4 Ways to Celebrate an Anniversary with a Toddler

My favourite: a mini getaway with just the three of us. Who else is obsessed with exploring someplace new that you have always wanted to see?

We planned a couple of days away in the Muskoka’s for our anniversary this year. I think it’s so important to celebrate a relationship with your partner on special occasions such as anniversaries. You work so hard all year long on your marriage, whether you realize it or not, marriage is work like any relationship. So, we have made it a tradition to always plan something special to celebrate the relationship we build in the most authentic way we can.

This year we have been so busy with our business in full force, house-building plans in the works, and a social calendar filled with weddings and events, that we really needed to spend a couple of days away to just be ourselves. With our business picking up in new areas, we have been spending a lot of time travelling around the Muskoka region and really learning new spots we love. Gravenhurst seemed like the perfect location to both relax and get in some exploring.

When looking into a stay in this area I immediately thought of getting an Air Bnb because we were going to be travelling with our toddler and that vacation style works well for our family. To my surprise, I found Residence Inn by Mariott Gravenhurst Muskoka Warf situated on the shores of Muskoka Lake in Gravenhurst and I was blown away at how perfect this stay was for our family.

This trip seemed like such a blog-worthy post to share because it is surprisingly so great for families!! I really didn’t know what to expect for this occasion but it turned out great and here’s what we did.

Pick a location you love and find the best accommodations for a family. The Residence Inn, in Gravenhurst, is a great property with aesthetically pleasing outdoors that features a patio with firepits and BBQ dining areas available for guests. A pool and hot tub, as well fitness centre. A complimentary breakfast each morning that had lots of options for adults as well as for kids. The luxury of bringing our pet along for our stay. Our golden retriever is not used to hotel life at all and was so well-behaved touring around the hotel with us. He was a hit at the lobby and we were so proud of him.

Scout out adventures in the area that will allow you to make memories age appropriate for you celebrating your anniversary but also will allow for entertainment of some sort for your little one. We visited Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery and learned so much about the cranberry harvest and how much this location has to offer all year round!

Spend time walking and taking in the scenery wherever you are visiting. I think going for walks and pushing a stroller with my husband is one of my favourite things to do. It is so much fun to allow our toddler to sit and look at so many new surrounding that pique his interest and cause him to ask us questions and learn new things. It allows my husband and I to also freely discuss current topics in our life that sometimes we find hard to make time for. I find this type of family time so rewarding in so many ways!

Dining- we hadn’t thought much into this but since we splurged to go away for a couple days we didn’t go out to dine and we really enjoyed how relaxing it was. We always love to use Ubereats or DoorDash for a quick meal when we go away and take great pleasure in the convenience of ordering in with our toddler who has bath, and early bedtime routine. Since we live in a rural area we find this such a special treat to receive a delivery dinner, it was perfect for this occasion!!!

I love a little getaway that includes just my family. We did indulge in a getaway this year for our anniversary and we probably will try to every year throughout our life. I find it so important to celebrate your love in any way that suits your lifestyle. For us, we now have our wedding anniversary to celebrate every September and we always have a whole year to save up to think of where we want to plan to go next.

Celebrate your love, especially if you have kids! You need it, and if you don’t have a childcare there are so many plans you can come up with that involve your kids. Enjoy planning and Happy Anniversary to you and your partner!

I would love to learn about getaways you have planned to celebrate an anniversary. What traditions do you recommend incorporating if you are planning an anniversary that will include your little ones!