Making It Up As I Go: Summer Travel with Kids

This post and episode are brought to you by Palenque Grill. Palenque Grill at La Cantera now has an app!  With pickup and curbside now available, you can get your favorite dishes to-go, and enjoy them at home.  Plus, you’ll soon be able to earn points toward rewards with each purchase, through the app or in person!  The app is available to download now on the App Store or Google Play store.  

Now that we’re easing back into some summer travel, we’re pulling some posts from the archives about traveling with kids – the good, the bad, and the cringey! Whether you’re braving the airport and need some tips on traveling with babies on planes or you just want to drive a few hours out of town, we’ve got you covered!

We’ve updated and checked links and info as best as we can – but as is with everything the last year – please call and confirm all travel plans before you set off on an adventure!

In this episode:

Road Trip to the Caribbean: Texas State Aquarium

Bottom line: whether you make it a day trip or part of a trip to the coast, it’s all a must for marine life enthusiasts like my son, who can spend HOURS at Texas State Aquarium and still be sad when it’s time to go. Ticket information, directions, and details can be found here. Good to know: if you have a membership to the San Antonio Zoo, you can get two aquarium tickets for half-price.

Air Travel with Children: Your One-Way Ticket to Crazy Town

Flying is not fun. This is fact. Anyone who tells you otherwise is not your friend. Granted, there was a time when flying was considered fun—glamorous, even. But that time has passed. Yes, there may be times when you enjoy the relative solitude of sitting on a plane, the unfettered time you can use to just sit on your rear and catch up on all the episodes of [insert Netflix series here] that you missed last year. But by and large, the process of squeezing said rear into the little postage stamp that airlines try to pass off as an acceptable seat is unpleasant at best.

“Ma’am, There’s a Baby Under Your Seat”: Tips for Traveling with Littles

So there we were: February 16, 2015, on a midair flight from Chicago to San Francisco. We were headed on a fun couples weekend with friends, wine tasting in Carmel Valley, but would also use the opportunity to spend some time with my family. My oldest was almost 5, and my triplets were 17 months old. How bad could it be, right?

Get Away This Summer Without Leaving the Lone Star State: 7 Unique Destinations in Texas

I figure driving is less traumatic, as you can schedule the trip around nap times and no one else has to endure the occasional, but impressive, deafening wail coming out of the very same gap-toothed toddler that normally melts my heart. Therefore, my dear fellow mothers, and all those looking for a vacation close to home, I’ve created a list of places that might provide the escape you yearn for. Some may even make you feel like you’re in a different country—or at least a different state. Most of these are kid friendly, and the ones that are not will work great for a romantic summer getaway or friends weekend.

Looking for more summer activities and ways to keep the kiddos busy, while staying IN San Antonio? Check out:

The Ultimate San Antonio Summer Bucket List

Local Library Summer Reading Programs 2021: Hybrid Style

Summer Camps in San Antonio

 

Amanda
A fifth-generation San Antonionian - who happened to spend her formative years in Austin - Amanda loves the SAT from the confetti in her hair to the bluebonnets under her feet. Never one to miss a reason to host a party or decorate for a theme, Amanda revels in the 'mas Fiesta' attitude of the city. She's mom to Vivi (2012) aka #HurricaneVivi, Mac (2020) and wife to Francois, whom she met at Texas A&M (FTAC '05). She has a Masters in Early Childhood Education and a Doctorate in Making it Up As She Goes - which means she's a sometimes-fun-mom. You can find her on Instagram . She loves confetti, croissants, and a cold Ranch Water. Favorite Restaurant: Piatti's Favorite Landmark: Johnson Street footbridge in King William Favorite San Antonio Tradition: Fiesta Medals