Showing the "Fam" where I came from
July 17, 2009 7:57 AM Subscribe
Next week I am taking my family to my hometown - the place where I was born and raised - for the first time. If you were in this situation, what things and/or places that you would want to show them?
My wife and I have been married for 18 years, and we have three kids - 17, 14, and 12 years old. I only have two days in which to show them all of the things and/or places that helped shape me during my childhood.
I'm not looking for tourist-y types of places, but rather places that resound more on a personal level. So I guess what I'm asking here is if you were in my shoes, what are some "have-to" places you would want to show your family?
P.S. - assume visiting family is not an issue.
My wife and I have been married for 18 years, and we have three kids - 17, 14, and 12 years old. I only have two days in which to show them all of the things and/or places that helped shape me during my childhood.
I'm not looking for tourist-y types of places, but rather places that resound more on a personal level. So I guess what I'm asking here is if you were in my shoes, what are some "have-to" places you would want to show your family?
P.S. - assume visiting family is not an issue.
Did you have a favorite restaurant that still might be there?
Also, your old house, the houses of your best friends, your old schools, maybe hangout places.
There was an old Indian cemetery near my house that my friends and I used to ride our bikes to - if I had kids, I'd show them stuff like that.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:01 AM on July 17, 2009
Also, your old house, the houses of your best friends, your old schools, maybe hangout places.
There was an old Indian cemetery near my house that my friends and I used to ride our bikes to - if I had kids, I'd show them stuff like that.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:01 AM on July 17, 2009
Go eat some weird local specialty. One of the things I remember best about my wife's hometown was her taking me to have a flat hot dog.
posted by fiercecupcake at 8:08 AM on July 17, 2009
posted by fiercecupcake at 8:08 AM on July 17, 2009
Mix a couple "touristy" things with personal things: where you used to ride your bike, where you bought candy and toys, even if there's different buildings there now, the house you grew up in.
posted by notsnot at 8:08 AM on July 17, 2009
posted by notsnot at 8:08 AM on July 17, 2009
My father did this a number of times to us on trips to Philly and family vacations. My brother and I were both younger than your youngest when we did the nostalgia tours, but a couple of things that made it bearable for us:
-Stops were short. We'd drive around for a half hour or so trying to find the apartment my dad lived in, stop for a couple of minutes for him to take it all in, and then we were off again.
-Food. The cheesesteak shop in Philly that he would go to as a student and the burger joint in Niagara Falls were great detours, especially because the food was a good distraction.
-It was always coupled with another activity. We were in Niagara Falls for vacation, so why not take half a day to indulge dad? If were in the area when going into Philly for whatever, we could take an extra half hour to walk through Penn's campus or go out of our way for lunch where he used to eat.
This was really all for my father's benefit. It was mildly interesting for us, but we were little kids and got antsy pretty quickly. My mother hated going on these nostalgic detours.
If I had to bring my girlfriend back to Jersey, I'd probably show off the subdevelopment we lived in (they're unusual around Boston), drive by the high school, and maybe go to the airport where I worked. We'd probably have to eat in a diner and at least drive around a mall since no one else in the country seems to know how to do either of those correctly.
posted by backseatpilot at 8:13 AM on July 17, 2009
-Stops were short. We'd drive around for a half hour or so trying to find the apartment my dad lived in, stop for a couple of minutes for him to take it all in, and then we were off again.
-Food. The cheesesteak shop in Philly that he would go to as a student and the burger joint in Niagara Falls were great detours, especially because the food was a good distraction.
-It was always coupled with another activity. We were in Niagara Falls for vacation, so why not take half a day to indulge dad? If were in the area when going into Philly for whatever, we could take an extra half hour to walk through Penn's campus or go out of our way for lunch where he used to eat.
This was really all for my father's benefit. It was mildly interesting for us, but we were little kids and got antsy pretty quickly. My mother hated going on these nostalgic detours.
If I had to bring my girlfriend back to Jersey, I'd probably show off the subdevelopment we lived in (they're unusual around Boston), drive by the high school, and maybe go to the airport where I worked. We'd probably have to eat in a diner and at least drive around a mall since no one else in the country seems to know how to do either of those correctly.
posted by backseatpilot at 8:13 AM on July 17, 2009
even if there's different buildings there now, the house you grew up in
Yes, sometimes it's more interesting to hear descriptions about how things used to be and compare them to the present day than it is to see things that are the same as they were back then. So don't be afraid to go to places that are extremely different now and talk about what used to be there.
posted by burnmp3s at 8:25 AM on July 17, 2009
Yes, sometimes it's more interesting to hear descriptions about how things used to be and compare them to the present day than it is to see things that are the same as they were back then. So don't be afraid to go to places that are extremely different now and talk about what used to be there.
posted by burnmp3s at 8:25 AM on July 17, 2009
Best answer: I grew up in the country. I took my kids to the secluded swimming creek where me and my brothers used to skinny-dip. That water was so cold. My one-room school that is now a residence where we used to catch frogs and try to catch squirrels during recess. To the cemetery where their grandparents were buried. To the restored 5 & 10 cent store that Sam Walton ran before Walmart. And to my old High School that is still in use along with a tour inside. They actually loved seeing the places of my youth. They were teenagers when I took them there. One son recently made a solo trip back there and retraced all the places that I had taken them.
posted by JayRwv at 8:27 AM on July 17, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by JayRwv at 8:27 AM on July 17, 2009 [2 favorites]
Where did you learn to drive? Where was your first kiss? Where was your prom held (if not at the school)?
posted by knile at 8:47 AM on July 17, 2009
posted by knile at 8:47 AM on July 17, 2009
Best answer: During the holidays last year when we were visiting my husband's family in NYC, we did a massive walking tour where he showed me everything that helped shape him from the day of his birth up to his high school graduation. It was SO much fun and I learned so much about him that I had never known. We saw everything from his old preschool to the sculpture in the park that he and his friends used to pretend was a spaceship to the restaurant where he and his mom had lunch every Monday when he was young, and he shared fun little anecdotes for every place we stopped. His old neighborhoods have changed so much since then, and I found the whole thing to be a fascinating mini history lesson.
I'd say don't miss:
- the house(s) you lived in
- your old schools and first job(s)
- favorite eateries or those you went to regularly (Mrs. Stahl's knishes in Brighton Beach is now a Subway—tragic)
- any special place where you used to spend hours and hours of your childhood, wherever that may be
- somewhere you got in a shitload of trouble as a kid
It's understandable that your kids and wife may get antsy at times, so keep the stops brief and make sure to have at least a couple interesting stories or historical perspectives behind each one, as opposed to just saying "Here's my old house," and expecting them to be as moved as you are.
Have a great trip!
posted by anderjen at 8:59 AM on July 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
I'd say don't miss:
- the house(s) you lived in
- your old schools and first job(s)
- favorite eateries or those you went to regularly (Mrs. Stahl's knishes in Brighton Beach is now a Subway—tragic)
- any special place where you used to spend hours and hours of your childhood, wherever that may be
- somewhere you got in a shitload of trouble as a kid
It's understandable that your kids and wife may get antsy at times, so keep the stops brief and make sure to have at least a couple interesting stories or historical perspectives behind each one, as opposed to just saying "Here's my old house," and expecting them to be as moved as you are.
Have a great trip!
posted by anderjen at 8:59 AM on July 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
I would take my hypothetical children to places I have stories about.
I'd take them to the cafe in my neighborhood which used to be the corner store, and I'd tell them about how when I was little, it was unairconditioned and you coud buy pickled pig's knuckles and pickled eggs along with your bubble gum.
I'd take them to the wave pool at the local waterpark, and I'd show them that the waterpark is named after their great grandfather, because it was his idea to build the first wave pool in America right there in Decatur, Alabama.
I'd take them to my grade school, which is now the hospice, and show them how I used to walk the one block every day after school to my parents office down the street, and how my dad would be standing in his office window on the second floor, watching for my sister and me to come down the block, and waving.
I'd take them to Bank Street, and show them where I played hooky from Sunday School, and take them into the gift shop that was my parents office when I was very very little and show them how I used to crawl up the stairs.
I'd take them to my parents home, and show them the tree branches we used to ride like horses, and the secret tea-house in my neighbor's back yard, and the mysterious room over the garage.
I'd show them everything.
posted by ocherdraco at 9:05 AM on July 17, 2009
I'd take them to the cafe in my neighborhood which used to be the corner store, and I'd tell them about how when I was little, it was unairconditioned and you coud buy pickled pig's knuckles and pickled eggs along with your bubble gum.
I'd take them to the wave pool at the local waterpark, and I'd show them that the waterpark is named after their great grandfather, because it was his idea to build the first wave pool in America right there in Decatur, Alabama.
I'd take them to my grade school, which is now the hospice, and show them how I used to walk the one block every day after school to my parents office down the street, and how my dad would be standing in his office window on the second floor, watching for my sister and me to come down the block, and waving.
I'd take them to Bank Street, and show them where I played hooky from Sunday School, and take them into the gift shop that was my parents office when I was very very little and show them how I used to crawl up the stairs.
I'd take them to my parents home, and show them the tree branches we used to ride like horses, and the secret tea-house in my neighbor's back yard, and the mysterious room over the garage.
I'd show them everything.
posted by ocherdraco at 9:05 AM on July 17, 2009
If you can, bring along some photos of how things were when you lived there to compare to today's view. I am always amazed by how the trees have grown. There's now a cyclone fence around the (now private) primary school I went to - a big comment on the times.
posted by jgirl at 9:11 AM on July 17, 2009
posted by jgirl at 9:11 AM on July 17, 2009
Yep, food, schools, and the houses you've lived in. If you're lucky, someone will be home and might let you in. But that also might be weird.
I also think once you get there you'll be reminded of other places you want them to see. One memory will lead to another.
posted by sugarfish at 9:13 AM on July 17, 2009
I also think once you get there you'll be reminded of other places you want them to see. One memory will lead to another.
posted by sugarfish at 9:13 AM on July 17, 2009
When I was younger I loved going to the little restaurant my parents used to go to every Saturday when they were in college. Eating and watching people, trying to imagine my parents at age 19 in the next booth. Stores were equally fun (for instance, the Asian import store my mom used to go to with her mom as a kid).
I was pretty bored when we had to spend a long time at more passive things like visiting schools and old houses--even fairly interesting sites like the little house where my grandfather was born. Unless! Unless there's a story you've told a million times--a good one--and you can point to a particular room or part of the building to say, "Remember when I told you about the creepy statue in my school's library?" That would be cool.
So, I'd stick with drive-bys or at least very very quick stops for the passive stuff ("This is my high school" or "This was my childhood house") and spend longer on interactive places.
When someone is showing me around his or her hometown, I like to see:
- family home and neighborhood
- schools
- religious organization they were involved with
- where they worked on summer breaks
- favorite restaurant or after-school hangout
- routes through town (how they got to school or to friends' houses)
posted by Meg_Murry at 9:42 AM on July 17, 2009
I was pretty bored when we had to spend a long time at more passive things like visiting schools and old houses--even fairly interesting sites like the little house where my grandfather was born. Unless! Unless there's a story you've told a million times--a good one--and you can point to a particular room or part of the building to say, "Remember when I told you about the creepy statue in my school's library?" That would be cool.
So, I'd stick with drive-bys or at least very very quick stops for the passive stuff ("This is my high school" or "This was my childhood house") and spend longer on interactive places.
When someone is showing me around his or her hometown, I like to see:
- family home and neighborhood
- schools
- religious organization they were involved with
- where they worked on summer breaks
- favorite restaurant or after-school hangout
- routes through town (how they got to school or to friends' houses)
posted by Meg_Murry at 9:42 AM on July 17, 2009
Best answer: There are some great suggestions here, but I would suggest bringing one thing along: a hand-held GPS.
My hometown (and those of my parents) are also small towns, now far away and difficult to get to. When I visit now, I record the GPS coordinates of special places, so that I can record them in the family history and family tree, locate them on Google Earth to show my kids, and make their locations easy to find for my ancestors.
GPS comes in especially handy for marking the locations of family graves. Old cemeteries have a habit of falling into disrepair, with headstones sometimes falling over or sinking into soft ground. Different branches of families are buried in different sections, and old graveyard directories get lost and/or destroyed. With a GPS, you can mark a grave within two or three meters, usually making it easy enough to find as the decades go by.
posted by dinger at 9:49 AM on July 17, 2009 [2 favorites]
My hometown (and those of my parents) are also small towns, now far away and difficult to get to. When I visit now, I record the GPS coordinates of special places, so that I can record them in the family history and family tree, locate them on Google Earth to show my kids, and make their locations easy to find for my ancestors.
GPS comes in especially handy for marking the locations of family graves. Old cemeteries have a habit of falling into disrepair, with headstones sometimes falling over or sinking into soft ground. Different branches of families are buried in different sections, and old graveyard directories get lost and/or destroyed. With a GPS, you can mark a grave within two or three meters, usually making it easy enough to find as the decades go by.
posted by dinger at 9:49 AM on July 17, 2009 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Some really great answers so far, I appreciate it. Please keep them coming.
posted by doh ray mii at 10:03 AM on July 17, 2009
posted by doh ray mii at 10:03 AM on July 17, 2009
I don't have any specific suggestions, but I think that if you have any stories that seem to come up a lot about your childhood, take your family to the places where those happened. That way your kids can later have an image in their mind of what you're talking about.
That's what I did when I took my husband to visit the university and residences that I stayed in when I was an exchange student years ago...I'm always talking about my time there, and now he knows what I'm talking about.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 10:23 AM on July 17, 2009
That's what I did when I took my husband to visit the university and residences that I stayed in when I was an exchange student years ago...I'm always talking about my time there, and now he knows what I'm talking about.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 10:23 AM on July 17, 2009
Oh and, your kids are old enough to be able to suggest some places...if you ask them: "hey kids, what are some stories I keep repeating from my childhood?"
(Or something like that.)
posted by CrazyLemonade at 10:25 AM on July 17, 2009
(Or something like that.)
posted by CrazyLemonade at 10:25 AM on July 17, 2009
Yup, anywhere you told stories about. For me, it would be places like where I had my first job, the river I used to fish, where I figured out I was bad at football, the high school theater, etc.
posted by craven_morhead at 10:40 AM on July 17, 2009
posted by craven_morhead at 10:40 AM on July 17, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by kimdog at 7:59 AM on July 17, 2009