Tag: roadtrip

Things to Do in Kauai with Kids

Kauai has long been high on my list of destinations to visit. Having just moved from the East Coast to the West Coast last summer, a trip to Kauai suddenly became much more feasible for our family of four when it was no longer a 12+ hour journey. When time came to plan our spring break, I did some quick research and within hours had my family of four booked (flights + hotel) for a week long stay in Kauai for next to zero dollars out of pocket. A busy work schedule coupled with two kids in different schools prevented me from doing as much research as I would have liked, prior to our trip to Kauai. Thus, we ended up embarking on a relatively unscheduled and unplanned week in Kauai, with just broad notions as to what we would like to do, but not actually having activities scheduled in prior to departure. We ended up having a ast in Kauai and I would say it is one of my Top 5 Family Vacations – perhaps even Top 3! Here’s my list of things to do in Kauai with kids!

1. Shaka Guide North Shore Kauai Driving Tour

Shaka Guide offers guided GPS tours on four Hawaiian Islands: Oahu, Big Island, Maui, and Kauai. In 2013, my family visited Maui with our then 4 year old and did purchase a guided CD tour of the Road to Hana. I don’t believe Shaka Guide was available at the time, but given the rave reviews online, I decided to download the Shaka Guide prior to our trip to Kauai and it turned out to be a great decision. The Shaka Guide North Shore Kauai Driving Tour provides three hours of audio guidance and although my husband was skeptical at first, it ended up introducing us to some of the highlights of our trip, including the “Gilligan’s Island” Beach and our hike down to “Secret Beach,” all of which we likely would not have found had it not been for the Shaka Guide.

Gilligan’s Island Beach; likely my favorite beach on the planet.

The walk down to Secret Beach; we followed a woman carrying a surfboard on her head because, of course we did.

Secret Beach

The beaches we experienced as part of the Shaka Guide were so great that we ended up planning a whole day around a return trip to one of the featured beaches, Gilligan’s Island Beach. Our Shaka Guide tour ended up being approximately 3.5 hours, including numerous stops and hikes down to various places, like Secret Beach, so for $10, it was money well spent. Our kids enjoyed it as we were definitely off the beaten path in Kauai.

2. Kayak Hanalei Bay

One of the fun memories I have of my pre-college years is kayaking with my brothers. When I was in high school, we had some crazy kayaking adventures in Catalina Island and San Diego. Suffice it to say, kayaking is high on my list of things to do, anywhere we are, and my husband and kids have become accustomed to my building in kayaking time wherever we are.

Kayaking Hanalei Bay was one of the kayaking adventures I was really hoping to experience in Kauai. Although my four year old has kayaked with us before (usually as the middle person on a two person kayak), I didn’t know if he’d be able to go the distance as part of a larger kayaking excursion. Kayak Hanalei offer double kayak rentals at $60/day for pre-1pm rentals and at a reduced price of $45 for post-1pm rentals. After a morning spent exploring the North Shore, I decided that we might as well see how my four year old would do on the kayak. Given that it was after 1pm, we paid $90 for two, double kayak rentals, which came complete with wet bags.

He was so comfy, he fell asleep on the ride down to the confluence and had to be shaken awake

To my surprise, we had a fabulous time! We barely made it back by closing time, 5pm, as we decided to extend our little kayaking excursion from the bay to the confluence; but long story short, we saw sea turtles, disembarked to enjoy a snack (and beer for the adults), and just overall enjoyed being out on the water. I highly recommend this adventure with kids.

3. Spend the Day at the Beach

My husband and I are busy people who like to be on the go when we are on vacation. Our kids, however, can happily spend the day at the beach. We made sure to build in plenty of beach time and Kauai’s unspoiled beaches were the perfect backdrop.

To get the most of our beach days, we actually spent a few dedicated beach days going from beach to beach. Some beaches offered protected areas for snorkeling and others were just good for general lounging. We simply packed a picnic lunch, stocked up on towels from the hotel, and took off for the day. Apply sunscreen as I definitely got a bit singed one day!

4. Coffee Plantation

Lyndgate Farms chocolate farm on Kauai offers a three hour “branch to bar” tour and tasting. Knowing full well that tour wouldn’t hold my kids’ attention, we skipped right to the important part: the chocolate tasting. Lyndgate Farms offers free tasting of all its chocolates and my kids each got to pick their favorite. We purchased a number of bars and I was glad to see they came with complimentary cooler bags to keep them from melting. My kids also enjoyed swinging on the giant swing in the parking lot, before getting back in the car.

5. Attend a Luau

Although I’ve been to Hawaii a handful of times, I never attended a luau until this trip. Although hokey and probably not worth the money to experience again, I’m glad we did it this time. As an added bonus, my kids loved the fire dance.

6. Take a hike!

There are a number of great hiking opportunities in Kauai and we took full advantage of these great adventures. On a rainy morning, we took a short hike near our hotel in Kapaa, and the boys not only managed the whole thing on their own two legs, but had a great time as well.

Anyone else hearing the Jurassic Park theme song here?

7. Hawaii Shave Ice

No trip to Hawaii is complete without Hawaii Shave Ice. We happened to stumble across Jo Jo’s, a Kauai classic, after a long hike up Waimea Canyon, and were happy to partake.

8. Miniature Golf

Mini-golfing at Kauai Mini Golf, located at Anaina Hou Park is a wonderful way to spend a few hours with kids. Not only is the course littered with native plants, but my kids really enjoy mini golfing, something that we rarely get to do in the hustle and bustle of daily life.

9. Visit Waimea Canyon

We spent a full day hiking Waimea Canyon and absolutely loved the experience even with our four year old in tow. But, for those who aren’t up for the day long hike, know that there are plenty of ways to experience Waimea by car. There’s not only a great lookout near the main parking area, but we took a tour down a road (that ended up leading to a restricted military base) and climbed a random hill (yes! all four of us) where we were treated to some amazing views. Do it. You won’t regret it.

10. Sunset Cruise of the Napali Coast

Experiencing the Napali Coast was a non-negotiable item on my list of things to do in Kauai. I’m glad we were able to find a vehicle in which to do it — Captain Andy’s Na Pali Sunset Cruise. Click here for my review of Captain Andy’s Na Pali Sunset Cruise.

Our family trip to Kauai was such an amazing experience that I really think I’ll be hard pressed to ever be persuaded to go on a beach vacation somewhere else. I hope our list of things to do in Kauai with kids will help inform your trip to Kauai!

June 21, 2019
Fall Getaway: Visiting Shenandoah National Park With Kids

Guest Blogger: Sandra Kozera is a Pittsburgh native who backpacked around Europe with Catherine ages ago. She is a lawyer and member of the North Hills School Board.

Almost every fall, our family travels to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with some family friends. It’s a beautiful area all year round, but it’s especially amazing when the leaves are changing. Now, obviously a National-Park-destination trip has the capacity to be a pretty fun outdoorsy sort of adventure for the right sort of people (such as my friend who went on her honeymoon there last year). However, we are not very outdoorsy, and our children are still relatively young (currently 8 and 5), but we’ve still enjoyed going almost annually since before the eight year old was born. Because we’ve done this trip so many times, we have some pretty good hacks for how to enjoy the park and enjoy nature without needing to even consider whether we should tie our food up in a tree so that bears don’t get it. We love visiting Shenandoah National Park with kids.

On the Way to Shenandoah National Park

We live in Pittsburgh, and we drive to the park – it’s about a five hour trip for us. Because car travel with small children can often be fraught with disaster, one year I decided to see if there was a farm where we could stop on the way, and we discovered Orr’s Farm Market in Martinsburg, West Virginia. This is now my favorite farmer’s market. What I look for in a good farmer’s market: interesting things to do, minimal crowds, lots of produce. There are hayrides, animals, tons of apples, tons of pumpkins, and a whole area where kids can play, which is super important after hours of driving. I’ve definitely thought about going to Orr’s just on a random Saturday even though it’s a three hour drive.

We also always stop at Buffalo Wild Wings while we are in Martinsburg. I like to take small children to loud restaurants, and this one definitely fits the bill.

Visiting the Shenandoah National Park Area

Shenandoah National Park is located entirely in Virginia, and it is long, stretching from near Front Royal to Staunton. We typically stay in the Harrisonburg/Luray area, which is about at the midway point. There are lodges and campsites in the park, but we usually stay outside the park. We really enjoy the Mountainside Villas at Massanutten, which is practically a destination itself – there is a pool, a golf course, miniature golf, hiking trails, and a variety of other seasonal activities.

We have also stayed at the Shenandoah Valley KOA Kampground, which is lovely if you want to be slightly more outdoorsy but don’t want to deal with staying in the actual park. KOA has cabins as well as tent camping, so we could enjoy a campfire and s’mores when we stayed here.

Harrisonburg is home to James Madison University, and it is a great, walkable little town. Bella Luna Wood-Fired Pizza has a delightful pizza menu and thorough beer selection, and nearby Bella Gelato & Pastries features inventive ice cream selections. There are also a number of chain restaurants, big-box stores, various grocery stores – so you can basically replace everything you accidentally left at home all within a short drive of where you are staying. And there’s a large Barnes & Noble in case you need a book.

Visiting the Shenandoah National Park – Skyline Drive

In order to see the park, you’re going to need to spend some time in your car. Driving at least part of the 105-mile-long Skyline Drive is an amazingly beautiful journey. There are a number of scenic overlooks. Some are spectacular, so definitely be prepared to pull over at a moment’s notice to take in the view.

Shenandoah National Park Best Hikes

There are a ton of hiking trails, but it’s hard (for me, anyway) to tell from maps which ones will be appropriate or interesting for children. I recommend two – the Limberlost Trail, which is an easy, flat hike of about 1.3 miles, and the Dark Hollow Falls Trail, which is an out-and-back waterfall destination hike. Dark Hollow is hilly and may not be appropriate for the littlest legs, but the waterfall views are amazing. There are some flat trails in the Skyland area, but the scenery in that area is somewhat stark – still, it’s a nice easy place to stretch your legs.

Shenandoah National Park Restaurants

Food is available at Big Meadows and at Skyland. Skyland’s Pollock Dining Room has a nice sit-down restaurant with lovely views, but they open at 12 for lunch, and there is often a line, so plan for that accordingly. There’s also a gas station in Big Meadows if you happen to blow out your tire and need someone to help you put on your spare (just theoretically).

Visiting Shenandoah National Park in Fall

The temperature in the park is usually 5-10 degrees colder than it is outside the park in the fall, and in Skyland, it can be even colder. We go in mid to late October, and the park temperature has been everything from 80 degrees to 40 degrees, depending on the year. Basically pack all your clothes.

We are not going to Shenandoah this year, and we are going to miss it, but we will definitely be back. This is a great family trip.

October 5, 2018
Virginia With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

Guest Blogger: Cynthia, her husband, and two boys are Floridians who recently road tripped to Virginia where they quickly learned that Virginia is not “only” for lovers. The state offers so much rich history and fun stuff for a family to do. With her sons now of teenage age, their road trip to Virginia’s historical sites was the perfect opportunity to not only learn more about their country but to actually see and experience it in real life. For more on Cynthia and her family, visit Mackintosh Travels.

Getting to Virginia:

Our family has traveled extensively abroad, but we have not spent much time traveling within the United States. My husband is a history buff, so we decided to take our boys on an epic road trip from Florida to Virginia to visit Virginia’s amazing historical sites.

Our first stop was to pay a visit to the “world’s first successful combat submarine,” the Hunley, located in Charleston, South Carolina. Our tour guide was extremely informative and we enjoyed the experience.

Our next stop was at a fun town located literally on the border of North and South Carolina. What a fun place South of the Border is! Vibrant colors surround this mini-Mexico, and it was a fun road trip break to get out and stretch our legs. My boys loved the attractions and sights and we all enjoyed the opportunity to dine and shop a little.

Virginia!

After 12+ hours in the car, we finally arrived in Virginia! We decided to head straight to our hotel, the Historic Powhatan Resort, which is owned by Diamond Resorts. Our goal was to rest and refresh in time to begin exploring Virginia’s historical sites. We stayed at this resort for the entire time we were in Virginia, so it was nice to have a place to come “home” to at the end of each day. We were able to make use of the swimming pool and hot tub on days we had extra time in the evenings.

While there was so much to see and do in Virginia, here are our top five fun family activities:

#1: Mount Vernon Estate

Mount Vernon was George Washington’s plantation home. This lush and well-manicured estate is situated next to the Potomac River. It is not far from Washington, D.C. which makes it an easy day trip. With school aged children, this was a really great opportunity to make history come to life! My teenage boys were amazed to experience first-hand what Colonial America in Washington’s time was like rather than reading about this era in a history book.

Mount Vernon Estate is made up of many different components. The mansion is the actual living quarters of our first President and General, George Washington. The first two floors are available for general touring (there is a third floor, which requires an additional admission fee). The mansion is well-preserved with period furniture so it looks just like it would have looked during Washington’s time, but photos are not allowed inside the mansion.

The outdoors, or the grounds of the Estate, are just as beautiful as the indoor mansion. There were several small buildings that comprised, among others, George Washington’s barn, carriage, tools, meat curing, spinning, and laundry facilities. The intricate gardens are also presently maintained and open for visitors to stroll through.

The icehouse is located along the Potomac River and although the icehouse is not available for touring because of its 22 foot drop, it was amazing to see its proximity to the Potomac River and to read about how it was used to make ice for the family. The Potomac River runs along the base of the Estate and, although Mount Vernon is located on the Virginia side, the other side is Maryland! My boys got a kick out of pointing to the other side. There are also special tours available to cruise on the Potomac River by boat.

Washington’s Tomb is also located on the Estate and it is a quiet place of reflection. George Washington lays on the right, and on his left, lays his wife, Martha Washington.

Kid Facts: Mount Vernon offers a special behind-the-scenes tour that takes visitors through a number of locations that were featured in National Treasure: Book of Secrets featuring Nicholas Cage. The Potomac River and the back of the Mansion are some of those scenes and while we were in the Mansion’s basement, we took this photo, not knowing it was not allowed – oops! When we got home, we watched the movie and paused at the point in the movie where the basement was shown so we could compare with our own photo.

#2: Virginia’s Historic Triangle (Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown)

source

Virginia’s Historic Triangle is comprised of Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown, which were all important stops on our nation’s journey from English settlement to a new, independent nation. Connected by 23 scenic miles, the three towns are jointly administered by the National Park Service and The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Tickets to all three sites can be booked via this website.

Tickets to experience the Historic Triangle can be expensive, but we really wanted to experience first-hand Colonial America, so we decided in advance to spend one full day at each location.

Yorktown:

The Battle of Yorktown ended on October 19, 1781 and marked a decisive victory by the American and French armies over British troops led by General Cornwallis. The battle not only boosted faltering American morale and revived French enthusiasm for the American Revolutionary War, but it helped undermine popular support for the conflict in England. During our tour of the battlefield, a National Park employee explained the battle, sights, and surrender flags situated throughout the battlefield. We loved being able to spatially orient ourselves and imagine the 18th century scene.

The American Revolution Museum is an outdoor living museum with people dressed in period costumes, illustrating how people in that time period would have lived from day to day. Officially dedicated on April 1, 2017, the museum boasts 22,000 square feet of exhibition space with films, interactive galleries, and artifacts.

Just outside the main museum building is the Revolution-era farm site, complete with log kitchens and attached brick chimneys.

The museum posted procession times and we decided to hang around outside so we could catch it live. The fife and drums procession was absolutely amazing to hear live!

Jamestown Settlement:

Like the American Revolution Museum, Jamestown Settlement is a living history museum that visitors can walk through and get a first-hand feeling of what life was like during the time of the Revolution. It is a preserved piece of history situated in the heart of Virginia and consists of an expansive gallery, three re-created ships that visitors may climb aboard and explore, and numerous cafes and shops. The Jamestown settlement ships were the highlight of this stop and we loved being able to climb aboard and experience the small, but efficient ships.

We also enjoyed visiting Powhatan Indian Village, a re-created Indian village featuring reed-covered houses, crops, and a ceremonial circle of carved wooden posts.

The Jamestown Settlement also contains the re-created James Fort, a recreation of the Virginia Company of London’s 1610-14 outpost.

Colonial Williamsburg:

Colonial Williamsburg was the highlight of our Virginia’s Historic Triangle experience. It was like nothing I have ever seen! One minute, I was in modern day 21st century and the next minute, I had time traveled and stepped into the past. Visiting Colonial Williamsburg is an amazing teaching experience for children, and it is definitely worth setting aside a full day for the experience and favoring Colonial Williamsburg over Yorktown and Jamestown. Make sure to wear good walking shoes as there is a lot of ground to cover!

Colonial Williamsburg is a re-created 18th century city and is the world’s largest living history museum. There are over 40 sites and trades, four historic taverns, and two world-class museums on site.

The Colonial Williamsburg website is a critical resource in planning any visit. There are suggested interest-based itineraries, a full events calendar, and even a list of must do activities for first timers.

We particularly enjoyed the opportunity to go on a horse carriage ride and we also sat in on a mock trial session that my kids were able to participate in. If I had more time, I would have liked to have participated in a wool spinning class, but even with dedicating a full day to the experience, there was so much to do that I did not have time to work it in.

#3: The American Civil War Museum and the Confederate White House

Located in Richmond, the White House of the Confederacy was the Executive Mansion of the Confederacy from 1861-1865, when Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy. During the Civil War, the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, lived in this home, and it is from here that he fled just before the surrender of Robert E. Lee’s Army at Appomattox.

The White House houses a collection of objects associated with the Confederacy and President Davis, and a contemporary museum in the building houses many other Confederate artifacts, including Robert E. Lee’s field tent and Stonewall Jackson’s sword and cap.

#4: Naval Station Norfolk

The Naval Station Norfolk is located in Norfolk, Virginia, the southeastern corner of the state. It is home to the world’s largest naval base and we were able to tour the base and see many ships, aircraft carriers, and destroyers. The tours are conducted by naval personnel and last 45 minutes and cost (cash only) $10 for adults and $5 for children 3-11, senior citizens over the age of 60. Although we could not get up close to the ships, it was a good opportunity to get a feel for what it is like to live on base. The entire experience took about three hours.

#5: Busch Gardens and Water Country

Although not a historical site, we decided to indulge in a visit to Busch Gardens and Water Country near the end of our trip. Living in Florida, we are no stranger to water parks, but even though we have Busch Gardens and Adventure Island, Busch Gardens in Williamsburg had a much different vibe. Throughout the park, there were different countries represented, and we enjoyed visiting the different themed areas. Water Country was also much bigger than we expected and overall, we had a great day experiencing the parks.

Final Thoughts?

As we neared the end of our trip, we could not have imagined it going any better than it did. We had a wonderful time learning about our country together and our 10-day road trip turned into a full semester of historical learning. For families with school-aged children, I highly recommend taking a trip to experience Virginia’s vibrant history!

March 26, 2018
The Road Less Traveled: Upper Peninsula, Michigan With Kids!

Almost everyone I know has been to Michigan at some point in their life, but I know very few people who have been to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula!

The Upper Peninsula is the northern of the two major peninsulas that make up the U.S. state of Michigan. It may also be referred to as the UP or Upper Michigan. The peninsula is bounded on the north by Lake Superior, on the east by the St. Marys River, on the southeast by Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, and on the southwest by Wisconsin.

The Upper Peninsula contains 29% of the land area of Michigan but just 3% of its total population. Residents are frequently called Yoopers (derived from “U.P.-ers”) and have a strong regional identity. Large numbers of French Canadian, Finnish, Swedish, Cornish, and Italian immigrants came to the Upper Peninsula, especially the Keweenaw Peninsula, to work in the area’s mines and lumber industry. The peninsula includes the only counties in the United States where a plurality of residents claim Finnish ancestry.^[1]source

Getting to the Upper Peninsula, or the UP of Michigan, is, of course, the biggest obstacle to actually visiting. It is approximately four hours driving distance from Ann Arbor, MI to Allenville, MI, one of the first towns after you cross the Mackinac Bridge and enter the Peninsula. So, any visit to the UP automatically begins as a road trip up north!

source

Note that pedestrians are not permitted on the bridge, except during the Labor Day walk when the governor leads walkers in walking the five miles across the bridge. If you happen to be driving through during Labor Day weekend, schedule some extra time to allot for the delays or join the walk yourself!

Our visit to the Upper Peninsula took place in the late summer and we rented a small cottage along the Anna River, just a few miles south of Munising, which sits on the southern shore of Lake Superior. The cabin itself, the Anna River Cottage, appears to no longer be available for rent, but I encourage you to look around as a quick glance at VRBO and Homeaway suggests there are a number of options at very reasonable rates.

Anna River

The stream behind the house, the Anna River, is a perfect stream for young anglers – there is a nice flow, but it’s not too deep or fast.

During our visit, we took a quick drive to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, which remains one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited and was less than two miles from our cabin.

With over 100 miles of trails, the Lakeshore is stunning, however, it’s not place I would recommend with young children unless you’ve done extensive prior research on the trails as many are located on cliffs. Although, we visited in the late summer when the weather was still quite pleasant, it does get cold up in the UP very quickly and we could see traces of one of the major wintering activities as we drove through the Lakeshore: snowmobiling! Indeed, snowmobiling in Upper Michigan is quite popular and we saw numerous places where you could rent equipment and/or arrange for guided trips. Although our boys are still young, I would definitely consider returning to the UP in the winter when they are older so we can snowmobile.

In addition to the Lakeshore, we also enjoyed driving through the various scenic areas where often found ourselves in the midst of birch forests.

source

The trees are tall and thin with white bark and grow very close together in a dense forest. Being so far north, the landscape was definitely different from anything we had ever seen in the southern/western United States.

Finally, the thing we enjoyed most about traveling to the UP was that it was so quiet and peaceful. Unlike the other trips we have taken “out west” — Yellowstone, Yosemite, even Denali — there is literally no traffic in the UP and very few tourist attractions, if any, once you get past the Mackinac Bridge. We never ate dinner out one time during our four night stay, rather, we just stopped by the local grocery and picked up a few items and either prepared a simple meal at home or over the fire pit. We did manage to work in a sampling of the “pasty,” which is like a calzone/meat pie.

source

There are different fillings you can choose, but we loved the simple meat and potato option. These also made excellent items to pack with us and take on our hike – the perfect portable meal.

Although Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is remote and difficult to visit, if you find yourself with the time and opportunity to do so, I definitely would! I’ve always wondered about that slice of Michigan hanging around up north all by itself. The added bonus, of course, is that if you’re interested in hiking and camping, you can get a lot of that done in the UP without spending a lot of time negotiating tourist traps or other drivers in traffic. Although an Upper Peninsula vacation might not be automatically what people think of when they think of ideal family getaways, there are plenty of things to do in the Upper Peninsula and our family trip to “UP MI” ranks high on our list of favorite getaways!

February 7, 2018

The Final Frontier Part IV: The Ins and Outs of Traveling via RV to Alaska With Kids!

Of the 50 states, Alaska is the one least traveled. Located in the most northwestern extremity of North America, Alaska is “out of the way” and unlike Hawaii, with its gorgeous beaches, is often relegated to the bucket list of items that never get completed. Those who decide to travel to Alaska, however, typically fall into one of two camps: the cruisers or the road trippers.

In July of 2016, my family of four, along with my in-laws, traveled to Alaska in celebration of my father-in-law’s milestone birthday and to cross off my husband’s 50th state with his parents! The 49th state was Hawaii, which we visited with my in-laws in September 2013. I’ve written previously about our experiences in Seward, Talkeetna/Denali National Park, and Wrangell-St. Elias, but this post is dedicated strictly to the ins and outs of road tripping in a large RV for those of you who have never done it but may be interested in exploring a large RV as an option in the future.

Choice of Vehicle:

The first crucial decision to make is what vehicle to take? There are a number of options beginning with a vehicle you already own, a rental SUV or minivan, or any number of trailer/rv type vehicles that you can pull behind or drive independently. My in-laws strongly considered pulling a fifth wheel camper behind a pick up truck they already owned (the “fifth” wheel is the hitch in the bed of the truck), but my father-in-law had long dreamed or road tripping to Alaska in an RV and a necessary part of this dream involved eating sandwiches and reading a book on the Alaska Highway as my mother-in-law did the driving.

A Fifth Wheel Camper that can be pulled behind a pick up truck.

Source

In researching their RV options, my in-laws visited an RV Show and Camping Expo one full year prior to when they expected to take the trip. They did this knowing that they needed to fully research their options, order the vehicle, have it customized (if necessary), and take it on at least one trip prior to departing for Alaska. Given that they knew my husband and young son would be traveling with them, they wanted a large enough RV that everyone would be comfortable for the long trip and they ended up purchasing an FR3 RV They strongly considered purchasing an Airstream, but ultimately decided that the layout of the FR3 worked out better for them.

my husband in the driver’s seat of the FR3

The FR3 was massive and amazing and my son loved it. My in-laws however, ended up with mixed feelings about the RV. My husband reports that although it was very nice to drive and they had plenty of space, it was an extremely loud vehicle and they could not actually talk while driving because the noise of the vehicle prevented them from hearing one another clearly, even sitting side-by-side. Furthermore, my father-in-law’s dream of leisurely eating a sandwich while my mother-in-law did the driving did not come to fruition as the vehicle was too large for my mother-in-law to feel comfortable driving and, it turns out, they did not feel comfortable being unbuckled while the RV was moving on the road. Although it was nice to have the luxury of the FR3, especially in remote areas in Yukon, my husband’s overall verdict was that if given the opportunity to make this trip again, he would choose instead to drive a large SUV and stay at hotels or camp overnight in the wildness.

Pro-Tip: A key consideration for people with kids who don’t already RV is to do several low stakes nights close to home to learn everything before you are out in the middle of nowhere. Heck, this is a key consideration for anyone, kids or not!

The Itinerary:

During World War II, the Alaska Highway was built, connecting the lower United States to Alaska via Canada. Months prior to their departure, we purchased a copy of The Milepost, the definitive guide to traveling the Alaska Highway. My father-in-law used The Milepost and mapped out a route that would take the four of them from their starting point in Indianapolis, IN to their first destination in Alaska: Tok. Knowing that they would be traveling with a seven year old, my in-laws planned the journey to place over 11 days, with the longest day of just under 600 miles. The goal, of course, was to survive the journey without forever ruining road trips for my young son and so they built in at least one day in which they traveled only 120 miles and made sure to build in enough time for bike rides, tree climbing, and other leg stretching activities.

Climbing a tree after their first day of travel (500 miles down, many many more to go).

Their itinerary, with corresponding mileage, was as follows:

Indianapolis, IN
Unalaska, WI	500
Wall, SD	581
Mt Rushmore, SD	120
Lewistown, MT	463
Calgary, AB (Canada)	423
Grand Prairie, AB	443
Fort Nelson, BC	475
Lake Watson, YU	320
Destruction Bay, YU	432
Tok, AK	225

The Logistics:

One the trip was a go, my in-laws sprung to action in terms of planning the logistics. My father-in-law was in charge of the RV, making advance reservations at RV parks, ensuring that any and all equipment they might need for the RV was packed and ready and my mother-in-law was in charge of the packing of the RV and ensuring that they had the supplies they needed to make it to Alaska and back. With plenty of storage space, my mother-in-law purchased large plastic rubbermaid containers that fit snugly into the containers and began planning the items she would need. Among others, she needed to ensure that she had all the cooking and dining supplies they might need as well as whatever linens and other cleaning supplies they might need. To that end, one item I found and purchased for her was this 14-piece kitchen in a box set that provided her with many necessary kitchen items all packable into one neat little box.

source

Pro-tip: Make sure you pack your flatware in napkins or felt so that you aren’t driven crazy by jingling flatware on the road!

The Daily Routine:

Stopped for a light lunch of sandwiches.

The daily routine while on the road was relatively simple. Wake up, pack up, start driving. Stop for lunch somewhere (usually a light lunch of sandwiches or something else that can be easily prepared), drive some more, stop for the night. Once stopped for the night, they would “open” up the RV, which essentially meant opening up the various storage compartments to get out what they needed to make dinner.

The FR3 had so much storage space there was never any concern that they would not be able to bring along something they needed. Indeed, they packed their own portable grill, tables, seats, napkins, wine, flatware and dinnerware… pretty much anything you can think of.

In the evenings after dinner, they liked to play baseball or go for short bike rides around the RV park.

Once in the Yukon, they spent many evenings by the fire, roasting smores and just generally enjoying the midnight sun.

In terms of bedding down, my in-laws had a king bed in the back of the RV, with a sliding door that closed it off from the rest of the RV. The dining table opened up and turned into my son’s full-sized bed. My favorite bed, however, is the one my husband slept in. His bed dropped down from the roof ceiling and was literally suspended over the front driver/passenger seats!

As you can imagine, therein so much to remember to do every morning in terms of tidying up and making sure you secure all belongings. I wasn’t surprised to learn that there’s actually a thing called pre-departure checklists that you can print out and bring (even laminated!) along with you on your trip to ensure that you do everything needed prior to pulling away. Sample lists can be found online and include everything from reminders to “put away lawn chairs” to turning on/off your water pump! I know that my in-laws had a pre-departure check list that they followed every morning prior to getting back on the road.

The RV Scene:

In general, my family found the RV scene to be severely lacking. Not only were the RV parks in the United States generally run down and nothing more than glorified parking lots with hook ups, the atmosphere was also lacking. My husband reports that the main evening activity was to sit outside of the RV and watch tv. Needless to say, after a long day of driving and being cooped up in the RV, my family was desperate for something active to do, but they seemed to be in the minority.

In contrast to RV parks in the United States, the provincial parks in Canada were amazing. Not only were they in wooded and semi-private spots (versus in a parking lot right next to another RV), the surrounding scenery was beautiful and there was always an excellent firepit to roast marshmallows late into the night. My family absolutely loved the provincial parks in Canada and would recommend it for anyone looking to camp, RV or otherwise. Unlike US campgrounds, they generally provide free, well-seasoned firewood. The Alaska state campgrounds were also great for camping, but in general commercial, for-profit US RV parks left something to be desired.

Other Considerations:

The major drawback to driving an RV to/from/around Alaska is that it is a large, unwieldy vehicle. Although the FR3 was a nice and spacious ride for the long drive to and from Ohio, my family ended up needing to rent two vehicles during our stay in Seward and Talkeetna. Moreover, my family elected to fly into Wrangell-St.Elias because although the road from Chitina (where they parked the RV) to Wrangell-St.Elias is only 60 miles, it would have taken hours for the RV to make the trip. As a result, unless you are willing to restrict yourself to RV friendly roads, traveling via RV will require additional expenses, like a rental vehicle and paying for a “parking spot” for the RV, should you choose to leave it behind. Although parking the RV in an RV park without hook ups costs approximately $10-20/day, parking an RV at a location with full hook ups can cost upwards of $50-75/day. In other words, an RV is hardly a “free” way too travel and stay. It may be slightly less expensive than a hotel room, but it also has significant draw backs and I would recommend that anyone looking to save money do the math very carefully to determine whether or not they will actually save money by traveling via RV.

Final Thoughts?

My family loved the RV experience and my son still talks about it fondly. But, having done the great journey to and from Alaska, I believe they are ready to put the RV days behind them. My husband has said that he would love to drive the Yukon and British Columbia with me someday, but that we will be traveling via SUV and staying at lodges, instead of an RV. And that’s just fine with me.

Pin it to Pinterest!

December 9, 2017

Tips for Road Trips with Kids

I am not a fan of road trips, but we are a family who road trips. We live 300+ miles away from family and travel to see them at least five times a year. We also occasionally add on a road trip component to a vacation, like we did earlier this year when we drove from Los Angeles to Monterey and back, either because of flight costs or because we simply want to see things that we otherwise would not be able to if we didn’t spend time driving. As a result, we easily spend 3,000 miles a year in the car. That’s a lot of miles on the road with toddlers/kids/dogs. Over the years, we have learned a number of tips for road trips with kids!

#1: Start Early

First road trip to South Carolina before he was one month old!

My kids spend a lot of time in the car. We live in a major metropolitan area with tons of traffic and our daily commute to daycare/school can be anywhere from 30 minutes to 90 minutes, depending on traffic, weather, general conditions. As a result, my kids are used to being in the car for at least 90 minutes a day from birth. We also started road trips early – when my oldest was less than four weeks old, we drove 9+ hours (over 500 miles) to South Carolina for a family reunion. Both kids traveled to my in-laws (300+ miles) by the time they were two months old. Starting early not only gets the kids used to being in the car, but also helped condition us to traveling by car with young children.

#2: Be Flexible

A longer than usual stop at a Walmart to stretch our legs. I’ve been known to pick up household essentials while stopped to save me from having to run to the store when we get home!

As everyone knows, kids go through phases and they include everything from sleeping through the entire car ride to screaming the minute they see a car seat. As a result, it’s important to be flexible. We have woken up our toddler at 3am to begin the drive to my in laws to avoid holiday traffic or simply in the hopes that he would stay asleep and sleep through a portion of the car ride. We’ve also driven through the night to avoid traffic and taken strange detours (including stopping for lunch at our local Walmart) simply to give sthe kids a chance to stretch their legs.

#3: Be Prepared

Being prepared is critical to a successful road trip with kids. Being prepared means having all your essentials ready and easily accessible – diaper bags packed and within reach, a general plan as to where your stops will be, including where you will stop for a meal, factoring in other needs such as potty breaks and nap times.

Devices: I also make sure that we have fully charged and loaded iPads prior to trips. Family practice when it comes to screen time varies and I applaud those parents who travel with kids without relying on devices, but this is the one time in which screen time is unlimited. I simply want to make sure we survive the trip with as few incidents as possible. If that means screen time, all the time, so be it. As a result, I spend a few minutes the night prior to any road trip ensuring that our iPads are fully charges and loaded with the kids’ most recent tv/movie/cartoon obsession. I also double check to make sure my kids have their headphones packed so that my husband and I don’t go insane listening to whatever it is they’re watching in the backseat.

Snacks: Being prepared also includes having necessary items at the ready. For some families, this means a steady supply of snacks. Due to a choking incident when my oldest was three, I am not a fan of food in the car for young children. As a result, I typically don’t let my kids eat in the car and prefer instead to simply stop and let them snack / eat at rest stops. I have gotten more flexible as the kids have gotten older (so yes, my eight year old is allowed to eat in the car, but not when his 2.5 year old little brother is riding next to him), but as a general rule, we don’t snack in the car. Water is permitted, of course, provided it is in the appropriate vessel (leak-proof water bottle / sippy cup for my toddler who tends to drop everything).

Diapering Essentials: For those traveling with young children, diapering essentials are necessary. When both my kids were infants, I simply packed a regular pillow in the car and changed the kids on my lap in lieu of using a public diaper changing station of questionable sanitation. As they grew, I packed towels or swaddle blankets, or disposable changing liners, to lay on a patch of grass so I could change them outside, instead of in a grimy bathroom. For boys (and girls!), it’s helpful to master the art of the stand up diaper change so that for most bathroom incidents, there is no need to even enter a public bathroom. A potty training or newly potty trained toddler adds a new level of difficulty and stress. Although many people have luck bringing a portable potty seat along with them on long car rides, neither of my kids used the portable potty. As a result, I put my kids in “travel diapers” for long car rides (basically a regular diaper that is there for emergency situations), pack lots of wipes (including Chlorox wipes for sanitizing public toilet seats), and many, many changes of clothes and plastic bags for holding soiled clothes. Luckily, the newly potty trained stage is short lived, and as long as you plan regular stops, we have been fortunate to avoid having too many issues.

My toddler is prone to car sickness, so I purchased these plastic paint buckets to keep handy in situations where he gets sick before we can safely pull over.

Other Essentials: I happen to have a toddler who is prone to motion sickness, so I pack puke bags and plastic buckets (I’ve found plastic paint mixing buckets to be the perfect size and quality for this purpose!), which I keep within reach so I can hand them over to him when he feels ill. If your child has any special needs, you will want to have within easy and immediate access anything you might need in the event a situation arises. As any parent with kids knows, “other essentials” also includes things like lovies and blankets, pacifiers, special toys… basically anything that your kid might suddenly demand during a long car ride. If you pack your child’s favorite stuffed animal in the trunk and they need the toy in order to fall asleep, then you’ll find yourself stopped in a parking lot, frantically unpacking and digging around for the stuffed animal. I say this from experience – save yourself the heartache and frustration and make sure you have these essential items up front and easily accessible.

Having the emesis bags handy helped prevent a major disaster during our drive from Monterey to Los Angeles.

Adult Needs: It is important to make sure that adult needs are taken care of. When you’re stopped, take the time to use the restroom, get a drink of water or a bite to eat, grab some caffeine or music that you want to listen to on the radio… The most important thing is that your family arrives as its destination safely and making sure that the adults (especially the driver!) have their needs taken care of is a necessity. This is also useful because you don’t want to find yourself needing to pull over for a restroom if/when the kids finally fall asleep!

#4: Have a Sense of Humor

Having a sense of humor and knowing that the most important thing is to arrive at your destination safely is key. No matter what happens, know that someday, you’ll look back at the road trip memories fondly (or so they say!).

Mastering the art of the roadside vomit clean up…

November 26, 2017
Kids’ Blog: Driving Across Country to Alaska

Guest Blogger: Our kid blogger, Steve, is an eight year old boy who loves Legos, Harry Potter, and Minecraft. Steve also loves to travel because it is fun to see new things every single day.

Last summer, my dad, grandfather, grandmother, and I drove to Alaska in an RV. It was a very long and fun drive that took 11 days, starting in Indianapolis, Indiana and through Canada. Along the way, we saw lots of animals, went fishing and biking, and I even got to visit my cousins in Wisconsin. I am going to tell you about my four favorite things and my four funniest memories.

My Four Favorite Things

#1: Campfires

I liked traveling in the RV and having campfires outside. My dad would set up the campfires and we would roast hot dogs and marshmallows. I liked seeing how the campfires start off as regular wood and turn into fire and I liked being outside of the RV.

#2: Mount Rushmore

On July 4, we visited Mount Rushmore which was very very fun and cool. I took lots of pictures. I asked to go to Mount Rushmore because a friend had gone the year before and he said it was fun.

#3: Biking through Tok, Alaska

When we got to Alaska, the town we stayed in, Tok, we rode our bikes down to a restaurant that we ate at for dinner. It was a very fun bike ride because we got to ride through the whole town.

Biking to dinner in Tok, AK

#4: Playing Baseball

At night, we would play baseball. My dad was usually the pitcher and me and my grandma were the batters.

My Four Funniest Memories

#1: The Monkey in Mount Rushmore

At Mount Rushmore, I looked at the side of the mountain and it looks like the rocks made a monkey face.

Can you spot the monkey face?

#2: The Bear Butt

While we were on the drive, everyone saw a bear, but grandpa saw only the other end. We all laughed.

#3: Waking

One morning, I woke up and saw my dad washing the front windows of the RV. I was still in my pajamas.

#4: The Couch was my Bed

The couch in the RV can transform into a bed. It was my bed and it was very comfy.

Every night, we would turn the dining table/couch into my bed.

November 23, 2017
Fall Getaway: Visiting New England With Kids

New England is a quintessential fall getaway destination and a great place to take kids. The fall colors are brilliant and set against quaint towns. Even though fall color can be pretty spectacular in Ohio, we made New England trips in October 2008 and October 2016 to enjoy New England fall. My husband experienced fall for the first time when he lived in Connecticut for five years before we met and has so many fond memories of fall in New England that he wanted to share with our kids. We love visiting New England – our favorite New England destinations are Amherst, Massachusetts, where my aunt and uncle live, and New Haven, Connecticut, where my husband attended Yale’s School of Management.

The inherent planning problem with a fall foliage trip is that the timing and vibrance of fall colors varies from year to year and cannot be predicted in advance even if you consult a fall foliage map. Our 2008 trip coincided with my husband’s business school reunion at the height of an especially vibrant fall color that year. Our 2016 trip overlapped a school holiday and was a bit early for that season, which was never as vibrant as 2008.

The trek to New England by car for us is at least eight hours and the longest car journey we have attempted as a family. However, logistically, it is much easier to drive than fly, especially when we decided to add on stops in Princeton, New York City and Chautauqua in 2016. To make it easier on everyone, we try to leave in the late afternoon so that the kids are sleeping for the last few hours. That has worked for us with varying degrees of success.

Amherst Area

I have made a number of trips to the Amherst area over the years visiting my aunt and uncle who live nearby in Leverett. Because our oldest was only eight months old during our 2008 trip to New England, we were excited to have the chance to take our two, six and eight year old kids to explore the their farm and the nearby area. There are not a plethora of hotel options in the area, so we booked a room at the Howard Johnson’s, which was conveniently located as the closest hotel to their home. We booked through Priceline for $90. Although our stay was brief, we were pleasantly surprised by the hotel, which included a hot buffet breakfast that we were not aware of at the time we made the booking. There are a number of fun activities for families in the Amherst-area to enjoy at any time of the year.

Mount Sugarloaf

I always enjoy going to the highest point in a city or region and getting a birds-eye view of the area. Mount Sugarloaf in nearby South Deerfield is the perfect location for viewing the Connecticut River and fall foliage. Because it is possible to drive to the summit, it is easily accessible for families even with young children. Our trip there in 2008 had added excitement as we were there just a few days after the Mel Gibson movie Edge of Darkness had completed filming on site. The observation tower had been temporarily renovated and had not yet been returned to its pre-filming state.

View of the Connecticut River from Mount Sugarloaf

Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory

The Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens is a great place to take kids. Magic Wings includes a glass conservatory filled with absolutely beautiful butterflies. If you keep still, one may even land on your hand. In addition to the conservatory, there are a number of educational exhibits and an outdoor butterfly garden.

Hiking

There are also many opportunities for hiking. My aunt and uncle suggested a family hike at Rattlesnake Gutter, which was a perfect location for us to hike with the kids. It was mostly flat with a clear path and beautiful wooded scenery. We found some of the best colors there and collected a few leaves to iron flat to preserve. My daughter enjoyed the hike from the comfort of her carrier and even took a nap.

Because we live in the suburbs, our kids loved the opportunity to spend a day outside hiking and exploring my aunt and uncle’s farm. The pond had dried up after a dry summer, but we toured the barn and saw the cows that are kept on the property and just ran around and had fun.

The Amherst area is a great place for families to visit. Next time I go back, I want to check out the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. I think that my younger son, who is a big fan of Eric Carle and art in general, would particularly enjoy.

New Haven

Because my husband graduated from the Yale School of Management, a stop in New Haven is always on our agenda when we are in New England. New Haven is conveniently located between Amherst and New York City, so we booked a night at the Omni New Haven Hotel through Priceline at a nightly rate of $164. Although we arrived late and left early, we really enjoyed the Omni and the amazing view out of our window. It was centrally-located and well-appointed. The lobby is like a grand living room, and my boys played chess while waiting for us to check in.

My husband really wanted to enjoy a white clam pizza at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana. Unfortunately, they were out of clams when we called. We also wanted to go back to his favorite Thai restaurant where we ate lunch twice in 2008, but we were both bummed to find it closed. So, we were 0/2 on food nostalgia in New Haven. Luckily, the highlight of New Haven is really the Yale campus. I absolutely love the Collegiate Gothic architectural style. We were able to tour the gym, which has many aspects common in Gothic Revival architecture includes all the conveniences needed for a modern gym.

The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library was another fun stop on our campus visit. The stunning building has outer walls made of translucent marble that prevents the collection from being exposed to direct sunlight. This is one of the world’s largest libraries dedicated to rare books, and a complete copy of the Gutenberg Bible is on permanent display.

We also peeked inside the Sterling Memorial Library, which was also built in a Gothic Revival style and is reminiscent of a Gothic cathedral. It was so beautiful, I wanted to study inside.

No trip to Yale University is complete without a trip to the Yale University Official Bookstore for some Yale swag. Our boys have been wearing Yale baseball caps since their toddler days, and my husband hoped they would fall in love with the campus as he had. Of course, the campus is so breathtaking that it’s hard for anyone to not want to return to Yale, and we have two boys who both plan to attend college there.

Our fall journey to New England in 2016 was an amazing adventure, even if the colors were not as brilliant as we had hoped. You may not be able to predict when and if peak color will occur, but it’s a great trip to take regardless.

October 23, 2017
Spring Break ’17 Part III: Driving Back Down the California Coast With Kids!

Having grown up in Southern California, I have for years wanted to take my family to Monterey to explore the Monterey Bay Aquarium. For my son’s spring break earlier this year, we finally took the plunge and planned a week long trip to California with the goal of spending most of our week exploring the Aquarium.

In Part I of this series, I covered the logistics of our flight from DC to Los Angeles and our decision to spend the night in Santa Barbara and take our time driving up the Coast to Monterey. In Part II, I described the activities we packed into our seven day stay in Monterey (and there were many)! In this final post (Part III), I’ll cover our reverse road trip back down to Los Angeles and share some final thoughts and tips.

On the morning of our departure, my husband and I cleared out the fridge and enjoyed a hearty breakfast of french toast, hash browns, sausage, and fried eggs. After an activity filled week, both of my usually picky eaters happily devoured their breakfast before climbing into the car.

Hungry boys ate all of their breakfast for once!

With nothing planned for the day except to make it down to Los Angeles in one piece, we enjoyed the leisurely 3.5 hour drive from Monterey to our major stop of the day: Carrizo Plain National Monument.

The Carrizo Plain National Monument is located in southwestern San Joaquin Valley, roughly halfway between San Luis Obispo and Bakersfield. It’s a vast, remote area where, at times, I’ve had the entire place to myself. What first drew me there was ephemeral Soda Lake, which draws rafts of sandhill cranes in wet years, and the primitive campsites.

source

Carrizo Plain is the largest single native grassland remaining in California. During our week in Monterey, our local twitter feeds had exploded with reports of the wildflower superbloom happening in Carrizo, and although we knew it was slightly out of our way and would likely add an extra 2 hours of driving time to our day, we decided to take the detour in the hopes of seeing the tail end of the superbloom.

source

Although we were definitely at the tail end of the superbloom (the purple flowers had all but disappeared, but we saw plenty of large patches of orange), it was a worthwhile stop as it gave us the opportunity to stop and stretch our legs and take a little walk along the San Andrea Fault. The Wallace Creek Interpretive Trail along the San Andreas Fault was an excellent flat walk for the four of us to take and my son enjoyed learning about the fault lines and seeing the fault lines with his own eyes. There was a small number of parking spots at the trail head which we happily parked at, before heading out into the California sunshine for our short hike.

After our walk, we continued to weave our way out of the National Monument. Unfortunately, the windy roads were less than pleasant for my motion sickness prone toddler, who ended up needing a quick stop on the side of the road. Luckily, I had packed a few Carebags, in anticipation of the hours we would be spending in the car, and they ended up very handy to have. I will definitely be carrying these with us whenever we have road trips planned as it was much nicer than scrambling to find a plastic bag to contain the mess.

From Carrizo, it was a three hour drive to our hotel, the Residence Inn Los Angeles Pasadena / Old Town. Having been open for less than a year, it was a nice treat to stay in a brand spanking new hotel! My husband and I particularly loved that the rooms were suites, thus giving us a bit more space to spread out. In fact, my husband and I were able to sleep together in the king bed, while the boys shared the pull out mattress.

The next morning, we had breakfast at one of our usual haunts, Julienne’s in San Marino. Julienne’s is a small neighborhood restaurant that my husband and I have been dining at since the winter of 2002, when he came to visit me in Los Angeles for the first time. Since then, we have dined at Julienne’s every single time that we have been in Los Angeles and we even hosted a family breakfast there on the morning of our wedding rehearsal. Although my kids have no comprehension of how much Julienne’s has been a part of our story, I love that we take them to Julienne’s and I hope that someday they can appreciate just what a local gem it is.

My oldest’s first meal at Julienne’s at 10 months old.

After breakfast, went to Garfield Park in South Pasadena to burn off some energy before heading to the airport for our flight home. Garfield Park is a great park for kids of all ages. There’s lots of grassland and small hills for running races and abundant playground equipment. My brother, who is basically a big kid, met us there and did some sprints with the boys before we said our goodbyes.

running hill sprints with their uncle

Our flight home to DC was uneventful but my toddler, who is a terrible napper on the go, was able to cobble together only about 30 minutes of sleep on the plane, despite my best efforts.

My toddler is wearing Kidz Gear Wired Headphones, which I purchased in 2010 just prior to my older son’s first plane ride. I cannot believe these are still going strong – definitely a value at $20!

The lack of sleep became quickly apparent as his smiles during deplaning turned into tears as we made our way to the taxi line.

smiles while deplaning

crying in baggage claim

What would I do differently?

Honestly, everything about this vacation was so enjoyable that I really can’t think of anything I would do differently. Sure, there are ways it could have been better – the weather certainly could have cooperated so that we could have spent more time outdoors and I would have liked to have been able to drive down Big Sur instead of being road blocked by the mudslides that had occurred as a result of the heavy rains this spring… but in terms of things that I could have controlled? I really can’t think of anything. Although the thought of taking a road trip with my motion sickness prone toddler seemed insane at the outset of the trip, the drives ended up being more pleasant than I imagined. Although we definitely added time in the car due to various detours we took on each end of the trip, the detours were a nice way to break up the trip AND provided more opportunities to run and stretch than a basic bathroom or McDonald’s stop. All in all, I enjoyed our week in California and highly recommend it to anyone with young kids.

October 11, 2017