Vacations--what people did, where they went, and how they got there--have all changed over the years, but one thing remains the same--Americans love their time off! Whether they travel far away or no further than their own backyards, how Americans spend their free time says a lot about our country and our culture.
 

It used to be that if you wanted to travel, you had to plan for a long stagecoach or train ride. But the automobile changed all that. Although at first considered a luxury, the car quickly became an American necessity. Between 1908 and 1926, Ford Motor Company sold more than 15 million Model T automobiles.
 

Since more Americans owned cars, more were able to spend time "on the road" exploring the country. This ability to travel with greater ease changed the way American families went on vacation. What do you think was needed to accommodate all those cars?
 

Almost from the beginning, people liked to use their cars to go on vacation. Gas was cheap and traveling by car was an affordable way to see the country. With so many people taking to the road, the U.S. had to create a national highway system to support all that traffic. Gas stations began to dot the scenery. An increased demand for rubber tires caused the rubber industry to flourish. Roadside diners and drive-ins catered to auto tourists.
 

People also needed information on interesting places to visit and how to reach them, so road atlases and travel guides were developed. Popular Mechanics Auto Tourist Magazine was first published in 1924. It offered suggestions on everything from camping equipment, to car repairs, to portable radios. In the early days of auto travel, where do you think people stayed?
 

In the early days of car travel, people often went "autocamping." Mainly they camped outdoors in parks. But, even in the days before trailers and Winnebagos, some people turned their cars into mobile homes. Eventually, motels, or "motor hotels," sprang up along the highways that criss-crossed the country.
 

Having a car meant families could go places far from where they lived. If you lived in a warm area, you could pack up the car and go to the mountains to ski; if you lived in a cold place, you could drive to the beach for fun in the sun. Cars made it possible to do what had not been easy for most people before: explore America affordably on their own schedule.