Gen X Spring Break: Bologna Sandwiches and Conversion Vans

Spring break is everywhere right now. College students tanning on Florida beaches, parents traveling to the "happiest place on Earth" for a week that will prove to be anything but, and everyone following a school calendar awaiting a week of R&R someplace other than home.

For me, it gets me thinking about our vacations as a kid. And let me tell you—our spring break looked a little different. Maybe it did for you too if you were growing up in the '80s or '90s.

We Didn't Do Spring Break

First of all, we never took trips during spring break. My parents didn't have that kind of money, and it seemed like only the "privileged" got to do something like that. I took my first airplane trip when I was in 5th or 6th grade, thanks to my aunt and uncle's generosity. But trips like that were a rarity in my world.

The Annual Two-Week Road Trip

Our greatest trips looked almost exactly the same every year. They were always two weeks in the summer. You might think, wow, two weeks—that's awesome! Well, they had to be, because we were driving... a lot of driving.

We'd leave our home in the Chicago suburbs—sometimes in a caravan of cars with my aunt, uncle, and cousins—on our way across the Midwest to glamorous western Pennsylvania.

Along the way, one of our go-to stops was Bob Evans (I had to look it up—yes, they still exist along the Interstate!). We'd fill ourselves with biscuits and gravy as sustenance for the 9-hour drive across the most boring route known to a small child.

Now remember, this was before screens and iPhones. Our only entertainment was the radio, maybe a highway game or two (license plate game, anyone?), or coloring or reading a book. We always seemed to have a car a bit too small for three children in the backseat for that long.

But every once in a while, my cousin would let us borrow his... conversion van. Remember those? Captain's chairs and a full couch in the back. There was no need for seatbelts in those days, so we'd sprawl across the floor or toss balls to one another—only to have my mom yell at us for "distracting your father's driving."

The Truck Stop Fascination

I yearned for the next truck stop, which I thought were fascinating. They not only had a place to finally go to the bathroom (my dad never wanted to stop), but my favorites had cafeteria-style eating facilities.

Because we weren't always well-financed for these trips, I could only look from afar at the silver shelves lined with little bowls of Jell-O or pudding that people would slide onto their plastic trays. We, on the other hand, would be eating bologna and cheese sandwiches on white bread... in the car.

Destination #1: The Appalachian Mountains

Once we made it to our first destination, we'd stay with my grandparents who lived on top of the Appalachian Mountains. And I'm not kidding when I say on top. We'd literally have to go up 45-degree roads to get there.

My dad's parents had been old since I knew them—my dad was the youngest of a large family. My "grand-pap" had been a coal miner in the Pennsylvania/West Virginia hills.

Our trips to see my grandparents were definitely not Disney trips. We got to sleep in the travel trailer parked in the front yard. Trips to the creek were our beach equivalents. Needless to say, these trips weren't designed to entertain us as children—we were just there.

My sister and I still remind each other of these trips that remain in our memories but are hard to explain to others. You had to be there to understand.

Destination #2: Lake Winnipesaukee

Usually, we'd continue our venture by driving another 10 or so hours to visit my mom's parents outside Boston. This was something we actually looked forward to because we'd usually end up at my uncle's cabin on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire.

We have plenty of great memories: going to Weirs Beach and playing in the arcades, boat rides with water skiing and tubing (I was bad at both!), and meeting other kids on their "family" vacations at the lake.

I can still remember the smell and cool feel of Noxzema all over my sunburned body. (Three redheaded little girls—that was a lot of Noxzema!) I loved this part of the trip and looked forward to it every year. I'd be trying to sleep through the pain of hotness all over but would be grinning as I heard the adults still up playing spoons and laughing.

Those were good memories.

The Long Journey Home

But just as we were settling into this relaxed and fun environment, it was time to leave. We now had a 16+ hour return trip across six states to make it back home.

So, we'd pack back up, get the sandwiches ready, and uncomfortably sit thigh-to-thigh in that backseat to make the trek. We were usually exhausted by this time and would sleep leaned against one another. (Or one of us would lay on the floorboards at our feet—oh, the days of no seatbelts!)

Gen X Vacations: The Good, The Bad, The Unforgettable

I have to say, my children will never have these types of memories because I made it pretty clear to my husband that I'm not on board for any road trips over a few hours long (unless it includes stays at luxury resorts along the way!).

These trips are fundamental memories of my childhood, and they come with the good and not-so-good memories too. But do they make for good stories? Absolutely.

Will I ever forget my cousin mooning us from their car along Highway 90? Absolutely not.

So, enjoy your spring break this year—wherever you're headed and however you're getting there. And maybe fill up on gas now before it gets too expensive!

(This one is dedicated to my sister - we survived sleeping in the 'pregnant' room together!)