Campbell Hadlock, 8 months, flew with her mom to Florida. The Echols, Ramsey and Hadlock families spent a week together in Watercolor.
On a July morning four years ago, around 4 a.m., the Boudreaux family backed out of their driveway in Houston. The car was packed at capacity, with dad Aaron, mom Lexie and daughters Annie, 5 weeks at the time, and Vivi, 19 months. They had tons of toddler snacks, videos, beach toys and a breastmilk pump.
They were embarking on an adventure, about to head east on Interstate 10. It’s one that many Houston families set out for every summer: a 629-mile road trip to the Florida panhandle. Their final destination: Watercolor.
The stretch of Florida has sugary white sand beaches and calm blue water. The natural beauty draws Houston families to make the more-or-less-10-hour drive, sometimes a challenge with small children. “It is totally worth it,” said Lexie. This summer will mark their fourth year in a row to drive. They rent a house with several families.
On their trips, they like to hit the road before the sun rises. “The kids sleep until the sun comes up, or are at least quiet until then,” she said.
She has some tricks to keep the girls happy. “We travel with bad snacks that we never allow at home, like Cheetos.” She said games also help, charged iPads with pre-loaded shows, or movies if you have a DVD player.
They make it all the way from Houston to Mobile, Ala., with very few stops, just in time for lunch at Mellow Mushroom, a popular pizza joint. They’re checked into their rental home and the car is unloaded just in time for happy hour.
Behr Echols, 2, and Liam Ramsey, 3, (from left) took a 10-hour road trip from Houston to Florida with their moms.
Close friends Anne Echols and Rose Ramsey, who both have toddler boys, decided to road trip it this May to Watercolor as well. Their other friend, Caroline Hadlock, whose daughter Campbell is 8 months, opted in to the trip, but out of the driving part.
Anne’s son Behr, 2½, loves the song Take Me Out to the Ball Game, so Rose found Jimmy Buffet’s version, which the moms found more tolerable than the preschool version. “He just loves all things baseball, and Rose was kind enough to play it for him on repeat. We all sang along,” Anne said, laughing.
The friends have plans next year to return to Florida. Same place, same time, same highway.