re: What are some memories from your young vacations to Grand Isle and other Louisiana areas?

I started going down there around since 1991 or so. I was about 5. My grand parents bought our camp and at the time it had no roof, windows, finished floors, or walls. Plumbing and electrical were incomplete. My grandfather, uncle, and dad finished it out. It was an old Exxon camp. I was down there this weekend. When I think back about what GI used to be like, it's almost unbelievable how much it's changed in the past 30 years, although somethings never change, because my dad and I are still working on that place.

As for old memories:
The fishing is not nearly as good. A lot more people, a lot less habitat equals a lot less trout. Caught limits on the regular as a kid. Admittedly, I don't get to fish as much now, but it's been a while since I've caught a limit.

Trash, rusted out cars, falling apart buildings. Everywhere. The beach looked like a city dump. There would be everything you could imagine on that beach. Dead animals (not just fish), furniture and structures, all sorts of garbage and debris.

It's not there anymore, but a building my younger brother used to call "the upside down camp" because the building was on the ground and it had pilings sticking up out of it.

No water pressure on holiday weekends.

Everyone claiming to have encountered Whitey Bulger.

The power going out randomly and Cigars being the only place to eat.

There were puddles/mud holes that seemed to never dry, ever. Mosquitos the size of seagulls. I don't recall a single paved road other than LA1 when I was kid. I really think everything was gravel or dirt.