A to Z - Atlanta Bound



A to Z is here!

That means it’s time for the first installment of my travel-themed posts, and what better way to start it than with the lovable, much-maligned object that starts every good family vacation.

The car.

We called it the Party Barge. A huge blue cargo van my family rented to embark on our latest cross-country adventure. The year was 1996. Our destination, the Atlanta Olympics. I was 12 and thrilled beyond belief.

It didn’t take me long to become convinced this was the most awesome (and also most ridiculous) car of all time. The seats were huge, the back was practically a bed, and it had a table – a table! – inside.

Even better, it had a little TV between the front row of seats. Remember, it was 1996 – I’d never heard of this concept before. The TV sat on the floor, not mounted like today’s standard models. The picture was scratchy at times, the sound warbly, but nothing could beat watching the Opening Ceremonies unfold as we literally drove our way to that very spot!

The air conditioning broke on something like our second day in Atlanta, but even now, my family has a certain fondness for the old Party Barge.

22 comments:

  1. My family had a huge crown victoria station wagon. It broke down a lot, especially on family road trips.

    The Party Barge sounds awesome!

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  2. I'm sure watching the Opening Ceremonies live must have been amazing. Thanks for sharing....I look forward to seeing more of what you will share during A to Z.

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  3. Sounds like you had heaps of fun on that trip. Good luck in the Challenge.

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  4. Sounds like the right kind of car for a long journey!

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  5. I lived in Atlanta for nine years. Love the city, HATE the traffic! :)

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  6. I didn't even know they put TVs in vehicles back then!

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  7. I'm with Alex. I didn't remember there being TVs in cars then either. That must have been really cool! The furthest we went on a family car trip was Iowa... I don't remember it being all that exciting. I just remember how I would get car sick on family trips... haha

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  8. We always had family road trips, and I swear I was always the one stuck in the sun for the whole ride!

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  9. We used to travel in a small RV when I was a kid. Yeah, no seat belts, sitting around a table playing cards while my dad drove, pots and pans rattling in the cupboards, the smell of that blue stuff in the port-a-potty type bathroom. But it was fun.

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  10. My family owned nothing but station wagons for years and years .... we used to play in the back while we were driving down the road. Oh how times have changed.

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  11. I have so many memories similar to this. I should get a party barge so my kids have something to remember too :) That really takes me back!

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  12. That's awesome! The Party Barge sounds like so much fun. I'd have loved to have an RV, or even to have one now. Can't wait to read more!

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  13. Fun theme!
    My parents' van had a TV that we could watch VHS movies on. My brothers and I thought we were so cool. LOL

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  14. Reminds me of the Griswald's car in National Lampoons Vacation. You can't beat a good van though.

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  15. I'm so jealous that you got to go to the Olympics! I'd love to go some day.. And the car sounds amazing :D

    AJ Lauer
    #atozchallenge helper minion
    Twitter: @ayjaylauer

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  16. I have travelled quite a bit by car throughout my life time. Some trips good, some not so good!

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  17. Ah road trip! I've only made one long one and that was Cape Cod to Toronto. It was fun :)

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  18. Nothing like good memories. That will forever be with you.

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  19. Great theme! :) I look forward to reading more!

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  20. The old, beat up cars are usually the ones we cherish most of all :) I really want to go on a road trip some day ...

    Jamie @ Mithril Wisdom
    www.mithrilwisdom.com

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  21. That sounds much more stylish than the small cars we always crammed inside on numerous road trips :) I remember one time we went to Yellowstone with a rental, and the rental had Alaska plates. So all week we had to explain to people we weren't actually from Alaska...

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  22. awesome memories!
    i lived in atlanta in 96. my then fiance & i took a trip to greece to get away from the craziness! (i'd been saving up)

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