Take the family to ACE's beach this summer
Posted by: ScottP in West Virginia, Family vacation, ACE Adventure Resort on Mar 9, 2010
Recently I switched from working in the Reservations Office to working in the Marketing Department. I have been assigned various projects. I was working on something today and was brainstorming. I walked around the office and asked everyone for their childhood vacation memory. What was the typical family vacation? What I discovered was there is no set "typical" family vacation.
For my family, it was the trek to the beach. Myrtle Beach. One trip, in particular, rings a bell because we felt like glorified Beverly Hillbillies - only I didn't realize it at the time. It started with our station wagon. There is a running '70s cliche about the white station wagon with the wood paneling. That is exactly what we had. I don't think we wore a seat belt the whole trip as my dad chain smoked Salem lights. This was a very different time with no glimpse of anything remotely politically correct.
On this trip, my grandmother had decided to spring for rooms in a nice hotel. We traditionally had stayed in a Mom and Pop run hotel that we loved and was reasonably priced. This trip, though, grandma wanted to spend her coins on a real hotel. Elevators and bell hops. We thought we were the deal. Until they started unloading our car. We had the typical luggage and some extras. The guy was loading his cart and it filled with our questionable load. An igloo cooler. My brother's ratty blanket he would go nowhere without. A watermelon. Fireworks.
The other memory I carry from this trip is of my father. He had severe heart disease and at that time his medication consisted of a nitroglycerin patch. He sat under an umbrella all day as we frolicked in the water. However, the heat melted the patch to his arm. While under the umbrella, his feet stuck out from underneath. His feet got so sunburned he couldn't wear shoes for days. And when he did wear shoes, it was so uncomfortable he acted like he was walking on shards of glass. It was hilarious. Even sandals hurt. The only shoes he could stand were these turquoise flip flops with a wicker bottom. They had padded straps which made their wear bearable. So he was pale with red feet and turquoise sandals. Good times.
And for us it was ALL about Ripley's Believe It or Not to see the lady with 4 eyeballs. Every brochure featured her. 4 eyeballs. 4 eyeballs. We couldn't get there fast enough. It was amazing. And McDonald's. This was before McD's was everywhere so eating there at the beach was a real treat. I still think they put something in those fries. I can still taste them. I also acquired my most prized childhood possession - my Farrah Fawcett from "Logan's Run" beach towel.
I remember those times so fondly. Swimming all day in the ocean to the point of exhaustion. And the sand that was not your friend in the swimming trunks. The smell of Desitin still reminds me of the ocean. It seems odd the associations we make.
That was years ago and times sure have changed. Everyone is so busy. My 14-year-old niece is busier than I am balancing school, cheerleading and sports. Both parents usually have to work. Quality time, unfortunately, is fleeting.
When I see fathers and sons playing on the giant Blob at ACE's lake, I realize I am seeing memories in the making. These kids are going to have these memories like I have the memories of my Dad's sunburned feet. Seeing a family watch the videos of their rafting trips puts what we do in perspective. I know I sound like I am writing greeting cards but the impact is real. Time together is invaluable because one day it won't be possible.
What is your definition of the typical family vacation? I can tell you that what we do at ACE is anything but typical. Rafting, Zip Line Canopy Tour, paintball. And stay tuned. We have some exciting - and CREATIVE - surprises for the upcoming season. Let the ACE family care for your family. We are not the Waltons but we make a good effort.
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