Visiting Washington, DC, is something everyone should do at least once in their life. There are tons of guidebooks and websites with detailed information about all there is to do in DC and no first visit to DC is complete without a visit to the National Mall, an obligatory family photo in front of the White House, and a visit to one of the many Smithsonian museums that offer free admission and easy access via Metro!
Having lived and worked in DC for nearly a decade, I’d like to share with you five off-the-beaten-path Fun Family Activities! These are activities and places that those of us who call this beautiful place a home enjoy visiting on weekends and days off with our kids.
#1: Gravelly Point
Gravelly Point is managed by the National Park Service and is located in Arlington, VA just south of DC. It’s a wonderful place to spend the afternoon, picnicking, biking, and plane spotting, as the Park is located just north of Reagan National Airport. Although the parking lot can fill up very quickly and there are no amenities other than restrooms (so pack in your own food!), it’s a wonderful place for budding aviation fans to spend an afternoon outside. Note that the planes are close and very loud, so if your child is sensitive to loud noises, the Park’s proximity to the airport may be a deterrent.
#2: The Tidal Basin
Nearly every visitor to DC makes a point of visiting the National Mall and the monuments, but I’m always stunned by the number of people who skip the Tidal Basin. In my humble opinion, the Tidal Basin offers some of the best views of the Washington Monument and it’s worthy of a visit even when it is not cherry blossom season (although if you have the opportunity to visit during cherry blossom season, please do! Despite the crowds, it is gorgeous and worth the walk). The Tidal Basin offers a small refreshment stand, restrooms, and paddle boat rentals, so this is a great way to enjoy a nice day outside with the family.
View of the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial from the Tidal Basin.Paddleboat in the Tidal Basin during peak cherry blossom bloom.
#3: Hiking Trails
Catching a glimpse of the Potomac River
Washington, DC is home to a great number of hiking trails. The Billy Goat Trail is one of the most popular trails in the DC Metro area. The trail itself can be challenging due to rocks, but if your kids are older (I’d recommend a minimum of five+, depending on maturity and previous hiking experience) and up for the challenge, it’s definitely a worthwhile experience. If the Billy Goat Trail sounds like too much, plan a visit to Rock Creek Park, which boasts over 32 miles of trails. The Park also offers a number of activities, such as horseback riding lessons, golf, and a boat house where you can rent paddle boats, kayaks, and canoes. Finally, Theodore Roosevelt Island is a national memorial located in the Potomac River. No cars or bicycles are permitted on the Island and access is via a footbridge. If you’ve ever spent time in DC visiting the National Mall and museums, I encourage you to take a hike and explore one of the many areas maintained by the National Park Service! You’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll forget that you’re in the Nation’s Capital!
#4: Go for a Bike Ride!
The Mount Vernon Trail is an 18 mile paved multi-use trail that stretches from Mount Vernon to Theodore Roosevelt Island. At any time of day and in any kind of weather, you can find people on the trail biking, running, or just walking along the Potomac River. Happily, a local company, Capital Bikeshare, offers a safe and relatively inexpensive way to explore the trail as you can rent both bicycles and helmets from the company and drop them off at any one of 440 Capital Bikeshare stations located in the DC metro area.
Mount Vernon, George Washington’s country estate, is located just 18 miles south of Washington, DC and is a fantastic way to spend the day for the entire family! Although the Estate is highly recommended as a place to visit in many tourist books, its distance from DC likely causes many to pass it over as an option during a quick visit to DC. I am here to encourage you to go! Visit! Over the years, we have visited Mount Vernon many times and it is one of our favorite places to take out of town guests. Not only does the Estate allow you to visit the Mansion that George and Martha lived in, but the Estate also boasts farm animals, gardens, stables, and live demonstrations by period actors. Throughout the year, the Estate will offer special programs that coincide with the season. For example, one year we visited one early December and happened to catch the Pardon Turkey!
We have also visited during the Fall Harvest Family Days, which feature hands on 18th century activities and demonstrations. It’s a great way for the family to experience a little bit of Colonial America.
My mother and son, roasting apples dipped in caramel water over an open fire.
Although portions of the Estate are wheelchair (and stroller) accessible, the vast majority of the grounds are not (and the Mansion itself is not). The Estate also has as excellent gift shop, a food court, and a sit-down restaurant that serves hearty and satisfying food.
I hope you enjoyed my off-the-beaten path list of Five Fun Family activities and encourage you to think outside the box next time you are in DC!
Guest Blogger: Our kid blogger, 🙂 , is an eight year old boy who is a big dreamer. He loves outdoors, traveling, reading and climbing and is the sweet big brother to his six year old sister. More on 🙂 ‘s travels can be found on Instragram and Facebook.
This summer, we went to Norway for one month. That’s the most northern country I have ever visited. For 10 days, we backpacked in the Lofoten Islands. They are northern Norway, above the Arctic circle. It was only mom, my little sister and me. The Lofotens were great because they were beautiful and also because we were a bit like adventurers. I am going to tell you about my four favorite things and my four funniest memories.
My Four Favorite Things
#1: Wild Camping
Wild camping was really cool. We walked for two hours with our huge backpacks to find the best spot to camp. We were alone in the mountain. It was fun to wake up in the morning and to be in nature.
#2: Munkebu Hike
It was my favorite hike of all. The weather was great and sunny, we were even wearing only tee-shirts. We hiked along a lake and then there was a really long climb where we had to use chains and ropes to climb up. At the top, it was very, very beautiful.
#3: The Midnight Sun
When we were on Ramberg’s beach, we stayed up until midnight to watch the midnight sun. It was amazing. It is like a sunset where the sun goes down but then it goes back up before it sets, and there is no night. We took a lot of cool pictures under the sun, and it was fun.
#4: Meeting other backpackers
It was really cool when we met other hikers, and they talked with us. Once, we met two French women, and they shared a Norwegian dinner with us. We ate reindeer sausage, fishcake and caramel cheese (Brunost). It was very different, but very good anyway. After we played dices and cards with them. It was really cool!
My Four Funniest Memories
#1: Making Soup
When we went wild camping, my sister and I went to the stream and fetched water. We brought it back to the tent to mom. But because the water was too muddy to make the soup, we filtered it in one of my sister’s socks. I must tell you it was a clean sock! It was really fun!
#2: Finding Gas
We looked for gas for the camping stove for 2 days. First, we went to a shop, we bought one, but it didn’t work. Then, a nice Norwegian man from the village gave one bottle to us. It was the right kind of bottle but it didn’t work. At the end, we exchanged bottles with another man on a campsite. People were really friendly with us, and after 2 days we could finally eat something warm!
#3: Hitchhiking
We hitchhiked 3 times during our trip, either to go to a camping site or a trailhead. It was funny because people driving by thought we were joking and were just waving at us! But each time, there was always somebody who picked us up. They were really kind.
#4: The Heads of the Dead Fish
In Norway, they dry fish outside, with the wind. We went to see the drying racks close up, but my sister didn’t like to see dry fish heads. When she saw that there were tons of dry heads on the floor and that we were walking on them, she sulked. It made me laugh a lot!
It was the best vacation of my life. I was sad to leave Norway. Sometimes I still think about it when I am in class.
Barcelona is Spain’s “second city” and a mesmerizing blend of Gothic and Modernism styles. In contrast with the Gothic Quarter, many of Barcelona’s monuments were brilliantly designed by master architect, Antoni Gaudi, who is best known for Catalan Modernism. As the capital of Catalonia, this vibrant and beautiful city has unique language, history and culture and was an amazing city to explore for a few days with our infant son.
We traveled to Barcelona as a side trip from London, where we had been visiting family. My husband and I chose Barcelona because neither of us had been to Spain or visited the Mediterranean. Barcelona was particularly alluring because of its distinctive architecture, particularly Sagrada Familia. Because there are always a plethora of flight deals to major European cities from London, we were able to book a flight and hotel package through lastminute.com. Here are our recommendations for the best things to do in Barcelona with kids.
Accommodations in Barcelona
We stayed for three nights at the Hotel Villa Emilia, a boutique hotel with modern touches. Hotel Villa Emilia is located just outside the city center in Barcelona’s most famous residential neighborhood, the Eixample. The Eixample is a late 19th century development that means “the expansion” in Catalan. We loved the quieter, residential atmosphere of this upscale area and didn’t mind that we needed to jump on the nearby Metro for a stop or two to get to the main tourist areas.
Eating in Barcelona
The thing to remember about traveling to Barcelona with kids is that everyone eats dinner late. Dinner before 8 pm is challenging, at best. Most restaurants do not start serving dinner before 9 pm, and 10 pm is definitely more of the typical dinner time. Before dinner, many people enjoy tapas – small savory plates served with drinks – at bars. Our newborn rarely slept for more than a few hours at a time, so even though he did not have a “bedtime”, my husband and I were definitely sleep-deprived and ate at Chinese restaurants two nights of our trip simply because that was all we could find open early.
While evening dining may have challenges if you are traveling with kids, we had several amazing fixed price lunches that were delicious and extremely reasonable. Our favorite was 4Gats, a historic restaurant meaning “four cats” that Picasso frequented around 1900. My husband and I enjoyed a fabulous fixed-price lunch that included a bottle of wine. Our son enjoyed a “cat nap” in his stroller while we ate.
Transportation in Barcelona
We mostly traveled by the Metro, which is one of Europe’s best. It was fast and efficient but not built to be stroller accessible. We quickly became experts at handling the stroller with stairs and escalators – so much so that I have admittedly taken strollers on escalators in the US when there was not an obvious alternative – despite all those signs indicating not to do so.
We saw bikes for rent all over the city, which have now become popular in the US as well, but at the time, it was pretty novel, and something we had never seen before.
Language
The official languages of Catalonia are both Spanish and Catalan. It is surprising to learn that Catalan is the first language of most Barcelonans, and schools are required to conduct classes in Catalan. However, all adults speak Spanish as well. We have some limited Spanish skills but never had language barrier issues. Everyone in the tourist industry spoke fluent English, and English menus were available in restaurants.
Things to See in Barcelona
Basilica de la Sagrada Familia
Basilica de la Sagrada Familia(Holy Family Church) is Antoni Gaudi’s still unfinished masterpiece of Catalan Modernism architecture and the icon of Barcelona. Sagrada Familia was never intended to serve as the seat of a bishop but definitely constructed in the scope and proportion typical of cathedrals and has been rated as the world’s most famous church.
Francisco Paula de Villar was the initial architect when construction began in 1883. Antoni Gaudi took over as architect in 1891 and worked on Sagrada Familia until his death in 1926. Gaudi intended for Sagrada Familia to have a major impact on Barcelona’s skyline, and his masterpiece is one of the tallest religious buildings in the world with 18 spires planned to represent the 12 Apostles, Mary, the four Evangelists and Jesus (the tallest).
Sagrada Familia is dedicated to the Holy Family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus. There are three façades – the Nativity Façade that depicts the birth of Jesus, and the Passion Façade that shows the crucifixion of Jesus have been completed. The Glory Façade, which will show the path to God, has not yet been completed.
The Nativity Façade was the only part of Sagrada Familia completed during Gaudi’s life. The Passion Façade was built according to Gaudi’s design, but does seem to vary in style from the original façade. The only part of the church that was completed while Gaudi was alive is the Nativity Façade. So, while Gaudi gets all the glory for this masterpiece, most of the church was actually designed by others.
While we did not purchase tickets in advance, it is highly recommended now that you buy your tickets online with a specific entry time to avoid the long lines. We entered through the Nativity Façade, which will be a side entrance after the Glory Façade is completed. Construction was very much ongoing on both the interior and exterior when we visited. It is very common for cathedrals and monuments to require restoration work, and scaffolding has obscured the perfect picture of many cathedrals I’ve visited over the years. However, it is quite exciting to witness the initial construction of a historic monument. The only other time I had a similar experience was when I visited the Crazy Horse Memorial in 2002 and got to witness a rare blast first-hand. I am always fascinated to see the progress of both monuments.
The interior was very much under construction during our visit
The colors of the stained glass are so brilliant and interesting.
Modern technology and the funds from entrance fees have drastically helped construction. The main nave was completed a few years after our visit, and the Pope held a consecration Mass in 2010. The goal is to complete construction by 2026, the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s death, but estimates show that it is likely to take a few years longer than that.
I have visited literally dozens of cathedrals around Europe, but Sagrada Familia is truly distinctive. It is really surreal to visit this vast and awe-inspiring church. After the York Minster, which will forever hold a special place in my heart, it is probably my second favorite church in the world and definitely one not to miss. After our tour, we relaxed at a nearby park to enjoy the view of the completed spires away from the crowds.
LaRambla
La Rambla is a colorful, tree-lined pedestrian mall between Plaça de Catalunya and Port Vell,is one of the most popular tourist destinations. There are lots of shops and baskers lining the road, which was once under water.
La Boqueria Market (Mercat de Sant Josep) is Barcelona’s food market located just off La Rambla. It is also known as Mercat de Sant Joseph and is visually stunning. since 1200, main entry is beautiful. The market is colorful and visually stunning. Because the stands near the front pay the highest rent, they also have the highest prices.
The Columbus Monument is the 200 foot column honoring Christopher Columbus at the end of La Rambla. This monument recognizes Columbus’ journey to Barcelona to report to Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand V after returning from North America in 1493. The style of this pedestal, column and statue reminded me of Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, which we also visited on this European vacation.
Columbus Statue on the Top of the MonumentView of the Columbus Monument from the Barcelona Cathedral
Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic)
The Gothic Quarter is the center of the old city with narrow, cobblestone streets. These pedestrian-only streets are the perfect location for an afternoon stroll. Picasso lived in this neighborhood around the turn of the 20th century.
Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia/Barcelona Cathedral
The Barcelona Cathedral was constructed between 1298 and 1450. However, the front façade was ornately recreated around the turn of the 20th century to add an interesting blend of Gothic and Neo-Gothic architecture. This Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Eulalia of Barcelona who was martyred here in the fourth century. We enjoyed the view from the Cathedral’s roof, which is widely known for gargoyles.
Church of Santa Maria del Mar is a 14th century Catalan Gothic church whose name means meaning “Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Sea”.
Beaches
We were not prepared with beach gear on this trip but did stop by at a beach briefly so that all three of us could dip our toes in the Mediterranean Sea. Beaches are so close to the city center and well-loved by the locals. Hop off the Metro, and you feel like you have arrived at a resort!
Tibidabo
We often go to the highest point of a city we are visiting to get the bird’s-eye view of an area. So, we took a ride on the Tibidabo Funicular to the summit of Mount Tibidabo. The view of the Tibidabo Amusement Park and the city was definitely worth the trip. The Tibidabo Amusement Park opened in 1889, but many of the rides are originals with unparalleled scenery. It was our son’s first amusement park and something definitely to add to your list if you are traveling with kids.
View of Tibidabo Amusement Park and Barcelona from the summit of Mount TibidaboAmusement park in the sky
The Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor (Expiatory Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) stands on the summit of Mount Tibidabo. It was completed in 1961 in the neo-Gothic style with a statue of Jesus on top of the central spire.
Why visit Barcelona With Kids?
I was more nervous about this trip than any others because it was our first time abroad as parents. Nonetheless, our infant son was a great travel companion during the four spectacular days we spent in Barcelona. My son was exclusively nursed at the time, and we were pleasantly surprised that nursing in public was much more common-place and accepted than is was in the US at the time. So many people on the streets stopped us to inquire about our son, often utilizing limited English skills or hand gestures to communicate with us. There may have been occasional stroller challenges on the cobblestone streets, but nothing too challenging for us to overcome for families with young ones.
Next time we go, we definitely won’t miss the Picasso Museum. I have no idea why we didn’t put this on our list and wonder if we avoided it as newbie parents simply because we were traveling with our infant. Now, I firmly believe that kids of any age are not too young for the art museum.
Our son may have no memories of the trip, but FC Barcelona is his favorite soccer team. Mere coincidence?
Virginia is well-known as the birthplace of the nation, home to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, to name a few. Many do not know that Virginia is also home to some of the most beautiful countryside. We are so fortunate to live only two hours away from Charlottesville and the surrounding area, which is one of my favorite places on earth.
For four years counting, we have rented a cabin from Lydia Mountain Lodge & Log Cabins. I discovered Lydia’s many years ago while searching for a dog-friendly cabin rental in the Virginia country side. Having now stayed with Lydia a handful of times, I can truly say that our “fall weekend at the cabin” is one that I look forward to all year.
Located approximately 20 miles north of Charlottesville and 100 miles from DC, Lydia Mountain is only a two hour drive from home, making it an ideal place to sneak away for a weekend getaway. Our preferred cabin to rent is the Dancing Bear cabin, which sits on a private road that holds only a few other rental cabins. The cabin is pet-friendly and has three bedrooms and three full baths + two sleeper futons if you really have a crowd!
The Dancing Bear cabin.
Our weekends at the cabin are not complicated – our goal is simply to unplug from our daily lives and take a minute to enjoy the outdoors and each other. The wood burning fireplace in the main living area is always on and the boys have free rein to run around outside and enjoy themselves, as all kids should do.
the wood burning fireplacea glimpse of the dining room that leads in the master bedroom
As with most cabins, there is no meal service, so meals are on your own. Luckily, the cabin is located only a short drive from Charlottesville, and we have had no problems purchasing groceries to cook at the cabin, or dining out if the mood strikes us.
our first night at the cabin meal of homemade lasagnaThe boys always enjoy the evening ‘smores!
My favorite way to start a day at the cabin is to take a morning walk up the private road it is located on. There’s a short uphill climb, past a few other rental cabins, before you reach the house at the top of the hill, from where there is a spectacular view.
Spectacular view of the VA countryside at the end of the road.
The walk “up the road” is quiet and full of beautiful leaves.
One you reach the house at the top of the hill, you can venture further into the woods via two separate trails. Nestled amongst the trees is a disc golf course, which my kids love experimenting with.
My little one trying his hand at disc golf.
After our brisk morning walk, we usually venture out for lunch. Over the years, we have dined at a variety of restaurants in Charlottesville, grabbed sandwiches at the local Mennonite shop, or dined at a brewpub. After lunch, we typically mosey back to the cabin where we spend the afternoon enjoying the outdoor fire pit.
View of the side of the cabin, leading down to the fire pit.
Happily for us, the boys find plenty of ways to entertain themselves while at the cabin. From rolling down the hill, to learning how to start fires, to sneaking marshmallows before dinner. There is also a hot tub at the cabin, which my oldest has availed himself on occasion.
The hillside provides hours of entertainment for the boys.sneaking marshmallows before dinnerEnjoying the pizza pies we made on the fire.roasting marshmallows
Having spent fall weekends in the area for a number of years, I can recommend a few great family-friendly activities.
No visit to the cabin is complete without at least one stop at Yoder’s! The shop is located approximately 20 minutes from the cabin and specializes in deli meats, prepared soups, bulk foods, and much, much more. We typically pick up light foods from Yoder’s to snack and munch on during our stay, and our kids enjoy the adjacent petting farm and playground!
The outdoor play structure is a great way to burn off some energy.Kid meets goat.
#2: Charlottesville Children’s Museum
The Virginia Discovery Museum in Charlottesville isn’t a place I would recommend you go out of the way to visit, but a few years ago, our stay at the cabin happened to coincide with the government shut down and many, many days of rain. The national parks were closed and it was pouring rain, so we ventured into Charlottesville and spent a few hours at the museum to simply give the kids a change of scenery. My oldest was less than five years of age at the time and it held his attention for a few hours, but it’s not something I would envision holding his interest now, at the ripe old age of 8. Nevertheless, it’s an option for when all other options are unavailable.
#3: Fishing
Virginia is home to some incredible fly fishing and there are many streams in the Charlottesville area that provide a wonderful low key setting to introducing your little one to fly fishing. Years ago, my husband, in laws, and I took my young son to Swift Creek to practice casting in a gentle steam. There are a plethora of small streams and easy locations for little ones to be introduced to fly fishing, so if this is your cup of tea, I highly encourage you look around and explore your options.
The Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive are less than 30 minutes from the cabin, so it’s a great option for hiking, enjoying the scenery, and/or fishing.
Posing in front of an Appalachian Trail marker in the Shenandoah.
Charlottesville is such an amazing city and full of great dining experiences. Our stops in Charlottesville usually involve picking up groceries and enjoying lunch or dinner somewhere. I encourage you to poke around and find your favorite dining experiences!
My boys enjoying an afternoon snack along the waterfront in Charlottesville.
Virginia’s beautiful countryside lends itself to some gorgeous wineries. Although a far cry from the wines you can taste and experience on the West Coast, Virginia’s wineries are a beautiful place to spend an afternoon and, as an extra bonus, they are much less expensive and pretentious than the wineries on the West Coast and I have never had an issue bringing my kids along for an afternoon of tasting.
Many of the wineries offer light meals or snacks for purchase and even those that don’t generally feature a large outside area for kids to run around without risk of knocking over glasses or decorations. This past weekend, we visited Stinson Vineyards for the first time and were pleased to discover not only the great outdoor space, but a basket of toys for children to discover.
Basket of children’s toys at Stinson Vineyards.Outside tasting area at Stinson Vineyards.
In addition to the vibrant wine scene, Virginia, in recent years, has seen an incredible growth in breweries, cideries, and distilleries.
For the first time this weekend, we did a hard cider tasting at Blue Toad Hard Cider, located approximately 45 minutes from the cabin. For $13 each, my husband and I enjoyed 7 different hard ciders while our children played in view of the outside tasting area.
Two sets of cider tastings at $13 each.The play area at Blue Toad Hard Cider.
We also visited Blue Mountain Brewery, where we enjoyed lunch (complete with beer tastings), followed by a rousing round of hide and seek outside with the boys, while my husband and our friend finished up their beer tastings and paid the check.
Cornhole at Blue Mountain Brewery.The outdoor fire pit at Blue Mountain Brewery.Toddler hide and seek fail.
This being our first experience cider and beer tasting in Virginia, we were pleasantly surprised to discover not only how low key the environment was but also how child friendly the experience can be. We will most definitely be incorporating this into our fall getaway weekends in the future.
Although we just returned from our fall getaway, I am already looking for our return to the cabin. My youngest, who is just now old enough to articulate his thoughts and feelings said, the morning of our departure, “can we stay at the cabin forever?” I think it’s safe to say that our boys love our fall weekends at the cabin as much as we do and I am so thankful we have been able to find this little bit of heaven for all of us to enjoy.
All three of our boys love our fall weekends at the cabin.
Fall happens to be our favorite season here at WGWK, so be sure to check out our more expansive Fall Getaway series.
Guest Blogger: Ophélieis 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.
A hike in the Vosges in France with a donkey may not be a typical family vacation, but it was an absolutely amazing adventure that we encourage others to consider. A decade ago (time flies), my now-husband and I went for a hiking trip in the Vosges mountains in eastern France. We loved the relaxing feeling of peace and freedom inherent to this region. Unlike the Alps and the Pyrenees, the Vosges are low mountains that culminate at 1,424 meters (4,672 feet) and are still exempt of any mass tourism. The mountains are characterized by the rounded shape of their peaks, called the ballons, which give them their peculiar softness. An immense forest covers 60% of the mountains and features mostly conifers. Yet, this quiet mountain offers a variety of landscapes, including lakes, wet and high altitude meadows, deep valleys, waterfalls, cliffs and rocks. The Vosges are the perfect place for a breath of fresh air and a paradise for outdoor and nature lovers.
This summer we decided to hike in Vosges again and share this experience with our two children, who are 6 and 7 years old! To make the experience even more exciting and memorable, we decided to rent a donkey! More and more farms in France offer donkey-renting options. After some online research, we chose La Ferme Prés en Bulles, a few miles away from the city of Gerardmer. They offer many alternatives from half-day rentals to all-included tours with nights in country inns and half-board. Because we wanted to completely unplug from every-day life, we chose the bivouac, a temporary / wild camping option, that gave us three days of total freedom! Our trip included hiking, backpacking and wild camping through the Vosges forest as a family, with kids, dog and donkey (not talking about my husband this time)! It was a first for us, and we LOVED it! Here is our experience.
Planning the Trip: an Adventure by Itself
As always, packing is exciting! We involved the kids very much so that they were part of the whole adventure. We weighed everything to not overload our brave donkey! With only two small tents, four sleeping bags, camping stove, headlights, a small toiletry and safety kit, a map, limited clothing, food and water for 3 days – no toys or cosmetics, we were ready to go. It was both a fun and interesting experience for the kids to decide what were the essentials!
D-day: Meeting our Donkey
Hidden along the small, meandering roads of the Vosges mountains, we found the farm where we met Marie and Deil, the donkey owners. They introduced us to our donkey, Brimbelle (which means “blueberry” in the Vosgian dialect). For 30 minutes, the donkey-owners taught us how to take care of Brimbelle. They showed us how to gently curry-comb, brush, clean out the donkey’s hooves and how to place the packsaddle! They helped prepare the itinerary on the map and indicated the narrow trail sections that cannot be used. We saddled up Brimbelle, loaded the bags and were on our way!
Hiking with Brimbelle was an awesome experience! We hiked about 10 kilometers (6 miles) each day, so 30 kilometers (18 miles) in total across forest, fields and villages. Donkeys are awesome travel companions, and Brimbell added a new dimension to the hiking adventure by motivating our children to hike along. Steady and gentle animals, donkeys bring a very relaxing and secure feeling. Our 6 year old daughter, who is usually super active, spent hours walking calmly alongside Brimbelle and cuddling her in the evening. Even our very energetic 1 year old Australian shepherd, Perle, seemed to be calmed by the presence of Brimbelle. Donkeys must have some magical soothing powers!
Wild camping in Vosges
The bivouac option offered us a lot of flexibility, so we did not plan in advance where we were going to spend the nights. We adjusted to everyone’s tiredness and began to look for a place to camp mid-afternoon, so we would have time to rest and play before the sun went down. We took time to look for a nice spot, so that each evening we could enjoy the sunset over the pine forest or the valley! We also looked each time for a place near a water source so that we could easily get water for Brimbelle and Perle. I loved to see how the kids felt responsible for the animals, taking care of them, bringing them water and always looking for the best spot of green grass for Brimbelle to graze!
Wild camping with kids is an amazing experience for so many reasons. Being in the forest at night with no one else for miles around is exhilarating. Experiencing the total silence except from the wind and wildlife is priceless. Inevitably, it is a bit harder work than campsite camping. You have to walk in, plan more, pack enough food, and find a good spot – all the while staying safe, but it is a great family challenge. We made special memories that will last for a lifetime.
Good to Know
The law about wild camping in France is quite confusing (Article R111-33 and R111-34). However, in most French national and regional parks, free camping is tolerated from sunset to sunrise or from 19h to 9h (7 pm until 9 am) in a small tent in which you cannot stand. Fires are forbidden, but the use of camping stone is sometimes tolerated. Regulations are subject to change or interpretation depending on the region, the season, and the local habits. Make sure to check before going or ask the donkey-owners. They are amazing resources!
Hiking with a donkey in numbers:
Donkeys can carry nearly 30-40 kilograms (65-90 pounds). They can carry small children of 3-6 years old if needed.
Donkeys walk steadily at a pace of 3 to 4 kilometers/hour (1.8 to 2.4 miles/hour)
Donkeys reasonably walk up to 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) per day
A 1/25,000 map of the area is a necessity, whether you buy one beforehand or purchase one from the donkey-owners.
Renting a donkey costs 38€ ($44) per day. Prices may of course vary depending on the owners and the hiking region. Renting a donkey is becoming a popular added value of any family hike everywhere in France, with almost 300 professional donkey-owners registered. If you love animals and nature, that is an amazing way to discover the French countryside, slowly and peacefully! Either you choose the all-included option with nights in country inns, or the wild version with bivouac in the tent; travelling with a donkey is a truly unique family adventure, that your children are unlikely to forget!
Guest Author: Our kid blogger, Messi Jr., is a nine year old fourth grader who loves travel and soccer.
My Iceland trip was awesome.
Iceland Day 1
On day one, as soon as my family and I got to the Icelandic airport, everyone was wide awake because we slept the whole flight. When we got out of the airport, it was very cold and rainy. My family and I got on the bus that would take us to a place that we would get a rental car.
On the bus, I saw two strange things. The first thing that was strange was that out of the window I saw rocks. Some were the size of pebbles and others were the size of cars. The rocks were all different shapes, but many were the size of backpacks. There seemed to be millions. And, there were planes and planes of them. But, they were covered in something. I didn’t know what it was so I asked my dad what it was, and he said it was moss. I thought it was very strange, but I could believe it when I saw it. The other thing I wondered about was the rocks. When I looked closely, there were many holes. I recognized it as a lava rock. I wasn’t surprised since I knew from a book I had read about Iceland that it said that Iceland was formed by volcanos.
Once we got off the bus, we went to a place where we rented a 4×4 car, which meant it can drive through harsh conditions. With the car, we drove to the convenience store and bought some food that we ate at the shop for breakfast. At the store, the Cool One and I both found coins. The Cool One found a 1 krona coin, and I found a 2 krona coin. Next, we went to Costco. At Costco, we bought squeezies for my sister, water bottles for the car, Nutella to put on our bread for breakfast, and rotisserie chicken for our sandwiches.
Before we ate lunch, we went to the lava tunnel, but the noon tour was full. For lunch, we went to a nearby town and picked up some very yummy pizza, which we ate in the car heading toward the lava tunnel. In the lava tunnel, we had to wear headlamps so we could see around the tunnel. We learned that before headlamps and flashlights, all people saw in the tunnel was pitch black. The only way you could see was from small holes on the roof. We also learned that lava once rushed through the tunnel. My sister was the youngest person to ever go in the tunnel.
The next thing that we did was we drove, well we tried to drive to Kerid crater, but we drove into another crater. In that crater, there were many lava rocks. We could also see all the layers of the crater.
The next stop was Kerid crater. The cool thing about Kerid is that the deep crater has a lake at the bottom of it. My dad also said that Kerid was formed 6,500 years ago. On our way to the apartment, my brother, sister and I took a nap in the car. I thought that I had slept for the whole night! We watched some TV, but it was only in Icelandic, so we didn’t understand a thing. We tried to take a shower, but the drain was plugged, so that made it pretty challenging. The day ended with everyone having a good night sleep.
Iceland Day 2
Once everyone had woken up and dressed up, we went to Seljalandfoss, which is a famous waterfall because you can walk behind it. Seljalandfoss is a very tall waterfall. When my family and I walked behind it, we got soaked, but it was worth it because it was amazing.
As we were driving to Skogafoss, we saw Eyjafalljokul, which is a volcano that erupted a few days after my brother was born, which delayed my grandma from flying back to England.
Once we were at Skogafoss, we saw a huge waterfall, and when the water hit the river it had been forming, mist shot up and formed a huge circle.
We also saw a huge glacier that turned out to be the biggest glacier outside of the North and South Poles.
In a bird sanctuary, we saw a few puffins.
At Renisjfara beach, the sand was black! It wasn’t just normal sand, it was volcanic sand! We also saw a lot of basalt rocks. There were also strong waves. My brother, my dad, and I were standing about 2 yards away from where the waves end, then suddenly, a huge wave came and everyone started running, but I tripped over a big rock. I fell down and before the wave went back in, my dad pulled me out. I was wet, so I had to change all of my clothes.
As we drove, we passed the beautiful city of Vik, but we didn’t stop. The next place we went was Vatnajokull, which is the biggest ice cap (other than the North and South poles). It was a very beautiful sight.
The next stop was Jokulsaron. One of the reasons Dad wanted to come to Iceland was to see this site. Jokulsaron is a lake with icebergs. The icebergs and lake come from a glacier that was constantly melting. The ice on the beach was my favorite sight of Iceland. On the beach, when Dad was taking a picture of my brother and me near the iceberg, as he walked backward to get a good shot of us, he tripped over ice and fell backward. When he put his hand down to save himself, he went down so hard he broke the thick ice and hurt his hand a lot.
We went as fast as we could to Hofn hoping to get to Hofn before the guesthouse closed. hoped that we would make it in time so we wouldn’t have to sleep in the car. Luckily, we just made it in time. For dinner, we had pasta with rotisserie chicken. Even though we tried our best to keep my sister quiet, she was still very loud. We eventually got her quiet watching Netflix. We had a good night of sleep.
Iceland Day 3
We woke up in the morning to nice blue skies, which ended up to be a nice, blue, dry, and sunny day. We woke up so late that by the time my family woke up, everyone else in the apartment had left for the day. My mom lost her ring that she was very sad about, but it was a good thing she found it later in the trip. As we drove to Netto, we had an amazing view of a glacier.
For lunch, we stopped on the side of the road where we saw a bench that overlooked the ocean. We ate some of the food we bought at Netto. My sister made a rock collection, which she loved and added to during the trip. We stopped in a tourist office, and we got even more maps! Next, we stopped on the side of the road where we saw a stream, and there was a wonderful view of everything around us. My brother and I skipped a few rocks into the stream.
As we kept driving, near a farm we passed, we saw amazing hovering birds. My dad took a few photos of them hovering and trying to find food.
As we kept driving along, we went into two tunnels. One tunnel was 5 km, and the second tunnel was 6 km! We stopped at Kronan where we got fish, fish stew, and French fries. We spent the night in the fishing village of Eskijfordur. We stayed in a very nice apartment. For dinner, we had the fish and fish stew with the French fries, and we also had peas, and for dessert, we had ice cream. But, that still wasn’t the end of the day!
At 9:30, there was great weather as we were driving to the mine that was famous because it had the most spar crystals in the world. We saw many animals running across the road. Some were so close, the car could have ran over them. Once we got to the walking path, we walked up a big hill seeing thousands and thousands of spar crystals. The mine shaft was blocked off by the rocks, but there were still many spar crystals. My sister, brother, and I made a huge spar crystal collection and left it on a rock.
As we headed to our apartment, we saw the most amazing midnight sun we had seen on the whole vacation. At end the day, we had a good night sleep.
Iceland Day 4
We woke up in the morning and had a quick breakfast. We had a very quick breakfast because we wanted the maximum time at our first hot pot in Iceland. It was a very cold day, which is the best pool weather in Iceland because every single pool is heated by natural magma and lava. My family and I were the only people in the pool. We all had fun on the slides, and when it was time to go, my sister didn’t want to get out. The rest of the day all my sister wanted to do was go back in the pool.
We had lunch in the apartment. It was raining very heavily, and the sky was very ugly white and gray. It was still raining, but we drove to Dettifoss, which is a popular waterfall. On the way, we got gas and looked for reindeer, but we didn’t see a single reindeer. Dettifoss was one of the best sites we saw in Iceland. It is amazing how much water comes down. My sister nearly walked the whole hike by herself to the waterfall.
New York City is the most populous city in the United States with over 8.5 million people — more than the entire population of Virginia! Having lived on the East Coast for over fifteen years, my husband and I have spent years making at least twice annual trips to New York City. My best friend from college lives there, so we frequently traveled to NYC for food, wine, and entertainment. Then we had kids. And it took us nearly four years to go back. Why? Because after years of traveling to NYC as single adults and then as a double-income-no-kid couple, the thought of traveling to NYC was daunting.
Prior to my son’s fourth birthday, I decided our NYC hiatus had gone on long enough and we made plans to travel up to NYC for the weekend, just a short Amtrak ride away from DC. We quickly discovered that many of the things we had enjoyed previously were not off limits just because our son was with us and, as an added bonus, we discovered other activities that we would not have experienced if we weren’t traveling with a child.
We stayed at the Andaz 5th Avenue, which was conveniently located across the street from the New York Public Library and Bryant Park. Both provided excellent space and people watching, particularly from the coffee shop directly across the street from the NYPL and around the corner from the Andaz. Being located near Bryant Park also provided my son with opportunities to run around in an open space and, we picked up lunch at one of the many eateries located at the Park on our last day there, which we happily ate on the Amtrak ride back down to DC (we picked up sandwiches from ‘Wichcraft, which sadly closed in late ’14/early ’15, but there are many other options available, and I encourage you to try them and enjoy Bryant Park’s open space).
eating breakfast across from the New York Public Library
My godparents live in NYC and recommended meeting up at Central Park one morning during our stay. While my husband and godfather went on a short run through the Park, my kiddo and I decided to check out Victorian Gardens, the amusement park located within Central Park. It ended up being an ideal location to spend a few hours and my son absolutely loved his first exposure to roller coasters. A few weeks after our trip, I happened to mention our trip to NYC to the parent of a classmate of my son, who grew up in Manhattan, but who had never taken her two kids to the city before! When I mentioned what a fabulous trip we had, she realized that she had been remiss in not taking her two kids and planned a trip almost immediately after I reminded her of the existence of Victorian Gardens.
The roller coasters in Central Park were the perfect introduction!
#3: Shopping / People Watching / Dining Out
There are a few things that always spring to mind immediately when NYC is mentioned, including food, Broadway, and shopping. After our stop in Central Park, we visited FAO Schwarz (now closed) on Fifth Avenue. My godparents insisted, actually, and my son loved it as he has been to only a handful of toy stores in his entire life (thanks to Amazon.com!).
He also loved wandering around SOHO that afternoon and just taking in all the street vendors – something that we don’t have in DC.
Although you might think that Fifth Avenue is boring and not a place for kids, my son found the large buildings and the throngs of people to be fascinating. He also found the Sak’s shoe elevator to be fascinating and, during a subsequent visit to NYC years later, enjoyed popping into St. Patrick’s Cathedral as a window-shopping break.
The Shoe Elevator!Popping into St. Patrick’s to light a candle.
The first time we visited the Highline, a 1.5 mile elevated park built on a former railway, was with my son. The Highline opened in June 2009, the same month my son was born, so this was not something we could have done in any of our prior visits. The day we visited, the weather was absolutely perfect. Although the significance of the park as an urban revitalization project was likely lost on my son, it was a great way to spend a few hours.
Family photo on the Highline.
#5: Empire State Building
The 86th floor of the Empire State Building has an open-air observation deck, which my son absolutely loved on a later visit to NYC, when he was nearing his sixth birthday. Tickets are steep ($62 for adults, $60 for seniors over age 62, $56 for children ages 6-12), but because my son was just shy of his 6th birthday, he was admitted for free.
Open air observation deck at the Empire State Building
Final Thoughts
Living in DC, we took the Amtrak from DC to New York which my son loveland helped prepare him for a trip to Japan the next year, which involved extensive train travel. New York City is one of my favorite places to visit and I am glad we waited until my son was older to visit. Because he was over four years of age, I also felt comfortable packing a backless booster for him to use in short rides around the city (whether Uber or my friend/godparents’ vehicle). If he had been any younger, we would have had to either lug around his big convertible car seat or restrict ourselves to traveling via Subway, as I am not comfortable with young children riding without car seats, even though I know they are legally exempt when riding in taxis.
Waiting for our train!In the backseat of an Uber.
Although my son has no recollection of our trip to NYC, I loved that we finally “ripped off the band-aid,” so to speak, and took him to a place that many do not think of as a great place to bring young children for a weekend. Obviously, there are people who live and work in NYC who have young kids, but for those of us who only experienced the City as young adults, it was hard to envision the logistics of getting around Manhattan with a young child and even more questionable as to whether we would enjoy the City as much as we did before kids. I’m happy to report that we had a lovely long weekend visiting NYC with kids and am looking forward to doing it again and varying up the activities now that my son is older.
Our family spent three days exploring Kerala during our trip to India last year. We spent most of our time in India visiting relatives in Bangalore but spent one long weekend in “God’s Own Country,” which is a favorite holiday destination for Prince Charles and Camilla. Located in South India along the Arabian Sea, Kerala has been known for exporting spices such as pepper, cardamom, turmeric, cloves and ginger for at least five thousand years. It is baffling to think of a single region known for one trade for that long and no surprise that the food is glorious. Literally, every bite of every meal was perfection, and we loved visiting Kerala with kids.
Why Kerala With Kids?
We were most excited about houseboat tours through the backwaters, which are the most popular tourist attraction of the area. These boats, traditionally called kettuvallams were originally used to transport rice and occasionally as living quarters for royalty. The boats have more recently been converted to accommodate tourists for day and overnight leisure trips, complete with a staff to drive the boat and prepare meals. We were also drawn to the area’s Portuguese influence. The spice trade brought Portuguese traders to Kerala in the 15th century and paved the way for the Portuguese colonization of the area. As a result of the Portuguese influence, Christians in Kerala comprise almost 20% of the population, compared with a mere 2.3% in the entire Indian population.
Visiting Kerala With Kids
Many Indian travel companies require payment in local currency or a physical credit card and therefore cannot make advance bookings from the outside of India. Arrangements for our flights, hotels, driver and houseboat tour were all made locally through Atlas Hoppers, but we understand that Atlas Hoppers can accept electronic payment and make advance bookings for foreigners.
Transportation in Kerala With Kids
We hired a driver named Kiran who picked us up at the airport in Cochin (also known as Kochi) in a specially requested six-passenger vehicle and stayed with us for three days while we explored Kumarakom, Alleppey (also known as Alappuzha) and Cochin. A private driver may seem like a major indulgence – especially on the smaller, more rural roads, but it was really a necessity on this type of trip.
Kiran not only transported us safely from place to place but also served as our guide. He pointed out local sights, flora, cashew nuts trees, roadside coconut stands, jewelry emporiums and even a local temple elephant. He did not quite understand my need to take the boys to the Arabian Sea, but he took us to the beach nonetheless. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Kiran, who tailored our trip according to our preferences and made sure we did not miss the very best parts of Kerala.
Kerala roadsideKerala’s greens and bluesIt’s not every day you see an elephant, but Kiran knew just where to find this oneFresh coconut water is divine
Kumarakom and Alleppey
Accommodation in Kumarakom With Kids
We spent two nights at the spectacular Vivanta by Taj – Kumarakom and absolutely loved the property. This lakeside retreat featured luxury rooms, a private lagoon, boats, bikes, a playground and even bunnies. The guest rooms were separate cottages situated around the lagoon, so we needed to walk through the beautifully manicured grounds to reach it. Our room had a wonderful view of the pool, which we had to ourselves the entire stay. Except for our houseboat excursion, we ate all our meals at the resort and generally enjoyed the activities provided by the resort, evening entertainment and scenery.
LagoonView of sunset over the lake from the resortDuck, duck, goose?BreakfastPool fun
Alleppey Houseboat Tour With Kids
Most people travel to Alleppey to tour the backwaters on a houseboat. Day or overnight trips are available, and we booked a five-hour tour through Lakelands Cruise. There are a wide variety of boats, ranging from pretty basic boats to those tricked out with satellite receivers and air conditioning. Each boat is staffed with a captain to steer and a chef who prepares traditional Keralite meals. Even though every meal we ate in Kerala was superb, our lunch on the boat was the absolute best.
Our boat had covered deck with a large chaise lounge swing and dining table at the front of the boat, an air-conditioned bedroom with an attached bath in the middle and a kitchen at the back. The front was definitely not baby-proof, so we had to be careful not to let our daughter near the low railings. I spent most of my time onboard lounging on the swing with our daughter relaxing on my lap. We also retreated to the enclosed bedroom a few times so that she could run around.
View out the front of the boatA chaise lounge swing is an amazing spot for a napAnother houseboat similar to ours
While traveling the backwaters on a houseboat is pretty amazing in itself, the real excitement for us was really getting a chance to glimpse into the lives of some of the villagers who live on or near the water. There was constant activity on the river banks as the villagers went about their lives. We saw many locals bathing, washing clothes and utensils in the water. For who definitely take modern plumbing for granted, watching people wash in the river is the first thing both boys remembered about this excursion.
Washing in the riverWashing dishesDoing laundry
We also saw workers on the rice fields, children walking to or from school, people boating in the river and riding their bikes along the banks. When we docked by a rice field, the boys got to explore the riverbank, examine the rice plants and see the various states of processing the crop goes through before rice makes it to the plate.
Paddy field workersComing home from schoolBoat transportBikingRice
In this region, many men wore a traditional wrap cotton sarong called a mundu. Mundus are usually white or cream with a simple border and are worn folded by laborers and as a symbol of masculinity. With very high temperatures while we were there, it is also a very practical attire.
Mundu
We also saw some beautiful birds along the river, including cranes, egrets and kingfisher birds.
So many beautiful birds
I admit that I thought five hours was going to be way too long to spend on the houseboat with three young kids. At the beginning of the trip, I worried it might be an exhausting day wrangling our daughter. Luckily, she was very happy to sit with me on the swing and thoroughly enjoyed the excursion. I found myself more and more relaxed throughout the day and thought we could have enjoyed another hour or two when we docked. Nevertheless, I was glad that we chose not to spend the night on the houseboat with young kids and much preferred our overnight accommodations at the Taj, which were far more luxurious.
Alleppey Beach With Kids
On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at the Alleppey Beach . I really wanted the kids to have a chance to see the Arabian Sea. They really do love beaches and not so surprisingly, they needed to dip their toes in the water. Alleppey is known more for its backwaters than its beach, and this one was almost empty during our visit.
Dipping their toes in the Arabian Sea
Cochin
Accommodation in Cochin With Kids
After our second night in Kumarakom, we headed back to Cochin along the Malabar Coast. We stayed at the Vivanta by Taj – Malabar, an exceptional hotel on the harbor. The highlight of the room for the kids was glass walled bathroom with a privacy blind that raised and lowered electronically with a switch, but they also enjoyed the view from or room. We had a scrumptious dinner and breakfast at the hotel. Although, after a busy few days, all three kids fell asleep before dinner was over (a first!). The outdoor grounds of the hotel were lovely, and our son enjoyed a swim in the pool in the morning.
View of the harbor from our roomSo sleepyFun elephant sculptureThe grounds were beautifully manicuredView of the Arabian Sea from the pool
Fort Cochin With Kids
Before colonization, Cochin was a fishing village. The major tourist attraction of the area are the Chinese fishing nets, which are located at the Cochin Beach and symbolize the history and culture of the region. These nets were erected in the area starting in the 13th or 14th century and each operated by about six fishermen. While they have been replaced by modern fishing techniques, they are open for tourists to experience first-hand. Local fisherman are even happy to allow tourists to raise and lower the nets. My kids absolutely loved our hands on experience pulling up the net. We visited Cochin beach in the evening and were treated to a beautiful sunset as we wandered through the nearby fish market.
Chinese fishing netsCounterweightsHelping out
The nearby farmers’ market offered fresh catch, mostly from boats rather than the nets. We enjoyed souvenir shopping at the stalls nearby.
St Francis Church was the first European church built in India. After his death, Vasco da Gama was buried here for 14 years until his remains were returned to Portugal.
St. Francis Church
Inside St. FrancisBiking is such a common mode of transportation that the church yard is full of them
We also enjoyed a Kalripayattu martial arts performance and were the only members of the audience. Kalripayattu techniques include combinations of steps and postures and use a variety of swords and blades. At the end of the show, the boys got a chance to participate with the performers.
The performers’ strength was amazing
We had a luxurious and truly spectacular vacation in Kerala. Although we enjoyed seeing the tourist sights, I hope to spend more time relaxing at the beautiful resorts next time we visit.
Planning a trip to India with kids, check out our posts on planning and Bangalore.
Guest Blogger: Lisa, the mom behind TwoTravelingTots, is an American expat living in Copenhagen, Denmark and traveling the world with her husband and two young kids. From far off wanderlust destinations like Australia, Thailand and Philippines to more local jaunts like Luxembourg, Finland and Italy, Lisa has traveled to 30 countries and 49 cities with her little ones in tow. Having lived in Copenhagen for over 5 years, Lisa is here to tell us Why You Should Visit Copenhagen with Kids and share her Top 10 Things to Do while there – with some Insider Tips sprinkled throughout. Follow her adventures, tips and tales on Instagram and Facebook. For her detailed tips on Copenhagen, check out #TwoTravelingTotsCPH on Instagram.
Traveling with kids and babies is not easy! Trust me, I know. My family and I travel the world with our 4 and 1.5 year olds. There are certain cities that make the experience enjoyable and magical for both parents and children alike. Copenhagen, Denmark is one of those cities! Denmark was ranked by the UN World Happiness Report as the happiest country in the world in 2016. In recent years Copenhagen, has received world-wide recognition for its New Nordic food scene, Danish design, and hygglig (cozy) lifestyle; however, what isn’t widely known is how child-friendly this city is. It almost feels like every aspect is geared to the reality that people have kids and they travel with them. These things make this city the perfect place for a family visit. From the free strollers found throughout Copenhagen Airport and the Lego play areas at the luggage carousel, to the ease of using public transport with strollers to the countless kids’ activities and green spaces found throughout the city; life in Copenhagen with children is AMAZING!
Copenhagen is in Scandinavia, so the weather isn’t always the best. Summer is by far the best time of the year to visit, with warmer and longer days (sun sets around 9:30 pm). December is also a very special time of year to visit because of the Christmas markets, street decorations and festive moods. However, the days are shorter, darker, and colder (sun sets around 4pm).
This post highlights our Top 10 Things to Do with Children while also including Insider Tips that we’ve learned throughout the 5 years we have lived here. You’ll also find section called “Good to Know Tips” for some general pointers about what kind of clothes to pack, the Copenhagen Card (which provides free entrances to many of the attractions), and public transport tips.
Stroget, the Walking Street, dressed up for Christmas.
No trip to Copenhagen is complete without a visit to Tivoli Gardens, a fairytale-like amusement park located in the heart of the city said to have inspired Walt Disney’s Disneyland. It’s the second oldest amusement park in the world – second only to Bakken, another Danish amusement park located on the outskirts of Copenhagen. Tivoli is only open four seasons a year – the summer period (mid-March – mid-September), the Halloween period (mid-October to November), the Christmas season (Mid-November – December) and the winter season (February) (Please check exact opening times before you go). It is beautiful and magical all times of the year. The Copenhagen Card provides you free entrance, and children under the age of 8 enter for free.
Halloween at the Nimb Hotel in Tivoli Gardens.
#2: CANAL TOUR
Another favorite activity for parents and kids alike is the Canal Tour. Copenhagen is located on a harbor, so on a beautiful sunny day there is nothing nicer than seeing the city by water. This is also a good way to see the bronze statute of the Little Mermaid from the back (in my humble opinion, it is not worth your time to make a trip to see her as she is underwhelming small). You can catch the canal Tour at Nyhavn or Gammel Strand. The Copenhagen Card provides you free entrance to the Canal Tour but only at the Gammel Strand location.
Insider Tip: Strollers are not allowed on the canal boats, so I recommend you leave them by the ticket counters. I suggest investing in a simple flexible bike lock for your stroller so you can just lock it up wherever, and put your mind at ease.
Nyhavn, originally a busy commercial port where ships from all over the world would dock, is now the perfect place to enjoy a canal ride.
#3: ROSENBORG CASTLE
A Royal Hermitage set in the middle of the City Center and the King’s Garden. It was built by Christian IV in the early 17th Century. Not to be missed is the Crown Jewels Exhibit – my kids’ favorite.
I recommend this castle because it’s not too big, easy to do with children and also in the heart of the King’s Garden. So, after a quick tour of the castle, you can set up a picnic in the King’s Garden, let the kids run around or visit the playground in the park.
Insider Tip: If you visit mid-summer, you may be able to catch a free puppet show (currently Tuesday-Sunday at 2pm and 3pm located near the restaurant Orangeriet.
#4: PLAYGROUNDS – INDOOR AND OUTDOORS
Copenhagen can be an expensive city, so a visit to one of the many amazing parks located around town is a good free way for the kids to let off steam.
Outdoor Parks
The biggest open space park is Fælledparken located in Østebro. There are several different playgrounds located in this massive park:
“Mini Copenhagen,” just as it sounds, it’s a playground designed after iconic Danish buildings
A cycling park where kids can rent bicycles for free and practice riding on fake streets
Trampolines and swings
A skateboarding area
An outdoor gym both for kids and parents.
A free waterpark (open in the summers)
“Mini Copenhagen”
Superkilen, is another massive park located in the Nørrebro district.
Superkilen
Indoor Parks/Play Areas
On a rainy day, which is quite often, try the FREE indoor playground called Remisen, located in Østebro, a short 10-minute bike ride or bus ride from the City Center.
Remisen
Ku.Be is another great indoor play area located in Frederiksberg; however, it is not free. There’s a climbing area and a café – great place for kids to get energy out.
The Copenhagen Zoo is a great zoo with elephants, hippos, polar bears, monkeys, giraffes and tons of other exciting animals. Also, there is free entrance with the Copenhagen Card. If you don’t take your stroller, you can rent a wagon for the kiddos. There are also two different playgrounds, a petting zoo and designated picnic areas (you can bring in your own food!).
Copenhagen Zoo
Insider Tip: If a day at the Zoo seems too overwhelming or you’re short on time, try the Free Petting Zoo, ByOasen, in the Nørrebro district.
Copenhagen’s new Science Center is fun for all ages, from little toddlers to parents! Two floors with 16 interactive exhibits from soap bubbles to a Labyrinth of Light to a Tunnel of Senses. There is free entrance with the Copenhagen Card. It’s located in Hellerup – a 15-minute bus ride from the city center.
Experimentarium
Insider Tip: It gets crowded on weekends, so go early. Also, if the café is too crowded, the Waterfront shopping center, located next door, has tons of eating options.
Another favorite is to walk or bike around the lakes that surround the city center. I love to pick up a coffee from Lagkagehuset and a free bread bun (boller) for the kids (see my tips below on “Where to Eat”) and take a nice stroll around the lakes. On a sunny summer day, we like to rent swans at Kaffesalonen and ride them in the lakes. They also have a great food menu!
Rented Swans from Kaffesalonen
#8: SMK – The National Gallery of Denmark
This museum provides more than 700 years of Danish Art. Plus, every weekend there are special art workshops for children, with tips and information on how your family can get creative at home.
Insider Tip: SMK is located near the King’s Garden and can easily be combined with a trip to the Rosenberg Castle.
#9: KLAMPENBORG – Dyrehave and Bakken
Take a 20-minute train ride out of the city center to Klampenborg station to visit Jægersborg Dyrehave and the Bakken amusement park. Jægersborg Dyrehave, the deer park, is a huge forest where approximately 2100 deer live among the woods. Also, located within the forest is Bakken, the oldest amusement park in the world!
Insider Tip: The entrance to Dyrehave is located right near Klampenborg station. When you reach the train station, go up the hill (over the over-pass) and make a left. Also, you can take a horse carriage ride through the park. Final tip, beware of tics.
Horse and Carriage Ride in Dryehave
#10: BABY-BIO
Bring your baby to the movies! As a new parent, the one thing I missed was going to the movies because let’s be realistic you can’t take a crying baby to the movies. However, in Copenhagen there is something called Baby-Bio – a couple of different films showings on specific days where you can bring your baby into the movie theater with you. The lights are not dimmed all the way so you can still see, and if the baby cries it’s no big deal. Also, if your baby is sleeping, you can leave him in his stroller by the movie attendant. Once your baby wakes up, the movie attendant will come get you. Win, Win! Google “BabyBio Copenhagen” for participating theaters near you.
WHERE TO EAT WITH KIDS
There are tons of great restaurants and cafes located everywhere in the city, and pretty much all of them have great children’s menus and high chairs. I’ve highlighted only a couple of our favorite places.
Torvehallerne
A food hall located within the city center near Rosenberg Castle. My kids’ favorites include the Fish and Chips and Oatmeal #2 from Grød. I would suggest visiting Torvehallerne in the morning to grab your lunch for a picnic, then head over to the Rosenberg Castle where you can have your picnic in the King’s Garden. After, you can even wander over to SMK, which is close by.
Inside Torvhallen
Boller (Bread Bun)
A favorite treat or after school snack for my kids is a Danish bread bun called boller (pronounced bo-lla). They can be found at different pastry shops throughout the city – try the ones from Lagkagehuset, Emmery’s and Myers. They come in different flavors – plain, with raisins or with chocolate.
Insider Tip: If you get yourself a treat or a coffee from Lagkagehuset, you may be able to get a free boller for your child – just ask!
Laundromat Café
This café offers a small play area right in the middle of the café, so parents can enjoy a relaxed meal while the kids play. They have three different locations – Nørrebro; Østebro and Frederiksberg C. The food is delicious!
Café Norden
Located right in the middle of the pedestrian walking street, Stroget, Café Norden is a favorite for locals and tourists alike. You can bring your stroller inside, and there’s great seating options upstairs with views of the walking street. The brunch plate is a must-try.
GOOD TO KNOW TIPS
After living in this wonderful city for over 5 years and raising our two kids here, I’ve learned lots of tips and tricks. Here are some of my essential “Good to Know” tips.
Copenhagen Airport
In my opinion, it is one of the best airports in Europe because it’s not too big and overwhelming, there is a kids play area in terminal 2; there are fantastic eating options and best of all there are FREE STROLLERS to use throughout the airport. So, feel free to gate check your stroller as you can just pick one up at the airport – they are around everywhere. They also lay flat, so they are suitable for all ages.
Free Strollers in Copenhagen Airport
Nursing and Diaper Changing Area
I’ve nursed my two little ones almost everywhere in Copenhagen with no issues whatsoever as it is very common here. However, if you’re in the City Center and would like some privacy and a break from shopping and sightseeing, stop by either Illums or Magasin. The rooftops of both department stores offer a special nursing area and diaper changing area – a nice break for parents and kids.
The nursing area at Illums Rooftop.
Strollers and Public Transport
Copenhagen is a very stroller friendly city in the sense that all the roads and sidewalks are paved (aside from a couple cobblestone streets), it’s flat with no hills so it’s a very walkable city, and strollers are allowed in most stores. There is a maximum allowance of two strollers per bus, and the entrance for the strollers is in the middle of the bus. The metro and trains also have special stroller sections.
Insider Tip: If there are already two strollers on a bus and you have an umbrella stroller, just fold up your stroller and get on the bus.
Yes, even our big double stroller fits on the bus!
Copenhagen Card
Invest in a Copenhagen Card: it provides entrance to over 70 museums and attractions plus offers free public transport.
Bring along two children under the age of 10 for free. You can purchase different cards depending on how many days you intend to spend in the city. You can pick one up at the CPH Airport Service Center or throughout the city.
Rain Gear
“There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear.”
I love this old Scandinavian saying!! Depending on what time of year you visit, it is important to pack accordingly – think lots of layers for both yourselves and the kids. In the summer, even though your the weather may reach 65 degrees, in the sun it gets very hot and in the shade it might be too cool. Also, it’s very important to bring a rain jacket and rain boots. I know luggage space is precious – but it tends to rain often, and having the right gear will only make your stay more memorable.
I hope this is helpful! Enjoy your time in this beautiful city!
Ya’ll know about Orange County, home of Disneyland and the Angels, but there’s more to Orange County than Disney and baseball, which I was delighted to discover during a visit to Anaheim in 2013. The stated purpose of our trip was, of course, to visit Disneyland, but since my son was only four, one day in the Magic Kingdom was more than plenty. With family in Orange County, we decided to stay a few extra days and check out some other sights, including these two attractions in Irvine that everyone enjoyed.
Irvine is located just a short 20 minute drive down I-5. For both of these experiences, we simply hopped into the car from our hotel in Anaheim and made the quick drive south. With wide highways and ample space for parking, these were no stress destinations that provided my son with outdoor time at little to no cost to the adults – a definitely treat following a day at Disneyland!
Irvine Park Railroad is a really wonderful place to spend the morning or afternoon with young children. There are walking pony rides, train rides, bike and paddle boat rentals, and even a small zoo. Although we did not visit the small zoo or rent paddle boats/bikes, we did ride the train and my son took his first pony ride, which he loved!
lovin’ his first ever pony ride
Decorations change seasonally and so you can expect a Christmas-themed train ride in the winter and other holiday themed games and activities for kids. Food options at the Park are limited (there is a small snack bar), but you are welcome to bring your own food like we did. We simply visited the IN-N-OUT drive thru prior to arriving at the Park and happily devoured our lunch on the picnic benches.
My favorite thing about the Park was that even though we were there on a weekend during beautiful weather, there was ample parking and it wasn’t swamped and over run with people. There are plenty of activities for young children and you can easily spend a day there. Be sure to have cash on hand, however, as many of the rentals/rides are cash only!
Also located in Irvine is the Great Park Balloon, perhaps one of the strangest attractions I have ever seen. It’s a giant orange balloon that holds 25-30 people with an clear base so that you can see the ground below as you soar into the sky. I am pathologically afraid of heights so I was uncomfortable on the ride, even though the balloon is tethered to the ground and does not go that high, but my son and his cousin loved the experience.
There is ample parking at the park and reservations to ride are first-come, first-serve. Operations are limited, however, by weather and wind, so call ahead if the weather looks iffy! Luckily for us, the weather was perfectly calm the morning we visited, so we had no problem riding. The facility also has a carousel and playground area, which the kids loved running around in after the balloon ride.
Overall, our visit to these two locations was a great way to break up our stay in Orange County. My son loved the diversity and the opportunity to ride “high in the sky!,” while I loved the slower pace of things after a day at Disneyland. I highly recommend you check these two attractions out if you find yourself in Orange County with a few hours or an afternoon to spare!
#2: Munkebu Hike
#3: The Midnight Sun
The next thing that we did was we drove, well we tried to drive to Kerid crater, but we drove into another crater. In that crater, there were many lava rocks. We could also see all the layers of the crater.
Although you might think that Fifth Avenue is boring and not a place for kids, my son found the large buildings and the throngs of people to be fascinating. He also found the Sak’s shoe elevator to be fascinating and, during a subsequent visit to NYC years later, enjoyed popping into 
