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    Travel with children

    Have a little compassion: That screaming baby next to you on the plane could bemine

    John M. Mann
    Sep 19, 2010 | 6:36 pm
    • On a plane with crying kids; Don't worry, be happy
    • Flying with kids has taught road warrior John M. Mann a little patience
    • On the ground: John M. and JaneAnn Mann with sons, Harris, 3, and Wyatt, 1

    As the summer ends, road warriors can breathe a sigh of relief as they can once again travel without airports and planes filled with an armada of children. Many of us who travel 100+ thousand miles yearly have died a million deaths when seated by a crying baby and roll our eyes when in line behind the “amateurs” and their children. The 10 minute zip to the front of the line for us frequent fliers literally comes to a stand still.

    But what goes around comes around.

    In the last three years, I have become a father to two sons and now regularly travel with my wife and children. I have become “one of them.” The following are a few of my humbling reflections:

    No matter how well I plan, there is no expedient way to get through the security checkpoint or board a plane

    Traveling alone on business, I am a well organized traveler. I pack so that I can remove shoes, keys, laptop, Blackberry, coat, and liquid items without stopping the security line. In 10 years, I have never set off a metal detector nor have I been manhandled with a metal detector wand.

    Impossible to do with children.

    Try removing three pairs of shoes, folding a stroller, removing liquids from purse, baby bag, carry-on, chasing down son #1 who is behind the security scanner, pulling out baby #2 who crawled under the security table, pushing along seven grey containers, remembering to remove the laptop and DVD player, forgetting that you had a full bottle in the baby bag, convincing TSA employee that the baby bottle is not filled with liquid explosives, again chasing down son #1 who just ran through the metal detector and is halfway down the terminal, collecting belongings that are log jamming the scanner, finding floor space to put belongings back together, tie four pairs of shoes, unfold stroller, strap kids in stroller, get things together and move the entourage toward the gate.

    If you have 10 minutes to catch your flight and you are behind us, today is not your day. Boarding the plane is a similar ordeal with nearly as many steps and as complicated as mapping a genome.

    I pride myself on packing lightly

    I can do week-long international business trips with only a rolling carry-on and my laptop briefcase. Not so with two children in diapers. On a recent week-long family vacation this summer, I packed one pair of shorts, three shirts, and sandals. My wife packed lightly as well.

    We checked two full size suitcases, two car seats and a baby stroller. See above for what we carried on the plane.

    It is overwhelming the amount of stuff two small children require. I have no idea why they need so much stuff, but they do.

    I am the A-hole with the kid who keeps kicking the back of your seat

    Asking a three-year-old and one-year-old to sit quietly and still in their seats for four hours is like asking two cats to sit still while giving them a bath.

    On a recent flight I got up to use the restroom and returning to my seat, I noticed the seat of the sleeping woman directly in front of my son bouncing like we were going through bad turbulence. Except we were in smooth air.

    My son was pounding on his tray table like a snare drum. My wife could do nothing because our one-year-old was screaming and she was trying desperately to get him to sleep.

    Luckily and miraculously, the woman slept through it.

    What happened to him and what’s that smell?

    When traveling solo, I know down to the minute when I need to wake up for an early flight and leave my house – one hour door-to-gate. On a recent 8 a.m. departure, we were up at 3:45 a.m. bathing kids, finishing packing, feeding kids, packing for a small army, oh and getting ready ourselves. I was a wreck by the time I made it to the terminal, bloodshot eyes, sweat soaked shirt – I look as though I am coming down from an all-night bender.

    The second leg of the trip required an hour on a boat to get to our final destination. My son, not yet having his sea legs or the wherewithal to give notice that he’s feeling nauseous, threw up all over my shirt while sitting in my lap. The gasps and disgusted looks of the passengers around me were awful. I had an out-of-body experience watching a peaceful cruise on a pleasant day unfold into a nightmare.

    But the rewards are great

    Traveling with children is not all bad, and the fun they have experiencing a new place is well worth the effort.

    Another upside is that I am a much more patient traveler. When I am traveling alone on business, I smile at the baby who is in line in front of me; I help my fellow family traveler by picking up a dropped toy or bottle. I often say, “I understand, I know what it’s like traveling with children.”

    I can often also spot, when traveling with my family, those who have been where I am; they are empathetic and forgiving of the inconvenience and tolerant of the screaming baby and his disheveled father.

    John M. Mann is associate director of The Alexander Group. This posting orginally appeared on the company's website.

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    news/travel

    Disappear Into Nature

    Secluded Hill Country park opens 2 luxurious glamping houses

    Natalie Grigson
    Jun 19, 2025 | 10:15 am
    Bloom House exterior
    Photo courtesy of LCRA Parks
    Glamping can still include s'mores with a private outdoor fire pit.

    Just in time for unbearable temperatures across Texas, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) has introduced a cooler glamping solution. Opened mid-May, the Ööd Mirror Houses are LCRA Parks' newest accommodations at Lake Bastrop South Shore Park, about 40 minutes outside of Austin.

    Hideaway House exteriorBoth glamping options have floor-to-ceiling windows that look like mirrors from the outside.Photo courtesy of LCRA Parks

    Operated by Cameron Ranch Glamping, these two luxury houses are tucked away in the park's Lost Pines region, surrounded by trees and miles of tranquility.

    Both these pet-friendly homes include floor-to-ceiling mirrored glass walls, so guests can look out into nature with complete privacy, from both passersby and mosquitos.

    Both The Hideaway and The Bloom are 221 square feet and are equipped with a queen memory foam bed, full bathroom with walk-in shower, dining area, Wi-Fi, kitchenette, record player, and perhaps most importantly for this time of year, air conditioning. In the winter, the structures will be heated.

    Hideaway House InteriorBoth mirror houses include memory foam queen-sized beds, WiFi, A/C, and more. Photo courtesy of LCRA Parks

    No matter how glam it gets, guests can still enjoy classic camping fun like roasting marshmallows in their personal outdoor fire pit, or firing up the grill for some burgers. Plus, Lake Bastrop offers paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, areas for fishing, trails for hiking and biking, mini-golf, playgrounds, sand volleyball courts, and a charming camp store.

    Interior kitchen areaKitchenettes come equipped with a microwave, refrigerator, and cooking equipment. Photo courtesy of LCRA Parks

    Guests can also leave the park and make the 10-minute drive to downtown Bastrop to grab a bite, a drink, some groceries, or catch some music or a movie. (Who can really say what the rules of glamping entail?)

    Bloom House The two mirror houses are within walking distance to the swimming areas along the lake. Photo courtesy of LCRA Parks

    The Ööd Mirror Houses are now available to book online. Rates vary by day, starting just above $200 per night before fees, and increasing to more than $300 before fees during certain times. Find the campground at 375 S. Shore Rd., Bastrop.

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