Atlanta visit and 14 hr road trip with an infant

[Deleted]

My husband just got an email invite from his cousin, for the cousin's wedding NEXT MONTH, on a Sunday in Atlanta.  This is his only cousin on his mother's side and he really wants to go.  We had some extra hotel points so we will be able to stay for free.  However, I could only take Monday off.  We are driving down on Saturday, staying over night, doing something in the morning, the wedding is at 4pm with a cake and punch reception to follow, so we will probably leave early (6-7) to go get dinner.  We then are planning to drive a couple hrs up to Knoxville and spend the night so the monday drive will be a bit shorter.  Our daughter will be 5 1/2 months during this.  So, the questions:  What thing(s) can we do Sunday morning that work with a five month old (cheap preferably) and what places are good to eat in Atlanta?  Also, we have never tried a long trip with our daughter before, any advice on the trip itself?

[happyscooter]

Varsity is a good place to eat.  Not a fancy sit down place, and if she cries, it is OK. 

[Sam_2.0]

Plan on two hours more travel time to account for unexpected stops. But at that age she may sleep through most of it.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using proboards

[Pants]

Gin - it completely depends on A, but I found 5 months easier to travel with than 9 months. She should spend a lot of time sleeping, looking out the window. CD/ipod with baby tunes. The ability to go sit in back with her to keep her entertained. Make sure to stop frequently. Bring lots of bottles!

[thyme4change]

Jun 19, 2013 7:34:41 GMT -5 Sam_2.0 said:

Plan on two hours more travel time to account for unexpected stops. But at that age she may sleep through most of it.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using proboards

She might sleep through most of it, and then be awake all night, so plan on spending some quality time with her at say....2 am.  At least that is what my kid used to do when she would sleep longer than usual during the day.

[kittensaver]

Definitely check out The Varsity.

Have you considered taking a "mother's helper" along with you (a young relative, a weekend/temporary nanny, a neighborhood babysitter)? They can be a godsend when you are traveling and need extra help.

[swamp]

Also, we have never tried a long trip with our daughter before, any advice on the trip itself?

Yes.  Fly.

[thyme4change]

LOL - that would be my advice, too.  If you fly, you will have more time to hang out in Atlanta.

[skubikky]

Jun 19, 2013 7:09:11 GMT -5 @gin1984 said:

My husband just got an email invite from his cousin, for the cousin's wedding NEXT MONTH, on a Sunday in Atlanta.  This is his only cousin on his mother's side and he really wants to go.  We had some extra hotel points so we will be able to stay for free.  However, I could only take Monday off.  We are driving down on Saturday, staying over night, doing something in the morning, the wedding is at 4pm with a cake and punch reception to follow, so we will probably leave early (6-7) to go get dinner.  We then are planning to drive a couple hrs up to Knoxville and spend the night so the monday drive will be a bit shorter.  Our daughter will be 5 1/2 months during this.  So, the questions:  What thing(s) can we do Sunday morning that work with a five month old (cheap preferably) and what places are good to eat in Atlanta?  Also, we have never tried a long trip with our daughter before, any advice on the trip itself?

I just made the trip back from Atlanta(Sandy Springs) and it took me 15 hours(I was pushing it, usually 75 mph).  I didn't stop for anything except to fuel up twice(about 6 minutes...I timed it) and a bathroom only stop(3 1/2 minutes).  I live about 45 minutes east of you.  I guarantee that you will NOT make it down there in 14 hours.
Where in Atlanta are you staying? 
That being said, it'll take you more like 3 hours to get back to Knoxville.  With a baby, overall I'd imagine that you'd want to make more stops.  

There's quite a bit of construction in Ohio.
The three main cities that you'll hit are Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland.  Getting over the bridge to Cinn might be a bit slow but hopefully you'll be going through there after rush hour.
If I were you, I wouldn't do much Sunday but take it easy.  You'll be doing about 1750 miles of driving within 3 days!  Personally.....you're out of your mind.  Even without a little one it's a tiring drive.....with a little one....you're really pushing it.

Have your DH fly down and back.....JMHO.

[Deleted]

Gin, what Stubikky said. If this is important to your husband, that's great! But why doesn't he just fly there, and you and the baby stay home and have some quiet time together?

I know you are a young couple and perhaps you are not used to being separated. Sometimes, it happens. DH and I got together when my 3 kids from my first marriage were 7, 5 and 1, and then we had another kid a few years later. I'm American but he's British. He always made it back to the UK for his family's landmark birthdays / anniversaries, which is as it should be. But in those early years, when all four kids were little, sometimes we did, and sometimes we didn't. 

When my Mom died overnight, DH held the fort. A year later my dad died of liver cancer, in seven weeks. I went from Paris to NY every other weekend for seven weeks. Again, DH held the fort. And then he made arrangements with friends (the kids were older by then) and just showed up at my dad's funeral.  

Of course it's always nicer to be together, but sometimes it's just easier to let one person in the couple "do what they need to do", and hold the fort / keep the home fires burning while they do. And that's OK too! IOW, you don't actually need to GO to the wedding with your DH to be supportive. 

[8 Bit WWBG]

I second that if he can go by himself, it just plain might be easier.  Sure, its nice to accompany your spouse/have your spouse at your side, but sometimes that luxury costs a TON.  I'm going to a wedding by myself soon.  I'd love to have my wife with me.  I'm just not keen on the costs of the extra ticket, and the cost of bribes/political capital for her doing me such a big favor.  She hates events like this, so its really not worth it.

[Lizard Queen]

How are you with driving at night? I've done my share of road trips with my babies. Yes, at that age they tend to be easier because they sleep in the car, but if you drive all day and she sleeps a lot, she won't want to sleep at night. You can potentially screw up her whole sleep schedule over 1 weekend. With your really tight schedule, the only way I can see it working is if you drive as much as you can at night

[happyscooter]

I agree, send hubby by himself.  About 15 years ago, DH's nephew was getting married in the fall, 1000 miles away.  There was no way to drive that far for the weekend and we were not taking our kids out of school for a wedding.  We had no one to keep them for the weekend-my mother worked 6 days a week, inlaws were going to wedding.  We could not afford for the 4 of us to fly out Friday after school and home Sunday afternoon.  I asked DH to go by himself, he declined so we were no shows.  Sent a gift though.  MIL got mad at us, refused to have Christmas with us and ignored my kids on their next birthday. 

It happened again a few years later with the niece, same thing, wedding in the fall.  MIL/FIL really punished us hard for that one.  Something that my DH still talks about today.

Send hubby to represent you.

[alabamagal]

Sending the hubby sounds like a good option!  That is a long way to go to just be there on Sunday for an afternoon wedding, and a cake and punch reception is pretty BORING (believe me I have been to them).  If I do the math, you are driving 30 hours to go to a 4 hour event.  And if your husband has visions of visiting with his couse, that won't happen, you will likely see the groom for 10 minutes tops (I'm counting 1-on1 time).  Even better is send a nice gift.

If that doesn't work, good luck.  We traveled a lot when our kids were young.  We had 3 that were close in age (3 1/2 years total age difference).  We traveled by car frequently to FL (9 hours to  parents house).  A lot of times we left early afternoon so the kids would sleep more in the car.  That always worked well.

For restaurants in Atlanta, it is highly dependent on where you are staying.  You don't want to have to drive another hour to go to eat after your long drive.   Do not go to the Varsity, as someone else recommended.  It is a great tourist attraction, but is basically a greasy hot dog joint.  And it is near downtown.  You probably don't want to go there in the evening if you are not familiar with the area.  (I lived across the freeway from it while in school).

[gardenergirl]

I live in Atlanta too and I also recommend NOT going to the Varsity. It is a grease pit, blech!!!! If you like pizza, check out Fellini's. If you like BBQ check out Fat Matt's Rib Shack. Both relaxed places where you could take your LO.

Flying is also a good idea but just keep in mind Atlanta is the busiest airport in the world. It is very easy to get around, but there are a lot of people so it will take a little patience. But if it's flying versus 14 hours or so of driving, I would definitely recommend flying.

There are a lot of parks around where you could take your daughter. There is also the Children's Museum in downtown, close to the Aquarium and I think it's free for kids 2 and under.

Keep in mind it's hot in Atlanta too in the summers but we have been getting a ton of rain so just check the forecast before you go.

Let us know what you decide(d) to do!

[Ombud]

So .... what happened? We were in Georgia end of June / beginning of July and the humidity was unreal!

[Deleted]

Aug 2, 2013 19:44:48 GMT -5 Ombud said:

So .... what happened? We were in Georgia end of June / beginning of July and the humidity was unreal!

Sorry!  I forgot to update.  She did not like the drive and would cry unless we were in the back with her.  Now she has decided all driving sucks and cries during most trip, but especially any trip after ten minutes.  Sigh, it has been awhile and she is still cranky about the car.  The event and Atlanta itself were quite nice though.

[skubikky]

Sept 23, 2013 15:31:06 GMT -5 @gin1984 said:

Aug 2, 2013 19:44:48 GMT -5 Ombud said:

So .... what happened? We were in Georgia end of June / beginning of July and the humidity was unreal!

Sorry!  I forgot to update.  She did not like the drive and would cry unless we were in the back with her.  Now she has decided all driving sucks and cries during most trip, but especially any trip after ten minutes.  Sigh, it has been awhile and she is still cranky about the car.  The event and Atlanta itself were quite nice though.

glad to hear you had a good time...sorry to hear that she isn't good with the driving.
we're flying down in a few weeks just for the weekend for Dad's 90th birthday.