https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:24:31 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids/page/2#post-2816154 Fri, 13 Apr 2018 10:22:03 +0000 MrsLonghorn 2816154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: awesome! Thanks for the tip </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids/page/2#post-2816131 Fri, 13 Apr 2018 09:44:05 +0000 bhbee 2816131@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsLonghorn: we are in DFW too. We love the Hyatt Wild Oak Ranch. It’s the time share property across from Hyatt Hill Country (you can drive across the street and use their amenities if you want although we never did). They rent/manage it like a hotel also. They take beautiful care of it and it is perfect for families - a condo is make or break for us being relaxed - and a lot cheaper for what you get vs Hill Country. I heard about it from other moms and it is a hidden gem! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids/page/2#post-2816124 Fri, 13 Apr 2018 09:25:11 +0000 MrsLonghorn 2816124@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: were you at Hyatt hill country or Marriott? we live in Dallas so SA is an easy destination for us. I've also heard good things about Jade Waters at the Hilton Anatole here, for a staycation.</p> <p>Our most amazing vacation was when we went with family friends. The kids are approx the same age, and the adults parent very similarly to us, so it was a great laidback mix. We rented a house and just relaxed, but had 4 parents and 3 kids, so everyone could play together and any parent was comfortable being in charge at any given time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids/page/2#post-2816118 Fri, 13 Apr 2018 09:15:28 +0000 looch 2816118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also think part of what makes a vacation relaxing for me is to do some planning upfront. I take my time planning out what I need to pack, if I need to organize a delivery to the place where we are staying, if I can purchase event tickets online in advance...all so that once we are actually there, we don't have to rush around. </p> <p>We also plan at least one day where we don't leave our hotel or resort, and we just lounge by the pool. My son was never the type of kid that we could leave him at a kid's club (we tried!!!), so the best thing that we can do right now is switch off so that one of us is with him and the other has some down time. I realize this only works with one kid, but bringing grandparents on vacation with us is not an option. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids/page/2#post-2816113 Fri, 13 Apr 2018 09:09:08 +0000 bhbee 2816113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shabang: bookmarking this place! I love Lake Michigan and haven’t been able to go in years. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids/page/2#post-2816107 Fri, 13 Apr 2018 08:55:28 +0000 SweetiePie 2816107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Iced Tea: I think trips with one other family with kids are great. Kids end up entertaining themselves quite a bit. My older son is 3.5 and we spent a long weekend with friends who have a 6yo and 4yo and the 3 of them just played and I got to just lay around and do nothing for 3 days. I was 32 weeks pregnant so that was wonderful.<br /> I think that sounds like a great trip idea! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids/page/2#post-2816106 Fri, 13 Apr 2018 08:54:43 +0000 shabang 2816106@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ChitownRo:@Pancakes: It's the Watervale Inn : <a href="https://watervaleinn.com/" rel="nofollow">https://watervaleinn.com/</a></p> <p>They fill the cabins pretty far out for summer because there are so many families that come year after year. We usually book in February for July, but depending on the week, you may be able to find availability. It's a little more on the rustic side, but imo that just adds to the character there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids#post-2816101 Fri, 13 Apr 2018 08:43:04 +0000 birdofafeather 2816101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Iced Tea: if I need a recharge, I would go away by myself for a night or two and leave the kids with DH. And I’m a total extrovert who loves being around people! But for real rest at this point, my kids can’t be there because I’m always thinking about what they need. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids#post-2816098 Fri, 13 Apr 2018 08:31:13 +0000 Pancakes 2816098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shabang: Walling you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids#post-2816097 Fri, 13 Apr 2018 08:23:10 +0000 Iced Tea 2816097@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for the input! I think I’ve given up in trying a relaxing trip just the four of us this year. It sounds like it would be very uncertain, and I’m too burned out to mentally deal with it if my relaxing trip fails. </p> <p>Our friends invited us to join their Portland OR trip in July, renting a house together with our kids and theirs (similar ages). So I will go there, expecting some fun with friends, and trading childcare duties here and there. </p> <p>If my husband’s parents finally come to visit from overseas this year, then maybe I can take an overnight trip alone to recharge. Though, at this point, I think I’m so burned out that I’d need a week! Impossible, I know. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids#post-2816086 Fri, 13 Apr 2018 07:49:46 +0000 Anagram 2816086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Iced Tea: Our parents are retired, but they don't live anywhere near us. We do take them on some trips, but we pay their way. So the pros are, we get some help and can get a little alone time from the kids. The cons are---it's expensive to turn a trip for 4 (already pricey) into a trip for 6 with my in-laws or even 5 with just my mom.</p> <p>We took my inlaws to Disney with us last summer. We got to leave the kids a couple nights and go back to the parks and that was nice. But we also had to pay for 4 adult tickets plus 1 kid, 5 reservations at Cinderella's round table (expensive for so-so food), etc. This summer, we're taking my mom on a cruise, so we had to get a second cabin and another flight. BUT, the bonus is that *maybe* I can get the kids to sleep with her in her cabin at least a couple of times! haha. We got her the bigger room with the pullout couch-bed just in case we can convince the kids to sleep with Nana. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids#post-2816074 Fri, 13 Apr 2018 06:54:51 +0000 ShootingStar 2816074@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: That’s exactly what we did with our kids on our Disney cruise. Dropped DD at the nursery and DS at the kids club and we went to the adult pool and had pina coladas and margaritas. It. Was. Heaven. </p> <p>In general I really love each vacations. I kept a close eye on the kids, but both of them were really good about playing in the sand and only going ankle deep in the water. I would position my self in the water a foot or so deep, and they could play in front of me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids#post-2816073 Fri, 13 Apr 2018 06:48:17 +0000 FaithFertility 2816073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Naples FL! We go every summer!!!<br /> With that said, I Think having low expectations and being on their time is key! If You planned to be at the beach all day and they are over it by 11 etc.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids#post-2816042 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 22:39:51 +0000 ChitownRo 2816042@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shabang: what is this place called? Seems like a good place for a reunion </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids#post-2816035 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 21:38:54 +0000 MamaCate 2816035@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We go on a yearly family vacation (started when my now 6 y/o was 15 months and I love it! We have access to a condo on a beach in Mexico through family. It is pretty relaxing for a vacation with kids in my opinion.</p> <p>Here are the things that I think help for us:<br /> -easy 4 hour drive in the car, can pack all the stuff<br /> -staying at the condo with kitchen and 2 bedrooms helps us manage meals and personal space<br /> -pools+beach+sun=tired kids<br /> -they sell mangos in the beach that are peeled and seasoned for you and we all love them </p> <p>There is a lot of schlepping stuff but we have a pretty good system now. My daughter has taken the best naps of her life on those vacations! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids#post-2816026 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 21:05:10 +0000 Purpledaisy 2816026@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think your game plan matters more than where you actually go. Things that have made family vacations enjoyable for us are:</p> <p>-Very low expectation<br /> -Very few plans. Instead I have a list of things we could do if we feel up for it. Also, don't tell the kids about these so they're not disappointed if you don't do them.<br /> -No hotels. We do Airbnb so that everyone can have their own sleeping space and DH and I can't stay up and spend time together after the kids go to bed.<br /> -Divide and concour. We don't have to do everything as a family. For example, DH might take the kids to the pool in the morning while I relax at our Airbnb and then I'll take DD out somewhere during DS's nap so that we both get a break.<br /> -Staying long enough so that we can relax. We did a week last summer and it was perfect. Then we don't feel like we are rushing around and running out of time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids#post-2816024 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 20:52:35 +0000 808love 2816024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Kauai </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids#post-2816021 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 20:38:40 +0000 Iced Tea 2816021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Man, I'm so jealous of all the grandparent help! The lack of help is a major reason why I need a relaxing trip in the first place! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids#post-2816015 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 20:05:42 +0000 Tanjowen 2816015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Iced Tea: An all inclusive resort in Punta Cana. It was apartments turned into a resort. We for a 2 bedroom apartment with a pool on the back deck as close to the pool as possible. We took our monitor and we were so close we could actually go sit at the pool and have lunch and drinks while watching our kid sleep on the monitor. It was super quiet and no kids club but was perfect for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids#post-2816014 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 19:54:27 +0000 SweetiePie 2816014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: @Dahlia: Ditto! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids#post-2816005 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 19:07:17 +0000 Dahlia 2816005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: Exactly! Plus I have more fun exploring places with DD than playing the same games at home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids#post-2816004 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 18:57:04 +0000 erinbaderin 2816004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dahlia: I’m with you! It’s not as relaxing as going to a resort pre-kids, but if my option is being at home responsible for cooking and cleaning and daycare pickup, and the other option is being in a pool holding a mojito and watching my kids swim, I’m going to be super relaxed in that pool. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids#post-2816002 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 18:42:07 +0000 Dahlia 2816002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, we're the exception that find traveling with our kid relaxing. Not traveling alone relaxing, but more relaxing than being at home. </p> <p>We've had relaxing trips to San Francisco, Maine, Seattle, and the beach. I think the most important thing is to go with low expectations, few plans, and a lot of flexibility. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids#post-2815971 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 15:28:48 +0000 bhbee 2815971@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were surprisingly relaxed by our vacation last year (kids were 2 and 5). I did of course expect to take care of certain things like meals but kept it really simple.<br /> We drove 4 hours which to me is so much less stressful than flying (we stayed outside San Antonio). We had a condo with a closed door bedroom for us and a full kitchen and laundry. I meal planned and shopped once, then we could eat there without having to go out (stressful with my 2yo!) - we used our balcony a lot to eat. The resort had really nice amenities like a lazy river, walk in pool, sand beach with toys, putting green, playground, etc. All walking distance to the condo. It felt so relaxing to just walk back and forth as we wanted. I didn’t mind cooking because it was simple and things I knew everyone would eat. Naps were no problem. We spent a ton of time at the beach on the lazy river. This year we are going back, staying a day longer and planning to do less off resort for more time relaxing! Weather was great - it’s too hot here by summer but we went while big kids were still in school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids#post-2815964 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 15:11:28 +0000 birdofafeather 2815964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my first thought: 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂<br /> second thought: i'm not having a relaxing vacation with kids until my youngest (currently 38 weeks pregnant) is probably 8.</p> <p>@Mamaof2: right, i only take trips with my kids. super fun, super hard, super worth it. but no relaxing vacations. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids#post-2815962 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 15:04:42 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2815962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hawaii - any island... I actually found it pretty relaxing. The beach and pool wore the kids out so they napped and slept so well. We had plenty of downtime in the middle of the day and at night, and just being surrounded by all that natural beauty made me relaxed. </p> <p>No city vacation has ever been relaxing - just more of the same of what we would typically do, but at a new place with different things. Eating out, shopping, sightseeing, parks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids#post-2815959 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 14:49:50 +0000 jhd 2815959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also don’t expect a trip with kids to be relaxing, but we have had some great trips. Beach with extended family )but LO1 actually hates the beach!), international trip to visit extended family, a week in D.C., weekend trips to nearby cities. But I also like trips where I’m busy exploring new places. I can’t lay by the pool without turning into a lobster! 😂 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids#post-2815958 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 14:44:14 +0000 krispi 2815958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Vacations got a lot easier once 2 naps dropped down to 1. I still wouldn't call it relaxing though. I think in order for me to truly relax, all kids will have to be past napping and able to entertain themselves for a good period of time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids#post-2815957 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 14:41:38 +0000 shabang 2815957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There's a place in northern MI where you stay in individual cabins, but they have group breakfasts and dinners. It's located on an inland lake which is peaceful and great for little kids swimming and 1/4 mile from Lake Michigan which is an easy jaunt for sunsets and playing in the sand and waves. There are no TVs and no wifi outside the main cabin. </p> <p>It's not everyone's cup of tea, but it's by far the most relaxing vacations we've taken with young kids. Food is mostly taken care of, they swim and run around with all the other kids/families (new friends each year) every day, and they're exhausted at night. There are many great day trips and activities in the nearby area, but for the most part, it's secluded. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/most-relaxing-vacation-with-young-kids#post-2815956 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 14:34:50 +0000 MrsADS 2815956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree w/others - no travel with my 2yo is relaxing, it is incredibly stressful. The "best" I would say are trips to visit my mom because we get an extra pair of hands and husband and I can get out for some date nights.</p> <p>I think once the 2yo and soon to be born baby brother get old enough to be potty trained, sleep in regular beds, stop napping, and can eat whatever (I mean, even the 2yo I have to have milk, sippy cups, etc etc), it would be easier. (so maybe once they are school aged?) Right now if we go somewhere, I feel like it's 100x easier to stay at home.</p> <p> It is depressing and I really want a vacation - even a weekend away - so badly. </p>