A Family Trip to the Florida Keys
Last week, my 11-year-old Anton, his friend Nick, and I were very excited to take a little jaunt to the Florida Keys…
A while back, Alex suggested that we each take a boy for February break, so we could enjoy some one-on-one time. He took Toby to visit family, and Anton BEGGED to go to Florida.
We decided on the Florida Keys and, after obsessively researching hotels (would anyone want a post about choosing hotels? I’ve developed a multi-pronged strategy at this point, and I’d love to hear your methods), I landed on Coconut Palm Inn in Key Largo.
The tiny bayside hotel wasn’t too splurgy, even for a one-bedroom suite with a sofa bed, and came with so many free surprises and delights once we arrived: breakfast muffins left outside our door, morning coffee, kayaks, fishing gear, ping pong, giant Jenga, cornhole, pool toys, bikes, hammocks, sunset wine, s’mores… You’re not staying at a super fancy place — there’s no on-site restaurant, for example, or long beach to walk on — but I LOVE a small hotel that feels like home once you arrive, versus a resort that charges a million hidden fees. (Two nearby hotels that seem to have similar vibes are the Atlantic Bay Resort and the Caribbean Resort.)
Kayaks and paddleboats were kept near the water, so we could walk up and jump in anytime. We went on adventures around the bay, and Anton, Nick and I would keep saying, “This is the life, you guys! Can you believe this?”
The hotel scene felt like summer camp, and we befriended another family, who gave us a clever mnemonic device to remember their names. “Peanut butter and jelly sandwich,” the dad told me. “Since we’re Peter, Bonnie, Jacob, and Samuel.” How brilliant is that? Do you have one for your family? Makes me want to figure one out for the boys and me.
Other than swimming, riding bikes, and asking me if they could drink more Coke, the boys spent most of their days fishing. The hotel gave them frozen shrimp, rods, and hooks, and the other hotel guests offered pointers. I didn’t know anything about fishing, so I happily sat in one of the Adirondack chairs on the pier and read my book.
We stayed only two nights, since they were booked up after that, but we loved every minute.
After checking out, we drove an hour south to Marathon, Florida, to our second hotel. En route, we stopped at Aquarium Encounters…
…where we could pet a baby alligator…
…and feed tortoises, stingrays, and tarpon. Don’t you love the patterns on tortoises? They look like works of art (sort of like Serena Mitnik-Miller’s paintings).
Later that afternoon, we checked into Isla Bella for our last two nights. It was fancier — with five pools and daily activities, like bingo and trivia — but I’m not sure I’d recommend it because a) you get charged lots of extras (resort fees, overnight parking fees, etc.) and b) we got a smaller room than the one we’d booked, but whenever I called the front desk or stopped by, they’d tell me the manager was out or on an important phone call.
I felt a little like this guy, haha.
But of course it was fine (I just gave up), and the beach was beautiful…
The boys played football in the pool for HOURS. We met a family from Dublin, and I loved the mom’s phrasing when she told me, “Your lads are good fun.”
Most important, on the drive back to the airport, we went through a drive-thru and found the world’s longest French fry!!! The whole trip was so much fun. I wasn’t sure if traveling solo with two 11-year-olds would be exhausting, but they’re such a great age and often played together in the pool while I read and kept an eye on them. They also still wanted to hang out with me a lot of the time, which I appreciated, and laughed at my dumb jokes (or at least said “lol,” pronounced “lohl”). Thank you, Florida — we were grateful for a blast of sunshine during this long winter!
What about you? Have you been to the Florida Keys? What vacation spots do you like or daydream about? I’d love to hear…
P.S. The weirdest best part of trips, more family vacation ideas, what’s your #1 travel tip?
Comments
177 commentsI grew up vacationing in Key West, which my parents fell in love with early in their relationship. They relocated there once my youngest sibling was out of the house. They are so happy living there, and it is just a blast to visit. Getting there from where I live now makes for a long travel day given my kids’ ages, so I hadn’t taken them until a couple of weeks ago. It was a wonderful trip! My kids loved the pool, the beach, the playgrounds and splash pad, the little aquarium, and all the walking we did (I find parking to be such a pain that a car is worth avoiding). My parents took us to El Siboney, literally one of my favorite restaurants in the world (nothing fancy the food is just SO GOOD, and the Hurricane Hole, which is a consistently underrated joint on the nearby Stock Island, and has installed the coolest pirate ship playground since I was there as a kid. Can’t wait til my toddlers are older so that I can take them out on one of the catamaran tours or kayaking in the mangroves. For being a tiny little island, it’s kind of surprising that you just never run out of amazing things to do.
I am sitting in my balcony eating key lime pie overlooking Duval St in Key West right now! We stayed at the Drift Hotel in Key Largo for one night and it was lovely – a small beach and a manatee came right up to the dock! Today we went to the Turtle Hospital and it was awesome! We paired this with trips to the 3 national parks in FL and have had a lovely time!
So glad you are reading Eleanor Oliphant. I have a hard copy, the audio, and an E.O. themed-tote bag! My whole family has adored it, and I often circle back to read or listen to it when I’m between books.
The keys are so special, Joanna! I’m glad you got to visit them! My husband’s family goes back five generations on the island of Key West – we go often, though not as often as we like. The feeling when you get off the mainland and on to Key Largo… you can absolutely feel the shift. The Florida keys are such a stunning drive: I can’t think of another place in the world where you can see the Atlantic Ocean out of one car window and the Gulf of Mexico (ahem!) out the other. It’s a four hour drive from Miami – a time commitment for sure – but totally worth it.
What I love about Key West is you can be anyone and everyone, there are ZERO pretenses. Stress free packing – bathing suits, cutoffs, cover-ups. Kids do love it there too and there’s plenty of activities. They will like being on Duval street, or riding bikes around town, or the pool, or water sports, etc etc. If you have young kids, you don’t need to stress about them running around a restaurant/being loud. It’s really fun, relaxed, and vibrant. Eat at Blue Heaven (sit outside with live music, roosters running around) Salute (on the beach, it’s a vibe), Half Shell Raw Bar, etc. Try the key lime pie. If you do want to spend $$$ and feel secluded you can go stay on Sunset Key (or just book a meal there – books up far in advance but you boat over and eat on an island).
I generally use Booking.com. I identify my location, put all my filters on (mainly price and 8+ rating) and then use the map view to see which ones make the most sense to me. Once I have a shortlist I check the reviews on TripAdvisor (usually negative) and also Google (usually more balanced) to make sure the Booking.com ones haven’t skewed too optimistically! Then I price compare against Expedia, Trivago and also booking with the hotel direct. I love looking for hotels / holidays. My partner prefers to be kept in the dark a bit and trusts me not to choose a dud, which I haven’t yet!
I just booked our trip to the keys! I’m a Floridian so it’s still a 4-Hour drive to Key West and it feels like a real vacation. I chose a hotel based on all the amenities that I wanted, clicked on my price range and hoped for the best! I’m going to be at a resort right near Mallory Square which will be great for my birthday celebration. When booking our vacation to Provence this summer I had a quick chat with the owner of a small bed and breakfast that I booked and picked her brain about what to do and see in her opinion. People love to show off where they’re from and let you know all the insider scoop. Hopefully we have a great time. I feel like someday we’ll get back to travel agents, remember those? In this day and age of too much information. I think it would be nice to get back to professional advice rather than a thousand million conflicting reviews. Maybe a hybrid?
Re: choosing hotels! 1) We use trip advisor and it never stears us wrong 2) I recently learned that airbnbs can be really harmful to locals, especially in smaller cities and hot tourist destinations because they take over and increase rental and property prices, driving locals out. Like in Venice, etc. so now I always book a hotel. 3) I look for good amenities and a good concierge! We stayed at a place recently in Paris that had a free sauna and the conceive had a WhatsApp. I messaged at lunch “can you find us a great French dinner at 7pm?” And she sent us a reservation within a few minutes! 4) always pack slippers. Lol
A couple Christmases ago I got lazy writing out our names on gift tags so I shortened it to our initials: S.A.D. Not the most cheerful but the extended family has gotten used to receiving gifts from SAD!
what a blast! so glad you guys got to enjoy the sunshine in the middle of bleak February.
This is so inspiring for a quick bit of sunshine and warmth. I would book these spots in a second (Canadian winter omg when will it end) but I can’t go to America right now. Or anytime for at least 4 years. Please, let it just be 4 years.
Amen to that Justine. Please, please let it be just 4 years.
It was through the comments section on a travel inspired CoJ post that I landed on taking my two boys (ages 13 and 7) on a magical road trip from Toronto to tiny Waitsfield Vermont last summer. Tucked just outside of Burlington, this was a trip that did not disappoint on any level as our only daily goals were eating ice cream and finding swimming holes. The best one bring Warren Falls which my youngest described as “nature’s water park.” We could have spent all summer at that hole. Needless to say, heart all the CoJ travel posts because the comment section has all the hot tips.
Yes! I need hotel tips! It’s overwhelming!
Trip advisor all the way!
Yes please!!! Tell us how you find all these amazing places to stay!! Give us the dirty deets! Is it number of reviews? What do you look for in reviews? What do you avoid when you see in a review? Is it pictures? Do you cross reference google/another site? Thank you!!!
My husband and I just brought our 3 little girls (ages 6, 3, and 1) on a family vacation for the first time. I’ve been really nervous to travel with them, but the need to escape the winter doldrums/virus parade finally beat out my anxiety. We spent 4 nights at a super commercial resort in Ft. Lauderdale which is really not our style but I wanted it to be as easy and kid friendly as possible. The trip went exactly as well as I expected it to, which is to say some parts sucked a lot (hello, delayed flight and midnight airport navigation with 3 exhausted children and 10 bags), and some parts were really awesome. Now I feel like I have ripped the band aid off and can start thinking about future travel, so I’d love to hear about your hotel selection process, especially as it relates to family travel!
Wait a second… are you people not saying “lohl”? Are you all out here haha-ing or el-oh-elling? I’m forty and say (out loud) “lohl” and have for years. 40 going on 11 I guess. lol.
37 yo here: have always said ‘lohl’ (unless for extra emphasis, and to convey both sincerity and shock at what they’ve told me, then “L. O. L” in the manner of oh. my. god!)
I’m 35 and my friends and I have also always said “lohl”. Is this regional?! What is everyone else saying?!
Are you from England? I find English people say lohl. I don’t really say l-o-l. I just actually laugh in person haha. I might say it sarcastically once a year.
I might say it once in a blue moon, but I usually just laugh or smile.. lol ;)
Joanna, you and your boys could be Toast And Jam :) ♥️
Love this!
OHEMGEEEEE really enjoyed tagging along your trip, thanks for sharing and def the hotel pointers please :)
What a beautiful trip! Do you mind sharing where your grey t shirt and white t shirt are from? They seem like just what I’ve been looking for! Sorry if you’ve shared already :)
Joanna, the first hotel sounds great and it look like you all had a great time. Seriously bad service on the manager’s side. I’ve written my share of “ informative” or “ constructive criticism “ emails to mostly restaurant managers. I was a concierge over 20 years and often was invited places and asked to give feedback. I still do it even though I’ve left the industry. I’m always polite and gracious, but truthful. I’ve been invited back many times for a complimentary meal or stay ( to make it right). I firmly believe that you give the business a second chance. If they still disappoint you , you are free to spread the word. I recently had a “ do over “ at Canyon Ranch in Lennox for my sister’s birthday. Spend your money elsewhere, not worth it. Please let them know, it is not okay to not get what you payed for.
yes, couldn’t agree more. I’m always super calm and patient and understanding and polite if there’s an issue, but you should at least be able to TALK to someone and hear the reasoning or get a make-good. so bizarre to just be ghosted!
My husband and I moved and taught there for 4 years…how fun to hear about your adventures in our neck of the woods! Thanks for sharing.
Love this post so much! It gives me all the good feels – thanks for sharing Jo! What a special treat that you were able to take Anton and a friend and get some time with them. Some of the trips my parents let me bring a friend, or I went with a friends families, are so cherished to me. When I look back I realize it really gave me the foundation to build friendships and better relationships with my friends’ parents! (and also get to observe different family dynamics etc.) Such a gift!
Looks like you all had a great time – what lovely places! I think Florida has the best beaches. I vote yes for a hotel-choosing post, especially after I mistakenly booked a no-tell motel for a Colorado vacation [luckily a nice cab driver clued me in and helped me find other accommodation!)
A hotel post would be most welcome! I’ve had the pleasure of two trips to the Keys in the last two years. I went to Key West last year. It was quaint with a dash of Mardi Gras – shoulder to shoulder, loud crowds on the strip in the evenings. That was offset by good food and pie! Recently I went to Islamorada and stayed at a resort. Lovely ammenities for a weekend girls trip and the weather was divine! As far as I can tell there’s not really a town in that area – it’s a stretch of Highway 1 with restaurants and hotels. I wonder if there is a cute town in Keys, beside Key West?
My husband calls out boys the Neapolitan mafia because they have brown, blond and red hair
I would love to have a mnemonic device, but our initials are SVAAHS and I got nothin. Anyone creative?
Summer vibes are always highly special
Add a few more letters, and you could have the yoga pose shavasana.
Omg George. Do me next! MMBA. You’re great at this!
“Some vicious animals are here somewhere”
HAV-ASS. Easy.
Excellent :) any ideas for SHLS?
slap happy lucky sailors shit hyped lowlife scum sorry have lice shingles
@mollie… Most men breathe annoyingly…haha
@Helen – seriously hot lamb samosas!
Haha, love it – thanks George!
Would LOVE a post on choosing lodging. I instantly get overwhelmed with all of the choices and internal need to find the cutest/best one within our budget.
+1!!
yes +2!
Yes!
I too want to know Jo’s method – I spend an embarrassing amount of time deciding on a hotel, it involves STEPS and Google maps, magazine articles, TripAdvisor, pointless convos with partner/child, so many separate Booking.com windows (why does it do that?) etc. and though it’s always worked for me I’d love to know if someone is doing all that more efficiently. Because I bet they are!
Your trip sounds so lovely and relaxing and fun! I’d love a hotel-picking post. I’m obsessed with travel planning, but sometimes I get too invested in all the details + trying to make the perfect trip that I have a hard time deciding on the hotels and get lost in comparisons.
Same! And sometimes by the time I make a decision, some of the options are already booked.
So fun! 11 is the best. For my daughter’s 11th bday she was desperate to go to a big concert so I got her and me tickets to see Olivia Rodrigo in Montreal (with Chappell Roan as the opening act right before she struck it huge. What luck!! Word to the wise never skip the opening act). It was such a fun trip—croissants and hot chocolate for breakfast the next morning and a visit to the musee de beaux-arts to check out the Georgia O’Keefe exhibit. And then a swing through ikea where she’d never been because there are none where we live. The best trip with the best travel companion!
This sounds like absolute heaven, top to bottom. ✨
Yes to a post on choosing a hotel! We’re summer vacation planning and I am so overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices for everything! Where to go, where to stay, how to get there, how long to stay!
Most importantly, do Anton and his friend have on matching travel sweats in that last pic?!?! #friendshipgoals
made me scroll up and just smile. i agree, #friendshipgoals
My family is GWEN: which is also my moms first name and she never realized it. Gwen, Wayne, Eric, Nikki.
I’m not sure where the discussion about the economic blackout is more active, so I wanted to make a comment here, too! Does that mean COJ won’t post affiliate links on Friday? Also, I agree with other commenters who said it won’t work if we buy stuff ahead of time or make exceptions for necessities (especially because what does that mean? I “need” so many things 😅), and it will work best if we treat it as a catalyst for changing our consumption habits altogether! Support your local co-ops, farmers’ market, thrift stores, and small businesses! Look up companies on Goods United so you know what you’re funding. Switch to a credit union! We are bigger than billionaires!
I’m really hoping that we can start shifting the over-consumption culture so prevalent here in the US. We don’t NEED everything. Live with less!
Yes!! All good ideas.
I would love to see either a total blackout here on CoJ or in perhaps instead of links to Amazon or bigger companies linking to women, minority and BIPOC- led small businesses. My family will be participating in the blackout 💙
Thank you for raising this!!
Would really like to have a discussion about all the affiliate links- there has to be a better way.
I would love a post on your hotel choosing method. Also curious whether, after your post, the manager at Isla Bella managed to call you and talk about your smaller room??
Haha not yet! You guys I’m starting to wonder: DOES THE MANAGER EVEN EXIST
@Joanna- made me laugh, and may be a plot for a good mystery.
or….the front desk person you were talking to WAS the manager THE WHOLE TIME! bwhahahaha!
Yes- please post tips on choosing a hotel. Thank you!
I totally agree—I’d love a post on choosing hotels!
Joanna, I can’t believe you took your son’s friend on vacation with you! YOU are good fun. Looks like you guys had a blast. I’m freezing my ass off and so jealous.
You’ve inspired me to book a solo city trip with my 9-year-old! So looking forward to it!
Ohh this all looks so lovely! So happy you, Anton and Nick (this would have been JAN!) had a great time, and I’m currently dreaming about a sunny warm getaway (Germany in late February is usually not pleasant, although we had a spring-y weekend which I’m so greatful for!) Taking one kid per parent for a trip sounds so smart, divorced or not! I’ll tuck this away in my little “CoJ parenting tips” book for later. My husband and I are both avid travellers or were until first baby came and responsibilities and duties started raining down on us.
Florida looked amazing! Anton and his friend look so sweet. :) thanks so much for sharing! Also – if you’re looking for ideas for future posts – would love to hear your take on getting your kids smart phones! i’m about to have a baby soon and just thinking about child-raising in general. One thing my hubs and I have talked about is how much tougher it must be for teens these days to grow up with social media, unlike for us when FB was just coming out in high school… and of course we keep hearing about those scary stats of teenage depression, bullying, etc due to social media. Do you guys set rules for Anton and Toby? Limit time on them? Have parenting apps installed? Anyway, just thought it’d be an interesting topic I’d like to hear your take on, and also this smart and thoughtful community’s take on, as well. thanks!
Anything on smart phones that is current now, will hopefully change for the best by the time your baby is that age. My oldest is 18, and youngest is 10 and I’m seeing a great change in how smart phones are approached, just in that eight year span. It’s like the parent of a baby trying to figure out how to navigate the college application process now. Things are changing really rapidly, and it seems to me that things are changing for the best. So, focus on your sweet baby for now, you’ll have plenty to keep you busy for awhile. Congratulations!
I put a comment up about this on one of the gift ideas lists in December and got lots of comments. We did end up getting my 12 year old a phone for his birthday (right after Christmas). It’s been almost 2 months and… it’s been surprisingly great. I followed the apple directions for setting up the limitations. This was helpful for me because I am dumb when it comes to technology. Will my son eventually crack these? Maybe? Probably? But right now he doesn’t seem that interested in getting around the limitations because he has access to what he mostly wanted: texting, phone calls, his libby app so he can listen to audiobooks whenever he wants; and NYT games. – He sends me and his dad funny texts when he’s out. This has been an absolute delight. – He complains less about leaving the house b/c he has less FOMO. If his friends are hanging out he’ll get a text about it, and it’s helped us facilitate his meeting up with them. – He challenges me to NYT games competitions. This has also been a huge joy. – We gave him a list of some pretty stern rules and so far he’s followed them. The phone doesn’t work between 8pm-8am, although I’ve permitted libby to keep functioning b/c he falls asleep listening to an audiobook.
I’m not a parent so please take this comment with a BIG grain of salt. I’m a ninth-grade teacher and friends with many educators in my community of younger kids. The phone usage is terrifying and has made my husband and I decide to not give them to our kids until they are seniors in high school. Will they be left out of things? Probably! Will they hate us for it? Probably! But I have seen ALL kids, of all ages, be extremely addicted to their phones. Obviously, there are ways to have phones and have strict rules on them, but kids are sooo smart and can sneak out of all your rules. I know a parent who was so on top of everything with her daughter’s phone (app restrictions, time limits, etc.) and her daughter *still* ended up in a crazy school situation where nude photos were exchanged. Just a random example but kids can get around all of our rules! My nieces/nephews all have smart phones, and their parents have strict time limits on them. Even so, those kiddos would rather “play” on the settings app, or go on NYTimes for an hour rather than do something else because it’s still considered time on their phones. It’s a problem. I have a *very* harsh stance on it (I know!), but all I see every day are kids not talking to each other at lunch because they have their heads hunched down, staring at the screen. It scares me. It varies from school to school, but it is something ALL my educator friends are talking about across the board — public, private, elementary, high school, etc. Be careful.
Enjoy that baby and I hope you’re feeling great! Tweens are not mature enough to handle it, and we had to deal with cyberbulling, so I’d say 14-15 is the best age. Remember you are their parent not their friend.
I would love to see a post about this! There is a whole “wait until 8th” movement encouraging parents to wait until 8th grade and you can find resources about that online, but my 8th grader does not have a smart phone yet. If I could go back and tell my new parent self anything it would be to keep your kid off devices as much as possible. We were those parents that followed the rules about no TV until 2 or whatever age that was. Then the devices started creeping in. We’d let him look at our phone at a restaurant. He found Youtube. Then things went off the rails during COVID in terms of screentime. It is a constant battle now. One of the reasons we haven’t gotten him a smartphone is that he is autistic and still working on developing social skills. When there is downtime at school/activities we don’t want him to pick up his phone. But unfortunately that is what his peers are doing so maybe we just have to accept the new normal? FWIW we got him a GABB wireless phone that is basically an android phone that looks like a smart phone. He can call and text, just no internet or apps.
Great idea! This is so difficult. So much is permissible but not everything is beneficial, and we stand by that with our kids. TBH, if you get your young people a phone, they deal with cyber bullying, addiction, etc. A friendly reminder, the current average age that a child is exposed to explicit content is 7 and it usually happens on a device shared by a trusted person. If you don’t get your child a phone, they’ll likely be teased for not having one because having a phone is “normal.” Your child will be left out, they will have FOMO, and with love and guidance they will develop fortitude. I’m reminded that the beautiful library lions at the entrance to the New York Public Library are named Patience and Fortitude. Growing in education, wisdom, discernment, and understanding requires these. None of us grow up well as addicted persons. Smart phones are a “not yet” in our home and we plan to wait till they’re 18. We have a little flip phone to take out when needed. “Because we love you, we won’t give you things that hurt you. I know that feels hard. We love you and we’ll get through it together.”
We got our 6th grade son an (older model, open box) Apple Watch. Someday we’ll connect it to a phone plan so he can call us in an emergency etc. So far it doesn’t do much thanks to all the restrictions we can create with Apple – he can’t use it between 8:30-2:30 on school days except to check the time, etc. We do find it useful that he sets alarms and timers for his own responsibilities, and he feels like he’s not completely left out of the smartphone world with his peers. He can text with the contacts that we’ve approved (friends, family). One downside is he can’t take photos with it, and no – a digital camera is not the same as a smartphone so I don’t really consider it a suitable replacement :) He’s always loved tech more than his older sister, so this scratches the itch for him while giving us some baby steps to graduate through (first the watch, then add a plan, then an older iPhone with a lot of parental restrictions, etc). His older sister finally just got the Safari app on her phone, but it only accesses pre-approved websites – craftsy for knit/crochet patterns, etc). For “unapproved” websites, she can use the family computer anytime, or ask us to enter the parent code to allow the site to open up. She does have Pinterest (which her friends aren’t on) but it does have dubious info and content on it so we’re using it to help her learn to gauge what’s (un)reliable info. Some wins and losses there, but that’s part of learning and growing.
I would love to see a post on this topic! There are some great thoughts in this comment thread. I am a fourth grade teacher and agree with Lauren about educators being very concerned. My own children are 8 and 10. They do not have phones (or other devices like iPads). I see no benefit to adding more screen time to my own kids’ (or students’) lives. I even severely limit computer time in my classroom because I want my students talking, working together, turning pages in books and writing with a pencil! Most have more than enough time isolated on devices at home, unfortunately. I also do an SEL unit on screen time/social media and talk with students about online safety, digital citizenship, and how to be sure they are balanced people in regards to time spent on devices and other activities. Only once have I had a student say they have had these types of conversations at home already. We have not decided when our own kids will have cell phones, but we are in no hurry. I would love to hear more about what is working for other families.
Highly recommend “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt . . .
A counterpoint to some of these comments about choosing when to get your kids a phone: if your kid struggles a bit socially, I would recommend getting them a phone as soon as their closest friends get them. Way back in the early 00s I was completely pushed out of my friend group in the 9th grade when all of my friends had cell phones, and I missed out on all of the plans being set up and the inside jokes. I felt completely isolated. My sister didn’t struggle with this and initially chose to wait to get her daughters phones, and one of them experienced exactly what I did 20 years later. I chose to get my daughters phones as soon as I saw their friends getting them. If you have concerns, I would suggest talking about it with their friends’ parents to see if you can come to an agreement. I wouldn’t do it purely on what seems reasonable to you. Phones are a huge part of kids’ social lives, and being left out can have a big impact on some kids.
I’ve been requesting a post on this topic here for a couple years now! I’m an educator and also a parent of tweens. We decided to get our oldest a Gabb phone for middle school. Calls and texts but no internet or apps or social media. Looks like a smart phone. It’s been fantastic for his independence and also he still begs for a smart phone and I’m still happy to say no – Not worth the risks. Lots of different families make different choices here! I wish that book The Anxious Generation addressed the socio-economic/racial disparities on this issue – We saw in our community that wealthier families (more likely to be white where we live) had the privilege of waiting longer before giving kids phones because they were more likely to live in a walkable area, have a parent or babysitter present at school pickup, and have more tech available in the home, whereas communities with less wealth (likely to be immigrant communities where we live) often needed to get their kid a phone at a younger age because it’s so helpful for safety for a fairly young kid getting across town independently, caring for younger siblings, etc. While I find lots of problems with tech for kids and teens, especially social media, I also don’t want to shame anyone for making a different choice for their family. We remind our kids that phones are a tool, not a toy, and kids get them at different ages not just because of family values or access but also because families have different needs at different times!
If you can get other parents in your kids friend group to agree, hold out with the standalone Apple Watch phone account as long as you can (in 2021 the standalone watch number was $10/month). My younger daughter and her friends got them in 6th grade and they could text or phone each other to make plans, and we could track them or reach them when we needed to, but the texting wasn’t easy enough to do instead of in-person interaction, and they weren’t going to scroll Instagram or watch TikTok on their watches. They had the best, silliest, most energetic sleepovers and self-planned adventures! In 8th grade the other parents started getting them phones, and my daughter was the last in her group by a couple of weeks. I picked her up from a birthday lunch to go get her phone, and she was sad on the way because when they were done eating, all the other girls stopped talking and started looking at their phones. It was the end of an era!
Joanna, I have a Florida romance book to recommend you to keep the vibe going!! Second chances in New Port Stephen. A divorced dad falls for his former best friend, post-transition, newly sober, who has just moved in with his parents in their hometown. TJ Alexander writes such incredible characters and it captured small town life so well. My library had it! I put it off way too long because I thought it was a Christmas book, but the Christmas thing is incidental. I’m about to reread it! https://www.amazon.com/Second-Chances-New-Port-Stephen/dp/166802196X
Ooh how fun thank you!
Choosing group vacation accommodation is so hard! I bit my tongue when my mother in law booked a kind of crummy looking air bnb for our trip last week but after the first night we all agreed it was so bad we had to switch. I chose the next place and it was like a bachelor pad but much better! Can be tough to please everyone but everyone appreciates somewhere that’s clean and has enough bathrooms.
I think the pickiest person should choose. The two places my husband has booked in our many years together were terrible. I don’t harp on it (the terribleness was evident to everyone), but I am now the one to book accommodations. I look through photos, read all reviews and also look for a place near a green area. That hard work pays off.
My husband and I stayed at the Coconut Palm Inn a few years ago before heading to a wedding in Miami. We were equally charmed. Vibes > bougieness.
Ahhh, I did a south Florida trip with my then-8th grader and her 7th grade BFF in February 2020 (it was definitely the end of the Before Times). We spent a few days in an Airbnb in South Beach — the highlight was definitely getting day passes to a fancy hotel with pools via ResortPass. Then we drove down for smoothies and amazing produce in Homestead and the most amazing 1-mile paved loop in Everglades National Park. We stayed at Hawks Cay Resort in Duck Key for a couple nights—spendy but fun, including a swim with dolphins and lots and lots of time for the girls to do pool handstands while I read a novel and sipped on a ridiculously overpriced mojito.
Hotels are such luck of the draw – even from one stay to another. We actually just got back from a weekend at Harry’s Guest House in Seattle, which I booked because it sounded so nice in Joanna’s post last year. But the people staying upstairs were SO loud, I couldn’t relax at all. At one point I could literally hear them bellowing about the best psychedelic mushroom chaser (apparently it’s kids applesauce pouches, in case anyone is curious)
Oh my gosh I’m so sorry!! We booked the whole house for our group so we didn’t have that problem but ugh that sounds terrible, I would have hated that. I’m so sorry that happened Xoxo
As a PNW resident, someplace sunny and warm looks delightful about now! ( Though Florida and Texas politics prevent me from going to either place) ….I love finding smaller, off the beaten path places! We stayed in a borrowed house last month on the Washington coast.in Westport..the weather was sunny and cold…and we spent hours just staring at the waves, taking it all in! Bend, Oregon is a great place for families…lots of outdoors activities, no matter the season!
I love Westport ! Half Moon Bay is so gorgeous. When my husband and I went there for a day, we were the only ones on the beach. It was mid summer. Our area was having a little bit of a heat wave for a few days. So we went and sat at the bay there for the day. So pretty. Can’t wait to go back.
Should people boycott the Pacific Northwest because of their president?
I’m lol-ing at “lohl” haha! Loved this recap!!! Would def love a hotel hunting post
My dad traveled all over the world for work when I was a child and he had an amazing tradition of opening up his planner and letting each child pick a trip to join him on. Looking back, it was amazing that his travel hosts always welcomed a child, even as young as 5 years old. I’ll always treasure those memories.
Years ago, my now-husband (then partner) and I were at a restaurant in Melbourne, Australia that had a sign on every table informing us that the largest fry (or chip) in a portion was called the “loomster”. I usually have a terrible memory but for whatever reason “loomster” is seared in my brain – to this day, we cannot eat a portion of fries together without one of us observing the loomster on the plate.
Joanna’s trip, and many of these comments are so lovely that I’m almost wishing we’d remembered to have children! If you wanted to go somewhere for a few days next month, to just sit outside in a nice hot tub (or hot spring) and look for the northern lights, where would you go? Ideally in the eastern US or Canada —it seems silly to go all the way to Iceland or Scandinavia when all we really, truly want is to soak in hot water under the stars and ignore the news. We have cooked ourselves for vast amounts of time over the years at our favorite inn Down East, but it’s never quite dark enough, and the hot tub is closed until May. If anyone knows a place, I’d be most grateful. Thank you!
I haven’t been here before but have been eyeing this place up: https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/homestead-virginia/wellness/warm-springs-pools. It is easily accessible in Virginia and has loads of good reviews online!
If you are open to Ontario, Canada try Collingwood or Prince Edward County or Niagara-on-the-Lake.
How about Hot Springs, NC? There are natural hot springs and it’s really beautiful in the blue ridge mountains.
Another Sue from Ontario :) If you’re heading up to us, I would recommend Collingwood. Northern lights consistently visible in season there and Niagara will be too bright. The Scandinav spa in Collingwood is wonderful!
This was such a lovely post. I’m glad you and the boys had such a nice time. Thank you for sharing with us!
My hometown!!! This made me so happy to see. So glad you loved our little island chain. Any other Keys Kids that are also Cup of Jo readers?
This looks so fun!! And what a beautiful place!
Most people that visit the Florida Keys will take a day trip to Key West, if they aren’t staying there already. When they get there and see all there is to do with kids, they will always tell me, “we should have just booked Key West instead”. I own an ice cream shop in Key West and I hear this all the time. People think that Key West is for adults. Well that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Perhaps decades ago, when the island wasn’t so tame, that was likely the case. But these days, it’s all about families. There is so much more to do here than any other island in the keys. Stay in Key West to avoid disappointment.
This is a great tip, thanks! Wish I were at your ice cream parlor right now!
What is the name of your ice cream shop?
She’s in her denim skirt! She’s feeling good!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
What’s up with Anton’s cross?! Please tell us more! As a non-religious family from VERY religious roots, we are interested in how this feels for you!
I’ll ask him if he’d like to share more about his faith journey xoxo
same
Oh I could use the COJ hive mind! My parents offered to watch our three kids so my husband and I can take our first no-kids trip in three years (!!!) this April. Where should we go?! Parameters: 4 days, <5 hour drive or direct flight from CLT, fun outdoor activities (ideally some beautiful hikes)
Maybe Shenandoah national park for some beautiful hikes, or Myrtle Beach for the ocean?
I would recommend Nashville and/or Gatlinburg. I dont know what the drive is from you, but SUPER fun! The Country Music Hall of Fame was amazing and the place never stops!
Charlottesville sounds like it would fit the bill! my husband and I also took a child-free trip a few years ago to Primland Resort (in south-central Virginia), which was a bit of a splurge to us, but was a really lovely balance of restful and active.
Ashville
I love Savannah! I feel like it’s always a good choice. Also, as an Atlantan, spring is beautiful here. Plus, it’s festival season, which is always fun (Dogwood Festival and Inman Park Festival are both in April). We also have some spectacular hiking trails both in and around the city. The Beltline is also a perfect place to walk/be outdoors with lots of fun things to see, do and eat along the way.
I’d love some reader recommendations! My family and I are going on a major roadtrip this summer from NYC to Philly, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Louisville and Lexington KY, Fayetteville WV, Shenandoah region in VA, and Baltimore. I pretty much have my Philly and Pittsburgh itinerary solid but I’d love recommendations for restaurants, bookstores, coffeeshops, ice cream shops, doughnuts, any hidden gems unique to the rest of the cities mentioned I have recs but I’d love to squeeze in as much as I can. We are hitting all the national parks in these states, amusement parks and baseball stadiums. I’ll have my husband and my 5 and 6 year old. Thanks so much for any input!
Cincinnati: two not-to-miss ice cream stops are Aglamesis Brothers and Graeter’s. Go to both! Also, Skyline Chili is a fast food Cincinnati beloved staple. The Reds have a nice museum/Hall of Fame as well that is a worthy stop. King Arthur’s Court is a super fun local toy shop, and Joseph Beth books is fun to peruse, and has a nice cafe. Have fun!
I used to live in Indy and would recommend Tomorrow Bookstore! It’s on a cute street, next to a chocolate shop, and near a beautiful restored art deco coca cola bottling plant. It’s also close to a regional Cajun chain called Yatz that is pretty kid friendly. I would then walk a few blocks down(stopping at whatever stores you like) and get coffee (the pistachio latte) and/or other treats at Coat Check coffee. I would also check out the shops at the Stutz, which includes a very aesthetic tho slightly pricey plant store. It also used to be a car factory so has some beautiful old cars that might be for the kids. Not sure how long you will have but the childrens museum is also pretty good. As an aside, if you have time for a one day detour in nature, about an hour from Indy is Turkey Run, one of the best state parks in the Midwest. It has fun trails (some with ladders or in creeks at the bottom of gorges!) and it has an a traditional lodge if camping isn’t your thing. Going there growing up was always a treat and felt like a real adventure for a no-mountain Michigander. Yes you should go to all the national parks, but wanted to put a plug in for this amazing state park!
If you end up driving through Columbus on your way between Cincinnati and Cleveland, I recommend a stop at the Book Loft of German Village in Columbus.
The Louisville Slugger Museum sounds like a great option for your group. I enjoyed it and I don’t even like sports:) For a coffee stop, Sunergos or Quills are great places in Louisville. Cherokee Park close to downtown is a beautiful green space gem designed by Frederick Law Olmstead and is surrounded by beautiful old homes. In Lexington, you might want to visit Joseph-Beth bookstore which is huge but independently owned. Old School Coffee on Mill Street in Lexington is housed in a renovated old school (surprise!) so is very cool and has great coffee
Cleveland is actually a ton of fun! Visit Edgewater park or any of the Metroparks. The Cleveland Museum of Art is an amazing, world class art museum – and it is free. For ice cream you absolutely cannot beat Mitchell’s which has several locations in the area. One location is right next to the West Side Market, a really nice indoor market with food/produce/baked goods stalls. Loganberry Books is the best bookstore in town. For coffee: Rising Star and Phoenix have several locations and are excellent.
oooh Clevelander here!! we have the most amazing park system if you and your family are hikers. loganberry books is an amazing and charming bookstore that i highly recommend. you HAVE to go to mitchell’s ice cream (mint chocolate chunk is my fave). my kids (6 and 9) love edgewater beach. the cleveland botanical garden is so wonderful and has a GREAT kids area outside that is so, so fun.
My husband is from Baltimore, it’s a great town. The Walters Art Museum is wonderful and there’s a bookstore not far from there, Charm City Books. If you happen upon an outdoor festival and they’re selling lemon sticks, try one, it’s crazy (it’s a halved lemon with a peppermint stick shoved in). Miss Shirley’s Cafe has a huge menu and great breakfast. Have fun in Philly!! There’s so much to do here in the summer :)
Thank you all for sharing your recommendations with me, I knew CoJ readers would come through! Julie, I’m reading a book called Charm City Rocks that takes place in Fells Point. It has me dying to catch an Orioles game!
Hello from Baltimore! I have a 5 and 8 year old and my recommendations are… 1. Miss Shirley’s is a favorite breakfast spot 2. The Inner Harbor is a lovely stroll – top kids destinations are the science center and the aquarium. 3. Fells Point is delightful and close by is Patterson Park which has lots of great spots nearby.
Former Baltimoreon! Start in the Inner Harbor – go to the Aquarium and a baseball game! Take the water taxi over to Fells Point to walk around. Stop in the Sound Garden for music options. Kooper’s has great burgers. From there, the Waterfront Promenade will take you east towards Patterson Park – great for loose, unstructured fun. Try Bmore Licks ice cream across the street. Just past the eastern end of the park is Snake Hill, a small hole-in-the-wall sausage place (including vegan options). The Creative Alliance is an awesome arts and cultural space – see what’s going on when you’ll be there! The other direction from the Inner Harbor is Mt Vernon, with the ORIGINAL Mt Washington. It has a very European vibe up there! Walters Art Museum, stop in the Peabody Library (gorgeous!) or the Pratt Library for the kids room. There are lots of little parks, coffee shops (just google them lol) and restaurants. If it’s still there, the Helmand has great Afghani food and so does Dooby’s next door, with a more chill vibe for kids. I could keep going but I’ll stop there! I love Baltimore! Heading there with my 3 year old for his first trip in April!
Oh and for a weird time, check out the American Visionary Art Museum.
Second the American Visionary Arts Museum in Baltimore even if you only go to the gift shop. Kids can spend hours in there! Also, Fort McHenry is great!
We stayed at Love Ridge Mountain Lodging last summer and would recommend it. It’s just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia, with plenty of hiking and at least one lake nearby. Also several ice cream shops :) They have cabins (which we chose) or campsites. I know you said you have your itinerary worked out for Philly, but I have to recommend Franklin Fountain. My very favorite ice cream in the whole city! Their hot fudge is excellent, and they put it on the bottom AND the top of your sundae!
We stayed at Isla Bella last week too! Would have loved to meet you. We felt similarly- the fees at the end were unbelievable, the reception area staff were rude, and I was so annoyed at the lack of any storage in our room. We were tripping all over each other. It was pretty but we kept leaving to do other stuff. The weather was amazing, though. It was the perfect time to get away.
Ah, I adore the keys! Such a beautiful and unique spot. It’s been years since I went (and then it was pre-kid), so it’s nice to hear it worked well with kids, too. I need advice about hotels with a family of 5. Our youngest is 4, so we mostly have gotten by squeezing into one room, but most hotels won’t let you sleep 5 in a room. Are we doomed to bankruptcy booking suites? Do we do adjoining rooms, which is still pricey? I recognize having 3 kids is a privilege, but man does it make travel costly!
I have four kids and there are definitely hotel rooms out there that have two queens and a pullout couch. My two girls (teens) share a queen and my boys (8 and 10) share the pullout. It works for now because our boys are small. For awhile we would always book Airbnbs because three bed rooms aren’t always available. But I’ve found that hotels are more cost effective for us, especially when there’s free breakfast! (Aka, we’re talking 2.5 – 3 star hotels, nothing fancy.) little things like that add up with a family of 6.
Same boat! We are an accidental family of five (our “last baby” was twins) and it makes travel and hotels so expensive. We have had luck with Airbnb but sometimes you just need a hotel. And our kids are small and wild enough that it really doesn’t work to have adults in one room and kids in another. Grrr.
We usually avoid hotels and book a cabin or small apartment instead. That often turns out cheaper than a hotel… (And you don’t always have to go out for dinner, which makes it more affordable as well). I do miss the luxury of a hotel though.
Or camping but that’s a different kind of holiday ;)
The world is definitely not built for families of 5! We look for double queen hotel rooms with a couch. When options are limited, a kid sleeps on the floor with a sleeping bag and camp mat. We also get houses/apartments, which are not always more expensive and have the bonus of saving us money on meals, having room to spread out, and the ability to do laundry. Camping is another great way to travel!
I would love a post about how you choose a hotel!!
Me too! In spend hours obsessing and comparing!
Yes please, agreed!
Same! Moving away from AirBnBs these days = hotel insights are much appreciated!
On the topic of trips, my husband and I are planning a 4 day getaway from our home in Tampa in May. We’re considering Maine (cliff house) or Seattle (I’d love to go whale watching) but are open to other ideas as long as they are fairly easy to get to and a good itinerary will fit into the 4 day timeframe- we’ve done CA and NYC both quite a bit so looking to venture out. Thoughts or suggestions or on our top two contenders or any other places?
Seattle in May is still pretty rainy and can be cool – we tend to not get warm and sunny here until July. That said, if you’re ok with rainy days, Seattle is lovely. I recommend if possible, renting a car and taking the ferry to the San Juan Islands. OR, flying there via floatplane (I remember the Joanna did that earlier this year). And go on a Whale Watching boat that leaves from Friday Harbor in the San Juans. Better experience than a boat leaving from and returning to Seattle. Another option is whale watching boats leaving Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula. Both of these places are closer to where the whales are versus Seattle.
I live in NH and know many people who make Cliff House a regular visit. They can’t say enough good things about the property but mostly about how special the staff treats everyone who stays there.
I agree with Tricia. I love Cliff House and Maine, but it could still be cold in May. I love Maine. I think you can whale watch in Cape Cod.
Cliff house is AMAZING! I would think might still the chilly there in may, but we went in August and didn’t go to the beach. There are cute towns nearby to explore, you can walk along the cliffs and the food was great! Also there is a hot tub area overlooking the water.
I stayed in Acadia in May(memorial Day weekend) a few years ago and it was perfect. We had excellent weather and basically no crowds the whole time
Maine in May will also be gorgeous but still chilly! I lived there briefly and scraped ice off my car in May and have photos of friends visiting in June, all of us in wool sweaters or fleeces and rain jackets. I loved it, but the version of Maine people are thinking of for vacation is usually the July or August vibe! I truly love Maine, just mentally prep for 50 degrees and breezy, cool, overcast, etc.
I’ve also heard amazing things about Cliff House. Spring weather in New England could be gorgeous, or it could be miserable, but if the hotel is the main attraction, that might be less important.
We did a mother/daughter stay at the Cliff House for Memorial Day weekend in 2018 and we swam in their infinity pool overlooking the ocean. We realize we lucked out. It really is a special place.
Thank you all!
I agree with the whale watching boat trip from Friday Harbor – which is also one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.
My grandparents retired to Marathon Key!! I have so many wonderful memories swimming and playing on the little inch beaches. It’s such a special place and a different way of living! I’m so glad you enjoyed a little slice of heaven!
Lol (lohl) at the White Lotus reference.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIQh_5dZUwI Bravery, we should follow.
I love how little things such as that huge French fry make trips so memorable! It could’ve happened anywhere but the trip was more special because of it.
Hahaha 100%!
I love this; you guys look so peaceful and happy. And you look right at home in your denim skirt <3 Ask Rachel Lipson from Blue Balloon / Brooklyn Family Travelers about searching for hotels — she knows SO much!
YES PLEASE to hearing about how you choose hotels! I have such a hard time with this and spend hours and over think! Also, we do have a family mnemonic! It’s E=MC2…Elysha, Matt, Clara, and Charlie! And my father’s family together all spelled their last name which was Green=Gerry, Robert, Edith, Ed, Nancy! I love stuff like that.
Awww that’s the sweetest!
Love this! The first two letters of each of my kids’ names spell ELCLAB, and we affectionately refer to them as the Elk Lab. So if there are any elk scientists out there…let’s collab.
Anyone have hotel recommendations for Vancouver? We are going in May. No kids. Thank you.
What are you looking for? The Granville Island hotel is on the water and on GI. Quiet and pretty and you can use a little boat service to go downtown. Or the Sylvia is old fashioned and small on the water in the west end. Or there is a 50s ish older hotel on west Robson, can’t remember the name. Between the downtown chain hotels, not sure how to distinguish which is best – one has a nice roof top hotel hot tub, and another has a kind of scandivanian spa with sauna, cold plunge. May should be a good time to visit!
I love Vancouver! One of my favorite cities. Expect some rain in May. Some suggestions: -If you like spas, the spa at the Fairmont Pacific Rim is one of my favorite spas ever. The spa has an outdoor sauna and hot tub on a roofdeck overlooking the water. -Get sushi at Miku -Walking or biking in Stanley Park is a must -Last time I was there I went to a BUNNY CAFE. (Same concept as a cat cafe except all adoptable bunnies. 10/10 lol). -Eating at Granville Island Public Market
Thank you to both of you. We aren’t sure what we are looking for. We have always wanted go because it looks beautiful, have heard great things, and sounds like a good food scene. Probably near the water, but not a deal breaker and in a walkable neighborhood. We aren’t going to have a car. Sounds like we don’t need one.
My husband and I just got back from an amazing trip to Vancouver. We stayed at the L’Hermitage. I highly recommend, the room was extremely comfortable and the service is top-notch. We bought a poster at a concert forgetting that we would have to carry it with us on our return trip and they shipped it to home for us, no problem. The cafe next to the hotel has an amazing breakfast too!
Fairmont Pacific Rim is gorgeous. And if you are going to Whistler the Four Seasons is incredible.
We just went for the first time (2 parents, 3 kids) and stayed at the Loden. I think it would be great without kids! Super attentive staff.
The Rosewood Hotel Georgia is as central downtown as you can get, and lovely. Check out the Loden Hotel, which is a smaller boutique hotel downtown, or the Westin Bayshore which is on the edge of downtown but right on the seawall next to Stanley Park. Dinner at Nightengale (downtown and also serves lunch), St Lawerence or Savio Volpe (the second two each a 10 min cab ride out of downtown). Enjoy!
We stayed at the Sylvia Hotel in August and is was so cute and lovely. Really great location too. No A/C, which I didn’t realize when I booked. A bit rough for August nights, but should be perfect in May!
I really like your travel posts and I refer to them when we are away on trips in case I missed something cool like a good restaurant or a shop to check out. Never been to the keys!
my mum is “Sandi like the beach” and I’m “Jordan like the river”, which I’ve always loved. one drawback of offering a mnemonic is that you’re way more likely to have that awkward moment where the other person remembers your name but you don’t remember theirs…=|