Comments on: Planning for Summer Vacation

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:00:55 +0000

For some of us, staying with family or friends is far more stressful than not taking a vacation at all. For us, part of the joy of a vacation is being able to return to one’s own anonymous space in a hotel and enjoying the amenities and service.

By: Brittany

Brittany — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 04:47:08 +0000

Have fun! Don’t let the naysayers get you down. I grew up traveling with my (single) mom and three little siblings (all in a row… from the time they were 1,2,&3), and then later with her boyfriend and his two kids (same age as my siblings). Yeah, it can get crazy, but it’s also so much fun! They remember more than the grumpypusses think. Time for a European whorlwind tour? No. Save that for when they’re older.

But camping and roadtripping to see family? Awesome.

And if you can do it safely, kids love when you ride in the back with them! Lots of fun for both parties.

By: SLCCOM

SLCCOM — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:47:56 +0000

Don’t ever post on a social networking site that you are going on vacation! People looking to rob you are also watching.

By: Julie

Julie — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:56:06 +0000

Don’t know if you’ll stop in the Twin Cities, and the west side of Mpls might be out of your way to the North Shore, but if you’re staying with friends for a day, maybe these free activities will entice you:
*charming city of Excelsior and its Commons (two swimming beaches, playground, lots of grass) right on Lake Minnetonka
*Wayzata Trolley (free, donation of $1-$2 gratefully accepted) that makes a loop around that cute city, also on Lake Mtka
*about 50 parks (and hundreds more all over the Twin Cities)
*Splash pad in Oak Hill Park in city of St. Louis Park (also surrounded by a fence; great way for all 5 of you to cool off w/o worry of little ones in deep water)

If you are in the Cities on a Thursday night, there a farmers’ markets and free outdoor concerts all over the Cities, plus the gorgeous U of MN Landscape Arboretum out here in Chaska is free after 4 or 4:30 pm (have a picnic!)

You probably know about Como Zoo being free (donations accepted; Como Town & cafe food $$$-picnic necessary.)

Have fun! By trip #3, you and your wife will be pros!

By: Evita

Evita — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:36:19 +0000

Way to go, Trent! I admire adults who include their little ones in their fun projects. I am sure that you will make it work.
But while camping, please make sure that you respect Mother Nature and teach the kiddies to do so!

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:34:28 +0000

Michelle #28 – great comment!

My family did frequent camping trips (Upstate NY) and frequent road trips (NY to FL) with 4 kids. We had a great time and wonderful memories. My parents would find parks or trails and stop along the way to get our energy out. As we got older we upgraded to an RV! As an adult my cousins(one has 6 kids under 7!) and their kids always are camping and doing road trips to friends/relatives with good results. If the parents are prepared and the kids are brought up with manners and respect for their parents it will go great…when it doesn’t like Trent says keep in mind why you do it.

I think what type of person you are determines how your family will far traveling with kids. On a recent trip in Rome, Italy a family with 4 kids under 10 from NJ stayed in the apartment we had right before us…so they traveled with 4 kids from NJ to Italy with minimal issue and have been traveling overseas since once their children are over one!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:00:08 +0000

If being able to remember an experience was the only reason to do things with a child, there would be no reason to interact with them until they were 3 or 4. Experiences don’t have to result in clear memories in order to have value. For children or adults…

By: Shevy

Shevy — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:08:04 +0000

@Geoff
If by “split up the kids” instead of having them all in the back seat you mean “have one child sit in the front”, you should know that’s illegal in many places and not recommended anywhere until at least age 8 and often until 12 (due to the danger of injury from an air bag deploying).

Car seats and boosters do not belong in the front seat.

I’ve driven with 3 many, many times over the years: between Calgary & Vancouver (13 hr straight through), to Seattle (3 hrs) and to our rural home from the city (4 hrs). It’s not that daunting, although having the baby barf on the I5 just outside of Bellingham wasn’t fun as I was the only adult in the car. Luckily, there was a pulloff within a minute or so.

By: GayleRN

GayleRN — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 14:50:14 +0000

Oh yeah don’t forget about campfire safety. Not only your campfire but other people’s campfires. Any campfire ring is to be considered as having a live campfire in it at all times no matter what it looks like. All grills are also considered hot at all times also.

Once again, WHAT IS YOUR SAFETY PLAN???

By: Steffie

Steffie — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 14:38:27 +0000

It is possible that the ‘memories’ are reinforced by story telling later after the trip is done and looking at pictures. No way do I remember anything much before 4-5 yrs old but I know the stories my Mom told me so well I feel like I remember doing the things I did the same as the stuff I did when I was older. And it is harder with three children, the baby will need the most care, essentially using up all of one of the adults time. It is impossible to run in two directions at one time chasing the other two children, especially in the park etc. I know, I have 3 kids and I barely could make it at the grocery store with one in the cart, let alone big open public places. Sure the family wants to see the kids and new baby but it should not be at the expense of the adults not having a good time as well. Maybe one trip this summer just to see how it goes with 3 kids. From a health point of view it doesn’t sound like a good idea to schlep a newborn all over and expose him/her to all kinds of germs etc.

By: GayleRN

GayleRN — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 14:18:40 +0000

The only reason you think this is going to be fun is because you think that three children is just one more than two. The addition of a third child is an exponential factor not arithmetic. And this is the voice of experience as I had my three boys just 18 and 22 months apart. In other words 3 kids 3 and under. Here is what WILL happen. The older two will run off in opposite directions. The baby will stay put but starts wailing. What do you do? What does your wife do?
Now add in the factors of lots of hiding places, lots of trees, rocks, traffic, and bodies of water.
WHAT IS YOUR SAFETY PLAN????? I am totally serious about this.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 14:12:55 +0000

@Katie #7- I have a few memories of things that happened before I was four years old, but they are vague and hazy at best. My memories don’t become clearer and more concrete until 4 years and older. I have a very vague recollection of going up to my grandparents cottage in northern Wisconsin at 18 months, but it’s hazy and vague and at times I wonder if maybe I hadn’t actually dreamed it. The pictures my mom has are the only proof that I have that I was actually there.

If it were me doing this trip, I would not go tent camping with an infant, especially if the infant was not yet sleeping through the night. I would stay at a hotel. The extra gear alone that seems to go along with a baby would prompt the hotel stay.

On Wisconsin state parks (since you mentioned going to Wisconsin), if you Google it, you can find the DNR/state parks web site. You will find information on camping, fees, and where to make reservations, which I strongly recommend that you do. You have to pay a fee to do it, but it’s better than showing up after a long drive and the campground is full. The popular state parks, such as Devil’s Lake and High Cliff are pretty much booked solid all the time. We are going camping at Devil’s Lake SP near Baraboo, WI in July. We made the reservations in January, and even then, July was pretty much booked up, except for the weekend after the 4th (which is usually when we go anyway).

By: Little House

Little House — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:47:48 +0000

I admire you for being so brave and traveling with three small children! I can see where traveling by car is much easier, you can haul all their stuff (car seats, strollers, baby bags, etc.) without lugging it through an airport. I think it is also easier to drive to states that are within a few hundred miles of each other, you can cover more ground.

Have a terrific time. And I agree with Maureen, take lots of photos! (the two year old and baby won’t remember much of the trip)

By: Elaine

Elaine — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:46:47 +0000

Great post Trent. I too am an avid road tripper. My husband and I take our 1967 VW camper bus everywhere in the summer–a great way to see the country on a budget.

Something to add, tho, is there are lot of deals out there. Some states (and even the National Park Service) offer discounted passes for camping/park fees to folks like veterans, active military, foster parents, disabled people. Check your state’s dept of recreation page.

By: Maureen

Maureen — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:32:32 +0000

Put me in the camp that believes that children do not remember very much before the age of 4. If you take lots of photos they will probably enjoy looking at them when they are older, but they probably won’t remember the trip very well. If your main goal is building memories, I would suggest you to make this tour in 3 or 4 years.

I would advise taking a shorter trip first. My children very very prone to motion sickness. We avoided long car trips like the plague. It’s probably better to find this out on a short trip rather than a long one.

By: Anna is now Raven

Anna is now Raven — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:11:59 +0000

From one area to the next, the water changes. The effect on children’s bowels can be quite dramatic. Stock up on anti-diarrheal remedies before you start out, so you don’t have to expend time searching for a drugstore. (Ask me how I know….)

By: Geoff Hart

Geoff Hart — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 11:37:40 +0000

One of the best strategies I learned: split up the kids instead of “warehousing” them all together in the back seat. This is great if your kids tend to get into fights, because they can’t fight as easily if they’re not side by side, but there’s a better reason: it’s also better for your relationships. Each kid gets quality time from an adult, so they’re less likely to get bored and more likely to relate to you.

By: Claire

Claire — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 08:16:58 +0000

Trent

I’m not sure of the distances involved in your trips, but yesterday I drove home from Belgium across Northern corner of France, over on the ferry and into the UK, then up to Scotland: Edinburgh – home. All with a teenager and a 20 month old in the car – journey time 12 hours. The trick I agree with is lots of stops at play areas to stretch the legs and plenty of in-car entertainment. I’m not a big gadget fan, but our in-car TVs were worth every penny.
Have a great trip.
Claire

By: Michele

Michele — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 04:27:55 +0000

Trent- my favorite post so far because you brought back some great memories!
we camped and mooched with family from the time our oldest was a 6 week old infant- and the boys talk about all the great camping experiences and visits with family from a VERY young age! I think our youngest was 2 when he remembers tent camping in Mammoth Lakes and having a bear attack the camp next door because they left a cooler outside!
Have a blast and enjoy the trips!
Kids DO remember stuff from a VERY young age!

By: IASSOS

IASSOS — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 03:17:26 +0000

#5 Gretchen asks about camping for free: I’ve done it more than once on the Lake Superior north shore. But I ain’t tellin’ where! To get facilities though, ya gotta pay. Many of the state parks have showers and flush toilets. I think you’d want those. Campsites are $16 to $20 a night. The national forest campgrounds are cheaper but have pit toilets and no showers. My secret free places are free!

Trent mentions “cultural differences”. From Iowa to Illinois and Minnesota?