My Favorite Vacation Spot

My favorite vacation spot became a vacation spot, simply because it's the only spot where I can go to "get" a vacation ... and, of course, it's my favorite spot to be. All children - young and old - loves the comfort of being home. Not just any home, but Down Home, and if you are from the south, you know what I am talking about (smile). I haven't ran across anything yet better than good ole' Southern Hospitality: warm greetings everywhere you go; a hot, over-filled plate of yummies across every threshold you encounter; a party in your honor - just because ... you can't get any better than that!

Going South has been a major part of my "vacation" time; growing up when school was over for the summer, guess where the children were going? You got it, Alabama. It was the time of our lives! I believe we all returned to the cities at least two shades darker, full of ants and mosquito bites, and with a slightly southern drawl. We'd been down there for nearly two months, what would you expect us to sound like ... let's not comment. I'm sure it amazed my Mother when I would return home with a 'little weight on my bones'. The best vacations ever for our childhood came from visiting our grandmother in Alabama. We learned how to pick peas, leafy vegetables, gather eggs, and play like there's no tomorrow! Our cousins that lived there had created some of the strangest, but most fun type games: pitch pennies - who would have ever thought ...

Now that I'm older, I can enjoy everything I did as a child being in the South. The only difference now is that I enjoy it more: the serene atmosphere, calmness of the day-to-day activities, and the beauty of the quiet, wide open spaces that we once played in as children. I'm not even going to mention the fresh air!

The freedom found in the South isn't from an old tradition, nor is it hard earned through blood, sweat, and/or tears [opinion]. The freedom I speak of is a sense of freedom derived from going out to hunt in order to feed your family, while taking your young son along to educate him; planting, growing and cultivating your own food, and being able to educate your daughters on how to use the earthly goods to nourish their families; lastly, the ability, and right to do these things and more within your own privacy, and values.

When you go on "vacation", a person generalizes it into you going to an island-type setting; glam hotels and restaurants; expensive shopping, and a bunch of 'strangers' ... and, leaving you on a slight line of nearly overspending your vacation funds.

But when we say "vacation" in our family, everybody knows somebody is headed to Frankville, Alabama! We don't need an island setting, with all the beauty surrounding us - walnut trees, fig trees (do you even know what a fig is? Ever wonder where they get the filling in Fig Newtons?), maple trees, grapevines running wild alongside a mulberry bush. Its fantastic to be among growth and production.

Down Home is my favorite vacation spot because I don't have to stay in any hotel - I have a home on our family's estate. The area where majority of our family's homes are erected was once called Parker Hill 'back in the day, and we had fun times out ranking anything one would do at a fancy hotel. Our family hill had a basketball court, tree swings with the tire, horseshoes, football/baseball field, and so much more ... I believe we should have called it a park. Believe it or not, we are still doing every activity today on the hill, with the exception of football/baseball.

THE HILL: Pictured is a view of a pool hall - built by my uncle. Picture taken several years ago. (c) RONYAE


Speaking of baseball, the town has a baseball team, and games - tournaments are played on the baseball field at our church - yes, a field next to a church. It turns into a parking lot on Sundays and Wednesdays. Okay, enough memories. Watching the games are nearly as exciting as a major league game; families selling fried chicken dinners, maybe fried catfish, and everybody who is anybody is parked and having a party while the game entertains.

The events you participate while visiting Southwestern Alabama can range anywhere from a trail ride, horse and cattle shows, small town sports, cookouts for birthdays/holidays/celebrations/Little Johnny fell off his bike ... yes, I'm sure you get the idea. My favorite event while on vacation in 'Bama would be our annual Bumpers Family Dinner, held every year in August for as long as I can remember. It usually takes place just at the end of our "vacation", and it definitely sets it off with a bang! The family dinner is a highlight - this is the opportunity to see family members you never knew existed, and a time to educate your children of their heritage.

Now, who would want to trade in a vacation of uplifting, nourishing, money-saving, and a whole lot of fun - times, for a place you might enjoy but didn't feel a part of?

My family members who live in northern cities have brought associates down home, and I haven't been introduced - and totally enjoyed - to one who didn't want to return; many of our visitors tend to leave the Snowden Family home in 'Bama very happy, and full, but not without including themselves to use the family's term of endearment for my grandmother - Mo.

My experiences in the south have always been dear to me, and I've always considered it home. So, my favorite vacation spot is Down Home; a place where real life takes place, while others are trying to make it happen ~Ronyae2010 on Frankville, AL.

What about you, Reader ... what are some highlights of southern living that you truly enjoy, and take pleasure in having the opportunity to enjoy it to the fullest? Do you live in the South, how do you feel about living there? Are you a city person that loves the south, what attracted you to it?

Well, I love it ... I wasn't born in the south, but I sure was raised. I would suggest for anyone needing a little "R & R", take a trip south!