Family Vacation: Party of Two

"My son will never get to experience a family vacation."

Single parents often tell themselves various lies when they first transition to parenting alone. It's easy to convince oneself that their child might miss out on many "normal" experiences that other children get to enjoy. One lie I believed was that my son would never experience the joy of a big family vacation. I mourned the loss of road trips with packed coolers, races down hotel hallways, and the unique joy that only "room service" can bring. We live in a relatively wealthy area where travel is part of the culture. Weekend trips to Paris and Spring Break in Rome are considered normal here. This realization only deepened my disappointment when PJ's first February Break arrived, and I had nothing planned. At school, his classmates eagerly shared their excitement about upcoming trips to the Bahamas, Europe, and even Japan. Honestly, I don't think my son noticed, nor did it seem to bother him when teachers asked about his plans and he had no answer. But it bothered me.

Booked!

We didn't have passports and certainly couldn't afford an extravagant vacation. However, we did have a dented minivan and a Groupon. So, I decided to book a short getaway for PJ and I at "The Great Wolf Lodge" in Massachusetts. I felt nervous—could I manage a trip on my own? The luggage, the water park, the tantrums... But I was ready to challenge myself and we both deserved a vacay.

WE LOVED IT

I know many parents who would say a few nights at the Great Wolf Lodge is their biggest nightmare. PJ and I couldn't disagree more. Our first mini vacation together was a blast. We spent hours lounging in the hot tub and enjoying the lazy river. We played mini golf, ate ice cream, and even finished off our evening with pizza in bed in the hotel room. A little trip that may seem tiny and insignificant to some was actually a huge turning point for me in my single parenting journey. I can do this. This was fun. Even if it's just PJ and me for the rest of my life, what a beautiful and joy-filled life that will be.

Tips, Tricks, and suggestions

After this initial trip, PJ and I were hooked on traveling together. We have done day trips, weekend trips, week-long trips, road trips, flights, etc. In all our time vacationing together, I have picked up a few single-parent hacks along the way.

Road Trip Essentials

• Entertainment

  • iPad & Headphones- Child safe headphones can be found on Amazon. Check the "Mom Life- Must Haves" tab coming soon!

  • Books

  • Magic marker coloring pads

  • Hand held video games

  • Toys- Pack a few favorites for downtime in the hotel too.

• Blankets

• Trash bags

• Lysol Wipes or Baby Wipes

• Snacks- Be sure to load a cooler with your children's favorites and yours! Pack enough for the hotel room too.

  • $$$Budget Babe Tip: Pack Breakfast so you don't need to spend money.

  • Breakfast Ideas with NO mini fridge

    • Pouches

    • Pedialyte Shakes

    • Pop Tarts

    • Granola Bars

    • Bread with peanut butter/sun nut butter/cookie butter

    • Donuts

    • Bananas & Oranges

  • Breakfast Ideas with a mini fridge

    • Yogurt

    • Berries

    • Cream cheese and bagels

    • Milk and Cereal

Airplane Essentials

Many of these are the same as above. If you want to eat breakfast at the hotel, you can also use doordash, uber eats, or instacart and have your groceries delivered the same day you arrive.

• Stroller (age dependent)-will help with transporting your child, allow you to go through security early, board early, and hold carry ons.

• Gum or lollipops- Give to your child/children when the plane is both taking off and landing to ensure their ears don't pop from the pressure changes.

• Airtag with Pin- You can clip an airtag to your child's outfit for peace of mind. Check the "Mom Life- Must Haves" tab.

• Booster Seat (age dependent)-great for the airplane and rental cars.

Destination Suggestions

• The Great Wolf Lodge Resorts

  • Why it's great?

    • Affordable

    • Many locations around the US. Can most likely drive.

    • Great for one night or a weekend trip

    • Perfect for younger kids (3-10) There are a ton of activities and quiet hours so your little ones AND YOU can get sleep.

    • Amenities

      • Arcade

      • Indoor Water Park

      • Mini Golf

      • Ropes Course

      • Magic Quest

      • Virtual Reality

      • Multiple Restaurants on site

      • Build-A-Bear

      • Bowling Ally (found at some locations)

    • Activities

      • Morning Yoga

      • Bingo

      • Nightly Dance Parties

      • Nightly bedtime stories

      • Character Meet & Greets

• $$$Budget Babe Tip: Look at the deals tab on the website and consider booking packages. Some packages include unlimited bowling or mini golf and a meal plan! This will make it easier to budget your trip and save you money!

• Pro Tip: Remember this a vacation for YOU TOO! Make it feel relaxing and fun for yourself as well.

  • Bring a book to read once your child falls asleep

  • Have a cocktail or mocktail in the hotel room at the end of the day

  • Encourage your child to enjoy a few moments in the Hot Tub with you at the resort

  • Purchase a Magic Quest wand for both you and your child and join in the fun

  • Consider taking a pizza up to your hotel room and enjoy dinner in bed

  
  

• LEGOLAND

  • Why it's great?

    • Many locations around the US.

    • Affordable

    • Can be a day trip or an overnight stay

    • FUN! Tailor made for kids.

    • Family friendly rides and experiences in the theme park.

    • Hotel Amenities

      • Lego Themed Rooms (Choose from Ninja, Pirate, Kingdom or LEGO friends)

      • Lego Building Station in rooms

      • Free Breakfast

      • Walking distance from the park or free transportation

      • Restaurants and Bars on site

      • Play Areas

      • Pool (Seasonal)

    • Activities

      • Theme Park Parades and Shows

      • Nightly Entertainment

      • Lego Building Stations

      • Fire Pits for roasting s'mores

• $$$Budget Babe Tip: Shop around! Legoland often has deals on thier homepage for packages. You can also find discounted rooms at sites like Groupon.

• Pro Tip: Try to go on a weekday for lower prices and smaller lines.