Traveling across time zones with kids can feel intimidating. Jet lag isn’t just a “grown-up problem”—little ones feel it too. Over the years, we’ve learned a few tricks that make the difference between a cranky, sleepless first few days and a smooth adjustment.
When we travel from the West Coast to the East Coast, we don’t try to force our kids onto local time right away. Instead, we lean into our home schedule.
On our most recent trip to NYC, instead of fighting to get the kids into bed early, we embraced later bedtimes. A 8:00 PM Pacific bedtime translates to eleven pm on the East Coast—which sounds crazy until you realize how well it works.
🌃 Evenings in NYC are electric. There’s plenty to do late at night, and by shifting our schedule, we got to experience the city in a whole new way—nighttime ferry rides, Top of the Rock at night (no crowds!), and late dinners that felt adventurous rather than stressful. It works beautifully on cruises too, where activities stretch into the evening.
Hawaii, on the other hand, is the opposite challenge. There, we get on local time as fast as possible. Sunshine and meals are key. We schedule early activities, get everyone outside, and let the sun do its job. By day two, everyone’s usually adjusted.
And perhaps the biggest jet lag lesson I’ve learned? Let everyone chill on Day 1. No matter the destination, arrival day is not the time for an intense itinerary. A walk, a casual meal, and some low-pressure exploring set us up for success every time.
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