janisj

beachbum - no one said we are talking about a whole bunch of "rug rats" running around unattended causing havoc.

Even just 1 very well behaved 4 yo is not really a good mix w/ wine tasting. It isn't fair to the child and isn't fair to the adults (the parents, the employees, or other visitors)

Just because one CAN take children doesn't mean it is a good idea. Many parents just think they're kids are special and are not problems - but they are being inconsiderate.

TrvlMaven

Wow--this really stirred up a bunch of emotions! I guess DH and I did the best we could when our kids were growing up--dragging them to wine country every summer when they were young. Two of them are married to chefs and one of them is a chef. Go figure. Cheers!

janisj

What has who they maried or what they do have to do w/ ANYTHING? I know you were trying to link them going to wineries as children to being in the food industry. so?

Not trying to belabor the issue - But I get REALLY tired of parents thinking any/every activity/event is approriate for kids . . . .

Brutforce

My response would be that it depends on the kids (& parents for that matter). We take our children to wineries here in NC quite often on the way to the Mts. Most are quite family friendly and we are seldom alone. By the same token, I have never taken them to California wine country as that would be too much to expect them to handle. Also, I have had to remove my children from a tasting room on one occasion. After all, they are children. The sooner you expose them to things be it food, a nice restaurant, travel or wineries - the sooner expectations are set & realized. BTW, they are not quite 5, & just turned 2. Thinking about California I believe I would be comfortable taking my children to many wineries in Sonoma, Napa not so much...But then I don't spend much time in Napa anymore anyway.

NewbE

So just to be clear, for some of you, the mere sight of a child at a winery would put you off, even if said child were utterly silent?

I wonder how many of you have noticed that wineries are out in the country, and therefore have (about 90% of the time) extensive grounds, some fancier than others, etc., but still. The parents could take turns amusing the tricycle motor outside, thereby sparing the sensitive oenophiles the sight of a young human.

bashfulLV

I know I'll probably get trashed after this - but I agree that wineries and children don't mix, anymore than parents drinking (a.k.a. wine tasting) and driving and taking care of kids doesn't mix. I'd bet the parents that take kids to wineries are also the same ones we see with small children here in Las Vegas - which is also inappropriate IMO. When I see strollers and children all over the strip at all hours of the day & night (and in all types of weather) I feel sorry for the kids - all I can think of is how selfish their parents are to drag them along to an adult destination. That would also apply to taking them on a wine tasting trip.

NewbE

All I'm saying is that wineries are not bars, which you seem to think they are, bashful. Wineries are bucolic places, usually with lovely lawns, shaded tree-lined paths, etc. Furthermore, in CA at least, they do not permit smoking. People also don't tend to stick around drinking for hours--they taste, they hang out a bit, they buy, they leave. So while you do see drunks on occasion, they are the exception rather than the rule. All this causes me to place wineries in a different category from bars and casinos, which I agree are not appropriate for 4 year-olds. It's not my intention to trash anyone's opinion.

bashfulLV

NewB - I agree that wineries are not bars, but they still are meant to be ADULT venues, not for children. That's all I meant. And I do not believe that parents drinking while driving children around - especially out of town on unfamiliar highways is a good thing - and many folks do not just have one or two little tastes, and many stop at several wineries, one after the other - which is where the concern comes in. I guess this is an issue where everyone has their own opinion and may never agree.

LLindaC

agree bash. While we take precautions to sip, spit, etc....we understand legal limits. However, kids are told about drinking and driving, si isn't that sending a mixed message to them? I have seen plenty of drunk people in wineries. MANY.Napa is filled with bachelorette parties, etc and they get very rowdy. They are not all "bucolic places". I do think that's fine if you split up and entertain the tyke, but outside of the tasting room.

Dohlice

Honestly, their behavior doesn't matter - even if it means they marry well later in life. Alcohol is an adult activity and the couple who has finally managed to get a babysitter shouldn't have to rub elbows with your child at the bar. Can I bring my wine to Gymboree? It's nice that the OP has asked for opinions and that they obviously don't want to ruin someone else's good time. Thanks to the smoking ban and wildly selfish parents in NYC there was an infant in a bar we were at last weekend in the Village. It was so crowded we didn't stay for more than one drink but the infant was still hanging around by the bar when we left. An another place the parents were complainig because they couldn't bring their stroller in during happy hour.

Brutforce

bashfulLV, please read my post - to others - you can spit you know, which means it would have no effect on the ability for one to drive. Nor does swallowing a few sips over the course of several hours. I hope to raise my children as responsible drinkers when the time comes for them to enjoy alcohol in its many forms. In the mean time, I'm happy to say I've never run into any of the naysayers when I've had the kids along. I would be interested to know of those against, who actually has kids themselves ?

wtm003

<<So just to be clear, for some of you, the mere sight of a child at a winery would put you off, even if said child were utterly silent?>>

That's exactly what they're saying. I'm tired of unhappy adults who are offended at the the mere sight of a child. If someone gets bent out of shape because my children are with me at a winery, restaurant, hotel, etc. that is their problem not mine.

I can't remember the name of the winery we stopped at in Napa a few years ago - with two kids in tow - but we were treated wonderfully. My husband and I sampled a few wines and two young women who worked there played a stack the cork game with my boys. The employees seemed to enjoy it as much as my children. I'm sure the young women enjoyed the break from the usual uptight and pretentious adults they deal with on a daily basis. We left with a case of wine and a bag full of corks.

MikeT

"I'm sure the young women enjoyed the break from the usual uptight and pretentious adults they deal with on a daily basis."

Or feared the only way from keeping your hellions from destroying the experience of everyone else was to watch your kids because you weren't.

See, there are two ways to view almost every situation. I'm merely saying that instead of it being all ME ME ME ME ME, people need to make decisions thinking about how they are about to impact the enjoyment of others.

wtm003

Nice assumption MikeT, but you are wrong. My kids were 5 feet behind me and well behaved and quiet. Shocking!!! It ruins the whole image you have created in you mind.

I've received dirty looks when I've entered restaurants with my kids and then the same person almost always walks over to our table to compliment my kids on their behavior. I find that behavior completely obnoxious. Again, if you are offended at seeing a child, that is your problem not mine.

MikeT

You may be the best parent in the world and your children may be little angels who are blessed with divine spirits and joy, but adults still have a reason for being frustrated when they go out for an adult evening and find the staff occupied entertaining your children instead of assisting the adults.

There is a time and place for children, and there is a time and place for adults. Is it asking too much that some adult activities take place without children--regardless of how perfect their parents believe they are--around?

wtm003

<<You may be the best parent in the world and your children may be little angels who are blessed with divine spirits and joy>>

MikeT you are too funny - your statement definitely does not characterize our family!

bashfulLV

The comment that anyone who objects to kids being in an adult environment is ridiculous! I have two adult children, and two young grandhcildren. I was a single mom when my kids were growing up and I had to sacrifice a lot of things that I wanted to do for the good of my kids - AND for the fact that kids are not welcome EVERYWHERE. So I either got a sitter or stayed home. Now that I help with the grandkids I still feel the same way - kids just do NOT belong EVERYWHERE - no matter how well behaved they may be.

321go

When I was growing up (admittedly, it was in the Stone Age), our family has child-centered outings (parks, amusement parks), family outings (picnics, camping, movies), and adults-only outings (dinner in "fancy" restaurants, weekend getaways). I know my parents looked forward with eager anticipation to their adults outings. As much as they enjoyed their kids, they really appreciated time to themselves without kids clinging to them. So they got the grandparents to watch us (for the weekends) or a babysitter (the dinners). Doesn't anyone do that anymore?

rubyselbow

We are driving from Colorado THROUGH Las Vegas and onto Los Angeles. No, we will not be stopping Las Vegas. I would never dream of taking a child there. That is my personal choice. I have seen people with their children at Vegas, but I do not think to myself, "How dare they intrude on my adult time", but more like, "Better them than me". We are meeting friends and their family at the beach and going to Disneyland. Yes, THESE, are "family friendly" events, but believe me, if we decide to go out for a nice dinner during OUR vacation you better believe we will be taking our daughter. If she misbehaves, we will leave and you bet she'll be in trouble when we get to the car.

I am just trying to understand. Maybe I was not clear. Is this what I am to believe: If on our way out of California, my first visit to California, I see a beautiful winery and wish to buy a bottle, bottles, or case to take with us on our journey back to western Colorado for which we have planned five days of camping in the beautiful west, I would receive "looks" and sneers for the mere fact that I dare to bring in a small human being, from which we all came, may I add and these "lookers and sneerers" just might have to spend an ungodly half-hour? hour? sneering at me and my family?!! I'M IN!!!!!!!!

LLindaC

For you who asked- I have two children who are now both in their teens. Every other Spring break, I take them on a trip and always do a summer trip with them. They have always been well behaved, though I avoided places like the Ritz, etc until they were much, much older. Our wine country visits have been adult only. After seeing our pictures, they have no desire to hang around inside a winery, trust me. That would infringe upon THEIR precious vacation time