Side-tie Sweater (On sale! I last wore it here in the blush pink, but I love all the solid colors! See other favorite sweaters from the Anniversary Sale below.) / Hudson Jeans (On major sale! Also love this pair and this pair, both part of the sale.) / Everlane Sandals c/o (Back in stock! They run TTS. ALSO: The sale Tory Burch sandals have been fully restocked in the tan color. They’re super comfy as they’re padded! Scoop ’em up before they sell out again.) / L.L. Bean Zip-Top Tote Bag c/o (We have the large size in navy.) / Rolling Suitcase (On sale!) / Toss Designs Weekender c/o
Want to win the $200 Nordstrom e-gift card giveaway? Simply answer Mitch’s question of the day at the bottom of this post!
One of my most-requested blog topics is how we travel with Emma and bring her to restaurants. So today, I’m publishing two posts. Woo! There’s this one, of course, but in a few hours, I’ll publish one by Mitch about road trips, too. So stay tuned!
Anyway, I’m teaming up with Emily from Isn’t That Charming for this one, which is part of our motherhood series. Emily and Doug do a ton of traveling with their two little girls, so definitely read her post as well. As we’re embarking on a 12-hour drive to Ocean City in a couple of weeks, I’m really looking forward to reading Em’s advice. :) Already panicking, haha!
Before I start, I should preface everything with the fact that Mitch and I have found traveling and going out to eat with a one-year-old to be very difficult. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve walked off a plane or out of a restaurant, looked at each other and said: “Well, that was a disaster.” But we’ve developed a few strategies that help, and Mitch and I remain firm believers in the idea that taking Emma places is a GOOD thing, despite the risk-of-disaster thing. While it’s far easier to simply stay home, the whole family is happier when we live our lives and experience the world. :)
So let’s break this into two parts: how we travel with Emma and how we bring her to restaurants. (And yes, I’m mostly talking about flying in the travel part… but Mitch will cover the long car ride part later today.)
How we travel with Emma
Snacks, snacks, snacks. And then some more snacks. Emma’s totally my daughter, and her favorite food is goldfish crackers. (Hey, Mitch! Why didn’t goldfish make the Kelly Food Pyramid?) She is legitimately entertained for a sold 15-30 minutes if you give ’em to her. But make SURE they’re the orange kind. She’s straight-up reject the multi-colored ones. (Don’t worry. We’re working on acceptance of all the fishes.)
Use the right baby bag. I won’t lie: I have a lot of baby bags. But my absolute favorite one to travel with is this zip-top tote bag from L.L. Bean. It’s huge and holds everything I could possibly need for Emma (and often times my camera, too!), but it fits under our stroller and under a plane seat. And the importance of the zipper can’t be overemphasized. Even if your formula explodes, it’s contained within the tote bag, preventing everyone around you from thinking you have a serious coke habit. Zippers prevent disasters! (Note: we have the large size.)
Pack Said Baby Bag WELL. This is going to sound like overkill, but I pack 10 diapers, a new package of wipes, three baby bottles, one water bottle, a couple of plastic bags, three to five pacifiers, 10 small toys and books, and a change of clothing for both Emma and me. (Mitch is stubborn and says poop never killed anyone. More on that below.)
Bring a change of clothing. For everyone. Listen: I get pooped, peed and vomited on a lot these days, and I almost always laugh it off. But it’s really hard to maintain a positive attitude while flying and covered in it. So I pack a pair of leggings and a t-shirt for myself and an extra onesie for Emma in the baby bag. My leggings and t-shirt double as my pajamas anyway. :) Mitch says he doesn’t need extra clothing. We’ll see if he changes his mind at some point…
Bring ALL the toys or books. I pack at least 10 very small and light toys and books. Emma LOVES pop-up books right now, so that’s our go-to. But small toys that I can quickly hand off to her when she gets fussy have been lifesavers, too.
Check unneeded luggage. We hate checking our luggage. We love getting off the plane with everything we need and then just waltzing on the subway or into our Uber. But I think we’ve finally come to understand that as parents of a baby, those days are over. ;) We only have so many hands. When we’re taking longer trips (especially press trips, when I need a lot of clothing), we check our suitcases, even if they’re carry-on size. It makes for much easier flights! Ideally, when we get on the plane, we only have the baby bag and a backpack with our laptops and camera.
Check the stroller at the gate. We have a heavy baby. ;) I once made the mistake of checking the stroller before security. Never again. We’ve found that keeping it until the last possible second is the correct move for us in this stage of life. Right before “family boarding,” we pack it up into this protective travel bag and hand it off. (We’ve definitely thought of traveling with a cheapo umbrella stroller as it’s lighter and far less expensive if broken or lost, but we currently couldn’t live without the storage underneath our UppaBaby, so we’re not there yet.) Then we switch to the Baby Bjorn. We rarely use it while we’re home in Chicago, but we could never travel without it!
Dress comfortably. I tend to get really cold on planes, so I typically wear a comfy sweater (such cute side ties and it’s on sale!) and a favorite pair of jeans. (Emma overheats very easily, so she’s usually in a dress and a cardigan that I can take off her if I notice she’s getting too hot.) I know I’m probably going to get some grief for wearing white jeans as a mom, but I LOVE white jeans and have come to terms with the fact that I just need to wash ’em after almost ever wear. Whatever! Not that big of a deal. But other non-white favorite jeans include this pair and this pair, both part of the sale. I’ve also been wearing these Everlane Sandals because they’re crazy comfy and I can slip ’em on and off without bending down. By the way: they’re back in stock! And the sale Tory Burch sandals have been fully restocked in the tan color, too. They’re padded! Scoop ’em up before they sell out again.
Break out the phone or tablet when desperate. We usually use this as a last resort, not because we’re against screen time while traveling–only because it works like a charm nearly every time, and we want to save it for the most dire of situations. ;) Elmo, I think I love you more than Emma does. (Also, invest in an iGuy.)
Find (or pay for) an extra seat. Or fly Southwest. In no way is this sponsored, but Southwest is AMAZING. Whenever our flight isn’t overbooked, the attendants allow us to take an extra seat for Emma. We can’t fly Southwest home to my parents because we fly into a tiny airport, but we’ve talked about paying for the extra seat because holy goodness, it makes SUCH a huge difference with a toddler.
Schedule the flight around nap times and bedtime. This is sometimes impossible, but when it is possible, we do a happy dance because we know the chances of a meltdown occurring has been slashed in half. ;) So many friends actually do the opposite with their kids and fly during nap time or bedtime, but that’s been disastrous for us, haha. I guess every baby is different.
How we bring Emma to restaurants
Use the stroller and a high chair if possible. We’ve found that when we change Emma’s surroundings and/or seating, she can go from unhappy to happy very quickly. We start her off in the stroller, and if she gets fussy or bored, we transition her to the high chair. When she grows tired of that, it’s back in the stroller. Works pretty well!
Order the baby’s food immediately. Emma is SO happy when you give her french fries. Girlfriend will snack happily on ’em for a solid 15 to 30 minutes, much like she does with (orange) goldfish. When we sit down–sometimes even before sitting down, haha–we put in an order for her. It buys us a lot of time!
Go to the restaurant right after a nap. Truthfully, Emma wakes up and we walk right to the restaurant. Yes, sometimes that means that we’re having dinner at 5 p.m., but hey. We’ll take any chance we can to get out of the house and be normal people. ;) Another thing that helps is giving her the bottle when we get to the restaurant, not before. That gives us an additional 15 minutes, too!
Request to sit next to another family if possible. Emma LOVES other kids. She’ll happily wave at them for an hour even if they’re not returning the love. Eventually, she’s probably going to catch on that not everyone wants to wave at each other for extended periods of time. But for now, it’s awesome and so ridiculously adorable.
Choose noisier restaurants. There’s nothing more stressful than going to a quiet restaurant with a baby or toddler. I’d rather go hungry. Instead, we keep a list of kid-friendly places on our iPhones. Whenever we pass one, we jot it down! The best ones are completely outside or those that have high ceilings without soundproofing. The louder the better!
Sit outside if possible. Building off the last one, outdoor seating is every parent’s dream. In Chicago, we’re limited to roughly five or six months because of the (absolutely horrendous) weather, but these days, we pretty much only sit outside. Noise just doesn’t travel as far, and everyone seems so much more low-key when they’re outdoors!
If outside seating isn’t available, sit near a TV or window. Or a mirror. Emma is transfixed by anything that lights up, by people walking by, and by her own reflection. (She sticks her tongue out and laughs hysterically. It’s the cutest.) All I have to say about this one is that Emma once watched the Cubs for over an hour without making so much as a peep.
Bring toys that strap to the high hair, table and/or stroller. We’ve found that if we don’t tie her toys to whatever she’s sitting in, she drops and throws them on the ground, and waiters and nearby patrons are constantly picking them up for her. Don’t put people in that position. Tie your toys down! ;) We use ribbons and yarn.
Go during off hours. That whole 5 p.m. dinner time often works to our advantage, as restaurants are still pretty empty at that time. Also, we skip and move on to the next restaurant if there’s a wait somewhere. If Emma’s well-rested and happy, there’s really no sense in wasting that on a line!
Have an exit strategy. If all of this fails and Emma’s just having a rough day, we have a plan in place. Typically, Mitch handles paying the bill, boxing up our food and cleaning up our little area… and I’m in charge of packing up our stuff and getting Emma outside as quickly as I can. It’s so important to respect other people’s dining experiences. If Emma’s crying, our time is up, and we’re okay with that! (I will say, however, that this has only happened once or twice.)
Clean up before leaving. Waiters shouldn’t have to clean up HUGE messes. We try to clean as we go throughout the meal–if Emma drops food, for example, we get it right away. But we always do the once-over before leaving to make sure we’ve left our space in a respectable condition.
Thank the surrounding patrons. I’ve truly never had received so much as a nasty glance from people sitting close to us. I think most totally get it; older folks remember those times, people our age have been in the same position, and youngsters can imagine what it’ll be like in the future. More often than not, patrons actually tell us how adorable Emma is and even talk and play with her! (Emma’s the best conversation-starter, haha. We’ve made so many friends through her!) That said, I think it’s so important to thank the people sitting nearby. Their idea of a nice lunch or dinner probably didn’t include playing peekaboo with a one-year-old, but thank you, sir… you bought us a solid 20 minutes by doing that and we needed to get out so badly omg.
If you have children, do you have any advice for traveling with them or bringing them to restaurants?
^ You can totally answer the above question to be entered to win the $200 Nordstrom e-gift card giveaway, OR you can answer Mitch’s question of the day below! Winner will be announced on Saturday.
Mitch’s question of the day
If you could visit anywhere for a month or two, where would it be?
Mitch’s answer: My first answer was Cape Town because I miss it. (Fun fact: Mitch lived in Cape Town, South Africa for six months in college!) But I should probably choose somewhere I’ve never visited, right? So… Tokyo!
Kelly’s answer: LONDON. I know. I’ve been there many times, and it’s nothing crazy. But I’ve been obsessed since I was a child, and I’ve always wanted to live there. (Missed out on my London travel abroad experience in college for some personal reasons. Alas.) Remember when I wrote this post? While we’re still planning on doing it this year, we’re considering London instead. I’m craaaaazy excited, but we’ll see!
Shop the post:
Side-tie Sweater (On sale! I last wore it here in the blush pink, but I love all the solid colors! See other favorite sweaters from the Anniversary Sale below.) / Hudson Jeans (On major sale! Also love this pair and this pair, both part of the sale.) / Everlane Sandals c/o (Back in stock! They run TTS. ALSO: The sale Tory Burch sandals have been fully restocked in the tan color. They’re super comfy as they’re padded! Scoop ’em up before they sell out again.) / L.L. Bean Zip-Top Tote Bag c/o (We have the large size in navy.) / Rolling Suitcase (On sale!) / Toss Designs Weekender c/o
Want to win the $200 Nordstrom e-gift card giveaway? Simply answer Mitch’s question of the day above in the comment section below! (That wasn’t confusing at all, haha.) Winner will be announced on Saturday.
I’d gladly live for a month or forever in any Italian hill town with a bread-baking nonna.
My parent’s home!! Because once you get married off and have kids, you never get a chance to really spend time with your parents and heck, feel like a child again! Only place where I get spoiled like a kid! ❤
Emma’s little outfits are the cutest!
I grew up in New England and I quite miss it, so I would definitely live one or two months in some cute New England coastal town, specifically in autumn. Or maybe thinking about just moving back there completely! ;)
Bora Bora, for sure!
My dream has always been to visit France. I would love to spend a month there and be emmersed in the culture.
Hawaii please!! Beauty, relaxation and a slower pace of life. Yes – sign me up.
Would love to visit Norway or Finland. I’ve always loved Europe and these two places are supposed to have exquisite scenery.
Most definitely Europe…it’s my dream to travel all around Europe!
Nice for a month, no question, we honeymooned there and I cannot wait to go back!
This post was perfectly timed. We are taking our family to Disney world (not sure if it’s going to be the greatest place on earth for us, but we are giving it a shot) in December via plane! I NEED all advice. We are going because my oldest is turning 5, but that leaves us with a newly 2-year-old as well so the travel situation could go either way. Disaster or time of his life! For preschoolers, the typical “I Spy” game is a saver for us. My daughter is super into rhyming words so you can make up games with how many rhyming words you can make…that entertains on car trips some times. Also, wear comfy shoes and take a walk around the restaurant. While it doesn’t set the romantic vibe for the parents, my kids love to “tour” the restaurant and even the sidewalk outside. Warning: sometimes they do NOT want to return to the table so this may be saved while check is being paid! Thanks for the advice!
Hey, Kate! Have a blast on your Disney World trip! I was a cast member for 8 years and am a pass holder now. I hate to “plug” my own thing on Kelly’s channel but I have a YouTube channel “Darlynebeauty” and I have several helpful Disney World tips videos if you’d like any pointers. My son is 20 months and we take him all the time, and I used to go just with my husband-total game-changer now that we have a little one! Feel free to e-mail me at darlynebeauty@gmail.com if you have any Disney questions. I love helping people make the most of their Disney vacations. I know it’s overwhelming and not cheap! The rest of my channel is Motherhood, beauty, and health so ignore those videos if you are just looking for Disney tips.
Tough decision! I have been wanting to go to Punta Cana or Turks and Caicos. Our family always loves California!!!!!! I think we would have to have a family vote on this one. BTW… my teenage daughter would be happy to entertain Emma….she’s adorable!!!!
Good morning!
I agree with Mitch that I should probably pick somewhere I’ve never been before, but I love the Outer Banks of North Carolina, we used to go for a week every year when I was a kid. I know I love it so that’s my pick!
Nantucket
I would love to live in the English or French Countryside for a month, how lovely that would be! Love these tips for traveling and eating out with a little one! Saving it for future reference :)
Taylor | http://www.livingtaylored.com
Small Italian village, no questions.
On travel with kids – distractions! Anything that can distract your kid from the whole “we are eating in a public place” thing is great. And yes, if that means an occasional TV show on the iPhone, don’t feel bad about it!
Great tips, Kelly! We’ve never done a road trip longer than two hours with my 20 month old. We would really like to take a longer road trip soon though. We’ve done several plane trips and I do all of the same things you do. A million diapers and checking the luggage (something I NEVER used to do). Greece has always been high on my list but not as much lately. My wish list is more “simple” trips in the US that are family/outdoor oriented-like Maine. Charleston is getting so much buzz and would be an “easy” and do-able trip, Hawaii was somewhere we’d considered for our honeymoon and #1 on my husband’s list, we’d also like to take a trip along the coast of CA (I’m originally from Southern CA but have never been to SF or anywhere up there. Oh and we’ve been to Canada several times but would love a nice long Quebec trip as we’ve never been there…Mmmmm final answer is Quebec!
I would love to visit Spain and/or Germany! The architecture and art in Spain is amazing to me. One of my friends lives in Germany and I’d love to visit her!
I worked as a nanny for a year and a half and whenever we had to fly with the kiddos we always got them a seat and strapped their car seat to the seat. That way they were comfortable and knew their surroundings. They were used to sleeping in their car seats so it was no big deal for them to sleep on the plane too!
Such great tips!
I’m with you on the London thing – that’d be such a fun and different experience. Stateside I’d likely pick Charleston (in fall or spring) for the weather and food :]
I would go to Tulum, Mexico!
Definitely Hawaii, we used to go every year, pre-kids. We have friends there and I’d rent a big house and we’d all just eat, beach, hike, surf and swim! This is my dream when my kids are older.
Anywhere in Ireland!
London — using it as a base for UK travel.
Definitely Australia. Most of my family live in Sydney but I have family also in other towns so having a month or two to visit them all would be amazing. This would allow time to visit family but also to get to see the sights of Australia as well. My husband and I have visited Australia many times but he has seen very little outside of Sydney.
I’d live in London for a month
I have always wanted to go to Australia. I bet I could find all sorts of adventures there!
I never mind when babies are crying in restaurants or on planes because I know that one day that will be us, haha! Also, if I could go anywhere for a month or two – it would definitely be somewhere I’ve never been before – maybe Scotland?!
Fellow Chicago mom here (my son is 20 months) and totally agree about eating at 5! We figure if people are out to dinner at 5 then they really can’t complain too much about kids being there. We have a few places we love where we know there will be other kids as well (Bad Apple is one of our favs. If you get there early enough there’s no wait and it seems like they stick all the families with small children in their side room which is fine with us!)
If I could visit anywhere for awhile it would be Italy! We went to Rome a few years ago and I wish we could have stayed longer and explored more of the country.
Italy!
I would absolutely go spend a month or two in Rome. I studied abroad there while in college, and I have been itching to get back. *fingers crossed*
Such great tips! I’m going to need these in a few months! :)
We have traveled A LOT with our baby. I am nodding along to so much of your air travel post. For us, our number one savior on the plane has been the Ergo carrier (especially when she was a tinier baby). The second thing that we do is that if she is flying around a sleep time, we will do her bedtime routine just like at home to help cue her that it is time for sleep.
I’d live in Ireland for a month or a lifetime. I’m super Irish and nothing makes me happier than exploring the small towns and drinking a Jameson and Ginger with some locals.
France or Ireland!
Very helpful post! Any kid-friendly dinner favorites in the Lincoln Park area? We’ve got the eating at 5 thing down with our 6 month old, but keep rotating the same 3-4 places we know to be more kid-friendly!
And if I could spend a month anywhere, London would be my first stop. So many neighborhoods to explore and great day trips outside the city as well!
Just to live, I would choose Italy. To have some extended time to travel around, I would choose Australia since it’s so far away! Really want to go, but it’s hard to find enough time to make it worth it!
Kelly, What laptop bag do you recommend or use? Thanks!
Do I have to pick just one place! The top choices on my list now are Portugal and Spain. I think they are realistic options in the future so if I have to pick one out there place I think I would lean to the Maldives.
I would love to live in Edinburgh, Scotland again! I studied abroad there and miss it and would love to go back with more insider knowledge!
I’ve never been to Nantucket before, but I would love to rent a house and hang out with my family for a month or two in the warmer months. It would be so relaxing! And my baby loves the fresh air and the water!
We took a quick trip to Paris this past spring and loved it. My husband and I have talked about renting a place for a month or two and immersing ourselves in the language (and wine) :)
I could visit California for a month and travel all over to visit SanDiego, LA, Catalina Island, San Fran and WINE COUNTRY!!
We like to have our baby taste a bit of everything from our plate, too, so that she gets used to trying new foods!
If I could live anywhere for a month or two it must be either Finger Lakes, NY or Boston, MA. At the Finger Lakes I could spend hours sitting on a dock with a massive cup of coffee staring at the water and Boston is just so busy and beautiful and there’s so much to do!
I love adventure, so I’d live in Australia!
Italy! I lived there for 4 months and would live there again in a heartbeat!!
I would definitely live in Santorini for a month or more! Been obsessed with it since I can remember!
I would love to go to Ireland. Being able to be on the coast, in the chilly wet weather. I know not something most people who want out of a vacation. But I love getting all comfy in layers and boots. I especially like running in chilly weather! Being able to run by on cobblestone to view the ocean or small little towns would be amazing!
Australia!!
I studied abroad in London and LOVED it… I have yet to go back, and I am DYING to!
I love capetown as well! I visited there for two weeks right after college and it was amazing! I want to explore more of it!
http://www.themilestraveled.com
I’m with Kelly. London all the way! I did my college study abroad in London. I have to admit it did take some getting used to at first but it was an amazing experience!!
I’d love to live in Switzerland for a few months! Lausanne was one of my possible picks for my semester abroad, but I didn’t actually end up visiting while I was in Ireland! I’d love to be somewhere French speaking for a bit, and take advantage of the close proximity to most of Western Europe!
Italy…or Barcelona
Italy! It’s been on the top of my list for years and I just need to go!
Nantucket Mass. We took many trips there when our daughter was small and now she is headed to college in NYC……
I would love to spend a month in Dublin. We got engaged there, and the locals are just the friendliest people and the country side is magical, mostly and thankfully untouched by modern hands!
Alternatively, Paris and London are two of my favorite European cites, steeped in culture and alive with excited energy! I would gladly hole up in one of the three.
I’d love to go to to Austria! I love history and the outdoors, and Austria has so much to offer in both categories. Nothing beats a hike up to a beautiful castle! :)
Morocco is next on my wanderlust list!
I would totally choose London as well! I’ve never been abroad, but I keep an [ever-growing] list of places I *need* to visit, and needless to say, London is firmly at the top!
I would live in Charleston, SC. So much to see and do!
I would probably choose to go to Italy with my husband as we’ve always wanted to go there!
anywhere in France. like, literally anywhere. I’m not even picky, I just miss the country and speaking French so, so much.
Italy!
Bruges!
Australia!
Currently pregnant, so no tips for traveling or restaurant dining with little ones, but these are great tips that I’ve made mental notes of for the future. Hubby and I plan on traveling and still enjoying restaurant visits with the baby, so I’m sure these will come in handy!
Hmmm…I think I would like to live in San Diego for a month. I’ve never been to the West coast but I hear the weather is fantastic and I’m all for that!
Hong Kong! I’ve been there twice and I’m itching to go back!
I love Rome and I often think about moving there – love everything about that beautiful city.
I’d choose Hawaii because I’ve never been and have always wanted to go.
As far as traveling with children, I’ve done long trips many times with mine…and I recommend lots of snacks, movies to watch, video games/ipods/etc to use, and some surprises along the way (like special travel books, games, treats).
Our little one just turned 6 months old, so this was perfect timing for some travel advice! We’ve been using these great tethers for the car seat, stroller and high chairs- https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01MTMOOIY/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1501727165&sr=8-2&keywords=toy%2Bsnap%2Bstrap&th=1&psc=1
Probably the French Riviera! I am craving some beach right now, but it’s still close to new experiences and cities! Plus it’s on my bucket list for sure!
I would love to live in Hong Kong or Singapore and be able to explore Southeast Asia while I’m there
Australia/New Zealand! I’ve never been to either, and it’s a bucket list trip :)
Bali!
Where is Emma’s dress from? So cute!
I’d live in Vail, Colorado for sure!
I would love to travel to Glasgow, Scotland!! I have extended family there, and it’s so much fun to visit!
I would love to spend a month in Kauai! Also- my tip for children in a restaurant is to be sure that you bring back up snacks for them in case the order takes longer than expected ( because it is hard for a little one to be hungry and tired and sit relatively still all at once)
St Andrews, Scotland. Or Paris
I would love to return to Santorini, Greece for a month! It’s so beautiful.
I would live in Florence Italy! It is so beautiful and I love Italian food!
Such a good question! I have so many ideas, the Irish Countryside, Malibu, Hawaii, Paris. Basically anywhere but the Chicago burbs would be a nice change of scenery ;)
Seychelles!!!!!
I’d love to enter the giveaway! Advice to parents traveling with infants: use a baby carrier on the plane if you don’t have a separate seat for them.
Italy
I’d love to go to London too! I spent 4 days there during a summer study abroad in Italy and it wasn’t nearly long enough. I’m such a history and good buff and it has everything! I’d also love to go in the fall or winter, and if there’s time venture out to the countryside as well.
I’ll casually soak in alllllll of your content if you end up moving there for a little bit :) If a short term move ends up happening for you, I hope it goes well and is an amazing adventure!!
I’d visit Ohio for a couple months, we have close family friends who live there.
This is a tough one… I would love to spend a month in an English country side, staying in an old castle surrounded by history and rolling hills
I would love to visit Sydney, Australia for a month. There’s so many wonderful places to explore. My family would love it!
I don’t have kids yet – due in September with our first (a girl!)! But I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this motherhood series you’re doing with Emily, because I’m learning a lot!
I’d live in Norway or Sweden! My grandparents grew up in the suburbs of Bergen and it’s the most beautiful country I’ve had the opportunity to visit.
New Zealand!! The landscape & culture are enough for me to travel the 384,747 hours in a plane to visit! Now, I just need to win the lotto ;)
We always brought coloring books and crayons to restaurants, and if all else failed they loved pushing buttons on the cell phone!
I’d visit Vietnam! It’s a tropical locale full of culture and potential adventures. I’ve never been to Asia so I’d love to spend an extended period of time exploring!
Our son is 11 months and we rarely take him out to restaurants for fear of disasters, but anytime we do we are pretty in sync with your tricks for Emma! I would say either Norway (I’m 3/4 Norwegian and it’s a bucket list trip for sure) or Turks & Caicos to relive my honeymoon :)
I’d definitely visit Colombia in South America. My mom is from there, and I’d love to go down there to spend time with my extended family and to improve my Spanish!
Wow…for a month or two?! So many choices! I just recently visited Paris and I could certainly spend a month or two solid there…reading books and drinking way too much coffee! I would love to spent a month or two touring around eastern Europe though seeing some of the more “obscure” countries out there that I’ve not visited!
Hey Kelly, thank you for all your tips on travelling. As one of those “outsiders” sitting next to you in the restaurant/plane I can tell you that nothing a baby ever does will bother us. Because it takes a village to raise a child, and because we learn parenting from the parenting around us, we want to be a part of it and learn (if done well). The less stress/urgency there is between you and your baby/husband, the less stressfull is our restaurant/plane experience. Make sure you speak nicely to your child/husband and show understanding there – not to us! Don’t worry about other people or rush outside (people will keep watching you through the window anyway). We will smile, if you listen to your child – no need to apologize then:-) We hope to see much more good parenting examples on our travels/dates! Thank you!