We don't really get to do a full blown summer vacation because um...we are rich in kids. So in place of a week of expensive summer vacation plans, we get to have fun all summer long in small ways - like trips to local walking trails, and pools, and having sleepovers with our friends, and tent camping locally. Every other year, thanks to a work conference that Daddy attends, we get to travel to the Poconos for a day or two at Kalahari Resort (an indoor water park). The resort is 4 hours away, so that allows me the opportunity to squeeze the most out of the road trip so that it can feel like a 'real' vacation (recap of our trip in 2019)
Months before heading out, I take a look at all the possible routes to the Poconos and do lots of researching about fun things to see and do along the way. I specifically search the name of towns we would pass with "family activities." 4 hours in a car with kids ranging from 11 to 2 months is a stretch, so I knew I would need to break up the drive a little to keep everyone sane (especially since we don't have screens in the car).
I booked my sister to be the farmer caretaker while we were away - she is amazing with animals if you are local and ever in need of pet sitting or animal checking-in-on. She sent photos that everyone was good and did good morning and goodnight chores for the farmette (thank you Kitty!)
In the end, we ended up with a perfect for us right now (with two teenie babes) mini vacay. A little bit of time with family, enough time at the water park for the big kids, and within budget that we still felt like it was special without breaking the bank.
Stop #1: Our cousin's home in Elizabethtown, PA
Distance: 3 hours
We didn't get the opportunity this summer to do our annual cousin camp with the Gilmores, but it was a perfect time to squeeze in some quality time with them since their house was on our route out to Kalahari. We were so grateful to get a visit in with them and that they opened up their house to let us sleep over and enjoy dinner and a fire with them and their neighbors that night. The kids and I even got in a walk/bike ride around the neighborhood after breakfast to make sure everyone was worn out a little before hitting the road again that afternoon. It was such a perfect spot to enjoy great company and break up our long drive to the water park! (thank you Lisa & Ray!)
Packing Hack: pack one separate bag that includes the whole family's jammies and next day change of clothes for the quick visit. All other bags can stay packed in the car until you reach your main destination!
Dining out Hack: eat at a local diner/restaurant while on the road. We explained to the kids that we prefer local places for three reasons; first it supports the locals of the town we are visiting (or passing through) and secondly, you get to experience something new that you might never be back for again - the food! the atmosphere! the kind staff! And finally, local spots are almost always responsibly priced with lots of responsibly healthy options to choose from. We easily could have gone through a drive-thru or stopped at a franchise place we've been to a thousand times - but this is "vacation," we should be experiencing things that are new to us! This was
Stop #2: Kalahari Resort
Distance: 1 hour
This was our second time at Kalahari and the bigger kids all really enjoy it. I was a little worried about having two very small children with us this time - but we just hung out in the hotel room while Dad had his workshops (kids were not complaining about getting to watch a movie!) so that we could all go to the park together. Olive spent most of her time in the carrier or stroller while Red was obsessed with the kiddie areas (even if he did hate wearing a life jacket...he mostly forgot once he got in the water). We got to stay for two days and two nights which was about exactly the right amount of time for a water park I think. There are so many stairs and kids get tired and cranky pretty quickly (me too!) The kids do really have such a great time and I'm glad that we got to spend some time all together somewhere different than usual. Nothing like getting out of the house as a family to remind you how much fun you can have together when you aren't staring at all the chores that need done (LOL).
Eagerness Hack: very clearly explain that "check in is boring and takes a long time." As soon as we get there, the kids want to run and play - but check in takes some patience, so knowing that up front helps keep kids calm. We repeatedly say throughout the process - "remember, this part is boring and then we get to have fun. boring part first."
Rules & Regulations Hack: do some research and reviewing with the kids before you go. The rule at Kalahari is you have to be 48 inches to be without a life vest and we have two strong swimmers that are not yet tall enough - so we had a lot of chats about even though they can swim, we are going to follow the rules. They weren't thrilled, but rules are rules, man, and in a huge place like that where the kids tire easily from all the steps and swimming- we were okay with the smallest of our crew life vested up just in case.
Base Camp Hack: set up a 'base camp' somewhere in the park before everyone runs in every direction. Put all the towels, bags, and shoes in that one space (a table/set of chairs, etc) and make sure the kids know where it is (point out the attraction that is nearby). That way, when the big kids do their own thing or the anyone gets separated - you all know where you can meet back up. Rusty (5yrs) got separated at one point and calmly just asked a lifeguard where the wave pool was and headed back over to our base camp. We also smuggled some snacks into our bag (fruit snacks, granola bars, waters) so when the kids needed one they just popped back over to our base camp (said hi to us - hah!).
Meal Hack: Take a trip to the grocery store when you arrive at your destination to fill up your mini fridge and for the microwave (we stopped at the Walmart Supercenter). If your kids are like my kids they are hungry nonstop and kids who are hungry are cranky kids. Grocery shopping at the destination has the added bonus that you don't have to pack it in the car and stress about it staying cool. So in the evening of the first day, we headed out to purchase breakfast items (juice, mini donuts, fruit, and Jimmy Dean microwavable sandwiches), and lunch stuff (uncrustables, assorted mini chip bags, lunchmeat/cheese and sandwich bread, and microwavable mac&cheese cups) and tons of snacks (fruit snacks, yogurts, cheese sticks, crackers, snack cakes). I also had packed the crockpot from home (and some handy liners) so that we could make dinner in the room (we had meatball sandwiches!) We have way too many people in our family to pay $13 for a single chicken sandwich at the pool restaurant - so we took a midday break to eat in our room (and let the babies nap) and saved a lot of money.
Greedy Hack: set CLEAR expectations before going to the arcade. oh, how I loathe the arcade. But the kids were lucky to get money from their grandparents specifically for the arcade - so down I went with them one evening while B stayed in the room with the 2 babies. I explained to the kids how much money they would each be getting and how when that money is gone -it is gone! Then we walked around the whole arcade checking out all the games to see which ones they wanted to try. We also did a lot of chatting about how the playing the games is the most fun part of the arcade, NOT the using the tickets for the crappy little prizes part. The kids were actually gifted a bunch of tickets from random teens/adults so they had like an excess of 10,000 tickets when we were checking out. We had a big talk about how we could split them between us all and get some more small junk prizes, or we could make another little kid happy to pass it on to them. So the kids all chose to get a couple little things from their earnings and then we passed along the tickets were were gifted on to another little kid.
Check out Hack: everyone helps to get in and out. We got a lot of people which means we got a lot of stuff. It's all hands on deck to bring stuff to the room and the same for leaving. If everyone helps it's easy and quick. If not, we are all miserable.
Stop #3: Bald Eagle State Park
Distance: 2 hours
Located off of Route 80 near Lock Haven, the internet told me they had a day beach area that included a playground. Nothing our kids love more than being let loose in nature - so I knew it would be a good spot to get some energy out, enjoy the sun, and have a quick bite to eat.
Road Trip Hack: stop somewhere along the way that the kids can get out and play (and get tired). Since we were doing the whole 4 hour drive home, it was imperative that we break the trip up for the very least to eat and feed the baby. But I figured we'd need some movement to keep our campers happy. This state park was about half way, so I made sure that when we packed up the hotel room, there was a lunch suitcase easily accessible (bread, lunchmeat/cheese, snacks, juice). The kids changed into bathing suits in the van and then we picnicked and swam for about an hour before heading back on the road. It was just the right amount of time to make everyone (especially Reddy) tired enough to doze off for the rest of the way home.
Stop #4: Home!
Distance: 2 hours
Life hack: get you some family that is good to you. I came home and immediately noticed someone had been at our house like little magical fairies while we were away. Our cousins, Tausha, Heather, and Albert had been there and while the girls cleaned and tidied up, Albert fixed our curtain rod and patched a few dents in the wall - ya know, things that you just tend to ignore because there a million other things that need done. Honestly, in tears walking through the house and even more so when I saw that dinner that night was covered too because there were walking taco supplies in the fridge. I love you guys so much - I don't know what I did deserve your never-ending thoughtfulness and kindness in my life but I'm so very grateful for you.
No Comments Yet, Leave Yours!