RE: Traveling to Texas...What would you do?

[SactoCampers]

 Kelly

ORIGINAL:  Kelly
 
 [font=" comic sans ms" ]LOL
 
 My kids always do what I tell them to.  Even when they were toddlers!  It s all in the training, Sacto.  How about I help you out when I get to California??
 
 [/font]
 

 Kelly, if you can persuade Sactotoddler to happily drive 8 hour days for four days straight then that will be an accomplishment! No sedatives allowed either!

[Kelly]

 SactoCampers
[font=" comic sans ms" ]If I could do that ~ I d be Rich!  []
 
 You know Sactotoddler better than I do ~ sometimes you just have to make the decision and then help your kids get through it.  No matter which option you choose it s going to be rough on the little one.  
 
 A few road trip suggestions .... [ul]
 

• frequent breaks where you can all get out of the car and RUN!  
• We always keep balls handy ~ for kicking and chasing when you stop.  Bubbles are good, too.
• Definitely bring your own food for picnic lunches ~ dinners too, if you re so inclined.
• Stay at hotels with continental breakfasts and pools ~ nothing like a good swim to wear a kid out!
• Plan on one of you being in the back seat ~ a LOT!  That always worked for mine when they were that age.  They were bored and wanted someone to play with them.
[/ul]
 
 I ll add more as I think of them ...
 [/font]

[mikewilley]

 SactoCampers

 

ORIGINAL:  SactoCampers
 
 

ORIGINAL:  Kelly
 
 [font=" comic sans ms" ]LOL
 
 My kids always do what I tell them to.  Even when they were toddlers!  It s all in the training, Sacto.  How about I help you out when I get to California??
 
 [/font]
 

 Kelly, if you can persuade Sactotoddler to happily drive 8 hour days for four days straight then that will be an accomplishment! No sedatives allowed either!
 

 There was a great thread this last spring on ideas for traveling with short people.  Maybe some of those who posted then could repost now.  As I recall there were a fair number of ideas that would work equally well in the car or on the train.  I would mention them here, but it has been long enough that my brain no longer contains that information.
 
 cheers,
 mike

[SactoCampers]

 Kelly

 

ORIGINAL:  Kelly
 
 [font=" comic sans ms" ]If I could do that ~ I d be Rich!  []
 
 You know Sactotoddler better than I do ~ sometimes you just have to make the decision and then help your kids get through it.  No matter which option you choose it s going to be rough on the little one.  
 
 A few road trip suggestions .... [ul]
 

• frequent breaks where you can all get out of the car and RUN!  
• We always keep balls handy ~ for kicking and chasing when you stop.  Bubbles are good, too.
• Definitely bring your own food for picnic lunches ~ dinners too, if you re so inclined.
• Stay at hotels with continental breakfasts and pools ~ nothing like a good swim to wear a kid out!
• Plan on one of you being in the back seat ~ a LOT!  That always worked for mine when they were that age.  They were bored and wanted someone to play with them.
[/ul]
 
 I ll add more as I think of them ...
 [/font]
 

Another advantage of renting a motorhome(?). DW could set up painting, drawing, and books and all kinds of things while DD is in the carseat since there s much more space in a motorhome. She can walk to the fridge to get drinks, make lunch while we re driving, etc. DW can walk back and forth from one seat to another, the TV won t get in the way. Can go to the bathroom in the motorhome without stopping. Overall, more space. Can still stop whenever we want and run around, find a park, etc.

[Kelly]

 SactoCampers

 

ORIGINAL:  SactoCampers
 
 Another advantage of renting a motorhome(?). DW could set up painting, drawing, and books and all kinds of things while DD is in the carseat since there s much more space in a motorhome. She can walk to the fridge to get drinks, make lunch while we re driving, etc. DW can walk back and forth from one seat to another, the TV won t get in the way. Can go to the bathroom in the motorhome without stopping. Overall, more space. Can still stop whenever we want and run around, find a park, etc.
 

 [font=" comic sans ms" ]All very true.  It would be very convenient to travel that way.
 Begs the question then ~ Is it worth $2500. to be able to do that?[/font]
 

[SactoCampers]

 Kelly

 

ORIGINAL:  Kelly
 
 
 

ORIGINAL:  SactoCampers
 
 Another advantage of renting a motorhome(?). DW could set up painting, drawing, and books and all kinds of things while DD is in the carseat since there s much more space in a motorhome. She can walk to the fridge to get drinks, make lunch while we re driving, etc. DW can walk back and forth from one seat to another, the TV won t get in the way. Can go to the bathroom in the motorhome without stopping. Overall, more space. Can still stop whenever we want and run around, find a park, etc.
 

 [font=" comic sans ms" ]All very true.  It would be very convenient to travel that way.
 Begs the question then ~ Is it worth $2500. to be able to do that?[/font]
 
 

 Yeah, that s a lot of money for convenience. But the memories from doing that could end up being worth more than the money spent. Okay maybe I m stretching it a little bit, but it would be an adventure.
 
 I ve inquired about 13  hardside trailers and will run the idea past Mrs. Sacto. That actually comes out less than moteling it and we can still do some of the things we want, like stopping and eating inside for lunch, carrying groceries inside, going to the bathroom, etc. Disadvantage is we can t cover as many miles in one day.

[Jeffrey]

 Kelly
OK, Here is my opinion, but remember I ve been told I m bitter lately.[]
 
 Let her go with fellow employee s.
 Need s to get over the flying thing anyway.[]
 
 Later you use your vacation to go where you want.
 Besides if you do go... your vacation is gone, and she will still have her s.
 
 After fours days of meetings, and you entertaining a toddler in hotels for fours days. You ll all be stir crazy anyway.
 
 We haven t gone on business stuff together yet.
 But we ve watched others try to do it. And they usually don t look too happy.
 They usually work ya to death anyway, And are never very fun.[: (]
 It s hard to wander around and site see, when your always wondering when she will be done.
 
 Just let her go, and live it up on the company tab!
 
 
 

[ForestCreature]

 Kelly

I ve inquired about 13  hardside trailers and will run the idea past Mrs. Sacto. That actually comes out less than moteling it and we can still do some of the things we want, like stopping and eating inside for lunch, carrying groceries inside, going to the bathroom, etc. Disadvantage is we can t cover as many miles in one day.
 

 If you are thinking that small, maybe look into renting an Aliner or Chalet. The towability is better with minimal (30 second pop) set up. You don t have to unhitch, can travel with beds made, lower towing profile getting better gas mileage than a regular small trailer. With the right floor plan,even a shower and CP.

[SactoCampers]

 Jeffrey

ORIGINAL:  Jeffrey
 
 OK, Here is my opinion, but remember I ve been told I m bitter lately.[]
 
 Let her go with fellow employee s.
 Need s to get over the flying thing anyway.[]
 
 Later you use your vacation to go where you want.
 Besides if you do go... your vacation is gone, and she will still have her s.
 
 After fours days of meetings, and you entertaining a toddler in hotels for fours days. You ll all be stir crazy anyway.
 
 We haven t gone on business stuff together yet.
 But we ve watched others try to do it. And they usually don t look too happy.
 They usually work ya to death anyway, And are never very fun.[: (]
 It s hard to wander around and site see, when your always wondering when she will be done.
 
 Just let her go, and live it up on the company tab!
 
 

 Ah Jeff, if only it were so simple! [] A couple of points:
 
 1.) She won t leave our two year old daughter behind and I don t blame her. That means we all go together.
 2.) We did this same thing last year except in Palm Springs. Yes, I go stir crazy. I can deal with it. No we don t do any sightseeing. Yes, 5-star hotels lose their novelty after a couple nights.
 3.) DW doesn t socialize with her co-workers. She does her job (part-time, home-based) then comes home, thus has no desire to live it up on the company time. She s a family woman.
 4.) The vacation time thing is not really an issue since she s part-time and only accrues half the days I due annually.  It always works itself out, but you re right I wouldn t have the days to take later. That s not a good enough reason for me not to go though. []
 5.) Yep, they re boring as hell as she s usually in meetings and workshops all day, but we d rather be together than apart.
 6.) She could not go and lose her job.
 7.) I could not go and lose my wife [][8D].
 
 Remember, the question was not *whether* to go, but *how* we should do it []. We ARE going....[]
 

[SactoCampers]

 ForestCreature

ORIGINAL:  ForestCreature
 
 

I ve inquired about 13  hardside trailers and will run the idea past Mrs. Sacto. That actually comes out less than moteling it and we can still do some of the things we want, like stopping and eating inside for lunch, carrying groceries inside, going to the bathroom, etc. Disadvantage is we can t cover as many miles in one day.
 

 If you are thinking that small, maybe look into renting an Aliner or Chalet. The towability is better with minimal (30 second pop) set up. You don t have to unhitch, can travel with beds made, lower towing profile getting better gas mileage than a regular small trailer. With the right floor plan,even a shower and CP.
 

 I thought about an A-frame....briefly. Too small for the three of us. Smallest size bed we can tolerate is a queen. If we rent one with cassette/shower, I think we re stuck with only a double, whereas other A-frame floorplans give you two beds, but without cassette/shower. I also want full self-containment in case it s needed. We were just in the bigger ones at the RV show last weekend. Still too small for us. But I have always liked how quickly they set up. We should be able to tow the 13-foot Road Runner without too much problem and can do all the things you mention, except for the gas mileage issue, which I m not concerned about for this one trip.
 
 Thanks for the suggestion though, it was on my radar screen, but would be a no-go for Mrs. Sacto. I don t even know if she ll agree to the 13-footer. If her parents will let us, we may end up renting a full-size travel trailer with their Dodge diesel. We re all over the map on this one! That s why I m soliciting suggestions early and listening to what others would do given the same circumstances.

[Jeffrey]

 Kelly

Remember, the question was not *whether* to go, but *how* we should do it  . We ARE going....  

 sorry guess I don t follow rules very well.[]
 
 OK, then forget the RV, Why waste the money to have an RV sitting in a hotel parking lot for 4-5 days.
 
 Train would be fine, but you ll go from entertaining a 2-yo in a train to entertaining a 2-yo in a hotel room. Sounds like too much torture for Dad.
 
 Plane of course makes the most sense, least boring time. More time for fun stuff.
 But if she won t do it, then your stuck.
 
 Car,  I guess that probably your best option.
 
 IMO of course

[SactoCampers]

 Jeffrey

sorry guess I don t follow rules very well.  

 I was just playin  with ya, Jeffrey! Didn t you catch the []?
 
 Okay, so IIRC, we ve got something like two for cars, one or two for trains, and nobody for RVing, either by Motorhome, large travel trailer, or small trailer.

[MtnCamper]

 Kelly
Ok, Here is what I would do. Two days on the road, maybe 3 and stop early at a nice motel, (pool, sauna, whatever). Take a nice days break. Then drive in. When you are there you got a 5 star for 4 or 5 days... Rental is sitting in the lot, still renting.....Take the money wasted on renting anything, and put it toward having the best time you can on the road. And enjoy yourselves.  Ya, you have to eat a restaurant, but have a good meal, in a great restaurant! After all you re saving a couple grand.

[ShirleyT]

 Kelly
Well I sure can t help you on this one. I LOVE TO FLY! And I hate a drive that is over 2 hours, so my option would be to fly. I like the idea of getting there and being able to relax. The idea of a 2 day drive with a toddler doesn t sound relaxing to me at all. And then to think of the drive home would make me go insane. The amtrak would be something I would consider but that would depend on finances.

[Red neff Barchetta]

 Kelly
Brian -
 If you would like your marriage to survive then get her on the plane and be done with it Man!  Especially if her company is paying!!
 Any drive longer than 5 hours and I am ready to drop off the entire family at the next exit, lol.
 It s a straight flight from Sacramento, San Francisco, or Oakland.  Give her a sleeping pill before take-off and she ll be in TX when she wakes up.
 That drive in February doesn t sound like any fun at all.
 I say fly and enjoy your stay without burning up too much vacation from your work.  Rent a car for day trips while you re there.