Chapter 10: Why July?
It's official. Statistics from the Weather Channel confirm that July is the hottest month on average in the United States. July is truly summer. It’s not the winding down from school or the gearing up for school as June and August are.
July has colors—red, white, and blue.
July has history—July 4, 1776—the signing of Declaration of Independence from Great Britain.
July has more history—July 24, 1847—when Brigham Young and the first wave of Mormon pioneers entered the Valley of the Great Salt Lake.
July has fireworks.
July has hot dogs, rootbeer, and ice cream.
July has snow cones in shacks, huts, and stands.
July has parades, camps, picnics, and parties.
July was named for a real person—Julius Caesar because he was born in July. When Caesar was born, however, it wasn’t called July. It was Quintilis, meaning five because it was the fifth month. That’s puzzling because July isn’t the fifth month, but in those days the year started with March, so July was the fifth month.
July has vacations. U. S. News Travel listed the top twelve vacations for families:
1. Orlando--Walt Disney World
2. Disneyland--Anaheim, California
3. Branson, Missouri
4. San Diego, California.
5. Grand Canyon, Arizona
6. Yellowstone, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana
7. Ocean City, Maryland
8. Washington, D.C.
9. Maui, Hawaii
10. Honolulu - Oahu, Hawaii
11. Hilton Head, South Carolina
12. Yosemite, California
“Vacation” suggests an extended time away from home, traveling for recreation and/or leisure. Of necessity, traveling to and from the chosen vacation site may take hours if you fly and days if you drive, and that’s just part of the time, money, and energy expense.
Vacations can be costly. There are car expenses if you drive, airline tickets and rental car costs if you fly, and gasoline either way. Hotels cost between $125 and $300 per night; food expenses average out to $60 per adult and $45 per child per day at the conservative end. There are fees to park and tickets to purchase for admissions and events. All that adds up. Sometimes a cheaper option is a cruise where everything is covered once you get on board. Just for example, an average price for a Disney Cruise is about $1,000 per person for seven days.
Not every family can afford a yearly fancy destination vacation, nor should they. Of course, going into debt for a vacation is a bad idea when there are good alternatives to fit every budget. For example, camping or staying with friends or family avoids hotel costs. But every vacation is more expensive than staying at home if you count vacation time in dollars. If you count vacation time as family togetherness, it’s a good investment.
Another type of quasi vacation is called “staycation” or “daycation” where you sleep at home but do vacation-type things during the day(s). Trips to explore your own city or a neighboring town’s zoos, museums, historic or national sites or parks, gardens, water and amusement parks, golfing, bowling, hiking, and eating out are a few choices.
“Hourcations” are even shorter and still can make family memories. There’s the spontaneous fast food option or even an “Internetcation” where you go on a virtual tour to Sea World, Disneyland, Mount Rushmore, or the National Zoo via your computer.
July is a great month to break with routine and add in new experiences to build family unity through shared vacations, staycations, daycations, hourcations, or Internetcations. Hooray for July!
(c) Marilynne Todd Linford
July has colors—red, white, and blue.
July has history—July 4, 1776—the signing of Declaration of Independence from Great Britain.
July has more history—July 24, 1847—when Brigham Young and the first wave of Mormon pioneers entered the Valley of the Great Salt Lake.
July has fireworks.
July has hot dogs, rootbeer, and ice cream.
July has snow cones in shacks, huts, and stands.
July has parades, camps, picnics, and parties.
July was named for a real person—Julius Caesar because he was born in July. When Caesar was born, however, it wasn’t called July. It was Quintilis, meaning five because it was the fifth month. That’s puzzling because July isn’t the fifth month, but in those days the year started with March, so July was the fifth month.
July has vacations. U. S. News Travel listed the top twelve vacations for families:
1. Orlando--Walt Disney World
2. Disneyland--Anaheim, California
3. Branson, Missouri
4. San Diego, California.
5. Grand Canyon, Arizona
6. Yellowstone, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana
7. Ocean City, Maryland
8. Washington, D.C.
9. Maui, Hawaii
10. Honolulu - Oahu, Hawaii
11. Hilton Head, South Carolina
12. Yosemite, California
“Vacation” suggests an extended time away from home, traveling for recreation and/or leisure. Of necessity, traveling to and from the chosen vacation site may take hours if you fly and days if you drive, and that’s just part of the time, money, and energy expense.
Vacations can be costly. There are car expenses if you drive, airline tickets and rental car costs if you fly, and gasoline either way. Hotels cost between $125 and $300 per night; food expenses average out to $60 per adult and $45 per child per day at the conservative end. There are fees to park and tickets to purchase for admissions and events. All that adds up. Sometimes a cheaper option is a cruise where everything is covered once you get on board. Just for example, an average price for a Disney Cruise is about $1,000 per person for seven days.
Not every family can afford a yearly fancy destination vacation, nor should they. Of course, going into debt for a vacation is a bad idea when there are good alternatives to fit every budget. For example, camping or staying with friends or family avoids hotel costs. But every vacation is more expensive than staying at home if you count vacation time in dollars. If you count vacation time as family togetherness, it’s a good investment.
Another type of quasi vacation is called “staycation” or “daycation” where you sleep at home but do vacation-type things during the day(s). Trips to explore your own city or a neighboring town’s zoos, museums, historic or national sites or parks, gardens, water and amusement parks, golfing, bowling, hiking, and eating out are a few choices.
“Hourcations” are even shorter and still can make family memories. There’s the spontaneous fast food option or even an “Internetcation” where you go on a virtual tour to Sea World, Disneyland, Mount Rushmore, or the National Zoo via your computer.
July is a great month to break with routine and add in new experiences to build family unity through shared vacations, staycations, daycations, hourcations, or Internetcations. Hooray for July!
(c) Marilynne Todd Linford
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