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

[tlhdoc]

 Kelly
I like the idea of the train, but I don t know Sactotoddler.  If you don t think the train would work, then I would just drive and stay at a hotel.  What about driving at night when Sactotoddler will be sleeping?  Have a great trip.

[mike4947]

 SactoCampers
Sac, the only problem I can see with a motor home either A or C is the flying projectiles when you have to lock up the brakes. I ve been there and been one. I was lucky I caught the doghouse in a class C only bruises. Two other guys ended up with broken bones and cuts. One from the Television he went through and the other was the driver that got hit from behind by another guy and broke his sterum on the steering wheel.
 There s no way anyone can stay standing if you have to lock up the brakes and there s lot s of solid objects and sharp corners to break the fall.
 
 Please forget towing anything with a barn door front with the Minivan, you ll end up getting there just in time for the divorce.
 
 IMHO the car to LA (unless you ve got 5-6 hours you ll never make the connection with the train) then the train in to Dallas.
 
 Have you thought about needing a rental car in Dallas? Even weekly rates can add 400-500 dollars to your budget unless you catch a special.

[SactoCampers]

 Kelly
I m hearin  you Jeff & Mike.
 
 Mike, our intent is to wear seatbelts if we rent an RV. Woudln t consider otherwise. Getting up occasionally to quickly make lunch or go potty is not a big deal. Risks are pretty low IMO given the right circumstances. My family had a 29  Class when I was a kid. Sactotoddler would be in her carseat the entire time. Now, projectiles from things inside the RV is different, and I would make sure nothing is left out to allow flying forward.
 
 We also may have access to a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee I-6 with Tow Package. So the small travel trailer is still in the running.
 
 With all of these valid points everyone is making, I ll probably try and push Mrs. Sacto to work through her flying fear. I don t really like flying either, but can do it fine. Quite frankly, I don t like driving that much and a four-day drive doesn t really appeal to me, but it won t be my call. But maybe the drive to LA then train to SA and Dallas might be a good option.
 
 Rental car is not really an issue. We had our car with us in Palm Springs last year and we only used it once during the four days and that was to go out to dinner across the street from the hotel (it was on a big property, raining and with no sidewalks). Probably wouldn t deal with a rental car since the carseat would be secured tight in the motorhome and it s a PIA to take it out and correctly install it into another car. The carseat is pre-LATCH and the motorhomes we re looking at wouldn t be LATCH-compliant anyway. Wouldn t be worth the hassle. I d rather just drive the motorhome. 22  Class C isn t THAT big. I ve driven much bigger.

[Ab Diver]

 SactoCampers
Dude, I got it! Rent a (small) car for the first half of the trip-- Ca. to Tx.  Sactotoddler will be ready to go postal after four looooong days in the car, and Mrs. Sacto won t be far behind. Have airline tickets ready and waiting for the trip home when she says " Maybe flying wouldn t be such a bad idea after all."  You save $$$, the Mrs. thinks it was her idea (always a good thing), you re a hero for saving the day, and you get to save your vacation time for family-fun-stuff instead of the whole family getting a double dose of White Line Fever.
 
 I can say this cuz we all know our spouses NEVER read these posts and I won t get into trouble. Right, guys? (back me up here)  Uh, guys? Hello, anybody there? Guys? Heellllloooooooo!........... (crickets chirping)
 
 
 Ab Diver-- casting his vote for 5 HOURS of flying vs. 8 DAYS of driving with no fun stops, although none of our votes count. When it s all said and done, Mommy gets the only vote that counts.
 
 (pssst.... but remember-- paraphrasing what Bill Cosby said: Just cuz Mommy needs a natural, drug-free life while expecting Sactobaby #2 doesn t mean Daddy can t have all the Valium he wants during the flight [] )
 
 

[RTurner]

 Kelly
Wow-all kinds of good ideas.  I have to second the one from above
 THREE WORDS-
                           TRAVEL AT NIGHT
 
                                 OR
 Suck it up and fly[] (you suck up at the bar for both of you)  because the reality is you are all in far more danger driving that distance than flying.  Especially that time of year.

[MommaMia]

 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.

 Without sounding too pushy... Shouldn t ALL passengers be safely buckled at all time that the vehicle is in motion?  I know you said the kiddo would be safely buckled in her carseat, but why not the wife too?  If there is an accident, not only could your wife be seriously hurt or worse, but she also becomes a projectile, wiping out anything she hits.  Including a littleone safely buckled in.  And, where does the car seat get buckled in?  From what I have seen, there are only seatbelts in the two front seats.  It may sound convenient to take the motorhome, but in my mind, convenience NEVER out weighs safety.  
 
 I still vote for train.

[SactoCampers]

 MommaMia

 

Without sounding too pushy... Shouldn t ALL passengers be safely buckled at all time that the vehicle is in motion?  I know you said the kiddo would be safely buckled in her carseat, but why not the wife too?  If there is an accident, not only could your wife be seriously hurt or worse, but she also becomes a projectile, wiping out anything she hits.  Including a littleone safely buckled in.  And, where does the car seat get buckled in?  From what I have seen, there are only seatbelts in the two front seats.  It may sound convenient to take the motorhome, but in my mind, convenience NEVER out weighs safety.  
 
 I still vote for train.
 

 Good grief. I hope that if you were having this conversation in person around a coffee table that you wouldn t say something like that to another grown adult.
 

[startx]

 Kelly
Amtrak has nice sleeper car accomodations depending on your train, they even have ones with a shower/potty, cartoons/movies etc.  The fact that you would be in the sleeper gives SactoToddler a little more room to run, be noisy, have fun etc.  You should be able to bring stuff for her to draw etc as well.  SactoToddler s sleeping is going to be interrupted anyway because she will be in a strange atmosphere, with strange beds etc.  I would expect her schedule to be messed up while you are gone, and for a while after you get back.  Yeah the trip could cost you a little more, but you don t have the stress of driving with toddler trapped in carseat, you and the misses can take care of the little one together while on the train etc.  Your transport time would also be shorter, five days round trip instead of 8.

[SactoCampers]

 startx

 

ORIGINAL:  startx
 
 Amtrak has nice sleeper car accomodations depending on your train, they even have ones with a shower/potty, cartoons/movies etc.  The fact that you would be in the sleeper gives SactoToddler a little more room to run, be noisy, have fun etc.  You should be able to bring stuff for her to draw etc as well.  SactoToddler s sleeping is going to be interrupted anyway because she will be in a strange atmosphere, with strange beds etc.  I would expect her schedule to be messed up while you are gone, and for a while after you get back.  Yeah the trip could cost you a little more, but you don t have the stress of driving with toddler trapped in carseat, you and the misses can take care of the little one together while on the train etc.  Your transport time would also be shorter, five days round trip instead of 8.
 

 
 You ve taken the train? How did you like it? There are three sleeper car choices: Family bedroom (four beds no toilet/sink), deluxe bedroom (two beds, shower, toilet, sink), basic bedroom (two beds, toilet sink). The cost varies quite a bit, with the deluxe bedroom generally costing the most on all legs (and about double a standard sleeper), but only two beds. Do you go crazy being on a train day after day? [&:][]
 
 I tend to agree with those who mentioned driving to LA because the layover from the Sac-LA leg is only 1.5 hours and I m afraid we ll miss the connection. If we miss the connection then we miss DW s meeting. Not good [&:][].

[mrsa1113]

 Kelly
I did the train thing once and loved it!  But at the time Amtrak had a deal where you could take the train one way and fly back.  worked out great!  Maybe after the train trip on the way to TX she will be ready to fly home...
 
 We have also made the trip from MN to TX many times with our now 22 month old with no problems, although I know that the distance is quite a bit lower than what you will have to go and as they get older they get more restless.  It does help to do as much driving at night as possible.  Somehow the darkness helps.  I would just worry with any kind of RV at that time of year if you run into bad weather which can happen.  I would rather be in a car than an RV should that happen.  
 
 Just my 2 cents worth, but not much help.
 

[6Quigs]

 Nick

Hey Sacto,
 Just get Mrs. Sacto liquored up and fly.  

Just what I was thinking Nick[]
 
 As for Mrs. Sacto s fear of flying.
 How about getting Mrs Sacto to drive herself to Texas, and then 3 or 4 days later you and Sactotodler follow on a plane and meet her there.
 Make sure it is in a rental car, so you can leave it there, and take Ab Divers advice, and all fly home together.[]
 
 
 Didn t someone just recently ship himself in a box to Texas?[]

[MommaMia]

 SactoCampers

 

ORIGINAL:  SactoCampers
 
 
 
 Good grief. I hope that if you were having this conversation in person around a coffee table that you wouldn t say something like that to another grown adult.
 
 

 
 Well, I guess it did come across sounding pushy... []When I went back and reread it I realize it didn t come out the way I intended.  Sorry. I was just reiterating the points that Mike made.  It s just that we are very pro seatbelt. (Both DH and I have been involved in serious accidents in the past... He ended up with a broken pelvis and me with severe whiplash and strained back.  Neither one of us were at fault and never saw it coming)Also,  I am not aware of the particulars of seatbelts in motorhomes.  Ok, I can see hopping up real quick to make a sandwich or use the potty but then I was wondering where DW would sit  when she s done? I guess I was just wondering aloud, trying to figure out the configuration in my mind.
 
 No hard feelings, I hope.
 
 Whatever you decide, I hope it s an enjoyable trip for all of you.  Wish our family could to a trip like that.

[SactoCampers]

 MommaMia

 

Well, I guess it did come across sounding pushy... []When I went back and reread it I realize it didn t come out the way I intended.  Sorry. I was just reiterating the points that Mike made.  It s just that we are very pro seatbelt. (Both DH and I have been involved in serious accidents in the past... He ended up with a broken pelvis and me with severe whiplash and strained back.  Neither one of us were at fault and never saw it coming)Also,  I am not aware of the particulars of seatbelts in motorhomes.  Ok, I can see hopping up real quick to make a sandwich or use the potty but then I was wondering where DW would sit  when she s done? I guess I was just wondering aloud, trying to figure out the configuration in my mind.
 
 No hard feelings, I hope.
 
 Whatever you decide, I hope it s an enjoyable trip for all of you.  Wish our family could to a trip like that.
 

 No hard feelings [].  Mrs. Sacto and I talked at length about the trip and she s excited about talking about the train there. We are thinking about taking the train from Sacramento to LA and from LA to San Antonio, and then renting a car from there for a week. Due to concerns about the the short layover from LA arrival and SA departure, we re thinking about taking the Sac-LA train a day early to make sure we make our connection.
 
 We re both excited about the trip and want to thank everyone for their replies. They were most helpful in helping us realize that driving/towing an RV during that time of year may not be advisable or is risky at best and that the equivalent of driving to LA four days in a row just isn t palatable.
 
 For those of you who wanted to get DW liquored up, well,.....[:@]   [][].
 

[SactoCampers]

Thought I'd give you all an update on what we've decided. We're going to drive and take the train. That is:
 
1.) We're driving to LA to catch the train. Saves us a lot of money and travel time.
 
2.) We're taking the train from LA to San Antonio. Staying in one of those sleeper cars. Meals included.
 
3.) We're renting a car in San Antonio, staying there for a day, do the River Walk, maybe the zoo (we have a national zoo membership), then heading to Dalls to Mrs. Sacto's business meeting for the week.
 
Same thing on the way back. This saves us quite a bit of money compared with taking the train all three legs. While in Dallas, I will take Sactotoddler to the Dallas zoo, and on our way home from LA, we're meeting Mrs. Sacto's brother and his girlfriend and going to the Santa Barbara zoo.
 
One business trip, three zoos!

[Kelly]

Sounds like a great plan, Sacto!!
 
Glad you could find something that works for all of you! I especially like the play to work ratio ~ for you and SactoToddler anyway!!