We Go With Kids!

Category: guest blog

  • Best Things to Do in South Africa With Kids

    Best Things to Do in South Africa With Kids

    South Africa is a country rich in history, culture and wildlife. No matter what your interests, you and your family will find a life changing adventure to embark upon here. Whether it be spotting the Big 5 in the Kruger National Park or hiking up Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain, there are so many things to do in South Africa with kids.  Mark and Mila, the dynamic duo behind Mountain IQ, are avid mountain hikers and, as native of South Africa, Mark is here to share his invaluable list of Top Five Family Friendly Activities in South Africa.

    Top Things To Do in South Africa

    #1: Hike the Challenging and Beautiful Table Mountain in Capetown

    View from the top of Table Mountain

    When you think of things to do in Cape Town, it’s likely that the first thing that comes to mind is Table Mountain – Cape Town’s number one tourist attraction. But there are so many different trails you and your family can choose to go up the mountain.

    The trails are of varying lengths and difficulty.  If you have younger children it may be better to take the cable car to the top and then walk across the top of the mountain to Maclean’s Beacon.  This is a relatively short walk, but it offers spectacular views of the city and the Atlantic Ocean.   If you are planning on taking the cable car, be sure to book in advance to skip the lines. Since the Table Mountain cable car is such a popular attraction, it is also worth getting there early to avoid the crowds. Children under four can ride for free! 

    If your children are slightly older, you can take the popular Platteklip Gorge or the Skeleton Gorge Trails, amongst many others. Make sure to pack lots of snacks, water and cover up to protect yourselves from the dangerous local sun. 

    The views from the Table Mountain summit are incredible, you may even be lucky enough to spot a dassie, which are small mammals that live in the rocks and are simple adorable.  There is also a restaurant atop the mountain for you and our family to get refreshments once you have completed your hike.

    Cape Town is known to have unpredictable weather, so check the weather forecast to avoid being stuck in the wind, rain or fog. The fog is what gives the mountain its name – when the clouds descend on it, they make it look like a tablecloth.  If you are planning a few more adventures around the region, here are some more great hikes around Africa.

    Find out more about Cape Town.

     

    #2: Enjoying the Adorable and Happy Penguin Colony at Boulders Beach in Capetown

    Penguin Colony at Boulders Beach

    Boulders Beach is located 40 minutes outside of Cape Town and offers the unique opportunity to see a large number of wild African Penguins.  You and your family can spend the day watching these adorable creatures frolic amongst the waves at this beautiful beach, and, if you are brave enough to hop into the frigid Atlantic Ocean, you can even take a swim with the penguins.  Although, it may be prudent to rent a bodysuit to enjoy the experience more.

    It is important to remember that although cute, the penguins are still wild animals, and you absolutely should not touch them as they have razor sharp beaks and will defend themselves if they feel threatened.  The penguins call Boulders Beach home all year round, but South African summer (November till March) is the best time to visit to see them in large numbers. If visiting in January, you may even get to see some baby penguins moulting on the beach!

    In order to gain access to the boardwalks, which is the best spot to view the penguins, there is a small conservation fee.  Individuals who are not citizens of South Africa pay a bit more, but at ~$11 for adults and ~$6 for children, it is well worth the expense. For information on fees for all South African parks, visit this official site.

     

    #3: Mesmerizing Wildlife of the Kruger National Park 

    Kruger Lion

    Everyone dreams of going on an African Safari, and what better place to go than the Kruger National Park? With nearly 2.2 million hectares of diverse South African landscapes, the Kruger National Park is the most famous wildlife reserve in South Africa and arguably in the world. 

    The wildlife in the park is plentiful, and visitors are almost most guaranteed to see all of the Big 5 most dangerous animals – buffalo, elephant, rhino, lion, and leopard. There are a number of options for accommodation, whether you are looking to camp or perhaps even enjoy the luxury of a private game lodge, where game rangers take guests on game drives where they explain the local game and wildlife.  Summers in the Kruger can get pretty hot, so it may be worth finding accommodation with a pool, in order to cool down during the day. 

    Find out more about Kruger National Park.

     

    #4: Inspiring Whale Watching in Hermanus 

    Hermanus Waves

    Hermanus, a once small fishing town located 90 minutes from Cape Town, is a great spot to take the family whale watching. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has voted Hermanus as one of the 12 best whale watching destinations in the world. The Telegraph also named Hermanus as one of the best destinations worldwide to watch marine mammals.

    The best time to go whale watching is between July and November with the months of September, October and November being the absolute best time. This is the period when the Southern Right Whales begin mating.   Hermanus’s famous Whale Watching Festival also takes place in September, when the normally quiet town becomes bustling with tourists eager to get a glimpse of these spectacular creatures.   Visitors can choose to whale watch from land, boat or even a scenic flight. Those who are feeling particularly brave can even rent a kayak and paddle around Walker Bay as the whales breach, but be prepared to get wet along the way! 

    Sea sickness can also be an issue for those who have never been kayaking in an active ocean before. So consider taking first timers on a taster ride before the adventure and, if needed, you can purchase anti-motion sickness pills, which need to be taken two hours in advance.

    #5: Educational Visit to the Cradle of Humankind

    The Protea Flower: The National Flower of South Africa

    For those looking for something a little more educational, the Cradle of Humankind is a fantastic option that will be enjoyed by both adults and children.   The Cradle of Humankind is one of South Africa’s 8 World Heritage Sites. The main attractions are Maropeng and the Sterkfontein Caves, located just a short one hour drive outside of bustling Johannesburg. 

    It is here where humankind is believed to have originated. Look around the exhibitions in Maropeng and then travel down into the Sterkfontein caves where there are excavation sites as well as an underground lake. Caves’ tour is an amazing experience, and it is actually better for kids, as they fit into narrow passages much easier than adults and will most probably find those the most fun! 

    There are plenty of things to see and kids will definitely remain entertained the entire day. After working up an appetite, there is a variety of restaurants in the area for refueling.  Tickets to access both Maropeng and the Sterkfontein Caves are ~$8 for adults, ~$5 for children between 4 -14, and free for children under 4 years.

    Nancy’s Note: South Africa is near and dear to my heart as it is where my husband and I chose to celebrate our 10 year anniversary (without kids).  It’s also the vacation that spurred the creation of We Go With Kids!  

  • Heritage Farm in Huntington, West Virginia

    Heritage Farm in Huntington, West Virginia

    Guest Blogger: Clayton is a writer, editor, and devoted family man. A proud husband, father, and grandfather, Clayton enjoys running and cycling in his spare time and is also devoted to supporting literacy and arts programs in his hometown of Worthington, Ohio.  Clayton and his wife enjoy taking trips with their children and grandchildren, including a recent vacation in Perth, Australia. To learn more about Clayton, visit his website, Clay Writes.

    Appalachia

    By Muriel Miller Dressler

    I am Appalachia. In my veins
    Runs fierce mountain pride; the hill-fed streams
    Of passion; and, stranger, you don’t know me!
    You’ve analyzed my every move–you still
    Go away shaking your head. I remain
    Enigmatic.

    These opening lines from Muriel Miller Dressler’s poem “Appalachia” are true in some ways. To people who don’t live there, Appalachia can feel remote, strange, perhaps even sad. But these feelings will be swept away like a leaf in a mountain stream after a visit to Heritage Farm Museum and Village. Nestled in a small valley outside of Huntington, West Virginia, Heritage Farm offers visitors a taste of Appalachian history and culture, fun and education for children and a variety of child-friendly activities.

    Heritage Farm dates back to 1973, when avid antiquarians Mike and Henriella Perry moved from Huntington to a farmhouse just outside the city. The Perrys used a nearby barn to house their growing collection of antiques and artifacts. Everything they added to their collection – whether it was an old appliance, a piece of farm equipment, or a vintage motor vehicle – tied in with everyday life in Appalachia from the 19th century to the present. The Farm, which opened to the public in 2006, has added other attractions over the years, including a petting zoo, several museums, cabins that provide overnight accommodations, and authentic period structures that reflect Appalachia’s past.  My wife and I have visited Heritage Farm three times, most recently for a weekend in mid-June with our children and grandchildren.

    Wall Mural in the MakerSpace Building

    Heritage Farm Lodging

    There are seven “inns” at the farm (one is actually a barn, another a caboose) with quaint-sounding names. On our first trip, my wife and I stayed with another couple at the Applebutter Inn. This time, we divided our extended family of 16 between the Strawberry and Blackberry Inns.  Outside the latter was a small but well-maintained swimming pool with comfortable patio furniture around it. The rules for the pool were simple: no glass, food, running, or diving, and guests swim at their own risk.

    Heritage Farms' Blackberry Inn
    Blackberry Inn and pool

     

    The air-conditioned inns themselves are fairly spacious and have all the conveniences of modern living with the exception of television and computers. There are no landline telephones either, but in this age of cell phones, they aren’t likely to be missed. (Cell phone reception is generally good all around the Farm.)

    Heritage Farm Petting Zoo

    There is so much to see at Heritage Farm that it can be hard to decide what to see first. I would recommend the Petting Zoo as a good place to start, especially for families with children. Some of the zoo’s denizens, like Rainbow the Peacock, are not suitable for direct contact, but others like Moby Duck, Leonard the Turtle, Penelope Pig, Oreo the Rabbit, and Kit Kat the Goat are ready to make friends with visitors. These animals are used to being petted and are not startled when they feel the touch of human hands. Even so, there are volunteers who will bring the animals out of their pens and hold them still while children become better acquainted with them. An aluminum roof covers the petting zoo, so a rainstorm does not have to interrupt the fun.

    Moby Duck at the Heritage Petting Farm
    Moby Duck

     

    Heritage Farm Museums

    Once finished with the petting zoo, visitors frequently decide to make their way through the different museums at the Farm. There are no less than seven of them, each housed in a single building and each with a different theme. Four, in particular, will provide both fun and learning opportunities to children.

    The Progress Museum highlights inventions, communication devices, and consumer goods that have improved the daily lives of Appalachians since the mid-19th Century.  A series of vignettes using mannequins shows the changes that one might see in an Appalachian kitchen from one generation to the next. The Progress Museum also has a 1920s diner, a miniature carnival made out of tin scraps, and an elaborate model railroad with little locomotives chugging around hills and through tunnels.

    Historic Model Kitchen in the Progress Museum

    The Bowes Doll and Carriage Museum gives visitors much more than just a collection of figurines. The beautifully crafted dolls, which Don and Connie Bowes gifted to the museum, are presented in realistic household surroundings. Look through one window, and see dolls wearing period outfits, seated at a table in an ornate dining room. Look through another and see them playing with their toys in a bedroom complete with a dresser, canopied bed, and pictures on the wall. There are outdoor scenes, too, where dolls stroll down the street and push baby carriages holding dolls of their own.

    What was it like to be a kid in Appalachia 100 years ago? Young visitors to Heritage Farm can find out in the Children’s Activity Museum.  In this unique setting, children simulate churning butter, pumping water, collecting eggs, and even milking an artificial cow. And if the “work” wears them out, they can sit at a desk in a one-room Schoolhouse Museum and perhaps better appreciate the advantages they enjoy in a modern classroom.

    The other museums, although perhaps more oriented to adults, also offer items of interest to children. The Transportation Museum, for example, has an array of old cars as well as an airplane suspended from the ceiling. For its part, the Industry Museum features a walk-through coal mine while the Heritage Museum has an old-time barbershop.  We got to watch a shopkeeper sweep his floor with an early model vacuum cleaner in the Country Store Museum.

    In addition to the museums, the Farm’s MakerSpace building offers young people a plethora of opportunities for hands-on learning.  The MakerSpace is sponsored by the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.  Here, kids and their parents can sit at a variety of tables and try crocheting, drawing, building with Legos, creating electrical circuits, and other self-guided activities. While they work, kids can learn American history from an enormous brightly colored mural that runs around the inside of the MakerSpace building. The mural chronicles key cultural and historical events in the U.S. from Pearl Harbor to 9/11 and presents images of key figures who, for better or worse, shaped American life over that time.

    Playing with Legos in the MakerSpace building
    • Heritage Farm MakerSpace Hours:  MakerSpace is open on Saturdays from May through December and on Wednesdays from June through September from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

    Heritage Farm Historic Buildings

    Paralleling the museums are the Farm’s replicas of historic buildings. These include a blacksmith shop and a log church. At most of these places – and in the museums, too – volunteers are ready to answer questions and perform demonstrations. Visitors with good timing can see the blacksmith make a knife in his forge or watch a shopkeeper.

    Heritage Farm – Six Simple Machines Discovery Zone

    After the museums, the petting zoo, and the historic buildings, children might enjoy some less-structured activities. If so, they can head to the Six Simple Machines Discovery Zone, easily found by the windmill located in the middle. In this discovery zone, kids can perform simple tasks that will clarify the importance of pulleys, levers, inclined planes, and other simple machines. If kids need even more independence, they can grab some nets with handles at the Visitors Center and go hunting for minnows and crayfish in the creek that runs through the farm. It’s okay for these water critters to be caught and put in buckets – as long as they are returned to their habitat when the hunt is over.

    At some point during their time at Heritage Farm, visitors might want to get a view of the farm’s outlying areas. If so, they should keep an eye out for Audy Perry and his tractor. Audy, the son of the Farm’s founders, will load people up in one of several wagons and haul them around the Farm’s perimeter. Among other things, they’ll cross a covered bridge and see some larger animals like Marco the Bison who aren’t part of the petting zoo. Be advised that this ride can get pretty bumpy sometimes, especially when the wagons rumble across the bridge. Expectant mothers may want to think twice before climbing on to a wagon. Be advised, too, that Audy may bombard visitors with a series of farm-related puns. So be ready to groan.

    Heritage Farm Petting Zoo
    Oreo the Rabbit

    Heritage Farm Logistics

    • Heritage Farm Hours:  Heritage Farm hours vary by season.  Consult their website when planning a visit.
    • Heritage Farm Tickets:  Heritage Farm admission costs $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for children.  Visitors two and under are free.
    • Parking at Heritage Farm:  Parking shouldn’t be a problem. There’s a large open-field lot just to the left of the main entrance.  If that lot is full, more parking space is available at the western end of the farm.
    • Dining at Heritage Farm:  For dining, Heritage Farm Cafe is located in the Visitors Center. The cafe is open from 11-2, Monday through Saturday and offers an array of sandwiches, side dishes, and beverages at reasonable prices. One of their specialties is lemonade sweetened by brown sugar.

    Before leaving Heritage Farm, visitors can comment on their experience in a journal that can be found near the entrance to their Inn. And as they leave, they may find Appalachia to no longer be an enigma, but rather an inviting place they will want to visit again.  Heritage Farm Village and Museum is really a gateway to America’s rural past and much more.

  • Fall Getaway: Visiting Shenandoah National Park With Kids

    Fall Getaway: Visiting Shenandoah National Park With Kids

    Guest Blogger: Sandra Kozera is a Pittsburgh native who backpacked around Europe with Catherine ages ago.  She is a lawyer and member of the North Hills School Board.

    Almost every fall, our family travels to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with some family friends.  It’s a beautiful area all year round, but it’s especially amazing when the leaves are changing.  Now, obviously a National-Park-destination trip has the capacity to be a pretty fun outdoorsy sort of adventure for the right sort of people (such as my friend who went on her honeymoon there last year).  However, we are not very outdoorsy, and our children are still relatively young (currently 8 and 5), but we’ve still enjoyed going almost annually since before the eight year old was born. Because we’ve done this trip so many times, we have some pretty good hacks for how to enjoy the park and enjoy nature without needing to even consider whether we should tie our food up in a tree so that bears don’t get it.  We love visiting Shenandoah National Park with kids.

    On the Way to Shenandoah National Park

    We live in Pittsburgh, and we drive to the park – it’s about a five hour trip for us.   Because car travel with small children can often be fraught with disaster, one year I decided to see if there was a farm where we could stop on the way, and we discovered Orr’s Farm Market in Martinsburg, West Virginia.  This is now my favorite farmer’s market. What I look for in a good farmer’s market: interesting things to do, minimal crowds, lots of produce. There are hayrides, animals, tons of apples, tons of pumpkins, and a whole area where kids can play, which is super important after hours of driving.  I’ve definitely thought about going to Orr’s just on a random Saturday even though it’s a three hour drive.

    We also always stop at Buffalo Wild Wings while we are in Martinsburg.  I like to take small children to loud restaurants, and this one definitely fits the bill.

    Visiting the Shenandoah National Park Area

    Shenandoah National Park is located entirely in Virginia, and it is long, stretching from near Front Royal to Staunton.  We typically stay in the Harrisonburg/Luray area, which is about at the midway point. There are lodges and campsites in the park, but we usually stay outside the park.  We really enjoy the Mountainside Villas at Massanutten, which is practically a destination itself – there is a pool, a golf course, miniature golf, hiking trails, and a variety of other seasonal activities.  

    We have also stayed at the Shenandoah Valley KOA Kampground, which is lovely if you want to be slightly more outdoorsy but don’t want to deal with staying in the actual park.  KOA has cabins as well as tent camping, so we could enjoy a campfire and s’mores when we stayed here.

    Harrisonburg is home to James Madison University, and it is a great, walkable little town.  Bella Luna Wood-Fired Pizza has a delightful pizza menu and thorough beer selection, and nearby Bella Gelato & Pastries features inventive ice cream selections.  There are also a number of chain restaurants, big-box stores, various grocery stores – so you can basically replace everything you accidentally left at home all within a short drive of where you are staying.  And there’s a large Barnes & Noble in case you need a book.

    Visiting the Shenandoah National Park – Skyline Drive

    In order to see the park, you’re going to need to spend some time in your car.  Driving at least part of the 105-mile-long Skyline Drive is an amazingly beautiful journey.  There are a number of scenic overlooks. Some are spectacular, so definitely be prepared to pull over at a moment’s notice to take in the view.

    Shenandoah National Park Best Hikes

    There are a ton of hiking trails, but it’s hard (for me, anyway) to tell from maps which ones will be appropriate or interesting for children.  I recommend two – the Limberlost Trail, which is an easy, flat hike of about 1.3 miles, and the Dark Hollow Falls Trail, which is an out-and-back waterfall destination hike.  Dark Hollow is hilly and may not be appropriate for the littlest legs, but the waterfall views are amazing. There are some flat trails in the Skyland area, but the scenery in that area is somewhat stark – still, it’s a nice easy place to stretch your legs.

    Shenandoah National Park Restaurants

    Food is available at Big Meadows and at Skyland.  Skyland’s Pollock Dining Room has a nice sit-down restaurant with lovely views, but they open at 12 for lunch, and there is often a line, so plan for that accordingly.  There’s also a gas station in Big Meadows if you happen to blow out your tire and need someone to help you put on your spare (just theoretically).

    Visiting Shenandoah National Park in Fall

    The temperature in the park is usually 5-10 degrees colder than it is outside the park in the fall, and in Skyland, it can be even colder.  We go in mid to late October, and the park temperature has been everything from 80 degrees to 40 degrees, depending on the year. Basically pack all your clothes.

    We are not going to Shenandoah this year, and we are going to miss it, but we will definitely be back.  This is a great family trip.

  • Perth, Australia With Kids

    Perth, Australia With Kids

    Guest Blogger: Clayton is a writer, editor, and devoted family man. A proud husband, father, and grandfather, Clayton enjoys running and cycling in his spare time and is also devoted to supporting literacy and arts programs in his hometown of Worthington, Ohio. To learn more about Clayton, visit his website, Clay Writes.

    On a two-week trip to “The Land Down Under” this past July, my wife and I had the opportunity to observe and learn, finding new things to love before returning to our home in Worthington, Ohio. As an Australian Aboriginal Proverb affirms:

    “We are all visitors to this time, this place…Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love and then we return home.”

    Prior to departure, we alerted our bank that we would be traveling overseas, so they wouldn’t hold up any credit card transactions on suspicion of theft. Each credit card purchase carried an “international transaction fee” (the largest of these was $3.23). We also secured $300 in Australian cash, which cost about $245 in American currency.

    Nine days of our two-week trip were spent in Perth, located on Australia’s southwest coast. Perth ended up being an excellent place to have a multi-generational family gathering with my daughter and son-in-law and their three children, ages seven, five, and two. I say “excellent” not only because Perth is relatively close to their home in Bandung, Indonesia, but also because Perth is an exceptionally kid-friendly city.

    Things to Do:

    #1: Kings Park and Botanic Garden:

    Kings Park and Botanic Garden is not only rich in Aboriginal and European history, but also happens to be one of the world’s largest and most beautiful inner-city parks. We enjoyed our first visit to this park so much that we ended up coming back for a second visit! On our first visit, we took a short hike across an elevated walkway that led us past beautiful flowers and towering treetops. At different points, we had panoramic views of Perth’s skyline and the surrounding waters. We also spent some time admiring the Pioneer Women’s Memorial, a bronze sculpture of a woman and infant surrounded by sparkling fountains.

    Pioneer Women’s Memorial Fountain

    From the Memorial, we visited a children’s discovery play area, just one of many such areas devoted to young ones within the park. My seven- and five-year-old grandchildren had a ball wading in a small pond with other kids, while their two-year-old little brother happily splashed. A small, rocky stream fed into the pond, and I noticed older children using the rocks to build a dam. The play area also featured tunnels; some resembled culverts but others would be better described as climbing tunnels, which require the participant to ascend and then descend a rough-hewn staircase before emerging at the end.

    Pro-Tip: If you’re prone to back or knee problems, I highly recommend that you wait for your children at the tunnel’s end rather than attempting to follow your kids through the tunnel!

    After the kids enjoyed their fill of climbing and wading, we enjoyed a hearty lunch at a nearby cafe. On our way out, I took a moment to study the memorial to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (“ANZAC”) troops who fought and died in WWI. The granite obelisk stands across from an eternal flame with an inscription asking people to “Let Silent Contemplation Be Your Offering.”

    Eternal Flame with State War Memorial

    source

    On our return visit to Kings Park, I again visited the State War Memorial and noticed the names of the fallen ANZAC soldiers inscribed on the wall below and behind the obelisk. The kids again enjoyed wading in the pond and frolicking at the large playground near the park’s entrance. This playground also had tunnels, though not of the climbing kind, as well as a tire swing with an unusually wide arc. While the kids played, little kookaburras flitted about, sometimes coming within just a few feet of visitors.

    Kookaburras near one the Garden’s play areas

    #2: Perth Zoo

    We were fortunate that the Perth Zoo was within walking distance of our rental home. Due to its proximity, we were able to spend a weekday morning at the zoo, come home for lunch, and then return for about two hours in the afternoon. We did not have to pay admission on our return visit – we simply showed our receipt for the morning admission.

    As one would expect, the zoo features a number of animals unique to Australia, including koalas, dingoes, wallabies, kangaroos, wombats, and numbats. The numbats are new to me – these marsupials, with deer-like facial features and white stripes crossing their black/brown fur, dwell in woodlands of Western Australia, and each one eats upwards of 20,000 termites per day.

    The zoo organizes many of its animals according to habitat. The native animals were mostly found in the Australian Wetlands and Australian Bushwalk sections, and the African Savannah featured zebras, baboons, and a radiated tortoise. The Asian Rainforest held gibbons, Asian elephants, and Komodo dragons, while Bolivian squirrel monkeys, golden lion tamarins, and South American coatis could be found in the Amazonia section. Not all sections of the zoo were organized according to geography, however. The Nocturnal House covered a wide range of animals – bats, toads, spiders, and owls (to name a few) — all “creatures of the night.” And, the Primate Trail held lemurs, marmosets, tamarins, and other small primates mostly from Madagascar or the Amazon Rainforest.

    sleeping koala

    Of the animals we saw, I was most impressed by the painted dogs in the African Savannah. Their sleek, black, orange and white fur could have been designed by an artist and they moved with a distinctively graceful style. We learned these animals are highly effective predators and their hunts have a 90% success rate, better than either lions or cheetahs. Sadly, like so many other wild animals, the painted dogs are an endangered species.

    Pro-Tip: The zoo has a playground with ladders, bridges, and two slides (including a tunnel slide). There is also a carousel, which provides a more relaxing form of entertainment for children (and parents) after wearing themselves out on the playground. The carousel, however, only operates from 11am-3pm on most days.

    #3: Caversham Wildlife Park

    Located several miles outside of downtown Perth in Whitman Park, Caversham Wildlife Park is the perfect complement to the Perth Zoo as it provides families with the opportunity to have close-up encounters with wildlife. Although there are fewer animal species at the Wildlife Park, we noticed herds of kangaroos hopping free across hundreds of acres of open range just on the drive to the park. Once we were inside the park itself, we were nearly nose-to-nose with echidnas, llamas, koalas, wombats, pythons, possums, and any number of birds. We all enjoyed the opportunity to pet a koala and the kids had their pictures taken with a husky-looking wombat. We also encountered an Australian brushtail possum, which, with its darker fur, bigger ears, and thicker tail, does not much resemble its North American counterpart.

    cockatoo at the animal park’s indoor pavilion

    After getting acquainted with some of the park’s animals, we attended a farm show, which took place in an indoor pavilion. The show began with a demonstration of a sheep dog, controlling the movement of sheep so that they ended up in a pen. The show was followed by a sheep-shearing demonstration with a man, who was clearly a pro, wielding electric clippers swiftly, yet carefully. As large slabs of wool fell to the floor, the sheep struggled but uttered no cries of pain. According to the man, an experienced handler can shear over 200 sheep a day using electric clippers! Previously, only 60 or so sheep could be sheared in one day with manual clippers. Later in the show, volunteers in the audience were given the opportunity to try their hand at cracking whips and bottle-feeding lambs and, at the very end, anyone who wished could milk an artificial cow. My granddaughter took a turn, with her brother abstaining!

    Granddaughter about to feed a wallaby

    When we finished with the farm program, we entered what appeared to be a kangaroo-wallaby sanctuary where kids could feed the animals food obtained from special machines. This seemed like fun and it mostly was, but be advised that because the animals are fed with such frequency, they often aren’t interested in snacking. My granddaughter had to go to several different kangaroos and wallabies before finding one that was halfway interested in the food she offered!

    Volunteer snuggling with a wombat!

    #4: Scitech Discovery Centre

    If your children enjoy science, then Scitech Discovery Centre is a good place to take them, but get there early.  We arrived only a few minutes after the 9:30 opening, and within an hour the place was packed. We visited on a weekday, but evidently some schools were on winter break, leading to larger-than-normal crowds. Still, my family found much to like about Scitech, which is located near downtown Perth. The hands-on displays give children a chance to make science happen right in front of their eyes. Phenomena such as magnetism, gravity, electricity, sound waves, air pressure, and reflection become real, not just concepts in a textbook. But for my grandchildren, fun more than science was the order of the day. My grandson and I enjoyed building a makeshift parachute with string and a coffee filter and then testing it in a wind tunnel. My granddaughter had a great time using a pulley to elevate herself on a chair, while our toddler kept himself busy dropping colored balls into an interactive probability device. There was a special show at the museum’s planetarium, but the long line made us decide against attending. We did see a puppet show on animal and plant nutrition that featured a human performer interacting with different puppet characters and occasionally with members of the audience.  

    Final Thoughts?

    My only regret is that Australia in general and Perth, in particular, are so far from my home in central Ohio, otherwise, I’d be planning a return trip already! If I do venture to the “Land Down Under” again, I am definitely not flying economy. To be sure, my wife and I were treated well on all of our flights, including the 17-hour odyssey from Dallas to Sydney. But sleeping upright with minimal leg room just does not agree with my over-60-year-old body and I would like to feel like a human being next time, instead of a boomerang! That said, Perth was a great place for a multi-generational family visit. Not only were there a number of family-friendly activities for kids and adults of all ages, but the amount of wildlife and the opportunities to get up close and personal were a real treat.

  • Virginia With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

    Virginia With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

    Guest Blogger: Cynthia, her husband, and two boys are Floridians who recently road tripped to Virginia where they quickly learned that Virginia is not “only” for lovers. The state offers so much rich history and fun stuff for a family to do. With her sons now of teenage age, their road trip to Virginia’s historical sites was the perfect opportunity to not only learn more about their country but to actually see and experience it in real life. For more on Cynthia and her family, visit Mackintosh Travels.

    Getting to Virginia:

    Our family has traveled extensively abroad, but we have not spent much time traveling within the United States. My husband is a history buff, so we decided to take our boys on an epic road trip from Florida to Virginia to visit Virginia’s amazing historical sites.

    Our first stop was to pay a visit to the “world’s first successful combat submarine,” the Hunley, located in Charleston, South Carolina. Our tour guide was extremely informative and we enjoyed the experience.

    Our next stop was at a  fun town located literally on the border of North and South Carolina. What a fun place South of the Border is! Vibrant colors surround this mini-Mexico, and it was a fun road trip break to get out and stretch our legs. My boys loved the attractions and sights and we all enjoyed the opportunity to dine and shop a little.

    Virginia!

    After 12+ hours in the car, we finally arrived in Virginia! We decided to head straight to our hotel, the Historic Powhatan Resort, which is owned by Diamond Resorts. Our goal was to rest and refresh in time to begin exploring Virginia’s historical sites. We stayed at this resort for the entire time we were in Virginia, so it was nice to have a place to come “home” to at the end of each day. We were able to make use of the swimming pool and hot tub on days we had extra time in the evenings.

    While there was so much to see and do in Virginia, here are our top five fun family activities:

    #1: Mount Vernon Estate

    Mount Vernon was George Washington’s plantation home. This lush and well-manicured estate is situated next to the Potomac River. It is not far from Washington, D.C. which makes it an easy day trip. With school aged children, this was a really great opportunity to make history come to life! My teenage boys were amazed to experience first-hand what Colonial America in Washington’s time was like rather than reading about this era in a history book.

    Mount Vernon Estate is made up of many different components. The mansion is the actual living quarters of our first President and General, George Washington. The first two floors are available for general touring (there is a third floor, which requires an additional admission fee). The mansion is well-preserved with period furniture so it looks just like it would have looked during Washington’s time, but photos are not allowed inside the mansion.

    The outdoors, or the grounds of the Estate, are just as beautiful as the indoor mansion. There were several small buildings that comprised, among others, George Washington’s barn, carriage, tools, meat curing, spinning, and laundry facilities. The intricate gardens are also presently maintained and open for visitors to stroll through.

    The icehouse is located along the Potomac River and although the icehouse is not available for touring because of its 22 foot drop, it was amazing to see its proximity to the Potomac River and to read about how it was used to make ice for the family. The Potomac River runs along the base of the Estate and, although Mount Vernon is located on the Virginia side, the other side is Maryland! My boys got a kick out of pointing to the other side. There are also special tours available to cruise on the Potomac River by boat.

    Washington’s Tomb is also located on the Estate and it is a quiet place of reflection. George Washington lays on the right, and on his left, lays his wife, Martha Washington.

    Kid Facts: Mount Vernon offers a special behind-the-scenes tour that takes visitors through a number of locations that were featured in National Treasure: Book of Secrets featuring Nicholas Cage. The Potomac River and the back of the Mansion are some of those scenes and while we were in the Mansion’s basement, we took this photo, not knowing it was not allowed – oops! When we got home, we watched the movie and paused at the point in the movie where the basement was shown so we could compare with our own photo.

    #2: Virginia’s Historic Triangle (Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown)

    source

    Virginia’s Historic Triangle is comprised of Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown, which were all important stops on our nation’s journey from English settlement to a new, independent nation. Connected by 23 scenic miles, the three towns are jointly administered by the National Park Service and The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Tickets to all three sites can be booked via this website.

    Tickets to experience the Historic Triangle can be expensive, but we really wanted to experience first-hand Colonial America, so we decided in advance to spend one full day at each location.

    Yorktown:

    The Battle of Yorktown ended on October 19, 1781 and marked a decisive victory by the American and French armies over British troops led by General Cornwallis. The battle not only boosted faltering American morale and revived French enthusiasm for the American Revolutionary War, but it helped undermine popular support for the conflict in England. During our tour of the battlefield, a National Park employee explained the battle, sights, and surrender flags situated throughout the battlefield. We loved being able to spatially orient ourselves and imagine the 18th century scene.

    The American Revolution Museum is an outdoor living museum with people dressed in period costumes, illustrating how people in that time period would have lived from day to day. Officially dedicated on April 1, 2017, the museum boasts 22,000 square feet of exhibition space with films, interactive galleries, and artifacts.

    Just outside the main museum building is the Revolution-era farm site, complete with log kitchens and attached brick chimneys.

    The museum posted procession times and we decided to hang around outside so we could catch it live. The fife and drums procession was absolutely amazing to hear live!

    Jamestown Settlement:

    Like the American Revolution Museum, Jamestown Settlement is a living history museum that visitors can walk through and get a first-hand feeling of what life was like during the time of the Revolution. It is a preserved piece of history situated in the heart of Virginia and consists of an expansive gallery, three re-created ships that visitors may climb aboard and explore, and numerous cafes and shops. The Jamestown settlement ships were the highlight of this stop and we loved being able to climb aboard and experience the small, but efficient ships.

    We also enjoyed visiting Powhatan Indian Village, a re-created Indian village featuring reed-covered houses, crops, and a ceremonial circle of carved wooden posts.

    The Jamestown Settlement also contains the re-created James Fort, a recreation of the Virginia Company of London’s 1610-14 outpost.

    Colonial Williamsburg:

    Colonial Williamsburg was the highlight of our Virginia’s Historic Triangle experience. It was like nothing I have ever seen! One minute, I was in modern day 21st century and the next minute, I had time traveled and stepped into the past. Visiting Colonial Williamsburg is an amazing teaching experience for children, and it is definitely worth setting aside a full day for the experience and favoring Colonial Williamsburg over Yorktown and Jamestown. Make sure to wear good walking shoes as there is a lot of ground to cover!

    Colonial Williamsburg is a re-created 18th century city and is the world’s largest living history  museum. There are over 40 sites and trades, four historic taverns, and two world-class museums on site.

    The Colonial Williamsburg website is a critical resource in planning any visit. There are suggested interest-based itineraries, a full events calendar, and even a list of must do activities for first timers.

    We particularly enjoyed the opportunity to go on a horse carriage ride and we also sat in on a mock trial session that my kids were able to participate in. If I had more time, I would have liked to have participated in a wool spinning class, but even with dedicating a full day to the experience, there was so much to do that I did not have time to work it in.

    #3: The American Civil War Museum and the Confederate White House

    Located in Richmond, the White House of the Confederacy was the Executive Mansion of the Confederacy from 1861-1865, when Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy.  During the Civil War, the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, lived in this home, and it is from here that he fled just before the surrender of Robert E. Lee’s Army at Appomattox.

    The White House houses a collection of objects associated with the Confederacy and President Davis, and a contemporary museum in the building houses many other Confederate artifacts, including Robert E. Lee’s field tent and Stonewall Jackson’s sword and cap.

    #4: Naval Station Norfolk

    The Naval Station Norfolk is located in Norfolk, Virginia, the southeastern corner of the state. It is home to the world’s largest naval base and we were able to tour the base and see many ships, aircraft carriers, and destroyers. The tours are conducted by naval personnel and last 45 minutes and cost (cash only) $10 for adults and $5 for children 3-11, senior citizens over the age of 60. Although we could not get up close to the ships, it was a good opportunity to get a feel for what it is like to live on base. The entire experience took about three hours.

    #5: Busch Gardens and Water Country

    Although not a historical site, we decided to indulge in a visit to Busch Gardens and Water Country near the end of our trip. Living in Florida, we are no stranger to water parks, but even though we have Busch Gardens and Adventure Island, Busch Gardens in Williamsburg had a much different vibe. Throughout the park, there were different countries represented, and we enjoyed visiting the different themed areas. Water Country was also much bigger than we expected and overall, we had a great day experiencing the parks.

    Final Thoughts?

    As we neared the end of our trip, we could not have imagined it going any better than it did. We had a wonderful time learning about our country together and our 10-day road trip turned into a full semester of historical learning. For families with school-aged children, I highly recommend taking a trip to experience Virginia’s vibrant history!

  • Paris With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

    Paris With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

    Guest Blogger: Vanessa and Sergio are high school sweethearts from Austin, Texas who love traveling the world and experiencing new cultures and traditions with their daughter. To keep up with this international trio, follow along on Instagram or visit their website, TravelChicFam.

    Our foodra truck ride outside the Musee d’Orsay!

    Paris, France has always been a favorite city of mine. This one city holds the best of the best in art, culture, breathtaking sights and French cuisine.  As the cherry on top, it’s also bursting with romance and, for those traveling with kids, children’s parks perfectly situated through the entire city!

    While pregnant with my daughter, I thought traveling would no longer be possible, but I was wrong! After a year of not traveling, I began experiencing “traveling blues” and decided to plan our first family trip to take place when my daughter would be 20 months old. I excitedly and anxiously began planning our 10-day trip to Paris: flights, transportation, hotel, sites and destinations, family photo shoot, and so much more! Before having a baby, we would have likely booked two or three cities as part of one vacation, but decided to stick to one city for our first family vacation and see how baby girl would travel. As an added surprise, traveling with a child reminded us to slow down, to visit family friendly sites, and to value each moment, laugh, and experience. We also took as many photos as humanely possible so that we could document the experience. Our visit to Paris with a young child was not without challenges, but overall the experience was amazing and life changing. I can confidently say that my now three year old absolutely loves to fly, thrives when she spends quality time with her parents, and enjoys the different sites and children’s parks that we build into our adventures.

    Without further ado, here are my Five Fun Family Activities for Paris With Kids!

    #1. Disneyland Parks

    In the many months I spent planning our trip to Paris, I knew that the one thing I wanted to do was to plan a stop at one of the most magical places on Earth: Disneyland Paris. It was the least we could do for our 20 month old, after dragging her to a different country.  We were visiting in early September, which is considered off-season, so the crowds were minimal and wait times for rides was short.

    Disneyland Paris is comprised of two parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. You can pay to visit one park or both parks. For this occasion, we chose to only visit Disneyland Park as our daughter loves princesses, and we knew that the big mid-day parade would be taking place at Disneyland Park. We arrived around 11am and were able to easily purchase tickets and ride a number of rides, including Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Le Carrousel de Lancelot, Alice’s Curious Labyrinth.  We also visited Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, La Tinier du Dragon, Liberty Arcade, and Discovery Arcade. We made sure to stop and watch the famous Disney parade with all the princess characters, and we ate lunch at Au Chalet de la Marionette, which had a decent selection of food for adults and children.

    By the time we left the park at 7pm, we were beyond exhausted. Although we wished we had seen the fireworks, we had a great experience and of course, left with Minnie Mouse ears, a Mickey Mouse balloon, Disneyland souvenirs, and a number of chocolate treats. If I had to do it all over again, I wish we could have arrived a little earlier so that we could visit both parks and stay for the fireworks, but given the one hour distance from our hotel to Disneyland and my daughter’s age, we were just thrilled that she had an amazing experience.

    Pro-Tip: We took a taxi from our hotel to Disney, but you can also take the Metro. We chose a taxi because it was much faster and easier for our little family. Prices vary, depending on location and transit time, so be sure to price check all your options.

    #2: Jardin du Luxembourg

    The Jardin du Luxembourg is a true gem located in the center of Paris. It covers 25 hectares (over 60 acres) of land filled with beautiful gardens, open-air cafes, puppet shows, rides, slides, musical performers, and sailboats in the pond by the Luxembourg Palace. On a sunny day, you can grab lunch and relax on the green or in one of the many chairs sprinkled throughout the park as you watch your little one run around to release some much needed energy.

    Our favorite activity was the miniature sailboats, which are available for rent or purchase if you don’t happen to have your own to bring! There were many vendors located along the pond and we rented a miniature sailboat that came with a large stick, to use to push the sailboat out and onto the pond. My daughter could not push the sailboat on her own, but my husband was happy to oblige and help maneuver the boat. He had just as much fun playing as all the kids. This is a must visit family friendly park for all to enjoy. By the looks of the native French speaking crowd around us, this is local favorite and so a great way to experience real Parisian family life.

    #3: Parc Zoologique de Paris

    The Parc Zoologique de Paris a great place to visit with children, especially if they love animals. Admission is pricey at 20 € per adult / 15 € per child (ages 3-12) but well worth it. The zoo’s landscape is designed to showcase the animals in their native ecosystem and is home to around 180 species and over a thousand animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. During our visit, we saw a variety of birds, monkeys, fish, jaguars, zebras, and giraffes. And, judging by the crowds, this is another spot that most local Parisians take advantage of with their families, and we were again fortunate to have no trouble with crowds.

    #4: Musee de l’Orangeries & Musee d’Orsay

    When one thinks of a museum in Paris, I’m sure the Louvre comes immediately to mind. The Louvre is amazing, but also full of tourists and crowds. Although definitely a place that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime, I was not sure that it was the best place to take a baby or toddler. For this special trip, we decided to visit the Musee de l’Orangerie and the Musee d’Orsay, which showcase fantastic works by Monet, Van Gogh, and many others, but without the tourist appeal of the Louvre.

    We visited the Musee de l’Orangerie first, where we viewed Claude Monet’s famous painting of the water lilies. The mural and all sides of the walls were so incredibly breathtaking, I had to stop and just enjoy the experience. While I was busy being awed by the beauty of the art, my daughter paced all the rooms of the museum with her daddy. We then went upstairs and enjoyed a quick bite to eat before heading to the Musee d’Orsay.

    At the d’Orsay, we saw Ballet Rehearsal by Edgar Degas, Blue Water Lillies by Claude Monet, Self Portrait by Vincent Van Gogh, and countless others. The museum is large, but we had an idea of what we wanted to see before arriving, which helped make our experience more manageable.

    Pro-Tip: It is 9 € to visit one museum, or 16 € to visit both, so we chose to visit both and save some money.

    #5: Eiffel Tower

    Last, but definitely not least, the most iconic site of all, the Eiffel Tower. Although you can pay to go up to the top of the tower, I personally think the best view is the free one from the bottom. There are two children’s parks at the North side of the tower that are fenced in for security and, happily, there are vendors nearby who sell an assortment of snacks and gelato for the children (and adults!) to enjoy a tasty treat.

    Picnicking on the grounds of the Eiffel Tower.

    While viewing the Eiffel Tower, we spied a carousel across the street, which many children enjoy riding, including my daughter who rode it up to four times! On a beautiful sunny day, be sure to take some time to have a picnic on the green near the Eiffel Tower. It’s easy to pick up a baguette or a tasty sandwich and a bottle of wine and enjoy the beautiful view, while the little ones stretch their legs running around outside. We have a wonderful time and will cherish our memories forever.

    Riding the carousel… for the fourth time!

    Final Thoughts?

    Paris has so many different things to see and do, but these are truly my top Five Fun Family Activities to take advantage of in Paris. As I continue to explore the world with my daughter, I learn more about her personality and try to incorporate her interests and wishes as well. My goal, as a mommy, is to take my daughter to one new country a year. Our first was Paris, and we also have Rome and Barcelona on the agenda. Traveling with a child has its challenges, but seeing their smiles and the memories we create as a family are priceless.

  • Italy With Kids: Five Fun Family Day Trips from Tuscany

    Italy With Kids: Five Fun Family Day Trips from Tuscany

    Guest Blogger: Jade and Ryan were busy planning a month long trip away from home when they found out Jade was expecting. They didn’t let that deter them – they just brought along their three month old… For more on the Davies family, from East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia, follow them on Instagram.

    In April 2017, we spent six glorious days in Tuscany with our three month old infant, Henry. Our time in Tuscany was at the end of a month long vacation that began with five days in New York City and 14 days in the UK visiting family.

    Who spends a month living out of a suitcase with a three month old infant?

    We had just started planning our month long trip when we found out I was pregnant. Although we did pause, many times, and wonder whether we should just wait and take the trip when the baby was older, we really had no option to turn back or cancel the trip as we were traveling with family, and they had already booked their flights. So, we plowed on and continued making plans even though the trip would ultimately require us to live out of a suitcase for a month with a three month old infant!

    How did we prepare for a month long vacation?

    Prior to having kids, we had traveled extensively, but most of it was of the backpacking variety that did not require much prior planning or organization. Knowing that I would be traveling around the world with an infant, I thought maybe I should have more of a plan. So, I began first by researching transportation options to figure out the logistics of flying and traveling with an infant and all the items required. My biggest concern was how to transport our family while traveling with an infant – train? bus? taxi? car hire? We opted to rent a car and mostly used it to get around although buses and cars were our usual mode of transport before kids.

    How did we get to and get around in Italy?

    We flew from Bristol, UK to Pisa, Italy with Easyjet Airlines on an early morning direct flight that took just over two hours. This gave us a whole day of travel upon arrival. I happily grabbed the window seat, which I prefer as it tends to give us a little more room to stretch out, and Henry slept the whole way. I had already booked a car for pick up at the airport, and the rental car company provided a car seat, which we were able to install ourselves. Car seat laws differ by country and rental car companies don’t always provide car seats, so we inquired ahead of time.

    It was a one hour drive from the airport to where we were staying, and the car came equipped with a navigation system, which provided super easy instructions in English. Henry does not mind the car, so he slept most of the way.

    Where did we stay?

    We rented a gorgeous two-bedroom apartment on a hilltop overlooking Tuscany, located in Uzzano, a commune in the province of Pistoria. The apartment was truly amazing – it came equipped with a full kitchen, laundry, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms. We had plenty of space, which was great, as my parents were also traveling with us. The only downside to the apartment was its location – about an hour long drive to Florence and an hour to Pisa, so while this would not have been ideal if we had only been in Tuscany for a short time and/or did not want to rent a car, this was a great location for us because of the space and the amenities. We also spent one day in Uzzano, exploring the small town that consists of about four streets and a big church on the top of the hill. Henry needed a rest day after our day trip to Venice, so Uzzano was a great place to have a relaxing, low key day.

    Our apartment complex

     

    View from our home base.
    Our rest day in Uzzano.

    What did we do?

    Given the location of our accommodations and our use of a rental car, we decided to break out trip up into small day trips. Over the course of six days, we took day trips to various destinations around Italy. Although we frequently found ourselves wishing we had more than one day to explore any particular city, it was a good overview and having a designated place to sleep was nice, given that we were traveling with an infant.

    1. Pisa

    Our first adventure was to visit Pisa, a small walled city. We literally followed the road signs saying “Leaning Tower of Pisa” and the paid parking signs…. which led us to a parking spot right across the road from the famous tower. We paid 15 € to park there for the day and just took our stroller with us. The city was flat and easy to get around with the pram. We wandered around the Leaning Tower and the surrounding buildings and took all the cheesy tourist photos that you would expect… it had to be done. There was a one hour wait to get into the building itself, so we just looked from the outside. We enjoyed a sumptuous lunch of pizza, pasta and breads, from a restaurant on the street leading away from the tower. After lunch, we strolled the streets and just enjoyed the beautiful architecture, before grabbing gelato and heading back to the car.

    We had to!

    On the way back to the house, we stopped at Villa Garzoni, the beautiful home where Pinocchio author Carlo Lorenzini spent his childhood. It was about 22 € per person to enter, but well worth it. Collodi, the town where Villa Garzoni is located, is roughly one hour driving distance from Florence, but would also be a great day trip, especially for those traveling to Italy with older kids as there is a Pinocchio gallery to visit as well.

    Villa Garzoni

    2. Florence

    The city center of Florence is a no drive zone, so we had to park outside the city and walk. We parked at a parking lot near the train station, which cost about 20 € for the day. Knowing we would be doing a significant amount of walking, we took the stroller and used it heavily, including on the 15-20 minute walk from the train station into the heart of the city

    Our first stop in Florence was the Piazza di Santa Maria Novella, a city square that features Santa Maria Novella, a Gothic Renaissance basilica completed in the 14th century. We picked up a coffee before heading over to San Lorenzo Market. As we meandered along the winding streets, we stumbled across many beautiful buildings and churches.

    Once we arrived at San Lorenzo Market, we all enjoyed delicious pizza made from the fresh produce sold at the downstairs market. It was exciting to be in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the marketplace and we loved every minute of it. After lunch, we went on a mission to find the Palazzo Medici Riccardi, a Renaissance Palace that I learned about in school and was eager to visit. The Palace is now the seat of the Metropolitan City of Florence as well as a museum, and I was thrilled when we spotted a local artist showing her work in the downstairs gallery.

    San Lorenzo Market

    From the Medici Palace, we went to Santa Maria del Fiore (commonly known as the Duomo), which unfortunately, was completely booked and had a 2.5 hour long wait to tour. Traveling with an infant, we did not think it would be wise to wait, so we just enjoyed the beauty of the Duomo and adjacent Florence Baptistry from the outside. We were also disappointed that we did not get to tour Uffizi Gallery, which was closed for renovations.

    The magnificent Duomo

    During our day in Florence, we also crossed the Ponte Vecchio, a medieval stone closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge over the Arno River. We loved walking along the river, getting lost in the beauty, architecture, and culture of Florence. We made sure to enjoy gelato from one of the many shops around the city.

    Ponte Vecchio
    Gelato – yum!

    We also saw the replica of Michelangelo’s David at the Palazzo Vecchio. The original was originally placed at the same location but moved indoors to the nearby Galleria dell’Accademia for conservation.

    A replica of Michelangelo’s David

    Photo credit We Go With Kids

    Pro-Tip: We visited the first week of April, and there were so many tourists that we got blocked out of visiting many locations, like the Duomo. Be sure to pre-book any items that are on your bucket list to ensure the opportunity to visit.

    3. Cinque Terre

    La Spezia is located in the Liguria region of Northern Italy, and is the start of the Cinque Terre, a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera that consists of five villages. It was a 90 minute drive from our house to La Spezia, which took a good chunk of time out of our day. Once we arrived in La Spezia, we took the train that departs from La Spezia station every 20-30 minutes and stops at every town along the Cinque Terre for those who don’t want to or can’t walk it. With an infant, we had no illusions of walking it and used the Ergo 360 on this day trip instead of the stroller for ease of maneuverability.

    Our first stop was at Monterosso al Mare, which happens to be the last town on the Cinque Terre line and the only town that has its own beach. We strolled the historic old town at our own leisurely place and enjoyed popping in to visit beautiful old churches.

    From Monterosso al Mare, we boarded the train to Vernazza, the quintessential Cinque Terre town. We enjoyed lunch at one of the restaurants leading down tot he waterfront and afterwards, walked up the cliff side overlooking the town.

    Unfortunately, by the time we stopped to check our watches, it was time to jump back on the train to La Spezia and drive back home for a late dinner. I wish we had one extra day to explore the other towns, but the distance from our home base was just too great. I was glad to use the carrier, rather than the stroller because most of the towns along the Cinque Terre were on the side of a cliff and maneuvering the stroller on/off the train would have been not only tricky, but exhausting.

    4. Venice

    Our day trip to Venice was long as it began with a one hour long drive from our house to Florence, and then a two-hour train ride to Venice. Henry hated the train and was very upset during the entire ride, which I spent walking him up and down the aisles to try and calm him down.

    We arrived in Venice at 10 am, which gave us plenty of time to explore and take our time strolling around the canals and taking in the stunning architecture. There were tons of restaurants and churches on every corner, so definitely take your time and enjoy the sights. One easy way to cover a lot of ground is to go on a gondola ride, but we found on a previous trip that it was beneficial to negotiate with a vendor instead of just using the first one that you see, as they will likely spot that you’re a tourist and charge you quite a bit more than if you just put in some leg work.

    Pro-Tip: Avoid taking your stroller to Venice, if possible. We brought our stroller because of forecasted rain and cold temperatures but had trouble managing with it over the bridges and stairs. It would have just been easier to use a baby carrier instead. It can be extremely expensive to stay in Venice, but take a look at main land options and consider catching a ferry/boat or train across to spend the day in Venice.

    5. Montecatini Terme and San Gimignano

    We spent our last day in Tuscany visiting the towns of Montecatini Terme and San Gimignano. Montecatini was close to our home base in Uzzano, so we thought this would be a great location to visit. The town was filled with stunning old bath houses and the landscape was gorgeous; unfortunately, they were still closed for the season. I would highly recommend visiting Montecatini and its bath houses in the summer.

    On a whim, we decided to drive to San Gimignano, because it was so close to Montecatini. WOW, am I glad we did! San Gimagnano is a small walled medieval town perched on top of a hill. We took advantage of the public parking (5-10€ for the day), but you can also just catch a bus into the city or walk. We arrived just in time for lunch and ate at a restaurant in the Sant’Agostino Square. The weather was absolutely brilliant, so we sat outside and had pizza and drank vino. Afterwards, we walked the streets and did some last minute shopping, while on the hunt for the world’s best gelato.

    Final Thoughts

    We ate a lot of pizza, wine, and gelato during our time in Italy, but we love Italian and the food was amazing. While we did eat a lot, we also felt like we did so much walking that we burned off quite a few calories. Because we visited touristy locations, we did not experience any language barriers. It was easy to buy diapers and wipes locally. If we went back, we would prefer to stay in metropolitan areas and spend more time exploring each city. The rental car was convenient, but we might try exclusively using trains next time. Although we did a lot of driving, we loved every minute of it and definitely recommend exploring Italy with kids.

  • South Korea with Kids: Five Fun Family Activities!

    South Korea with Kids: Five Fun Family Activities!

    Guest Blogger: Melanie, her husband, and their spunky toddler, Miss C, are American ex-pats who live most of the year in Thailand. Like We Go With Kids, they recognize that having children doesn’t mean you lose your desire to travel and have reimagined traveling with kids to include destinations around the globe! Melanie’s journeys can be found on her blog, Adventure Family Life, and on Instagram.

     

    South Korea Family Trip Blog

    South Korea is a vibrant, modern country with plenty to offer any traveler. This is no less true for those traveling to South Korea with kids. Last October, we traveled to South Korea with our 21 month old Miss C, accompanied by friends and their nine-month old baby.  Our group of six traveled by bus from city to city and used the city train and bus system within Seoul. For those who have never been to South Korea with kids, we were pleasantly surprised by how child-friendly South Korea is and encourage you to put it on your list of places to visit with kids! Here are my top tips for a South Korea family trip.

    Row of shops in Sokcho, South Korea

     

    Getting Around in South Korea With A Toddler

    South Korea’s train system is one of the most affordable and comfortable ways to travel the country. Children under four travel free on trains when accompanied by an adult and children, and children ages four to 13, travel at half price. The train stations in larger cities such as Seoul, Yongsan, and Busan, have fabulous nursing rooms and the high-speed KTX train even has baby-changing and nursing rooms right on board. Most of South Korea is stroller-friendly, and subway stations have escalators and/or elevators that allow stroller users to easily navigate the station.

    Buses are plentiful within major cities and, as an added bonus, children under age 7 can ride the bus and subways for free. This really helps makes a Korea family trip affordable!

     

    Shopping in South Korea

    Shops and department stores are extremely child-friendly. Many department stores and mega stores, like E-Mart and Lotte Mart, provide strollers for guests to borrow for free. Many stores also have children’s play areas for when children to use to burn off some energy.

    Children’s items, especially clothing, can be very expensive in department stores. However, I found some great deals on some super-stylish children’s clothes the last time I was at Namdaemun Market, so it never hurts to look.

     

    Restaurants in South Korea

    Most restaurants have high chairs, but you will need to ask for them when you are being seated as they are not brought out automatically. If your child is not proficient at chopsticks, you can ask for a fork. More and more restaurants offer play areas for children, making dining out even more enjoyable for parents!

     

    Things to Do in Korea with Kids

    Throughout the country, you will find many different attractions that are geared towards children. Most of the popular attractions in Korea welcome children to come and play and learn.  Here are a few of our favorite things to do in South Korea with kids:

     

    #1: Theme Parks in South Korea

    Photo credit:  Image by Yoj Rasaili from Pixabay 

    There are a number of theme parks across South Korea that are perfectly suited for children of all ages. We visited Everland, one of the largest theme parks in the world, located about 25 miles away from Seoul in Yangin. The park is fun for the whole family, and there is plenty of tasty food for everyone to enjoy. There are activities for even the youngest visitors. As an added bonus, Korea’s theme parks have nursing rooms that are often even stocked with baby wipes and diapers just in case an emergency arises! My friend was able to nurse her nine-month old in public throughout our trip without any issues.

     

    #2: Stay in a Traditional Korean Homestay

    One of the most memorable experiences we had in South Korea was staying in a traditional Korean homestay, a hanok. There are many homestay options available in the older section of Seoul, and the some homes can be hundreds of years old! Most of the homes that are available for booking have been renovated to include indoor plumbing, but you can expect to find paper pasted walls, old-style furniture, and traditional decor (most homes do offer television and WiFi!). We originally booked our homestay online via booking.com. I simply read reviews and booked the one with the best reviews. We arrived at our original booking at around 9pm and the owner told us that our room was “broken,” but that his cousin had room for us, so we took a quick ride over to Gongsimga, which is where we ended up staying.

    At Gongsimga, each room had private, en suite bathrooms and there were five or six separate bedrooms with private baths that each family could stay in. The rooms had WiFi and a small tv, but there was no furniture other than the bed on the floor. The family we stayed with absolutely adored our daughter. It was cold when we were there, but the rooms are heated via the traditional ondol method of floor heaters, and we slept on a mat on the floor, which kept us nice and toasty. While it may not be an option for everyone, if you happen to co-sleep already at home or when you travel, this may be an ideal set up for you because the rooms are designed for all guests to seep together in one bed on the floor.

    Each morning, we had breakfast together with the hosts and other guests. Our hostess was very kind and prepared a special meal for Miss C every morning and made sure she had a comfortable place to sleep. They also helped us locate an open restaurant when we arrived late, without having eaten dinner. The homestay experience is definitely rustic and not for everyone, but we had fun. The only draw backs that I can think of are that the plugs were all Korean plugs (versus a modern hotel which would have traditional plugs) and although there was a small courtyard on property, it was not really a great place to relax. Also, the kitchen is not really open for use as the family lives/sleeps in the kitchen, so you definitely felt like you were invading their private space if you needed something from the kitchen. Luckily, we did not spend a ton of time there as we are pretty active travelers. For sleeping and breakfast, the homestay suited us just fine.

     

    #3: Seoul Children’s Museum

    The Seoul Children’s Museum is located within the National Museum of Korea and offers various cultural activities and programming for children. There are more than 100 interactive displays spread over three floors where kids can have so much fun that they won’t even know they are learning! As an added bonus, children under three are free. As a government-owned museum, the Seoul Children’s Museum an amazing experience offered by the government of South Korea for kids!

     

    #4: Enjoy the Outdoors in South Korea

    The Korean countryside is incredibly beautiful and has a lot to offer visitors by way of scenery. The time of year greatly affects where you will want to go and what outdoor activities you will want to engage in.

    During the summer, head to the beaches. In the wintertime, check out the ski resorts. During the fall (when we visited), head to Sokcho, where you can visit Seoroksan National Park and catch some of the most incredible fall foliage in Asia.

    If you plan to spend all of your time in Seoul, you will have plenty of opportunities to experience nature as there is plenty of green space right in the city. One of the best views of the city can be enjoyed by taking a cable car to the top of Namsan mountain, also known as Seoul Tower.

     

    View of the city from Seoul Tower

     

    #5: Visit the DMZ with Kids

    Korea’s Demilitarized Zone (“DMZ”) is a popular tourist attraction, but only children over age 10 are allowed to visit the Joint Security Area.

    South Korea soldiers marching alongside the Freedom Bridge

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    Although we were not able to visit the JSA because we were traveling with a toddler, there are numerous attractions in the DMZ area that you can visit with kids, such as observatories and infiltration tunnels. In an effort to save money, we tried to take a public city bus to the Mount Ohdu Unification Observatory, but ended up getting lost. It was pouring rain outside and we ended up at a random shopping mall, the Paju Outlets, which is located ridiculously close to the DMZ. Unfortunately, we were too tired and wet to continue trying to get to the Observatory and, by that time, my toddler was DONE!  We did see some guard towers and barbed wires and, at one point, even glance into North Korea for a split second. In retrospect, I wish we had booked a tour instead of trying to save money and do it ourselves. Regardless, the point is that there are ways to experience the South Korea DMZ with kids and those on a family trip to Korea should make plans ahead of time to ensure success.

     

    Final Thoughts About Traveling With Kids in Korea

    All things considered, visiting South Korea with kids is a no-brainer as you would be hard pressed to find a destination anywhere on the planet that is more child-friendly. Koreans loved our daughter and spoiled her everywhere we went, thus giving her ample opportunities to experience Korean culture. As an added bonus, we were able to relax and enjoy the experience as it was so easy to get around and incredibly friendly to those of us traveling with young children. We spent a total of 10 days in South Korea, three in Seoul, four near Sokcho, then another three in Seoul. The language barrier in Seoul was not bad, and although bus drivers either did not speak English or were not willing to speak English, we had no difficulty getting around. I purchase a SIM card at the airport so I could use Google Maps to figure out the bus routes. There was less English spoken in Sokcho, but it did not prove to be that much of a problem as I had the SIM card.

    Thanks to Melanie for sharing her South Korea family trip blog about South Korea with a toddler!

  • France: Alsace With Kids!

    France: Alsace With Kids!

    Guest Blogger:  Ophélie is originally from France but moved to Belgium from McLean, Virginia five years ago.  She and her husband have found that kids didn’t have to stop them from doing what they love.  Instead, they shared their passion for travel and the outdoors with their young son and daughter. Ophélie can be found on Instragram and Facebook. 

    Located only five hours by car (or two hours by train) from Paris, Alsace is a cultural region in eastern France, which, since 2014, has been part of the of the Grand-Est administrative region. Due to its location along the French/German border, Alsace has been the center of a centuries long tug-of-war.  Our visit to Alsace in winter was a lovely family vacation.

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    Today, when you visit the region, you can see how the influence of the two empires has affected the area in all aspects, including architecture, language, and gastronomy. Alsace is a land of transition, overflowing with history and half-timbered houses and ruins of medieval castles abound. While Strasbourg (the largest city in Alsace) and Colmar (the third largest commune in Alsace) may seem like obvious and attractive places to visit, there is so much that Alsace has to offer, and I highly encourage you to explore the entire area. Indeed, the Alsace Wine Route is located between Strasbourg and Colmar and offers a mosaic of landscapes, including vineyards, forests, picturesque villages, and old castles. Between Christmas and New Year’s Day, we decided to explore the region. With a mix of many of our family’s favorite activities, including hiking, small towns, gastronomy, and wineries, this was the perfect destination for a family trip.

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    THINGS TO DO IN ALSACE, FRANCE

    #1: Places to Visit in Alsace With Kids

    Many villages along the Alsace Wine Route are part of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (The Most Beautiful Villages of France), a small association dedicated to promoting tourist appeal of small rural villages with rich cultural heritages. These charming and colorful villages definitely deserve to have their own title and the Alsace Tourism Center lists 18 iconic villages along the Wine Route. Because we were only there for a few days, we could not visit every single village. Instead, we visited fewer places but took the time to get lost in the small streets to immerse ourselves in the magical atmosphere of those small villages.

    Although the Christmas market season had ended, the Christmassy vibe of cheerful songs, festive decorations, and seasonal food was still present. We particularly loved Ribeauvillé, a medieval village steeped in history, Kayserberg, a fairytale village surrounded by vineyards with forested hills rising above the town, and Riquewihr, the must-see fortified wine-making village. From mid-November to mid-January, these villages offer treasure hunts with game booklets that are available at the Office of Tourism, which has an office in each village. This was such a fun, interactive, and entertaining way to visit these stunning villages as we were able to roam the illuminated streets of Riquewihr and Kayserberg on the trail of a Christmas treasure while also unraveling several riddles. Our quest brought us away from the main tourist streets and into small narrow streets, where we learned about the history of the place. After a 1-1.5 hour sightseeing walk, we had gathered all the clues and returned to the Office of Tourism with our “mystery word.” All “winners” were offered a reward, which included an Alsatian seven family game, an artisanal Christmas decoration, a wine glass, a local story book, and much more. It was so hard to choose! My kids loved the whole process from finding the clues to picking out a gift, and the treasure hunts are one of their favorite memories of the trip! We did not do the treasure hunt in Ribeauvillé because we were there for less time. Overall, I highly recommend you look into this as an activity if you find yourself visiting around the holidays.

    Pro Tips:

    • Most of the towns are closed to traffic, unless you are a resident. Luckily, there is paid parking outside of the villages and the parking is less than a five minute walk to the village.
    • The treasure hunts were FREE!
    • I highly recommend that you visit the tourist office website to check out the calendar of activities in each village as they tend to offer different activities and events through the year. You can also visit the tourist office desk when you arrive at the village. As a bonus, the tourist office is staffed with friendly people with handy tips to share and free public restrooms (my kids always need to go at the worst possible moment, so I thought this was worth mentioning!).

    #2: Vineyards and Wineries in Alsace With Kids

    The best way to discover the countryside is to hike it. We followed the “Grand-Crus” Wine Trail, which crosses several villages and is punctuated by signboards, explaining the work happening in the vineyards and the wine making process. Hiking through the Pays de Riquewihr, we were immersed in the heart of the vineyards and, along the way, we discovered the three castles of Ribeauvillé (the Saint-Ulrich, the Ribeaupierre, and the Girsberg) and witnessed the medieval way of life. The old castles truly are a great way to keep the kids motivated and excited while hiking!

    If we enjoy very much walking in the vineyards, it’s almost a certainly we will love the final product even more! Raised in a family of wine-producers, I adore traveling to wine regions to discover small producers and taste their wines, while learning about region specific wine making processes. Appellation d’Origine Contrellé (AOC) laws govern French vineyards to ensure consistent and highest-quality winemaking and Alsace has been designated four grape varieties that meet the Grand-Cru AOC designation: reisling, gewürztraminer, pinor gris, and muscat. Along the Alsace Wine Route, many small producers offer degustation (wine tasting) menus and, after trying the amazing Grand Cru Schoenenbourg Reisling at one dinner, we opted to try the Fux-Fuchs GAEC in Zellenberg, a small-family owned production. The tasting room happened to be located next  door from our hotel (the Au Riesling Hotel).  Although it is tempting to try out the region’s amazing wines at every pit stop, we don’t drink and drive so finding a wine tasting spot within walking distance of our hotel was great – a win-win situation all around.

    Pro Tips:

    • Most wineries are open for visiting and tasting Monday through Saturday (9am – 12pm, 2pm – 6pm) without prior reservation.
    • Access to vineyards is restricted during harvest season and the month beforehand. Check with the local Tourist Office before planning a visit during the harvesting months (August to October).
    • For the wine lovers among you, I highly recommend you check out the Winefolly page on Alsation wines.
    • Fux-Fuchs is a family-run wine producing company, with nine hectares (or 22 acres) of vines. They don’t have a website, but you can find their contact information on the Alsace tourism website. I highly recommend you try the Grand Cru Schoenenbourg Riesling!

    #3: The Haut Koenigsbourg Castle in Alsace With Kids

    The Haut Koenigsbourg Castle cannot be missed during any trip to Alsace. Built in the 12th century, this incredible monument has witnessed the course of European history – constant rivalry between lords, kings and emperors. At the beginning of the 20th century, the German Emperor Wilhelm II (Alsace was controlled by Germany back then!) decided to renovate the castle that had been besieged and destroyed during successive battles. From 1900 to 1908, the Château du Haut Koenigsbourg was restored to its original glory.

    Up on the heights of the village of Orschwiller, located a short 25-minute drive from Ribeauvillé, the Haut Koenigsbourg Castle is just a small detour from the Alsatian Wine Route. Perched on a rocky hill at an altitude of 757 meters, the Castle offers incredible views of the vineyards along the Alsatian Plains. A must see if you are in Alsace!

    Pro Tip:

    • Free parking is available along the road leading to the castle. There is then a two to 15 minute walk before you reach the castle.
    • Plan to spend at least 90 minutes visiting and exploring the Castle.
    • Because of stairs (and the terrible freezing air flow in the winter), I recommend you use a baby carrier rather than a stroller.
    • Entrance fees are: Adult 9 € (~$11USD), Child 5 € (~$6USD), Student 7 € (~$8.50USD). Kids under six are free.

    #4: Gastronomy in Alsace With Kids

    Alsace is a foodie heaven with countless culinary specialties. The symbol of Alsatian cuisine probably is the delicious choucroute: sauerkraut accompanied with pork meat. While my kids (who are usually not picky eaters) are not big fans of choucroute, they appreciated the flammenkuche (or tarte flambée), a thin tart covered with cream, fried onions, and bacon. Tradition Alsatian specialties also include street foods such as bretzels (fresh baked and soft pretzels, sometimes found with melted cheese on top or accompanied by smoked salmon or ham), and kougelhopf (a sort of brioche and leading symbol of Alsace), to name a few. We sampled as many specialties as physically possible after two days of Christmas family meals. Alsatian food is delicious, but definitely not light!

    WHERE TO STAY & WHEN TO VISIT ALSACE WITH KIDS

    We stayed at the Hotel Au Riesling, in the heart of Alsace’s vineyards, and we loved it. Au Riesling is a family-owned and run hotel located in the traditional village of Zellenberg along the Alsace Wine Route. Situated between Ribauvillé and Riquewihr, the hotel is ideally located to visit everything in the area. From the terrace, the hotel provides an unrestricted view of the vineyards and a glimpse of the faraway Black Forest and Vosges Mountains. The staff is very friendly and you can feel the warmth that is typical of family-owned and run hotels. The Hotel’s restaurant offers both classical French cuisine and Alsatian specialties, with a selection of local wines. We love our children to try new food and be sensitive to fine food, so we were really pleased that Au Riesling offers a “Children’s Menu,” which is actually half-portions of the regular menu! The time between courses was a bit long, but that is the French way and next door to the restaurant is a room with board games, books, and a television where kids can relax in between meal service.

    The Christmas season is really magical in Alsace and therefore is one of the busiest periods of the year in terms of tourism. Consider booking your stay during the week to avoid overcrowding. Between May and October, Alsace’s natural landscape is simply stunning. During this time, the vineyards display shimmering colors, from tender green to deep orange. Apart from the enchanting postcard villages, the Alsatian vineyards really are the charm of the Alsace Wine Route.

    Ophélie travels to some stunning locations and this post on Alsace has us wishing we could tag along on their next family adventure! If you find yourself similarly inspired, be sure to check out Ophélie’s other posts on WGWK!

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  • Philadelphia With Kids: A Long Weekend Getaway!

    Philadelphia With Kids: A Long Weekend Getaway!

    Guest Blogger: Karen loves to travel the world with Piper, her seven year old daughter. They have a shared passion for finding the very best family friendly days out, places to stay, and things to eat. You can find a journal of their adventures on their website, Are We There Yet Kids.

    Historic, charming and, some might say, the birthplace of the United States, the beautiful city of Philadelphia is packed full of child friendly things to see and do. My daughter and I visited Philadelphia last summer and totally fell in love with the city. Although we only had three days to explore, we managed to cram plenty in, leaving us exhausted by the end of our long weekend. Here are our top tips on where to go, eat, and stay!

    THINGS TO DO

    #1: Please Touch Museum

    When planning our adventure, I knew I had to include the Please Touch Museum on our list of things to do because I had heard so many great things about this child friendly museum. As the name suggests, this museum is dedicated to teaching children through play, and the museum totally follows through on this promise. There is so much to see and do that you can easily spend a full day here. We only had a morning to devote to this museum, but we managed to visit most of the exhibits, even if I did find myself hurrying Piper along a few times.

    Being big fans of the book, we loved the Alice in Wonderland themed Wonderland area, where you can have tea with the Mad Hatter, get lost in the hedge maze, and even paint some roses red. Piper’s favorite part of the visit was the Woodside Park Dentzel carousel, which was an additional $3 on top of admission, but well worth the charge.

    Other hits include the River Adventures water area, where kids can learn all about water flow, City Capers, where children can really indulge their imaginations and try out various grown up jobs in venues such as a hospital, restaurant, and shopping center, and Roadside Attractions, which gives children the opportunity to explore a real car, pretend to be mechanics, and drive a trolley.

    Please Touch Museum is geared towards younger children and preschoolers, but Piper is seven and still loved the exhibits. Some of the exhibits are starting to show a little wear and tear, but the kids don’t seem to mind, so it did not diminish our enjoyment.

    #2: The Rocky Steps and Statue at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

    This is good fun to visit even if your kids haven’t seen the movies, and it makes for a fabulous photo opportunity. The famous Rocky Statue and Rocky Steps aren’t too much a challenge to run up, even in the heat of summer, and if you have time to visit the Museum of Art while you’re there, even better!

    #3: Sister Cities Park

    We loved Sister Cities Park, a cute little park located just a few minutes from our hotel. When we visited, the famous “LOVE”  sculpture was closed for maintenance, but we found the replacement “AMOR” sculpture here. Make sure you get a quick photo with the sign and take a breather in this park, which has a lovely little café, a children’s discovery garden, and a 10 geyser splash fountain in the summer, perfect for cooling down after a hot day of exploring.

    #4: The Franklin Institute

    The Franklin Institute was built to honor one of America’s most famous scientists, Benjamin Franklin. The Institute is one of the oldest and best centers for science education and development in the United States and it is my absolute favorite place to visit in Philly. It’s a hands on and totally interactive science museum with plenty to learn for both kids and grown-ups.

    The Franklin Institute is home to the famous heart exhibit, where kids can explore the workings of a heart by walking through it, following the journey a blood cell would take. But the fun doesn’t end there – the newest exhibit, dedicated to the workings of the human brain, includes an 18 foot tall climbing structure called the neural climb, which kids can safely climb all the way to the top. Active kids will love the Sportszone, where they can test their reactions against the ping-pong wall, perfect their baseball throw, see how far they can jump from a running or standing start, and race virtual athletes along a 40 foot track.

    There is also the Franklin Air Show, which introduces visitors to the history and technology of flight, Sir Isaac’s Loft, which brings Newton’s theories to life, and Changing Earth, which is guaranteed to get little brains thinking about the impact we all have on this planet.

    Although some exhibits dedicated to the physiology of the human body are a bit gory, my seven year old loved it all. If your child is sensitive, I suggest checking ahead and perhaps bypassing some more graphic areas.

    #5: The Liberty Bell

    No visit to Philadelphia is complete without taking a trip to see the iconic liberty bell. It’s a great opportunity to teach kids a little American history, but it is best to visit out of season or later in the day to avoid the lines. We arrived at around 4pm on a hot July day and had to wait around 30 minutes to get through security. We then struggled to get a clear picture with the bell itself. Once inside the exhibit, you walk through a small section of informational exhibits, which are all interesting, but probably won’t hold the attention of little ones for too long. The bell itself is located at the end of the exhibit, in front of a huge glass wall overlooking Independence Hall and the bell tower where the bell was originally housed. The exhibit is free (managed by the National Park Service), and timed tickets are not required.

    #6: Independence Hall

    Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was conceived, drafted, and signed, is also managed by the National Park Service and although free to visit, you will need a timed ticket. These can be found at the Visitor Center desk on the day you want to visit, but please be sure to plan ahead as your desired time slot may be unavailable during busy tourist season. Tours last between 30 to 40 minutes and you can view original printed versions of the Constitution, Articles of Confederation, and the Declaration of Independence. All the rangers were extremely knowledgeable and happy to answer any questions, from the simple to the complex. This was yet another great opportunity to get a little bit of American history and learn about the founding fathers.

    Pro Tip: I highly recommend using the Phlash Bus to navigate around the city. It runs every five minutes to most places mentioned above and is just $5 for a full day pass. Make sure you have cash to purchase your pass on the bus as it will save you the $1.50 online fee.

    WHAT TO EAT

    It goes without saying that when in Philly, you must eat a Philly cheesesteak. A Philly cheesesteak is a soft (or sometime crusty) bread roll stuffed with shredded beef and stringy cheese. I wasn’t a massive fan, to be honest, but as you know, when in Philly…

    You can find a Philly cheesesteak almost anywhere, but the two arguably most famous locations are Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks, conveniently located across the street from one another, so if you plan your visit, it’s possible to sample both in one meal!

    If you have the time, I highly recommend visiting Reading Terminal Market, one of America’s oldest and largest public markets. Inside you fill find a huge food court full of gorgeous treats and places to dine and you are almost certainly guaranteed to find something that will please everyone in the family. The Market does get quite busy, so be sure to keep the little ones close so they don’t get overwhelmed.

    WHERE TO STAY

    We chose to spend our weekend at the lovely Windsor Suites in Downtown Philadelphia, conveniently located within walking distance to most of Philadelphia’s main attractions, with plenty of restaurants and grocery stores nearby as well. Happily, the hotel was located away from the bulk of the downtown Philadelphia nightlife, so it was a peaceful place to be with kids.

    After a recent cramped stay in Boston, we were absolutely blown away by the apartment style rooms. We had a small but perfectly outfitted kitchen, heaps of storage space, and a large cozy bed. The hotel has a rooftop pool, which is open in the summer months, a laundry room, and some of the friendliest staff members we have encountered.

    The hotel offers an onsite pub/restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Although we did dine at the restaurant and experience the friendly atmosphere and tasty food, we elected to eat in our room most of the time, in order to take full advantage of the superbly equipped kitchen.

    Karen and her daughter’s action packed stay in Philadelphia has us thinking we need to plan a trip sooner rather than later. What are your favorite places to visit in the City of Brotherly Love?

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