coolest place on the planet (+ kid tips)
The coolest place on the planet…
is Silver Lake according to our kids’ favorite cartoon. Last week, I overheard the cartoon crack jokes about Silver Lake, a really great neighborhood in LA. We’ve been a couple times, our friends live there, and Mike also happened to visit Silver Lake this past weekend. Silver Lake really is a cool place.
We first stayed in Silver Lake when our kids were just four months and two years old. Seemed a fitting post to squeeze some “traveling with kid tips.” Previously, we’ve always stayed in Venice when visiting LA; I think we’ve stayed in 3-4 different Airbnb’s in that hood. Silver Lake is a very different vibe, and I’m glad we branched out. Venice was always fun and we loved being near the beach, but Silver Lake was a nice change. We found an amazing Airbnb, pictured above with an insane view and a little backyard with a jacuzzi. When we visited last August (no kids), we stayed at the Silver Lake Pool and Inn, which I highly recommend.
Silver Lake:
Where to stay:
Silver Lake Pool and Inn - great location, decor, service, big rooms, amazing pool
Airbnb - unfortunately the one with stayed at with the views and jacuzzi is no longer listed
Where to eat:
Playita Mariscos – really good fish tacos
Tacos Delta - chilaquiles
Erewhon – Fancy grocery store, good green smoothies
Marco Polo - attached to Silver Lake Inn and Pool, great for drinks and food - but also I ordered a REALLY good salad while sitting poolside
Where to drink:
Intelligentsia - coffee
LAMILL Coffee - great coffee, sandwiches, small bites and desserts
Bacari – really cool ambience, we only had drinks but supposed to be good for food too
What to do:
Griffith Park – not in Silver Lake, but great for hiking or long walks with kids
Lake – shop at the cute boutique carrying, Everything’s Fine, my friends amazing candles
Silver Lake - walk around the lake
Traveling with Kids
Is traveling with babies and kids challenging? HELL YES, but the memories made are worth all the extra effort, 10 times over.
General Advice:
Give up on strict schedules, including bedtime (won’t always be possible and not worth the stress)
Be ready for things to go wrong
Have a plan with partner on tag-teaming tantrums*
Going east is easier - the time change will work in your favor, and kids can stay up later and sleep in later
Local libraries – We were on the east coast for our friends wedding and made a side trip to Portsmouth. I was very pregnant, it rained very heavily almost the entire time. The library saved us. They had a story time with other moms and kids and it was exactly what we needed to entertain our two year old.
Let the kids “help” pack, even young toddlers – let them choose a toy or stuffy and even some of the clothing. This helps with buy-in, independence, and preparing for packing on their own as they age.
Use a globe or maps at home to discuss the destination and journey to get there. (Prepare them for planes, buses, trains etc to help build excitement and expectations.)
Accept help when offered, even from strangers. When our first son was just four months old we went to Kefalonia, Greece. Just the three of us were out to dinner at a traverna near the ocean. The table next to us was a large Greek family, maybe 20 people at a long table. When our food came, one of the women asked to hold our son. We smiled, thanked her, and handed him over. He was passed around their table while we were able to enjoy our entire meal uninterrupted.
Travel journal - maybe buy a new little notebook, along with a cool new pen and/or set of markers. We were in Europe 3 weeks last summer and this really helped. It provided a nice quiet activity for the afternoons and allowed for our oldest to practice writing. We had one for our younger son too and he participated by drawing his journal entries.
Kids digital camera - this is good for even toddlers and gives them the freedom to capture the things they see and want to remember.
On planes:
Snacks. And more snacks.
Protect your energy – ignore side glances and don’t let grumps get into your headspace just focus on you and your family
Wrap a new toy – not birthday or holiday gift level toy, but hit up the dollar store and wrap up some little trinkets
Turkish towel in your carry on (and on you at all times while traveling) – it can be used as a pillow, blanket, diaper changing station, breastfeeding cover, peek-a-boo game, scarf, etc.
Don’t be afraid to ask a flight attendant for a few extra cups. Cups = the best airplane toy
Always have on hand: a favorite book, something to color with/on, games/cards (memory, uno, go-fish, spot-it, travel bingo)
Screens – let them pick out a NEW movie/show/game prior to the trip. We’ve also only used iPads for traveling, no at-home exceptions ever, so they remain super special. This is the best app to help with early reading.
Dining Out:
Have a plan with partner for acting out at restaurants, i.e., take turns* walking the baby/toddler
Bring snacks for picky eaters
Bring age-appropriate activities: color by sticker books, picture finds, preschool/kindergarten workbooks have all been huge hits over the years
If you are on a trip that you can hit up a grocery store and get food for some meals at the Airbnb or hotel, I strongly suggest this option – it’s unrealistic to expect a kid to tolerate 3 or even 2 meals out a day – why do it to them or yourselves?
Sleep:
Don’t stress over following home sleep schedule, being flexible is a necessity
Embrace arm naps – even if they aren’t your thing at home
Use big closets as bedrooms for cribs
Be flexible with room arrangements - sometimes might make most sense for parents to divide up and sleep separate with one or two kids
Gear
Travel crib - by far the best portable crib, beats any “pack and play”
Travel sound machine - tiny, makes great white noise, don’t leave home without it
Scooter suitcase - I can’t find our exact one but this or this
Dock-a-tot - we loved this at home but even more while traveling
*Tag-teaming or taking turns does not mean specifically trade off every other instance. Whoever gets the turn to help the kid depends on a lot of variables: who’s calmer, who’s still eating, who’s engaged in a conversation, etc. I don’t recommend a tit-for-tat when it comes to handling babies/toddlers/kid stuff. “A plan to take turns” just means it’s been discussed, and you have each other’s backs during the inevitable difficult moments.
Just a little bit of gear required - we got this.
