By Melanie Barnas

I have such fond memories of family vacations from my youth that I just couldn't wait to take my son on trips to new and exciting places. Watching my child's eyes light up with wonder and imagination as he delights in discovery translates into precious memories for me as a parent. Then reality sets in when my screaming toddler is aggravated from being in his car seat for two hours or he finally closes his eyes for a nap as we pull into the parking lot of our destination.

There is a way to strike a balance and there are some great places to take younger kids on vacation without boarding a plane from Rochester. I want to impart wisdom that I gained and pass on sage advice from other moms who have lived to share their experiences.
Weeklong trips may be a little much for you and the younger members of your family. My son Jacob's first vacation was when he was 11 months-old. Luckily, we were staying with family around the Northeast so that made life a little easier. Having extra support from family and friends is important. It's no vacation managing a baby or toddler who is off schedule and in an unfamiliar place.

On the Pike to PA
One of the first places I recommend for the tiny crowd is Sesame Place in Philadelphia. It's an amusement park that is geared more for the 2-5 year-old crowd. They even sell baby food at the on-site restaurants. Genius. There are a few water play areas in the park that are shallow and perfect for babies. There is even a huge faux beach with lots of sand to play with. In my son's case, he thought it was fun to see what sand tastes like.

Still less than a year old, my son is still too small to go on most of the rides but there was a big soft play area he enjoyed and a "live" version of Elmo's World.

Most babies get cranky when nap schedules are interrupted, no matter what the diversion. That's why mommy has to be the "Queen of Planning". Call ahead to the hotel and see if you can check in early. They are usually accommodating. My son needs a nap by 2 pm or else there is a major meltdown ahead. Take advantage of that and get a nap yourself at the same time. I found that keeping some semblance of a schedule during the trip made it more
enjoyable for everyone.

Imagine Ithaca
For another weekend, I wanted to find a spot not too far away (gas prices make Daddy cranky), where we could have fun indoors and outside. This way the weather wouldn't hold us back. What a joy to discover the beauty and family friendliness of Ithaca. When someone first suggested Ithaca as a family getaway, my thoughts were of college kids and hippies. I was pleasantly surprised! Jacob was now 19 months old and loves birds. Our first stop was the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology. I guess I was expecting to see more live birds but what we did discover fascinated my future veterinarian. Part of the center has sound lab where you can play the sounds of dozens of different birds and other animals. They're authentic sounds captured from the wild. There are also some nice nature trails behind the building.

Then we were off to the Sciencenter. It's a smaller version of the Rochester Museum and Science Center with lots of great hands on exhibits. My son could have spent the whole day playing with the rubber duckies in this water exhibit. Kudos to them for having a whole bunch of rubber smocks for the kids to wear. My son enjoyed launching the ducks into the tub to see how big of a splash he could make. Another huge bonus - a membership to RMSC will get you in at the Ithaca museum for free!

Ithaca offers a wide range of hotels and inns. We stayed at La Tourelle Salon and Spa-probably one of the nicest spots in town. It felt like we had escaped to a French Province. As I advised earlier about the benefits of having family around, my sister and her boyfriend joined us for the trip. They watched Jake while my husband and I escaped for a couples massage at the August Moon Spa. "Ooh La La!"

It was also great to have reinforcements at dinner. My sister Michelle and her boyfriend Dan
graduated from Cornell University and are very familiar with the area. We ate at a really cool place called the Boatyard Grill.
Michelle noted, "It was in a great location because Dan and I were able to take him (Jake) for a walk along the water while waiting for dinner."
The waiter actually asked us if we wanted our son's meal to come out as soon as it was ready rather than waiting for our steaks to be done. I wanted to kiss him! Ithaca isn't just about college kids, and if you think it is, then this guy must have taken Parenting 101. We enjoyed the best of both our adult and family worlds on this trip.

Falling for Niagara
For our next round of family fun we went to the other end of the spectrum. After a weekend in quiet, tranquil Ithaca, it was time for everyone's favorite cheesy international destination: Niagara Falls, Canada. How do you even start to plan when there is so much to do there? I went straight to my AAA tour book. Many destinations and hotels have discounts available. We stayed at the Americana Hotel which has the area's first indoor water park. When the weather is nice, they retract the roof. It also has a spa for mom and dad to relax and babysitting services if you need a break from the junior tourists. My son loves birds, but morphs into a fish. He could have spent the whole day in the toddler pool area. They have mini-waterslides and pool toys the little ones can't get enough of.

Nearly across the street is the Oh Canada E! Dinner Show. I wasn't sure how Jacob would behave, but he's been great at Sesame Street, Live! and the circus so I figured we'd give it a try. What a hoot, Eh? It's very interactive with lots of singing, jokes and some Canadian history built in. Jacob clapped along and got lots of personal attention from the female cast members. My dad, Bill, was also impressed. "I enjoyed both the show and dinner very much. I am sure that Jacob enjoyed it also because he ate everything that was put in front of him. I can't remember him sitting attentively in one place for so long (about 3 hours)," he said.

We also took in the Bird Kingdom in Clifton Hill. It's another interactive attraction where you are one with the birds. They have live training demonstrations and you can feed some birds, too. Don't forget to stop at the Hershey store for some chocolatecovered strawberries. Restaurants like Planet Hollywood and Rainforest Café are also kid-friendly and entertaining while you wait for your food.

I have never been a patient person, so learning to play around my son's schedule and what makes him happy has been a learning curve for me. I'd like to share a few last pieces of mommy travel advice as you head out for your summer destination:
Pack plenty clothing for everyone. Kids love dirt and spilling food. They are just as likely to get it on you too. You can never have enough wet wipes or sunscreen.
Pack snacks and breakfast foods like cereal. It's much cheaper than buying breakfast if the hotel doesn't offer a free continental breakfast.
Breathe. Build in pad time. No one likes to be rushed. Don't over plan and overbook your time. Sometimes kids just want to play at the swing set or pool at the hotel.
Take plenty of pictures. No matter what happens, you can all smile and laugh remembering the times you shared as a family.

Melanie Barnas is a Rochester area media personality and freelance writer.