How I Overcame Pregnancy Nausea and Enjoyed Our Family Road Trip

Not one vomit bag was used on our route through South Dakota and Colorado

Our family recently road-tripped through South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska — but beforehand, we made a big announcement. Our third and final embryo transfer was successful, and we’re expecting our second child in November!

To reach this moment, we navigated a suspenseful final round of IVF, a joyous and nauseous first trimester, and our first road trip with Baby #2 (nicknamed Biggler #2). It’s been a hopeful whirlwind. We know pregnancy is far from a guarantee for couples with infertility, let alone the chance to choose how many kids you’ll have. We’ve stumbled and sobbed our way through, but we made it to our goal. We’re still astonished.

As I take on my second trimester, I’m excited to celebrate through my favorite lens: travel. To start, I can share what I’ve learned about mitigating morning sickness, or pregnancy nausea, and enjoying time on the road. Of course, since every pregnancy is unique, it’s always a good idea to ask your doctor if you have questions or concerns before setting off on an adventure.

Setting the Scene: Our Route and My Symptoms

For me, Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre was the perfect venue to see a show while pregnant. We went to see Rilo Kiley in May of 2025.

Another exciting announcement inspired the route for our trip. In January, Rilo Kiley — my favorite band — announced a reunion tour, and I lost my mind in a sea of excitement and uncertainty. As you might recall, IVF is the recurring trickster in my travel story, rearing its head repeatedly to create complications and question marks. In this case, the questions came from multiple angles. Would I be pregnant during the entire tour? Would I be pregnant at all? What would the full tour route look like? What venue would be most appropriate for a pregnant concert viewing? Because there was no way I would miss this.

After some trial and error (and an extra pair of tickets bought and sold), we landed on Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver. On the way, we would trek through South Dakota to visit Reptile Gardens with our toddler and see the Badlands. It was a grand plan, but not without its obstacles: Namely, constant nausea.

During my first pregnancy, nausea and vomiting were a predictable constant right up until our daughter was born. I expected no less during my second pregnancy, but I wound up with even more discomfort. At my worst, I threw up four times in one day, lost some weight, and went to urgent care for fluids. At that point, the trip was on the line (Jenny Lewis reference intended).

The medications I had taken during my previous pregnancy — Metoclopramide and Famotidine, primarily — were ineffective against my worsening nausea. Remedies like ginger and constant snacking helped, but not nearly enough. However, a couple of weeks before the trip, I finally found a routine that stabilized me and made travel possible.

Central to the plan was Unisom (or doxylamine succinate), a sleep aid that takes the edge off nausea while also, predictably, making you sleepy. To keep my slumbering heart at bay (yes, still intended), I began taking half a pill mid-morning with Vitamin B6 along with another half pill in the late afternoon. This doesn’t eliminate my nausea, but it does help quite a bit.

With Unisom as my shield, we hit the road in mid-May and headed off toward spectacular views (last one). Here’s what went well and what I would have done differently.

What I Did Right

We visited Badlands National Park for the first time as a family with our two-year-old daughter in May of 2025.
Ate a High-Protein Hotel Breakfast

As a vegetarian, eggs are one of my go-to sources of protein. And they’ve been a lifesaver during my second pregnancy. There is evidence suggesting protein is easier to digest in the first trimester, and that choosing high-protein options can reduce nausea. In my experience, this has been true. When we planned our trip, we only booked hotels with breakfast, and we looked for photos with eggs. Protein aside, we prioritized breakfast and snacks throughout the trip. It can be tempting to hit the road early and skip a sit-down meal, or travel light without messy food in the car. But pregnancy nausea is often exacerbated by an empty stomach. We didn’t take that chance.

Enjoyed the Outdoors (w/o Overdoing It)

I’m so glad we chose an outdoor venue to see Rilo Kiley, let alone the gorgeous and legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The fresh air helped keep my nausea at bay, even in the surprisingly chilly temperatures we encountered. During the first half of our trip, heat was our main concern, as temperatures neared 100 degrees. Despite the heat, I have no regrets about our outdoor explorations at Reptile Gardens, Badlands National Park, and Dinosaur Ridge. We made sure to wear hats, apply sunscreen, and take frequent breaks. With these precautions in place, I believe the exercise, fresh air, and change of scenery helped keep my stomach steady.

Packed Comfortable Clothes

I had no qualms about breaking into my maternity clothes even before Week 15, when we took off. Our trip involved more than one long leg of driving, and I spent those hours in the comfort of soft, stretchy maternity shorts. I also packed lightweight, flowy dresses, a maternity skort, comfortable bras, and an assortment of short-sleeved shirts. I do wish I had packed warmer clothes for the concert but, otherwise, this wardrobe was spot on.

What I Would Do Differently

We spotted what appeared to be a mother and baby buffalo running alongside the road as we drove through Custer State Park in South Dakota during our trip in May of 2025.
Drink More Water

This is a constant struggle for me during pregnancy. Water triggers my nausea — especially more than just a sip or two at a time. But dehydration is a serious concern. On the road, we ended up facing a dehydration-related scare. I was tipped off by a symptom that turned out to be pretty common during travel, even in early pregnancy: swelling ankles and feet. At the time, my mind went straight to the pre-eclampsia I previously experienced. We took my blood pressure at a Wal-Mart en route, and it came back pretty high. My OB’s office assured me that it was too early to worry about pre-eclampsia, and they advised me to watch for worsening symptoms. Luckily, the issue didn’t worsen, and it mostly cleared up by the time I got home, although I’m still monitoring my blood pressure. Dehydration can impact blood pressure, so I’m doing my best to avoid it. To keep fluids down on the road, I focused on beverages that triggered my nausea the least: ice cold water through a straw, 7Up Zero, and orange juice, among others. Looking back, I also wish I had traveled with my own blood pressure cuff (ideally, calibrated at the doctor’s office).

Plan Short Driving Days

I come from a family of jam-packed travel itineraries. But with a toddler, my goal is usually to rein in this habit. This was especially true planning a trip during pregnancy. We did a pretty good job balancing our daily activities, but in order to save money on hotels, we ended up planning a couple of days with 8+ hours of driving. This turned out to be excessive. Looking back, I would bite the bullet while pregnant and spend a little extra on hotels to avoid at least one of those long days. Six hours of driving seems to be the ideal limit for us.

Make Time for the Pool

I love being in the water, so I’m very at home in a hotel pool. But on this trip, we simply didn’t plan enough day time at the hotel to relax. I was usually too tired or nauseated at the end of the day to take a dip. Swimming can be a great form of exercise in pregnancy (as long as you’re already acclimated). And time in the water is relaxing. In the future, I’ll set aside more time to enjoy this amenity with my toddler.

These Children’s Museums and Science Centers Filled Our Toddler with Wonder

We’re making our way through Midwest destinations and hoping to expand our list

The other day, I asked myself a big question: “what are my happiest memories?” Among several great contenders, I was surprised to note one day in particular: My daughter’s first visit to the Omaha Children’s Museum. She was almost one at the time, and she was just mobile enough to start exploring more freely and to take in the expanding world around her. Watching her excitement as we set her free to wander and wonder in a new space was a remarkable experience. Though she wasn’t a talker, she was visibly overjoyed. In turn, so was I.

From that point forward, we made it our goal to check out as many children’s museums as possible during our travels. As with my round-up of aquariums, I plan to keep this post updated whenever we visit a new destination. For now, here’s an overview of the children’s museums and science centers in the Midwest that we’ve visited so far.

Omaha Children’s Museum 

Our family made some very happy memories in the Wiggle Room at the Omaha Children’s Museum in June of 2023.

Parking: There’s a free lot on the south side of the building, and we’ve always found a spot there. 

What We Liked: During our first visit to the Omaha Children’s Museum, when our daughter was 11-months-old, we were enamored by the Wiggle Room — an age-appropriate space for little ones who aren’t walking. According to the museum’s website, this room is designed for children at the developmental ages of 0 to 18 months. In our hometown, we’ve had trouble finding attractions that cater specifically to this age group, so we took full advantage. The space features large foam blocks to crawl on, along with interactive toys at just the right height, mirrors, and spots to sit and read. With so many baby-friendly features, we were pleasantly surprised that the museum doesn’t charge admission for visitors younger than two. 

What We Didn’t Like: My only complaint is that the museum closes at 4 p.m. on Tuesday through Friday and 5 p.m. on weekends. These hours keep us on our toes when we drive in from Des Moines. An extra hour at the end of the day would make things more comfortable for out-of-towners. That said, the existing hours are doable.

The Omaha Children’s Museum offers a Nurture Room for breastfeeding. We checked it out, but didn’t use the room, during our most recent visit in May of 2024.

Baby/Toddler-Friendliness: We’ve always found the Omaha Children’s Museum very accommodating for families with young children. There’s a spacious family restroom with a changing table on the first floor that we’ve used more than once. The museum’s website says there are also “restrooms with multiple stalls and changing tables on both floors”, along with a small potty next to the Light Piano on the first floor. When it comes to breastfeeding, there’s a designated space beside the Wiggle Room. During our first visit, I used the family restroom to pump before I discovered this Nurture Room. In the future, I would choose the Nurture Room instead. We brought a stroller during both of our visits, and we’ve never had any trouble navigating or finding places to park it when needed.

Favorite Exhibit: Aside from the Wiggle Room, we really enjoy the Platte River Water Table in the Imagination Playground. Picture a winding water exhibit with plenty of wheels, gears, and buckets for creative play. Yes, our daughter did get soaked. But her fun outweighed the minor inconvenience.

Science City (Kansas City)

Our daughter had so much fun playing in the toddler area at Science City in Kansas City during both of our visits in September of 2023 and June of 2024.

Parking: We’ve always found a spot in front of the building, but we usually end up driving around for a minute or two waiting. Beyond this lot, Union Station offers a parking garage. Either way, there is a fee to park.

What We Liked: Science City at Union Station has a lovely space set aside for babies and toddlers. These separate areas are in their own room with nearby stroller parking. Our daughter was roughly 14-months old during our first visit. She had outgrown the baby space, but the toddler space was the perfect fit, with its climbing area, trains and cars, blocks, and other age-appropriate toys. She appreciated the whole museum, but this area was our home base.

What We Didn’t Like: Science City charges full price for children older than 12 months. On one hand, I don’t mind paying for the great toddler amenities. On the other hand, $17 per person (the price when we visited) — plus the cost of parking — adds up, especially for families with multiple children. Union Station members get in for free, and this is a membership we might consider if we lived closer to Kansas City.

We found plenty of activities in the toddler area of Science City in Kansas City during our visits in September of 2023 and June of 2024.

Baby/Toddler-Friendliness: Science City offers a spacious family restroom in the toddler area, as well as a nursing space with a chair, sink, and changing table. I was no longer breastfeeding or pumping during our first visit, but the nursing space seemed very well equipped for either purpose. What surprised us most was the small dining area in the toddler room. There were tables, high chairs, and a microwave and sink. We brought a meal for our daughter, and we were able to warm it up, feed her, and clean up right there in the museum! Overall, this spot was very baby- and toddler-friendly.

Our Favorite Exhibit: Our daughter absolutely loved the make-believe cave in the toddler room. She enjoyed crawling around the space, playing with the stuffed animals, and looking through the nearby books. There was also a playhouse with a kitchen right next door where she spent plenty of time.

Peace Pavilion (Independence, MO)

Peace Pavilion in Independence, MO, places focus on peaceful resolution, diversity, and exploration. We enjoyed all the spaces we explored during our visit in March of 2025.

Parking: There’s a large parking lot in front of the museum. Parking was free and easy to find.

What We Liked: As the name suggests, this museum places emphasis on peace, conflict resolution, and taking care of the planet. Their website says they’re “dedicated to building peace by equipping children and adults to learn about peace, cultivate peaceful environments, and take actions that lead to peaceful outcomes.” Before visiting, I worried that a religious vibe might lurk behind this focus, which isn’t our family’s style, but that definitely wasn’t the case. I loved their approach to this philosophy, as well as the focus on music, diversity, and learning. The museum staff were also thorough about tidying each space between visitors, ensuring a consistent experience for everyone. This, in turn, helped encourage my daughter and I to clean up after ourselves.

What We Didn’t Like: Our visit started off with an awkward video presentation about the Peace Pavilion and its values. I love these values, but the unnatural pause didn’t really work for our family. I would rather learn about the museum through exploration, and my 2.5-year-old daughter seemed to feel the same way.

Peace Pavilion in Independence, MO, offers an area that’s great for toddlers. Our 2.5-year-old daughter enjoyed spaces throughout the museum in March of 2025, including this space.

Baby/Toddler-Friendliness: As with other children’s museums, Peace Pavilion offers a separate space designed for toddlers, and we enjoyed that area quite a bit. Beside the toddler area, you’ll find a family restroom with an adjacent infant-care space, including a changing table, toddler toilet, and a rocking chair for nursing and pumping. The staff did a great job making me aware of this restroom. However, we did find several restrooms on-site without changing tables, so you’ll want to locate this one in particular. This museum seemed stroller-friendly, but we didn’t bring ours during this visit.

Favorite Exhibit: My daughter spent the most time in the first room, focused on “Peace for Me”. She enjoyed the healthy food area, and she loved playing the drum in the playhouse. My favorite feature was the flow from exhibit to exhibit, starting with personal peace and advancing to relationships, community, and global peace and sustainability. I’ll also give the final room a shout out for its electric recycling truck exhibit! My daughter had lots of fun here.

Iowa Children’s Museum (Coralville, IA)

During our visit to the Iowa Children’s Museum in March of 2025, our daughter especially enjoyed exploring Imagineacres, an area focused on activities for toddlers.

Parking: This museum is located in Coral Ridge Mall, which offers plenty of free parking.

What We Liked: As a former resident of the Iowa City metro, I can attest to the fact that Iowa City has character and artistic flair. This carries through at the Iowa Children’s Museum. The space is true to the local vibe, focusing on art, music, and theater. Iowa City’s local personality especially shines through in the Courtyard of Curiosity upstairs.

What We Didn’t Like: This museum seemed to place slightly more emphasis on older children than others we’ve been to, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Our daughter was roughly 2.5 when we visited, so she wasn’t quite ready for several exhibits. But we know she’ll grow into them. The museum did offer a dedicated toddler space that our daughter enjoyed quite a bit. It was also busy during our visit, which may have skewed my assessment. Our daughter gets nervous in crowds. She might have explored some areas more thoroughly on a quiet day.

Our daughter was a bit young to fully appreciate the Take Flight exhibit at the Iowa Children’s Museum during our visit in March of 2025, but we look forward to returning and watching her grow into it.

Baby/Toddler-Friendliness: We did end up finding several exhibits that were just right for toddlers. Our daughter enjoyed the City Grocery area (pretend shopping is always a favorite), Coral Cove, and Imaginacres. Coral Cove features an expansive playhouse, and our daughter loved exploring the imaginary garden in Imagineacres. We located two family restrooms upstairs, as well as a family sanctuary attached to the upstairs toddler space. The sanctuary is a great spot to breastfeed, pump, or take a quiet break. The museum’s website further specifies that every restroom on-site offers a changing table, and that parents are welcome to nurse throughout the museum. Additionally, a nursing room is available in the nearby mall food court area.

Favorite Exhibit: Imagineacres, focused on simulated farming and gardening, was definitely the highlight for us during our most recent visit. But I look forward to watching our daughter grow into the Take Flight exhibit. This feature is pretty unique, with a focus on aviation, several planes to pretend-fly, and a huge, twirly blue slide.

What’s next for us? This year, we’re hoping to return to the Science Center of Iowa here in our hometown and visit the Chicago Children’s Museum for the first time. We’re also keeping an eye on relocation plans for the Des Moines Children’s Museum. Check back for more details as our travels continue!


Traveling with a Newborn: Our Family’s First Trip

Starting small worked for our family of three

In 2022, as the leaves began to brighten and curl, we started planning our first trip as a family of three. My husband and I took plenty of adventures together as a couple: Paris, Chamonix, Key West, the Pacific Northwest, the Appalachians, the Rockies, and many more. But with our newborn daughter, we knew we needed to rewind back to the basics.

So, we started close to home. Very close to home. Pella, Iowa, is located just 45 minutes east of our hometown, Urbandale. It features a small-but-charming downtown square and a nearby lake — the largest in Iowa — to hike along. We were familiar with the hike, and both the outdoor and downtown legs would be bite-sized experiences to make a manageable overnight.

Hiking is almost always on our trip itineraries. This was true before our daughter was born, and it’s still true as a family of three. We encountered this lovely scene on a hike in Lake Red Rock State Park in October of 2022.

At this point in the story, you might expect a turn: the moment when I reveal that our simple trip wasn’t as simple as it seemed (especially after my last post about our antics on the way to Duluth). But that’s not the case this time. In fact, our plan of starting small and working our way up to more elaborate trips has been mostly successful — which isn’t to say we haven’t encountered comical and highly preventable errors along the way. 

Starting small gave us the opportunity to ease into our new family travel style close to home. We learned what worked for us and translated that learning into longer trips down the road. Here’s a rundown of our first trip, and what we learned on the way:

What We Learned in Pella

  • Breastfeed in the car before hotel check-in
  • Feed and pump on the go to avoid frequent hotel stops
  • Book a hotel with a full-size fridge, sink, and couch

Breastfeeding was the name of the game back in October of 2022. It was the thread that ran through our lives no matter our location or activity. When we planned our trip to Pella, our top consideration wasn’t the proximity of interesting restaurants or how many stars the hotel had earned. It was accommodating our breastfeeding schedule.

The first obstacle came soon enough. As a couple, we never spent too much time fretting over our check-in time. But while breastfeeding, the gap between arrival and check-in matters. Our hotel, GrandStay Hotel & Suites Pella (now Links Bos Landen Hotel & Spa of Pella) had a typical check-in time of 3 p.m. But we wanted to make the most of the day, so we hit the road early, right after a morning feeding. This wouldn’t be a matter of calling and asking to check in an hour early (which we’ve done under other circumstances), so we knew we needed a creative spot to feed.

Our solution was actually quite simple. We took a pause right in the parking lot of the hotel and fed our daughter in the car. Since check-in was still hours off, there was no one around. I would be lying if I said I have crystal clear memories of this particular feeding, but in this case, that can only be a good thing. Unmemorable means no disasters.

We ended up doing multiple feedings in the car over the next several months, and the set-up was always pretty straight forward: 

  1. Nurse in the passenger seat with a cover
  2. Diaper change in the backseat with our portable changing station
  3. Pump in the passenger seat, using the armrest as a surface
  4. Store pumped milk in the cooler bag that came with our pump

During our trip to Pella, I also ended up pumping in a cramped coffee shop restroom (my husband bottle fed our daughter at our table). Pumping in a restroom is never ideal, but it was also unavoidable in this situation. Pumping on the go allowed us to explore more than an hour-ish at a time without driving back to our hotel. I cover more details about pumping in restrooms, when necessary, in my series about traveling to Las Vegas. I have a lot of mixed feelings about the topic that deserve a post of their own.

After pumping, we had a great time taking photos with the windmill in Pella’s town square, perusing novelty shops, and trying sweets at Jaarsma bakery (don’t leave without a Dutch letter).

A friendly passerby took this photo of our family of three in Pella, Iowa, in October of 2022.

That night, we checked into our hotel and found everything we needed in our room. The room wasn’t especially luxurious (at least before the hotel changed hands), but we weren’t looking for anything fancy. We were less focused on the vibe and more focused on our necessities: a full refrigerator, a kitchen sink, and a couch.

Arguably, my number one tip for traveling with a baby while pumping is to book a hotel with a full refrigerator, instead of just a minifridge. A minifridge might be adequate to keep breastmilk cold, but it won’t re-freeze an icepack. If you’re planning to travel with breastmilk on hand, you’ll need the right tools to keep that milk cold. Of course, if you’re exclusively breastfeeding, the full fridge matters less.

The kitchen sink isn’t a requirement, but it’s nice to have a separate area to sanitize your pump parts, bottles, etc. Most hotels with a full fridge will also offer this perk. Finally, the couch allows you to set up a spacious feeding/pumping station. I had terrible luck whenever I tried to pump or feed in bed, and couches offer more space and surface than an armchair.

We ended our night at El Charro Mexican Grill. I wasn’t impressed by the food, but as a vegetarian, I can only speak to a sliver of the menu. Although the meal was mediocre, we enjoyed the atmosphere and, above all else, we basked in the rare night out. Our daughter came with us, and we set her carrier in the booth, where she happily napped while we ate. Afterwards, all went well overnight, as we rested up for day number two.

What We Learned at Red Rock State Park

  • Don’t forget the wearable baby carrier for hiking
  • Paved trails can be an alternative
  • Baby-wearing hikes are slower and shorter but still worth it and a great workout

I left out one detour in my description of our day in Pella: the panicked trip to Wal-Mart. We realized when we got to Pella that we forgot to pack our wearable baby carrier. It was a hand-me-down gift from my sister-in-law, and we were excited to give it a try.

I love hiking, and the experience is only improved by baby snuggles. We tried our carrier out for the first time at Red Rock State Park in October of 2022.

During past trips as a couple, hiking was always on the itinerary. We never worried much about whether the trail was paved or rugged. We took it as it came.

As new parents, hiking definitely wasn’t impossible, but it was more complicated. Rugged trails are usually a no-go for strollers, and long trails with elevation change can be tough while baby-wearing for the non-athletic outdoors enthusiast. In this case, we weren’t sure if we would find a paved trail, but we knew we wanted to hike.

We’re not in the habit of replacing everything we forget while traveling (that would be an expensive habit), but we made an exception in Pella. The Wal-Mart in town had our carrier (the Infantino Flip 4-In-1 Convertible Baby Carrier) in stock at a reasonable price, and we hadn’t paid for the original in the first place. So, we swung by to pick one up.

(A quick note to acknowledge that we’re now boycotting Wal-Mart, after they rolled back their diversity and inclusion policies late last year, before Trump took office. It’s not always possible to boycott every company that misbehaves, but this one seemed pretty clearcut.)

The replacement carrier worked wonders for our hike. In our travels during the first 18 months of our daughter’s life, we alternated between hiking paved trails and baby-wearing on more rugged terrain. I came to prefer the latter, particularly when we switched our daughter into a forward facing position. Baby-wearing allowed her to see the sights along with us. But paved trails can also be a great option, particularly as a way to stay active during naptime. 

At Red Rock, I wore our daughter on the first leg, and we switched places for the hike back. For those who have never hiked while baby-wearing, note that you will get exhausted more quickly. In my experience, baby-wearing never made any hikes impossible, just a bit slower and sometimes a bit shorter. But I got a great workout. Otherwise, we enjoyed the fall leaves, and we even encountered a snake on the path — a premonition of our daughter’s future favorite animal.

Our daughter loves snakes! We encountered our first snake together (from a safe distance) at Lake Red Rock State Park in October of 2022.

When we made it home with our second carrier, we decided to keep one adjusted to fit my husband and the other adjusted to my size. Certainly not necessary, but a nice perk of having two.

After Pella, we worked our way up the travel ladder. A 3-night stay in Minneapolis came next followed by a similar stay in St. Louis. After that, we graduated to flying trips, including Clearwater, Las Vegas, and Disney World. Between the larger trips, we’ve also woven in plenty of short ones.

You might be wondering if we’re planning to take the next big leap: an international trip. It’s something we’re considering, should the powers at be in the realms of infertility and our bank account eventually find some amenable alignment. As we approach that step, I’ll definitely keep sharing my thoughts.

All Things Messy: Disasters and Joy on the Road to Duluth

All I wanted was some gooey, mountain cheese

I think it’s only fitting that I return to my travel blog in a new year with a transformed voice. I’m not quite the same person I was just a few short months ago. After an unannounced hiatus to focus on progressive organizing and IVF, I’m exhausted and contemplative. I’m less concerned with creating perfectly curated content. There’s so much weighing on all of our minds, and I find myself inclined to forgive rawness. That should include my own. That said, I still care very much about building a space focused on the messy intersection of travel, parenting, and infertility (oh, and finances — they’ll definitely be part of our mess this year).

So, it makes sense to re-enter my “Go Anyway” space with the imperfect and chaotic story of our family trip to Duluth, Minnesota. If this trip were a board game, it would be littered with “lose a turn” squares, along with extra points, just when you least expect them.

The short version is that it probably wasn’t wise to plan a family trip up north in snowy December, just days after an IVF cycle. Pitfalls and emotions were abundant. As always, we learned a bit more about ourselves and who we are while traveling. This adventure was poorly timed, but it meandered its way into some great memories. Let’s dive into the plot twists and insights:

Nervous Planning (my special talent)

This trip was a long time in the making. I took a job as a campaign manager in my home state of Iowa this summer, which meant putting my travel plans on pause. As I knocked door after door and planned fundraisers with my candidate (who was amazing), I knew there was light at the end of the electoral tunnel. I hoped election-night success would be part of that light (it wasn’t), but I was sure there would be a grand adventure.

Of course, IVF has no regard for elections or travel plans. This election spat me out in a heap of grief and progesterone shots. Our next embryo transfer was just weeks away, and the task was to process the election results while accessing enough peace to become pregnant (good luck, me!). That left little time for my oft-daydreamed trip. But I’ve mentioned in the past that traveling helps us process both good and bad IVF news. We knew this trip would serve dual purposes: healing our political wounds and helping us transition into post-transfer life, whatever that might look like.

Our first plan involved a tour of “Christmas towns” across the Midwest. I considered Bardstown, Kentucky, along with Santa Claus, Indiana. Ultimately, this came out a little over budget. And, to be perfectly honest, we weren’t jazzed about traveling out of one bright red state and into a couple of others so soon after the election. Cue our second and final draft.

Bentleyville, in Duluth, MN, was visually stunning, but our two-year old wasn’t quite up to the cold temperatures while we visited during December of 2024.

This plan was a nod to Tim Walz fueled by my love for giant waves, an unfortunate passion for someone in the center of the U.S., but perhaps not a surprising one. When the ocean is too far off, Lake Superior is a first-place second choice. It’s mammoth and mind-blowing. On this trip, I was hoping to catch the end of November’s mighty gales. They would certainly fit my mood.

So, Duluth was our answer. We would stay at Fitger’s Inn (I have so many good things to say about them), explore Canal Park, and visit the Bentleyville Tour of Lights and the Great Lakes Aquarium.

Travel as Distraction

We booked our (refundable) room just days before our pregnancy test. When we got the call from our fertility clinic, it was hard to register a reaction. My emotions were stuck in an agonizing gridlock. HCG was present in my blood. That meant we weren’t not pregnant. But there wasn’t enough in my system to say with confidence that we were pregnant. And it was a Friday, which meant we couldn’t retest until Monday. Cue an absolute anxiety spiral over the next 72 hours. We were prepared to cancel our trip, but we hoped the cancelling would result from good news: a pregnancy requiring a bit of extra monitoring near home.

We got the news late that Monday morning that this outcome wasn’t ours. I had experienced a chemical pregnancy. My HCG level had dropped to nearly nothing, and the pregnancy was no longer progressing.

We had gone through failed embryo transfers before, but not in this particularly harrowing manner. I don’t have too many words for this pain, but I can say that anxiety somehow outweighed grief, even after we got the news. With just one embryo left, and insufficient money or time to try again, the pressure became overwhelming. We kept our travel plans as a way to decompress. Unfortunately, even our simple trip to Duluth was poised to come apart at the seams.

A Series of Pitfalls

We were set to head out of town on Saturday, December 7. So, naturally, the universe sent us an ice storm (Pitfall 1). The worst was due the morning we planned to leave. We agonized over rescheduling — we’re a bit desensitized to Iowa’s winters — and finally decided to postpone by a day. Fitger’s Inn had no qualms about moving our reservation, and they actually charged us less, since Sunday had a less expensive rate. We were off to a great start with them.

On Sunday, we woke up on time, packed the car, and got our toddler ready, all without much delay. We were in good shape. We spent the first four hours of the drive aimlessly rehashing the battle of “Friends” vs. “Seinfeld” (I’m not the world’s most ardent “Friends” defender, but I do loathe “Seinfeld”).

Our first stop would be a late lunch in Minneapolis. We were excited to visit the Minneapolis Christkindl Market. I’ve always enjoyed Christkindlmarket Des Moines, and this event promised to be even more expansive and grand. Plus, there would be raclette. This was actually the main reason I wanted to stop. I didn’t get the chance to truly be pregnant, but I still wound up with cravings.

With cheese in mind, I helped my husband navigate to the correct exit. We peeled off, and BAM: the deepest and most cavernous pothole I’ve ever encountered. It swallowed our passenger-side tires and sunk its teeth in immediately. When it was finished with us, we were left with an utterly undriveable car (Pitfall 2, in case you were wondering).

We hobbled to the nearest gas station, and I spotted someone who seemed to be a police officer (spoiler alert: he wasn’t). I regaled him with the Tale of the Dangerous Potholes That Shouldn’t Exist, and he stared back with ambiguous concern. Later on, my husband clued me in that he was probably an off-duty security guard, not a cop. Let’s call this panic-fueled embarrassment Pitfall 2.5, which we can couple with Pitfall 3: the compressed air wasn’t working. This doesn’t count as a full pitfall, because it wouldn’t have helped, anyway. Our tires were toast.

My husband had the presence of mind to take this photo of our completely obliterated tire during our pit stop in Minneapolis, MN, in December of 2024.

Not-an-officer gave us directions to a nearby tire store, and we made our way over. Quick backstory: My husband’s dream car is a Prius Prime, and we finally acquired one recently, after much to-do. The car is sleek and eco-friendly, as promised, but it’s not the best family-travel vehicle. Putting our daughter in her carseat requires too much awkward bending and kneeling, and room for luggage is scarce. The RAV4 Prime might have been a better choice. On this fateful afternoon in Minneapolis, tire size was the problem. The Prius Prime has extra large tires that Firestone would have to special order (Pitfall 4).

So, we spent our first night in a hotel fortuitously located right across from the tire store (in my imagined conspiracy, the intentional pothole leads to the nearby tire store that drums up business for the neighboring hotel). We did not make it to the Christmas market in time, even though it was walkable. Instead, I soothed my cheese craving with chips and queso, along with a black bean burger, at The Bulldog Downtown. Then, we settled in to wait.

Duluth, at Last

Fast forward to lunchtime the next day, and we were back on the road. The tire arrived overnight, and Firestone managed to squeeze us in as our daughter scattered Cheerios throughout their lobby. We had an amazing brunch at Eggy’s Diner, where I ordered — get ready for this — French toast stuffed with Nutella and peanut butter. Then, we headed north.

This Nutella and peanut butter French toast at Eggy’s Diner in Minneapolis helped soothe our frayed nerves. I ordered it without bananas during our visit in December of 2024.

I’m thrilled to report that a majority of the trip to follow was filled with joy. Our savior, Fitger’s Inn, casually upgraded us to a presidential suite at no extra charge when we arrived. Lakeside wind and gentle, playful snow swept us into our top-floor room with a fireplace, jacuzzi, and kitchen table. Major win.

Let’s break down Fitger’s. I absolutely love this destination. During summer, one of my favorite travel experiences is to traipse down a sunny, cobbled road, exploring the main-street coffee shops, book stores, pubs, and novelty shops. At Fitger’s, you’ll find all of this indoors, on the same campus as your hotel. The inn is located in a historic brewery, and the building houses an entire mall, complete with a taproom, coffee shop, bookstore, specialty grocery store, Mexican restaurant, and several other adorable shops. The whole place was decked out in vintage decorations for Christmas, and the vibe was very easygoing and classic.

This photo captures the magic I felt as we finally arrived at Fitger’s Inn in Duluth, MN, during our trip in December of 2024.

Of course, our room was impeccable. Clean, spacious, and utterly cozy. We’ve stayed at several hotels with jacuzzis over the years, and they can be hit or miss. Sometimes, the water won’t heat up to temperature, or the bubbles don’t work. This one filled up quickly, bubbled perfectly, and it was “just right”.

Canal Park, Bentleyville, Lake, Aquarium

To close out this lengthy but cathartic post, here are some highlights from our time in Duluth:

  • Canal District: A shopping area with a mood, beside the lake and the scenic Aerial Lift Bridge. At places of extremity, I always pick up a pleasantly suspenseful, chilling vibe, and this was no exception. We enjoyed the DeWitt–Seitz Marketplace, Father Time Antiques, and mozzarella sticks at Green Mill. If you’re exploring DeWitt–Seitz with a baby or toddler, note that the changing stations can be found in the restrooms on the ground floor.
  • Bentleyville: A sight to behold. However, our toddler was bothered by the cold temperature, even though we bundled up. She was wow-ed, but she was also crying as we left. The line for Santa was insane, so we didn’t wait. We did really appreciate the complementary popcorn, cocoa, and cookies. It’s nice to know families have access to the whole experience, regardless of income barriers, since entrances is also free. Parking does cost $10.00.
  • Lake Superior: We tried to hike in December with a stroller, and this was a weird choice on our part. We plan to revisit Split Rock Lighthouse State Park and try again when it’s warmer. Although Lake Superior was giving ripples instead of gales, we still got to see a couple breathtaking views at the park. And the hour-long drive up the coast was also enjoyable. 
  • Great Lakes Aquarium: I’ll be sure to update my aquarium round-up post with more details, but in short, this was a lovely stop. We spent about two hours exploring. There was a very active octopus that put on a show, along with a spooky lamprey and an interesting exhibit about Lake Baikal (any Spooky Lake Month fans out there?).
  • Restaurants: I will be craving Pizza Luce every day of my life until we go back. They’re very vegetarian-friendly, and now, they’re the reason I can say I like pineapple on pizza. I ordered The Rustler, which also features BBQ sauce, banana peppers, and mock duck. My husband and I also adored Fitger’s Brewhouse, which offers its own wide variety of veggie options, including Minnesota’s famous wild rice burger.

As we head into 2025, I can’t promise the year won’t pummel me back into a second hiatus. We’re looking ahead at our final(?) IVF cycle, along with some financial hurdles and a mountain of political woes. That said, I’m currently excited about diving back in and (maybe) building an audience who will follow along with me. We’re tentatively planning to keep traveling on a budget, and I’ve got plenty of backlogged learning to post about. With finances in mind, I’m still hopeful about recouping some small returns from this blog someday. But for now, I’m satisfied to simply share.

Disney100 Offers a Museum Vibe, Minus the Boredom, Plus a Little Disney Magic

While not quite linear, our visit with a toddler worked out well

Mathematically, Des Moines, Iowa, might not be the precise spot in the continental U.S. that’s furthest from both Disney parks. But it sure feels like it. So, after our family trip to Walt Disney World in March, I was thrilled to see Disney100: The Exhibition pop up in nearby Kansas City. Although this experience does not include rides, character greetings, or pin trading, it does offer one important element: Disney magic.

My husband and I made the three-ish-hour drive down to Disney100 in late June. We spent a single night at the Home2 Suites downtown and re-visited the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium the next day. Disney100 is located at Union Station, a spot that’s familiar after a previous visit to Science City at Union Station. Disney100 is also a pretty manageable attraction, time-wise, so we made sure to swing through Science City again.

The Disney exhibition starts off with a strong dose of atmosphere in the form of glittery lights and a chance to pose with “Goofy” (a statue) before setting off on the tour. As with any Disney experience, we joined a small line that was queued behind the previous tour group, but our wait was less than 10 minutes. From there, we watched short video that introduced the exhibit and provided some history about Disney and its founder, Walt Disney.

I’ll be the first to say that Disney’s history is not my niche. I’m fully aware that Disney’s past encompasses a range of problematic elements, including some very racist themes and scenes in movies. I don’t embrace Disney as a perfect company — far from it — and I’m not particularly fond of Walt Disney as a person, despite any lack of clarity about his beliefs. As with many fans, my love of Disney comes from an amorphous place of nostalgia and comfort that isn’t entirely rational and consistent. I carry and constantly re-explore the contradictions and nuances inherent in my fandom. I think it’s the only wise way to be a fan.

All of that is to say that I’m not one to cheer when Walt’s face pops up on the screen. For that reason, I worried that this attraction might not be for me. But when the video ended and we moved along to the interactive, museum-style exhibits that followed, I definitely found myself engaged alongside our daughter. There was a heavy focus on intriguing artifacts from movie sets and Disney parks, rather than Walt Disney’s biography, and it was fun peeking around each corner to see if any of my favorites might be highlighted (many were).

Our daughter was too young to appreciate the history or novelty, but she wasn’t too young to recognize some of the movies, or to stop and pose with the character statues placed here and there throughout the attraction. I will flag that visiting with a nearly-two-year old meant that only one of us was engaged in a traditional and orderly museum experience at any given moment. The other was inevitably chasing our daughter from statue to exhibit, with no particular rhyme or reason.

As evidenced by the chasing, we did not use our stroller much during our Disney100 experience, but we did bring it along. We had no trouble navigating through the exhibit with it. We took turns toddler wrangling, and for me, the opportunity to watch her excitement play out was worth skipping some placards. If you’re visiting with a toddler, I would recommend planning for a casual visit. If you want a more thorough and immersive experience, you might want to line up a sitter.

And if you’re looking for a sense of what to expect: A few of my favorite items were Giselle’s dress from the movie “Enchanted”, the Lumier and Cogsworth production models from the live-action “Beauty and the Beast”, the glass slipper from the live-action “Cinderella”, and a couple different “Little Mermaid” items. You’ll also find several Star Wars and Marvel exhibits.

Finally, Disney100 provided a rare opportunity for Disney fans of the Midwest: A chance to wear our Minnie ears! My daughter and I both wore a pair for at least part of the experience, and we walked away with some great pictures.

If you’re looking for food in the immediate area, note that there are a few options right on site at Union Station. There are a couple sit-down restaurants, a coffee shop, a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, and some grab-and-go options. We were running late and ended up grabbing and going. The food wasn’t spectacular, but it was fresh and decent, which isn’t a bad review for prepared food we snagged from a cooler.

This exhibition is unique, and it travels from city to city. For now, it’s parked in Kansas City until September 2, according to the Union Station website. I don’t see an announcement about its next destination, but in the past, it has stopped through Philadelphia, Munich, Chicago, and London.

For us, Disney100 was definitely worth the 3-hour drive and overnight trip. The fact that it was located in Union Station gave us the chance to soak in some Disney at a destination we had already planned to revisit. Whether you visit alongside young children or line up a babysitter, I view it as a fun, doable option.

Six Foods Our Toddler Loved and Loathed at Walt Disney World

No two toddlers are the same, but maybe our dining experience will help you prepare!

Soft pretzels, pizza, macaroni, ice cream. They all sound like winners when it comes to feeding a toddler at Walt Disney World, if not the most healthy winners. But if you have a toddler, you know that chaos is the norm, even when it comes to the most toddler-friendly foods. For that reason, our family approached Disney dining on our family trip in March with a buffet of mixed feelings. We were excited to try all the “big people” food I discovered on TikTok. But we also worried our 19-month-old daughter would refuse everything I scoped out for her (if you’re wondering, only two of the four aforementioned foods went over well).

Nonetheless, our daughter did end up nomming on a reliable selection of meals — especially breakfast foods. But she turned down some unexpected, kid-friendly favorites, as well. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of six foods our toddler enjoyed across Disney World, including Disney Springs and the All-Star Music Resort, along with six foods she promptly threw on the ground.

Foods Our Toddler Loved

Our 19-month-old daughter reliably enjoyed this breakfast at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort during our family trip in March of 2024. She wasn’t big on the tator tots or Mickey Waffle, but my husband and I happily helped with those!

Food Court Breakfast (All-Star Music Resort): In a wonderland of unpredictable options, breakfast turned out to be our guiding star. We took advantage of the wide variety available at the All-Star Music Resort each morning. For our daughter, we ordered eggs, a banana, and a blueberry muffin. With just a little help from Mom and Dad, she devoured this meal consistently. To accommodate these plans and maintain sleep and sanity, we hesitantly gave up our plans to rope drop. And I don’t regret it. I believe the extra sleep and the (relatively) balanced meal made this sacrifice worth it.

Jumbo Pretzel (Magic Kingdom): Spontaneous meals can be tricky with a toddler at Disney World, but well-calibrated expectations can help, along with making a plan whenever possible. I scoped out the menu before most meals on our trip, but lunch at Magic Kingdom was a question mark in our itinerary. After we settled in at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café (where I enjoyed the Sulley Slush), I quickly realized our daughter wouldn’t eat anything on the menu. So, a nearby pretzel cart ended up being our best solution, along with some fruit and applesauce we brought into the parks. It wasn’t the most balanced meal, but she did enjoy it. Disney is known as the most magical place on earth, not the healthiest — we knew what we were getting into.

Via Napoli Pizza (Epcot): Everyone has something to say about the pizza at Via Napoli. Some say it’s overrated, but most reviewers seem to favor it. Our daughter, thankfully, falls in with the latter. She was all about this cheesy, floppy, brick-oven-style pie. That said, this meal was still a wild ride. Other foods were rejected and thrown on the floor, along with toys and anything else in reach. I managed to scarf down a few slices while keeping our daughter fed and keeping the floor (mostly) free of debris. My review of the pizza? Also a thumbs up!

Woody’s Lunch Box Grilled Cheese (Hollywood Studios): This is another item that comes up frequently in reviews, almost always favorably. And our daughter doesn’t disagree. She never says “no” to a grilled cheese, and she ate this one eagerly, despite the hot sun that beat down on our outdoor table. We served this along with some applesauce and raspberries that we brought into the park. Both daughter and mom also nibbled on a Lunch Box Tart! It was a little dry, but delicious.

Quesadilla (Animal Kingdom): If you’ve picked up on a theme, you’re not wrong: Our daughter gravitates toward the classic cheese-carb combo. Within this category, we did manage to change things up at Satu’li Canteen, where we ordered a kids’ quesadilla instead of a grilled cheese. This went over well and accommodated my plans to try Satu’li, after all the good reviews I saw on TikTok. My husband and I (both vegetarians) enjoyed our meals quite a bit, although I ran into some trouble with mobile ordering. I ended up with rice, when I wanted noodles. I think this was mostly user error. After four long days in the parks, my brain was definitely inclined to short circuit.

Satu’li Canteen in Disney’s Animal Kingdom was a hit for our entire family during our trip in March of 2024!

Earl of Sandwich Pizza Bread (Disney Springs): Our expectations weren’t high when we popped into Earl of Sandwich for lunch toward the end of our trip. But this quick-service spot surprised us. The sandwiches were great, and our daughter enthusiastically enjoyed the kids’ pizza bread. We were also glad that this kid’s meal didn’t come with any sides or a drink. For some, that might be a downside. But our daughter was too young for juice, only drinks whole milk, and wouldn’t have touched any of the sides. Which is a nice transition into the not-so-beloved foods she tried below.

Foods Our Toddler Loathed

Mickey Pretzel (All Parks): Our success with the jumbo pretzel in Magic Kingdom definitely did not translate to the Mickey Pretzel, which can be found across the parks. Our daughter rejected this pretzel resoundingly. And, really, who can blame her? These are widely considered bottom-of-the-barrel pretzels. Even toddlers can’t be fooled!

Fruit as a Side (Across Parks): We held out hope throughout our trip that we would order fruit with a kids meal, and our daughter would eat it. But this hope was repeatedly dashed. Don’t get me wrong: Raspberries are among her favorite foods, and she’s also a big fan of strawberries and bananas. But fruits she doesn’t like include oranges, melons, cantaloupes, and grapes: all fruits that tended to pop up in side orders. We had better luck feeding her a banana in the morning and bringing raspberries with us for her to enjoy early in the day.

Macaroni and Cheese (All-Star Music Resort): We wish it weren’t true, but there’s no denying it: Our toddler won’t eat macaroni and cheese. Perhaps this is a byproduct of the fact that I got her hooked on chickpea pasta at home — a healthy decision that I don’t regret. Whatever the reason, it causes plenty of inconvenience when the kids’ menu at any given restaurant leans into macaroni and away from grilled cheese. We hoped this distaste would be intermittent after she tested the macaroni at All-Star Music’s Intermission Food Court. But it held true throughout the trip, until we finally stopped trying.

It may come as no surprise that we didn’t take photos of the foods our daughter rejected. Despite turning her nose at the macaroni and cheese, she loved the grilled cheese at Woody’s Lunch Box in Hollywood Studios during our trip in March of 2024.

Uncrustable (All-Star Music Resort): These pre-packaged PBJs are a classic choice for picky eaters. But not our picky eater. Had our daughter enjoyed Uncrustables, they would have been easy to order throughout the parks or to bring with us. But she firmly refused the one we tried at Intermission Food Court. Call me delusional, but with our trip now three months in the past, I actually bought a box of Uncrustables the other day to try again at home. Here’s hoping her taste has changed on this one! 

Fingerling Potatoes (Epcot): In the section above, I mentioned several items that made their way to the floor at Via Napoli in Epcot. The fingerling potatoes were one of those items. In our worry that she wouldn’t like the pizza, we ordered these as a back-up option. As it turns out, we had nothing to worry about in terms of the pizza. At least I enjoyed a few potatoes that managed to avoid a floor-bound fate.

Cheese Empanada (Epcot): As I’ve established, our daughter loves cheesy carbs. So, we thought the Empanadas con Queso at La Cantina de San Angel would be an easy win. We were wrong. The bite we gave our daughter came right back out almost immediately. Such a waste, because I absolutely loved these!

Bonus Dessert Round

I’m a big fan of the Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar, or “Mickey on a Stick”, but our 19-month-old daughter had no interest during our family trip in March of 2024.

Our Toddler’s Favorite Disney Dessert: The Wookiee Cookie! This giant snack can be found at Backlot Express in Hollywood Studios. Despite her passion for this creme-filled cookie, our daughter certainly didn’t need one to herself. These treats are massive, so it’s easy to share one between parent and toddler.

Our Toddler’s Least Favorite Disney Dessert: Ice cream! Of any kind. More than once, I surely came across as the greedy mom munching on a Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar or Dole Whip while my toddler looked on. I tried to share, but she just wasn’t interested. I think cold is an unpleasant sensation for her that gets in the way. She will occasionally eat ice cream at home, depending on the flavor, but all the ice cream we tried at Disney was a no-go.

That brings my round-up of toddler likes and toddler dislikes to a closes. If you can believe it, I’m still not finished putting together my Disney content from our trip in March. Stay tuned for more Disney tips in the coming weeks!

Our Adventures with a Baby Turned Toddler at Aquariums Across the U.S.

What we loved, and what was missing, on several family visits to the aquarium

Some babies love puppies. Others love teddy bears. But for our baby girl, it’s all about fishies. It’s hard to say why she’s so delighted by shiny scales and flippy fins, but we’re pretty sure our family trips had something to do with it. Before she turned one, we visited three aquariums and several zoos, and we’ve kept that up as she nears her second birthday. With each aquarium, I’ve done my best to scope out amenities and evaluate our experience. That said, some of our adventures pre-date this blog, which means a few details are missing. I plan to update these details as we return to the aquariums in the Midwest (near our home base), and add new details as we visit more. Here’s what I’ve gathered so far.

St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station

This Octopus at the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station was a sight to behold when we visited in March of 2023!

We visited our first aquarium as a family, the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station, when our daughter was about seven months old. She was too young to appreciate everything, but she was definitely enthralled by the movement of the small, tropical fish in their tanks. As a mom, I’m always on the lookout for a spark in my daughter’s eye — a sign that something has caught her fancy. This was especially true before she started gesturing and talking. The fish at the St. Louis Aquarium definitely created a spark, and that spark inspired several more aquarium journeys to come. Here’s a rundown of our time at the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station: 

What We Liked: This aquarium was just right for our family, in terms of size and scope. It wasn’t too big, and it wasn’t too small. You won’t find larger animals, like dolphins and seals, but you will find sharks and other ocean wildlife. We also enjoyed the unique entrance — a simulated train ride, in keeping with the “Union Station” theme. Lastly, the parking here was a plus. It was paid parking, but we easily found a spot close to the door. 

What We Didn’t Like: We’re a family of vegetarians, and the menu at the nearby 1894 Cafe wasn’t great. There was an alternative, the Soda Fountain, but the wait was much too long without a reservation. If you’re looking for on-site options beyond concession basics, I would recommend making a reservation at the Soda Fountain. 

Baby/Toddler-Friendliness: The inspiration for this blog hadn’t yet hit for this visit, so some details are a bit fuzzy. That said, the aquarium’s website specifically mentions a private nursing room located in the women’s restroom on the first floor. I know I pumped during our visit, and I don’t remember running into any trouble. Likewise, I don’t remember any trouble changing diapers. After I pumped, we took turns baby-wearing using our Infantino convertible carrier. This allowed our daughter to face forward and see all the fishies. I’m sure we also brought our stroller along. The aquarium’s website recommends leaving strollers behind, but they aren’t prohibited. 

Favorite Animal: I’m a sucker for an octopus (suction cup pun entirely intended), and the octopus at this aquarium was in full splendor! Think Ursula from the Little Mermaid, but bright pink — quite a creature to behold.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium

I love visiting coastal zoos and aquariums, like the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Florida.

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium, located in Clearwater, Florida, was part of our daughter’s first big adventure traveling by air and seeing the ocean. She was roughly nine months old. During this visit, we noticed that she was particularly enchanted by the Clownfish, and that proclivity hasn’t gone away. We’re definitely a “Finding Nemo” family, at this point. Here are the details about our aquarium visit in Clearwater: 

Parking: The roadway from our hotel on Clearwater Beach to the aquarium was a bit congested, but once we arrived on site, parking was straightforward. There was a fee, but it wasn’t outrageous. 

What We Liked: As a Midwesterner, I always appreciate the spacious, open-air vibe that accompanies so many coastal attractions. This was no exception. The fresh air was nice, but there were also spots to duck indoors for some air-conditioning. Turtles are a favorite of mine, so I especially enjoyed Turtle Cove. 

What We Didn’t Like: This is one of the largest aquariums we’ve visited, but from my perspective, the variety of animals didn’t live up to its size. I enjoyed the spaciousness, but some of the space seemed under-utilized. This could just mean the aquarium has room to grow, and I’m all for ensuring the animals have enough space. Overall, this complaint wasn’t a major factor in our experience. I’ll go into more detail about baby-friendly amenities below. 

Baby/Toddler-Friendliness: I emailed ahead of time to ask about family restrooms and nursing spaces. Someone replied right away to let me know about two family restrooms on the third level of the aquarium. However, there is no dedicated nursing space. I don’t remember running into any trouble pumping or changing our daughter’s diaper, but as with Union Station, I wasn’t yet tracking details for my blog. I do recall that we had no trouble navigating with a stroller, although we used our Infantino carrier throughout most of our visit, so our daughter could see everything. Aside from the lack of a nursing room, this aquarium met our needs. 

Favorite Animal: Along with the turtles, the standout exhibit for us was, of course, the Clownfish! I just re-watched the video we took of our daughter reaching out excitedly toward the tank, and it was definitely a magical moment. To this day, she gets excited when she spots clownfish pictures or toys. 

Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay

I didn’t expect to find a Komodo Dragon at the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay!

The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay, located inside the Mandalay Bay resort along the Las Vegas Strip, was full of surprises. You can read all about our experience at Mandalay Bay and across the Las Vegas Strip in an earlier blog post, but I’ll mention some highlights here: 

Parking: There was a large parking garage on site, and it was pretty straightforward. We walked to a lot of destinations along the Strip, but we did end up driving to Mandalay Bay. That said, you might want to consider walking, if you’re staying at a nearby resort. 

What We Liked: This aquarium had a surprisingly wide variety of animals for its size and location! I was expecting something small and basic, but I feel like our experience was more or less on par with other aquariums we’ve visited. Piranhas are just one example of the unique animals you’ll find. 

What We Didn’t Like: I really don’t have any complaints about the aquarium itself, aside from the lack of baby-friendly amenities that I’ll describe below. The price of admission is a bit high ($29 to $36 for adults as of May 2024, depending on whether you want a timed ticket). This is on par with other aquariums, but those other aquariums usually offer hands-on activities for kids or other auxiliary experiences that were mostly absent at this location. 

Baby/Toddler-Friendliness: Mandalay Bay Resort offers very few baby-friendly amenities. There is one restroom on-site at the aquarium with a changing table, so I would recommend taking advantage of it. Aside from this restroom, I confirmed in 2023 that there are not any family restrooms or public lactation spaces on site at the resort. This aquarium is also more compact than others, so it’s slightly harder to navigate with a stroller, but we didn’t run into much trouble. As with the other two aquariums I’ve mentioned, we carried our daughter forward-facing in our Infantino carrier to make sure she could see! 

Favorite Animal: I was quite surprised and pleased to see a Komodo Dragon! You don’t find these giant lizards at most aquariums. I love reptiles, so I definitely paused to admire this unique specimen. 

National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

Our daughter usually prefers Clownfish, but this Lionfish at the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium definitely won a place in her heart!

The National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium is located right in our home state of Iowa, along the Mississippi River in Dubuque. Iowa lacks the variety of exciting attractions you might find in a more populated state, so this aquarium is definitely a standout. My husband and I visited several times before our daughter was born, and we took her for the first time as a toddler just a few weeks ago, in May of 2024. We enjoyed an outstanding visit, even on a rainy day! Here are the details: 

Parking: There’s plenty of free parking right on site. We’ve never run into any trouble finding a spot. Arguably, the parking situation is better here than at any other aquarium we’ve visited. 

What We Liked: There are two distinct sections focused on freshwater and saltwater creatures. Between them, you can duck outside and visit the raptors that are housed on-site. There’s also a maker space for kids and some surrounding, hands-on exhibits located to the left of the entrance in the freshwater half of the aquarium. Generally, I appreciate this set up. Our daughter enjoyed the hands-on exhibits, which included a variety of science-oriented activities, and the toys in the maker space. She also loved the fish tanks that were on her level. When we entered, she walked straight up to the first tank she saw and stared in awe for almost ten minutes, pointing excitedly at the freshwater fish. 

What We Didn’t Like: My only complaint on our last visit was the rain. Obviously, the aquarium can’t control that! However, there are a few outdoor exhibits that we missed, including the birds (which are among my favorites). It’s also worth noting that you won’t find any larger animals at this aquarium, like seals or dolphins. But this makes sense at a Midwest aquarium, particularly one that’s focused on the nearby river. 

Favorite Animal: Our daughter’s newest discovery on this trip was the Lionfish! When we visited the gift shop at the end (I’m a sucker for gift shops), I gave her a choice between a stuffed Clownfish — her standby favorite — and a stuffed Lionfish. She chose the latter, and she’s still excited to play with him at home! 

Sea Life at Mall of America

Our two-and-a-half-year-old daughter was pretty impressed by the 300-foot tunnel at Sea Life at the Mall of America during our visit in March of 2025.

As a millennial, I grew up in the era of malls (which predates the current era of dying malls). And as an Iowan, the most majestic mall of all has always been the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, which naturally features its own aquarium. My husband and I have seen both mall and aquarium several times, including a visit when our daughter was just four months old. In March of 2025, we went back, and she had the opportunity to take it all in as a two-and-a-half-year-old toddler.

Parking: We stayed at the Element Bloomington right across the street from the mall, which allowed us to cross a single (albeit, multi-lane) street and access the closest entrance to the aquarium.

What We Liked: The predominant feature of Sea Life at Mall of America is its 300-foot underwater tunnel, and the views are quite impressive. As you make your way through, you’ll spot a variety of sharks, turtles, sawfish, manta rays, and other creatures. Our daughter was in awe, which means we fell in love all over again.

What We Didn’t Like: There’s a rainforest exhibit that leads into the tunnel — the type of exhibit I would normally love. But during our visit, we were stuck in a long queue that moved very slowly. We found ourselves at a standstill multiple times with no animals in sight. I wish there had been more paths and open space, allowing guests to move freely.

Baby/Toddler-Friendliness: The crowded, single-file nature of this aquarium makes it a bit tricky to navigate with a stroller, but we made it through without incident. One might be tempted to go stroller-free, but it’s also very tough for baby and toddler parents to get around the mall without one. We haven’t needed the aquarium restrooms, but the mall offers three private lactation spaces and several family restrooms. I’ve used and appreciated the lactation rooms for breastfeeding and pumping, despite a very awkward encounter. A mall security guard demanded access to the room just as I was finishing up (thankfully, I was fully clothed). I think he suspected I was there for some purpose other than nursing. Much to his embarrassment, I was using it just as advertised.

Favorite Animal: Lots of aquariums have clownfish, but there were at least a dozen flashing their orange and black scales in the tank at Sea Life. My daughter and I also appreciated the emerald tree boa.

That’s all, for now! I plan to update this post periodically, so keep an eye out! 

How It Went on our Disney Trip with a Young Toddler

Between the rides, shows, beach, and plane, we nailed three out of four. Who can guess which one went awry (✈️👀)?

If you’re looking for a play-by-play of Disney World with a toddler, you’ve come to the right place. In my last post, I focused on five surprising takeaways we learned during our trip. In this post, my goal is to walk through our experience on the plane, on the rides, at the shows, and at Cocoa Beach. We came away believing that Disney World is absolutely doable with a young toddler, as long as you plan ahead and prepare to be flexible. That way, you’ll have the right tools, strategies, and mindset to respond to your toddler’s needs as they arise. With that thought in mind, here’s how it went for us:

How It Went on the Plane

Let’s go ahead and get the rough patch out of the way! Flying with a baby and flying with a toddler are two very different things. If you’ve read my post about flying with a baby, a few tips do carry over. I would still recommend arriving at the airport extra early, preparing for scrutiny in the security line, and shopping for diapers when you arrive at your destination to save space. What’s changed? Primarily, the amount of sheer energy packed inside our tiny child, as well as her mobility. Here’s how things went on our way to Orlando and how we managed (or failed to manage) that energy:

Handling Pre-Flight Wiggles: We flew out of an airport that was about two hours away from home. You know what that means: Naptime. By the time we checked in for our flight, our daughter was well rested and ready to get moving. We tried to keep this to a minimum as we waited, but looking back, that was a big mistake. Instead of wearing herself out, she ended up taking all that energy with her on the plane. And, in turn, it took all the energy out of me just to keep her half-entertained through the first 2 hours of the flight (as we started descending, her impeccable timing compelled her to finally fall asleep). In the future, we plan to set aside some extra wiggle room — literally, and under careful supervision — while we wait to board. We’ll also avoid long car rides beforehand, whenever possible.

Navigating the Airport: After flying with a toddler for the first time, we’ve come to the conclusion that it makes sense to minimize carry-on luggage and maximize checked bags. Our pre-toddler selves would be very confused by this advice. Don’t you want to save money and time? we might ask our future selves. We would reply that our new goal is to move through the airport with ease, leaving our hands free to push the stroller, grab our wandering toddler, and raid her diaper bag for snacks and toys. This strategy also makes it easier to avoid bumping every single person as we make our way down the aisle of the plane.

Flying Home: The flight home was much smoother for our daughter. We had an early departure and a much shorter drive, so sleep was achievable. In this case, I was the fussy one. We accidentally left our daughter’s shoes in the rental car as we hurried to drop it off, and, although we caught the mistake right away, there was no one at the counter yet who could let us back in to get them. I have no shame admitting that I’m sentimental about these shoes — they’re her first pair. I spent about 45 minutes on the drive home trying to bypass Avis Car Rental’s automated line and reach the right human. I was a polite, but very squeaky wheel, and it worked. I sent packing materials, and Avis shipped the shoes back!

How It Went on Rides

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway in Hollywood Studios was one of my daughter’s favorites during our family trip in March of 2024, and one of my favorites, as well!

In my previous post, I explained my skepticism about “all-ages” rides. But I’m delighted to report that all nine of the rides we took our daughter on, across all four parks, were safe and enjoyable for our whole family, regardless of age.

Below is a ranked list and brief description of the rides we tried with our daughter (in the next section, I’ll discuss shows). I made my best guess about the ones she enjoyed most and least. No rides were a disaster for us, and most evoked quiet, wide-eyed curiosity. It’s also worth noting that we did Magic Kingdom on our first day, and it took her some time to get acquainted with the concept of rides. Without further ado:

  1. Toy Story Mania (Hollywood Studios): This is an interactive ride, and my daughter was all about interacting! She loved grabbing the blaster and helping Mommy shoot at the targets.
  2. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway (Hollywood Studios): Disney pulls out all the stops on this ride in terms of surprises and effects, and our daughter was enchanted by all of it.
  3. The Seas with Nemo & Friends (Epcot): Our daughter loves fishies and “Finding Nemo”, so this ride was a no-brainer that she found quite compelling.
  4. Spaceship Earth (Epcot): Our daughter was intrigued by all the scenes with mannequins, as well as the lights at the end.
  5. Na’vi River Journey (Animal Kingdom): This is one of her Dad’s favorites, and she seemed quietly captivated, as well.
  6. Under the Sea (Magic Kingdom): This was our daughter’s second ride. She was still getting the hang of it, but she did point and show some curiosity.
  7. Pirates of the Caribbean (Magic Kingdom): This ride seemed fine in her estimation. She wasn’t super impressed, but I wouldn’t say she was bored.
  8. It’s a Small World (Magic Kingdom): This was our daughter’s first ride in the parks, so confusion was the reigning emotion, as opposed to enthusiasm.
  9. Kilimanjaro Safaris (Animal Kingdom): I’m sure she would have liked this one, because she loves giraffes! Unfortunately, she slept right through it. That said, I was able to hold her comfortably against my shoulder the entire ride.

How It Went at Shows

I’m a bird lover, so I’ve always enjoyed the Enchanted Tiki Room. I was delighted to note that my daughter loved it, as well, on our family trip in March of 2024.

I was truly impressed by our daughter’s attention span at shows across all four Disney Parks. In fact, she preferred some of the shows to the rides. The Enchanted Tiki Room at Magic Kingdom was one of her favorites. Here’s a breakdown of the shows we did:

Enchanted Tiki Room (Magic Kingdom): This was a great option. The line wasn’t too long, and it offered an entertaining pre-show. There was lots of music, and our daughter loved the moving tiki statues. The show was also short — perfect for a little one’s attention span.

Happily Ever After (Magic Kingdom): We took a bit of a risk staying late for the fireworks at Magic Kingdom, and it was definitely worth it. This was our daughter’s first fireworks show, and it will be hard to top! It’s worth noting that she did start getting fussy around dinner time. But as soon as the fireworks started, she calmed down.

The American Adventure (Epcot): I won’t lie — this one put her to sleep. And that’s exactly what we wanted. This show isn’t my personal favorite, but at my dad’s suggestion, we popped in to enjoy the air-conditioning and help our daughter stick to a rough nap schedule. It worked like a charm, so I can’t say I regret it.

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular (Hollywood Studios): This show was pretty touch and go. Our daughter paid attention during the special effects, but she got restless during the interstitial dialogue. Looking back, it probably wasn’t the best choice for someone so young, if only because it didn’t hold her attention. That said, we did make it through the whole show without having to get up and leave.

Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…And Beyond! (Animal Kingdom): We expected the Nemo show to be her favorite, and she did enjoy it. But she wasn’t wow-ed the way I anticipated. I think she will appreciate this one a bit more in a couple years. For now, she was simply quiet and engaged. On the other hand, I enjoyed this one more than I expected!

How It Went at the Ocean

Our daughter met the ocean with a bit of hesitation and plenty of curiosity. We loved our visit to Alan Shepard Park in Cocoa Beach in March of 2024!

As much as I love Disney, our excursion to Cocoa Beach was among my favorite days on the trip. I had hesitations about taking a toddler to the ocean — especially a toddler who loves to dart and zip. But the sheer intensity of the big, blue water managed to subdue her and fill her with tentative wonder.

She was slightly frightened, so we did our best to find a spot where she felt comfortable. We ended up spending most of our time at the water’s edge playing in the sand. Once she familiarized herself, she got into the zone, filling buckets and shovels and dumping them out. She and my husband built a sand castle (absolutely adorable), and she was happy to stay in one spot playing for much longer than usual. She also loved the seashells I collected for her.

The hot Florida sun was definitely a concern for us, so we came prepared. We brought toddler-friendly sunscreen, chose a swimsuit with long sleeves, and kept her in a sun hat at all times. We also rented an umbrella on the beach, although we probably could have done without it. We made the most use of it as we were drying off and cleaning up before we headed back to the car.

We had planned to visit the Cocoa Beach Pier, but when we arrived, that area was pretty crowded. We made a last-minute decision to settle in at Alan Shepard Park instead, and this was a great choice! The beach was a bit crowded, but not in an overbearing way. And affordable parking was available right along the beach! The beach itself was expansive, clean, and gorgeous: the perfect place to watch my daughter soak in the experience.

What Our Family Learned Taking a Young Toddler to Disney World

Is anywhere truly toddler-friendly anyway?

Most people think of Disney World as quintessentially child-friendly. It’s basically an entire city built with children in mind. And I believe it’s true that Disney offers something for children of all ages. When I was 11 years old, a family road trip to Disney World ignited my love of travel. Years later, my 19-month-old daughter’s eyes lit up when she actually met Minnie Mouse.

That said, there is a distinction between “child-friendly” and “toddler-friendly”, and Disney World tends to lean toward the former. During our family’s six-day Orlando stay in March of 2024, we took a crash course in navigating spaces intended for older children while caring for a toddler. We made some surprising discoveries and confirmed some notions that completely checked out. By the end, we knew enough to improve our tactics and do it all again. Unfortunately, both my husband and our bank account frown on the idea of two Disney trips in one year.

Through all of our learning, I found Disney to be doable and enjoyable with a toddler. The key is to consider the trip through your child’s eyes, regardless of their age. Don’t assume that simply being at Disney will meet their needs, and prepare to adjust along the way as you learn what’s best for them. Hopefully, your child will love some combination of the rides, shows, characters, and new foods. But these features don’t negate the basics: naps, familiar foods, and space to run around.

Based on the sheer number of takeaways I came home with, I’ve decided to split my learning into two posts, focused on “What Our Family Learned” and “How It Went”. In this “What Our Family Learned” post, I’ll share five takeaways that caught us off guard. In my upcoming “How it Went” post, I’ll provide a synopsis of our trip ranging from the plane to the parks to the beach. Without further ado, here’s what we learned:

Build in Time to Run Around

Toddlers need stroller-free time to wiggle. It’s well known advice, but it’s harder to follow at Disney World than you might think. When I describe Disney as more child-friendly than toddler-friendly, this is the example I would reference. We were surprised to find so few dedicated and contained spaces for little people to simply run around. When we took advantage of the ones we did find, our daughter was overjoyed. She loved these spaces easily as much as the rides, if not more.

The first one we checked out was Swiss Family Treehouse in Magic Kingdom. This winding, woodsy attraction is full of opportunities to climb and explore. Note that the path, as the name suggests, makes its way up into the treetops. I’m afraid of heights, so this irrationally bothered me, even though the path was safe and fully protected with guardrails.

Our daughter stretched her little legs, climbing and running to her heart’s content at The Boneyard in Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

The other wiggle-friendly attraction we enjoyed was The Boneyard in Animal Kingdom. Looking back, I found the most smiles in photos of our daughter running around among the faux boulders and dinosaur bones. I expected this attraction to involve digging and sand, but it doesn’t. It’s a spacious, clean spot for running and climbing, and it offers at least a few shaded perches for big people to rest.

Outside these spaces, we did our best to provide closely monitored, stroller-free time whenever it made sense. Our daughter isn’t quite old enough to walk from point A to point B reliably, or hold hands for long durations, so each of these stroller breaks was its own little adventure with plenty of chasing.

The character lines were one, key spot where we ditched the stroller. We separated, leaving one or two adults in line to keep our place, and allowed our daughter to run around nearby. Both times we did this, everyone was very understanding when we squeezed back in line at the last minute. This helped our daughter truly enjoy her precious moments with Minnie Mouse.

Rent — or Bring — a Full-Size Stroller

On previous vacations, my husband and I have noted all the lightweight umbrella strollers around us, while we hauled our more robust travel system. I started to think, are we doing this wrong? So, I finally said to myself, that’s what we should do next time.

Turns out, I was mistaken. At Disney with a toddler, you absolutely want a full-size stroller. This became apparent on day one, when our daughter fell asleep around nap time in an uncomfortable, upright position. If you’re not making a pit stop at your hotel after lunch — we simply couldn’t make time — then you’ll need a stroller that reclines and offers full sun protection.

We ended up renting a stroller through Kingdom Strollers, an off-campus option, after reading that Disney strollers do not recline. We rented the basic Britax City Mini Single, and we really liked it. The price was reasonable — about $65 for three days, including tax — and the process was fairly smooth. We booked online and chose our pick-up and drop-off times. We were able to handle these exchanges in our Disney hotel lobby, which was very convenient.

We didn’t take any great pictures of the stroller we rented from Kingdom Strollers in Orlando, but here’s a shot of it in action at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

Aside from taking our umbrella stroller to Magic Kingdom on the first day, we might have actually stumbled on the right overall stroller combination. It’s hard to imagine navigating the airport without a stroller, but it’s also strenuous to travel with a large one. Allegiant Air allows you to gate check strollers for free, but we’ve had trouble finding a stroller bag that’s big enough, and we don’t like the idea of stashing our stroller on a plane without a protective bag.

Navigating the airport and short excursions with an umbrella stroller makes sense to us, along with renting the real deal for the parks. If you go with this plan, we also recommend a pair of handle extenders. Our Minnie Mouse stroller has short handles, and our backs don’t like hunching over to push it. This pair of extenders from Wheesir Designs on Etsy solved the problem for us at Disney and at home.

Make Time for a Big Breakfast

At Disney, you’re sure to be enticed by at least a few interesting food options…unless you’re under three. Our daughter’s adventurous days of trying new foods without a battle have, for the most part, unfortunately passed. At Disney, she turned away a surprising array of child-friendly favorites, including mac & cheese, roasted potatoes, and ice cream. 

But one thing she absolutely loved was her predictable Disney Resort breakfast at the All-Star Music Resort. Every morning, she enthusiastically fueled up on blueberry muffins, scrambled eggs, and bananas. That’s a huge meal for a little girl! 

This may not be the best photo, but here’s the breakfast we relied on each morning before hitting the parks. It’s got all our daughter’s favorites, plus some carbs and coffee for mom and dad!

Knowing she would reliably eat these foods, we consistently made time for breakfast at our resort, sacrificing our plans to rope drop. And it was definitely worth it. Starting the day with a big meal helped deter our worries when she picked at (or, more accurately, threw aside) her lunch or dinner.

Expect Genie + Confusion

I’ll say right up front that I am not a fan of Genie +. I am a self-proclaimed Disney Adult, and I’ve visited Disney multiple times as a grown-up without kids. In the past, Genie + might have made more sense for me (although I doubt my 20-something, millennial self would have paid for it). 

As a toddler parent, Genie + just doesn’t seem family-friendly. It caters to adults navigating the parks without children, as well as locals who have the time to practice and (maybe) families with older children. At the very least, it caters to parents with different learning styles than mine. I say this because I learn by doing. And it’s hard to think while you’re doing anything and caring for a toddler at the same time. Even though I did research beforehand, Genie + was complicated and stressful to use when it counted.

I should note that this post is not meant to explain Genie +. For that, I would recommend the blog, Mouse Hacking, and this amazingly succinct TikTok video that came out right after our trip. In a couple sentences, Genie + is a paid service that allows you access faster lines, called Lightning Lanes, mostly (but not exclusively) one at a time. This is done through a menu of time slots on the My Disney Experience App. 

The first day we used Genie + was at Hollywood Studios. I pulled the app open bright and early at 7:02 a.m. Time slots for rides open up at 7:00 a.m. sharp, and those two minutes ended up being crucial. I missed all the morning and afternoon slots for the new roller coaster, Slinky Dog Dash. Believing I could only book one ride at a time — we later learned there are exceptions — I passed on the evening slot.  And because the stand-by line for Slinky Dog was always over an hour, I missed it altogether. 

One of my only regrets from our family trip to Disney World in March of 2024 is buying Genie + just a couple minutes too late on our Hollywood Studios day and missing my chance to ride Slinky Dog Dash. We opted not to wait in its more-than-an-hour standby line on our trip with a toddler, but we enjoyed admiring the ride from the sidelines.

But this is where the tone of my review changes. Once we got the hang of Genie +, it definitely came in handy. Our toddler was, understandably, not a fan of long lines. I’m sure we avoided dozens of fussy moments and, ultimately, rode on more rides as a result of the service. It also came in handy when we left our daughter with grandpa to check out a few rides on our own, cutting down on unnecessary time apart. 

Strangely, we enjoyed Genie + the most at Animal Kingdom, a fairly low-stakes park. We were able to zip on and off pretty much any ride we wanted, and we walked onto Expedition Everest twice: Once in the morning with Genie + and once in the late afternoon, before the park closed. There was less pressure to reserve rides quickly, but we still benefited from shorter lines.

If you can afford it, I would recommend building in a Genie + “practice day”. Use it at Animal Kingdom or Epcot before entering the ring at Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios, so you don’t miss any favorites.

All-Ages Rides Really Are for All Ages

Our daughter absolutely loved Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway during our visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in March of 2024. It was also one of my favorites!

Before we arrived at Disney, I had trouble envisioning exactly how our wiggly toddler would stay safe and secure on any ride. I was very dubious of the term “all-ages”. But this wasn’t false advertising. Disney World has roughly two dozen all-ages rides, not including shows, character greetings, and other experiences. Our daughter rode and enjoyed nine of these.

At the parks, the mechanics of riding with our daughter just clicked. She sat on my lap, my husband’s lap, or her grandpa’s lap every time. The process of boarding with her was always intuitive. We didn’t run into any issues holding her and getting safely seated, and I consistently felt like I was able to keep her snug and secure. 

Our daughter surprised us by preferring the all-ages rides at Hollywood Studios. You can read more about each ride we did and the rest of our experience at Disney World in my upcoming “How it Went” post! 

Why We Traveled to Disney in the Middle of IVF

A chapter in our story of secondary infertility and parenting

IVF comes with lots of questions, heartbreaks, needle pricks, and hopefully — eventually — a few triumphs. But it also comes with calendars. For fertility patients, conflicting calendars swirl around day-in and day-out, refusing to play nice and creating chaos. For me, one of the most difficult challenges of infertility has been learning to grasp all these calendars and weave them into a  workable arrangement. Through this challenge, I’ve reinforced my belief in the importance of taking adventures, even when the calendars in my life say “no”.

Let’s take these calendars one at a time. For starters, there are the typical calendars: day-to-day plans, work schedules, holidays. These calendars alone sometimes dominate my life. From there, you have the more theoretical, long-term calendars. Rough timelines of future events, like buying a new house, or moving to a new city. Growing your family. Taking your daughter to Disney World for the first time.

Finally, there’s the IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) calendar. This one is a bit more concrete. Our fertility doctor sends us literal calendar files that detail when to start and stop certain medications and injections, when to go in for ultrasounds and blood draws, and the tentative dates for the big moments during IVF: egg retrieval and embryo transfer. There’s a bit of flexibility, but, if all goes well, the schedule is mostly fixed.

Those who have gone through infertility might recognize this combination of McDonalds fries, cozy socks, and a pineapple icon. All three are symbols of good luck associated with a successful embryo transfer.

The trouble is, there’s actually one more calendar at play: the overarching, unknowable calendar of the body. We all do our best to guess what this calendar might look like. Our clinic prescribes certain hormones at certain times to try and chart a course. But my body often responds in unpredictable ways. When this happens, another IVF calendar comes off the refrigerator and goes into the recycling bin, and we end up finding a way to fit the new one around the other plans we’ve carefully balanced. We’ve been doing this, again and again, for years.

Once, those calendars aligned with the stars and gave us our daughter. Subsequent pregnancy calendars and breastfeeding calendars eventually led to a new set of more abstract calendars. We started imagining all the adventures we would take with her. Her first time at the ocean, the apple orchard, the aquarium, the zoo, the science center…she was pretty young for all of these, but we had no regrets whatsoever. We had spent years daydreaming about these firsts, and we wasted no time starting to live those dreams.

For me, Disney World was among the most important adventures. Disney recurs again and again in my life, marking various milestones. It was my family’s first big road trip when I was eleven years old and one of the catalysts for my love of travel. The next year, we took a road trip with a stop at Disneyland. I returned to Florida with my high school’s music program and eventually went back as part of the Disney College Program in 2008. That year, I spent four months working long, hot shifts at ice cream carts and pretzel stands in Animal Kingdom…and I still managed to come away loving Disney. Years later, my husband and I returned for the first few days of our honeymoon. We even spent a day at Disneyland Paris in 2017.

It’s me! I’m absolutely loving our family’s first trip to Disney World in 1998. We visited in December, and I remember a “snowstorm” of suds that we danced in at one of the parks. This is a photo from that night.

So, it felt natural to start planning our daughter’s first trip to Disney on the early side. These plans were accelerated by another looming series of calendars. In late 2023, we started a new IVF cycle, in hopes of welcoming a new baby in 2025. This left us with a choice: Do Disney right away, in the middle of IVF, or wait until pregnancy, the newborn days, or later still. To me, it made the most sense to create that memory without delay, rather than postponing indefinitely until the most convenient time. After all, that’s the philosophy that led to the creation of this blog.

And I believe we made the right call. At home after the trip, it’s clear that our daughter’s brain lit up with new connections in Florida. She’s communicating with us more every day, and she’s pointing out an increasing number of things in her environment with even more curiosity than before.

We also created some major memories for all the big people, including my dad, who joined us and spent some dedicated bonding time with our daughter. These memories are already buoying me through our preparations for the next round of IVF injections.

We made the right choice taking the trip, but that doesn’t mean it was straightforward. The calendars in our lives did their best to befuddle our adventure. The easiest way share this part of the story is with a timeline:

  • December 2023: We prepare for a new cycle of IVF and start planning Disney
  • Early January 2024: We start the new cycle and book our first set of Disney dates
  • Mid-January: A cyst on my ovary stops our cycle dead in its tracks
  • Days Later: A second ultrasound confirms the cyst hasn’t resolved
  • Late January: We start a new cycle and deliberate over a new set of Disney dates that won’t interfere with our revised IVF calendar — or other, theoretical IVF calendars, in case this one also goes wrong
  • Early February: We change our Disney and flight dates to the only week in March that makes sense financially and practically — unfortunately, it’s Spring Break. If our cycle goes well, we’ll be finished with our egg retrieval, and we’ll take a natural pause during the trip. If the cycle is delayed again, we might end up traveling while I’m on birth control to prepare for a new cycle. This is doable, but not ideal, because I sometimes experience annoying side effects. We cross our fingers.
  • Mid-February: The cyst is still there, but smaller. We move forward with injections.
  • Late February: Our cycle is canceled. My ovaries create too few follicles, or spaces for eggs to grow. We’re devastated.
  • Early March: We wait to see when my next period will start. If it starts before Disney, I’ll need to take birth control on the trip (downside), but we’ll get to move forward with our next cycle more quickly when we return home (upside).
  • Five Days Before Disney: My period starts. We hurry in for an appointment and start our next cycle the day before we get on the plane.
  • Mid-March: We head to Disney! I take my birth control every night before bed in an attempt to avoid side effects…and it works!
  • Late March: We return home, prepare for another round of injections, and cross our fingers.

As you can imagine, this timeline was fraught with moments of anxiety and sadness between the major bullet points. More than once, we considered canceling the trip altogether. Worse still, we worried that this second attempt at IVF would ultimately fail. It was clear throughout our planning that we needed to prepare for all outcomes, both practically and emotionally.

Our Disney World honeymoon in 2016, complete with our “Happily Ever After” button!

To prepare practically, I researched all the fine print associated with rescheduling or canceling both our Disney dates and our flights, and I wasn’t surprised at all when that information came in handy. Both changes involved a lengthy phone conversation, but I walked away successful, having spent less than $200 extra for a new itinerary with one day added.

In terms of emotional preparations, I’ve come to the conclusion that there are some outcomes that will inevitably engulf you, regardless of how you steel yourself. Travel is a strategy I use to mitigate the waves of inevitable emotion throughout IVF. This time around, I obsessed over Disney restaurant reservations, ideal ride itineraries, and the nuances of Disney’s Genie + service rather than focusing all that energy on my unpredictable body. For the most part, the distraction worked. I put on a pair of Minnie ears, took my daughter’s hand, and we tackled the messy world with as much wonder as possible, while all the unknowns came our way.