Vacation with kids...Oxymoron?

[SKYHIGH]

I have a 2 yr and 5 yr old boys. Talk about raising kids being tough!!!
I live in California and we usually go to South Cali for mini vacation each year. However wife and I are both kind of getting bored with Dinsney, Lego land, sea world, etc. We want to do something bit different this year. I'm thinking places like, cruise, Hawaii, New York, etc but everytime I think of those places, I just don't know if it really would call it a "vacation" or WORK!!!... Help!

So what did you guys do or where did you guys go when your kids ere toddlers???

Help!!!

[cram]

vacation FOR the kids.

We've gone on vacation and used our miles to pay for my sister in law to help entertain the kids. This gave us one "date night" and some time here and there to wind down - it reduced the stress of travel with kids quite a bit.

[Hecube]

I have a 2 yr and 5 yr old boys. Talk about raising kids being tough!!!
I live in California and we usually go to South Cali for mini vacation each year. However wife and I are both kind of getting bored with Dinsney, Lego land, sea world, etc. We want to do something bit different this year. I'm thinking places like, cruise, Hawaii, New York, etc but everytime I think of those places, I just don't know if it really would call it a "vacation" or WORK!!!... Help!

So what did you guys do or where did you guys go when your kids ere toddlers???

Help!!!

At that age, it can be fun.

When they are teenagers, it's hell on Earth. Be forewarned. The last time we all vacationed together my GF's son was 14. I told her never again.

[SKYHIGH]

At that age, it can be fun.

When they are teenagers, it's hell on Earth. Be forewarned. The last time we all vacationed together my GF's son was 14. I told her never again.

Incase you forgot, I was asking for help. Now you are just scaring me...

[MikeyG]

MOSDEF

My wife and I give each Other separate vacations from the kids ( for me I usually have to work but just having a few quiet nights in a row is such a relaxing thing)

[250Keith]

All inclusive resort in HI, fun in the sun, sand, water, sea parks! waterfalls. kids will dig it, and so will you.

[Jiffy_Jeff]

Rent an RV and go to Yellowstone, or Glacier National Park, or...... sky is the limit in an RV. Camp outs, smores, fishing, or whatever.

[wes37]

That's why they invented grandparents

[Marty DiBergi]

I have a 2 yr and 5 yr old boys. Talk about raising kids being tough!!!
I live in California and we usually go to South Cali for mini vacation each year. However wife and I are both kind of getting bored with Dinsney, Lego land, sea world, etc. We want to do something bit different this year. I'm thinking places like, cruise, Hawaii, New York, etc but everytime I think of those places, I just don't know if it really would call it a "vacation" or WORK!!!... Help!

So what did you guys do or where did you guys go when your kids ere toddlers???

Help!!!

Disney, Lego Land, etc. can be exhausting with kids.

Mine are not that much older than yours and about as far apart in age.

I live in SoCal now, and we vacation in Michigan (my wife and I were both raised there).

We get a beach house on the Lake MI side, and all of our families come to visit, as they don't get out here to see the kids much.

It's off the hook. A full on week-long party / family reunion and for me the best part is acutally having my kids around to experience it.

I also take them camping several times a year with friends of ours with families / kids their age. It's awesome.

Just change up your method of vacationing and I think you'll actually find time to not only enjoy, but relish in the experience more. You need to find a spot to chill for a few days and get other friends/family/kids around. The theme park thing is a LOT of work. This is completely different, and enjoyable. You will find time to actually enjoy playing with your kids and not just "entertaining" them. You will find time to actually play yourself.

As with all internet/forum advice, YMMV.

[bbrunskill]

My boys are 2&4 - it works well planning holidays that they love but aren't exhausting IE theme parks!
Best thing we've done yet is go sailing in a tiny dingy. Both boys were screaming in delight as we lifted the pirate flag, donned eyepatches, and sailed out to a small island to dig for treasure.

Every year my wife and I try to get 3-4 days on our own for our anniversary. That's our actual relax time.

[MikeyG]

My boys are 2&4 - it works well planning holidays that they love but aren't exhausting IE theme parks!
Best thing we've done yet is go sailing in a tiny dingy. Both boys were screaming in delight as we lifted the pirate flag, donned eyepatches, and sailed out to a small island to dig for treasure.

Every year my wife and I try to get 3-4 days on our own for our anniversary. That's our actual relax time.

That's an awesome idea! I feel so unworthy as a parent now...

[Stike]

That's why they invented grandparents

Hell yes! My wife's dad and stepmom usually take our kids (ages 10 and 11) for a long weekend during the year and a whole week in the summer, it's the best.

For a family vacation we usually rent a house at one of the NC beaches for spring break. The kids play on the beach all day and we just lounge with the dogs.

[tripp2k]

Drive to New York and back. That would be hoot.

[Dillow4092]

Not much you can do when they're at that age bro. When mine were that young I was in the kidde pool, building sand castles, bathing them, feeding them etc. It's like you just take the home life, and move it for a week.

The only "time" me and the wifey had was in the closet... changing :D

[jayjerry]

A lot of cruises have kids activities were you can drop your kids off for a good part of the day each day of the cruise. They have games and crafts and such the do to keep the kids entertained for hours. You and your significant other will then have hours of alone time.

I know Disney cruises do a lot of this kind of stuff but the Disney cruises cost more than most cruises.

[CRAIG4FSU]

Enjoy it while you can.Mine are 14 & 18 and could care less about hanging with us.To much other stuff to do.

[mwc2112]

A lot of cruises have kids activities were you can drop your kids off for a good part of the day each day of the cruise. They have games and crafts and such the do to keep the kids entertained for hours. You and your significant other will then have hours of alone time.

I know Disney cruises do a lot of this kind of stuff but the Disney cruises cost more than most cruises.

When my wife and I went on a Carnival cruise (pre-kids) I was amazed at how much stuff they had for the little ones. I think most of the other cruise lines are like that too, not just Disney. If you can't get some alone time while taking the kids on a cruise you either booked the wrong cruise or are doing something wrong. :p

[Bussman]

My parents had 80 acres of land in the country. We used to take 2 weeks every summer and winter and head over there. The kids would have a wonderful time with their grand-parents in a very different and interesting environment while my wife and I could relax, go fishing, hiking, cross-country skiing, riding snowmobiles etc.

We still took the kids out for activities every once in a while and have fun as a family.

It was a great time. I can't do this with the youngest one (3) since my folks sold the place 2 years ago.

But we sure took full advantage of it when the older kids (17 and 18) were growing up. I really miss the place. I have pictures of my oldest son when he was 8 riding the tractor-mower by himself under my dad's watchful eye or my daughter feeding ducks in the pond behind the house. Great memories for kids who live in the city.

We rent a chalet now. I think the country is a great place to bond with your kids. There is so much stuff to do and learn for kids and adults. It's a great way to escape TV, the internet, Disney and all that other mind numbing stuff.

...When they are teenagers, it's hell on Earth...Not my experience. I like to remind my kids I'm the greatest dad in the known universe and sometimes, lo and behold, they humour me. Having said that, I'll admit to having a very close relationship with my kids. I talk to them and more importantly listen to them. Kids are great and a lot of fun, especially on vacation where the rules are relaxed and you get to communicate with them on a different level than just "parents vs kids".

[j2b4o]

I agree with the poster who said its a "vacation for the kids" most of the time. There is no off time when you are a parent as far as I can tell so best you can do is try and have fun with them doing things they like. Or make it a trip to somewhere without alot to do like the beach or the country and hopefully you will all end up having fun without the stress of children in a high octane crowded environment. You are always on call but mellow destinations can make the calls come in less frequently.

[SKYHIGH]

Sometimes it's great...somtimes I so much wish the movie CLICK is a possibility.

[Fred Farkus]

At that age, it can be fun.

When they are teenagers, it's hell on Earth. Be forewarned. The last time we all vacationed together my GF's son was 14. I told her never again.

On the contrary- when our kids were 16 & 11 we took a 14 day road trip and lived to tell about it. Actually we had a really great time together, which included a 17 hour straight through drive that got us home at 3:30AM. Much depends on how tight you are as a family unit to begin with.

[travisvwright]

I think cruisemates should chime in.

[voorhiessa]

We usually vacation FOR the kids for 3-4 days a year.....usually a beach, which is tons of work for us, but not unbearable.

Then we come home and for another 3-4 days, just SUPER CHILL.....that's for us. Order out much more than usual, slack on chores, watch movies, sleep late, etc.


Kids in the 1-4 age range are tough because you still have to do so much for them. Over that, they're much easier, in my experience.

[Blanket Jackson]

Vacation with kids...Oxycontin!
fix'd that fer ya! (n/c)

[SKYHIGH]

BUMP!

[NewLeaf09]

I grew up in a military family with ultimately 5 kids. My father got 30 days a year off, which he'd often take off in a block between assignments. We did marathon car trips and camped the entire time regardless of the weather - from Hammerfest, Norway to S. Italy in a VW bus when I was 5 or 6; five kids, two adults, and a Doberman in a GMC carry-all from Tijuana to Fairbanks down to Ft. Leavenworth, KS; circumnavigated Turkey from the Med, to Istanbul, around the Black Sea coast, down the Soviet border, etc; drove trackless desert from Syria to Aqaba, Jordan, to Saudi, and back.

On the trip to Alaska my dad decided because we weren't making the mileage he had planned on that with 5 males and two females, we would stop for the females, but the males would have to use a pee jar. My youngest brother, 7, was dutifully trying to do his part standing in the space behind the driver's seat when we hit a major bump and my brother sprayed the back of my father's head. When my parents had had enough of us kids, they'd put us all out on the side of the road, drive ahead a mile or so and let us squabble and blow off energy catching up with them. A zillion memories formed - which I guess is my point.