Driving-distance babymoon with toddler?

[Anonymous]

We waited too long to fly somewhere warm (too far along now), and are looking to spend a long weekend somewhere with our 2 year-old sometime in April or early May. Ideally somewhere that doesn't feel like here. Maybe with an indoor baby pool where our little one can get acquainted with the water (still too young for Great Wolf or anything like that I think). We can drive up to 8 hours. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Have you thought about Deep Creek? Swallow Falls has some easy hikes you could take the little one on. Greenbriar is right there too.

[Anonymous]

I would fly a grandparent out and have them watch the toddler (on a weekday so there is daytime childcare) overnight for at least a day and you and spouse get a fancy hotel room to yourselves.

[Anonymous]

One year we rented a beach house in Litchfield Beach, SC - it’s just north of Georgetown, SC and south of Myrtle Beach. It’s far enough north that it’s still off season in late March/early April, but odds are good for having some warm days in the 70s. We liked that it’s quieter than Myrtle Beach but close enough to it that we could visit. On another spring break when the kids were littler we stayed right in Myrtle Beach in a huge hotel with a lazy river and water slides. The cold ocean didn’t matter much bc the kids were mainly into building sand castles. There are also a ton of kid friendly things to do off the beach. Since it’s off season we didn’t have any issues finding rentals just a couple months ahead of time and it was affordable—like a beach house in Litchfield that sleeps 8 for $2500/week - enough room we shared with another family. There were also interesting museums and historic properties—we visited the Rice Museum in Georgetown. There are also many plantations you can visit to learn about local history.

[Anonymous]

I would not drive 8 hours 34+ weeks pregnant. Just one piece of advice.

What about Luray? There's an indoor waterpark at Massanutten (not sure about how toddler friendly it is) but you can stay in the mountains, instead of the resort if you want a change of pace. But you are still pretty close to home just in case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One year we rented a beach house in Litchfield Beach, SC - it’s just north of Georgetown, SC and south of Myrtle Beach. It’s far enough north that it’s still off season in late March/early April, but odds are good for having some warm days in the 70s. We liked that it’s quieter than Myrtle Beach but close enough to it that we could visit. On another spring break when the kids were littler we stayed right in Myrtle Beach in a huge hotel with a lazy river and water slides. The cold ocean didn’t matter much bc the kids were mainly into building sand castles. There are also a ton of kid friendly things to do off the beach. Since it’s off season we didn’t have any issues finding rentals just a couple months ahead of time and it was affordable—like a beach house in Litchfield that sleeps 8 for $2500/week - enough room we shared with another family. There were also interesting museums and historic properties—we visited the Rice Museum in Georgetown. There are also many plantations you can visit to learn about local history.

No. I love Pawley’s island but going in May with a 2 year old would be a nightmare. Cold sand, cold ocean, cold pools.

[Anonymous]

OP what is your budget? Traveling with a two year old is a certain level of misery no matter what. So if you have a lot of budget, maybe a luxury hotel can take the sting out of that. But if that hotel is a budget stretch, you’re just going to be mad at the two year old for wasting/wrecking it.

[Anonymous]

Mom of 2. A place like Great Wolf Lodge is going to be full of germs. I wouldn’t go there unless you want to pick up flu, hand foot and mouth, pneumonia, or any of the other fun viruses circulating around. Try somewhere closer, Shenandoah National Park is lovely, as one option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP what is your budget? Traveling with a two year old is a certain level of misery no matter what. So if you have a lot of budget, maybe a luxury hotel can take the sting out of that. But if that hotel is a budget stretch, you’re just going to be mad at the two year old for wasting/wrecking it.

Yes this. 2 year olds are the worst to travel with. Keep expectations low!

[Anonymous]

A baby moon with a toddler sounds like hell. I agree with the pp who said to fly a grandparent out or something.

[Anonymous]

Babymoons are stupid. Its a vacation. Just call it that.

[Anonymous]

With a toddler, you could just drive a couple hours and stay in a nice hotel with a small pool. Virginia Beach, Williamsburg.

[Anonymous]

How far along? I was flying at 34 weeks - it's actually safer than driving an equivalent distance because of the risk of blood clots.

[Anonymous]

With a toddler, it's not a baby moon and it's not a vacation. It's a trip.

I'd stay closer than 8 hours. Virginia Beach, Massanutten, Greenbrier, Williamsburg, etc. Have fun.

[Anonymous]

We took our toddler to a mountain resort near us (not DC). Two nights, all meals included, indoor pool - it was perfect. We called it a babymoon jokingly, but it was just a trip for him to bask in his parents’ still undivided attention.

From DC, I’d do Greenbrier or the Chesapeake Hyatt or one of those big resorts in Hershey. Basically sub 3 hours driving, eating options onsite, and a big indoor pool.