The scene is Sunday morning. Tomorrow’s a holiday.
Lauren: “So what should we do today?”
Rob: “We could go somewhere. How about Drumheller?”
Lauren: “Hmm, a 3 hour drive with a rambunctious toddler and a 2 month old who has recently decided he hates his car seat? Sounds awesome!”
Rob: “And let’s do it as a day trip, just for fun!”
You’d think we would have realized this was a foolhardy plan…But we did it anyway. Sometimes we have pretty silly ideas. But that’s how we find ourselves on some pretty great adventures! And, y’know, it builds character and all that.
So Sunday morning we packed up the van with snacks and diapers and spare clothes for all, and set south towards Drumheller, in search of dinosaurs. A road trip is really one of my favourite things to do. I love seeing the scenery roll past the window as I’m sitting snugly in my seat. There’s just so much to enjoy, even in the flat plains of Alberta. Max, our 2 year old, sure thought this train crossing the road was exceptional! Choo-choo!
Our plan was to head to the Royal Tyrell Museum to see dinosaurs (but only the nice dinosaurs, as we reassured Max). The line of cars waiting to get into the parking lot was our first clue that our spontaneous road trip was perhaps a bit too…spontaneous. When a parking spot proved elusive, Ollie and I hopped out at the entrance to wait for the bigger boys to find a place further away. I watched the line to enter the museum get longer and longer, so when Rob called to say that he still couldn’t find a spot, it was time to adjust our plans.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from travelling, and especially travelling with wee ones, it’s that you need to be flexible. Things (often) don’t go as planned, and the ability to adjust is key to a successful adventure. So we ditched our museum plans, picked up ice cream (an essential consolation) and headed off to see the World’s Largest Dinosaur, who ever so conveniently happens to be located right beside a spray park. Max splashed, Ollie napped, and we did it all under the watchful stare of Mr. T-Rex up there.
After we were thoroughly splashed out, we hopped back in the van to check out the hoodoos. Aren’t these gorgeous?? Although some quick research just now seems to suggest we missed the actual hoodoos…oh well, all the more reason to return!
We love road tripping in our Japanese Adventure Van! It has space for days, and you need that with all the stuff little ones seem to require.
After a full day o’ fun, it was time to head home. And for 30 blissful minutes both boys were fast asleep, the light was golden, and the prairies rolled past the window. I sighed, relaxed, and looked forward to a quiet ride home…
Then Oliver woke up. And he let us know that he disapproved of this plan – quite vocally.
So, with both boys awake once again, we pulled over to give them some time to stretch outside of the car seats. Ollie was much happier about this plan.
I think frequent road side stops are a part of our new reality as travelling parents…
But hey, when this is what it looks like to travel with all these wonderful guys, I’m not going to complain.
Once back on the road, and after an extended squeaky toy puppet show, Oliver drifted back to sleep, Max watched a movie, and we made it home with our sanity mostly intact. This daytrip was probably a bit ambitious, but we had fun together, got some great photos, and introduced Oliver to the joys and challenges of travel. He’s got a lot more of it in store – gotta start him early!
Steph says
Nicely done, brave Lims! I especially love the emotion of the behind-the-scenes shots – an excellent reminder to keep the camera out even when there isn’t some piece of amazing scenery to be seen.
Myer Bornstein says
Try it in the winter hardly any people there and there is a great restaurant before the museum. I was up photographing Owls
Ron says
Next time you are down that way, you should take a slight side trip into the Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park just north of Drumheller and, if you have a few more minutes to spare, you should take in Horseshoe Canyon, just south of Drumheller. If landscape photography is your thing, then both of these will keep you occupied for some time. Dry Island is, in my humble opinion, one of Alberta’s best kept landscape secrets.
You are right, you missed the real Hoodoos – they are a short drive just east of Drumheller and are well marked, at least they were the last time I was there. Best time is out of tourist season, otherwise there are too many folks crawling all over them to get good pictures.
Keith Ward says
Hi Lauren, I love your news letters always helpful and interesting. I did not see Mr T Rex, but I guess he was there. The photo is another example of how that Dino’s are always found in sedimentary layers, quickly and perfectly sealed for preservation. Last year we went to China, if you make that trip go to the Ziging Dinosaurs its worth every cent. I reckon they will challenge you for the worlds largest! Actually the museum is a dig site fascinating.
Lydia says
Hey Lauren & Rob!
This is my first read at your blog and I feel like I’ve already made that connection with your family just from the pictures and chilled writing. Great stories with beautiful depictions. Great job! I’m not much of a reader, so when I say “great job” it’s something special!
Thanks for the tips and freebies so far. Ill definitely look into it more and practice my little heart out with photographing :)
Warm regards,
Lydia