The global pandemic of 2020 has interfered with many of our summer vacation plans. While our Instagram-friendly plans may have involved sunny islands and air travel, summer looked a lot different just fifty years ago. The following curation of experiences gives us an insight into what holidays may have been like back in the day.
Beach Days
altanaka/shutterstock: Summers on beaches are the best
Who doesn’t love summers at the beach? The cool waves offer a great respite from the sweltering heat. Beaches have always been a popular summer haunt, and families used to flock to the sands armed with picnic mats and swimsuits.
Pets were not left out of the fun – families used to bring their dogs and cats to the seaside as well.
Once there, children either splashed in the water or spent their time building sandcastles. Teens and young adults would swim or play a variety of sports, including frisbee and volleyball. Men and women would opt to sunbathe and acquire the perfect summer tan.
Road Trips
EpicStockMedia/shutterstock: 70s people enjoyed road trips
Another defining feature of summer vacations is road trips! The best ones were spent travelling in recreational vehicles from the 1970s. These vehicles came equipped with beds, toilets, and even a pantry.
Families would draw out a map and make multiple stops on the way to check out interesting attractions on the way.
Two fixtures of road trips were the games and music. The designated driver would usually get free reign over their choice of music, whereas the parents usually plan a variety of games designed specifically for the road.
The one remembered most fondly is ‘I Spy,’ in which players would take turns to choose a random object outside the vehicle. They would then offer various clues for other players to guess the object.
Picnics
Summer was always incomplete without a good picnic. The weather is just too good to spend indoors, and so many families would cook up a feast and pack it up to enjoy outdoors.
A picnic mat could be spread out on any grassy patch, but most parks made it easier with benches. Beloved picnic snacks include sandwiches, sausage rolls, pies, and cakes.
With the delicious spread laid out, children enjoy a variety of games, including tag and hide and seek.
Camps
anatoliy_gleb/shutterstock: Do you miss camping as a kid?
Summer is not always just fun and games. As children, many were sent to a variety of educational camps to pick up some new skills over the summer.
The most common were band camp, computer camp and theatre camp. In these camps, children would experience a week of fun activities, lessons, and team-building games. These would usually culminate in a performance for which parents were invited.
While summers in the past may not have involved a lot of long-distance travel, it was certainly buckets of fun. The activities contained all the elements we love today – soaking up the sun and spending time with family and friends.
