The Maldives with a toddler

Eleven hours in the air with a two-year-old sounds hard, and some of it was. But the reward was a week of warm, shallow water right outside our door.

Surviving the flight

We packed one new toy for every two hours and opened them one at a time. Snacks, a tablet with downloaded cartoons, and a lot of walking up and down the aisle did the rest.

Every hour of the flight was worth a day of sandcastles.

On the island

Pick a place with a gentle beach and some shade. Mornings for the water, afternoons for naps, and sunsets for everyone.