Surviving Holiday Travel with Kids

Thatboy and I both agree that our best Christmases ever were the two that we spent at home after each of our boys were born.  Holidays where you can just cuddle at home with your family are our favorite.

But long before we had children, and long before we were married, we agreed that we would always spend Christmas with his family, because for him, Christmas wasn't about the religious elements, or even the tree and lights, Christmas was about family, and he wanted to spend it with his.

This has never been easy, but it's been increasingly harder after we had children of our own.  There's such an age difference between Thatboy and his brother that they are over the whole "magic of Christmas" with their own kids and don't have a desire to re-institute it with ours.  So there's no waking up and digging into presents, there's no Christmas music, no lights, no Christmas activities, no Christmas meals.  It doesn't feel much different than any other time of the year.  

Most of the holiday travel issues are unique to us alone, but over the years I've definitely found some things that can be useful to all parents who aren't home at this time of year.

Getting Around

While not doable for every family, we always drive for this holiday trip.  It gives us a little more flexibility by giving us our own form of transportation when we're there.  It also lets us deal with the presents - both the ones we give and the ones we get.  This is especially important because many times Chanukah falls during the period we're there, so we've got both Christmas and Chanukah presents to transport.

But we don't live close enough for this to be easy.  This year we hit a record both coming and going - only 8 hours to get there!  Our fastest time ever!  And on the way home?  14.5 hours!  Our longest time ever!  

So my travel tip for anyone who similarly finds themselves on a long car ride over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house is to find some stopping points along the way for everyone to get out and stretch their legs.  One of my friends maps out cool playgrounds between her two destinations for her children to burn some energy.   We usually do a stop for breakfast and another for lunch to break it up a bit. 

Thatboy and I have been making this trip for 19 years, so we're pretty well acquainted with some fun places to stop.  Last year we took the kids on a walking tour of the Danish village, Solvang.  This year we stopped at a brewery with a large outdoor space for the kids to run around, play cornhole and build things with a giant jenga set.

Where to Stay

I'm not going to lie.  There's definitely a romantic picture of Christmas, waking up and heading to the living room/family room/tree room in your pajamas, mug of something warm in your hand, watching your kids dive into presents under a tree.   And if you can have this staying with your family, then DO IT!  The idea of the whole family under one roof seems really magical.  It's just not the reality we deal with, and if it's not feasible for you, I'm here to let you know that it can be just as wonderful to stay in a hotel.  For us, it's even better.

Hotels are gloriously decorated for the holidays.

Santa still comes to hotels.  So you can still have that moment in your pajamas watching kids open presents.  And since my inlaws don't do the present opening until almost lunchtime, staying in a hotel and having those presents is the only thing that keeps my children from going stir crazy as we wait for the rest of the family to wake up, eat their breakfast, and finally deem its okay for my kids to open gifts. 

Also, staying a hotel allows us to cater to my inlaws a bit.  If you have young children, there's a good chance they are early risers.  (Especially on Christmas morning!).  My kids get up hours before we're allowed over at the inlaws.  Staying at a hotel means them being up early doesn't mean my inlaws have to get up early!  And this also means we can try to sneak in some activity for the boys before heading over.  Santa even drops off Christmas cereal for the boys on Christmas morning because there's no food before 10 or 11 am otherwise.

Keeping Kids Busy

Holiday travel is especially hard for us with two rambunctious boys because Thatboy's family isn't interested in going out or doing anything.  And we obviously want to spend time with them while we're up there, since that's the whole point of the trip, so we don't want to go off and do activities on our own.

And not that we rely solely on screen time, but they don't use it at all.  Which means the kids are either stuck in a single room in TMIL's house with nothing to do, or a single room in TBIL's house with nothing to do between those long hours stuck in a car.

And let me tell you how much fun it is to take two kids to sit for a church service after they've been cooped up for days.

Hopefully your holidays aren't quite as cooped up, but in discussions with friends who also travel during the holidays, one thing that is universal is that kids are not on their best behavior during these trips.  There's so much excitement in the air, schedules are all over the place, and hot chocolate and Christmas treats can make even the most mellow kid a little ball of energy during this time period. 

Our solution?  Early morning playground sessions!

Last year we found a playground between our hotel and the inlaws homes.  So now, when the kids are up earlier than the inlaws, we just bring them to the playground and let them run around and play until we get the all clear that everyone is up.  This way we don't miss out on any family time, and they get a little less stir crazy because they've run, jumped, and climbed their little hearts out.

It's also a good idea to keep some ideas and activities in your pocket for unexpected free time.  Both last year and this year Thatboy's family decided to make plans without us while we were up there.  Last year we had enough notice to plan a museum day.

But this year we were completely surprised to pull up to the house and find TMIL gone.  Luckily we remembered a fun place that wasn't too far away we could take the kids for our last day there.

Keeping Kids Fed

If you're a parent, you know kids are waaaaaay harder to control when they're hungry or tired.  And since schedules are usually off during holiday travel, it's especially important to find solutions that avoid both of those situations.  For us, this means not waiting until we get to the inlaws to eat. (this is especially true in our situation where there isn't any food to eat once we get there).  

Along with stopping at a playground on the way over to the inlaws, we also stop and grab breakfast.  That way we can guarantee the kids arrive in the best mood possible - full tummies and tired legs.  

We also usually bring something with us for lunch, again to guarantee that there's something the kids will eat.  Because a fed kid, is a happy kid!

Even with all these tips and tricks, our holiday travels are hard, but like I said, that's unique to our situation.  So for the rest of you traveling with kids, instituting these little tricks might be the difference between a stressful holiday and one that's a little more peaceful!

Visiting Universal Studios with Children: Spiked Butterbeer

Thatboy and I have not been to Universal Studios Hollywood once since we graduated from college a million years ago.  And yet this year we found ourselves there twice - for their new Run Universal series of races.  And it only took 1 visit for us to become experts.  Seriously, this last visit everything went so smoothly.  We knew exactly how and what to do, so I thought maybe I'd share the tips and tricks we learned.  Especially since it looks like we'll be heading there a couple more times next year!

Getting There

My biggest tip for this is to get there the night before you plan on going to the park.  It just makes things so much easier.  We go up and grab dinner at Universal City Walk, then check into the hotel.  This is partly spurred by the fact we need to grab our race bibs the night before, but honestly, we'd do it the same way even if we didn't.

At certain times of the year, they allow early entry into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  This is helpful in getting to ride The Forbidden Journey which can have long wait times.  Already being close to the park makes it easy to take advantage of that extra time.

Where to Stay

Unlike Disney, there aren't any Universal Studios Hollywood hotels, just "Partner Hotels."  The Sheraton and the Hilton are the closest, but I'm going to let you in on our little secret.  Just a couple miles down the road from Universal Studios is The Garland.  A boutique hotel with a mid-century modern look.  Very old school Hollywood.  And while it's not walkable to the park, they have a trolley that will shuttle you to and from, so you still need to worry or pay for parking at the park.  There's also a great onsite restaurant for the morning you leave.  Thatkid was so excited by their breakfast buffet he had to make sure Thatboy and I both saw it.

Where to Eat

Like any good amusement park, Universal Studios has food options just about everywhere you turn.  And like most amusement parks, the food isn't the reason you head to the park.  But these are some of our family favorites.

Springfield, USA

I love eating in Springfield because it's like a food court, with something for even your pickiest eaters.  Last time we were there, Thatkid and I split a giant order of nachos.  My littlest guy was feeling especially cranky and hungry and didn't want to eat anything but a giant doughnut (which he didn't get).  There are Krusty Burgers, tacos, hot dogs, fried chicken, pizza, pasta, and ice cream!

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The best food we've eaten in the park was actually at the Three Broomsticks in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  Thatkid says it's the best macaroni and cheese ever.  Thatboy and I prefer the Bangers and Mash or the Shepherd's Pie.  And you can wash it down with a glass of pumpkin fizz!

Don't forget to follow your meal up with a quick stop at Honeydukes Candy Shop.  This is often one of our first stops of the day and we have something to snack on the rest of the time!

Also, this is where you're going to find Butterbeer.  So far we've tried it hot, cold, and frozen and everyone has a different favorite.

Citywalk

We start off our trip with dinner at Citywalk, but last time we ended up grabbing dinner both nights there.  Sometimes it's easier to get your kids out of the park earlier by eating dinner outside of the park.  From there it's a quick jump home!

We always make a stop at VooDoo doughnuts the first night when the line is shortest.  We grab doughnuts for a quick breakfast the next morning.

Johnny Rockets is always fun for kids and very kid friendly.  Plus, everyone loves milkshakes.

My kids favorite restaurant is Margaritaville.  They love the food, the drinks in light up glasses, and of course, the balloon animals.  

Things to Do

Divide and Conquer

We have always done this to an extent.  Typically we do family rides together until lunch, then I stay with Thatbaby who naps in his stroller while Thatboy and Thatkid go off to ride the "big scary rides."  The problem with this MO is that by late afternoon lines for these rides are usually at their longest.  Also, as you may have picked up, this means I don't get to go on any of the super fun rides, as I'm stuck with a sleeping child.

So this time we decided to try it a little differently.  We split up at the very beginning and I did some rides with Thatkid while Thatboy hung out with Thatbaby.  Then we switched.  Then we met up and switched again.  The result of this is that we had short(er) lines and I actually got to ride some rides with Thatkid!

With Older kids

Thatkid loves the thrill rides at Universal.  And he's tall enough to ride them all.  His favorite is The Mummy - a cross between Space Mountain and Indiana Jones for those of you who know Disney.  

This trip he also rode the new Jurassic World ride which he liked, but  keep in mind you will get REALLY REALLY wet.  

I got to ride Forbidden Journey with him, and it was a lot of fun for both of us.  While we were there, we noticed it was the longest line in the park, so if you're interested head there first.  We walked straight onto the ride!

Thatboy and Thatkid also love the Studio Tour, which I feel is a must-do, so we took everyone on our first trip.  That was a mistake because Thatbaby was terrified.  This time around the big boys did it during Thatbaby's nap.

With little kids

Thatbaby is not my brave and fearless child. But even with that caveat, it's important to remember that Universal Studios Hollywood is not really geared toward young children.  Most of their ride heights preclude even brave little guys from riding many of the rides.  I'm hopeful with the new "Secret Life of Pets" area opening up in 2020 there will be some more options for younger guests.

The most kid friendly area of the park is Super Silly Fun Land and the Minions ride beside it.  Super Silly Fun Land has one of those classic "fly around in a circle" rides that you can find at almost any amusement park or fair, as well as a playground and a splash pad area.  Thatbaby would be happy to spend the entire day here, although he also enjoys The Simpsons ride over in Springfield.

Even without rides, there's still a lot for young kids.  This is especially helpful when you do the divide and conquer part. If you plan on getting the "magic" interactive wands, make Olivander's Wand shop your first stop in the park.  So while Thatkid and I rode the Forbidden Journey, Thatboy and Thatbaby used his interactive wand to make magic through Hogsmede.   

While Thatboy and Thatkid rode Jurassic World and Transformers, Thatbaby and I played on the playground beside Jurassic World and took in the Raptor Encounter.  Shows are a great option for smaller kids! 

Shows

We've seen three kinds of shows at Universal.  The first are the interactive, like Olivander's Wand Shop or the Raptor Encounter.

At Olivander's a young wizard is picked to be fitted for a wand.  The first time we did this, Thatkid was the young wizard picked.  He had a lot of things going for him.  The first is that we did it first thing, so there weren't many kids in our group.  Secondly, he was wearing his Slytherin shirt.  Thirdly he was wearing his medal from the morning's race.  Finally, I had read a trick that worked for us.  When you're ushered into the wand room, look up to the top of the stairs where the wizard is and give him a little smile.  Rumor has it they use those first few second to check out the group and decide who they are going to pick.  But even if you don't get picked, the show is so much fun for the kids.  Thatbaby wasn't picked, but all day long he kept repeating the words the wizard had said "I think this wand was waiting for me!"

In Raptor Encounter, Blue from Jurassic World comes out with her trainer and like other character interactions, you can get up close and personal.  Unlike other character interactions, this is fun even if you don't wait in line to be a guest Blue interacts with, because you can watch her exhibit fun behaviors, or interact with the baby raptor who joins her for part of the encounter.  After our turn, Thatbaby wanted to stay and watch every interaction.

Kung Foo Panda bills itself as a "ride" but it's really more of a show - a show with 360 degree projection that really puts you right in the action.  It's a really unique experience unlike any theater you've been in before.  

Then there are the special effects shows - Water World and the Special Effects show.  These are really fun and give you exactly what Universal is all about - movie magic.  A lot of the special effects were a bit much and "scary" for Thatbaby (but this could also have been because it was the end of the night - Water World at sunset is the best because it's light enough to see the action, but then it's dark by the time the fireworks go off!)

One of our favorite parts of Universal Hollywood is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  It truly transports you to a magical village.  We spend so much time in the shops and the rides, and we haven't even seen all the shows there!  It is a place where magic comes to life, and it has our favorite food in the park.  Because we're usually there early in the day, we've never grabbed drinks at the Hog's Head bar, but it's easy enough to make Harry Potter inspired grown up drinks at home.  Especially when you can grab a bottle of butterbeer, or butterscotch rootbeer at many places outside the park.  The regular ole butterbeer that we served at Thatkid's birthday party is fine, but an alcoholic butterscotch root beer is like a butterscotch rootbeer float!  It's so much fun!

Spiked Butterbeer

1 bottle Dang Butterscotch Rootbeer (or Flying Cauldron Butterbeer)

1/4 cup vanilla vodka

whipped cream

butterscotch syrup

1. Pour rootbeer into a glass.
2. Add the vanilla vodka and stir to combine.
3. Top with whipped cream.
4. Drizzle with butterscotch syrup.

You Can Go Back Again: Pittsburgh Hoagie

So, for those of you who aren't aware, I grew up in an impossibly small, western Pennsylvanian town.  So small, that it was big news when the Walmart moved in. 

When I was 15, we moved to California, a hyper suburban town that literally changed the flowers in city-wide planters every 3 months to keep them fresh and seasonal.  Because of this, Thatboy has always considered me a suburban princess, which is annoying since that's never been how I viewed myself.  I've always vowed to take him the middle of nowhere where I grew up, and this year, when a reunion for the high school I never actually graduated from presented itself, I thought it would be a great chance to show my family how different things were when I was growing up.

We started the trip in Pittsburgh - the nearest airport to the town.  Since it's still a good drive away, I decided we should stay the night and do some exploring of Pittsburgh before heading to my hometown - hopefully timing our drive with a naptime for Thatbaby.

We started out with the Pittsburgh Children's Museum, which I knew would be a big hit with ALL my boys.

Y'all know about my love of all things Henson, right?

We even managed to see the Eric Carle exhibit which was supposed to be over the weekend before we got there. 

I took them on a tour of the city via the Gateway Clipper - something my schools had done with our classes back when I was a kid.

And I knew we had to get them to the top of Mt. Washington via the Dusquene Incline - a trolley that goes up the side of the mountain and upon which Mr. Roger's trolley to the land of imagination was based.

And there was some run-around time at Point State Park fountain.

Our timing was great, because both boys slept almost the whole way to my little town.  Thatboy and I had a great time at my reunion, catching up with some really old friends (like friends I'd known since 2nd grade- they're not old!)

And I gave them a very thorough tour of my town.  It's the birthplace of Jimmy Stewart, so there's Stewart memorabilia everywhere.

Thatboy's favorite is that every street crossing on our main street is Jimmy Stewart's "voice" (it's not really him) telling you to cross.

The kids loved the stairs up to Jimmy Stewart's boyhood home.

View from the top

I took them to the north part of the county, which is where the large Amish population resides and they got a kick out of seeing kids their age in horses and buggies.  The town was having an apple festival complete with some civil war re-enactments.  

There are two main parks my family used to spend time at.  I gave Thatboy some background info and he picked one of them where we let the boys run around, play on the playground, skip rocks, look for turtles, and tadpoles.

When I was trying to figure out what to do with my family for such a long time in such a small town, I stumbled across the fact that there are 4 covered bridges in the county.  When I mentioned it to Thatboy, he was very interested in seeing them.  This was another great nap-time drive for Thatbaby.

One of my friends from waaaay back in elementary school also discovered earlier this summer that 20 miles from town was a WATERFALL!  So we had to make that trek also.

The land was owned by Fred McFeely, grandfather to Mr. Rogers.  And apparently little Fred used to climb over the walls and hang out before the waterfall when he was a child.

So we headed back behind the waterfall too.

When my friend went in June, the falls were much fuller, but it was still pretty cool in September.

And of course, I had to share my childhood favorite foods with them.  Like the frozen custard place that's only open in the summer.

Or Eat 'N Park

Thatkid loved the sandwiches.  He says his favorite part of the trip was Ninth Street Deli - the little corner deli my friends and I used to go and get hoagies from.  He also loved Primanti Brothers in Pittsburgh.

Primanti brothers is known for their interesting "toppings" for the sandwiches.  Each sandwich comes with tomatoes, coleslaw, and french fries.

My only complaint about Primanti Brothers is that I'm not terribly impressed with the white bread the sandwiches come on.  Once we got home, I decided to combine Thatkid's two favorites - hoagies and Primanti Bros, into one killer sandwich - a corned beef hoagie topped with french fries, tomatoes, and coleslaw.

Pittsburgh Hoagie

1lb corned beef, sliced

4 oz  Irish cheddar cheese, sliced

1 cup french fries

1 tomato, sliced

1 cup coleslaw

4 hoagie rolls

1. Slice hoagie rolls in half.  On each roll, layer 1/4 lb corned beef, 1 oz cheese, 1/4 cup french fries, 1/4 of the tomato, and 1/4 cup of coleslaw.