Flashback Friday: San Diego Zoo & SeaWorld in 1974

I went looking for old pictures of Las Vegas but instead found photos from a family trip to San Diego, California, in 1974.

Lately it’s been tough to decide what to write about since my work is mostly focused on traveling, restaurants, and other things that involve going out and being around people – which is problematic (to put it lightly) these days. So I decided to dive into my treasure trove of family photos in search of any pictures of old Vegas that I hadn’t already shared.

Naturally, I found zero photos of the Strip, or Downtown, or really much of anything beyond family road trips, backyard gatherings, and holidays. It may be hard to remember, but there was a time when people didn’t always have a camera on them. If you did, you had a limited number of shots on your roll of film. Also, knowing my parents, they wouldn’t have been caught dead walking around taking pictures like a tourist.

In August of 1974 my parents took me to San Diego for a vacation, which was a serious upgrade from our normal summer road trip to Texas. As I recall, my dad knew a guy who comped the room and most of our meals. (My dad always “knew a guy,” in true Vegas fashion.)

We went to SeaWorld, which at that time was a fraction of its present-day size. I think I remember my dad saying the arena for the “Shamu” show was new, but I haven’t been able to confirm if that’s true or not. (This was, of course, long before there was a public awareness about all the issues with orcas in captivity.) Notice the grassy hills in the background and the complete lack of development around the arena – so much so that a hang glider landed as part of the show. 

We also went to the San Diego Zoo on our trip, and in looking at the photos I was struck by the appearance of the old exhibits, which look alarmingly cramped and bare. I found a photo of the polar bears in their sad cement enclosure and immediately remembered photos I’d taken in 1997, at the zoo’s new polar bear exhibit. By that time, enclosures were being transformed into more animal-friendly areas – a definite improvement. 

One thing that hasn’t changed? The beach. One of my favorite memories of that trip was walking on the beach for the first time. 

Well, I should qualify that statement: the view looking out toward the ocean is the same. Looking the other direction is another story.

What are some of your favorite family photo finds? Have you spent any time working on old photo collections while you’ve been at home?

_________

All photos from the collection of Terrisa Meeks. All rights reserved.

One Day in Balboa Park

San Diego, one of my favorite cities, is about an hour’s plane ride from Las Vegas. Once you land in San Diego, the beautiful and historic Balboa Park is only a 15-minute cab ride from the airport.

San Diego is a great place for a day trip. It’s full of fun things to do, and if you’re a museum geek like myself, Balboa Park offers a mouth-watering array of museums in a small area. 

Here’s how my daycation in Balboa Park worked out:

0615: Breeze through McCarran security. No bags, baby!

0900: Taxi drops us off outside the Museum of Man. (“Us” = my son and me.)

0901: Discover that no museums open until 10:00.

0902: Gleefully drag complaining teenager all over Balboa Park to take pictures before museums open and crowds arrive.

0930:     [Outside San Diego Zoo entrance]

Me: "Are you sure you don’t want to go to the zoo?"

Son: "Positive. I want to see museums." 

       [My heart swells with pride.]

1000: Botanical Building. Orchids and ferns. Feels like Hawaii.

1030: Museum of Man. “Would you like two tickets to the Torture Exhibit also?” Why, of course!

1032:     [Inside Italian Torture Exhibit]

Me: Ewwwwww.

Son: Yawn

1100: [Inside Museum of Man] Real Egyptian mummies.

1129: Son: “I’M STARVING.”

1130: Lunch at The Prado!

1215: Museum of Photographic Arts. MOPA’s International Pictures of the Year on display. I am moved to tears.

1315: Point out to son that the Model Railroad Museum is downstairs from MOPA… “Two tickets, please.”

1316: Regret not buying all-day, multi-museum pass.

1330: Can’t stop talking about the amazing attention to detail at the Model Train Museum. Buy tee-shirt for hubby.

1345: Discover Sculpture Garden is under construction.

1350: Have impromptu talk with teenager about First Amendment rights after watching protesters on the Prado.

1400: San Diego Museum of Art. Antiquities. Arnold Newman display. A smattering of Impressionists. Teenager fading quickly.

1505: Drink coffee while listening to saxophone street musician and watching people splash around Bea Evenson Fountain.

1520: Son: “Are we going? Are we going now? Is it this way?”

1530: Taxi to airport.

1730: Teenage son asleep on my shoulder as we fly home. Best part of day.


Have you visited Balboa Park or San Diego?
_____________
All photos by Terrisa Meeks

Weekend Adventures In & Around Las Vegas

At the end of July, my family and I had no vacation plans. And no plans to make vacation plans.

Instead, we focused on maximizing our August weekends.

We rode Lee Canyon's scenic skilift ride. 

Oh yes, there's a story about the ski lift ride.

We checked out the Vegas StrEATS food truck festival in Downtown Las Vegas.

Vegas StrEATS is fun, but why can't we have tables at a food truck festival?

My son and I took a daycation to Balboa Park, the historic, beautiful, museum-filled San Diego park.

California Tower and Alcazar Garden 

We've been off-roading, to the movies, and out to eat (I love restaurants), and my son and I even snuck in an afternoon at the bookstore.

There's only one thing I miss about taking a traditional vacation: room service. If we could work that out, I'd be very happy. 

#

Have you taken a vacation or a daycation this summer? 

_____________________

All pictures by Terrisa Meeks. (You can see more of my San Diego, Mt. Charleston, and Vegas StrEATS pictures on my flickr page.)