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Spring Break road trip with four-year-old - Advice please
Greetings all
My wife and I are planning to take our four yo son on a road trip over spring break. We'll be coming from Victoria BC, and our plan is to: bomb down the I-5, stopping two nights en route to San Francisco, then spending 3 nights in SF before heading north, up the California coast, over to the 101 for the Avenue of the Giants, up the Oregon Coast then bombing through Washington state to catch the Coho from Port Angeles home... We've got 9.5 days... Does anyone have any suggestions, warnings or advice for us? Places to stay, things to see, changes to our route or schedule? Thanks in advance, Rob |
#2
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Spring Break road trip with four-year-old - Advice please
"RWiersema" wrote in message news:1g999ur.i7u5rp1jafx2aN%robertwiersema@hot**** androckinmail.com... Greetings all My wife and I are planning to take our four yo son on a road trip over spring break. We'll be coming from Victoria BC, and our plan is to: bomb down the I-5, stopping two nights en route to San Francisco, then spending 3 nights in SF before heading north, up the California coast, over to the 101 for the Avenue of the Giants, up the Oregon Coast then bombing through Washington state to catch the Coho from Port Angeles home... We've got 9.5 days... Does anyone have any suggestions, warnings or advice for us? Places to stay, things to see, changes to our route or schedule? Thanks in advance, Rob Nothing about your itinerary but I know about car trips and 4-year olds. Be very flexible. Stop often and RUN that child often - he'll get antsy just sitting strapped in the car and needs to get the wiggles out. We used to have them race across the grass at the rest stops in the picnic area. Bring lots of NEW activities for him - books, puzzles, coloring books with a box to put the crayons in so they don't melt on the seat (we tried markers - tops off makes worse mess; coloring pencils always have to be sharpened), plus let him choose one or two toys from home. Keep a small cooler with juices, water and healthy snacks, then let him buy a small bag of candy or cookies at occasional rest stops so he feels like he is getting special privilege. Get him involved in planning so that he knows what to expect - explain a little about what you'll visit, explain a hotel room if he hasn't seen one before, explain table manners in restaurants, be sure to explain that he NEVER leaves you or wanders off. If possible, let him choose one or two of the places you'll visit. Just be aware of his moods and be prepared to let him rest when he wears out. Take his regular medicines in case of illness - finding a place to buy a thermometer and children's Tylenol in a strange city at 3 a.m. isn't fun. Have a great time! Chris |
#3
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Spring Break road trip with four-year-old - Advice please
"RWiersema" wrote in message
news:1g999ur.i7u5rp1jafx2aN%robertwiersema@hot**** androckinmail.com... Greetings all My wife and I are planning to take our four yo son on a road trip over spring break. We'll be coming from Victoria BC, and our plan is to: bomb down the I-5, stopping two nights en route to San Francisco, then spending 3 nights in SF before heading north, up the California coast, over to the 101 for the Avenue of the Giants, up the Oregon Coast then bombing through Washington state to catch the Coho from Port Angeles home... We've got 9.5 days... Does anyone have any suggestions, warnings or advice for us? Places to stay, things to see, changes to our route or schedule? Thanks in advance, Rob Sounds like a superb itinerary to me! In some ways its a rough age for a four year old depending on his disposition - make sure he gets plenty of sleep and avoid too many fluids unless you stop alot for calls of nature! But, it will be a great adventure for him as well as you will be travelling to a lot of things he should enjoy. You'll probably enjoy the Redwoods along the way on the coast and I highly recommend the drive up Mt. Tamalpias just north of San Francisco and San Rafael via Mill Valley or the and return the coast route via Stinson Beach or vice-versa. Bon voyage! KM -- (-:alohacyberian:-) At my website there are 3000 live cameras or visit NASA, play games, read jokes, send greeting cards & connect to CNN news, NBA, the White House, Academy Awards or learn all about Hawaii, Israel and mo http://keith.martin.home.att.net/ |
#4
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Spring Break road trip with four-year-old - Advice please
Leave the 4yo with Gramma, and have a great honeymoon/vacation. Gramma'll love it, and you will too ! On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 16:17:22 -0800, (RWiersema) wrote: Greetings all My wife and I are planning to take our four yo son on a road trip over spring break. We'll be coming from Victoria BC, and our plan is to: bomb down the I-5, stopping two nights en route to San Francisco, then spending 3 nights in SF before heading north, up the California coast, over to the 101 for the Avenue of the Giants, up the Oregon Coast then bombing through Washington state to catch the Coho from Port Angeles home... We've got 9.5 days... Does anyone have any suggestions, warnings or advice for us? Places to stay, things to see, changes to our route or schedule? Thanks in advance, Rob rj |
#5
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Spring Break road trip with four-year-old - Advice please
RJ wrote:
Leave the 4yo with Gramma, and have a great honeymoon/vacation. Gramma'll love it, and you will too ! Thanks for the advice, but no thanks. My wife and I make a point of having our child as part of our lives, rather than palming him off on someone whenever we have a little time off. When we go out for dinner, he goes out for dinner - as a result, he's learned proper restaurant manners, is quiet, respectful and doesn't make a mess. When we go on vacation, he goes on vacation - as a result, he's learned proper travel manners, is quiet and occupied on flights and knows how to behave in hotels -- lobbies, elevators and rooms. We've been able to share some wonderful experiences with him -- from his first Broadway show last summer to hours spent at the Met, trips to zoos and Children's museums across the US. We wouldn't trade those experiences, and the growth we've seen in him as a result, for anything... |
#6
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Spring Break road trip with four-year-old - Advice please
"Robert Wiersema" wrote in message news:1g9em2p.11ykkyb1lcb53qN%rwiersema@nobolenspam .bc.ca... RJ wrote: Leave the 4yo with Gramma, and have a great honeymoon/vacation. Gramma'll love it, and you will too ! Thanks for the advice, but no thanks. My wife and I make a point of having our child as part of our lives, rather than palming him off on someone whenever we have a little time off. When we go out for dinner, he goes out for dinner - as a result, he's learned proper restaurant manners, is quiet, respectful and doesn't make a mess. When we go on vacation, he goes on vacation - as a result, he's learned proper travel manners, is quiet and occupied on flights and knows how to behave in hotels -- lobbies, elevators and rooms. We've been able to share some wonderful experiences with him -- from his first Broadway show last summer to hours spent at the Met, trips to zoos and Children's museums across the US. We wouldn't trade those experiences, and the growth we've seen in him as a result, for anything... Laudable - but remember - in 14 years, barring other children, you will be again 'just' a couple. It is not a sin to have some 'marriage time' - that also teaches your child something - that mommy & daddy's relationship has a very special place in their life. That will help him place proper precedence in his own relationships as he gets older. If it's not this trip, that's fine - but consider it in the future. Happy couples make happy parents. Chris |
#7
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Spring Break road trip with four-year-old - Advice please
"Robert Wiersema" wrote in message news:1g9em2p.11ykkyb1lcb53qN%rwiersema@nobolenspam .bc.ca... RJ wrote: Leave the 4yo with Gramma, and have a great honeymoon/vacation. Gramma'll love it, and you will too ! Thanks for the advice, but no thanks. My wife and I make a point of having our child as part of our lives, rather than palming him off on someone whenever we have a little time off. When we go out for dinner, he goes out for dinner - as a result, he's learned proper restaurant manners, is quiet, respectful and doesn't make a mess. When we go on vacation, he goes on vacation - as a result, he's learned proper travel manners, is quiet and occupied on flights and knows how to behave in hotels -- lobbies, elevators and rooms. We've been able to share some wonderful experiences with him -- from his first Broadway show I assume it was one of the Disney offerings. As a rule, Broadway theaters don't admit children under 4. last summer to hours spent at the Met, trips to zoos and Children's museums across the US. We wouldn't trade those experiences, and the growth we've seen in him as a result, for anything... |
#8
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Spring Break road trip with four-year-old - Advice please
fishman wrote:
"Robert Wiersema" wrote in message news:1g9em2p.11ykkyb1lcb53qN%rwiersema@nobolenspam .bc.ca... RJ wrote: Leave the 4yo with Gramma, and have a great honeymoon/vacation. Gramma'll love it, and you will too ! Thanks for the advice, but no thanks. My wife and I make a point of having our child as part of our lives, rather than palming him off on someone whenever we have a little time off. When we go out for dinner, he goes out for dinner - as a result, he's learned proper restaurant manners, is quiet, respectful and doesn't make a mess. When we go on vacation, he goes on vacation - as a result, he's learned proper travel manners, is quiet and occupied on flights and knows how to behave in hotels -- lobbies, elevators and rooms. We've been able to share some wonderful experiences with him -- from his first Broadway show last summer to hours spent at the Met, trips to zoos and Children's museums across the US. We wouldn't trade those experiences, and the growth we've seen in him as a result, for anything... Laudable - but remember - in 14 years, barring other children, you will be again 'just' a couple. It is not a sin to have some 'marriage time' - that also teaches your child something - that mommy & daddy's relationship has a very special place in their life. That will help him place proper precedence in his own relationships as he gets older. If it's not this trip, that's fine - but consider it in the future. Happy couples make happy parents. Chris Oh, sure - I'm certainly not averse to some quailty marriage time, but if we've got an opportunity for a nine day trip with the whole family, the alternative never even occurred to me. |
#9
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Spring Break road trip with four-year-old - Advice please
PTRAVEL wrote:
"Robert Wiersema" wrote in message news:1g9em2p.11ykkyb1lcb53qN%rwiersema@nobolenspam .bc.ca... RJ wrote: Leave the 4yo with Gramma, and have a great honeymoon/vacation. Gramma'll love it, and you will too ! Thanks for the advice, but no thanks. My wife and I make a point of having our child as part of our lives, rather than palming him off on someone whenever we have a little time off. When we go out for dinner, he goes out for dinner - as a result, he's learned proper restaurant manners, is quiet, respectful and doesn't make a mess. When we go on vacation, he goes on vacation - as a result, he's learned proper travel manners, is quiet and occupied on flights and knows how to behave in hotels -- lobbies, elevators and rooms. We've been able to share some wonderful experiences with him -- from his first Broadway show I assume it was one of the Disney offerings. As a rule, Broadway theaters don't admit children under 4. Don't assume. Last summer he was a month shy of his fourth birthday when we hit New York, and had no problem taking him to a half dozen or so Bwy shows, including 42nd Street, Hairspray, Thoroughly Modern Millie and, yes, Beauty and the Beast. BaTB, by the way, was his least favourite of the shows that he saw. And for those of you concerned, he was a little gentleman at each show - sat still, didn't make a peep during the performance (during which he was enraptured), and drew raves and praise from the theatre-goers around us and special attention from a couple of conductors... Much better behaved than some of the theatre-goers we saw. |
#10
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Spring Break road trip with four-year-old - Advice please
"Robert Wiersema" wrote in message news:1g9esz8.1bigqy3989m6eN%rwiersema@nobolenspam. bc.ca... PTRAVEL wrote: "Robert Wiersema" wrote in message news:1g9em2p.11ykkyb1lcb53qN%rwiersema@nobolenspam .bc.ca... RJ wrote: Leave the 4yo with Gramma, and have a great honeymoon/vacation. Gramma'll love it, and you will too ! Thanks for the advice, but no thanks. My wife and I make a point of having our child as part of our lives, rather than palming him off on someone whenever we have a little time off. When we go out for dinner, he goes out for dinner - as a result, he's learned proper restaurant manners, is quiet, respectful and doesn't make a mess. When we go on vacation, he goes on vacation - as a result, he's learned proper travel manners, is quiet and occupied on flights and knows how to behave in hotels -- lobbies, elevators and rooms. We've been able to share some wonderful experiences with him -- from his first Broadway show I assume it was one of the Disney offerings. As a rule, Broadway theaters don't admit children under 4. Don't assume. Last summer he was a month shy of his fourth birthday when we hit New York, and had no problem taking him to a half dozen or so Bwy shows, including 42nd Street, Hairspray, Thoroughly Modern Millie and, yes, Beauty and the Beast. Perhaps these shows do, then. Most don't (though I see Hairspray is listed as "Suitable for teens and adults" and Millie as ("Suitable for children over 8). BaTB, by the way, was his least favourite of the shows that he saw. He has taste -- I wouldn't consider BaTB theater. And for those of you concerned, he was a little gentleman at each show - sat still, didn't make a peep during the performance (during which he was enraptured), and drew raves and praise from the theatre-goers around us and special attention from a couple of conductors... I won't question your characterization of his behavior, though I do wonder what he might have done to garner all that attention, particularly from the conductors. Much better behaved than some of the theatre-goers we saw. Maybe so, though I've never understood this rationalization. |
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