Traveling in the 1950s was a simple and glamorous affair. With the love for road trips on the rise, families flocked to iconic destinations, with a sense of carefree exploration. The ’50s saw a unique blend of nostalgia and adventure, as people embraced leisure time in a world not yet consumed by technology. From stylish beach resorts to vintage theme parks, these 20 photos capture a time that moved slower, a time when people truly connected. We hope you’re ready to go back in time, because here are 20 photos that embody vacationing in the 1950s.
1. This is the last time these public binoculars were used.
Honestly, I haven’t seen these things being used in forever, it’s safe to assume more than half of them don’t work anymore.
2. Air travel in the 1950s was a formal affair.
This is actually pretty funny. Today, you’ll see people in their coziest sweatshirts and sweatpants, in the ’50s people were wearing their Sunday best.
3. Here’s how babies traveled on planes in the ’50s.
Now they didn’t have noise-cancelling headphones, but if that baby was out of sight, it was out of mind.
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4. A mostly happy family at Chicken Bone Beach Atlanta, 1950.
This is one happy-looking family, except for the one son in the middle. He must not like the beach.
5. Reminiscing about vacation is still a part of the vacation.
After a fun trip with the family, nothing was better than sitting around and looking at all the vacation photos on the slide projector. Does anyone today know how to use a slide projector?
6. Are public pools still used?
We still see public pools around, but barely anyone uses them. In the ’50s town pools were a staple in vacation time.
7. Economy class in the ’50s.
Economy class in the 1950s looked better than business class does now. I mean come on, the flight attendant is tucking that guy in.
8. Train travel in the 1950s.
I’m not sure if this is first class or not, but I can tell you one thing, they did train travel better in the ’50s.
9. A day at the beach.
It’s funny how similar beach days are now to what they were in the ’50s. Almost everything else has changed, but we still lay on the sand with an old sheet and read.
10. We have devolved in air travel.
Here you can see a passenger being served breakfast in bed on their long flight. Now you get peanuts for a 10-hour flight.
11. Vacationing in a BMW Isetta in Italy, 1950.
That’s one unfortunate road-tripping car. Their luggage takes up the entire rear window.
12. Grandparents in Puerto Vallarta, 1950.
The story has it that this woman was from an affluent British family and engaged to another man. While on vacation, she met this man who stole her away from her fiance and took her back to New Orleans, the classic 1950s love tale.
13. Before fast food, there were roadside picnics.
The idea of stopping and setting up a meal while on a road trip is pretty stressful for some, as most of us have ideal time limits while traveling. But, there was no McDonalds on every corner in the 50s, so you had to make do.
14. Thank God men’s beach fashion has changed.
If this is your style more power to you, but these short shorts don’t do it for me. I prefer the long swim trunks and a tee shirt outfit to the beach.
15. What is the purpose of these God-awful caps?
I understand trying to keep your hair dry but come on. There’s a line that needs to be drawn for sacrifices for fashion.
16. Train travel in the limited lounge car.
This has to be set up or something. There’s no way that all ten of these people are simultaneously happy while traveling. Maybe times in the 1950s were just better.
17. This tourism ad from the 1950s is golden.
Not that it’s hard to convince people to travel to Hawaii, but this is a cool look at ads from the 1950s.
18. A lakeside vacation, 1958.
No one’s face is deep in their phones, and everyone is seemingly connected because they’re vacationing at the same place. We miss the pre-phone days.
19. You can feel the pride in this photo.
This family took a vacation to Europe in the early ’50s. Everyone looks wildly happy.
20. The 1950s version of an air BNB.
Here you can see a man sitting outside of his rental cabin. It’s funny in the ’50s people just sat outside. Today, that man would be inside that cabin watching his favorite show.
