Sometimes. (We pull the beach trick, too. We live on Lake Michigan - city beach isn't generally too crowded in the evenings).

And sometimes physical activity makes it worse.

Minor spikes in behavior I can handle. This is an extended period of just always being on the verge of a melt down. I chalk it up to being so off her routine.

I just think that, as much as she loves the aquarium and such, doing a major road trip this weekend is a Bad Idea(TM). Especially in the heat. Which makes ALL of us grumpier.

I find with time that sometimes the course of wisdom is to bend to the winds of Autism when that's an option.