Entries in Call Newspapers’ My Favorite Vacation Contest this year seemed to reflect a trend toward shorter drives and more family time rather than sightseeing.

Included this year were such entries as one from Affton’s Patricia Brainard, who wrote of a drive from her former home in Davenport, Iowa, to St. Louis with her mother and a parakeet named Pete when she was “16 or 17.”

She shared a story about getting lost as they tried to find the St. Louis Zoo that many visitors to this area might find similar to their experience.

Another entry involved an auto tour to Prairie du Chien, Wis.

Jeanne Moran of Oakville wrote about the proverb of vacations by two brothers. The wealthy brother toured the world while the poor brother toured his garden.

“No matter where you are, you can and should take time to relax,” Moran wrote.

Genevieve Dwiggins, one of last year’s contest winners, wrote about a trip to Europe for this year’s contest.

She booked passage on the Queen Mary and began a trip that would be highlighted by encounters with Aristotle Onassis and Winston Churchill.

“One of my friends nudged me and said: ‘Look to your right and see who you’re standing next to.’ To my surprise, it was Sir Winston Churchill, cigar — unlit — in his mouth and only slightly taller than me at 5 feet, 4 inches. What a day.”

As in past years, those selected for feature articles in this edition can claim their prizes from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Call’s office, 9977 Lin Ferry Road, St. Louis, Mo. 63123.