Where should I take my wife and 3 month old son for a week in June?

[Spoosner 86]

We will be flying out of New York (after a wedding) on June 10th, and need to be back home in Dallas on June 17 or 18th.

This will be our first real trip with our son that will be just over 3 months old.  My thought is that we would want easily accessible daytime activities like hiking, walkable town/downtown, and good food and drink is a must.  I imagine there's a chance we'll end up hanging out at the hotel for a full day to truly relax, so a nice pool with good service and on site food would be good.

Willing to move once, but having the kiddo means we don't want to packing/unpacking too much.

Initial thoughts with outdoorsy type options: 

• Lake Louise/Banff/Calgary
• Bozeman/Big Sky/Yellowstone (I'm a bit wary of Yellowstone because I'm assuming it will be super crowded and quality lodging will be hard to come by)
• Jackson Hole/Yellowstone/Grand Teton
• Lake Tahoe

City type:

• Portland/Seattle/Vancouver (I'm aware Portland is not that close to the others and a flight might be involved)
• Oaxaca

As you can see my initial thoughts are focused more in the North and West (aside from Oaxaca) as I haven't spent much time in the region.  We're pretty well traveled otherwise.  Go to Nola all the time, did Zion/Grand Canyon/Sedona a couple years ago, lived in NYC for 10 years so East Coast is pretty well covered, Texas/New Mexico/Colorado well covered, have been all over California.

What say the Surly?  Where would you stay? 

 

[Dontshootrude 374]

Dollywood

[Jerry Callo 8699]

I wouldn't take a 3 month old to the grocery store. 

Do you have a passport for the kid or one in the works?  If not, you'll need one for travel to Canada or Mexico.   

[texasdago 7568]

Scroll down... Isla Mujeres, duh.

[Spoosner 86]

14 minutes ago, Jerry Callo said:

I wouldn't take a 3 month old to the grocery store. 

Do you have a passport for the kid or one in the works?  If not, you'll need one for travel to Canada or Mexico.   

Good point on the passport.  I think if I get that in the works by early next week we should be fine.  Might have to pay the minimum expedite fee.

[Brew 3049]

Back home and enjoy your week off where the baby can be back on a schedule. 

I would not want to go cross country with a 3 month old although you’re pretty well covering that with Dallas/NYC. Charleston and the areas in the South/East would be decent although it may be a little warm. The other areas mentioned would work, but what about the upper Michigan area like Mackinack or somewhere through there? You have outdoors, stuff to see/do, decent weather, etc. and it’s not too far outside your flight path home.

[LonghornJones 837]

Branson

[texasdago 7568]

We took a 5 month old to Mexico... twice.  You'll be fine.

[txhorns 2409]

Telluride, Colorado would be great if you are just wanting to relax in great weather and enjoy nature.  Nice town with great food options and lots of outdoor activities.  

[LaunchPad 10]

Monarch Beach.  We took our 6-month-old in June last year and was a great experience.  Easy flight to John Wayne and the hotel offers enough options for eating that you don't have to leave once on property.  Has great pools and large private beach that is cool enough to let your kid take a nap in beach tent.   Get a pool view room so you can people watch on the balcony when you put the kid down to bed.

[Sbbruin 21829]

 

1 hour ago, LonghornJones said:

Branson

[utee94 15808]

Where should I take my wife and 3 month old son for a week in June?

wife and 3 month old?

Home.

[NotActuallyALonghorn 4975]

San Miguel de Allende could also be a good choice if you are considering Mexico. We got our passports back within a month back in December without expediting them. Probably takes a little longer at this time of year though.

[RiceOwl 74]

I know you said west coast but that’s going to be a ton of travel with an infant. 

Some ideas closer to NYC/East Coast that you may not have done. 

-Bar Harbor/Acadia National Park

-Quebec City 

-Mount Washington Valley, NH 

-Mackinac Island, MI

 

[Baboontyme 2809]

Maybe to the park down the street. 

[Baboontyme 2809]

Mackinac is a terrible suggestion, no offense Rice Owl. Overpriced hotel rooms, super touristy, have to take a 30+ minute boat ride to get on or off the island....bikes only. No. 

Traverse City, MI or Petoskey wouldn't be a bad spot. Beautiful places, lots of outdoorsy shit to do, neat small downtown areas. But I'm thinking you could do better elsewhere. 

[Judge Roybeanbag 11819]

Sorry I’m old school.  Leave the kid with grandma and take your wife to any of those places, only if she’s willing.   If she insists on dragging a basic fetus all over the country you might want to reconsider your marriage. The kid ain’t gonna remember shit and will scream, shit and cry the whole time, and you will get blamed for it when he is in prison.  

[Judge Roybeanbag 11819]

That’s jus like my opinion though.

[Upgrayedd 5810]

Need to see pics of wife to offer an opinion 

[solamente73 1132]

7 hours ago, Spoosner said:

We will be flying out of New York (after a wedding) on June 10th, and need to be back home in Dallas on June 17 or 18th.

This will be our first real trip with our son that will be just over 3 months old.  My thought is that we would want easily accessible daytime activities like hiking, walkable town/downtown, and good food and drink is a must.  I imagine there's a chance we'll end up hanging out at the hotel for a full day to truly relax, so a nice pool with good service and on site food would be good.

Willing to move once, but having the kiddo means we don't want to packing/unpacking too much.

Initial thoughts with outdoorsy type options: 

• Lake Louise/Banff/Calgary
• Bozeman/Big Sky/Yellowstone (I'm a bit wary of Yellowstone because I'm assuming it will be super crowded and quality lodging will be hard to come by)
• Jackson Hole/Yellowstone/Grand Teton
• Lake Tahoe

City type:

• Portland/Seattle/Vancouver (I'm aware Portland is not that close to the others and a flight might be involved)
• Oaxaca

As you can see my initial thoughts are focused more in the North and West (aside from Oaxaca) as I haven't spent much time in the region.  We're pretty well traveled otherwise.  Go to Nola all the time, did Zion/Grand Canyon/Sedona a couple years ago, lived in NYC for 10 years so East Coast is pretty well covered, Texas/New Mexico/Colorado well covered, have been all over California.

What say the Surly?  Where would you stay? 

 

I’m thinking that you neglected to mention that you were bringing a nanny with you.  If not...

 

Taking care of a baby as a couple and on the road is a full time gig.  No home field advantage at all.  You’re not going to be hiking, be ‘outdoorsy,’ enjoying fine dining and drinks, etc.  You’re gonna be on Baby’s schedule. Why spend a ton of money to do the exact same thing in a hotel room that you’d be doing at home?  I already learned the hard way that the others above are right - spend that time at home and relax when you can.

 

Edited April 27, 2018 by solamente73

[Thetexashammer 1062]

JudgeRoy is a got damn national treasure.

 

Anyway, Roy is right, the baby is a sack of potatoes. Go have fun. Maybe rent a car, see upstate NY, drink some wine, then drive home? 

[RiceOwl 74]

10 hours ago, Baboontyme said:

Mackinac is a terrible suggestion, no offense Rice Owl. Overpriced hotel rooms, super touristy, have to take a 30+ minute boat ride to get on or off the island....bikes only. No. 

Traverse City, MI or Petoskey wouldn't be a bad spot. Beautiful places, lots of outdoorsy shit to do, neat small downtown areas. But I'm thinking you could do better elsewhere. 

Haha, funny you say that... It's the one place on that list that I haven't actually been. Had just heard good things... But serves me right for suggesting a place I haven't been.

[HenryJames 66038]

Cotulla

[Baboontyme 2809]

1 hour ago, RiceOwl said:

Haha, funny you say that... It's the one place on that list that I haven't actually been. Had just heard good things... But serves me right for suggesting a place I haven't been.

It's a cool place to visit but depending on what you're into I think it's a day trip, especially in the summer when the crowds would be up. 

[bigcigar 1164]

I’ve found cities or a beach is best with a baby. Somewhere you don’t have to get in a car and drive is ideal.

[txhorns 2409]

All of you saying not to go are full of shit.  You can absolutely do it without the baby being a huge hindrance.  Wife and I went to Red River, NM with a 1 month old before.  Then went to Lake Tahoe with a 6 month old.  Baby slept on hikes in a Tula carrier, it was no big deal.  Yeah you won't be going out drinking late at night or anything like that but it doesn't mean you can't have a nice trip.  Baby also probably has to go if mom is still breast feeding.

[texasdago 7568]

Yes - exactly.  I do agree a beach is the way to go.  While I'm not an all-inclusives person typically, with a young baby, they are perfect.  Food is easy, pools o plenty, beach, etc.  Pick a place that allows you to upgrade to a privilege section or whatever they call it and you have access to private lounges and quieter pools.  Worth it.

[4th&Five 41519]

depends on the kid.  our first was a handful.  we had to go to a wedding in san fran when she was 8 weeks old and the whole trip was a disaster.  our second was easy and a trip like you're thinking would have been fine.

[Red Six 131]

A 10(ish)-day trip with three long flights and a 3-month-old is going to suck. You're either delirious from the lack of sleep or still in denial about the fact that you have a baby.

If you are dead-set on doing something that the baby won't remember, either stay in the Northeast, or staycation in a nice hotel/resort when you get back to Dallas.

Edited April 27, 2018 by Red Six

[dingleberryswitzer 2724]

I would do something like Denver or Seattle.  Check out museums for a few hours, lunch nap, etc.  Maybe rent a car and do a day of outdoors stuff.   At that age the baby should be fine in a baby sling or pouch.  

[Judge Roybeanbag 11819]

7 hours ago, txhorns said:

All of you saying not to go are full of shit.  You can absolutely do it without the baby being a huge hindrance.  Wife and I went to Red River, NM with a 1 month old before.  Then went to Lake Tahoe with a 6 month old.  Baby slept on hikes in a Tula carrier, it was no big deal.  Yeah you won't be going out drinking late at night or anything like that but it doesn't mean you can't have a nice trip.  Baby also probably has to go if mom is still breast feeding.

Maybe so.  I wasn’t trying to be a dick, but in my experience hauling an infant around can be a beating. On the flip side, when my wife was pregnant we took some extended trips to the west coast and other cool places, and when my daughter turned 18 one of her presents was to buy her and her mom that same itinerary to take together. They loved it.  And I got a week and a half of peace and quiet with my son.

[Moby Ric 2058]

3 moth old to grandma's house.  Your wife wherever you want.  She has earned it.

[3adays 454]

We’re headed to Isla Mujeres with a 15 month old in few weeks. No way in hell I would have done that with a 3 month old though. 

[CycleTex87 2967]

Vegas

[HeHateMe 883]

Vail

[Fred Willard 115]

Yellowstone bro. Do it! Your wife will hate you forever but it’s all good.

[Redneck Mutha 7954]

On 4/27/2018 at 5:54 PM, Moby Ric said:

3 moth old to grandma's house.  Your wife wherever you want.  She has earned it.

This here.  Or Tijuana.

[gsoda3 3248]

ya'll crazy, 3 months old is the perfect time to travel.  they don't do anything other than eat and sleep.  our first three each took trips to asia/europe before they turned 4 months old. 

 

i'd suggest montreal. 

[Jive Turkey 12594]

From NYC, may as well fly to Iceland.  Stay at the Blue Lagoon for a few days, then head into Reykjavik for a few days.  Weather should be great.  Lots of tours and outdoor things you can do during the day.  

There's availability at the Blue Lagoon during the week you're on vacation.

https://www.bluelagoon.com/blue-lagoon-spa/accommodation/

[texasdago 7568]

"If you are dead-set on doing something that the baby won't remember" - its not about the 3 month old.  It can be done, I'm telling you.  So are others who have done it. 

[MidTexHorn 822]

17 hours ago, Jive Turkey said:

From NYC, may as well fly to Iceland.  Stay at the Blue Lagoon for a few days, then head into Reykjavik for a few days.  Weather should be great.  Lots of tours and outdoor things you can do during the day.  

There's availability at the Blue Lagoon during the week you're on vacation.

https://www.bluelagoon.com/blue-lagoon-spa/accommodation/

I was going to say this or Ireland since you're in New York to start with. Flights wouldn't be much worse than traveling to the west coast.

[RollLeft 5040]

 

[ShaggyBevo RIP 3868]

Asheville for a city outdoors crossover. Stay at the Omni Grove Park Inn.

Edited April 30, 2018 by ShaggyBevo RIP

[Spoosner 86]

Thanks for the input.  I think we've narrowed in on flying to Seattle to stay for a few nights.  Will take the train down to Portland on Wednesday or Thursday where some friends with a youngin' live.  Do some winery tours and hiking with them.  Head home on Sunday.

I considered Iceland, but the whole all day sunlight thing made me shy away a bit.  Yellowstone and Banff type lodgings are sub par for absorbent prices for our dates.

For those that think I'm crazy, perhaps I am.  This trip is way more for us than him as he obviously won't remember it.  I'm on paternity leave for all of June, so we want to take advantage.  Seems to me that travel is easier at this stage in his life when all he does is sleep, eat, and poop, especially while we only have 1.  I'm well aware our plans will need to be fluid and we may end up spending a day or 2 tethered to the hotel more than expected, but I don't see anything wrong with that.  Definitely sounds better than sitting around the house like we can do any regular weekend.  I'll report back.

Moving to the Portland and Seattle threads for further advice.

[txhorns 2409]

Sounds like a lot of fun.  That's a great place to go.  You probably already have one but if not definitely get a baby carrier before the trip.  The thing about infants is that they love the jostling around feeling at that age so staying on the move may be better than sitting around on a beach or something.  Have fun and enjoy your trip.