As many Danville residents gear up to head out of town for Independence Day, others reflect on vacations past. This week, Roving Reporter Stan Wharton went to a downtown Danville grocery store to ask What is your fondest family vacation memory?
Bob Gates, Produce guy: For ten years, until my kids moved on, my family all got together with my parents, sister and her kids, and brother and his two boys and all go to stay in cabins in the Big Sur campgrounds every first week of August. We had games and activities planned for the whole week, including campfires, hiking, playing kick-the-can all night and going to the beach each day. Though my kids are grown now and have their own kids, we still look forward to a time we can have a reunion there someday.
Jill Toffoli, Office manager: The day school was out we would leave for North Star. We would rent a condo for a week from other Greenbrook parents. We would have the grandparents, kids and the dog. Bicycles would be tied onto our VW van and everything else packed inside. We almost looked like the Clampetts. It only cost us fifty dollars a night. The kids had the pool, game room, tennis courts, and we’d all use the par courts and go cross country hiking. We didn’t have to spend much money. Life was so simple then.
David Hinckley, Teacher: House swapping in Europe with two different families on one vacation in Versailles and London. It was the best vacation, because we were able to stay in peoples homes, cook in their kitchens and use their car. We got to be French one week and English the next.
Julie McMillan, Mom: The hours spent along the beach with my husband, children and other families in Big Sur. The kids looked for shells and played in the water all day. The adults dug holes in the sand and buried the kids, in addition to eating and relaxing.
Jennifer Constantin, Registered nurse: My parents used to own a cabin in Twain Harte, and we would go up there every summer. Although I haven’t been there in about twenty five years, I still miss it. I want my kids to have the same experience as I did, so we are renting a cabin there for two weeks in July. I miss the lake, the concession stands there, walking downtown and especially pee-wee golf.