Remember When?
Aug 5th, 2003, 11:38 AM
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Remember When?
Most of us here have been travelling for quite a number of years and have been to a number of different destinations. I realize that places change over time, but sometimes it is so hard to see a place I once considered paradise on earth become so commercialized!
For instance, when I first went to Maui, most people only stayed on Oahu. There were only 3 major roads, most of the island was completely inaccessible, and there was no such thing as traffic. I visited Cancun before anyone knew there was such a place, and had to point it out to people on a map. It was far more "lazy" and the "Spring Breakers" had yet to even realize there was such a place. When I visited Rosarito Beach in Baja it was a sleepy little Mexican village that most people by-passed hurriedly on their way to Ensenada. The two virtually closed up on Wednesdays.
Now, I understand Maui is almost non-stop traffic (when I took the road to Hana, the only "traffic" was navigating around the trash truck), Lanai is no longer a mystical island to be viewed from one's hotel room, and it has become overrun with tourists.
Cancun, from what I hear, is simply an "Americanized" version of any other beach city where there are more American chain restaurants than the quaint little bars and restaurants I remember.
Rosarito has simply become the place that teens and 20-somethings go to act like animals - shooting off firecrackers in hotels, puking whenever/wherever the need arises, and generally just a commercialized dump.
Anyone else have any places they can "remember when"?
For instance, when I first went to Maui, most people only stayed on Oahu. There were only 3 major roads, most of the island was completely inaccessible, and there was no such thing as traffic. I visited Cancun before anyone knew there was such a place, and had to point it out to people on a map. It was far more "lazy" and the "Spring Breakers" had yet to even realize there was such a place. When I visited Rosarito Beach in Baja it was a sleepy little Mexican village that most people by-passed hurriedly on their way to Ensenada. The two virtually closed up on Wednesdays.
Now, I understand Maui is almost non-stop traffic (when I took the road to Hana, the only "traffic" was navigating around the trash truck), Lanai is no longer a mystical island to be viewed from one's hotel room, and it has become overrun with tourists.
Cancun, from what I hear, is simply an "Americanized" version of any other beach city where there are more American chain restaurants than the quaint little bars and restaurants I remember.
Rosarito has simply become the place that teens and 20-somethings go to act like animals - shooting off firecrackers in hotels, puking whenever/wherever the need arises, and generally just a commercialized dump.
Anyone else have any places they can "remember when"?
Aug 5th, 2003, 11:48 AM
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I remember visiting places like Cancun, Aruba, Maui and the Gulf Coast of Florida more than 20 years ago before they became 'damaged' by commercialism.
I can't imagine visiting Cancun today. Was last in Aruba 12 years ago and would never consider going back.
There are still quite a few places which are very unspoiled and uncommercialized--but you pay quite a bit for this these days. A few shrewd owners/investors have figured out that once commercialism taints an area, a critical threshold has been irreversibly crossed. There are many great private islands and secluded non-private islands around the world, some which are still reasonably priced.
I can't imagine visiting Cancun today. Was last in Aruba 12 years ago and would never consider going back.
There are still quite a few places which are very unspoiled and uncommercialized--but you pay quite a bit for this these days. A few shrewd owners/investors have figured out that once commercialism taints an area, a critical threshold has been irreversibly crossed. There are many great private islands and secluded non-private islands around the world, some which are still reasonably priced.
Aug 5th, 2003, 11:49 AM
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Chele60 - great thread - the answer is yes, yes, yes!
I first went to Maui as a kid in 1966 - it was a beautiful, fantasy-like island, as your said, with few roads, no traffic, only two (!) hotels on Kannapali Beach. Last time I was there, in 1991, I almost couldn't bear it - the people, traffic, malls, etc.
Another place is Cabo San Lucas where I first went in 1978. The town was very small with dirt roads and the main entertainment was children playing hoops in the town square. The only luxury hotels were the ones on the road from San Jose to Cabo and there were only about three of them it seemed. From what I have read and heard, I will never go back - want to remember it as it was.
also, when I was a kid in the 1960s, used to spend summers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It was a real Wild West sort of place to me and now I hear it's a yuppie haven!
I first went to Maui as a kid in 1966 - it was a beautiful, fantasy-like island, as your said, with few roads, no traffic, only two (!) hotels on Kannapali Beach. Last time I was there, in 1991, I almost couldn't bear it - the people, traffic, malls, etc.
Another place is Cabo San Lucas where I first went in 1978. The town was very small with dirt roads and the main entertainment was children playing hoops in the town square. The only luxury hotels were the ones on the road from San Jose to Cabo and there were only about three of them it seemed. From what I have read and heard, I will never go back - want to remember it as it was.
also, when I was a kid in the 1960s, used to spend summers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It was a real Wild West sort of place to me and now I hear it's a yuppie haven!
Aug 5th, 2003, 01:25 PM
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Population has grown, people are much more affluent, travel isn't only for the adventurous or wealthy any longer.
Travel to places that do not allow change such as Charleston, SC, Galapagos Islands, parts of the Amazon, Machu Picchu, any of the World Unesco sites or National Historic Trust sites.
Travel to places that do not allow change such as Charleston, SC, Galapagos Islands, parts of the Amazon, Machu Picchu, any of the World Unesco sites or National Historic Trust sites.
Aug 5th, 2003, 01:51 PM
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One of my fondest childhood memories was camping on the beach at Rocky Point in Mexico, on the Gulf of California. There was no development. There were no houses or stores. There wasn't even a campground or any facilities at all.
Our family, and two other families of friends lay our sleeping bags out under the stars. We brought in our own water; brought out our own waste. We awoke to dolphins leaping through the water; lifted huge boulders of pumice that floated on the water; waded far out in the water; looked for sea life in the tide pools; and after nightfall, watched the shooting stars, too many to count.
Now, Puerto Pinasco, which was a sleepy Mexican town just across the water from Rocky Point, is a major tourist attraction, full of resorts, and I imagine Rocky Point is built up just the same. And light pollution obscures the stars in many parts of the earth.
This is the flip side, Gotravel. Now, Puerto Pinasco is for the rich to enjoy.
Our family, and two other families of friends lay our sleeping bags out under the stars. We brought in our own water; brought out our own waste. We awoke to dolphins leaping through the water; lifted huge boulders of pumice that floated on the water; waded far out in the water; looked for sea life in the tide pools; and after nightfall, watched the shooting stars, too many to count.
Now, Puerto Pinasco, which was a sleepy Mexican town just across the water from Rocky Point, is a major tourist attraction, full of resorts, and I imagine Rocky Point is built up just the same. And light pollution obscures the stars in many parts of the earth.
This is the flip side, Gotravel. Now, Puerto Pinasco is for the rich to enjoy.
Aug 5th, 2003, 02:23 PM
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Key West! Our daughter moved down there after college in '77, so we've been going down for a long time. Some of the changes were good, but a lot of them are not. It's lost it quaintness of 'back then' to too much commercialism now. Way too many T shirt shops.
Some of the good things were the fixing up of the wonderful Victorian style homes there.
Some of the good things were the fixing up of the wonderful Victorian style homes there.
Aug 5th, 2003, 03:11 PM
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This is why I'm hesitant to return to some of the little hideaways I enjoyed 8 or 9 years ago. I don't want to taint the wonderful memories.
On the other hand, there are places that I find more enjoyable now vs. 12 years ago, such as China. It's so much easier to get around now and more comfortable accomodations are available.
On the other hand, there are places that I find more enjoyable now vs. 12 years ago, such as China. It's so much easier to get around now and more comfortable accomodations are available.
Aug 5th, 2003, 03:55 PM
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Destin in 1974--a few little places. "Our spot", a Mom & Pop operation called Murmuring Surf, had cinder block walls, concrete floors, and no AC. It would be scoffed off the beach now but it was terrific then, run by friendly husband and wife team, a GA Tech engineer who had given up the corporate world for the beach...and an eventual gold mine in property values as well!! There were a couple of condos beginning in the distance, but we could drive around sans traffic jams and had the beach to ourselves. Capt Daves was the best there was and there was no wait.
Seaside, FL 1985 or 1986. There was a post office, a gazebo, a restaurant, three houses and a very upscale tented shopping area along the side of the road. Serendipity. We just happened onto it driving from Panama City back to Destin and felt like we'd floated into someone's dream. To me having seen it that way, it just looks over done now, over the top, too much of a good thing.
Bonita Beach, FL circa 1972...no mega homes, no high rise condos, just quaint little one and two story motels and small stilt homes on the canals. The last of the old places, Beach House, gave it up last year and when we there, huge pilings forecast the start of something else "big".
In danger of " old FL extinction" currently in this area: Anna Maria Island, and Treasure Island.
Seaside, FL 1985 or 1986. There was a post office, a gazebo, a restaurant, three houses and a very upscale tented shopping area along the side of the road. Serendipity. We just happened onto it driving from Panama City back to Destin and felt like we'd floated into someone's dream. To me having seen it that way, it just looks over done now, over the top, too much of a good thing.
Bonita Beach, FL circa 1972...no mega homes, no high rise condos, just quaint little one and two story motels and small stilt homes on the canals. The last of the old places, Beach House, gave it up last year and when we there, huge pilings forecast the start of something else "big".
In danger of " old FL extinction" currently in this area: Anna Maria Island, and Treasure Island.
Aug 5th, 2003, 04:01 PM
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Gyppielou we were there last November and could hardly believe the extent of development from our previous vist, 2 years prior to that.
We'd hiked our first visit using a book of local trails. I left the book with our s-i-l and daughter in Phoenix and when they went to find one of the trailheads the nest year, it was smack in the middle of a new subdivision, and the trail was gone.
We'd hiked our first visit using a book of local trails. I left the book with our s-i-l and daughter in Phoenix and when they went to find one of the trailheads the nest year, it was smack in the middle of a new subdivision, and the trail was gone.
Aug 5th, 2003, 04:04 PM
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Pensacola, and Pensacola Beach haven't changed much since I lived there 1974-1978. Unfortunately, there is less business in downtown Pensacola now then there was back when the Navy base was fully operational.
Aug 5th, 2003, 04:10 PM
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OliveOyl, my opinion the same about the Panhandle. I remember when it was called the "redneck riviera" and people laughed at you if you told them you were going there. In the '80s a lot at Seaside cost $125K, even then an astronomical sum, but nothing compared to the real estate prices now. Hardly a house at Seaside that they're not asking a million for these days! I still love going down there, though, even with it being built up. So many wonderful family memories are tied up there.
Friends of ours just bought a beachfront home in Pass-a-grille, not far south from Treasure Island. They're working very hard in that town to keep the old Florida character, I'm glad to say. I hated it when "our" vintage Seagrove Beach cottage was torn down in the name of progress, and glad other communities in Florida are taking steps to stave off so-called progress.
Friends of ours just bought a beachfront home in Pass-a-grille, not far south from Treasure Island. They're working very hard in that town to keep the old Florida character, I'm glad to say. I hated it when "our" vintage Seagrove Beach cottage was torn down in the name of progress, and glad other communities in Florida are taking steps to stave off so-called progress.
Aug 5th, 2003, 04:10 PM
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1950's
Any one remember the Sails Motel in St. Pete FA with Mr/Mrs Latta, The Cherokee Dude Ranch in Livermore CO with Herb and Minnie Ford, or The Pines with Stan Chilicote? Any one travel with friends/family in two cars, and have flash card to communicate hungry, gas, motel, walk, etc. And Burma Shave signs?
Mountain wilderness without trash or grafitie......
Any one remember the Sails Motel in St. Pete FA with Mr/Mrs Latta, The Cherokee Dude Ranch in Livermore CO with Herb and Minnie Ford, or The Pines with Stan Chilicote? Any one travel with friends/family in two cars, and have flash card to communicate hungry, gas, motel, walk, etc. And Burma Shave signs?
Mountain wilderness without trash or grafitie......
Aug 5th, 2003, 06:24 PM
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dln...So far so good with Pass-a-Grille and Treasure Island might escape it too, but I worry more about that area. I was mentioning to a realtor this weekend how terrific it was that Pass-a-Grille hadn't gone the huge house route that Tierra Verde is starting and she remarked that there had been a couple even in Pass-a-Grille...I haven't seen them though and hope she was wrong. The cottages there are wonderful--your friends have bought into a terrific area.
