Memories of family vacations

Seven in a hotel room? No problem!

By Ann Kathleen Boylan

I was the oldest of five growing up. My dad loved vacations. He thought nothing of packing us all in the station wagon and taking a trip. My mother always grumbled because dad planned the trip but she had to do all the packing. Dad also always drove so it was up to mom to keep peace in the car. Not an easy task!

     Dad was also a history buff, so one of our first trips was up to Boston. We saw all the sites, Paul Revere’s House, the Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall, and Bunker Hill. Next stop Plymouth, Massachusetts to see where the Pilgrims landed and their settlement. What a thrill to see a rock with 1692 carved into it! NOT!

      I was probably 14 and my youngest brother was 4, and there were three others in between. I remember a picture of the five of us on a bench in Plymouth. I was holding my youngest brother who was having a fit. Happy family vacation!

     We never camped like most big families because my parents were city folk. Instead we stayed in motels, one room for all 7 of us!

     On the way home Dad drove one hundred miles north to show us Kennebunkport ME, where George H.W. Bush had a summer home. Needless to say the kids were not thrilled. Yet the memory is there, so I guess Dad knew what he was doing.

     Another year we went south to Skyline Drive. Our first stop was in Front Royal, VA. We ate in a great family restaurant and the people were so friendly. We spent the night and went to Luray Caverns the next day. I remember the Caverns as being spectacular. A true natural phenomenon. From there we continued south to Knoxville, TN where my uncle lived.

     Another summer vacation, that I was lucky to escape, was a drive to Disneyworld the year it opened. I was in college by then, and asked to babysit three kids, while the parents went to Germany to visit their daughter, my friend.  

My parents packed up the car and decided to use the roof rack on the car. My dad tied the suitcases down and off they went. They had gone about fifteen miles, and went through the toll booth to get on I-95 south. They heard an unusual sound and looked out to see their luggage opened on the highway. There were shorts, shirts, socks, and underwear sprawled all over. Luckily a policeman helped them retrieve some of the clothes, tire treads and all, and they continued on their way. Both my parents had a good sense of humor and could laugh at some of the crazy things that happened. They made it the rest of the way safely and  Disney was all they thought it would be.

     Meanwhile on the babysitting front, David, one of the boys, slid into second base and broke his leg. He had to be taken by ambulance to the hospital. I was at my summer job and not at the game. Luckily their aunt and uncle lived nearby so they checked him into the hospital and even called his parents.

On second thought, maybe I should have gone on the family vacation!

      When I think back to all those trips I wonder how Dad went back to work afterwards. With only two weeks of vacation, I’m sure he felt like he needed a vacation from vacation.

        My siblings and I have fond memories of those trips. But as a parent myself, with only two children, I don’t know how they did it with five.

       Thanks for all the great memories Mom & Dad!!! You were the best!!

About the author: Ann Kathleen Boylan is a retired elementary school teacher living in Elkton, MD with her husband and cat Carmie. She has two children and one granddaughter. Her philosophy: “Life is good. Retired life is better!”