Vacation Poll

We are trying to decide what to do. Dh & I keep going back and forth. We are hoping your votes will help us decide.

 

I would be willing to do several of the above things, so that's hard to narrow down. I chose cruise because I want to do that!!

 

Personally, I'd wait on Disney because they probably aren't tall enough for even the kiddie rides yet but everything else sounds fine. We've done the long drive a few times and survived. We've also flown for 6 hours with a 2-hour layover and that was OK too. Most kids just like to do something new and exciting so decide what you'd like to do/see and go for it!

 

We'll be waiting on Disney for awhile. I know our boys wouldn't get enough out of it, and we are way across country.

I wouldn't fly with them at this age, but, that's my kids. Plus, I'm scared to death of flying, and the thought of putting my whole family on a plane gives me the heebie jeebies.

We love camping and going to the beach. But, I voted beach. We are going in 2 weeks to the beach, in fact. I prefer doing that because we stay in a resort with DH's whole family, so there are all the amenities of home. Camping is fun but it is hard to bathe a toddler in the tiny camper bathroom.

Either way you will have fun!

 

You didn't have my option, which was "small town" (that's what we did both years that our kids were toddlers), so I voted "the beach," which I thought was closest.

I am not a cruise person (much less a Disneyland person -- with apologies to those who love it), but even if I were, I don't think it's the ideal thing to do with toddlers. The approach we took was to make it as much like our normal life (which is pretty toddler-ideal) as possible, but just in a different place. So we rented a house in a vacation town less than an hour from our house. It was great because we could have all the comforts of home (we even took two cars so we could bring more stuff!) but just have different scenery and some new things to do. We went for short hikes, visited playgrounds, etc.

We did the "big city" thing (we went to Boston) this year when they were 3.5, and it was great, but I would not have wanted to try that any younger. They have to be old enough to have some patience and some understanding of what's going on -- otherwise it's all just noise and hassle.

 

I voted beach only because we are heading there in two days. But, I NEVER call it a vacation, which to me implies rest and relaxation. I call them trips, meaning their just a change of location!!

 

I voted the beach because that is what we have always done. I voted drive because it's so nice to have a car there and your own carseats and 8-10 hours since that is what we travel to Myrtle Beach, SC every summer.

 

I voted beach. We just went, although mine are 2 yrs older than yours. We had a BLAST. When they were 18 mos old we drove down to Disney (12+hours) and they did awesome in the car but Disney itself wasn't too great with them at that age. I would never do a cruise with toddlers, I have nightmares of them falling overboard. Big city I think would be overwhelming. Camping I bet would be fun if the sleeping conditions were okay. The beach just gives you so many options as to what to do, and what toddler doesn't like the worlds biggest sandbox.

 

We go to the beach, Outer Banks, NC, every year. We are leaving Sunday, in fact! We have only flown one year and to be honest it was a complete nightmare from start to finish! Driving 18 hours is no fun either, but at least we have some control over the situation! I think the only other one I would do that young would be camping/Rving. Definite no to Disney or a cruise.

 

I'm all for the beach too...It's one big sand box, right? Mine LOVE the sandbox I don't really mind flying, would actually prefer it over driving. They both have their pros and cons, but my sister is a flight attendant, so we can fly really, really cheaply.

We are waiting on Disney until the kids are closer to 5 I think, and I've never been on a cruise, or really had the desire to.

 

We're at the beach in Destin, FL this week, and it's been really great! We're staying in a condo that has a full kitchen and washer/dryer, which I find is a must at this age. It's been great because we've just been making grilled cheese sandwiches and hot dogs, etc. and not spending a fortune on eating out.

Also, the resort has a zero-entry pool which leads into a "lazy river" that's 3 feet deep -- perfect for our older DD, and so easy with the little ones -- we just put them in floaties and float along. There is also a waterfall pool and a couple of spa pools.

We've been doing the pools all morning, coming back for lunch and nap, and then going to the beach in the evening -- none of the kids have any interest in swimming in the ocean, which is just as well for us (although funny, because we made a point to come to the Gulf coast because Nadia was afraid of the larger Atlantic waves, and now she doesn't want to get in anyway).

I was really nervous that Kevan and Karina would run in opposite directions and not listen, but for one thing, it's really hard to run in soft white sugary sand, LOL, and for another thing, they are having a BALL just sitting and playing in all that sand. (They love the sandbox at home, and this is their first time at a beach.)

Anyhow. So, I vote for beach, especially if you can get a rental house or condo with some room. Oh, and this would have normally been a 6.5-hour drive for us, but with stops for the kids and traffic and what not, it ended up being 9 hours.

We've done 12-hour drives with them before, but I hate driving long distances, so I think I'd rather fly...however, schlepping car seats and diapers and pack n' plays and what not is also not my idea of a vacation.

I think 2 is too young for Disney. We've found 4 is the perfect age. And I love the idea of a Disney cruise, but the problem is the lack of space...our family tends to get really crabby if we're all on top of each other!

 

Becca - your vacation sounds just heavenly!!

 

In Jan we took the twins from okc area to galveston for a cruise. We had a blast. The girls just got back from Branson with my mom and dad

 

We go camping every year. The kids think it is the best thing ever. They have so much fun sleeping in a tent and playing outside all day. It's real cheap and easy too.

 

I didn't vote...they all sounded wonderful. We live by the beach so we tend to take vacations in the mountains.

So if I had to recommend a vacation with toddlers, I would recommend something outdoorsy that does not involve a tent! Every year, we go to the mountains and rent a cabin. There is always a ton to do: fish, play in the lake, hike, nature trails, oicnics, etc. The best part is that we have a kitchen and a bathroom! Camping is soooo hard. At least in the cabin, you do feel like you are getting a bit of a vacation.

 

Ditto the above, but we get a condo at the beach about 45 mins from the house. We have done this for the past 4 years, sometimes twice a year. Staying at a place like this allows us to eat in, do laundry daily and stick to a somewhat normal schedule.I have also done Disney a few times w/kids, but we only live 2.5 hours away. Last year we flew to California and had a great trip at my sister's vacation home in Carmel, but flying w/ 3 under 3 was a big task.

 

This is exactly where we were thinking of going. What condo did you stay at? It sounds awesome!!

 

We stayed at the Destin West resort, which is technically in Ft. Walton Beach, on Okaloosa Island. Here is the website:

http://www.destinwest.com/

And, I found the specific condo on VRBO. It was this one:

http://www.vrbo.com/114852

I would really recommend the resort, but I'm not sure I would recommend that specific condo -- it was nice, but not as toddler friendly as I'd hoped. The dining table and coffee tables were all glass, and the floor wasn't mopped as well as you'd think. :unsure:

But, the pools and beach were just awesome (we were on the bay side, not the ocean side), so I might try to find another condo at the same resort. (There is a catwalk over the road to get to the beach, and we took two umbrella strollers and just parked them before walking down to the sand.) VRBO is a good place to look, or you can go through the resort itself. We chose this one because it was a little off the beaten path -- Destin proper tends to get really packed.

Wherever you go, the best tip I have is to take a whole roll of blue painter's tape -- you can use it to tape kitchen cabinets and drawers shut, for some quick toddler-proofing!

 

We drove 10 hours to our favorite NC beach for a week last week with our 3 year olds (turned 3 in May) and 8 year old daughters. Granted, we meet my parents and my brothers down there in the house we all share, so we have some help once there, but it was SO much easier this summer than last year and the year before. The first time we went, the girls were just 1, and it was not very enjoyable. Last week was the best vacation we've had in a LONG time. I can't imagine trying to do anything more organized than a beach trip with them until they're much older, but we had a good time and they were good travelers too! :Clap:

 

Thank you so much Becca! I will definately look into that resort.

 

Becca.....one more question. Does this mean you would have preferred a condo on the ocean side? We are not sure if we should go with bayside or gulfside. The bayside has marginally cheaper prices & seems like it is closer to pools and lazy river. The gulfside benefit would be the view and closer to the beach.

Now that you know the layout of the property which one would you choose???

Thanks so much for all your info.

 

No, we were very happy to be on the bay side, because we could walk downstairs to the lazy river in two minutes. The kids also enjoyed sitting on the balcony and watching people play in the pools. If we go back, we'll do the same. It's just that specific condo that wasn't *great* -- it was okay, though.

If you go, I hope you have a good time! Send me a PM when you get back and let me know how it was.

ETA -- if you think you'll be at the beach more, then I guess it would make sense to stay at a gulf side condo. It does take about five or ten minutes to walk to the beach from the bay side, because you have to go down one elevator, up another one (the catwalk is on the third floor), and then down again on the other side, etc.

But, we only went to the beach in the evenings after naptime, when it was less crowded and not as hot, so we didn't mind walking over there. You'll definitely want a stroller or two, or at least a wagon, though.

I'll PM you some of our pictures!

 

Thanks! We found one we liked on VRBO. It is bayside. I would love to see pics.

I will let you know how it goes. Once again, thanks so much!!