Vacation With 2 Year Old
Back in August my wife and I took a 10-day family vacation to Mexico. We were going to drive down but my sister and her family had recommended a different route saying there were all these amazing places we’d love and call home for years afterward if we just tried it. So I agreed, making an impulsive decision to get a hotel room and driving 3 hours the night before instead of driving the whole way that day. Good thing too because if we would’ve drove all 10 of us, two dogs included, that road must have been packed. My wife is incredibly helpful when it comes to vacations. She was responsible for booking the flights, room hotels, activities, and transportation to each place on our itinerary while also planning each leg of our trip. She also researched new restaurants that she knew wouldn’t disappoint our taste buds and scoped out the best beaches near our hotel that weren’t too crowded with tourists.
We are currently planning our next big adventure, but with a 2 year old there is always a lot of planning involved and considering my wife, I and the baby would like to go at least two weeks without needing to do any laundry, (which means we’d likely be visiting Europe or Asia), that means finding some hotels that not only allow kids but will be a little more flexible on the rules.
Facilities: 1. Air conditioner and color TV set in the room, 1 2 years old baby clothes, gift bag 2. Tour map, tourist information 3. Car rental chauffeur service at the airport 4. Fresh-made coffee or tea with snack at lobby shop 5. 24-hours customer service 6. Boutique, beauty salon 7. Safe box on the ground floor 8. Free Wi-Fi and wired internet access 9. Waterproof WIFI router
Being a parent sometimes offers you nothing but sleepless nights, dirty clothes and toys scattered around.
If you’ve always loved travel, there’s no need to check your wanderlust at the nursery room door. Believe it or not, now — while your baby is still, well, a baby — is a great time to get up and go on a getaway. After all, babies and toddlers are lightweight and portable — and it is possible to plan a family vacation with them. Best of all, most airlines and hotels give them a free ride! Not all family vacation spots are created equally, though, if you’ve got young kids in tow.
Vacation With 2 Year Old
5 vacation destinations your kids (and you) will love
APRIL 15, 201603:12
Here, our tips and picks for the best in baby-friendly and kid-friendly destinations.
Beach vacations
Beaches are one of the most popular destinations for all travelers. When tot-friendliness — not ocean views — is your prime concern, look for beach spots with plenty of family attractions and services.
Where to go:
Cool option:
Why parents will love it: “Prompt Response Line,” allows parents to order anything they need to care for their baby; custom meals for severe food allergies; Johnson & Johnson Gentle Travel Kits; Atlantis Kids Adventures (AKA) and Sea Squirts interactive marine animal program and feedings for kids ages 3 and up; CPR certified babysitters; luxurious Mandara Spa.
Why kids will love it: 141 acres of water attractions including Splashers, a waterplay area just for tots; 50,000 fish and sea creatures; make-your-own stuffed animals at Atlantis Pals; free nightly family movies.
Cost: $$$$
When to go: Year-round with great rates during fall months
Best for: Families who love water activities, particularly those with at least one school-aged child.
More great options:
Never miss a parenting story with TODAY’s newsletters! Sign up here
Explore a national park
A national park is the perfect place to cultivate a lifelong love of nature. Toddlers will be wide-eyed and wondrous at the towering trees, blue sky and curious critters they encounter in these great green spaces — best seen from the stroller, child carrier or bike trailer.
Cool option: ,
Why parents will love it: With mountain vistas, tropical rainforests, and coastal tidepools, it’s got three eco-systems to discover; there are several bike paths and stroller-friendly hiking trails (get suggestions from the visitor’s center); East Beach has a shallow swimming area with sandy shore for digging and castle making; has a toasty mineral water wading pool (and day use rates), so you can soak with your little one safely beside you; picnic areas are scattered throughout the park for alfresco meals; and there’s lodging in and outside the park.
Why kids will love it: In the forest they’ll discover bright yellow banana slugs and skittering salamanders, and glow worms after sunset; the tidepools are filled with sea stars, crabs, snails and tiny fish; the Discovery Room in the park’s main visitor center has interactive touch tables and a pint-sized Ranger Station playhouse, with puppets, dress-up clothes and more.
Cost: $ – $$
When to go: Summer and Fall
Best for: Outdoorsy families
More great options:
- , Sierra Nevada, California
- ,
- ,
Visit a farm
Little kids love feeding baby animals and helping to bake homemade cookies, two of the many activities that are often part of farm stays. In addition, visiting a family-friendly farm can be a fun, economical getaway for your whole gang.
Where to go:
Cool option:
Why parents will love it: Escaping the hustle-bustle of the city for a relaxing change of pace; enjoying warm hospitality and delicious food; teaching kids about farm life.
Why kids will love it: Feeding baby animals; milking cows and goats; playing with kittens; hay rides; fall corn mazes; bonfires and s’mores; fishing; kite flying.
Cost: $ – $$
When to go: May through October
Best for: Families who enjoy animals, nature and home cooked meals — particularly those who need an escape from the big city.
More great options:
RELATED: How two families traveled the world with kids — and how you can, too
Amusement parks
With their tot-tested appeal, ,and(now in Florida as well as California) are often seen as the standard bearers. Families visitingcan stop at Seuss Landing for tot-friendly rides.