Am I insane?

[rkold]

So my darling husband has offered to take me on a much needed vacation. I'm quite excited because we rarely go on trips together except to see his family and while I like his parents I don't find the Southwest particularly enthralling. I thought Zion was nice the first 2 or so times I visited it, but doing the same hikes there many years in a row

Comments

[reynardine]

I picked Hawaii because my folks took us there when I was 7 and it was the best vacation I ever had and I have always wanted to move there go back. Not sure how baby-friendly it was, but it sure had a lot of things for kids in elementary school to do. The Islands are Calling! It's not cheap, though.

From my experience, the beaches along the Gulf are usually a bit too cool during January/February for comfortable swimming--that may be just me, though. They are nice in March and April, though. Pensacola is my favorite, although I'm prejudiced as that is where my grandparents used to live and there are many happy memories there. But also a lot to do!

If it was just you and Kennis, I'd suggest New Orleans. GREAT FOOD (disclaimer: I love fish), it is warm and so many historical things to see. But I wouldn't say it was a baby-friendly place, and I haven't been there since 2004 (pre-Katrina), although my parents have gone there a few times lately and say it is starting to come back. Maybe when Adina is older, though?

[rkold]

Which Island(s) did you go to? I figure Hawaii is not that much less than staying at one of the fancy resorts at WDW, especially when you start including tickets to the parks.

The trip is going to be Jan/Feb because that is when Kennis has time to go. ^^;; We can't wait. And I suspect the water is not likely to warm to a temperature I would like until quite late since I really like my water quite warm. It's one reason I prefer pools and especially hot tubs (and onsen) I like my water very warm (like bathtub warm.)

Luck has given us this chance to take a trip and Adina needs to come with us since she is breastfeeding/nursing.

[reynardine]

We went to Oahu, Molokai, and the Big Island. Molokai was mainly pretty landscape and we only went because Dad had liked the place when he was stationed in Hawaii. Oahu was the touristy place and had a lot to do. We visited the Big Island to see volcano-related stuff, as my mom was a science teacher. At the time, Kilauea was still dormant and we were hiking in areas later overrun by lava. There are some black-sand beaches around that are very striking, but I can't remember the name of the one we went to.

(Mom would know, but my folks are on the road right now.)

Wherever ya'll decide to go, I'm sure you'll have a great time! It's wonderful that Kennis will be able to go with you!

[reynardine]

Oh, I should also mention that my family's vacations tended to be less relaxation and more rushing around to see as many places as could be fit in. (Which may explain why I'm such a homebody now! LOL)

I think others made a good point about a shorter plane ride being easier on a young baby. WDW may well be your best bet.

[lbmango]

I'd say South Carolina or FLA, somewhere on a beach

[rkold]

I'm actually not so much of a beach person except to walk along it and take pictures because I like my water super warm. I want to be somewhere with very warm water since that is what I like to soak in and sort of need to soak in to get rid of remaining aches and pains.

SC is also not going to be warm enough in Jan/Feb. >>;

[rkold]

Cancun doesn't make me think people with babies and we'd have to do rush passports for Kennis and Adina to go there.

Japan is cold but has lots of onsen to make up for the temperatures. :D I know Hakone was just lovely in Feb.

[reynardine]

I wouldn't recommend Mexico at the present time. It used to be a great place to vacation, but things aren't terribly stable there right now.

[wingedgoddess]

I voted both Hawaii and other. Other suggestion: a cruise, if you're up for it! You can do as much or as little as you like, and a lot of cruise liners are very kid-friendly. When my husband and I went on our cruise (the failed doll cruise -- we'd already paid off our tickets, so we decided to go anyway, whether the rest of the group canceled or not), we went on a Carnival cruise. They seemed very kid-friendly, with a lot of activities specifically for kids, though I'm not sure how *baby* friendly they are, specifically. That being said, I did see a few people with small babies. I've heard Disney cruises are even more child friendly. Might be worth checking into? ^___^

[rkold]

This is going to sound silly but cruise ships frighten me. I am a bit obsessed with shipping disasters and it makes me anxious about cruises, that and I was reading some scary things about the doctors on board should you get ill. I'm also a little anxious about motion sickness. We went whale watching a few years ago and my husband spent the majority of the trip puking.

But I admit I have thought about a Disney Cruise.

[sumeragiskank]

I am really not sure how baby friendly Hawaii is going to be and it is several long airplane trips. I say Disney is your best bet that is warm within the US while Adina is so small. And it's not like you don't like Disney, hehe.

[rkold]

Yeah, that is the problem with Hawaii, the plane trips. I could fly small local airport to Chicago, Chicago to Oahu and I think the only other island I really want to see is the Big Island. (I'm not up for Kauai hiking and Maui seems too honeymoon)

If I go to Disney, I might not actually go to the parks that much and just use their amazing pools and enjoy the fact I can take Adina to restaurants and not feel rude.