On a breezy night in Huntington Beach, California, I stood outside the car I was going to be held captive in for the next 26 hours of my life. The sea breeze always felt nice against my face and I was already dreading leaving it behind. I climbed into the back seat of the car with my zebra pillow pet and my blanket covered with peace-signs. Not even asleep for an hour when I'm awoken with the sudden bright flashing of lights behind me. Great way to start our trip with a speeding ticket under our belts. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in a gas station in the middle of Nevada. I opened them again and found myself in a viewing place somewhere in Utah.
â–º QUARTER FINALIST 2012 TEEN TRAVEL WRITING SCHOLARSHIP
After dozing into sleep off and on for 16 hours, my father, mother, little sister and I finally arrived in Denver, Colorado, just 1,025 miles away from home, to spend our first night. We quickly settled into the cramped room of the Holiday Inn Express and made our way to a supposedly good pizza place in this area of Denver. Whoever even sought the idea that it was “good” was definitely exaggerating. The “restaurant” was a dark hole in the wall with broken chairs and wobbly tables. Our waitress disappeared, the pizza was greasy, and the people around me kept staring, as if our family were Iraqi troops invading their precious Kuwait.
The next day, we woke up early to begin driving again to our destination of Omaha, Nebraska. It was only about 540 miles, so not as nearly as long as our first drive to Colorado. Why Nebraska? My older brother, just a freshmen at the University of Utah, qualified for the 100 and 50 freestyle events at the Olympic Swim Trials in Omaha. Obviously he had no chance of actually making it onto the Olympic team, but it was good experience to prepare him for the next trials. I was excited to watch him swim, as well as actual Olympians including Michael Phelps and also swimmers from my hometown such as Tom Shields. When we arrived in Omaha, three words came to mind and stuck there the whole trip: hot and humid; or as my dad called it, “Africa”. Africa would be an understatement. The good part was that the arena was air-conditioned, and I gladly sat on a plastic chair in the nosebleed seats all day watching tiny people swim back and forth.
Even though the temperature was over 110 degrees, my parents insisted in taking a walk through the city. Downtown Omaha was what one would expect a downtown of a city to be: run-down with scary people lurking around. What I didn't know at first about the decrepit structures was that most of them were historic buildings. One sports bar restaurant we ate at, called the Mattress Company, used to be, indeed, a mattress company.
This trip was very significant, though. My brother did extremely well in his events. I traveled to 6 states: Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Iowa, Wyoming, and Nebraska. It was nice just spending time with my family and being somewhere different and unfamiliar. Overall, this experience made me appreciate where I live and not to take my wonderful weather or beautiful beaches for granite. I am so fortunate to be living where I am today. I also learned to make the best out of every situation and appreciate even being given the opportunity to have this trip, although taking an airplane would have been a much better choice.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
0 Replies to “Nebraska? More Like Africa”
Comment on this article
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
I like the helpful info you provide in your articles.
I will bookmark your weblog aand check again here frequently.
I’m quite certain I’ll learn plenty of new stuff right here!
Good luck for the next!
Hi there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my facebook group?
There’s a lot of people that I think would really enjoy your content.
Please let me know. Many thanks
We absolutely love your blog and find most of your post’s to be just what I’m looking for.
Do you offer guest writers to write content
for yourself? I wouldn’t mind writing a post or elaborating on many of the subjects you write concerning
here. Again, awesome site!
Essential bags: Remember to bring commonly used medicines, prescription medicines, motion sickness medicine, cold medicine, wound closures, etc.
Thanks for sharing
Very nice article. I certainly love this site.
Contine the good work!
Wow, Fran Falkin’s pet travel tips are a lifesaver! ? Planning our pet-friendly vacation has been a breeze thanks to these insightful tips. We followed tip #2, and now our fur baby practically loves their carrier, making our journey stress-free. Plus, we found a cozy hotel that welcomes our pet, so they’re enjoying the adventure just as much as we are. Thanks, Fran, for turning our pet travel worries into tail-wagging excitement!
Hey There. I found your weblog using msn. That
is a really smartly written article. I’ll make sure to bookmark it and return to learn more of
your useful info. Thank you for the post. I will certainly
comeback.
i wish i was chinese
I am genuinely pleased to read this weblog posts which includes plenty
of helpful information, thanks for providing
these kinds of statistics.
Greetings! Very helpful advice in this particular
article! It’s the little changes that will make the biggest changes.
Thanks for sharing!
Explore the beauty of Sri Lanka with our family tours. Discover unforgettable experiences for all with Family Tours Sri Lanka. Book your adventure today with Sri Lanka Family Tours.
Great post.
Yes, recent trends suggest that Americans are regaining confidence in vacations and travel. As travel restrictions ease and vaccination rates increase, many Americans are showing a greater willingness to travel and explore destinations again. However, it’s important to stay updated on travel advisories and safety measures to ensure a smooth and enjoyable travel experience.
Reading Fran Falkin’s insights took me back to my first trip with Whiskers, my feline companion. The chaos of ensuring he was comfortable amidst the hustle of the airport was a lesson in patience. Had I come across these invaluable tips earlier, our journey would’ve been as smooth as a calm sea.
Thank you! I value it!
Great information. Cheers.
Very good write-up. I certainly appreciate this website.
Continue the good work!
I read your article on the Sheep of Sun Valley and I found it very fascinating and enjoyable. You have given a detailed and colorful account of your experience at the Trailing of the Sheep Festival, which celebrates the history and culture of sheepherding in Idaho. I think your article is a great way to introduce this unique and fun event to other travelers and families who are looking for a different and memorable adventure.
This is something new I saw on the internet today I want to thank you for writing such a great and helpful blog. I really appreciate your efforts.