By Guest Blogger Jodi Grudig of Mom's Favorite Stuff

Before kids, every year, my husband and I would make the cross-country trek out west to wine country, where we’d relax, taste wine, visit and tour wineries, and eat amazing dinners.  It was definitely a relaxing vacation, and when we returned we’d feel well rested and a few pounds heavier.

Skip forward to two years later, when we were invited to a Sonoma wedding for a business school friend of mine.  At that point, my daughter was 10 months, and we decided that we should all head to California for a family vacation.

Traveling with a baby to a non-baby friendly location wasn’t too hard, but there were definitely a few things we learned over the week.

    * Find a store with supplies - ie: diapers, wipes, toys, and formula before you go (search online for Targets and Walmarts) just in case.
    * Bring a blow up baby tub if you can.  Our hotel only had a shower stall, so having the blow up tub was essential.
    * Make sure that your hotel either has refrigerators in the room or is willing to bring one in.  The hotel we stayed in didn’t have refrigerators, but they were able to have housekeeping bring a small one.  This was important for milk and baby food storage.
    * Our baby needed time to unwind around lunch, so we usually ate at a picnic site and let her roll around on a blanket we’d brought.
    * Baby carriers are great for carrying a baby in a location that isn’t stroller accessible.
    * Bring lots of small, portable toys.
    * There are many companies that will rent baby gear, such as a baby swing, portable play yard, and high chair - find them before you go.  Your hotel may have recommendations.

Most importantly, enjoy your last quasi-adult vacation.  Did I mention our most recent family vacation was to Disney World?

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