Picture Exchange

One of my most cherished childhood memories is a vacation to the small town of Chautuaqua, New York that my family and I take every year. Every summer I look forward to that nine hour car ride at four in the morning in a car filled with people and luggage. When we arrive, I can’t wait to get out of the car and smell the trees, the lake, and the house. The best part of the trip is spending a week with the family members who live around the ountry, who I don’t get to see at any other time.

            Although the week is short, it is constantly filled with fun trips and activities for all ages. One day is the trip to the mall and the movies, another day is saved for a trip to the local amusement park. Many days throughout the week, art and crafts are created in the backyard shed, and multiple trips are taken to the best ice cream parlor in town. Days are spent fishing from the pier and swimming in the lake, while nights are reserved for sitting on the porch playing games and enjoying the company of our extended family.

            This vacation has been a tradition in my family for decades and will continue to be passed on from generation to generation. This annual vacation is a way for my family and I to stay connected with family members that do not live close enough to meet during the holidays. Personally, I know that the memories I have obtained from these vacations are some of the best and will be with me forever, and I hope that my children will be able to cherish the same experiences and memories that I have through this family tradition.