US road trip. Should I take DD out of school?

[Dogsandbabies]

My DD is 4 and due to start school in September. DP and I want to go to the US for a road trip, total of 3 weeks. The plan is to go to museums, theatres, sights. Incorporate New York, Washington, Chicago.

AIBU to want to take her out of school for 2 weeks (we would be using half term) in February? She won't be 5 yet so I think legally I am OK to do that, but would you do it?

[Trifleorbust]

And if I object, I will say so if I want. Not sure why my opinion bothers you as much as it seems to, tbh!

[sneepy]

4 hrs driving per day will mean it will take you at least 4 days to get from nyc to Chicago. There is a whole lotta nothing between the 2 cities, great in summer, often completely impassable in winter due to snow and ice. And then you have to get back to D.C.? It's not like Europe where you can get from one cute town to another in 4 hours. There are hotels along the highway but in many towns there is nothing to do. Outdoor attractions will be closed and you'll be lucky if you can find a movie theatre, let alone a live show, outside of the big cities.

Go in the summer when stuff is open, there will be state/county fairs you can go to, water parks etc. I wouldn't take a kid out of school for a holiday which is likely to see you holed up in a Motel 6 on the I-80 while you wait for the roads to clear.

[SuburbanRhonda]

And I'm not sure why you are saying you "object" when it's not your thread! I'm also amazed you've never come across threads before where people comment on both the main point of the OP and other points the OP has chosen to include.

[TwentyCups]

Everyone seems pretty happy to rip your holiday plans to shreds and I'm not sure why.
I went to Finland for new year when I was around 5/6 and I loved it. One of my few memories from bring that small. Yes, it was absolutely freezing cold. It wasn't the end of the world, we wrapped up.

I think it sounds great. I wouldn't have taken her out for the first week or two as its settling in time, but Feb is no issue.

Would you have a problem if it was a nursery school with year group 3-4. Same thing I think.

[Trifleorbust]

Suburban, really, who cares about this? I have given my opinion, yours is different. Let it go.

[SuburbanRhonda]

I had let it go - I'm surprised to see you carrying on posting

[NicknameUsed]

Finland is not the US though.

Timeto year 6 is quite possibly the worst year to take a child out of school during term time. Unless it is after the SATS.

[GingerIvy]

Sneepy has a good point. I think you've vastly underestimated the driving times. Four hours from Chicago to NY (if the weather is cooperative) means you are likely to end up in small hotels in areas that may not have anything much for you and your daughter to do.

[t4nut]

Not sure you grasp the scale ofthe US and what a US road trip entails. Places you can be on the road for 10 hours and encounter nothing. With a 4 year old bored out of their skull.

[Dogsandbabies]

I could give you a detailed itinerary of my trip but it would be OTT. And I have not underestimated timings as I have visited before.

I have friends and family along the way, for example in Syracuse, which breaks down the trip nicely. I take your point about the weather but unfortunately my job does not allow me to take time off in the summer as it is our busiest period. It's back to thinking and planning for me then. Thanks a lot for the help!

[BummyMummy77]

I live on the East Coast. It's going to be fucking FREEZING cold and there's a lot of driving. Only you know your child but they'd have to be pretty damn good at traveling for it not to be utterly miserable.

[BummyMummy77]

Walrus- where did you go in Maine and did you like it?

[walruswhiskers]

We went to Kennebunkport, bunny, and it was brilliant. Lovely little town - busy of course but it was great - and a good base for lots of different beaches, watersports etc. Really recommend.

[BummyMummy77]

Ah I spent our 'babymoon' there. We live further up by a couple of hours.

[Blu]

Great trip, I would do the Easter option, partly to get better use of daylight.

I did a fair bit of traveling across Ontario and Quebec in the winter, and found it wearing: the snow, the slush, the needing to put on winter wear way beyond a UK winter coat, and take it all off in an indoor place.

[BeALert]

I live in New England and I'm used to driving in snow. I absolutely would not drive Chicago to NY in Feb if I could possibly help it.

Why not drive around the south? Or the southwest? I've done both in winter and had a great time.

Maybe start in DC and work your way down through Charleston, Savannah, St Augustine, maybe some plantation houses in the Deep South, some time in New Orleans.

Or do the National parks in the south west combined with the California coastline maybe.

[Manicmonkey]

i would take her out, it's a once in a lifetime thing and she doesn't have to be in school yet anyway.

[revealall]

If it's a once in a lifetime trip, then it's pretty pointless taking a four year old. She'll only remember bits and bobs and certainly won't get the bigger picture.
You'll seem to be planning lots around her already. Is a road trip based on entertaining a young child really the best use of all that travel.

[mmgirish]

I think it sounds great. I can't comment on other people's children but my 4 year old loves visiting new places. We've taken him and his 2 year old brother on several road trips. None of them involved Disneyland.

[Trifleorbust]

Just do it if that's your idea of a good holiday!

[sonjadog]

I would do it but not in February. You could end up in the middle of a blizzard. It will be below freezing. You´ll be rushing from car to attractions and back due to the cold. I live in mid-Norway so I am used to the cold, but cold is different in different places. I get cold when I´m in the UK in the winter, even though the temperature is maybe 20 degrees warmer. Don´t assume you will think it is fine unless you really do know exactly what winter is like where you are going.

[FurkinA]

I would. Loads of countries she'd not even be in school yet

[TealLove]

Really going to be a pretty awful holiday for her. It will be freezing and boring.

[exLtEveDallas]

We lived in Cyprus when DD was aged 3-5. We did absolutely loads with her, took in all the history and all the 'must sees'

She barely remembers any of it . In fact some photos she looks at and is convinced that it's not her in them.

OP I think your idea plan sounds great (less the freezing weather) if it's for you and DP, but if you want your DD to have memories of it I'd wait a few more years.

[Trifleorbust]

She's four, OP. She won't understand 'boring' because she doesn't have expectations that holidays are full of entertainment and activities. A new place, travelling round and lots of snow will be an experience for her, as well as all the things you are thinking of doing. Don't let people put you off in favour of their ideas of a good holiday - do what you feel will be enjoyable.