Favorite American Vacation Destinations

1. America At Leisure (American Memory Project)

The three videos that I watched were, a. the kids on the beach, b. the ball game, c. kids egg rolling.

There is certainly not much that has changed in the behavior of kids over the last 100+ years that I can see, aside from the clothing. The kids at the beach were very excited about being near/in the water. You can see the excitement that they have when they jump up and down. They run from the shore into the water and back out again. The kids encourage the younger ones to join in, even holding their hand and sometimes pulling them into the water. You can see that for these kids it is an experience that they don't have very often.

At the ball game, which to this day is still used as an entertaining sport. People enjoy watching as well as playing in it. For those who play, it is a way that they can get away from their every-day lives and just enjoy the thrill of feeling the bat in your hand connect with a ball being pitched. For those that watch, it's great to encourage the team that you want to win, or encouraging people overall. The thrill that one gets when their team wins is great. It makes you leave the game happy and excited to return in the future.

As for the kids doing the egg rolling, I cringed when I watched some of the little ones get pushed around and run over by the older ones. I seemed to mind it more than the kids themselves did. You can tell that they loved getting that egg. Now, I am just assuming, but it is probably not done that often, considering the kids and their excitement.

2. Disneyland

I believe that the people in the video were truly having the time of their lives. It wasn't just the kids that had the excitement on their faces and enjoying the characters and bands. It is definitely exciting to visit Disneyland, although I have been to Disneyland many many times, there is always some excitement that goes along with it. I have to say there is nothing like going as a child to Disneyland, there is a whole world in front of you that you get to learn about; past, present and future. Just as there is nothing that feels quite the same as showing your kids Disneyland for the first time. See the awe that your child has for the excitement around them.

In some ways, Disneyland has changed, it is very commercial. So much so that it makes me not want to pay the $68/person to go there and get innundated by more shops with more commercial items begging to be purchased. It is so difficult to get past the fact of the cost of Disneyland. Walt Disney would be mortified if he knew how much in fact, we were paying these days, considering he built the parks for the average American family.

In a lot of ways, Disneyland has not changed. Most of the rides are still there. There is still a Main Street where bands play, and each of the lands that you can go to. There is still Space Mountain and Cinderella castle; there is still the teacups that make you throw your head back from spinning so fast.

Disneyland is still that place that can make you smile from thinking of the fun that you had, not only as a kid, but as an adult as well.