For the past 5 years, we have been going to Maine for a beach holiday during the summer. Last year marked the first time we went with our kids, who were then aged 2 and 6 months. This year, we knew the trip would be quite different as our kids are growing older. My primary source of anxiety regarding the trip was the travel itself. Our destination in Maine is approximately a 7.5-hour drive from Ottawa (according to Google Maps). We usually make an overnight stop in Vermont, the halfway point. However, this year, we decided to drive straight through to avoid the hassle of unloading and loading the car. The journey ended up taking us 10 hours due to a longer-than-usual border crossing and extended pit stops. We gained valuable insights from this trip, and in some ways, traveling with kids seems to be getting easier and easier. Nonetheless, there are still challenges and unpredictable factors (cue teething) when traveling with children. Here are some tips that we've found to be helpful:
**Tips and Tricks**
1. **Amazon or Instacart**: After spending more than 5 hours in the car, the last thing you want to do is drive around searching for diapers or food. Arrange for a diaper and food delivery to coincide with your expected arrival time.
2. **Rent What You Can**: Many cities have companies that rent out baby equipment, which can be more convenient than hauling everything along. This year, we opted to rent a high chair and bed bumpers for the toddler bed. Since we planned on using the SlumberPod, we decided not to rent a crib and brought our own pack and play. The less stuff you have to pack, the smoother the trip becomes.
3. **Bring a Mini Pharmacy**: Anticipate any potential issues like rashes, colds, teething discomfort, sunburns, scrapes, and bumps. You'll be relieved to have what you need at your fingertips. This year, our little one was struggling with teething, and our 3-year-old had a nasty cold. Having Motrin or Advil on hand for those nighttime awakenings was a lifesaver.
4. **Adopt a Camp Counselor Mentality**: Approach your vacation with a "camp counselor" mindset. Plan activities for rainy or cold days as well as day trips. If you're at the beach, plan beach-centric activities. Among our favorites this year were seashell and rock hunts for painting, as well as constructing wild obstacle courses in the sand. The more activities you plan, the less stress you'll experience when figuring out what to do.
5. **Prepare for Rain**: We encountered several rainy days and chilly mornings. If you have children under 3, you know how daunting that can be. We brought along washable paint and sparkles for decorating our "beach treasures." Additionally, we purchased reusable stickers that the kids thoroughly enjoyed placing on the windows. When all else failed, we'd embark on a drive for a special treat down the coast.
6. **Set Realistic Expectations**: As a family of four, we've embarked on four beach trips. While they are becoming more manageable, they still require a lot of effort. It's important to have realistic expectations; relaxation during the trip is likely to happen only after bedtime or during nap times.
7. ** SLEEP **: It all comes back to sleep. The trips where we had the most difficulties were the trips where we had sleep issues. On this trip, our baby was teething and our eldest had a cold. That led to a few night wakes. Luckily, this was temporary and we were able to sleep through the night once they felt better.
By implementing these tips, we've found that our beach vacations with the kids have become smoother and more enjoyable. While challenges persist, the right strategies can significantly improve the overall experience.
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