Ever been on a road trip with your toddler and thought, I just wish I had a place I could let him/her run free while I snacked on some fabulous Swedish Meatballs and Lingonberry juice? I wouldn't be shocked if you said no but for those who answered yes, Ikea is your spot.
Pushing a cart through a maze of furniture with strange names is probably not on your list of do's for a family road trip but lots of fun for kids, food for all ages and nice clean facilities are most likely top priorities!
Here are three reasons you should consider adding a stop at Ikea to your next family road trip itinerary:
* Ikea has strategically opened stores off major highways. Instead of stopping at a traditional rest stop, make your pit stop at Ikea. Enjoy the nice clean family restrooms, baby ammenities and changing tables.
* In addition to the ballroom (where you can drop potty-trained kids off for an hour), Ikea cafes have a play area for kids in their restaurants so you can leisurely eat your kids can play while you eat. (Sadly, in our household dinner at the Ikea Cafe with the Toddler regularly constitutes our Friday nights out. On the bright side, we can usually get through entire dinner without a food throwing incident. )
* A visit to Ikea can be a comforting activity for the whole family when the weather is bad, you're road-weary or you just crave that familiar smell of hot dogs and cinnamon buns.
I am probably over-thinking this whole scenario but wouldn't it be great if the powers that be at Ikea read this blog and decided to capitalize on this fabulous idea? I really wouldn't mind -- all I would ask in return is that they put in a wireless connection in their Elizabeth NJ Cafe so the parents of Northern New Jersey could get a few moments of quality time with their laptops while their children are otherwise occupied.
Please tell me I am not the only one who counts on Ikea for a little sanity at home and on the road? (Please?)
September 14, 2008
Vacations by Ikea
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
9 comments:
IKEA is a great idea. Public libraries in unfamiliar towns are also good stops on road trips in foul weather--they're free, loaded with children's books, a drinking fountain, and restrooms--and generally other kids on a rainy day.
That's a great idea Shelly. By the way, I love your blog and greatly admire your travel fortitude.
Kristy: this post is right on. We always go to IKEA during heatwaves (no a/c in this northern California town, or none in my house anyway).
Why don't you submit this to parenthacks.com as a travel hack? It's a goodie.
We stopped at Ikea on our last road trip, and it was a great stop!
Here via ParentHacks.
We lamented the fact that we passed the only IKEA along our recent road trip was too far along to be of any use. If it hadn't already been 8:30 and the kids sound asleep, we definitely would have stopped.
Like Jamie, we also use IKEA as an indoor playground on exceptionally hot or rainy days.
Still waiting on wifi at the Elizabeth Ikea. Does anyone know of any Ikea's that have wifi?
I'd sure love to live close to one, but I don't think Huntsville, AL, will ever get one. I've visited IKEA in Frankfurt, Germany, and in Atlanta, GA, and loved it. It's a great place to take kids!
Our play group meets there once a week. We love it. I love the travel Idea!!! Unfortunately there are not many down here in the south...
Post a Comment