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re: What would be the ideal 16 day road trip with your family (2 adults + 3 small kids) ?
Posted on 6/1/22 at 9:22 pm to BeepNode
Posted on 6/1/22 at 9:22 pm to BeepNode
quote:
I'd like to go out west into some scenic territory. I'm considering flying to Colorado for a couple of days of camping, and then taking the Zephyr, with a stop at Utah, go to Lake Tahoe, then deep into California, and then flying back. The logistics of it probably doesn't make sense with 3 kids.
Sounds like a great road trip
1
Posted on 6/1/22 at 9:23 pm to BeepNode
When I was 7 my parents did this with me and my 3 siblings. We did a 2 week camping trip throughout New England. I still have vivid memories of that trip 45 years later. But, how my parents did it without killing all of us, I have no idea. I'm pretty sure us 4 children were fighting (or someone was crying) pretty much the entire trip.
Posted on 6/1/22 at 9:24 pm to auzach91
quote:
Damn. Y’all are miserable. My pops took me and my brother the day we got out of school when I was 7 and he was 9. Took us all around the us stopping to trout fish and go to baseball games along the way, hitting as many national parks and baseball stadiums we could. It’s still the best summer of my life. Wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Time erases all wounds
Posted on 6/1/22 at 9:25 pm to BeepNode
See post above but my dad took me and my brother… Granted this was 1998 and everything was a lot more affordable but we stayed in a tent 4-5 nights and a hotel the other 2-3 to shower and get a decent sleep. We ate canned oysters and Vienna sausages a plenty but I also love them to this day. Got to see McGwire during the HR chase in St. Louis and went to minor league games as well. Again, I wouldn’t trade that summer for any other in my life. Just do it. Take your kids and they will never forget it
This post was edited on 6/1/22 at 9:27 pm
Posted on 6/1/22 at 10:06 pm to Sun God
I need to find a good place for a family to camp at in Colorado.
Posted on 6/1/22 at 10:12 pm to BeepNode
My kids are 14 and 8 and I refuse to take them on vacation anymore because all they do is complain. I couldn't imagine going with three small ones.
Posted on 6/2/22 at 4:31 am to Sun God
quote:
Time erases all wounds
Which is a good argument to do the trip. A couple of posters have related fond memories they had from similar trips as kids. I’m sure it wasn’t as rosy at the time as they remember it, but they made some great memories with their family that last to this day.
OP, we did a 2 week trip out west a couple of years back. Kids were 10 and 7 at the time. Sand dunes national park (via medano pass), black canyon of the Gunnison, mighty 5 in Utah, Mesa verde, ouray, white water rafting, etc…. We ate all of our lunches as sandwiches on the side of the road somewhere. Day 1 there was a lot of complaining about this, by the end of the trip everyone agreed that some of our best times were spent around the tailgate of the truck. I made the kids keep a daily journal. This was also a big complaint on day 1, but midway through the first week they couldn’t wait to write in them. Take LOTS of pictures. Sift through them when you get back and make a photo album from somewhere like Mpix or Shutterfly. I made one of our trip as a surprise Christmas gift to my wife and we continue to like leafing through it. Make a checklist of things to do and see (new, local foods to try. Animals to spot, take a picture with each state sign, fart in each state, etc…). I made a 2 page checklist and it kept the kids engaged during our ride. 2 weeks in my truck and neither the radio nor DVD players ever came on once. It won’t always be easy, but invest the time and make the memories so one day your kids will look back fondly on the time y’all took the trip.
Posted on 6/2/22 at 6:46 am to BeepNode
Hi. When I was around 12, my parents took us with our trailer from Florida all the way out to Wyoming. We visited multiple States. I remember the trip. Can't say it was "my trip of a lifetime" as a kid. Really do remember our trips up to North Carolina more (Maggie Valley).
You said in the thread you'd be willing to fly? That really changes the options you might have versus driving. If you're going to fly, how much can you spend? I'd say fly to Calgary Canada and go visit Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper. I'd bet it's not much more than flying to Colorado (if so, go to Estes Park or Colorado Springs) or New Mexico (visit Santa Fe and/or Taos).
My idea of driving with small kids is to do something maybe 10-15 hours tops, even breaking the trip up. Don't want to spend all your valuable time in a car. And as noted, they'll get bored, so at least take games. We used to hook up a DVD player in the back and they'd get to pick out their favorite movies and watch them (arguing of course as to which one they got to watch next!)
Driving (and being realistic): Head to North Georgia or North Carolina. Maybe make a pit stop in Chattanooga to visit the Aquarium.
North Georgia
Research staying in Blue Ridge and rent a cabin off of Airbnb, VRBO or similar. Access within 45 minutes to rafting on the Ocoee, tubing near Helen, multiple state or national forests to hike in, go visit the spectacular Amicalola Falls State Park. Go visit Dahlonega. Quaint old town with lots of nice shops and restaurants. Pan for gold even!
North Carolina
Target around Bryson City. Tube the great Deep Creek. Take the train ride! Visit Dillsboro, NC. Some great tubing, kayaking options near town. Our favorite city is Brevard NC. The Pisgah Forest offers hiking, tubing, fishing. The Dupont Forest has miles of hiking and biking trails. Area has waterfalls. Got it all.
Alternatively, I hate to say it, but with kids, look into Gatlinburg Tennessee. Go to Dollywood. Thing is, there is SO much to do outside of the town that's not that far to do day trips. Like visiting and hiking around Cades Cove. Some tubing or rafting options in the area out of Townsend.
You said in the thread you'd be willing to fly? That really changes the options you might have versus driving. If you're going to fly, how much can you spend? I'd say fly to Calgary Canada and go visit Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper. I'd bet it's not much more than flying to Colorado (if so, go to Estes Park or Colorado Springs) or New Mexico (visit Santa Fe and/or Taos).
My idea of driving with small kids is to do something maybe 10-15 hours tops, even breaking the trip up. Don't want to spend all your valuable time in a car. And as noted, they'll get bored, so at least take games. We used to hook up a DVD player in the back and they'd get to pick out their favorite movies and watch them (arguing of course as to which one they got to watch next!)
Driving (and being realistic): Head to North Georgia or North Carolina. Maybe make a pit stop in Chattanooga to visit the Aquarium.
North Georgia
Research staying in Blue Ridge and rent a cabin off of Airbnb, VRBO or similar. Access within 45 minutes to rafting on the Ocoee, tubing near Helen, multiple state or national forests to hike in, go visit the spectacular Amicalola Falls State Park. Go visit Dahlonega. Quaint old town with lots of nice shops and restaurants. Pan for gold even!
North Carolina
Target around Bryson City. Tube the great Deep Creek. Take the train ride! Visit Dillsboro, NC. Some great tubing, kayaking options near town. Our favorite city is Brevard NC. The Pisgah Forest offers hiking, tubing, fishing. The Dupont Forest has miles of hiking and biking trails. Area has waterfalls. Got it all.
Alternatively, I hate to say it, but with kids, look into Gatlinburg Tennessee. Go to Dollywood.
Thing is, there is SO much to do outside of the town that's not that far to do day trips. Like visiting and hiking around Cades Cove. Some tubing or rafting options in the area out of Townsend. This post was edited on 6/2/22 at 7:15 am
Posted on 6/2/22 at 6:48 am to Jsand43
quote:
My kids are 14 and 8 and I refuse to take them on vacation anymore because all they do is complain. I couldn't imagine going with three small ones.
Not all kids are the same.
No way I could spend that long in a car but it isn't because of my kids.
Posted on 6/2/22 at 8:45 am to BeepNode
quote:
I need to find a good place for a family to camp at in Colorado.
Mueller State Park - waking up in the Aspens every morning
Posted on 6/2/22 at 12:48 pm to BeepNode
quote:
Seems daunting to travel past the Rockies and back Clark Griswold style unless you have a few weeks time to play with. What would your ideal trip be like?
What time of year? Very important.
We did a 19 day RV trip with a Cruise America rental with 3 kids 8 and under from Florida to Grand Canyon and back. But gas has gone up....we spent $1500 on gas this past November. Amazing trip overall.
1. Drove to Houston, had dinner with friends, spent night in San Antonio
2. San Antonio to Carlsbad Caverns, night in Calrsbad
3. Day in Cloudcroft, NM then night in Alamagordo, NM
4. DaDrove to Touscon
5. Drove to Grand Canyon, night in GC
6. Grand Canyon All day, Night in GC
7. Left GC day early, Drove to Paige, AZ
8. Antelope Canyon, drove to Zion
9. Zion
10. Zion
11. Bryce, drove to Moab
12. Moab Arches
13. Moab - Canyonlands, drove to Denver
14. 4 nights Denver with my sister for Thanksgiving
15. Denver
16. Denveer
17. Denver
18. Drove to Arkansas to visit family, night in Litle Rock
19. Drove Home
20. Returned RV
Overall, it was too much driving... Looking at the schedule I think WTF was I thinking. But we wanted to do Grand canyon (horrible for little kids BTW) and we were going to Thanksgiving with my sister in Denver. I spent 6 years as a kid in NM so that's why we stopped there. We also wanted to do as many National Parks as we could. Our kids were little so we new we weren't going to do a ton of hiking so quick National Park trips for the highlights would be fine.
Personally, I'd highly recommend doing an RV trip out of Salt Lake City. Either go south to the Utah National Parks (wouldn't with kids in Summer) or go north to GTNP/ Yellowstone. Tons of free camping spots in the national forests and the RV allows you to take your time and rest as you go. It was tight with 3 kids but absolutely doable and worked out great with them being able to go to the bathroom, stretch, and eat on the go very easily.
Posted on 6/2/22 at 5:05 pm to BeepNode
We did the 16 day trip with my 3 kids back in 2014. Kids were 11,10, 7. They are good car travelers so that is a must.
We tent camped 10/14 night I believe. Put 5500 miles on the car. Started in Houston and drove overnight to Durango. Stayed there for 4 nights in two different campgrounds. Drove and saw Indian dwellings and four corners on way to Grand Canyon. Tent camped there one night. Drove to Vegas and stayed in Paris on the strip. Went and saw the Hoover dam. Drove to park city for one night. Drive to a campground between Yellowstone and grand tetons for 3 nights. Explored both parks a little and went into Jackson hole one night for dinner. Drove to Mount Rushmore and stopped at devils tower on way. Camped in Custer state park for three nights. Drive to Breckenridge one night and went by royal gorge on way back to Houston.
Best vacation of our lives. Got the kids pictures in front of every state sign. Went through Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota.
Most memorable trip we have ever taken as a family . Kids still have memories from the trip. If you don’t do it this year do it some year before they get to old.
We tent camped 10/14 night I believe. Put 5500 miles on the car. Started in Houston and drove overnight to Durango. Stayed there for 4 nights in two different campgrounds. Drove and saw Indian dwellings and four corners on way to Grand Canyon. Tent camped there one night. Drove to Vegas and stayed in Paris on the strip. Went and saw the Hoover dam. Drove to park city for one night. Drive to a campground between Yellowstone and grand tetons for 3 nights. Explored both parks a little and went into Jackson hole one night for dinner. Drove to Mount Rushmore and stopped at devils tower on way. Camped in Custer state park for three nights. Drive to Breckenridge one night and went by royal gorge on way back to Houston.
Best vacation of our lives. Got the kids pictures in front of every state sign. Went through Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota.
Most memorable trip we have ever taken as a family . Kids still have memories from the trip. If you don’t do it this year do it some year before they get to old.
This post was edited on 6/2/22 at 5:10 pm
Posted on 6/2/22 at 7:16 pm to BeepNode
My parents somehow did this every summer with us… their 3 kids. And they started with us from a young age. I don’t know how they put up with us. I don’t remember any major shite shows.
Posted on 6/3/22 at 6:14 am to GITiger66
How many of the 12 days did it take to get there and back? How many were left to do fun stuff and explore?
Posted on 6/3/22 at 8:17 am to BeepNode
Best road trip I ever had was with my kids. I enjoy showing them new stuff and new places.
Posted on 6/3/22 at 8:29 am to auzach91
quote:
See post above but my dad took me and my brother… Granted this was 1998 and everything was a lot more affordable but we stayed in a tent 4-5 nights and a hotel the other 2-3 to shower and get a decent sleep. We ate canned oysters and Vienna sausages a plenty but I also love them to this day. Got to see McGwire during the HR chase in St. Louis and went to minor league games as well. Again, I wouldn’t trade that summer for any other in my life. Just do it. Take your kids and they will never forget it
In fairness I don't think most of us think 7 and 9 when he said "3 small kids"
If you have kids old enough to partake and take an interest in camping, hiking, some sightseeing, etc. then it seems like it's still a heavy lift but there is the potential for serious payoff.
I don't think the same applies with 3 little kids.
Posted on 6/3/22 at 10:00 am to Pettifogger
quote:
In fairness I don't think most of us think 7 and 9 when he said "3 small kids"
You may be right but I'm guessing that's the age range of some of the kids, going on a long road trip with 3 kids under 7 would not make a lot of sense IMO. You just have to stop with them so much its a PITA.
Given that, I think it makes a lot more sense to take 2-3 days to drive somewhere at most, vacation for a week or so, and take 2-3 days to drive back. With some stops and fun along the way. Constantly driving got very old for us even in an RV, its not easy driving 5-6 hours a day for a week or more straight with kids.
Posted on 6/3/22 at 10:36 am to Pettifogger
quote:
In fairness I don't think most of us think 7 and 9 when he said "3 small kids"
Mine were 7 and 5 when we drove here from La. We took a couple weeks and made a road trip out of it, kids got hooked on road trips. They loved it.
Posted on 6/3/22 at 11:23 am to RogerTheShrubber
The key to long car rides with kids is to plan the day ahead of time. Don't sleep in, let your kids watch Cartoons, and then jump in the car without eating breakfast. If you have a bit of time in the morning, get your kids some exercise asap. Get some good snacks, and plan food and bathroom stops. Force your kids to use the bathroom, nothing worse then loading everyone up and someone has to pee 20 mins down the road of an 8 hour day.
We also really try to eat in the car with the family. Stopping even for fast food with 3 kids can easily add 45 minutes to the stop, if not 1.5 hours if multiple small things go wrong like long bathroom lines and slow food service.
Its also nice to plan lazy days where your kids can watch tv, tablets, or do normal kids stuff not vacation stuff. Allow them to re-center themselves to a degree no matter how absurd that sounds. But I've found its a lot better to do that in the evening after a car ride, then it is in the morning before a car ride and then have them antsy for 6+ hours in the car.
We also really try to eat in the car with the family. Stopping even for fast food with 3 kids can easily add 45 minutes to the stop, if not 1.5 hours if multiple small things go wrong like long bathroom lines and slow food service.
Its also nice to plan lazy days where your kids can watch tv, tablets, or do normal kids stuff not vacation stuff. Allow them to re-center themselves to a degree no matter how absurd that sounds. But I've found its a lot better to do that in the evening after a car ride, then it is in the morning before a car ride and then have them antsy for 6+ hours in the car.
Posted on 6/3/22 at 11:48 am to jfw3535
quote:
When I was 7 my parents did this with me and my 3 siblings. We did a 2 week camping trip throughout New England. I still have vivid memories of that trip 45 years later. But, how my parents did it without killing all of us, I have no idea. I'm pretty sure us 4 children were fighting (or someone was crying) pretty much the entire trip.
We did things like that back in the 1970s, when I was a kid. Things are a LOT different (better) now for car travel trips:
-- No more 55 mph speed limit. Seriously, that was the worst. It took FOREVER to get anywhere.
-- Back in the day, the kids had books or comic books to read. That was it. Nowadays kids have phones, iPads, wi-fi to connect to the internet pretty much anywhere, and can watch movies, videos, or play video games, etc. in the vehicle.
-- Back in the day, no one wore seat belts, especially kids in the back seat. Thus you had too much contact between the kids: "Mom, she's on my side of the seat!" "Dad, he hit me!" Not so much of that anymore with everyone strapped in.
--In the 70s, a lot of the interstate system was still under construction, and there was a lot less in the way of services and eating places along the way. Nowadays with the great homogenization, you can always find an Exxon, Shell, McDonald's, Subway or even Walmart right off the highway.
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