Central Park in March. Property of www.pitstopsforkids.com
I know this is a website dedicated to family travel, but show of hands¦who agrees that every once in a while, travel without kids is a pretty darn appealing option? As enriching as family travel can be, sometimes, exploration and escape should not involve packing the DVD player, individual baggies of gummy worms, and charting out kid-friendly pit stops. It should not necessitate quieting bouncy children in the early morning hours, folding strollers, and ensuring that every hotel has a swimming pool and Cheerios at the continental breakfast.
Just sometimes.
Today, I’m dreaming of New York City. Alone with my spouse. Of sleeping in, riding the subway without having to tightly grasp sticky little hands, late breakfasts, even later drinks at the hotel bar, Broadway musicals, Fifth Avenue shopping (ok, more like Fifth Avenue window shopping), and leisurely strolls of the MET. We were last there about 18 months ago, and I’d love a return visit to see the fall foliage. Ah, to dream.
When you have the opportunity for ‘sans kids’ travel, where do you like to go?
For more dream travel entries, see Mondays are for Dreaming at The Mother of All Trips.
Also, be sure to check out my and others’ contributions to Two Kids and a Map’s recent entry on road trip snack foods!
I actually believe that traveling without kids is an important aspect of family travel. To me the key thing is to get away for more than one night. It’s that second morning that really feels blissful.
Oh I so agree! Two or three nights is perfect…you’re away long enough to really disengage, but not so long that you feel terribly anxious for them. I will admit that I once went away for 12 days, however, and it was BLISS. That was only once, however.
I’ve been dreaming lately of a nice hotel and just going out early for a glass of wine or two somewhere cosmopolitan and not having to get up and put the kids to bed or worry about getting up in the morning. I’d like to stroll the streets lined with high-rises and trendy restaurants and pop in a few. Maybe visit a few museums during the day or take a long walk in the park. NYC would be great, or maybe San Francisco. We had a great time there pre-kids. I’d even take a short weekend in my home Atlanta.
Sometimes getting out in your own city can be just as nice a break, if you book a hotel room and act as though you’re hundreds of miles away! San Francisco is near to our hearts, too!
Hello webmaster I like your post ….
I don’t usually reply to posts but I will in this case. WoW