Have Family, Will Travel

Travelling by Cloak of Darkness

Theo — Wed, 13 May 2009 15:22:10 +0000

Some may consider travelling at night a necessary evil. Personally, I think it’s fun. Just you and the road and the promise by daybreak that you’ll be at your destination. Your trusty, albeit sometimes crazy, GPS keeping you company while the rest of your family sleeps.

Given the many pros/cons of night travel, let’s take a look at some:

Pros

Avoiding traffic
Children can sleep through the night instead of driving parents insane.
Less stops for food, restrooms, etc.
Faster travel time (see #3 above)
Improved gas mileage (less accelerating/decelerating from traffic)
Less expensive (see #3 & #5 above)

Cons

It’s dark, so there’s less visibility
Sleep deprivation
Can’t see scenery in the dark
Miss sharing the road trip with your kids

There are arguments on both sides, but I’ll side with the pros most times. While my lovely wife isn’t a fan of night travel, I have actually become quite fond of the practice of driving at night. Yes, I enjoy the added side benefits of avoiding traffic. That I am reminded of each year as we travel unaccosted through Washington D.C. at 4:00am. Five lanes is incredibly comfortable when there are only a handful of cars within 100 yards of you.

Aside from the obvious benefits, I find it quite serene to drive at night. I do miss some of the scenery, especially if the travel takes us through mountains, but I’ll live with it. It may just be me, but it’s exciting to be on the road, all by yourself, journeying to a far off destination.

Having the kiddos asleep is pretty nice too. That is… if you can actually get them to go asleep (and stay asleep). If you can accomplish that, you’re good to go. If not, it could be a long night for everyone.

The big drawback comes the following day as sleep deprivation catches up with you and your body starts to crash. Even with switching drivers in the middle of the night, you’re not going to get the sleep you need and forget about those high-sugar energy drinks. The best thing you can do is try to get at least one hour of sleep before you depart. Even if you have to force yourself to do it. It’ll pay off when you’re wide awake and not fighting back the urge to sleep at 1:00am.

But, hey… it’s vacation right? A little extra excitement and adrenaline can go a very long way.

Retro’s Good Eats – Williamsburg, VA

Theo — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:12:37 +0000

Looking for some good and affordable family grub while you’re visiting Williamsburg, Virginia? Look no further than Retro’s Good Eats. Located on Prince George Street, Retro’s is just one street over from Market Square and a short walk from the Colonial area. Which means you can eat and then get back to your tours in a short amount of time.

Retro’s is a throwback style diner with 50’s era décor and food to match. They’re serving up the standards… burgers, fresh cut fries, milkshakes, and custard but their hot dogs are where it’s at. You can’t go wrong with any of their various dog offerings. My personal favorite is the Carolina Dog, a hot dog covered in BBQ. It’s simply put, one of those things that you wish would never end.

There… I did it. Now I’m hungry.

For families, the food isn’t overpriced and it’s served up fast which is great for impatient youngsters. It’s not a really big place, so getting a seat at lunchtime during the summer can prove difficult. No worries though, take it to go and find a nice spot in the Colonial area to set up a picnic. A five minute walk (or ten if the kids are dragging their feet) will get you to the Governor’s Palace green, which is a great place to relax and have some lunch. Make sure to clean up when you’re done though.

A word of note… if you’re eating in at Retro’s and have small children. Don’t be fooled by the sturdy look of their chairs. They may appear to be metal, but they’re actually made of a feather light aluminum and easily capsized. Small children (or fidgety ones) should have an eye kept on them.

With so many options for food in Williamsburg from gourmet to family style eateries to chain restaurants it can be hard to choose. However, we’ve found Retro’s Good Eats to be a perfect family lunch stop while we’re visiting the Colonial area.

The Countdown Begins

Theo — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:43:55 +0000

It’s just over five weeks until we pack up the family and head off on vacation and the countdown clock has started in our household. Actually, it started at ten weeks, but it’s really kicking into gear as we draw closer to the magical date. We’ve been counting down to various trips for years, so the kids are completely in tune with the concept and really get into it. Kind of like doing the Advent Calendar, but with a beach, seafood, and sunshine at the end.

When travelling with kids (and lots of baggage) it’s never too early to begin planning out your attack. By the time the last few days roll around, you don’t want to be left scrambling. Start early and pick away at your list so that you only have to finish packing suitecases on the eve of departure.

This year, we’re once again headed to our favorite vacation spot, Hatteras Island, North Carolina. Or, as we like to call it… Heaven on Earth. To add a little extra flavor, both sets of Grandparents and my Sister-in-Law and her family will be joining us. Everyone gets along great and it’s quite affordable when you’re splitting up rent four ways instead of one. Luckily for us, our kids get out of school in time for us to book our vacation home in the final week of “Mid” season, just before rates spike. If you’re ever in the market to rent a beach house, be sure to check the dates. The difference between Mid and In season is huge when you’re travelling on a budget.

Stop and Smell the Travel

Theo — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:55:51 +0000

Most people associate their travel experiences with sights, tastes, or sounds. All great things to use to build memories, but please don’t forget the smells. Maybe it’s just me (and my hound dog nose), but smell plays just as an important part of every one of my family trips. And it’s not the smell of our youngest’s dirty diaper… well, sometimes it is. While pictures and videos can be turned to any time you want a reminder of a trip, smells are out there everyday as little reminders of great times that were had. Unexpected as they are, I can’t help but be overcome with joy everytime I catch the wiff of a familiar smell in an unexpected place. Smells that take me back years to a particular trip as if I was right back in that spot. Scent has a way of putting me in a place that I just can’t reach with pictures or videos, because it is tangible, and not a reproduction of a place in time. Yes, I love our vacation pictures, but catching the smell of a time past is a little slice of heaven.

What is my all-time favorite smell? Hmmm, tough one. There’s always the smell of the ocean that is near the top of the list. The smell of Fall in the mountains as the leaves begin to turn. Even better, the smell of a lobster roll on the beach in Maine. But, I’m going to have to go with the smell of English Boxwood bushes in Colonial Williamsburg. I have been visiting Williamsburg since I was very young and the smell carries some magic memories for me that I’m happy to now share with my family. Even after a long period in between my last visit when I was a child and my return trip many years later as an adult. The smell took me right back to my childhood.

So, next time you’re on vacation, please don’t forget to stop and smell the travel.

Have Family, Will Travel

Theo — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:31:16 +0000

Welcome to our new home in the internet. We hope that you enjoy yourself and possibly get some ideas as we share, with you, our many travelling experiences with our three young children. While not a wealthy family, we have done our best to make sure our children have gotten to see more than the city we live in. Yes, travel with kids is sometimes crazy, but it’s always rewarding and we hope to share that with everyone.

Stay tuned as we begin to share our experiences and struggles from our many crazy adventures!