You know you had a lower class childhood if these 7 travel adventures bring back memories

Travel is often framed as luxury—the Instagram reels from Bali, the carefully curated airport fits, the boutique hotels with infinity pools.

But if you grew up lower class, chances are your “travel adventures” looked very different.

They weren’t about escaping reality. They were reality. They were scrappy, chaotic, and sometimes hilarious.

And while they didn’t involve first-class seats or curated itineraries, they shaped how you see the world.

Let’s dive into the seven travel adventures that might spark a little nostalgia—if you know, you know.

1. Road trips crammed into one car

Let’s start with the classic: the family car stuffed with way too many people and way too much stuff.

You didn’t fly to grandma’s. You drove. Hours upon hours on the highway, windows down because the AC didn’t work, fighting with siblings about personal space in the backseat.

If you were lucky, there was a Walkman or Game Boy to distract you. More likely, you were playing “I Spy” with the passing trucks and mile markers.

What strikes me now, looking back, is how those long rides taught us patience. And endurance.

Research actually notes that shared hardship bonds people together—those cramped car rides may have been your first crash course in resilience and humor.

2. Sleeping in the car instead of a hotel

Ever done this one? You pull into a rest stop late at night, mom reclines the driver’s seat, kids curl up under hoodies in the back. That was your “overnight stay.”

Hotels were a luxury, not a given. Sometimes the idea of even checking prices was laughable.

It wasn’t comfortable, but here’s the weird part: it felt like an adventure. Like you were in on some secret hack that the “fancy” travelers didn’t know about.

Looking back, it wasn’t just about saving money—it was about making do with what you had.

As Rudá Iandê says in Laughing in the Face of Chaos, “When we let go of the need to be perfect, we free ourselves to live fully—embracing the mess, complexity, and richness of a life that's delightfully real.”

That night in the car may have been messy, but it was real.

3. The amusement park that doubled as a vacation

Forget Disney. If your family scraped together enough for a day at the local amusement park or county fair, that was the big trip of the year.

You wore the paper wristband with pride, rode the same rollercoaster three times, and devoured a funnel cake like it was fine dining.

Those trips weren’t about luxury. They were about joy packed into a single day. Psychologists talk about “peak experiences”—moments of intense happiness that stand out in memory. For some kids, it was Paris. For us, it was Six Flags or the state fair.

And honestly? It still counts.

4. Visiting relatives instead of destinations

Where did you go on vacation? To Auntie’s. To Cousin Joe’s. To grandma’s two towns over.

Vacations weren’t about places; they were about people. That meant sleeping on couches, eating whatever was on the stove, and getting dragged to family barbecues.

At the time, maybe it felt small. But here’s the psychology of it: studies show that strong family bonds are a protective factor against stress and adversity.

Those “cheap” trips actually built a foundation of connection that money can’t buy.

5. Camping on the cheap

Here’s one I personally remember well. We weren’t pitching fancy REI tents by a lake. We were borrowing gear, roasting hot dogs on sticks, and hoping it didn’t rain because there was no backup plan.

Camping was a way to stretch a dollar. But it was also an initiation into self-sufficiency. You learned how to make do with less. How to find joy in simplicity.

As noted by outdoor researcher Florence Williams, spending time in nature—even in rough conditions—has measurable benefits for mental health.

What felt like “making do” may have actually been your nervous system’s saving grace.

6. Field trips that doubled as luxury

Remember school trips to the zoo, the science museum, or maybe even the state capitol? For some kids, those were the only “vacations” they got all year.

Those permission slips were like golden tickets. Maybe your parents scraped together the fee—or maybe you were the kid covered by the free-lunch program—but either way, the bus ride alone felt like adventure.

I still remember stepping into a science museum and thinking: this is what wealthier kids must get all the time. For me, it was a window into another world.

And here’s the important part: research shows those glimpses truly matter. Studies on environmental enrichment confirm that exposure to new surroundings supports brain development and broadens children’s future possibilities.

Even a single field trip can spark ambition and expand a child’s sense of what’s possible.

7. The “staycation” before it was trendy

Before Instagram made “staycation” a buzzword, you were already living it. Maybe you pitched a tent in the backyard. Maybe your parents promised “tourist day” downtown—taking the bus to the free art museum or park.

It wasn’t glamorous. But it made you realize that adventure isn’t just about distance. It’s about perspective.

That’s something I’ve carried into adulthood. When I catch myself scrolling travel reels and feeling envy, I remember: sometimes the most meaningful adventures happen close to home.

The bigger picture

Looking back, what stands out isn’t the lack of money. It’s the creativity. The resourcefulness. The way travel—even when limited—was about connection, joy, and survival.

These adventures weren’t about checking destinations off a bucket list. They were about making the most of what you had, learning resilience, and finding meaning in the ordinary.

And here’s the kicker: those lessons might be worth more than any all-inclusive resort.

As Rudá Iandê puts it, “You have both the right and responsibility to explore and try until you know yourself deeply.”

Growing up lower class forced exploration—of places, of people, and of yourself.

If you had these experiences, you didn’t just travel. You learned how to navigate life’s challenges with humor, grit, and creativity.

And maybe, that’s the richest adventure of all.