Places to stop from Houston to Orlando

[Jrpbabe2003]

We are driving in 2 months with our 2.5 year old daughter. We would like to stop to let her get out and play for a little bit every few hours. Are there any restaurants that have fun play areas anywhere from Houston to Orlando? Thanks!

 

[actopp1017]

I assume you would be taking I-10 then cut down 75, right? I-10 is such a BORING drive. We live in Destin, FL and drive a couple times a year to Disney and with there was something to look at. Let me think and get back to you. My DD is the same age and I know we've stopped a couple times to let her stretch her legs. Would you be doing this drive all in one day?

 

[ericstac]

We make this drive, Sugar Land area , with the wife and our three boys, 12,10,5. We usually leave about 3-4 pm and drive straight through, they pass out at about 9pm around the other side of LA and will not wake up until an hour from disney. On the way home we leave around 8am and get home about 10-11pm.. We usually stop at Krispy kreme, chickfila, and/or Cracker Barrel to stretch and eat. Plus fuel stops.. We've never stopped at a place to play but chickfila does have playgrounds. The one we stop at near Slidell, LA Northshore Mall is pretty nice.

 

[MSSANDRA]

We have not done that drive, but a couple general ideas that work well are these:
-A large mall with a food court. Many have a carousel, or jump zone or other quick activity or you could just visit one fun store. Eat in the food court and grab a cookie or ice cream to finish in the car. 30 min.

-A decent rest stop. Toss a ball or bubbles or other easy toy in the car and give her about 10 minutes to run around in a grassy area. (Be sure it's not the dog walk area). You can go through a drive through right before the rest stop or take an easy picnic and eat there as well. 30 min.

-Any fast food with a nice play area....Adult eat with kids play and take the kids food to eat when you get back into the car. 30 min

-Cracker Barrel. One parent walk around with kids while the other orders and waits for food. Eat and then allow a candy pick to take along. 45-60 min

 

[polynor]

We've done the drive from Houston, but we typically overnight in Baton Rouge where we pick up a set of grandparents (both sets live in BR).
We find the welcome centers are good for the kids (last driving trip my boys were 6 and 2.5). Florida's welcome center is a good stop - they have a small corner with some toys and play stuff -- my boys were more interested in collecting brochures.
Louisiana's would be outdoors so if the weather is good it's an ok stop.
There is a Chick-fil-a in Lafayette along I-10.

We also would stop at this Exxon station right before you get to Pensacola's bridge -- no play area but it's the first sight of a long stretch of water (that's not a bayou) -- we've always stopped to take a picture there.

Once in Florida, we found places hit or miss -- the fast food places aren't as directly off the Interstate so you have to drive inward a little and hope they have something. Chick-fil-a has a a trip planner so you can see where they all are (we prefer their play areas over the other chains) -- there's a long stretch without any...

And if you need beignets -- stop at Coffee Call in Baton Rouge -- exit College drive in the same shopping complex as the Wal-Mart. I think the beignets are better than Cafe du Monde (not that you need a 2.5 yo hyped up on sugar on a car drive).

 

[Disnewbie76]

We do the drive from the Sugar Land area as well with our four kids and usually just stop for gas and bathroom breaks. Our youngest is now almost 5, but usually does very well with just being able to walk around on her way to the bathroom or being out of the car for a meal. I guess we are just blessed with kids that travel well. We do usually leave town in the afternoon so they sleep for a large portion of the trip.

 

[Airship Ariadne]

we make the drive from Austin, and we ALWAYS stop at the welcome centers for leg stretches and rest room breaks...not going to entertain a 2.5 year old though...the visitor center on I10 in the middle of the swamp bridge does have some kid friendly exhibits on swamp animals, again, maybe not 2.5 year old interest grabbing.

 

[Jrpbabe2003]

Thanks everyone. We are planning on doing mostly night driving and want to be prepared. We have never driven very far with her and don't know how it will go. She is a child with a lot of energy, but will stop to watch shows. Hopefully potty breaks and eating will help to burn some energy. Also, Disney World is a great incentive to be good