Family Vacation Ideas

[keithjbell]

Does anyone have any good ideas for a family vacation. Lindsey and I are having our 5 year anniversary in August so we wanted to go on a trip to celebrate. Since having Rylan we haven't had a chance to do any real traveling and so we don't really know what to expect traveling to be like with him. So here are my questions.

1. Should we fly or drive somewhere? I see positive and negative to both.

2. What is a good place to go and enjoy scenery and relax? We are saving all monuments and theme parks for when Rylan gets a little older.

Thanks for sharing any advice or experiencing you may have had.

[mossimac]

Flying or Driving... both will be hard.  We drove to Colorado with Noah and even tried doing it through the night so he would sleep. BAD IDEA!  He was awake the whole time!  IT WAS MISERABLE!

But.... Totally worth it!  We had a blast and the ride home was a LOT easier!

No ideas on where to go though.  Love florida and Rylan could eat some sand ;-)

[satinahewett]

I would say drive vs fly.   I have not flown with my boys and my reasoning is because flying you have to stay on a very specific schedule.  So if he has any issues with it and your flights are only 30mins apart you don't have time to stop and do whatever he needs you too. Flying for me can even be stressful when our flights are close because of that rushed are we going to make it feeling and also if we wait in the airport for a long time that can get old too.  Flying a lot of lil ones have troubles with their ears not popping and if he cries you will all be stressed.  If you drive and he cries you can pull over or not feel so guilty about letting him cry when you know he just needs to go to sleep because there won't be anyone else to hear him. We start out early and plan for delays.  A quick 10min stop for you 2 will now take minimum 30mins!  We've gone to Washington DC and Colorado both were long trips.  DC we didn't allow enough free no drive time and we didn't allow the extra time for driving either. CO was much more relaxing because if the drive is 13hrs plan on it taking 18. If you make it there early GREAT!   Also don't make any big plans arrival day because you will be tired and he will be very tired but also anxious.  Use that day to get settled in your room and let him get familiar with it, I'm not saying spend the whole day in your room but do spend some time in there before you expect him to go to sleep.  I would suggest any place you could go on nature walks and stuff.  You 2 can get some peaceful time together and Rylan will love being outside looking at all the stuff around him.  I don't really know exactly where though. I make a list of things I need to pack for the kids a week or so before we need to pack that way I can go over it and have plenty of time to add and remove things.   Also, pack snacks if he is eating cheerios or something like that and some books and fav toys.  Pack the used sheets and blankets from his bed that way when you put him to bed at the hotel or whatever it will still smell like home.  If he falls asleep to music or something don't forget to bring it.  All of this is just ideas, it's stuff that's made it easier for us but every family is different so I am of course just offering it as a could use tip.  Also, we have 2 playpens/travel beds whatever you want to call them so if you don’t have one you are more than welcome to borrow ours.  Whatever you do don’t over plan and just have fun spending quality time together as a family!  No mater what you do you will remember it because it will be your first family trip

[Monica Walker]

I don't know if you have made a decission yet.  But when Isabella was little we flew with her several times and it always was a pretty good experience.  You just have to be prepared.  Driving is so hard on them because they are stuck in there seats for so much longer.  If you haven't decided what you are doing I have some good flying and driving tips just let me know.  Monica Walker

[Miss Carrie]

I've flown with a baby (which isn't that great) you need to do what sounds great to you. I will tell you about one place that Clay surprised me a few years after we were married with ( which I thought was amazing and beautiful.) You could easily take the baby. It was to Ponca Ark. We stayed in the most amazing log cabin where the Elk roamed freely. The cabin had a full kitchen and the view was spectacular. He had arranged for a hot air balloon ride but the weather was bad so that didn't happen (it was the thought that counted) anyway, it was an amazing, quiet weekend I will never forget.

[gdeardorff]

St. Louis is not the most exciting of all places, but it's actually really cool, close drive, and there are lots of free things to do there. The following are all neat and free: Zoo, Arch museum, Science center, Budweiser tour, and Grant's Farm...and I think the art and history museums both are too. You could spend 3 days doing those things easy. Plus, the arch, laclede's landing, and westport are all neat area's too.  There's also a place in Fenton just outside of St. Louis on I-44 about 30 minutes outside the city to drive through called Lone Elk Park. It's free, and you drive through and see elk and buffalo and deer. Fun on the way up or the way back. Plus, there's 6 Flags. So, lots to do on a budget, and not lots of driving. Check Hot Wire for hotels. We've found hotels for $30 a night before...and hotels downtown with an arch view for $60/night.