Some of my favorite childhood memories were that of our family vacations. To the best of my recollection, most of our vacations were either to Florida or Ohio. One year we’d go somewhere in Florida and the next year we’d go to Cincinnati. Florida was quite a bit further away from Indianapolis than Cincinnati, so Cincinnati was more affordable as it was only a couple of hours away. We also didn’t usually stay very long in Cincinnati, but it was always fun! 

Of course Florida was fun too. Well, mostly. Actually I got the worst sunburn of my life in Daytona Beach when I was 13 years old. What can I say? I was young and dumb. I spent the entire first day of that vacation walking up and down the beach in my new bikini. It was my first bikini and I thought I was so cool. Ha! Actually, burnt to a crisp is probably a better description! I was in so much pain that first night. I was fainting and vomiting and probably really should have gone to the ER. Long story short, I spent the rest of the vacation sick in bed. Fun times. Not.

Actually, I have a lot of great memories of our Florida vacations. I remember my mom would always pack sandwiches, chips, and soft drinks in preparation for the long drive. We’d usually got the kind of hotels that had refrigerators in them and my mom would fix meals in her electric skillet that she had brought from home. Of course we ate out at restaurants on occasion, which was always a treat! 

My dad also knew that a hotel with a swimming pool was a top priority. Once we got to Florida a hotel on or near the beach was rare but super cool when we did. We enjoyed swimming regardless if it was at a hotel pool or at the beach. Most of the hotels we stayed at would probably be best described as small inexpensive roadside motels; nothing fancy and nothing expensive.

Some of my favorite memories in Florida were riding the Glass Bottom boat at Silver Springs, watching the Wiki Wachi skiers, going to different beaches, and visiting the Kennedy Space Center.

I especially liked stopping at various points of interest and different rest stops between Indianapolis and Florida. I liked the caves in Kentucky and Tennessee, and the Stuckey’s stores in Georgia and Florida. Stuckey’s had the best taffy and candy! 

So, why Cincinnati?!

Well first, it was just a little over a hundred miles away from Indianapolis, so it was close to home. 

Second, the Cincinnati Reds Baseball Team.

And third, Coney Island!

Coney Island was a wonderful but very old amusement park in Cincinnati. We all enjoyed Coney Island but my dad especially liked going to watch the Cincinnati Reds play ball. So while he took my older brothers with him to the baseball game, my mom, me, and my little brother, Dougie, would go shopping or just hang out at the hotel. Regardless, whatever else we did, the highlight of our trip was always Coney Island! It didn’t really bother me one bit that I didn’t get to go to the baseball games. Now, I do remember being upset when I first heard about Coney Island closing in 1970. I wasn’t upset for long as I soon learned that Kings Island was scheduled to open in 1972, and that it would be twice as large as Coney Island. Although, by the time it opened, I had already graduated from high school and our family vacations were soon becoming a thing of the past.

Looking back, I realize that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful, and vacations don’t have to cost a lot of money to be fun. Spending time together away from home, even in simple accommodations, was fine with me. I was just happy that we got to go on vacations. Even as a child, I sensed that it was a financial strain on my parents to raise six kids and also afford family vacations.  

I also realize I may have not expressed my thankfulness back then to my parents. I suppose when we’re young most of us take a lot of things for granted, and by the time we come to realize this, it’s too late. But, if both of my parents were alive today, I’d tell them how much I love them, and I would thank them for all that they did for me, and for all of the sacrifices they made as parents. I would also tell them that going on our family vacations gave me some of my happiest memories of my childhood. ❤️

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
I Thessalonians 5:18

Here’s a few of our family vacation photos between 1959 and 1971.