My grandson graduated high school in Raleigh, North Carolina, in June of 2018. We could not attend the graduation, so we attended a graduation party for him the following month. Dylan was 19 months, and we had no idea how she would do on a six-hour flight with one layover.
Dylan had flown on a shorter trip to Seattle, so we had the initial steps down. On this flight, we purchased milk before taking off, thinking we would buy more on the layover. Southwest’s domestic flights do not offer free meals or beverages for kids under three. Southwest offered a snack box for lunch. peanuts are not available because of nut allergies. When flying internationally, meals are available—special diets upon request.
Entertainment
For this trip, I downloaded videos to her Fire, 10 hours worth, but of course, she wanted YouTube instead to watch her favorite shows. Southwest has Wi-Fi, but you need a browser, like google or explore, to connect to your device. The fire did not, so I had to use my phone. With a combination of fire, games, books, and sleep, we made it there and back without crying on the plane.
We were renting a car, so we did not need to bring a car seat. As a rule, I use Hertz, they are not cheap, but I don’t have to wait in line to get my car. You must install the car seat yourself, and they are not allowed to do it for you. While we were on the East Coast, we made a side trip to Prince George, Virginia, to visit relatives. The baby did great.
Virginia
The drive to Prince George’s, traveling interstate 95, was easy, lasting about 3 hours. The thing to remember when driving in VA is the State Patrol usually sits on a transition road that leads to both sides of the interstate. Usually, it is slightly woody, so you won’t notice until you are closer to their location. Side note: I-95, in my mind, is the best to drive. It is green and lush in the Spring and Summer and bursts with vibrant red, yellow, and orange leaves in the fall. The drive takes you through the old Confederate capitol, Richmond, VA. Pass the exits for Mount Vernon and Monticello onto the Pentagon and drop you off in the Nation’s Capital on Capitol Mall. However, we were not traveling that far.
