Search

Showing results for “Vacationing”

Jump to a topic

VacationingVacationing is traveling away from one’s home for recreation, tourism, experience, reflection, or other reasons unrelated to work. Historians trace the vacation back to ancient Greece and ancient Rome, where citizens left the major cities to attend athletics competitions and lounge in coastal towns. The modern concept developed further with the “Grand Tour” of Europe, a rite of passage for young English aristocrats, and Thomas Cook’s international railroad tours. In America, vacationing took hold in the late 1800s as developers and religious groups began constructing tourist destinations along the coast and in the mountains. In the 20th century, labor laws guaranteeing time off and the lowering price of automobiles led to the modern American road trip, with families hitting the highways. The expansion of commercial airlines popularized international vacations, though rising costs have prevented many Americans from taking advantage of the many available options.Explore Vacationing

What we've found

19th-century Americans discovered tipping in EuropeTipping waiters was a custom in medieval Europe, where masters gave their serfs money for exceptional work. Wealthy Americans vacationing in Europe in the mid-1800s discovered the behavior and brought it back to the US. TIME The Borscht Belt was a haven for Jewish vacationers—and comedy fansNew York’s Catskills region resorts were informally named after a dish popular with Ashkenazi Jews. The area offered affordable vacationing, as well as cutting-edge stand-up from future stars like Milton Berle, Mel Brooks, and Joan Rivers. Smithsonian Magazine The wife of Nixon's Attorney General was forcibly held to silence her Watergate revelationsWhile vacationing in June 1972, Martha Mitchell was held captive, sedated, and physically abused by operatives connected to Nixon, intent on keeping her from speaking to reporters. History Atlantic City was a major vacation destination in the early 20th centuryThe city’s boardwalk, filled with amusement parks and vendors, became a significant attraction for vacationing families. The town also became a hub for entertainment, with actors often starting there before heading to Broadway. The Atlantic City Free Public Library

Try another search?