Wanting to show me and my brothers as much of the world as they could, my parents took us on many trips and vacations.
Besides visiting historical sites and museums, we also explored many natural wonders and just enjoyed the great outdoors.
I got to trek through mountains, wade through grasslands, slide down sand dunes, explore caverns, and swim in the sea. I loved it. These experiences nurtured my love for the natural world, as well as a love for camping and hiking.
DAY & WEEKEND TRIPS
Most day and weekend trips took place in my home state of New Jersey, neighboring Pennsylvania, and The City (aka. New York City).
NEW JERSEY
We were no strangers to The Shore. We’d also go to the Spruce Run Reservoir for a swim, which always required stopping at a Stewart’s for a root beer on the way home.
There were weekend camping trips at the Delware Water Gap and the biggest historical site I remember touring was the Thomas Edison National Historical Park.
As far as amusement parks go, obviously we went to Six Flags Great Adventure. I remember their drive-through Wildlike Park and watching monkeys rip the weather stripping off of some guys car. But hey, that’s Jersey monkeys for ya. Lol.
We also get street cred for surviving a visit to the once infamous Action Park. Their wave pool was super scary.
PENNSYLVANIA
In Philadelphia, we enjoyed sumptuous cheese steaks while visiting the Franklin Institute, Declaration of Independence, Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, and the Philadelphia Zoo.
We’d also go to Lancaster to experience the Amish Attractions and visit relatives who lived near Lake Erie.
We even made a couple annual pilgrimages, with my Polish grandparents, to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, in Doylestown, for the Polish American Family Festival & Country Fair. The potato pancakes were so amazing, it was worth the obligatory Mass we’d have to sit through.
A lesser known PA attraction that I truly loved as a kid was Sesame Place, a Sesame Street-themed amusement park. We visited often. I remember it fondly.
NEW YORK CITY (aka. The City)
We made a couple trips into The City. One trip was to the American Museum of Natural History, another was to the Bronx Zoo.
The third trip was during the holidays. We toured the holiday window displays, lunched at Carnegie Deli, and saw the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes that evening.
During that third trip to The City, I remember seeing a bright neon sign for “Chop Suey Louie’s Lychee Lounge”. Try saying that five times fast.
FAMILY VACATIONS
Now, most family vacations involved long drives in a big station wagon, sleeping in a second-hand pop-up camper, campgrounds, and eating canned meals – like SpaghettiOs.
To The North
We visited Mystic Seaport in Connecticut and in Massachusetts, Cambridge, Provincetown, Boston, and Cape Cod.
In Boston, we followed the Freedom Trail, paid our respects at the Granary Burying Ground and toured the Paulk Revere House.
In Cape Cod, I remember collecting shells on the beach, during low tide, and getting sea sick while on a Whale Watching cruise.
In Vermont, we saw Lake Champlain and toured both the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory HQ and the Ben & Jerry’s HQ. In New Hampshire, we drove to the top of Mount Washington and visited Lake Winnipesaukee.
Finally, we crossed into Canada to tour Old Quebec, and along the way visited both sides of Niagara Falls.
To The South
In Baltimore, Maryland we toured Fort McHenry and spent a day at the National Aquarium. I remember how much I loved watching the Beluga Whales.
In North Carolina, we went to Duck and shared a beach house with my uncle’s family for a couple weeks. On that trip, we experienced our first Brew-Thru. The staff there had fun referring to us as the ‘Griswolds from NJ’ due to our station wagon.
In Florida, we visited Disney World and Epcot in Orlando. On our way there, we also stopped to check out South of the Border, a very colorful tourist trap.
To The West
First, we took a trip to South Dakota. The best part was visiting Badlands National Park, whose beautifully-eroded landscape I instantly fell in love with.
We also saw the Mammoth Site, the Crazy Horse Memorial, Mount Rushmore, and Wall Drug – another notable tourist trap.
After I graduated high school in ’93, my parents flew the entire family to Denver, Colorado and rented an RV. It was a special trip, a last big family vacation. First, we visited with old friends of my parents who lived in Denver, while patiently acclimating to the altitude in the Mile High City. Then we hit the road.
We went to the Denver Zoo, the Great Sand Dunes National Park, and the Continental Divide at Wolf Creek Pass.
Then we rode the railroad between Durango and Silverton and toured the amazing Mesa Verde National Park.
Leaving Colorado, we traveled to the Four Corners Monument, We also made sure to visit both Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
Looking back at all this, I’d like to thank my parents for giving me and my brothers such a rich childhood, full of wonderful experiences. It was not easy and I appreciate all the work that went into these trips. A lot of scrimping and saving was done. Considering how difficult it can be now to travel, as a power chair user, makes me appreciate these past experiences all the more. I’m actually ashamed that I took all of this for granted for so long.
-Jen, aka. “Power Chair Dorothy”
Not in Kansas Anymore 