Before You Become Parents, Take a Babymoon

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Before You Become Parents, Take a Babymoon
A relatively new concept, the term "Babymoon" vacation caters to parents to be.
BY BOBBY HICKMAN & JONI STRANDQUEST

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Babymoons are a growing trend and a great way to spend time together.

When Chris Christensen and his wife, Joan, were expecting their first child in 1988, they decided to take a vacation. The couple booked a trip to an inn in the Heritage Park area above the older part of San Diego. "There were two reasons for the trip," Chris says. "One was to spend time together as a twosome before we became a threesome." Another was that Joan was having problems with high blood pressure—a situation the vacation solved by reducing stress that "was more work-related than baby-related."

Chris, who lives in San Jose, did not realize it at the time, but he was blazing the trail ahead of today’s growing trend of "babymoons"—weekend getaways for expectant couples. The term dates back to at least 1996, when author Sheila Kitzinger used it to describe a vacation linked to the birth of a new baby. The travel industry has since adopted the term to describe vacations prospective new parents take to share a little quiet time before their family grows. The trips often occur during the second trimester, which doctors say is the safest time for an expectant mother to travel.

Couples who want to enjoy a fling before the arrival of their first baby (or their fourth) can find plenty of destinations offering special babymoon promotions. Many indulge expectant couples with a combination of convenience, romance and a plethora of amenities that range from luxurious pampering, to convenient shopping, to take-home gifts to spa services aimed specifically towards the special needs of parents-to-be.

One such destination is The Inn on Charlotte (www.InnonCharlotte.com) in St. Augustine, Florida. Owner Lynn Fairfield said her bed-and-breakfast evokes feelings of home and contentment, "and that’s what I love with share with ‘babymooning’ guests over lemonade and hors d-oeuvres." The historic inn offers couples one last chance to savor a quiet dinner alone, take a long leisurely walk through the historical downtown area, or just sleep late and indulge in a gourmet breakfast. Her two-night package includes a romantic, private horse and carriage ride, chocolates, dinner and other amenities.

There are plenty of other opportunities for babymooning across the country, from quaint B&Bs to luxury hotels:

* The Hotel Valencia Riverwalk (www.hotelvalencia.com) in San Antonio, Texas, lets parents celebrate their new addition’s arrival before he or she actually arrives. The Valencia offers a "pickles and ice cream" welcome amenity, along with a lullaby CD and other goodies.

* Many W Hotels (www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels) across the country offer a "Baby Me" package to indulge expectant parents. "Baby Me" includes a baby bag, foot scrub, onesie, The Modern Girls Guide to Motherhood book and delicious delights from the W’s exclusive "Womb Service" menu.

* Greenbrier Resort (www.greenbrier.com) in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, provides the "Baby Me Babymoon" that indulges mothers-to-be with a special pregnancy massage at the resort’s 40,000-square-foot spa. The resort also offers sumptuous treats and personalized fitness training in the peaceful Allegheny Mountains.

* The Inn on Crescent Lake (www.crescentlake.com) near Kansas City in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, offers a babymoon package that includes a bouquet of fresh flowers in a keepsake vase, a dozen chocolate-covered strawberries and a surprise baby gift.

* Westin Kierland Resort & Spa (www.kierlandresort.com) in Scottsdale, Arizona has a "Bundle of Joy Babymoon Package." Kierland spoils parents-to-be with a stylish mommy tote filled with goodies from babystyle, an upscale maternity store, and Kierland Commons shopping district. The package also includes a couples’ massage, breakfast in bed and in-room "make your own" ice cream sundaes.

So, if you and your partner need one more chance to spend a little quality time on your own, check out the destinations above or look for a "babymoon" deal of your own. For example, a recent search on www.bnbfinder.com turned up more than 300 hits for the term "babymoon".

Chris Christensen says he’s glad he took that trip to San Diego before the birth of their son, who is now in college. "Even 20 years later, with two kids that we have enjoyed at all ages of their lives, I look back with fondness on that trip. We’ve been back to San Diego numerous times since then. But I still remember vividly the simple moments like sitting on the porch having breakfast in the warm morning sun."

Sharing a passion for adventure, Bobby Hickman and Joni Strandquest own and operate EaglesQuest Media Inc., a freelance writing service focusing on business, lifestyles, travel and tourism within the U.S. and abroad. To learn more, or to suggest ideas for future columns, check out their website at www.eaglesquestmedia.com.

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