Making Memories
Ihave fond memories of family trips growing up. Most years we drove to Wildwood, New Jersey, for a summer vacation. We carried all our beach gear for what felt like a mile down the hot sand to splash in the frigid water of the Atlantic Ocean. I enjoyed ride after ride with my dad on the boardwalk pier and spent hours in the arcades, saving up tickets all week to win some cheap stuffed animal and candy at the end of our stay. It wasn’t a far-off place, but it was always fun. Check out some of the best family beaches to visit in Terry Ward’s beach roundup on page 12.
A few times my parents saved up all year to take us on a big trip where we sometimes got to fly on an airplane … and how exciting that was! We visited Florida and discovered the magic of Walt Disney World, Epcot and Sea World.
Our farthest journey took us to California, where we rented a car and drove along the coast from San Francisco to San Diego and even ventured all the way south to Tijuana for a day just to say we were in Mexico. For your own bucket-list trips, get some great ideas from Kelly Magyarics’ article on page 46.
I also recall visiting Colonial Williamsburg, where we saw actors portray historical characters. There is even a photo of me as an awkward ’tween imprisoned in a pillory, but I opted not to embarrass myself with that one here; instead, you can see someone else’s children having the same enlightening experience today in Barbara Radcliffe Rogers’ article on page 42 about living history experiences.
Whether you’re interested in family cruises, genealogy travel, trips that involve animals or exposing your children to more culture, this issue covers a bit of everything family travel-related. If you need some place to start planning your trip, be sure to read about our Wherever Awards winners on page 6 for the bestof-the-best in family travel options.
I shared my love of travel with my daughter, Alli, and I hope she remembers all the exciting places we went. On our most recent trip to Aruba in March, she snorkeled in crystal-clear blue water, went on fun adventures like driving a Jeep off-road on the desert side of the island, and even won some money on a penny slot machine her first time in a casino. These will become memories of a lifetime. I hope you find this book useful for planning the most memorable trips with your own families.