February of 2020, we managed to take a memorable vacation to California before life shifted dramatically. We flew into Los Angeles and went on a road trip to enjoy sun, water, and the magic of Disney.
We stayed in LA the first night so we could have a reasonable bedtime and not deal with acquiring a rental car late in the evening. The next day included a big continental breakfast, sunshine, and departing for Anaheim, where we enjoyed one full day of Disneyland. Getting in was stressful. The shuttle from the hotel kept filling up so we gave up and took a bus in. I wished we had an earlier start because lines to get in were insane. Once inside, it was magical. We went straight to meet princesses since there was a short line. And were were happy to spend the money on FastPass+ to reserve ahead for FastPass rides (rather than spending time running around the park with little ones). In one day, we managed all the rides we hoped for, met characters, and saw one show. One kid slept through the Winnie the Pooh ride. And there was agreement that the Roger Rabbit and Pinocchio rides were a bit scary. A little parent hack of mine: I bought Minnie ears and t-shirts before the trip so there was no need to buy apparel at Disneyland.
Waiting to enter Disneyland
The day after Disneyland we enjoyed an extended character breakfast (at one point the waiter made my coffee refill to go) and strolled Downtown Disney. This felt like another day of Disneyland without buying tickets.
Mickey!Goodbye Disney
From Anaheim we headed to Palm Springs. We loved Palm Springs. We stayed at a hotel with a large inviting pool and a lawn the kids could run around on. Our time in Palm Springs was focused on pool time and visiting Joshua Tree National Park. The park was amazing. We left in the morning and got back to Palm Springs at dinner time. We did a few short hikes and explored the area with Skull Rock. Skull Rock was by far the biggest hit for our kids. They enjoyed climbing and exploring. At our last stop, our four year old lost her balance on a small bridge and fall on Cholla Cactus. Luckily, she was impaled by only one spine. But it turns out the spines have little barbs at the end that are extra painful. During our visit to Palm Springs, we stumbled upon their weekly Village Fest. It was very congested and we were nervous we would lose track of a kid but it interesting to walk around and see the various vendors.
From Palm Springs, we headed to our last stop, Santa Monica. We stayed nearby by at Marina Del Ray, next to the Cheesecake Factory. We had a balcony overlooking Mother’s beach that included a playground. We still had our rental car, which made visiting Venice Beach and Santa Monica a little easier. Highlights include playing at the beach, a beautiful sunset, watching roller skaters and skate boarders, and visiting the Santa Monica Pier.
Our viewSanta Monica PierVenice Canals
During the weeks following our trip, everything started shutting down due to Covid. And we didn’t get on a plane again for two years. Where did we go after a two year hiatus on flying? First stop was Palm Springs for much needed sunshine.
During the summer of 2019, we finally pursued a long held dream. We sailed the San Juan Islands. We departed from Bellingham, where we acquired Ibis the previous fall. Our sail took us west through the San Juans to Vancouver Island, eastward to James Island, and then south to Seattle. Last minute prepping and the first day aboard had us questioning our idea of a vacation with young children. Is sailing really that enjoyable with two young children? By the end of the trip, we felt more assured than ever that this is the life for our little family. And that we have much to learn.
We spent a few days in Bellingham prepping for our trip and celebrating the 4th of July. Due to the location of our marina, we were able to wake up our four year old and have her join us on deck for the fireworks. She was enthralled at the time but did not remember the experience the next morning.
We were concerned about leaving our car in the public lot next to the marina so we checked her in at the train station’s long term parking. Some packing supplies were left in the car and we departed Bellingham aboard Ibis. Our first day aboard we motored much of the way. We first tried staying at Matia Island. The small Rolfe Cove is cozy and inviting but there was not room for us. We headed over to Sucia Island where we found a mooring ball. Luckily we read about San Juan Island mooring balls the night before or we would have been caught off guard by the setup. Deep in Echo Bay, we were starting to feel good about our adventure. Sucia Island is popular with boaters and campers. We felt isolated and social. We met campers and their dogs. We enjoyed hiking and beach time with the kids. And each grown up had their own adventurous run on land.
On the WaterSydney RoseIbisGood morning SuciaIbis from SuciaExploring Sucia
From Sucia, we headed to Roche Harbor. It was probably our least favorite spot but worth visiting. We stayed at the marina for the amenities offered but we would have had access to the coin showers and laundry even if anchoring. We did use our free access to the pool, which included a free shower. We enjoyed hiking around the resort and went on an adventure to the Mausoleum. We also got to see a wedding, eat dinner out, and enjoy ice cream and donuts. Ice cream is an extra special treat when staying on a sailboat with an icebox.
Exploring Roche HarborLaundry
From Roche Harbor, we headed to Stuart Island where we scored another mooring ball in Reid Harbor. It felt isolated despite the handful of boats in the bay. Our first day we did a one mile hike that took about an hour with the kids. It involved rocks, cliffs, and many opportunities for the eldest to take pictures with “her” digital camera. Our visit to Stuart Island also included playing in the woods and on the beach. And we made the trek to the old school where the kids were rewarded with shirts from the treasure box. We peaked into the school windows, played basketball on the court, and learned the island’s history in the small library. J also managed a run to the lighthouse. It is hard to describe why but we all found the visit to Stuart magical. It may just be because we needed a boat to get there.
Reid HarborExploring StuartSwinging at Stuart
Departing Stuart was unnerving. It was foggy but we thought we would have visibility once we left the cove. We did not. By the time we realized how unsafe the conditions were, it made sense to keep moving forward. We relied largely on our Navionics app to know where we were and sailed according to the compass. Since we do not have radar, we also blew our horn every three minutes. The scariest moment was probably when a mega yacht motored just past us (we later saw them at our destination). Eventually we escaped the fog, and the rest of the way to Vancouver Island was mostly uneventful. The only issue we ran into was docking at the marina before customs (we thought custom was available at the marina). We departed the marina, visited customs, and returned.
Foggy Sailing
Once docked in front of the Empress, we kicked back and enjoyed a much earned beer aboard. Then we searched for dinner and delightfully ended up at Pagliacci’s. J and I enjoyed our dinners and the kids loved their free pasta and Sherly Temples. Another favorite spot to eat on our visit was Blue Fish, Red Fish (trust us, it’s worth the line). Our trip to Victoria also included a rainy city walking tour, a visit to Phillips Brewing & Malting Co., and time with the baby goats at Beacon Hill Children’s Farm (there are also free roaming peacocks).
Empress & LaundryBeacon Hill Children’s FarmBeacon Hill Children’s FarmExploring VictoriaThe HomecomingFan Tan Alley
From Victoria, we headed east and north through Cattle Pass to Turn Island. While heading east, we were boarded by the Coast Guard. We passed our checks thanks to K running out and buy a new fog horn that morning. Turn Island is one of our favorite spots. We had amazing views from the boat and adventures on shore. The island is small enough to hike the entire perimeter even with small children. We were unnerved at times by the cliffs but enjoyed views in every direction. We were wishing we emptied our black water in Canadian waters where doing so is allowed. The head was backing up by the time we got to our next destination.
Leaving VictoriaSunset at Turn IslandIbis from Turn IslandTide Pooling on TurnHiking on TurnIbis from Turn Island
There was not overnight space at the Friday Harbor Marina but we were able to dock for the day and run some errands and explore. And we were able to pump out before anchoring. We have a few special memories from that stop. One was our toddler crying as we departed for shore on the dingy. She feared we were leaving Ibis behind for good. Another was coming across a seal on the dock who had just given birth. We saw her again the next morning swimming with her newborn. The kids even acquired a mother seal and baby seal at the local Ace to remember the experience.
From Friday Harbor we went to Shaw Island. We made big promises to the kids of ice cream at the general store, but they were already closed when we arrived. But we were spotted by the owner and she thought we looked like a family in need of ice cream. She opened up just to allow us to grab a pint of ice cream and spoons. While anchored at Shaw Island we managed a longer visit to the general store as well as a longer conversation with the previous owner. And we hiked all of Blind Island.
San Juan BreweryShaw Island General StoreBlind Bay Seal
We then continued on to Obstruction Pass Park. Here we managed to get our dingy line caught in the propeller. J was able to dive in and get it out. Sadly, we would make the mistake again the following spring with greater consequences. Luckily there was service at this location because it was Amazon Prime Day and we managed a little shopping after the kids headed to bed. We hiked in the park and played at the beach. Interestingly, you have to cross private property to access the park. The house for the property is on the water and we managed to meet one of the owners during one of our hikes.
Our next stop was Spencer Spit, a great stop for kids thanks to all the fun driftwood ashore. We initially had a mooring ball south of the spit and were dealing with some rough water. After watching our toddler have to steady herself on the potty by resting her head against the dining table, we decided to move to a ball north of the spit, where it was much calmer. We enjoyed hiking in the park, building with driftwood, and walking to the end of the spit and spotting sea creatures.
Our last stop in the San Juan Islands was James Island. This was another big hit because it is so small and feels remote. We stayed at the dock on the west side of the island. We enjoyed hiking the island and spending time on the beach on the east side of the island. We could easily use the composting toilets and eat dinner on land but feel remote. It is so remote that one could even, in theory, hang out naked on the beach.
From James Island we headed south to Seattle with stops in Bowman Bay and Port Townsend. Bowman Bay included hiking and playing at the beach and playground. We didn’t have a great experience with the marina. Their map of their office location was incorrect so we needed to check in via phone and they failed to give us codes to use the restrooms, showers, and laundry (making chores very difficult that evening). But we did enjoy going into town to eat out and walk around. And the next morning we grabbed coffee at Better Living Through Coffee and spent time on the beach just behind the coffee shop. Of course our kids wound up taking their clothes off and splashing in the water.
Bowman Bay Beach TimeBowman Bay SunsetEn Route to Port TownsendExploring Port TownsendDeer at Port TownsendImpromptu Beach Time
We originally planned one more stop enroute to Seattle but realized that one long run made more sense. We put the kids down while underway and stayed the night in our new marina. It was strange stepping off the boat the next morning to head home. We felt ready to go home but comfortable and excited for future adventures aboard Ibis. At the moment, we didn’t know our next trip to the San Juans would be two years later and with another child aboard.
Approaching SeattleElliott Bay Marina
A little follow up on our trip. Remember how we left the car at a train station? I took a train up to get the car a few days later with the kids and my mom visiting from Texas. The night before, J and I laughed at the idea that I would get to Bellingham and not have the car key. About thirty minutes into the bus ride, I realized I forgot the car key. After multiple calls and running around town, J managed to get the car key in a package on a bus with a stop at the train station in Bellingham. The kids, my mom, and I walked around and got dinner and made sure to be ready to receive our package. Even then, the driver said we had to get the package from the office, which was closed, and so we would have to wait until morning. With begging on my part and my mother clearly about to rip the package out of his hands, he handed the package over and we made our way home. It was one of those experiences that makes you cry in the moment and laugh later (much, much later).
We had a family reunion in Gatlinburg but did a little extra Tennessee exploration the weekends before and after. We enjoyed exploring Nashville and the Smokies. And we learned both how wide Tennessee is and that it crosses two time zones.
We stayed at Courtyard Nashville Green Hills for the first weekend. The hotel felt nice and new. We were not expecting there to be zero parking in the area and had to pay $25/night for the hotel valet parking. We typically find cheaper parking near our hotel. The staff was friendly and gave each of our kids a gift from their treasure box. And we all enjoyed the rooftop pool. We needed to drive to explore Nashville but the drive from Green Hills was typically pretty short. The Bluebird was nearby, which we didn’t visit this trip but hope to in the future.
Skipping to the arts district Spying downtown
In summary of our weekend in Nashville:
We loved breakfast at Biscuit Love in the Gulch. We found it worth the wait even with two small children with us. We did cheat by taking turns exploring and visiting murals while in line.
We parked at the east end of the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge and walked over to the arts district.
We loved the live music and found the chaos of downtown fascinating. It was midday and already every other car seemed to be a truck carrying a dancing bachelorette party. We checked out sights on our walking tour, browsed cowboy boots for our kids, and listened to some live music.
Milk and Honey was also delicious and probably worth a wait, too. We got there early enough on Sunday to skip the line.
We enjoyed the murals. We have a variety of photos of us and the kids interacting with the murals in the Gulch.
There are many options for music but we found the Wildhorse Saloon to be a good fit for our little family. We stopped by for one round of beers, some live music, and a dance lesson. It felt more kid friendly than other options.
Some other restaraunts we enjoyed are Puckett’s and Edley’s Bar-B-Que. Edley’s was amazing but you have to get there early. They were already sold out of a couple items when we arrived.
We visited the Parthenon, making for fun photos with the kids. We didn’t explore inside because it was closed so I hope to on another trip. We didn’t visit a festival occurring in the park that looked fun but our kids got some energy out at the playground.
#nashvillegulch#whatliftsyou
We made the long trek to Gatlinburg. We expected a sleepy village in the Smokies but arrived to a town-sized boardwalk. We stayed in a house near downtown with extended family. We were walking distance to the aquarium, mini golf, arcades, t-shirt shops, and more. We did a little exploring downtown and took our kids to putt putt. The kids also visited the aquarium. Our favorite part of our visit to Gatlinburg, besides the pool at the house, was the Smokies. We only did a few hikes but even in the rain the hikes were beautiful and busy.
Downtown GatlingburgSmokies
We headed back towards Nashville after Gatlinburg for a night in Brentwood. We met up with some old friends that now live on the east coast. We didn’t see more of Nashville and spent most of our time in the hotel – enjoying the pool, the continental breakfast, and catching up with our friends. We did enjoy dinner at Uncle Julio’s and getting a glimpse of the litte Franklin downtown when we went out for lunch. If we were planning to move back east, this area would be tempting.
Our trip to Tennessee felt quick. I hope to go back to see a more of Nashville and the surrounding area. And I hope to spend more time in the Smokies one day; more likely in a tent in the woods for the full Smokies experience.
Our family loved Maui. My oldest continues to ask for us to move to Hawaii. We miss the sun, sand, ocean, and pool. Our explorations took us down to the beach and up to Haleakala Crater.
On a typical day we spent the morning at the beach and the afternoon at the pool. Our kids our young so we had quite time at the condo after lunch. After dinner and getting the kids to bed, we sipped wine, wrote in our travel journal, watched the sunset, and planned the remaining trip.
Our favorite beach was Kamaole Beach II. It was a short walk from our condo and we found a favorite spot with shade in the morning. We also explored Kamaole Beach I, Big Beach, and even Little Beach. At the beach, our kids enjoyed running into the waves and playing in the sand. Ariel would eventually “sunbathe” on one of the mats with a towel over her. J and I took turns going snorkeling. My first time out I froze as I saw something dark approach me. A shark!? No, a sea turtle! She swam right under me. By the time I got back to shore, I was shaking with excitement to share my encounter with my family. Eventually J saw one as well plus an octopus. There was generally plenty of life to see underwater.
Pool time was more active for the kids than beach time. Despite being unable to swim at the time, both kids loved the pool. They enjoyed moving around the kid pool, floating around the grown up pool, and jumping in to a parent’s arms.
Our family adventures included a drive to Lahaina for a ride on the Reef Dancer and inland to hike Haleakala Crater. The first was a good fit for our two younger kids. Ariel seemed to enjoy watching the scuba divers more than the wildlife. J and I had fun watching the kids take it all in and seeing some wildlife ourselves. After the boat trip we explored Lahiana. We especially loved the Lahaina Banyan Tree.
We did not watch the sunset at Haleakala Crater but we still enjoyed clear skies and perfect views. We did a decent hike down (and back up) the Sliding Sands trail. Our favorite piece of trivia from the day is that the Haleakala Crater is really an Erosional Valley but Haleakala Erosional Valley is not catchy name. Despite recommendations, we did not do the aquarium. We saved it as a good rainy day activity, but we didn’t have any rainy days. We focused our visit on enjoying the island’s outdoors and good weather.
J and I each did one adult activity. He did a spearfishing outing and learned some free diving. I did a snorkel excursion. Most of the excursions were on big boats and took eight hours hours. Luckily, I found a two hour excursion to Malaki. It was on a fast boat that got us there in only 15 minutes. Due to currents, we snorkeled on the outside of Malaki. I still saw a huge school of fish and heard whales singing underwater. I only wish I wore a wet suit top. I was shaking from the cold near the end of my time in the water.
Speaking of whales, we saw many from land. Watching them emerge from the water and their tail as the swam back down was pretty amazing for all four of us.
Last to mention are restaurants. We typically ate one meal out a day and the other two in the condo. Our best dinner out was probably the Luau at the Grand Wailea. The buffet style allowed for our kids to try a variety of Hawaiin food and enjoy dessert. The show was the highlight. Ariel enjoyed getting to dance onstage during the lesson and we all especially loved the fire eater at the end. The show is long but kept our attention the whole time. They did have ahi at the luau which was good. However, we were happy that we first had ahi from South Maui Fish Company. I was pregnant with my second when ahi became popular in Seattle. Once she was born, we decided to save ourselves for Hawaii. The ahi from South Maui Fish Company was worth the wait and was a reasonable price. It is a food truck so brought the food back to the hotel and dined by the pool. Ariel was not big on ahi but our toddler devoured it.
A few more restaurant recommendations:
Breakfast at Kihei Caffe
Dinner and Mai Tais at Monkeypod Kitchen
Lunch or dinner at Three’s Bar & Grill
Beach Street Maui Shave Ice
We are currently planning to go back to Maui next year. We plan on visiting the beaches and pool. On more hiking. And maybe next time I will be able to enjoy an entire Mai Tai, or two.
For our first adventure out to Hawaii, we had direct flights, making life much easier, but over-packed and had two car seats, making travelling not easy. We changed much about how we pack since that trip. I want to share a mix of what we did and what I wish we did. More on where we stayed and what we did in Maui in 2019 is in the post Exploring Maui.
What to pack
Renting car seats would have been a good option for this trip after we saw that Sixt offered safe looking car seats at an additional cost of only about $100 total for our ten day trip. We checked our car seats as soon as we got to the airport but we still had to get them on and off shuttles and maneuver them in and out of airports. We typically travel with our car seats and have since purchased car seat bags, which help with maneuverability.
We also had one large suitcase, one medium suitcase, one small carry one suitcase, Ariel’s Trunki suitcase, one backpack, and a couple of small bags with miscellaneous items including dinner. It was embarrassingly too much. The small carry on suitcase had everything we needed for the first night and day in case our luggage was lost. We did not want to be in Hawaii without bathing suits. The backpack had diaper changing supplies, appliances like the laptop, and stuff for the flights (kindles and magazines). If we have followed the below list of what we should have pack, we would have skipped one of the smaller suitcases and the miscellaneous bags.
Clothes and shoes per adult
3 warm and 2 cool weather outfits (at least 1 of each dressier)
1 jacket
2 bathing suits and 1 bathing suit cover
1 sunhat and a pair of sunglasses
Running gear
lip flops and comfortable sandals good for longer walks
Plenty of underwear
Clothes and shoes per kid
4 warm and 2 cool weather outfits (at least 1 of each dressier)
1 jacket
bathing suits
2 reusable swim diapers for the toddler
1 sunhat
Water shoes and shoes good for longer walks
Plenty of undies for potty trained kiddos
Enough diapers for the first two days
Other
Sunblock for adults and kids
Mattress cover for potty trained kid
Toiletries including preferred kids toothpaste
1 small backpack per kid with items of their choosing
Computer, kindles, journal, and magazines
One snorkel set for the adults (no fins)
One snorkel set for the older kid (no fins)
Medicine (daily vitamins, children’s Tylenol, adult Tylenol)
Not included
Diapers for the entire trip
Beach mats and toys may be left behind by past guests and available at the hotel, worth buying there otherwise for a reasonable cost
Settling into Maui
We arrived in Maui pretty late. We picked up our bags and luggage, took a shuttle to the car rental, and drove to our condo in Kihei. We felt lucky with our condo. We had two bedrooms, one with a queen and one with a set of twins. We had a kitchen, dining space, living room, and balcony with a partial ocean view. Especially important to us and impacting our revised packing list was the in room washer and dryer.
We got in too late to do needed kid proofing so we did the minimal amount needed to have the kids sleep in the living room just outside our bedroom the first night. It was a little scary when I awoke to the toddler calling for me and trying to open the front door. Coming from Seattle, we were uncomfortable with none of the furniture being anchored and did what we could to prevent potential deadly falls. The first night we blocked the dresser with the TV with the heavy coffee table. The next day we had to put their dresser in their closet, moved their beds against the wall, and put the toddler’s mattress on the floor.
Our first morning we were exhausted but happy. We awoke to paradise. We discovered our view, our pool, and the nearby beach that was only a walk away. We first went to the beach with just beach towels and had fun discovering the water and sand as a family.
In A8’s first 2 years, she visited 11 US states and British Columbia. These adventures included a few small road trips and 12 round trip flights. I want to share how we survived and had fun. I share about expectations and then tips for packing, riding on the plane, and hitting the road.
Expectations
We love adventures with our daughter but we needed to adjust our expectations. The biggest change was reducing the amount we do each day. We typically wake early, go on a morning adventure, return to nap, do something small in the afternoon, and return early for bed. For the first year, we could skip the naps and instead explore while she slept in a baby carrier. We also get nicer and more spacious accommodations compared to before kids. We love balconies or patios for while she is sleeping. We prefer kitchens so we do not need to eat out every meal and can prep snacks. And for longer trips, we need access to laundry facilities.
Packing
Packing depends on the trip but I recommend the following at minimum:
Diapers/Wipes: We pack all we need for a shorter trip. If more than a long weekend, we used to bring some and buy a pack at our destination. But we eventually learned that packing all diapers needed meant increased packing space coming home. We always have a full pack of wipes and back up diaper bag supplies available while travelling. We do cloth diapers at home but stick to disposable when travelling.
Pumping supplies and bottles: I only bring pumping supplies if on a trip that I plan to spend time with friends or family minus the little one. For us that means only when we are visiting the grandparents and we can get away.
Clothes: This depends on where we are going. If the trip is more than a long weekend, we plan on doing laundry at least once. Layers are important to keep baby warm or cool as needed. I found I also need more clothes for myself than before kids due to spills and spit up.
Thermometer and Medicine: We often forget to bring over the counter medicines with us. As a result, one of us would need to run to a pharmacy in a city we don’t know at 1am because our daughter has a high fever.
Snacks: These of course change has she moved onto solids but we tend to let her have a bit more sodium and sugar on plane rides to keep everyone happy.
Toys/Activities: Our child is most happy with books. We bring along a few of her favorite books and smaller toys. Puppets are fun on airplanes. On our most recent flight at a little over 3 years old, we also brought crayons and coloring books. We have managed all flights and long car rides (so far) without a screen except going through photos.
Car seat: When flying, we bring our car seat and check if for free. We check it even when a seat is available to place it in, because we prefer the extra space. We did not bring one to Chicago and Las Vegas since we relied on public transit. In Vegas, we rented a car seat with our car rental when we ventured to Zion. The car seat made her legal but we questioned how safe it was.
Stroller/Carrier: We brought a stroller on our first trip and never bothered again. It helps with managing an infant car seat through the airport but was a pain otherwise. We find it easier to bring a carrier and no stroller. We check the car seat and bags as soon as we arrive at the airport and then wear her in a carrier. In her first flight as a three year old, she rode around on her new Trunki. Note, We later retired Trunki because it added more hassle than value.
Babes on Planes
We didn’t purchase tickets for our daughter when she was under 2. We preferred saving the money and we figure they end up in our laps either way. We have friends that buy a ticket for their little one for convenience, safety, or for fear of the car seat getting damaged in baggage. As for the latter, our car seat received only cosmetic damage. Although we did not buy a ticket, we always tried for a third seat. If available, we booked the aisle and window seats of an empty row. The middle seat stays empty or the occupant is happy to switch. With Alaska, we called to have the middle seat blocked, which they do until the flight is full.
Out of concern for her developing ears, we used headphones for our daughter’s first flight at 5 months old. We always pack these just in case but they are usually not needed. We found that for us the key to flying was nursing. I nursed during take off, landing, and napping. We also changed her diaper every chance and we let her move around when possible (even if between laps). Once she hit toddlerhood, we started providing snacks and activities. Last, if given the opportunity to check bags for free, we always take it. We often check our bags for free with the car seat when we first get to the airport. This makes moving around the airport and plane easier.
We love that travelling with little ones comes with a little help:
Free car seat and stroller check
Early boarding while they are under 3
Seat hold – Alaska will block the seat until the flight fills.
Free flight until they are 2 years old
Babes on Wheels
I find road trips harder than flights because I cannot nurse and change diapers without stopping. It doesn’t help that our kids tend to dislike cars and we do not provide screens for easy entertainment. Our first road trip was when she was 2 months old and should have been about 2.5 hours. Between traffic and stops for nursing and changing diapers, it took us 5 hours. It was exhausting.
By the time we did a big road trip when she was a little more than 2 years old, she was a champ. She would chat with us, play with toys, and read her books as we drove. We did another big road trip once she was a potty trained three year old and we had a 6 month old and the trip was surprisingly smooth. I often found myself in the backseat soothing both kids with songs and stories.
We we found helps for a road trip with an infant or toddler:
We allow for plenty of time to get to our destination. Especially with a baby, we find that the trip duration can double.
We have found that blow outs are inevitable when taking an infant on a road trip. We change her diaper often (and still get blow outs).
We keep our distances short. Even once our daughter was 2 years old and we did our road trip to Banff, we never planned for more than 6 hours in one day. We tended to have it at 4 hours and never two driving days in a row. Even for our more recent trip, we are broke a potential 4 hour drive into two days to be safe.
At the end of the day, I find that travelling with young children is not easy but worth it. We love the memories we have of exploring cities, mountains, and beaches with our little girl and we are looking forward to the many adventures ahead.
For our 2018 family vacation, we did a road trip to Vancouver Island with our almost three year old Ariel and our five month old Sebastian (Ariel and Sebastian being the nicknames chosen by our mermaid loving three year old). We focused on Victoria and Tofino but spent a little time in a few other spots to help break up the drives. We also spent a few days in Vancouver so one of us could run a half marathon before heading back to Seattle.
Heading to and exploring Victoria
We planned to take the ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria but did not complete the reservation. We were on the road when we realized the mistake and it was too risky to get stuck in Port Angeles. We made a last minute change and drove to Vancouver and took the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay ferry. We reserved a spot on the way and ended up with plenty of buffer time to explore the nearby area and get lunch. We even tried visiting Point Roberts but the line at the border was too long. Once we made it to the port we realized we should have hung out there. There were food options and a playground. On the ferry, we walked around, visited the playroom, and enjoyed the views. After we arrived in Victoria and settled in at the Royal Scot Hotel & Suites, Jared took Ariel for a swim in the indoor pool and I went for a walk with the baby. The weather was clear and the water calm. There was a small protest, street music, and tourists and locals alike heading for happy hours and dinner. I joined back up with the rest of my family for dinner at Red Fish Blue Fish where the long line (with kids!!) was worth the fish and chips.
On our first full day in Victoria we headed to Butchart Gardens because we did not want to miss the chance to explore the gardens with good weather. Our expectations were surpassed. We loved the sunken gardens and enjoyed afternoon tea time at The Dining Room. We requested a table by the window in our reservation and were placed next to a window overlooking the Italian Garden. We split one afternoon tea and a lunch entree and walked away full and happy. The rest of the day involved our hotel pool, visiting a playground nearby, and cooking dinner in our hotel room. It is worth noting that we reserved a room that included a kitchen so we could eat in at least once a day. We were happily surprised to be upgraded to what was basically a one bedroom apartment with a full kitchen. This made our ‘room’ easy to decompress and eat in with the kids.
Sunken GardenButchart GardensRose Carousel
It was down-pouring the next day, but we still explored Victoria with a self guided walking tour. Luckily, the kids napped in the BOB and the carrier for our longer than expected walk to Spinnakers for lunch with a view.
Our last full day we went on a long walk to the farm at Beacon Hill Park, Ogden Point Breakwater, and Fisherman’s Wharf. We loved getting up close with the peacocks and baby goats in Beacon Hill Park. The baby goats would even climb up our backs and jump down. The grown ups were just as excited (if not more) as the kids. We were especially happy we got there in time for the morning goat run. From there, the Breakwater was a bit far with two kids but luckily we brought the BOB. The Breakwater was picturesque and the Fisherman’s Wharf was colorful and lively.
Heading to Tofino
Even though it is only about four hours from Victoria to Tofino, we split the trip with one night in Parksville. We were worried that four hours would become eight after potty breaks and diaper changes. Leaving Victoria, we stopped in Chemainus for lunch, a self-guided mural walk, and time at the playground. The murals were fun, but the town was very quiet. Once in Parksville, we were are able to enjoy the water and views and have a low key dinner in our AirBnB.
Chemainus MuralParksville Water PlayParksville Sunrise
Exploring Tofino
Tofino was our first true beach vacation as parents and we loved it. We stayed in a water front hotel with a balcony to enjoy the view when the kids were sleeping. Ariel loved playing in the sand and watching the ocean from the children’s swing. We even met our first Velella! Luckily we took one photo the day we arrived because it was the last day they were around.
We spent most of our time relaxing at the beach and tide pooling but we also managed to go whale watching. Sebastian hung out in the carrier while Ariel spotted the whales with mermaid tails. It was chilly and windy so the kids had to retreat indoors. Afterwards we grabbed a waterfront lunch so we could continue enjoying the view but stay warm.
VelellaSwinging with a ViewTidepoolingHiking to ShoreWhale Watching
Heading to and Exploring Vancouver
Heading out we stopped for a short hike and picnic. We didn’t want to take any risks with a three hour drive before the ferry so we stayed the night in Qualicum Beach before taking the ferry the next morning. Each parent took the opportunity to go on a evening beach walk and we all enjoyed a little beach time in the morning. The ferry ride was similar to before except we were a little frustrated that the television in the playroom could not be turned off. This was difficult for us when we keep our kids screens free. Luckily there were other kids to play with and plenty of boat to explore.
We somehow managed to visit Vancouver on a yearly basis. We usually stay downtown but for this trip we stayed near South Main. It was a short walk to Jared’s race start in Queen Elizabeth Park and within walking distance to playgrounds, shops, and restaurants. We did a mix of eating in and dining out and made it to our brunch spot in Vancouver: Twisted Fork.
Pacific Rim National ParkQualicum Beach
Post trip reflections
We were a little worried that we were crazy for doing a road trip with two young kids. We were more conservative than needed with breaking up the trips, but happy we played it safe. Staying in places we could cook reduced the need to dine out, which can be overwhelming with kids. We couldn’t get a kitchen in Tofino, but managed to have a refrigerator so we could do very simple lunches or dinners in our room. We look forward to visiting in the future when the kids are older. It will be the same places with new experiences.
I put this list together for a friend and updated it after our second child in 2017. I don’t include clothes since you tend to receive plenty from family and friends. On our first, we did make sure to start with a set of short sleeve onesies, set of long sleeve onesies, cozy pants, socks, and hats. I sprinkle in a few bits of advice and insight on our personal experience.
Diaper Changing
1 Change pad – Rather than a change table, we put a changing pad on the dresser.
Small trash can for diapers. This can be for cloth or disposable.
Wipes and wipe holder – We use both disposable and reusable wipes. For cloth wipes, we also had a glass water bottle for wiping.
Antibacterial gel – We keep this on the changing table.
Diaper bag supplies: soft fold-able changing pad, disposable liners, wipe holder (we bought one that later broke and now use one that came free with a large pack of diapers), burp cloth, and spare clothes (for baby and you!).
Cloth Diapers
We used Flip diapers for our first daughter primarily with these prefolds but also have some of the official inserts.
For overnight, we used a cotten nighttime prefold with a hemp insert folded in (hemp insert shouldn’t touch their skin). We then covered her diaper with wool bloomers.
We also have a waterproof bag for putting dirty diapers in.
Sleep
Swaddling – We could not find any the right size for newborn other than those at the hospital. For our first, we later used swaddling blankets. We stopped swaddling much earlier with our second because she was fine without and could roll over early.
Crib – For our first, we kept a standard sizes crib in our room the first year (lowers chances of SIDS). But she ended up in our bed much of the time after four months. We switched out the larger crib for a mini crib for our second. Our first switched to the crib mattress on the floor not long after turning one year. The crib has only a mattress and fitted sheet (no bumpers, blankets, or pillows). Our first got a small pillow and blanket at about 14 months.
They don’t start solids until 6 months but I recommend baby led weaning (zero baby food). The Baby Led Weaning Cookbook has everything you need to know plus recipes.
We got a seat on Craiglist similar to this but it depends on what is best for your dining area. The biggest issue we have is that you cannot take the straps across the lap off to clean without taking the whole thing apart with a screwdriver (which we have not done).
You should get a pump free through your insurance.
We did glass bottles and liked Avent Natural Glass the most because they are simple.
I recommend ordering some extra milk storage bottles and storage bags. I started pumping before going to work so she would take a bottle and I to build a frozen storage.
And each morning, I packed a micro-steam bag for each pumping session. This made prep easy, especially if there is a microwave in the room you pump in. At home, I use a reusable sterilizer.
Nursing
Buy nipple cream before your baby arrives. I prefer the kind that doesn’t need to be cleaned off.
For my first, I used a nursing cover for the first 3 months and then went without. I never bothered covering up with the second.
Nursing tanks are amazing because you can wear any top and not worry about pulling out the post baby belly.
I got a breast friend and a boppy. Probably overkill but I like having both. The boppy is also good for tummy time.
Seats & Swings
We have a cheaper version of this sleeper locally for hanging out and napping. We call it the taco. Once she could hold her head consistently up, we got a Bumbo with a belt.
We had a swing because we got it free but never used it. That said, others have found it to be a godsend.
Moving Around
We did the Chicco Bravo Trio System but you should check consumer report for the current safest car seat. I don’t recommend used but if you do make sure it is not expired and never been in an accident. At 7 months we switched to a Diono Rainier, but my husband thinks it is too heavy and ridiculous and recommends a lighter one.
I found our sidewalks to be difficult with the regular stroller so we ended up buying a used Bob Revolution too. I may get a double too but they take up alot of space.
Somehow we got the following for free: newborn sling, Moby wrap, BabyBjorn, and Ergo. We barely used the sling but used the rest. The Bjorn is nice because it is easy but it is painful when the baby hits 15 or 16 pounds. If you pick only one, I recommend the Ergo with the newborn insert or something similar. With our second, we replaced the old Ergo with a Lille.
For our 2017 family vacation, we planned on sailing to and around the San Juan Islands but our boat engine ran into issues before the trip. We looked for a new plan for our family vacation and landed on Banff. Despite the last minute planning, we managed to reserve four nights of camping in Banff. And since we had a two year old, we made the trek out there and back a road trip. We headed east from Seattle for camping in Winthrop and staying with family in Rathdrum before Banff. On our way home from Banff, we stayed in Kelowna, BC. We managed to never spend more than six hours driving in one day.
Winthrop, WA
Ever since we stumbled upon Winthrop, WA on the way to a backpacking trip in Twisp Pass, we wanted to go back. We finally returned years later with our little girl, A. We managed to get a spot by the river at the Winthrop KOA near town but hope to reserve far enough in advance in the future to get a spot in the shade. At the campground, we enjoyed sitting by the river, playing at the playground, and swimming in the pool. They also had amazing bathrooms and showers and even a small laundry mat. On our first day we set up camp and walked around town. We ate at Carlos1800 Mexican Grill & Cantina and explored the outdoor Schafer Museum. We read about finding and refining gold while A played with the gravel.
On the second day, we had breakfast and playtime at the KOA before heading to Falls Creek Waterfall. This was further than we expected but we also took a wrong turn that took us up and over the waterfall. It’s best to navigate to the Falls Creek Campground – the waterfall is across the street. The hike to the waterfall is less than 5 minutes so we continued up the hill for another 15 minutes before heading back to our campground for lunch, naptime, and a swim in the pool. A was not a fan of the pool and much preferred our later visit to horses near the main road and to Sheri’s Sweet Shop where the three of us enjoyed Samoa Cookie, Maplenut, and Vanilla ice cream. We ended the day with a walk through town and across the Sa Teekh Wa Bridge.
Our last morning in Winthrop we woke up to smoke and ash from the forest fires. After packing up and visiting the horses one last time, we grabbed some coffee and a muffin at Rocking Horse Bakery and checked out Trail’s End Bookstore, which has a fun kids’ area.
KOA CampsiteFalls Creek Falls, Okanogan County
Rathdrum, ID
We didn’t arrive in Rathdrum until the evening so our first adventure was the next morning. We explored the Twin Lakes on a pontoon boat and saw osprey, bald eagles, and lily pads. We also got to ride around the small community in a golf cart and went through “Stinky Hollow”. In Coeur d’Alene, we visited Mudgy and Millie, walked along Sherman Avenue, strolled the boardwalk, and enjoyed a dinner with a view at Dockside. After dinner, the four of us split a Gooey, which was worth every penny and calorie.
Rathdrum, IDCoeur d’Alene, ID
Banff
Our drive to Banff was our first longer drive so we needed a much earlier start. On our drive, we saw an amusement park, enjoyed a faster entry through customs than we are used to, and eating Timbits. We were surprised with how much of the drive was in the national parks. We were also immediately surprised by the wildlife. Not long after entering the parks, we stopped for a grizzly cub crossing the street in front of us. We took a photo from inside the car and kept an eye out for his mama. We were less pleasantly surprised with how busy Banff was when we stopped for supplies. The grocery store was chaos. We wished we purchased our food and alcohol before entering the park. We were excited to reach our campground in the Two Jack Main campground. Despite being a large campground, our spot felt secluded.
Entering Banff National ParkBanff Campsite
Day 1 in Banff: Lake Louise, Lake Agnus, and Two Jack Lake
We were not expecting how crowded the park would be. On our first full day, we didn’t arrive to Moraine Lake until 10:30am and were unable to turn down Moraine Lake Road because the lot was full. From there we headed to the Lake Louise overflow lot to take the free shuttle to Lake Louis. This was exciting for A because she got to ride in a yellow bus. Once we arrived, the lake was packed with tourists from all over the world taking pictures at the entrance of the lake. After hitting the restroom, grabbing some cash at the hotel, and taking a few pictures of the iconic lake, we headed up the Lake Agnes trail to the Lake Agnes Tea House. The trail was easy to moderate but we had one person carrying a 30 pound toddler and the other 26 weeks pregnant so the ascent took us about 1.5 hours. The trail was congested but not nearly as packed as the lake. We enjoyed stops at Mirror Lake and a waterfall on our way up. Lake Agnes was packed but we managed to get a table at the tea house, sharing with a few others. We learned the hard way that you do not wait in line for a table but instead hunt one down, similar to finding a parking spot. The food and drinks were simple and a bit more expensive than we expected but we did enjoy a white cheddar and cucumber sandwich on house made bread, tomato and lentil soup, lemonade, and lemon poppy seed bread. We didn’t indulge in tea since tea is a little tricky with pregnancy. Once we made it back down to the bottom, there were less people and smoke so we took some more pictures before shuttling back.
Since we had to keep all food and cooking supplies in the car, we were able to head straight to the day use area on Two Jack Lake and make dinner. As we drove in, we came across a herd of Bighorn Sheep, including some lambs (Boo Boo sheep according to A). Our biggest tips from the day are to get an early start, hunt down a table immediately at Lake Agnes Tea House, try to stay somewhere close to the sites you plan to see, be prepared to keep everything in the car if camping, and consider Canmore as a less crowded option than Banff.
Lake LouiseMirror LakeLake AgnusTwo Jack Lake
Day 2 in Banff: Johnston Canyon and Downtown Banff
We got a much earlier start our second day to visit Johnston Canyon. We arrived to an empty P1 lot at about 8am and made our breakfast and coffee. The trail was congested but the crowds thinned after passing the lower falls. At the lower falls, we were initially unsure about waiting in the line but happy we did for the up close view of the waterfall. We continued to the upper falls, which were amazing minus the fact that one of us dropped the camera lens cover – giving perspective to how tall the falls were. We decided against the 3.1 km hike to the Ink Pots since we were already cutting it close to naptime. Hiking back, we saw the line for the lower falls was about five times longer. When we departed at about 11:30am, both the P1 and P2 lots were full and cars were lining the road.
After Johnston Canyon, we headed to Banff and had a picnic lunch in Central Park. We relaxed while A napped in her small day tent. We then headed to the roaring Bow Falls, where A enjoyed watching rafts embark on the river. From there, we went to Banff Centre to swim and take our shower since Two Jack Main campground does not have showers. Taking advantage of being clean, we headed back into town to walk around and get dinner at Bear Street Tavern. We indulged in forest mushroom pizza and pork belly mac and cheese. One of us even got to enjoy a reasonably priced stein of double IPA.
Our tips for the day are to hike Johnston Canyon early, plan downtime in Central Park if you have kids, and plan to shower at Banff Centre if staying at a campground without showers. You can also shower at the hot springs.
Hiking Johnston CanyonJohnston CanyonWelcome to BanffBow Falls
Day 3 in Banff: Moraine Lake and Icefields Parkway
We finally made it to Moraine Lake on our last full day in Banff. We got up and headed out before breakfast and arrived at Moraine Lake at 8:30am. The road to Moraine Lake was still open but we were still lucky to get street parking. We recommend getting there by 8am to be safe. We made breakfast at one of the picnic tables and then made the short hike to the lake. By then, the clouds were clearing and we discovered the beauty of Moraine Lake. Since they closed the road at 9am, it was not crowded like Lake Louise. We took in the view, grabbed a latte, and relaxed near the canoe docks. We then headed down the lakeside trail, which A hiked most of on her own. Despite being only 1.4 km and flat, few people were on the trail. At the end, we had an amazing view of the lake from the other side. When we got back to the canoe docks, J climbed the short Rockpile Trail to get the $20 view of the lake.
Hiking Moraine LakeNear Moraine LakeMoraine Lake
By the time we made it back down to Lake Louise Village, A was asleep so we ventured 45 minutes north to see Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake, and Peyto Lake. We only had a glimpse of each since we took turns viewing while they other stayed in the car. It was worth the drive but a longer visit of each would have been nice.
After the Icefields Parkway, we headed back to Central Park in Banff to enjoy the playground and an early dinner in the park. We debated taking the gondola and ended up strolling around town instead. The next day we needed to get up early for the drive to Kelowna.
Peyto Lake
Adventures to and in Kelowna, BC
We were excited to drive through Glacier National Park but we didn’t see any glaciers due to the smoke from the fires. We stopped for a short walk at the Giant Cedar Boardwalk and again 40 minutes later at the Enchanted Forest. Even with our stops, we arrived in Kelowna before dinner.
The next morning we consumed assembly line pancakes at the hotel before heading to a free tour of the cultural district that was informative, interesting, and included a visit to the art museum. After the tour, we walked around and grabbed lunch at the arts center before returning to the hotel for napping, laundry, and time at the pool. In the evening, we hit up one of the local public splash parks before grabbing an eclectic dinner at Curious Cafe. After dinner, we walked down to the waterfront where A danced to piano playing and jumped to music at a concert in the park. Our last day was the drive home but we made one more stop in Hope, BC for lunch and a midday stroll. Taking a road trip with a 2 year old felt a little crazy but we had an amazing family adventure and hope to visit Banff again in the future.
We spent Thanksgiving in Portland in 2012 and 2013. Each visit offered different experiences worth sharing. Our visit in 2012 was our first visit to Portland. We arrived on Thanksgiving and enjoyed quiet streets and an amazing Thanksgiving dinner at the Blossoming Lotus, where we parked in front of the nearby Lion and the Rose Victorian Bed & Breakfast from the Lonelyhearts episode of Grimm.
Friday we enjoyed the parade from our room, some Black Friday shopping in the Pearl District and Nob Hill, and a visit to Deschutes. Deschutes offered amazing gluten-free beer on tap and thick-cut gluten-free grilled cheese and fries. We enjoyed Deschutes so much we went back on Saturday. Saturday also included the Farmer’s Market at Portland State University and the Saturday Market.
We arrived on Wednesday in 2013 to run the Turkey Trot on a very cold Thanksgiving morning with the Oregon Road Runners Club. The run was fun. The highlight: the run ended in the Zoo for photo ops with elephants and orangutans. The low-light: the hills were monstrous. We ran the entire first half downhill, which meant an uphill and exhausting second half. The enjoyable end at the zoo and good workout was worth a little pain.
The rest of the day included biking to Grimm locations, lunch at La Provence & Petite Provence, shopping at Powell’s, Thanksgiving dinner at Henry’s Tavern, and the tree lighting at the Pioneer Courthouse Square. This event was loud and crowded but fun with live music, the mayor, and the 75-foot ‘holiday tree’ lit (one speaker accidentally said Christmas tree and then corrected himself).
On Saturday, we explored Hawthorne District where we enjoyed some more good food and holiday shopping for our nephews.
