Top 18+ Vintage Photos of Middle-Class Summer Vacations in the '70s

Groovier Days

Groovier Days, Hot pokers all around, My father and his friends at Manhattan Beach, Camping in the '70s, Welcome to Hawaii, My dad in the ‘70s, The family on vacation around 1975 in North Carolina, Summer time and the living is easy, Chesapeake Bay beaches, My dad on his travels, Family hiking/camping trip, My uncle when his parents moved out

Travel was cheaper and easier back in the 1970s, and if you grew up in the middle class, there were a handful of family vacations that everybody kept on standby. Whether it was a trip to the beach, a hiking retreat, or another family classic, these photos should transport you back to the days of family vacations in the '70s.

Hot pokers all around

Groovier Days, Hot pokers all around, My father and his friends at Manhattan Beach, Camping in the '70s, Welcome to Hawaii, My dad in the ‘70s, The family on vacation around 1975 in North Carolina, Summer time and the living is easy, Chesapeake Bay beaches, My dad on his travels, Family hiking/camping trip, My uncle when his parents moved out

How do you turn the kids' attitudes about being stuck in the woods around? Give 'em some hot stick weapons, of course! That’ll spark 'em up.

My father and his friends at Manhattan Beach

Groovier Days, Hot pokers all around, My father and his friends at Manhattan Beach, Camping in the '70s, Welcome to Hawaii, My dad in the ‘70s, The family on vacation around 1975 in North Carolina, Summer time and the living is easy, Chesapeake Bay beaches, My dad on his travels, Family hiking/camping trip, My uncle when his parents moved out

The coordination it takes to get a shot of six people lined up evenly like this is impressive. There’s no chance my idiot friends and I would be able to pull that off.

Camping in the '70s

Groovier Days, Hot pokers all around, My father and his friends at Manhattan Beach, Camping in the '70s, Welcome to Hawaii, My dad in the ‘70s, The family on vacation around 1975 in North Carolina, Summer time and the living is easy, Chesapeake Bay beaches, My dad on his travels, Family hiking/camping trip, My uncle when his parents moved out

Don’t want to rent a hotel for the trip? No need? Pack up the camper, and hit the road.

Welcome to Hawaii

Groovier Days, Hot pokers all around, My father and his friends at Manhattan Beach, Camping in the '70s, Welcome to Hawaii, My dad in the ‘70s, The family on vacation around 1975 in North Carolina, Summer time and the living is easy, Chesapeake Bay beaches, My dad on his travels, Family hiking/camping trip, My uncle when his parents moved out

No leis for mom and dad? At least mom has the right idea with the dress, but c’mon dad. We’re in Hawaii. Let’s get into it.

For some unknown reason no one in my family could work a Kodak Instamatic

Groovier Days, Hot pokers all around, My father and his friends at Manhattan Beach, Camping in the '70s, Welcome to Hawaii, My dad in the ‘70s, The family on vacation around 1975 in North Carolina, Summer time and the living is easy, Chesapeake Bay beaches, My dad on his travels, Family hiking/camping trip, My uncle when his parents moved out

Nearly captured the moment. Damn Instamatics.

My mom at the Boise, Idaho, Holiday Inn in the early '70s

Groovier Days, Hot pokers all around, My father and his friends at Manhattan Beach, Camping in the '70s, Welcome to Hawaii, My dad in the ‘70s, The family on vacation around 1975 in North Carolina, Summer time and the living is easy, Chesapeake Bay beaches, My dad on his travels, Family hiking/camping trip, My uncle when his parents moved out

Fun fact: This is the most excited anybody has ever looked to be in Idaho.

My dad in the ‘70s

Groovier Days, Hot pokers all around, My father and his friends at Manhattan Beach, Camping in the '70s, Welcome to Hawaii, My dad in the ‘70s, The family on vacation around 1975 in North Carolina, Summer time and the living is easy, Chesapeake Bay beaches, My dad on his travels, Family hiking/camping trip, My uncle when his parents moved out

Shoes and socks at the beach is not a vibe I can comprehend, but this person’s dad has cool sunglasses and a Coor’s heavy, which help to offset that. Take off your shoes, dude. Live a little.

The family on vacation around 1975 in North Carolina

Groovier Days, Hot pokers all around, My father and his friends at Manhattan Beach, Camping in the '70s, Welcome to Hawaii, My dad in the ‘70s, The family on vacation around 1975 in North Carolina, Summer time and the living is easy, Chesapeake Bay beaches, My dad on his travels, Family hiking/camping trip, My uncle when his parents moved out

This family needs to teach me how to properly shop for pants. They see what I do not.

Summer time and the living is easy

Groovier Days, Hot pokers all around, My father and his friends at Manhattan Beach, Camping in the '70s, Welcome to Hawaii, My dad in the ‘70s, The family on vacation around 1975 in North Carolina, Summer time and the living is easy, Chesapeake Bay beaches, My dad on his travels, Family hiking/camping trip, My uncle when his parents moved out

The caption says it all; kick your shoes off. Relax. It’s summertime, my friends.

Chesapeake Bay beaches

Groovier Days, Hot pokers all around, My father and his friends at Manhattan Beach, Camping in the '70s, Welcome to Hawaii, My dad in the ‘70s, The family on vacation around 1975 in North Carolina, Summer time and the living is easy, Chesapeake Bay beaches, My dad on his travels, Family hiking/camping trip, My uncle when his parents moved out

Camping in the Chesapeake Bay has always been popular, and for a middle class vacation for the whole family, it costs exactly the right amount.

My dad and his friends on Miami Beach getting preached at by “Holy Joe”

Groovier Days, Hot pokers all around, My father and his friends at Manhattan Beach, Camping in the '70s, Welcome to Hawaii, My dad in the ‘70s, The family on vacation around 1975 in North Carolina, Summer time and the living is easy, Chesapeake Bay beaches, My dad on his travels, Family hiking/camping trip, My uncle when his parents moved out

You kidding me, Holy Joe? Don’t you have anything better to do than yell at these dudes trying to relax at the beach? Holy Joe should have popped his holy shoes off, because he’s walking home with sand in his toes.

My dad on his travels

Groovier Days, Hot pokers all around, My father and his friends at Manhattan Beach, Camping in the '70s, Welcome to Hawaii, My dad in the ‘70s, The family on vacation around 1975 in North Carolina, Summer time and the living is easy, Chesapeake Bay beaches, My dad on his travels, Family hiking/camping trip, My uncle when his parents moved out

Good job to your dad on this one. This is the kind of picture I wish I had, and I’d be willing to bet a lot of people who don’t have one agree.

Family hiking/camping trip

Groovier Days, Hot pokers all around, My father and his friends at Manhattan Beach, Camping in the '70s, Welcome to Hawaii, My dad in the ‘70s, The family on vacation around 1975 in North Carolina, Summer time and the living is easy, Chesapeake Bay beaches, My dad on his travels, Family hiking/camping trip, My uncle when his parents moved out

Hiking and camping are classic cheap vacations, but when you combine them, it almost feels like survival training.

My uncle when his parents moved out

Groovier Days, Hot pokers all around, My father and his friends at Manhattan Beach, Camping in the '70s, Welcome to Hawaii, My dad in the ‘70s, The family on vacation around 1975 in North Carolina, Summer time and the living is easy, Chesapeake Bay beaches, My dad on his travels, Family hiking/camping trip, My uncle when his parents moved out

Not all vacations have to break the budget. In fact, not all vacations have to make you leave the house. Sometimes some empty halls, a good chair, and a TV is all you need.

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