Bring 4 year old on trip to SF?

[Anonymous]

The other San Francisco poster made me think of posting this here...

I am planning to take a weekend trip to SF next month to visit an old friend. We both have 4 year old daughters. Should I bring mine along on the trip?

On one hand, I would love a (relatively) kid-free weekend to spend with my friend doing adult things and my DH is all for it. Plus it would be nice not to buy the extra plane ticket. Her DH is great and I'm sure would watch their DD so we could have time to catch up.

On the other hand, I think it would be a wonderful experience for DD and that she would remember it for a long time. Plus she gets along with my friend's DD and realistically I don't know when I will get another opportunity to bring her to SF (my friend is living there temporarily from abroad).

Any thoughts? Would bringing a four year old along just turn an awesome girls' weekend into a kidfest? I've only been to SF once before.

[Anonymous]

It's a long flight for a weekend trip for a 4-year-old. And if your kid has an 8 o'clock bedtime hear, she'll be awake until 11 o'clock there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a long flight for a weekend trip for a 4-year-old. And if your kid has an 8 o'clock bedtime hear, she'll be awake until 11 o'clock there.

Uh, wait, will tired earlier and awake earlier! Point is, think about the time change, too!

[Anonymous]

I don't think your 4-year-old will remember this trip forever. A few years max.

Go on a family vacation in a few years, when she'll remember it better. We took a family vacation last year with an 8-year-old to SF and Northern CA and it was great.

But the jet lag/time change would be the major reason I would not take a 4-year-old to SF for just a weekend, even a 4-day weekend.

[Anonymous]

Getting up three hours before usual wakeup? Enough said. She stays!!

[Anonymous]

Getting up three hours before usual wakeup? Enough said. She stays!!

[Anonymous]

Does it help if I tell you that when we took our 4 yo to SF, he woke every single morning at 3 am? And then we drove around in the dark looking for a Dennys? And that he was fast asleep by 6pm every night?

Keep your kid at home and have a great time!

[Anonymous]

Mine fell asleep on the cable car. Despite all the clanging. Not sorry I took her, but it was longer than a weekend. I like my friends to know my kids and I like to know my friends kids .

But a weekend is short. Is your kid an easy traveller?

[Anonymous]

I would take her.

[Anonymous]

Just did this with 8mo- he adjusted to time change in 1 night!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does it help if I tell you that when we took our 4 yo to SF, he woke every single morning at 3 am? And then we drove around in the dark looking for a Dennys? And that he was fast asleep by 6pm every night?

Keep your kid at home and have a great time!

There is only one Denny's in the city, on Mission Street in SoMa. Not a great block even during broad daylight. Next time you need a 24 hour place, go to the Castro - on Church Street there's a restaurant called Sparky's.

[Anonymous]

I have travelled a lot with my now 9 year old since he was an infant. Your daughter won't remember very much, if at all, details from her trip. My son didn't adjust to the time change when we travelled west and he would be up 3 h earlier. You'll have a MUCH better time without her. Save your money for a trip you can do as family and enjoy your time. Do not feel guilty either! There will be other memorable and more enjoyable trips.

[Anonymous]

Take her! My ds travels with me a lot. Going to ca is no big deal and you'll deal with time change for her like you do for you.

[Anonymous]

We took our 3 year old last year and she was up at 3:00 like clock work all week. We had a great time but it was a very kid centric week and we were exhausted by the end. I would let her have a fun weekend with Dad.

[Anonymous]

Take her to the Exploratorium--best museum I've ever been to.