From my experience, my father knows a lot about various places. To go somewhere with him brings you more than the scenery; you get the whole story. It may sound cheesy, but it’s true. My dad had been to Alaska a few years ago, for example, and when we recently went, he remembered a great Mexican restaurant in Anchorage. It was still there, and it was really good! If your parents remember a good restaurant, it is probably a better place to go for a meal than McDonalds!
Both of my parents have spent some time in Paris. When we went together, they knew some great places to show me so I got a good overview of the city. I hope to go back there on my own someday and I’m sure I’ll remember how the get around on the Metro and how to get back to Sacre Coeur on that weird elevator contraption!
Also, my dad loves being on trains and going overnight on a sleeping car with him is great. He has a good time because he’s on a train, and I have fun because he’s having fun. Sleeping in the berths is cool, and being with a train fanatic there is even better! We’ve been doing this since I was very young, and I still love it!
If you go to a place where none of you have ever been, you get to bond with your parents, which is a more valuable commodity these days than you might think. With endless amounts of homework, and all free time being sapped by friends and the computer, I think it’s okay to spend some time with parents. Who knows, you might have a good time with them!
When traveling you also get a sample of the culture. You see the destination’s architecture, people, and their way of life. When we were in Santa Fe we visited ancient dwellings and saw how Native Americans lived long before the Europeans arrived. In France, we went to so many great French restaurants that never would have been available at home. Therefore, it is worth it to travel with your parents to get these great rewards.
If you’re asking yourself if is it better to travel with parents than to stay at home, you should answer yes! It is better for all of the above reasons!
So now, ask yourself, why you are staying at home over the next holiday vacation?
Jesse Spielman wrote this piece in 2000 as a ninth grade student at Hunter College High School in New York City.
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