Follow the Leader: Episode 73: Comic Book Geography!

Martinex1: Hope everybody is having a wonderful May so far! The Summer months and vacation season are upon us.   But what do we have in store for today?  Who knows?  It is up to the leader every Tuesday when a faithful commentator gets a chance to set up a topic!  Take it away...

Two Questions: Your Dream Vacation- Now, and Back Then...

Redartz:  Today we have a two-part 'two question'. Or is it one twin question? Maybe the flip side of the same queston? Ahhhh, fie upon it. To the question/s:


1. Back in the glorious days of our youth, what would have been your dream vacation? And did you ever actually take that trip?

2. What is your dream vacation now?

The Grand Canyon, taken with my trusty GAF Anscomatic

For my answer to question 1, I think back to 1971. My dream trip,as a kid, was to travel out west and see the Grand Canyon. My parents wonderfully fulfilled that trip. They packed my brother, sister and I into the back seat (three siblings in a back seat- probably the biggest headache of such an excursion). A couple day's drive took us to Denver, and we got to visit Rocky Mountain National Park.

Panning for gold in Colorado

 
 Over the next two weeks, we saw Arizona (stopping at Four Corners National Monument- a unique spot formed by the intersection of four states: Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico). We spent a couple days at the Grand Canyon- a staggering sight for anyone, let alone a ten-year-old from the cornfields of Indiana. 

Granted, a lot of time was spent in the car, but the scenery was spectacular. High desert, mesas, distant horizons. And, Mom and Dad were foresighted enough to provide books (including some Comic digests). The last few days were spent at a family campground along the Meramec River in Missouri. Quite the adventure; it was an incredible experience. An experience, by the way, I'd like to repeat as an adult (yes, I'd take a burro ride down the Canyon; my wife is less inclined to do so). So my youthful dream vacation was made very real.

For question 2:  A tough call. Many are the places, globally, I'd dearly love to see. England. Japan. Egypt. Austria. Oh, the list is long. But if I could only take one big trip, it would have to be an east coast visit: New York / Washington DC.  Since I was young, I have wanted to visit the Big Apple and see the sights so frequently referenced in those beloved Marvel comics. And so much more: the museums, Broadway, Ellis Island. And while out east, a few days in DC would be wonderful as well. A vast amount of history concentrated in a fairly localized area; again, more museums, monuments, and so on. So yes, on my 'bucket list', you'll find this trip listed prominently. 

Okay, everyone; your turn to share. What 'fantastic voyages' did you imagine, or actually take, in your youth? And where would you go now? Oh, and if your dream is New York, let me know- maybe we can get a group rate...