve seen came from being lost.
The Digital Camera Revolution
There are lots more differences now that I think about it — one being the digital camera. Today you can see instantly if you got the shot. No limits from the size of your film roll. No waiting for development.
We always had old rolls of vacation film sitting around because when we got home, we were too broke to get them developed right away. They landed in a junk drawer, lost to time.
Your Turn
Speaking of time — that’s about all I have for today.
How have vacations changed for you since you were a kid? Toss your thoughts in the comments. Lets compare notes.