Best Holiday Memories

Hi friends, it’s time to link up for the July edition of Share Our Lives. Today, we are sharing our best vacation memory.

I’m a champion overthinker, so when I read the prompt, I thought, “Hmm, one vacation memory — only one? That’s a bit like picking a favourite child.” Also, we don’t usually say vacation here in Australia — we say holidays. For us, anything that involves not being at work or school is a holiday!

But of course, I understood what the prompt meant. And I also love that one of the fun things about these link-up prompts is that there’s room to make it your own. So instead of choosing just one, I’m sharing three of my best holiday memories. It’s no surprise that every one of them involves family or friends — travel memories stick best when they involve your favourite people.

So, here are three of my best holiday memories — starting with a trip from way back.

Budgewoi

I wish I had some photos to share, but this trip happened way back in the good old ’80s — when cameras were chunky and mobile phones didn’t even exist. I guess nobody thought to bring along a camera for this trip, because I don’t have any photos. That’s okay, though, because the memories swirl in my head like snapshots from one of the best childhood holidays ever. Let me take you back.

Picture this: Sydney, 1985 — it was a scorching hot summer, and Madonna’s Like A Virgin album on tape (yes, cassette tape) was my favourite! My family went on holiday with two other families who had daughters around my age. We were all friends, and we rented caravans at a caravan park in Budgewoi. I had never heard of Budgewoi before, but I remember being so excited because I was going to hang out with my Madonna-loving friends.

Back then, Budgewoi was a quiet, laid-back spot on the New South Wales Central Coast. I don’t think it’s ever really become the beach holiday destination, even today. But I did a quick Google search, and I can see the caravan park has had a good makeover. When we were there, it had a bit of a Bates Motel vibe — not in a creepy way. But the décor was definitely from that time.

The four of us girls spent the whole trip giggling, swimming in the pool, playing the only arcade game in the milk bar, and talking endlessly. I remember one night we were playing a board game and laughing so hysterically. A lady from the caravan next to us banged on our door and told us to keep it down. Yikes — we were good girls who weren’t used to getting in trouble! So we had to keep laughing in silence, which of course made it even funnier. We laughed so hard we snorted!

Fast forward to a completely different kind of holiday and one that’s very close to my heart.

Hawaii in the year 2000

My uncle (my mum’s brother), aunt, and their three grown-up kids moved from Australia to New York and eventually to Hawaii in 1982. So, for the first 12 years of my life, we had family living close by. We spent weekends together, celebrated Christmases and birthdays, and went on camping trips. They were my world.

Then one afternoon, my uncle came over to tell us they’d finally had their U.S. visas approved. WHAT??? Amazing news for them… but not so much for me. A few months later, they packed up and left. Waaaahhhh!

My mum and I visited my family in Long Island, New York, two years after they left Australia, in 1984. That was a wonderful trip full of fantastic memories. But the visit that really stands out is the time we saw them in Hawaii in 2000. We spent a whole week with them, and once again, I felt like a kid, surrounded by family I loved and had missed so much.

This is me with my mum and my uncle, standing right outside my uncle’s home in Hawaii Kai.

It also stands out as one of my most treasured holiday memories because, little did we know, it would be the last time we saw my uncle. He passed away in 2004 from a massive heart attack, leaving us all devastated.

And then there’s the most recent trip — an epic adventure with my family full of incredible moments.

Cousin Connect Adventure 2025

Oh gosh, if I never went on another trip again, that would be okay — because this one was everything! So many memories, all still fresh in my mind — how do I even pick just one?? The road trip, meeting up with my family in LA, walking the same paths where Luke, C-3PO, and R2-D2 roamed in Death Valley, driving through Las Vegas, hugging Minnie, getting dropped at what felt like 100 km/h on The Guardians of the Galaxy ride, snorkelling in Waikiki, hiking The Narrows…

But out of all those amazing experiences, there’s one day that truly stands out for me.

So, here goes — I’ll pick one of the best memories from the trip: walking through Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland. The Force is strong with our family — we’re huge fans, especially my cousin J and me. But I never, ever in a million years thought I’d get to experience this with them.

I can confidently say it was one of the best days of my life (shh — just between you and me, maybe the best day!). I know, I know — that’s a big call, and I don’t want to take anything away from my wedding day or the birth of my children. But this day really tops all the rest, and it’s definitely my number one best holiday memory.

Thanks for coming along on this little trip down memory lane with me. I hope it brought back some happy memories for you, too. What are some holiday memories you’ll never forget? I’d love to hear!😊

Have the best day, and I look forward to being back here with you on Wednesday.

Linking up with Adrienne, Dara, Jen, Joanne and Sarah.