Three Day Weekend

Traffic Jam at Dana Point
United States
September 4, 2016 2:15am CST
Most people in the U.S. have a three day weekend in commemoration of Labor Day on Monday. It’s the unofficial end of summer. Kids are back in school and families won’t have time off together until Thanksgiving, in November. Many people flew far away or drove to a holiday location on Thursday. Friday was pretty busy in airports and freeways too. I thought this meant roads would be clear today. I decided to drive over to San Clemente to wander around and have lunch. But I was stuck on the Pacific Coast Highway behind a long line of other people who had the same idea. We were driving only 5 miles per hour. I turned around and went to neighboring San Juan Capistrano for BBQ instead. Then I drove back home. Sometimes I forget I live in an area where people who live inland come whenever they have time off from work. Today was a pretty good reminder. Tomorrow, I think I’ll go walk at the mall. It shouldn’t be busy there, should it? What do you think? Is there any place that won’t be packed with tourists this weekend?
18 people like this
15 responses
@JudyEv (326098)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Sep 16
I was surprised when we were in the mid-west of Western Australia just how many tourists were out on the roads - and in all the good camping spots. I thought we'd have them to ourselves.
2 people like this
• United States
4 Sep 16
I wonder why. Maybe they are getting a jump on summer.
2 people like this
• United States
4 Sep 16
@JudyEv We do because we can.
@JudyEv (326098)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Sep 16
@ElizabethWallace I think all the grey nomads had the same idea as us - get out and see the wildflowers.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118528)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Sep 16
I thought I was going to have a 4-day weekend when both my employer, and the kids schools, closed down on Friday due to the approach of Hurricane Hermine. But my enthusiasm was short-lived as I got called in to work storm cleanup on Friday and Saturday. At least I had a nice ending to my Saturday when I was given three free tickets to go to the University of Florida football game!
2 people like this
• United States
5 Sep 16
It must be awful to have to clean up your work environment unless that is your job. Wait, I did that when teaching, so I know. It was awful.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118528)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Sep 16
@ElizabethWallace It's not my job per se, but I am on the management team that coordinated all the cleanup efforts.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (134508)
• Roseburg, Oregon
4 Sep 16
I think every place that you go will be busy. We are having a barbecue with twpo of my cousins on Monday. We are not going anywhere.
2 people like this
• United States
4 Sep 16
I won't go near a road or highway on Monday. I know that would be unwise, but I might venture out locally tomorrow. I can always turn around and go back home.
@TheHorse (206235)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Sep 16
I'm staying close to home this weekend.
2 people like this
• United States
5 Sep 16
I stayed so close today, that I didn't leave the house.
• Eugene, Oregon
4 Sep 16
In your area, probably not. We went to play this afternoon and were able to buy tickets as we went in. It was great.
2 people like this
• United States
5 Sep 16
You're right. I stayed home today. I'm going out all week when others will be at work. The roads will be fine.
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
4 Sep 16
I stay tucked in at home @ElizabethWallace because I don't want to put up with the nuts on the road.
2 people like this
• United States
4 Sep 16
I won't go near a freeway on a weekend, let alone a holiday.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
4 Sep 16
This was inevitable with so many people not having to worry about working tomorrow.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
6 Sep 16
We didn't go anywhere this weekend so I'm not sure how the traffic was. We just spend a quiet and relaxing weekend at home.
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9041)
• United States
8 Sep 16
I think it will be busy, I usually hide for holiday weekends. to much traffic and to many people.
@antonbunot (11091)
• Calgary, Alberta
9 Sep 16
LOL . . . Same in Canada . . three-day weekend coz of labor day. 25 years ago Calgary was not that big as far as population is concerned. Now in the Calgary City proper alone, the population is more than one million. So many cars!
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
10 Sep 16
I gave up going out on National holidays simply because I do not like the idea of spending three or four hours in traffic jams getting to the seaside. We tend to do things at home on those days and have a much better and stress free time.
@DianneN (247105)
• United States
18 Sep 16
Although I was in the house with my hubby and couldn't go anywhere, I could think of one good place you could visit. My small, quiet, New England town. We never have tourists, and I like it that way.
@Macarrosel (7498)
• Philippines
4 Sep 16
Good idea for walking in the mall. I hope,the mall is not busy like the highways.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
4 Sep 16
I avoid traveling on holiday weekends because of the crowds.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40061)
• Laguna Woods, California
7 Sep 16
I went to the Farmer's Market and walked around Laguna Beach early on Saturday morning and it was fine. The rest of the weekend, we stayed home and did projects around the house this weekend. I'm sure it was crazy on Monday!