Seven Reasons to Plan a Kid-Free Getaway

This past week, Mr. P and I spent a few glorious, gin-soaked days in Savannah, Georgia.

We truly loved Savannah. I loved the way the jasmine and honeysuckle smelled when we walked through the city’s 22 park-like squares. The way the locals stopped us on the street to offer us help and suggestions when we were lost, their accents like, as Andy on The Office says, “molasses just sort of spillin’ out of their mouths.”

I loved the waitress, who after I told I don’t like sweet tea, looked at me with grave concern and whispered, “You don’t like sweet tea?” before patting my hand with mother-like compassion.

As much as I loved Savannah, what I really loved was getting some well-needed time away to reconnect with the husband. What we discovered are seven reasons why traveling sans kids is a good idea once in a while:

1. Freedom:  Savannah is a very family-friendly city, however, getting to enjoy its squares, fine restaurants, historic homes and ghost tours was exceedingly less stressful without wrangling a Southern gothic-inspired preschooler who dramatically collapses on the park grounds moaning, “But mah legs hurt too bad to walk to the hotel! Bring me my smelling salts and two fingers of brandy, would you, honey?”

I love traveling with my children, but there are just some cities at this period in my life I want to experience with only the hubby.

2. Conversation: Remember when you were dating and you and your significant other would have long existential discussions about Pulp Fiction and Pearl Jam lyrics? On vacation, without the stress of kids, two jobs and housework, you can revisit that time in your life and have conversations free of the words: potty, Foofa, fruit snacks, sippy cup, laundry and butt paste.

3. Sex: On vacation, you can have sex in the middle of the day without worrying that a toddler will bang on the door asking for water. Even better – you can nap in the middle of the day without worrying that a toddler will bang on the door asking for water.

4. Liquor. Lots and lots of liquor. Call me old-fashioned, but I don’t think it’s PC to get sloshed with your kids in tow (not to mention the dirty looks one gets when bringing a Care Bears thermos full of amaretto to playgroup). In Savannah, one of two major cities that allows for open containers in the street, an ice-cold Malibu and pineapple became my sweet, sweet shopping-and-sightseeing companion since the Little P’s were home safe and sound with Grandma.

5. No set bedtimes. During vacation, you can stay out past 8 p.m. and sleep past 8 a.m. However, you’ll still wake up at 5 a.m. since having children has reset your body’s internal clock, but just knowing you could sleep until 8 a.m. is a thrill in itself.

6. Museums:  Savannah’s historic homes and museums, including the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences, are packed with priceless artwork and antiques. Since the kids are back home, you can walk leisurely in these museums without being overcome by a dark cloud of doom that your toddler will trip in his Robeez and pull a Chris Farley on a table full of antebellum place settings. Although, thanks to Savannah’s open container policy and Malibu’s coconut goodness, you’ll have to watch your own footwork (see #4).

7. The Return: After the trip is over – after you’ve flown a five-hour trip home, caught up on laundry and paid the bills, all you want is to hear is four clumsy legs run through the front door and feel four little arms wrap around your knees. There’s truly no sweeter sound than hearing, “I missed you, Mommy!” (or as the 23-month-old says, “Ah moo moo, Mama!!”).

This summer why not leave the kiddos with the grandparents for a couple of days and set out on a little adventure of your own? And if you’ve gone on a kid-free getaway recently, have any good locales or tips to share?

By Nicole Plegge, Lifestyle Blogger for SmartParenting