So here’s a bit of travel wisdom every couple should keep in mind. If you have decided that a place is YOUR place, you’ve said ad nauseum that you’ll never take your kids there, then maybe perhaps probably don’t take your kids there to write a travel story.
I did just that the other week when I went on assignment for Parent Map. Astoria is, by all accounts a fan-effing-tastic destination for family travelers, as you can see. It’s got it all — places, food, people with mermaid tattoos, trolleys, ice cream, pretentiously ambitious cocktail makers, hotels that drive you around in a vintage car. Seriously. It might be my favorite place in Oregon right now.
But it was our place. OUR PLACE! A romantic getaway belonging to my husband and me. But we’re now in the market for a new one because taking my kids there completely rewrote it in my mind.
Every spot — all of our spots! — now have grubby little finger prints on them.
Case in point: The Cannery Pier Hotel
Will I ever be able to visit my favorite hotel in Oregon without thinking of the time my son smashed a glass in the breakfast nook? Climb into the cab of a car that predates seat belts without thinking of the panic rising in my throat of kids in cars without seat belts?
Further evidence: Giant ships accompanied by ghostly little voices.
I can’t even think about this big ship passing by our room’s window without hearing little voices proclaiming its awesomeness in my head.
Buoy Beer is a place of my shame.
Can I even walk into this place for a pint and some oysters without thinking about the time my kids took their cues from some bratty table neighbor and my son decided he needed to do some yoga in the waiting area?
The Astoria Column is ruined.
Will I ever be able to block out the smiles of wind-swept boys after a race to the top from the annals of my mind? In all likelihood, no.
Even the ARC arcade is over.
It’s like they are photo-bombing my memories. I can’t even recall what it was like to roam those streets without them now.
So that’s actually the good news. Now that my kids are inextricably linked to Astoria, I can always take them with. We usually go about once a year (at least). It’s seriously the most fun place for families, and while I can complain about them, I love to travel with my kids and all of the headaches are just part of how I teach them how to travel and be in the world.
The even better news? My husband and I are in the market for a new romantic city within driving distance that can be all ours. What shall it be? Ashland? Bandon? Estacada? Where?