USA TODAY International Edition
Why you should take your children with you on vacation
I’ll always remember pushing my baby girl up the streets of Paris in her little pink stroller. We stopped for chocolate and banana crepes at a roadside stand, and the expression on her face when she took her first drippy bite was just as delicious as the
Julia rode in her stroller down the Champs- Élysées, cruised up the River Seine and tossed bread crumbs to the pigeons outside Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
She toured Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, and got a glimpse of the snow- capped Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson.
When she learned to walk, our little one played in the sand and hunted for seashells on the beaches of North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, the Gulf Coast of Florida and the Jersey Shore.
She toddled through apple orchards in upstate New York and took a windy ferry ride across Lake Champlain to Vermont.
Just because you’ve got a baby doesn’t mean your dreams of adventure are quashed. And it doesn’t limit your options to sprawling theme parks — although you can do that, too, and it’s fun.
We’re living proof. Even as baby No. 2 came along, and then baby No. 3, we traveled on.
Sure, the pace of our vacations slowed, and our destinations were limited because of our budget, but we found a way. In February, we took our most adventurous family- of- five trip yet and headed to Maui, Hawaii.
As we’ve taken our brood on journeys to places near and far, we’ve learned a few things:
Set realistic expectations.
Plan well in advance of your trip
Be prepared for the worst to happen, even as you hope for the best.
Some disappointments will happen, but that’s true even on adult- only trips.
The benefits of broadening your children’s horizons, of helping them see that the world is filled with adventure and wonder, and that diverse and interesting people live their lives in ways they never before considered is worth every ounce of aggravation. With a little luck, you might even inspire wanderlust.
You might have to alter your itinerary, but don’t skip a visit to the Louvre or Musée D’Orsay because you have a toddler in tow. Just be sure to ride the carousel at Tuileries Gardens on the way.
It’s all about balance, and considering ways to ensure younger travelers enjoy the trip, too. ON THE ROAD AGAIN With gas prices relatively low — AAA listed the average price of a gallon of gas at $ 2.26 nationally in mid- July — now is a great time to hit the road.
When kids are going along, try your best to be patient about needing to make more frequent pit stops and plan plenty of games, movies, books and other activities to keep the boredom at bay.
On our most recent road trip to the eastern coast of North Carolina, each child had a road atlas and could plot our drive from Michigan to the Atlantic Ocean, tracking where we were and predicting how quickly we would get to the next big city or town using a map.
Having paper maps also comes in handy when you’re driving through the mountains or other rural areas where a GPS signal is interrupted.
History buffs can create mini lessons and true stories to tell children about past events that happened in the cities they travel through.
Other great ways to pass the time include playing road trip games like 20 Questions and I Spy.
You can sing children’s songs or create a playlist of your favorite tunes on your smartphone.
If you plan well, you also can include stops in places with fun things to do. On a trip to visit family in the South over the Labor Day weekend in 2016, we stopped in West Virginia to explore Seneca Caverns and pan for gemstones.
Our son delighted in sifting through mining rough in the water sluice to discover fool’s gold, rose quartz, malachite and lapis lazuli.
Hot tip: For kids prone to motion- sickness, check with the pediatrician about chewable Dramamine. The medication is available over the counter, and it has allowed our kids to read, watch movies and play games on their iPads without getting sick while en route to our destinations. UP, UP AND AWAY If you’re planning a trip by air, keep in mind that most airlines offer new parents the option of carrying their babies free on their laps until they’re 2 years old.
While that can save money on airfare, it’s better to buy a seat for your baby if you can afford it. Carry a car seat onto the plane and buckle your infant or toddler just as when riding in an automobile. If you experience turbulence, your child will be far safer strapped into a car seat.
If you opt to lap- carry your child, keep in mind that most airlines allow you to check a car seat or booster seat for free when you check your luggage. That saves you from having to rent a car seat or booster from the rental- car company.
When you’re flying, air pressure during ascent and descent can hurt children’s ears. Sucking on a pacifier, nursing or having a bottle handy can help the baby equalize that pressure. If the child is older, try snacks or chewing gum or drinking on the ups and downs.
Occupying a child on a longhaul flight can be tricky. If you have an iPad or other device, you can preload with new games and movies.
Consider picking up a new coloring book, crayons or colored pencils.
If you’ve got older kids, make sure each child has a backpack filled with things to do. Consider card games or a Rubik’s Cube to pass the time in addition to favorite electronic devices loaded with music, movies and games.
On our flight to Hawaii, we brought Uno cards and played across all three seats in our row.
I also bought an inexpensive journal for each child, which they could use to chronicle their experiences. And, when all else fails, bring out the snacks to keep hunger at bay.
Hot tip: Restrictions for carrying liquids through airport security are different if you’re traveling with infants and small children. The Transportation Security Administration allows passengers to carry on more than the 3.4- ounce limit if the liquids are breast milk, milk or juice for an infant or toddler.
Make sure your travel first- aid kit has children’s Tylenol and Ibuprofin along with a thermometer, children’s chewable Pepto Bismol and Tums, children’s chewable Dramamine, BandAids, first- aid cream, hydrocortisone cream and Benadryl. AHHH- CHOO! Even the best planning and organization can be derailed when illness or injury strike.
If you’re flying or taking a cruise, consider travel insurance in case a child breaks a bone the day before you’re supposed to leave or your cruise is thwarted by a nasty case of pneumonia.
Even if you manage to make it to your destination unscathed, someone might come down with a bug during your vacation.
The best way to take the sting out of unforeseen illness is to be prepared. Before you leave home, be sure to call your insurance company and find out what kind of coverage you have out of state or internationally. Find out about what your co- pay or out- of- pocket costs will be for emergency room visits and urgent- care stops.
Hot tip: If you or your child is in need of medical help while visiting a foreign country, check with your hotel front desk about medical services available to guests.
If none are available, ask for directions to the nearest urgent care facility or hospital. WHERE TO STAY? If your first choice is to stay in a hotel, look for one with an indoor pool. That way, no matter the weather, the kids can burn some energy with a romp in the water.
Just don’t forget to pack swimsuits, and if your kids are small enough, swim diapers and a floaty to keep them safe in the water.
Other features to look for: A hotel with family- friendly suites, an in- room refrigerator to keep milk and other drinks cold, a microwave and, truly pie- in- the sky, complimentary breakfast.
If you’re looking to really spread out, relax and save a little money to boot, consider renting a house or an apartment.
Several online companies like VRBO and Airbnb offer great deals that give families a home away from home.
Vacations shouldn’t be fun for adults at the expense of the kids. Nor should everything you do revolve around the kids at the expense of the adults.
Find a balance so everyone can have a great time and make memories together while exploring all the joys this world has to offer.
Memory- making is the reward of traveling with your kids.
I’ll always remember pushing my baby girl up the streets of Paris in her little pink stroller. We stopped for chocolate- and- banana crepes at a roadside stand, and the expression on her face when she took her first drippy bite was just as delicious as the crepe tasted.
I’ll never tire of recalling those tender times. Nor will I tire of laughing about the inevitable travel catastrophes we’ve encountered, which are much funnier years later — the lost luggage, the missed connections, the plane ride with a screaming infant. They are the remember- when foibles that are the backbone of family lore.
And when your kids have kids? Go along for the ride. There’s nothing better than grandma or grandpa to offer another set of eyes on a wayward toddler, another pair of arms to hold a crying baby or hug a moody tween.
Trust me. I’ve been there.