From Banana Bikes to Beepers: Counting Down the Best Decades

We asked y’all which decade was the best to grow up in, and the answers came pouring in. From bell bottoms to boy bands, every generation had a story — but one era stood out above the rest. Here’s the countdown, from least-mentioned to the community favorite.

#6: The 1950s & 1960s

A handful of folks reached back to the mid-20th century. Jacque Bass Flory proudly cast her vote for the 50s, while Rickey Hood and Patsy Smith both said the 60s. Judie Gale went in-between with “mid 50’s to mid 60’s.”

Sandy Coffey Frost painted a vivid picture of the time: “Families were closer back then and I believe morals were better than now. Banana bikes and everything looked groovy. Embroidered jeans, military coats, rainbow suspenders, and bell bottoms.”

It was also the age of rock ’n’ roll breaking out, drive-in theaters on Friday nights, and Saturday morning cartoons starting to win kids over.

#5: The 2000s

Not as many votes came in for the 2000s, but they carried a special kind of nostalgia. Jill Brewington and Amy Mathenyhighlighted those early-millennium years, when TV was still king and social media hadn’t taken over yet.

Amy reflected: “I wish so badly I could raise my kids like it was the 90s all over again!” But the early 2000s still delivered — flip phones, MySpace pages, boy bands topping the charts, and the excitement of logging into AOL Instant Messenger after school.

#4: The 1990s

Now we’re talking — the 90s got plenty of love. Crystal Cox shouted “90s!!” while Samantha Faith Alexander added, “The 90s — but if I had to pick a decade I didn’t grow up in I’d be a hippie child.”

The 90s brought flare-legged jeans, cassette tapes, and Saturday mornings glued to Nickelodeon or Disney Channel. Beepers, Blockbuster rentals, and the rise of boy bands and grunge all shaped the decade. And behind the scenes, the internet was slowly starting to change everything.

#3: The 1970s

The 70s had a strong showing, with votes from Carole Hemen, SteveMelissa Harrison, Bob Burns, Mark Dawson, and many others. Andy Bradford joked: “The 70’s — because we had the ultimate in fashion for men…the leisure suit worn with an open-neck shirt! And everyone had lots of hair!”

Sherree Owen Borden remembered the soundtrack of her childhood: “My uncle could play any instrument by ear and have his friends over to jam on the weekends. Still to this day, 70’s music is my favorite.”

It was also the era of disco nights, tie-dye shirts, shag carpets, and Woodstock vibes. The 70s were all about freedom of expression — and a whole lot of polyester.

#2: The 90s–2000s Crossovers

Some folks couldn’t commit to just one decade, choosing those sweet transition years where the best of both overlapped. Jeanie Nelson summed it up: “85–95, about half and half lol.”

Others mixed their fashion tastes across eras. Kayla Childers laughed: “90s/2000s… but my hair and love for flare legged jeans would have really slayed back in the 70s/80s.”

From MTV music videos still going strong to the first wave of internet chat rooms, this crossover era showed how cultural lines blurred as technology, fashion, and music shifted into a new age.

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#1: The 1980s 🎉

And the crown goes to…the 80s!

Dozens of commenters proudly staked their claim here. Susan Rittenberry declared: “There is no question—80s!”Tammy Harris agreed: “70’s & 80’s had amazing music, clothes which are now back in style and even some of the hairstyles. Times were a lot simpler then.”

From neon colors to mixtapes, arcades to MTV, the 80s had it all. Jerri Wilbanks Ray nailed the vibe: “Best music, hair, clothes… no cell phones, no Life360. It was a wonderful time to be a teen!”

It was also the decade of mall culture, Saturday morning cartoons at their peak, and blockbuster movies like E.T., Back to the Future, and Star Wars sequels that defined a generation.

Wrapping It Up

No matter which decade you grew up in, one thing’s clear: childhood nostalgia is timeless. Whether it was banana bikes in the 60s, disco balls in the 70s, big hair in the 80s, or boy bands in the 90s, every era had something special.

And while the 80s came out on top, the truth is — the best decade to grow up in will always be your decade.