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"Reflections about summer places which intersperses the writer's recollections of childhood with the history of resort development in North America. "Taking the waters" at springs and spas was always popular in Europe. The first American resorts were often near springs. They were intended to further a person's physical and spiritual health, though worldly pleasures, like gambling, grew up near them. Vacation habits depended on available transportation. Early resorts were accessible by ship. Later steamships, railroads, cars and airplanes opened up new areas and enabled more people to take vacations. Railroad companies in the 19th century promoted scenic areas and built plush hotels near the tracks in order to increase passenger traffic. Tells about the promotional effort that accompanied the building of the railway through the Canadian Rockies. Cars and airplanes democratized summer travel until people began talking about summer places as "second homes." Writer recollects scenes from his own childhood summers at his parents' homes in Connecticut: a birthday party, going to an amusement park called Savin Rock, a housewarming, watching a boat searchlight from his bed at night. Writer wonders if summers claim such a large part of our memory because the fabric of family affection is woven more in summer than any other season." --