What are your best vacation memories? Here are some of mine:

1. Sitting by the fire in the parlor of a mansion in Glastonbury, England, having tea and chatting with the lady of the house, feeling like I'm in a Masterpiece Theater movie.

2. Taking a walk in the sprawling countryside behind aforementioned mansion, climbing over fences and feeling like Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Prejudice.

3. Sprinting from one ride to another at Epcot to make sure we do everything there is to be done in one day. And we did, despite being out-of-breath. (Of course, this was pre-kids.)

4. Marveling at the arches upon arches of roses at that garden place on Victoria Island.

Driving to Maine with my family in Dad's new Cadillac which was a '63 hardtop convertible, electric everything, could only get the heat to work not the air. Drove from Montauk NY to Bangor with the windows down and heat on, because Dad said the air should come on any minute. Finally he decided it wasn't working right and hd it looked at....the air finally works. We get to our cabin by the lake...I don't know what lake...somewhere in North Central Maine. My brother and I are amazed by the number of blankets on the beds. The next morning we are awakened by the sound of snow...you know the absolute quiet of snow falling.
Dad fished anyway, we enjoyed our week anyway, but we had no heat in our car all the way to the point we didn't need heat. I think I was about 8-9 years old. And remember eating those sugared jelly orange slices in the car. Dad's been gone 5 years now, we often laughed over this trip, and now it brings fond memories of my DAD.

Thought of another one, my child's first plane ride, he was snoring over the Rockies!!

On Christmas Night, driving into Banff park, around 11 pm, and seeing my first caribou..(huge!)...they weren't even afraid of us, just stood about 15 ft away giving us a "what are YOU looking at" look Then pulling into Banff itself, and seeing my first snow EVER at Christmas time, with the lights sparkling off the snow...driving over that old pretty bridge. Just a few people out, walking around...just quiet, pretty. Felt like I was in "It's a Wonderful Life". Sitting in the gorgeous lobby drinking Rimrocks amazing hot chocolate, and looking out at the mountain...and then the moonlight sleigh ride..full moon.

When I was 15 and went on a band trip to Disney World. Me and my friends, typical silly teenage girls, having a water fight outside the Imagination area...the dancing fountains. By the time we were done, we had drawn a crowd, laughing with us. It was just great...lord, was I ever really that young?

On our honeymoon on the beach in Playacar, a midday storm blew up over the water, and everyone fled the beach. WE sat under our little sun tent, and just cuddled and watched the storm. It was just beautiful.

What unique memories!

I forgot one... Going to Wales and spying a field full of bunnies--there must have been a hundred bunny rabbits in that field, like a herd of buffalo out to pasture. Never seen anything like it...

from my room, looking out onto the square of San Gimignano early in the morning; roaming the streets and alleys of Venice; driving through Tuscany with a hurried car behind us constantly; walking through a snow-covered village in Guarda, Switzerland, just my husband and I, a few sheep, and a local or two...silence personified...so many more...just simple things, but lovely memories.

1. Seeing the Scottish countryside for the first time. (and the roads on the Isle of Skye)

2. My last day in Australia, walking around a beach near Sydney on a hot sunny day with my new friends I had met during my stay there.

3. Icecream from the candy kitchen in Maderia Beach florida.

4. Seeing the elk and a coyote in Rocky Mountain National Park, Denver Colorado.

5. The friendly locals in Aruba.

Venice. Late night, early October.
A light, misty rain falling while we're in the middle of St Mark's Sq swaying to the music of a jazz band playing in the background.

I think smoke is STILL coming out of a certain room at the Hotel Panada.

Traveling thru Germany and Switzerland with my husband and our bags over our shoulders by Eurail. We arrived each night in a new town without a hotel reservation, walked the streets of the town until we found one. Didn't realize until we had kids how precious the freedom to travel like that was. I'll never forget the first time I stepped out of the train station in Interlakken Switzerland and Venice, Italy - the sight of the canal and the hundreds year old buildings along it. Too cool!

Exploring the remains of Pompeii, imagining how quickly the world can change.

Getting off a train in Edinburgh and coming out into the raw March rain, but nevertheless, seeing the Castle looming in the distance and the quaint shops, churches & homes nearby. It rained throughout most of the day there, some sun came through (locals say they have 4 seasons every hour!), but it was magical.

Driving through the Badlands N.P. around midnight as an incredible electrical storm moved through the area.
The lightening illuminated this wonderful spot on the planet in a way I can't do justice to descibe.

Glacier National Park - Everything!

Staying at the opening of a park in Montana dedicated to an Indian Chief "Chewing Blackbones". Sat around a campfire talking with Native Americans as well as some natives from Norway. Amazing.

1. Riding a mule down into the Grand Canyon;

2. The beaches of Cape Cod with my boys

3. My first Class IV white water rapid (outside Banff)

4. The first sight of Havasu Falls in the Grand Canyon; and later scrambling down the steep descent to the base of Mooney Falls holding onto chains secured along the "trail"

5. Hiking the Narrows in Zion by wading upstream while the canyon walls start to get closer together

Most of the national parks have some sort of amazing view that sticks in my mind: the first sight of Yosemite Valley, Bryce Canyon, Crater Lake (how incredibly blue), Olympic NP beaches (being the only ones there on such a wild beach), Avalanche Lake in Glacier NP.

And the best trips to the Jersey shore always included the beach at Island Beach SP and Bubble Gum ice cream at Mrs. Walkers.

My family hiked up a small mountain in Saguaro Park West in Tucson, Arizona a few years ago just as the sun was setting. We watched from the top, surrounded by cactus with no people in sight, listening to the occassional howls of coyotes as a gorgeous sun set over the mountains. It was the most magical time in my life, and my kids (now teenagers) all agree.

1. Disney world with my entire family (25 of us) at O'Hana's for Christmas dinner. Too many laughs and way to loud but great fun.

2. Getting into the wrong rental car at Epcot after a few too many beers at the beer garden. (I was not driving but was leading the pack.) My sides still hurt from laughing so hard.

3. Almost getting sick to my stomach on a crazy carnival ride run by a crazy Italian at Munich's Octoberfest on our honeymoon.

4. Gazing down the Siene at sunset with Notre Dame lit up in pink with the light.

1. Seeing the fields of purple heather in northern Germany (by Bremen) - the Luneberger Heide if I remember correctly.

2. Waiting in one of the many long lines for a ride at DisneyWorld. This was a show that let about 50 people in every 15 minutes. Someone in the line had a beach ball. They hit it up into the air, someone else hit it back, etc. etc. The people in line (including me) kept the beach ball in the air until they let us in and it was more fun than the show!

Isn't it interesting that the best memories are not necessarily the tourist attractions but the little yet surprising things not written about in the travel books--the moments shared with loved ones, the appreciation of unusual beauty, the stirring of all of one's senses, the experience that transports...

Another special memory of mine was when my preschooler was chosen from among the audience to act onstage with Belle in a Beauty and The Beast play at Disney World. Later that week, she was also chosen to dance in the Lion Dance musical. (Unfortunately, neither is on videotape.)

anneofingleside & all ~
First, I'm in total agreement w/you Anne. I'm convinced a funny happening when I was 11 years old is what has made me so fond of travel.
Driving up through the Catskill mountains to get to the Catskill Game Farm, back in 1971. Turquoise chevy 3 seater wagon. Parents, 4 siblings, and my 74 year old grandmother, named Julie. Wagon overheats, while father is finding enough space along side of road to pull us over, the song "Julie, Julie Julie do you love me" comes on the radio. We all sing along together as smoke is billowing out the front end. Just too funny! (Haven't heard that song in years...)
A more recent vacation memory is from last summer. My teenage son, who's always grumbly about planning vacation, but who has a great time once we get him there, was not really psyched about the 2 week southwest vacation we had planned. Just wanted to see Vegas. O.K. Our first stop was Moab. We drove to Dead Horse St. Pk. after we checked into the hotel. We get to the farthest point look-out. Son stands looking out at the Canyonlands & beyond, down at the Colorado river in silence. No one speaks. He turns to me and says "awesome choice, Mom". That ranks right up there w/the Catskill memory.
Thanks for starting this post & have a great day!

1. Walking out of The Lodge at Pebble Beach and standing by the 18th green on a cloudless 65 degree day.
2. Playing golf at the Village course at Kapalua,Mauii.
3. Hiking in the Valley of Fire,Nevada on a cloudless, bright 60 degree day.The blue sky against the orange rocks was incredible, and so was the silence.