GNO: Have Van Will Travel
We decided a few years ago…taking a vacation without the kids?
No fun.
Lining up the childcare, making grandma keep up with their schedules, worrying?
It was all a nightmare, and by the second night away? I wished the kids were WITH us. Seeing the ancient volcano, trying out snorkeling, tasting an authentic dish.
We’ve also learned that the HOTEL POOL is usually more fun than any vacation activities. So we found that staying in a condo with a pool and with a kitchen cuts down on our travel costs. And airfare for 5 is out of the question.. so we find places within a 15 hour drive. The kids are troopers and make it in one shot now.
This is outside our Hotel in Palm Desert last winter.
(That would be near Palm Springs, one town removed).
We rode the tram, cuz the guide book said it was a no miss. But in our opinion the ridiculously high priced ticket with the snow and cold at the top and the fancy lunch prices NOT fun for kids, and WORTH missing…
However the awesome walking trails nearby? Oh my gosh, soooo beautiful. The kids had a blast, and it looked like we were walking in an alien forest!
And meeting up with friends from New Jersey in California? Seriously cool.
Whatdya think? Christmas Card worthy?
And outside the children’s museum…
These are vacations WORTH taking the kids along!
How do YOU travel?
Our first ever Guest Tweet for GNO!
Michelle Duffy
(you know her on Twitter as @Wandermom)
And you need to know her from her Terrific Travel Blog:
Wanderlust and Lipstick
Michelle has agreed to be our Guest Expert chatting about….
TRAVEL of course!
Please see Jyl’s feature of Michelle!
(And I hear rumor there is a big giveaway somewhere….)
Where to Travel?
Traveling with kids?
With out kids?
International?
Driving Vacations?
How about Thanksgiving this year?
What are your upcoming plans?
Also announcing…
‘Follow’ The Topic
Share your travel story on your own blog, past, present or future!
We’d like to see it, read it, enjoy it!
Post sometime during this week and link it up on Mr. Linky
Over at our very own GNO Blog!
MommyGossip-GNO
RSVP your TWITTER Username Here:
Tuesday night Oct. 21st!
6PM Pacific
7PM Mountain
8PM Central
9PM Eastern
Definitely Christmas card worthy. Looks like a great trip!
[Reply]
Good on you for just going. It’s always worth it, isn’t it? And I love the photo too!
[Reply]
I’ll do my best to be there Tue night. I have the workshop again but I’ll pop in for awhile
Yes, on the Christmas card. Great photo 
[Reply]
yay! what a great topic! when the kids were very little, we did a couple of vacations alone, but now it just seems unthinkable for us to go without the boys. they would kill us! in fact, they are much more adventurous than their parents. iceland, russia and india are on their “must see” lists. we have a BIG trip coming up in december of 09 (we are already having to save our pennies), but i will wait and tell you about it tomorrow on GNO!
[Reply]
TOTALLY Christmas card worthy! We might have to try that driving thing…I don’t know how it would go though! The natives get restless back there and they don’t want me to have to pull the car over so I can get out and cry on the side of the road because I can’t believe we still have 10 hours to go.
[Reply]
I love that photo. Its definitely Christmas card worthy! Hey, when’s the next GNO? Oh, alright. I’ll tweet you…
[Reply]
So far since we had the baby, we haven’t taken any vacations, really. Although Claire has been on 11 trips already where we flew somewhere (who’s the infant with the most frequent-flyer miles?), and Brooks and I did go to a wedding in RI sans le infant — that was fun, actually… I think we plan on doing both – vaca’s with and without the baby. Right after we win the lottery, yeah uh-huh…Great xmas card picture
Hey – I have a trip for you next year without the kids or hubby (sorry, Seth!). I think you should go to this next year (check out he posting from Jenny):http://momminitup.com/She also went to a christian mommying-conference earlier this year that might be fun for you – she raved about it 
Okay – back to homework hell.Love, melissa
[Reply]
Cute photos!I have a two-year old and a seven month old so right now I’d almost rather travel alone with my hubby!
[Reply]
We’re with you. It’s not always easy traveling with the kids (but then it’s not always easy living with them either) but we love discovering new places with them.
[Reply]
Hmmm…I hear ya, but I am not quite there yet. Now the truth is I do travel with my kids all the time. However, I do like to sneak in one vacation a year with just my hubby. My kids are still really little though. Maybe that makes a difference, huh?Totally Christmas Card worthy!!
[Reply]
I moved here to Vegas from Palm Springs. Love some of those walking trails–up Tahquitz Canyon is a great waterfall. I think the tram ride is a no-miss probably for the locals who rarely get to experience snow on the valley floor. I’m not sure I’ll make GNO, but I will try to tune in after my interview with the stake pres.
[Reply]
I have a great idea. How about I bring my three peeps to you while my hubby and I go on a vacay without them. Then I will get back with you on whether or not we should travel with or without them. We’ve always had them with us on trips and have always sworn to leave them the next time.What do ya say? Deal?
[Reply]
I agree vacays without the kids? No fun. Disneyland was the best one we went on with the kids! A BLAST! They were old enough to go on everything and we went in November so there were no lines at ALL! Way FUN! Love the pic!
[Reply]
don’t cha hate it when people use Mr Linky and DON’T leave a comment?! Can’t wait for GNO and I love a topic!!!
[Reply]
Love it! definitely have to start doing some of that myself! Cool pics and yes definitely Christmas card worthy!
[Reply]
Oh my. Never, ever had a vacation without kids and just recently stopped having vacations with all of Tim’s family. SO I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT ITS LIKE TO HAVE TIM ALL TO MYSELF ON VACATION.Not even a honeymoon.Now its my turn to whine.
[Reply]
I love traveling with the kids. We like to follow Pilot Daddy to his regional destinations. The last trip was crabbing and lighthouse visiting in Coos Bay, OR. Our return trip took us through San Francisco and then home to San Diego. I always pack movies and sandwich fixings. Cuts down on travel time giving us more time to jump off the highway and check out historical landmarks or oddities.
[Reply]
Great vacation post!
[Reply]
When we travel with the kids, it must be by car, like you. I have to say though, I LOVE vacations with out the kids. Well, I’ve only had one, but it was LOVELY.Now that we live in Southern CA we have so many vacation things to do year round that it will cut down on vacation costs for sure. Just need to invest in some annual passes.
[Reply]
I am actually leaving tomorrow for a trip that is a girls weekend. It will be my first time away from my baby! (now 17 months).But you are right, family vacations are the best! We did one back in August and it was SO fun!
[Reply]
we ONLY travel with our children!! We have plenty of time when they are gone and grown!LOVE the last picture!!
[Reply]
Great trip photos. We normally travel by plane as the kids are still young and I’m certain we won’t survive the road trip with them.
[Reply]
The first photo is priceless ! I have a few good shots like that of my daughter.
[Reply]
we have taken 1 or 2 trips without the kids, but I agree, it is more fun to go with them. And we share a similar travel philosophy – I would much rather stay in a place with a kitchen and a pool. Everyone has a better time!Thanks for visiting
[Reply]
Awww thats a Perfect Card!!!What a beautful family!Looks Like a wonderful vacation.To me… Just being in new surroundings with a pool over looking something peacful is Perfect for me.
[Reply]
We vacation in the same spot every summer. We go to a little know beach in the pan handle of Florida. We have gone 4 yrs in a row, it is about a 9 or so hr drive.We stay in a town house type place, they have a comunity pool just steps from the beach. The beach is awesome no high rises, no putt putt, none of that stuff just lots of fun in the sun.
[Reply]