A few days ago I overheard an individual saying “I don’t want to have kids because I want to go where I want to go, when I want to go there.” I completely understand his point of view, however I think it is a bit skewed. Yes, traveling with little ones on board takes more planning, but it can be just as fulfilling if not more.
First of all, you need to figure out where you are going to go. I encourage you to think outside of the box. Yes, Disney World is probably one of the first places that pops into your mind to take your child, but in a survey done by National Geographic and Yahoo, Orlando didn’t even make the top ten while New Orleans was number one. (That one caught me off guard!) One way to make your travel enjoyable is to set your destination as somewhere YOU as the parent want to go. If you think your destination is akin to walking on fiery coals then you won’t enjoy the process it takes to get there. If you are a history buff, take the kids to a historic battlefield like Gettysburg, PA or Yorktown, VA. You will better enjoy the journey if you know the destination will be a reward worth your while.
As Brandy said, “Don’t be in a hurry.” I know one family who plans their road trips to Indiana around a specific rest stop called the “Goasis,” which they know is a family friendly stop to make. I have traveled quite a bit since I have had my kids. When my son was eleven weeks old, we flew to Virginia, drove to South Carolina, and lastly drove home to New York. Scheduling times for nursing breaks, bathroom breaks, and just time for those unexpected blowouts outfit changes that will inevitably occur is incredibly helpful and stress relieving when planning a trip.
The last thing I want to encourage you to do is to be adventurous! Do something you never thought you would be able to do. When my daughter was nine months old some friends and I wanted to go hiking. I backpacked her three and a half miles to Johns Brook Lodge in the heart of the Adirondacks and left her there with my mother while the rest of us hiked Mount Marcy!
The person I quoted at the beginning of the post felt like children would hinder their adventures, but I say that your children can become PART of the adventure if you are willing to take the extra time to incorporate them. Together you can make amazing memories!
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This has been a guest post by Kristina of 3 Under 4. Click on over to see her and read her great series on being a Mom.
