https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:24:18 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-plan-a-vacation#post-2878237 Tue, 26 Mar 2019 10:42:20 +0000 ElbieKay 2878237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: It sounds like you had unfortunate luck since your son got sick. I don't think the OP should necessarily rule out Iceland because of that though! Sorry you had a bad trip. I'm sure it was disappointing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-plan-a-vacation#post-2878236 Tue, 26 Mar 2019 10:35:12 +0000 irene 2878236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ElbieKay: True, I think it would have been good if DS didn't got very sick completely out of the blue! But DS was also pretty mellow with car rides and our thought was he could nap during the long car rides so jet lag wouldn't be so hard. DH invested in a very nice baby carrier for hiking, poor guy (as we canceled a lot of things at the end). That was all planned very well. Then he got sick the 2nd day we were there, he was napping throughout the car rides, and screamed and cried every night at the various hotels we went to. It was horrific, the walls were paper thin and we felt so bad for our neighbors. We were also frantically trying to find a doctor and Iceland was very remote once you leave Reykjavik (which we did). I wish we could go back one day. That aside, according to OP her LOs seem to be more energetic so I thought long car rides may not be for them. </p> <p>@merriment: I was going to suggest savannah too! I can imagine the kids can run around forsyth park, cute playground too. But a week would be too long I thought :silly: 3-4 days would be more appropriate...</p> <p>@POLLYWOG: SF make sure you go to the fisherman's wharf and watch the seals! The kids will love it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-plan-a-vacation#post-2878212 Tue, 26 Mar 2019 08:11:20 +0000 merriment 2878212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Your criteria are also sort of confusing to me...I can't tell if you want a flight or not...?? Anyway, I came in to suggest Savannah. We went for four days in Feb. with a 6 and 3 year old and it was great. There's a small kids museum, a railroad museum, you're only a 20 minute drive from the beach, there were some fun playgrounds, we rode the tourist trolley (and my kids felt like Daniel Tiger lol), did a dolphin watching tour, old fort tours, etc. Easy trip with kids, lots for them to do and lots of space and time to get their wiggles in. Enough to do that we were always doing something, but not so much to do that we (as adults) left regretting all the things we had missed. I'm happy to send your our itinerary if you want it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-plan-a-vacation#post-2878211 Tue, 26 Mar 2019 07:59:47 +0000 ElbieKay 2878211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: I disagree about Iceland. We had a great trip with our 2yo there, and we drove the entire Ring Road. The main downside was the tremendous amount of planning and prep that went into the trip, and the fact that Iceland is outrageously expensive. But it was great at 2.5 since my husband was still juuuuuuust able to still carry our son in a frame backpack so we could hike around. And their culture is very child-friendly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-plan-a-vacation#post-2878209 Tue, 26 Mar 2019 07:54:36 +0000 Pollywog 2878209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@annem1990: Portland would be great!We've never gone, but would love to. NYC is out for this trip because DH wants to get "one last free flight" before LO is 2. We definitely plan to train up at some point in the next year or two. I love the public transportation in San Francisco and I think it would be an easy trip. </p> <p>@erinbaderin: we hated Disney. I was so bummed, but it was seriously the worst vacation ever. We are going to give it another shot when the kids are older, but it's going to be a hard sell for DH. (I chose the wrong hotel, we had horrible service, had pretty horrible food, and the lines in the park were so long. If we stay in a nicer hotel and stick to buffets and food we get from Prime Now it should be much better).</p> <p>@ElbieKay: That sounds great. I will look into it.</p> <p>@irene: Thank you! Your thoughts were exactly what we were thinking. I am thinking that if we do San Francisco we'd stay at a hotel next to a city playground. Then the littles can get their wiggles out and before we do cable cars, boats, and trains. I'd love to do the Grand Canyon. We were at a similar resort in Arizona before kids and something like that would be great. DH has vetoed Hawaii until we are done having kids. So it'll likely be a trip when yet to be born LO3 is almost almost 2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-plan-a-vacation#post-2878204 Tue, 26 Mar 2019 07:33:17 +0000 irene 2878204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmm, the criteria is hard... they like climbing but you suggested London. I can't contemplate where in London do they "climb". It is a lot of city, navigating and street walking and hand holding. They like playgrounds but you want to avoid disney, or I would have said Florida...</p> <p>Also don't forget about jet lag and think about how well your LOs handle them.</p> <p>I personally love Disney Cruise but my DS is probably more mellow as we can be on the beach all day. </p> <p>SF actually is nice. They will get a kick out of riding the cable car! Again not sure where they can "climb"... I imagine you can find little city playgrounds and parks and kids museums if need be.. and then you can stay in a hotel that has pool facility. </p> <p>How about somewhere they can actually climb and hike, like grand canyon / hawaii? You can put the 2 yo in a carrier and the 4 yo can hike with you all where you find comfortable. We just came back from an arizona trip, DS loves hiking and can hike/climb to places (with DH) that I couldn't even go. But then he's older (6 yo then). Hawaii has a lot of very interesting places to hike but then you also said they don't like the beach lol</p> <p>Coming to think about it, I remember we were at a very nice resort at Tucson Arizona a long time ago. There was a large outdoor pool area where they have a gigantic screen and the kids and families watched some Disney movies they played on the screen at sunset at the pool. I didn't have a kid back then and I was thinking I wish I could come back when I have a family! Different scenery (cactus everywhere). But don't go in summer, wayyyyy too hot. Feb - April (more like March-April) would be perfect, I think.</p> <p>I can see Paris working with a lot of open areas everywhere for them to walk around but there isn't much kids playground or climbing. </p> <p>No to iceland. Miserable to go with a baby/child. We went back then and DS (2 yo then) somehow got hand foot and mouth the 2nd day we got there. 102-103 fever and yet we were switching hotels every day because of the massive amount of driving needed to get from one site to another. Gahhh. One of the most terrible but interesting experiences ever lol</p> <p>It is hard, traveling with kids seldom comes to a perfect vacation :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-plan-a-vacation#post-2878104 Mon, 25 Mar 2019 13:53:03 +0000 erinbaderin 2878104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you ruled out actual-Disney? We just got back from a week with a just-turned-5 year old and an almost 3 year old, and it was amazing - seeing them experience it was magical. And bonus, you don’t have to pay for the under 3! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-plan-a-vacation#post-2878092 Mon, 25 Mar 2019 13:21:06 +0000 ElbieKay 2878092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We took our then-4yo on a "babymoon" to the Omni Rancho Las Palmas for five nights last April. We had a great time. We did a different activity in the area each morning (Palm Springs Aerial Tram, Living Desert Zoo, Joshua Tree National Park, etc.) and spent the late afternoon in the kid-friendly waterpark-style pool complex.</p> <p>The hotel was totally kid friendly but also nice enough for the adults to enjoy. I have generally found Omni to be good for this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-plan-a-vacation#post-2878090 Mon, 25 Mar 2019 13:20:36 +0000 annem1990 2878090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pollywog: I’d agree with no Iceland. DH and I went before kids and it was our favorite vacation. But you have to drive like crazy. And then you stop constantly because there are waterfalls around every corner! I can’t imagine getting two kids in and out of car seats 15x/day. </p> <p>NYC? They might recognize a lot of the places from movies. We went when my son was 9months and had a blast. Obviously he was much more portable than your ages though. But I’d lean toward going places with great public trans (NYC, San Fran) because dealing with car seats is no vacation to me :wink: I went to Portland, Maine for a wedding recently. It was beautiful!! The town is adorable and there are lots of little islands you can explore. It seems like you can do much of it by boat which might be fun for the kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-plan-a-vacation#post-2878089 Mon, 25 Mar 2019 13:17:41 +0000 agold 2878089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pollywog: your list of potential places is amazing, but also made me chuckle. I can't believe you have great wolf lodge on the same list as Ireland, London and a Disney cruise! Am I missing something about great wolf lodge? I have one near me and have had no desire to ever go. Please tell me what I'm missing about it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-plan-a-vacation#post-2878088 Mon, 25 Mar 2019 13:06:57 +0000 Pollywog 2878088@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: That sounds amazing. Plus we speak the language enough to get by.</p> <p>@daniellemybelle: I'm thinking that it would be a better weekend trip. It's only 2ish hours away, so we could definitely do it as a stand alone.</p> <p>My husband suggested San Francisco last night. It's a longer trip, but there's a direct flight from DC and it's a place we've never been to together. I was there for work and loved it and we have a bunch of friends there. </p> <p>@jennlin821: I've heard that it's beautiful, but cold and a lot of driving. My kids are never in the car and go nuts after 30 minutes.im hoping to do an Iceland trip when they're older. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-plan-a-vacation#post-2878086 Mon, 25 Mar 2019 12:55:01 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2878086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Great wolf lodge is fun for 2 nights or even 1. Kids loved it but not a relaxing vacation! </p> <p>My kids loved everything in Florida </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-plan-a-vacation#post-2878084 Mon, 25 Mar 2019 12:48:49 +0000 Beehive 2878084@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: Barcelona is a great idea! Perfect for that time of the year, too. We went when our son was 3 and a bit, and he still talks about it as one of his favorite trips. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-plan-a-vacation#post-2878061 Mon, 25 Mar 2019 11:40:05 +0000 daniellemybelle 2878061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just did Great Wolf Lodge. It was nice to check that off the bucket list and my 5 year old loved it. I did not. My advice is to spend your money on a vacation that is a little more relaxing and scenic! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-plan-a-vacation#post-2878029 Mon, 25 Mar 2019 09:37:59 +0000 jennlin821 2878029@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Iceland! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-plan-a-vacation#post-2877973 Sun, 24 Mar 2019 19:24:53 +0000 lamariniere 2877973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Barcelona? Great weather, amazing food, plenty to do and explore with LOs. We went for about 10 days when my LOs were 10 months and 3.5 years. My DH was working and we tagged along, so I was alone during the day with the kiddos, but we had the weekends together on both sides of the trip. It was easy enough by myself during the day to get out and take them to the beach or museums and playgrounds. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-plan-a-vacation#post-2877953 Sun, 24 Mar 2019 15:27:57 +0000 Pollywog 2877953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are looking to take a "big" vacation next spring (Feb-April). Big is in quotes because pre-kids we did weeks long, multi-continent trips 😆. DH and I are trying to brainstorm ideas and I'd love your collective wisdom.</p> <p>We are looking at 4-6 nights and cost isn't a major factor. Someplace less than 4 hour drive or direct flight from DC.</p> <p> The kids will be just turned 4 and almost 2. They are very active boys who love the water, playgrounds, and kids museums. We do a beach vacation already and it isn't enjoyable. The kids prefer pools and need something to climb on.</p> <p>The kids loved Baltimore and Chicago. They are super comfortable in a big city and around people. They didn't love the lines at amusement parks and DS1 hated Disney (lines, heat, and that he didn't have a way to get his wiggles out).</p> <p>We aren't interested in babysitters/kids clubs. We are looking for places where we can play with our kids.</p> <p>What we've looked at:<br /> - Disney cruise: I wasn't sure what activities they had that weren't the kids club. I can't see spending all day, every day at the splash pad<br /> - Great Wolf Lodge-- I think it might be fun for 2 days, but not for a week<br /> - London-- DS1 wants to visit Pongo and Perdita (101 Dalmatians). I'm totally up for a Europe trip, but he will be crushed if there's no Dalmatians in the park.<br /> - Ireland--too much driving</p> <p>What ideas do you have? </p>