I grew up in New York City, the child of refugees who had fled Hitler's Germany. My father wanted to see this country and each year from 1950-1959 the family took a four week road trip to various national parks throughout the American west and western Canada. My father loved the mountains and said everyone should visit these spectacular places to be reminded of how insignificant we humans are. For a number of these years we returned each August to a small dude ranch in Rocky Mountain Ntl. Park (yes there were two privately owned hotels in the park just outside Estes Park) and there I met the same friends year after year. They were from Chicago and St. Louis, from Texas and other parts of the country. What memories of playing games and reading in the car, stopping at motels and restaurants in towns along the blue highways, of time with my father who was busy most other times of the year. My mother who, by the way, was the one who packed the trunk and did much of the driving, was often tired at the end of the trip, but to this day we reminisce about the experiences we had. My mother is still alive at 95 and she with my sister and I can still recall these extraordinary vacations.

Posted by Carol Einhorn, Saturday July 26th, 2008 @ 3:35 pm

Thank You for the wonderful episode, The American Road Trip. I really reflected on the trips I took with my little brothers and my mother to Montana. 12 hrs both ways in the car and yet I have such fond memories.

Also, I enjoyed Bill Allred's 350 Words or less. It is fun to hear about other people's childhood experiences.

Thank You,

H

Posted by H Cederlof, Thursday July 31st, 2008 @ 4:20 pm