Guest Author: Our kid blogger, “The Cool One”, is an eight year old third grader who loves travel, soccer and piano.
One of my favorite family vacations was going to Iceland in the summer of 2017. I shared some of my favorite memories about Iceland in my post, Iceland Highlights. I interviewed my sister about her memories of our Iceland Trip. She was only two at the time of the trip but still remembers it fondly. Here are her 10 favorite memories of Iceland:
#1: Flowers
My sister liked the flowers in Iceland because they were different than in the USA. Her favorite flower was the Alaskan lupine, which were tall purple flowers that we saw all around Iceland.
Alaskan lupine
#2: Lava Tunnel
The Lava Tunnel was an underground cave created by lava. We hiked through it with a guide. My sister enjoyed the view from her carrier and even took a nap. In the top of the tunnel, there were big holes. We had to wear our helmets the whole time.
The Lava Tunnel
#3: Farm Animals
We saw a lot of farm animals in Iceland. My sister enjoyed watching them because they looked nice.
Farm Animals
#4: Waterfalls
We saw five large waterfalls, including Seljalandfoss, Skógafoss, Dettifoss, Godifoss and Gulfoss and hundreds of small ones in Iceland. My sister liked watching the water falling down.
Gulfoss Waterfall
#5: The Glacier Lake
At the Glacier Lake, the ice pieces looked like animals. We also saw seals. My sister liked the snow in the lake and the ice washed up on the beach.
#6: Rocks
My sister really liked playing with rocks in Iceland. My brother and I liked to skip rocks into the water, but my sister liked to just hold them or stack them. We visited a spar crystal mine in East Iceland but had to leave all the crystal in the mine.
Collecting Rocks
#7: Bunk Bed
My sister really liked our Airbnb in Akureyri because it had a bunk bed. She pretended that the bunk bed was a ship. She also liked climbing on the ladder to the top bunk. I slept on the top bunk, and she slept on a mattress on the floor.
The Bunk Bed
#8: Whale Watching
Before we got on the bus to go the whale watching boat, we had to put on a snow suit. My sister had a meltdown because red is not her favorite color, but I did not care at all. After she got used to her snow suit, she really liked the trip, especially looking at whales. She was too little to fish with my brother and me.
Whale Watching
#9: Strokkur Geyser
The Strokkur Geyser is an active geyser that erupts about every five minutes. We saw it erupt about six or seven times. She liked to see it shooting up really high.
Strokkur Geyser
#10: The Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is a large, natural pool that is warm because of geothermal heat. My sister and I wore floaties and swam around the pool. The water was a milky blue color. My sister liked sliding down the slide to get into the water.
The Blue Lagoon
This is why my sister liked our Iceland trip. She hopes to go back someday, and I would like to go with her.
Interested in finding out more about Iceland with kids? Check out our listing of all our Iceland posts or join our Facebook group We Go To Iceland With Kids, which is a forum to ask questions and share ideas about family travel to Iceland.
The Eiffel Tower was a major inspiration for our family’s European vacation this past summer. Seeing the Eiffel Tower has been #1 on our eight year old son’s bucket list ever since he saw the half scale replica in Las Vegas at age four. He wasn’t even sure why he was so enamored with Gustave Eiffel’s wrought iron lattice tower, but it was something he had to see. Whenever we discussed potential vacations, he made sure his desire to see the Eiffel Tower had not been forgotten. My husband and I consider a wide range of factors including air fares and our personal desire to visit a location when deciding on where to spend our family vacations, but our son’s unwavering insistence on the Eiffel Tower was persuasive. When we found that round trip airfare from Cleveland to Paris was about half the cost of flights to any other mainland Europe destination, it seemed that our visit to the Eiffel Tower with kids was destined.
Las Vegas’ Eiffel Tower
Why is the Eiffel Tower So Popular with Kids?
The Eiffel Tower is one of the world’s most famous landmarks. It was designed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution and also to be used as the entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair. The Tower took less than two and a half years to construct and was the tallest building in the world until the Chrysler Building surpassed it in 1930. It was named for Gustave Eiffel, the engineer whose company designed and constructed it.
Favorite Viewpoints of the Eiffel Tower for Kids
We first spotted the Eiffel Tower as our plane was landing at Charles du Gaulle Airport. It was small but noticeable in Paris’ skyline. My eight year old was pretty excited. We arrived in the early evening, and after checking into our VRBO in Montorgeuil, we strolled to the Seine River, where he got his first close up view of the Eiffel Tower dominating the skyline. Even though the Tower was off in the distance, it was a magical moment.
Boy meets the Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is visible from so many spots in Paris that we saw it multiple times each day during our two weekends in Paris. Each bridge across the Seine offers a slightly different perspective, and it was fun to find it in the skyline. On our second evening in Paris, we took a classic Seine River boat cruise with Vedettes du Pont Neuf and got to see the Eiffel Tower up close for the first time.
We could also see the Eiffel Tower from the Arc de Triomphe. While we didn’t climb to the top of the Arc, I’ve heard that those who do enjoy one of the best views of the Tower. Another favorite view of the Tower was from Sacre Coeur where we saw it lit up with sparkling lights at night. This light show occurs on the hour every hour between sundown and 1 a.m. and lasts for about five minutes. The entire Tower sparkles, and a spotlight shines from the top.
Booking Tickets to the Eiffel Tower With Kids
Many visitors to Paris are satisfied viewing the Eiffel Tower from one of the many stunning viewpoints. I had visited Paris twice previously but only not gone inside. Visitors who want to go into the Eiffel Tower need to book tickets well in advance during peak tourist season. There are many tours companies that include an Eiffel Tower visit, but we booked our tickets directly through the Tower’s official website. We secured our tickets three weeks in advance of our visit, which was necessary as elevator tickets to the Eiffel Tower summit were ultimately sold out for all five days we were in Paris. We settled for elevator tickets right before sunset to the second floor for our family of five (two adults and kids ages 10, 8 and 3) for a total of €40. We printed out our emailed tickets and waited patiently for the final night of our European vacation. Because there is no way to predict weather conditions so far in advance, we kept our fingers crossed for blue skies.
It is possible to purchase tickets to the second floor or summit via elevator or stairs at the Eiffel Tower itself, but lines are often quite lengthy. Our goal was to avoid lines at all cost during this trip, so we didn’t even consider “day of” tickets. However, friends of ours went a few weeks before us with their four kids and reported that the trip to the summit was worth the wait down below.
How Much Does it Cost to Visit the Eiffel Tower?
The adult rate to visit the Eiffel Tower ranges from €10,20 for stair access to the second floor to €25,50 with elevator access to the top. There are separate children’s rates for those age 12-24 (ranging from €5,10 to 12,70) and 4-11 (ranging from €2,50 to €6,40). All children under age 4 are free. Check up to date Eiffel Tower ticketing information.
Visiting the Eiffel Tower With Kids
On the last night of our European vacation, we took the Metro to Trocadero and arrived about 45 minutes before our timed elevator tickets. At the Gardens of the Trocedero, we were treated to our best view of the Eiffel Tower yet – complete with a rainbow created by the mist from the Fountain of Warsaw.
Due to construction in the area and limited pedestrian crossings, we had to take a roundabout path to get to the Eiffel Tower entrance, but we followed the crowds and arrived at the security check point about 15 minutes before our entry time. We cleared security a few minutes later and were directed to the elevator entrance and another short line. We checked out the view from underneath the Eiffel Tower on the way from one line to the next.
We were not permitted to enter the elevator line until 10 minutes before our 9:00 p.m. entry. A tour group accompanied us on the elevator, so we heard the guide’s commentary. I found this informative and interesting, but my husband would have preferred if tour groups were separated from other tourists.
Second Level of the Eiffel Tower
We exited on the second level, which consists of an upper and lower observation deck and were wowed by the views. Free bathrooms and a bar are located on the lower of the two observation decks. Jules Verne, a Michelin star restaurant is located on this level and accessible through private access from the south pillar. A meal at Jules Verne was not in the cards (or budget) on this visit, and the restaurant is now temporarily closed for renovations until Spring 2019.
Sunset was approximately 9:45 p.m. that night, so we watched as the sky turned from blue to yellow and orange.
We had hoped that there would be a way to secure tickets to the summit on the second floor but learned that was no longer possible. We fully explored the second level until after the 10 p.m. light show when the entire Tower illuminated with flashing gold lights, and a beam spun around from its top. We decided to walk from the second floor to the first floor for a different experience. The 341 stairs really weren’t bad, even with three kids and a stroller. The journey took no more than 10-15 minutes.
First Level of the Eiffel Tower
The first level includes a glass floor, a gift shop and several restaurants, including the 58 Tour Eiffel and The Buffet. We wandered around this floor as the sky turned black and then decided to head down. My husband and the boys chose to take the remaining 328 stairs down, while my daughter and I took the elevator. We thought that we would easily beat them down, but finding the elevator exit was more challenging than I expected. We found them waiting on the ground level in the center of the Tower when we exited the elevator. As we admired our last up close view of the Eiffel Tower, the 11 pm light show began, and we got to see the dazzling Tower from underneath before heading to the Metro.
Eiffel Tower Review
The Eiffel Tower was a highlight of our family’s visit to Paris. While it is possible to enjoy many breathtaking views of the Eiffel Tower from all around Paris, going up into the Tower was an unforgettable experience. It’s essential to book early during peak season, even if though it means a chance of less than ideal weather. We were lucky that we had perfect weather conditions, but we all wish we would have booked early enough to secure tickets to the summit. It was a bummer for sure to miss out on that view, but on the bright side, we all have a reason to return to the City of Lights.
Our Eiffel Tower Review
A visit to the Eiffel Tower with kids really was a bucket list opportunity, not only for our eight year old but for our entire family. My daughter, who was three during our European vacation, regularly mentions that the Eiffel Tower was one of the highlights of our trip.
Planning a family trip to Paris? Check out our entire series of blog posts on visiting Paris, and don’t miss our guide to planning a trip to Paris.
Thank you to the Great Lakes Science Center for providing complimentary tickets for my family. All opinions are my own.
My boys’ favorite museum in Cleveland is the Great Lakes Science Center. On a recent day off school, I suggested a “field trip”, and they requested the Great Lakes Science Center without hesitation. My kids (ages 4, 8 and 10) especially enjoy the Science Center’s hands on exhibits and projects, the NASA Glenn Visitor’s Center, the Dome theater, the special demonstrations and the rotating special exhibits. My parents decided to join us, and I was grateful for the extra hands and the luxurious 1:1 adult-to-child ratio, especially in a museum where each kid constantly wants to explore something in a different direction. The Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland offers so many opportunities for fun STEM learning, and we can’t wait for our next visit.
Visiting the Great Lakes Science Center With Kids
The Great Lakes Science Center is located next to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Lake Erie’s North Coast Harbor. The Science Center is typically open from 10 a.m. to 5. p.m. every day during the summer and Tuesdays through Sundays during the winter. Note that due to its proximity to FirstEnergy Stadium and the large number of tailgating revelers in the area, the Great Lakes Science Center is closed on the Browns’ regular season home game dates. (I presume if the Browns had a home play off game that the Science Center would close as well, but my dad’s research indicates that the Browns have not had a home post-season game since the current stadium was completed in 1999. His fingers remained crossed that a home playoff game inconveniences the Science Center sooner rather than later).
Great Lakes Science Center Parking
Parking at the Great Lakes Science Center is conveniently available in the 500-car attached garage, and visitors receive a reduced $8 rate with validation. I paid for parking at the Box Office and avoided looking for a pay station or fumbling with my credit card when exiting. Visitors entering through the parking garage arrive on level 0. There are also meters in front of the Science Center, but the two-hour limit really does not provide enough time to fully explore.
Great Lakes Science Center Box Office
The Box Office is located on the first level, and we immediately noticed that renovations since our last visit in the Spring included the removal of the enormous escalator that previously dominated the main lobby and addition of a much smaller staircase. My mom, who struggles with stairs, took the elevator, while the rest of us raced up the new stairs to check out the view out of the enormous window. The Great Lakes Science Center is a member of the ASTC passport program, so members of most reciprocal ASTC museums receive free admission.
The Rotating Special Exhibit
After we collected our tickets, we headed back down to Reinburger Hall on Level 0 to check out the current special exhibit, Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body. Grossology explored the science behind phenomena that kids find fascinating, like flatulence, boogers, burps and stinky feet. My kids all had permanent grins as they literally ran from exhibit to exhibit. Considering this exhibit focused on typically “inappropriate” topics, they felt that they were getting away with something while exploring.
My daughter was particularly enamored with the GI slide, a 30-foot long 3-D model of the digestive system. She got to slide down the esophagus into the stomach and then climb through the small and large intestines.
The 12-foot skin climbing wall was another highlight. This fiberglass replica of human skin included skin blemishes like pimples, warts, hair and moles. I’m not sure how much my four year old “learned” about dermatology making her way from one end of the climbing wall to the other, but she was definitely thrilled to reach the end.
My kids have also enjoyed previous special exhibits featured in this space, including AllAboard! The Science of Trains and Build It. All Aboard focused on the science and engineering of rail transportation and included a ride-on train for kids of all ages, and Built It! offered visitors many opportunities to build with LEGO and check out amazing LEGO art reproductions.
Space Exploration and the NASA Glenn Visitor Center
Next, we headed up to the NASA Glenn Visitor Center on Level 1. The Visitor Center prominently features Ohio astronauts, including, of course, John Glenn. My boys both dressed up as astronauts for Halloween during preschool and are interested in the planets and constellations. We love the National Air and Space Museum and Cleveland’s Shafran Planetarium, so it’s no surprise that the space-themed galleries are a huge hit with my kids. The 1973 Skylab 3 Apollo Command Module dominates one room of the exhibit. It traveled almost 40 million miles in space, and its move from the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field in 2010 took over a year to plan.
Cleveland Creates Zone With Kids
In the Cleveland Creates Zone, kids use design and engineering skills to create rockets and parachutes. Each area includes all the materials needed to create and test designs. My kids enjoy the Creates Zone every time we visit the Great Lakes Science Center and could create and then test and tinker with rockets and parachutes for hours. The projects were a bit advanced for my four year old, so we worked together, and I found that making a cone for our rocket was not something that came naturally to me. I had to ask my boys for help, and the results were not overly successful, but my daughter insisted that we bring her rocket home anyway because she loves mementos.
My boys enjoyed watching a special physics program in the Cleveland Creates Zone. The program focused on force and motion. My 10 year old was chosen to be a special volunteer for the program and test a catapult on stage.
Polymer Funhouse
The Polymer Funhouse is an exhibit designed for children under age 8. Because I had my parents as extra chaperones, I was able to take my daughter to the Funhouse while the boys watched the physics demonstration with their grandparents. There were many exhibits for younger visitors, but my four year old spent most of her time in the ball pit waiting for balls to drop on her head. She’s not quite ready for molecular biology, but she definitely has a concrete understanding of how fun it is to play with a heap of colored plastic balls.
Eating at the Great Lakes Science Center
We ate lunch at Spark Kitchen on Level 0 due to its convenience and the frigid temperatures outside. We ordered a large 18 inch pizza and a some hot dogs for our crew. The pizza took about 15 minutes to bake, but my parents were ready for a break and sat with our buzzer in the Kitchen while I took the kids back to the interactive exhibits and felt like a yo-yo as I bounced from one kid to the next, trying to keep an eye on each of them. There must be some connection between STEM learning and appetite because the kids seemed famished as they gobbled their meals.
The Cleveland Clinic DOME Theater
After lunch, we headed to the 1 p.m. showing of Natural Parks Adventure at the Cleveland Clinic Dome Theater. This six-story theater takes “going to the movies” to the next level with its giant dome three-projector, laser-illuminated projection system (the world’s first!). My boys excitedly climbed to the seats near the top of the theater. My daughter, who had a stimulating day and was due for a nap, was a bit scared of the height but also did not want to sit lower in the theater and clung to me until she fell asleep in my arms. It was a rare treat that I fully enjoyed, and the rest also gave her the energy she needed for a bit more exploring before we headed home.
National Parks Adventure was my favorite part of our visit to the Great Lakes Science Center. The film included footage of many of my favorite National Parks, including Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon. Watching the film in the Dome Theater made me feel like I was actually there with the cast or at least made me realize how much I would like to be visiting the National Parks right along side the cast. It was also certainly nice to rest my feet for a bit and enjoy some unexpected snuggle time with my youngest.
The Science Phenomena Exhibits
My kids enjoy the hands on Science Phenomena exhibits on Level 2 each time they visit the Great Lakes Science Center. Perennial favorites include the pitching cage where kids can see how fast they can throw a ball and the shadow room, which uses phosphorescent paper and a strobe light to produce shadows that last 30 to 60 seconds.
My daughter could attempt to make giant bubbles for hours, but the temptation to watch the bubble pop never ends.
The Science Center also takes spirograph to the next level with paper on a moving platform.
Why We Love the Great Lakes Science Center With Kids
Our trip to the Great Lakes Science Center was inspired by my sons’ request to visit on their school holiday. My kids love all the hands-on opportunities to explore science, technology, engineering and math. Looking for more fun family activities in Cleveland with kids? Check out our favorite Northeast Ohio activities.
Our family had a lovely journey on the Thello night train from Paris to Venice. My husband and I had each taken overnight trains as young backpackers in our 20s, and we were hesitant at first to travel on an overnight train as a family with kids ages 4, 8 and 10. But, we considered this travel option when researching how to get from Paris to Venice. We discovered a number of complications with the budget flights from Paris to Venice. Arriving in Venice at night is challenging because Airbnb hosts charge hefty late check in fees, and late arrivals also require an expensive water taxi ride into Venice. At €35 per person for a couchette with bedding, the cost of Thello tickets was a particularly affordable option, and the sleeper cabin looked much better than any I had taken during my backpacking days. The Thello night train also allowed us to travel from the city center of Paris to the city center of Venice without losing much valuable sightseeing time. The Thello sleeper train turned out to be a fun and convenient way to travel from Paris to Venice with kids.
A Trip on the Thello Night Train
Thello Train Booking
We booked our Thello tickets directly through Thello’s website. We printed our confirmation and brought it with us. We chose the smart fare, which is non-refundable and available as low as €29 per person.
Thello Train’s Gare de Lyon Departure
In order to prepare for our Thello night train’s departure at 7:10 p.m. from Paris’ Gare de Lyon, we condensed our family’s luggage into our large suitcase and one backpack before checking out of our Airbnb. We knew that it would be totally impractical to lug around our suitcase and backpack as we explored the Champs-Élysées, the Place de la Concorde and the Musée de l’Orangerie and knew luggage storage was essential. We did some research about area luggage storage and decided that it made the most sense to store our luggage at Gare de Lyon rather than near our Airbnb and have to return to the area before continuing on to the train station. We took the Metro to Gare de Lyon, and I waited with the kids inside the Metro station while my husband exited into the train station with the suitcase and backpack to the luggage storage facility we found online. After he safely stored the bags in a locker, he used another billet to get back into the station to meet us and continue on to the Arc de Triomphe.
We had an unforgettable, luggage-free day of sightseeing that included McDonald’s ice cream and Monet’s Waterlilies galleries, the two best rooms of art my sons have ever seen and not a roller suitcase. We returned to Gare de Lyon about an hour before our departure, picked up our luggage, purchased dinner and waited in the beautiful, bustling station, which was built for the 1900 World’s Fair.
We boarded our train upon its arrival on the platform. Even though my three year old did not have to pay to ride the train if she used existing seats, we did not think that we could comfortably have two people share a couchette in one of the four person sleeper cabin. So, we chose to book all the couchettes in a six person sleeper cabin at €35 per seat to make sure that no other passengers were placed with our family of five. The overnight train cost us a total of €210, which was roughly the same as our average accommodation cost! Similar smart fares are available for this route starting at €29 for adults and €20.30 for children ages 4-14. Considering the low cost, it was not surprising that our cabin was located in pretty far down the platform in coach 86, but we didn’t mind the walk.
Thello Night Train Ride With Kids
When we reached coach 86, we located our sleeper cabin and were pleasantly surprised to find that it very closely resembled the pictures we had seen online. We specifically chose a cabin in the middle of coach 86 so that we would not be right next to the bathroom and really were not disturbed by other passengers at anytime in the journey. There were three seats on each side, and the highest bunks were set up with six sets of bedding. There was luggage storage available over the door and under the seats and six water bottles in specifically designed holders in the wall. Had we known that water bottles were provided, we would not have stocked up on beverages in the train station.
We were pretty sure that our kids would enjoy the overnight train as a fun family sleepover experience, and they definitely did. The three level bunk beds were a particular hit, and the Thello couchettes were more comfortable than we expected. As the train journey got underway, we ate our dinner and had a relaxed evening in our sleeper cabin. We enjoyed watching the French countryside that we passed by until the last bit of sunlight bid farewell for the day. Our boys chose the top bunks, and our daughter quickly mastered climbing the ladder up and down to “visit”. We explored a bit but mostly stayed in our seats.
When the conductor came by to check our tickets, she also took our passports. Many train passengers worry about this, but we knew from our previous night trains it was common practice to expedite passport control when crossing borders. There was no WiFi, so we read about Venice in our guidebook and all slept for at least nine hours of the journey. We were able to keep all our luggage with us and lock our compartment from the inside. We felt very safe traveling with kids. Although we would have enjoyed seeing the Swiss countryside, it was dark for our entire journey through Switzerland. Our kids will have to wait for another trip to be dazzled by the Alps.
We somehow managed to sleep right through the alarm I set and woke up when the conductor knocked to return our passports as promised after Milan. It was not long before our scheduled 9:35 a.m. arrival in Venice, and we were a bit frantic to get packed up until we discovered that the train was running late. Breakfast bags with pastries and more water bottles were delivered as an unexpected surprise before our arrival in Venice at about 11:00 a.m.
Our Thello Night Train Review
Taking the Paris to Venice train was a fun and convenient way to travel, and we saved at least $800 by avoiding flights, travel to and from airports in Paris and Venice and late Airbnb check in fees. One main negative was that we did not have a private bath or the ability to shower. Two and three person premium sleeper cabins with private bathrooms are available on Thello night trains, but my husband and I were uncomfortable splitting our family into two rooms. The only other negative was that the train arrived in Venice about 90 minutes late, which meant we were late for our scheduled Airbnb check in, but that luckily worked out seamlessly. While we flew from Rome to Paris at the end of our time in Italy, it took seven and a half hours door to door, which meant that we lost almost an entire day of sightseeing en route. We will definitely consider a night train as a travel option in the future and would recommend considering the Thello night train with kids.
Find Out More About Visiting Paris or Venice With Kids
Considering a family trip to Paris or Venice? Check out our posts on planning visits to Paris with kids and Venice with kids.
When people think of visiting Los Angeles, beaches and Hollywood immediately come to mind. It’s a rare person who thinks of visiting wild animals and despite having grown up in Los Angeles, I never thought much of the local zoo, favoring the San Diego Zoo and then, of course, being partial to the National Zoo while living in DC. This past summer, I was delighted to not only discover the LA Zoo and Botanical Gardens with my kids for the very first time, but I was thrilled to learn that it’s a well managed zoo that offers opportunities and experiences that are not available at other zoos!
The LA Zoo is much larger than I expected an in fact, one of the more delightful discoveries was not only that the zoo has giraffes (which are noticeably missing from the National Zoo), but that for a $5 fee, visitors can participate in daily feedings of the giraffe between certain hours!
This hungry guy was happy to accept our offerings!
My three year old son, always the adventurer, was thrilled to engage in the activity and we were both startled when the giraffe’s big black tongue reached out to snag the branches we had ready for him!
A close second favorite experience at the LA Zoo was the petting zoo, called Muriel’s Ranch. Free with admission, the petting ranch offers the opportunity to get up close and personal with the zoo’s residents goats and sheep. I was thrilled to be handed a brush on our way into the petting area and my three year old and I had a great time, brushing the very docile and friendly goats.
In addition to our giraffe and goat experiences, we were enjoyed the general layout of the zoo as well. Despite visiting during record hot temperatures in the high 90s, we found plenty of shaded pathways and even indoor exhibits, which offered much needed respite from the relentless heat.
The indoor reptile house.The Australia house where, even though it was hard to see the hidden marsupials, we delighted in the cool air.Although technically outdoors, this exhibit provided some much needed shade and entertainment for my three year old, who enjoyed hiding behind corners.
Finally, in addition to the normal panoply of zoo animals, the LA Zoo also has a “Botanical Garden” component which I initially dismissed but soon discovered was severely underrated.
I appreciated the the opportunity to not only visit animals that visit the rainforest with my kids, but to also show them the rainforest and provide a small visual of how the rainforest has changed over the years.
Moreover, although not quite the same scope as Arashiyama bamboo forest in Japan, this mini bamboo forest right in the middle of Los Angeles was a real treat, especially for my three year old who has only visited Arashiyama in utero.
Fun artistic displayed littered throughout the zoo.
Pro Tips for those considering an LA Zoo visit with kids:
Parking is ample and free, but I hear that the lot can get extremely congested during the weekends as the parking lot is shared with a number of nearby attractions such as the Autry Museum of the American West.
There are quite a few dining options, although, as expected, pizza and burgers, and chicken tenders are the general fare. There is one cafe that offers Mexican options and another that offers gourmet pizza and craft beer, so be sure to keep and eye out for whatever suits your fancy!
In addition to the giraffe feeding experience, the LA Zoo offers a few other animal experiences for an additional fee. For instance, there is the Flamingo Mingle, which is $25 per person and offers the opportunity for guests to “mingle with flamingos.” There’s also the hippo encounter, which allows guests to get up close to a hippopotamus.
The LA Zoo also offers “attractions” such as a carousel ride for $3 per ride, and a “safari” ride around the zoo, which is essentially a tram that drives around and unloads at various spots. We did not experience the carousel, but we did opt for a safari ride at one point when we were extremely tired and hot.
“Safari” ride around the LA Zoo.
The LA Zoo is located at 5333 Zoo Drive in Los Angeles and is open to the public seven days a week, from 10am – 5pm, 364 days a year (closed Christmas Day).
Be sure to check out our entire category of posts on things to do and places to visit in Los Angeles with kids! And, be sure to visit the LA Zoo with kids!
Every so often, we encounter a place that is so fabulous for those traveling with kids that it is worthy of being featured on its own. For more fun locations, please check out our other Spotlight features!
A visit to Venice was an essential part of our family’s itinerary for our summer vacation in France and Italy. My husband and I had each visited Italy previously, but neither of us had been to Venice and were intrigued by the City of Canals. Even though it was hot and crowded at times during our mid-July visit, Venice lived up to our expectations and more. Our gondola ride was definitely the highlight, but St. Mark’s Basilica, the Rialto Bridge, Doge’s Palace, shopping and exploring the narrow pedestrian streets were all unforgettable. Visiting a pedestrian-only city requires some special planning considerations, but there are so many things to do in Venice with kids.
Chasing Pigeons in St. Mark’s Square
Planning a Family Trip to Venice
Traveling to and from Venice, Italy With Kids
We booked our trip to Europe a mere 5 1/2 weeks before our departure due to scheduling issues. We had discovered while booking flights that flying from Cleveland to any major Italian city cost between 2-3 times the total of our round trip flight on WOW air to Paris. However, because there were plenty of budget flight options from Paris to Italy, we booked round trip flights to Paris and planned to spend 10 days in Italy in the middle of our trip.
After securing our flights to Paris, we wanted to finalize our transportation to Italy. Before we booked our planned evening flight from Paris to Venice, we discovered that arriving into the Venice Airport at night is particularly challenging with local transport limited to expensive water taxis. Most Airbnb hosts meet their guests upon arrival and require hefty late check in fees, and we wondered if we would be able to check in if our flight was delayed. On a whim, we looked into overnight train options. Almost immediately, we found Thello’s night train from Paris to Venice that fit our needs perfectly. The train was scheduled to leave Paris at 7:10 p.m. and arrive in Venice at 9:35 a.m., so we would lose very little sight-seeing time in transit and avoid travel time to and from airports. At €35 per person for a couchette with bedding, it was a particularly affordable option, and the sleeper cars looked much better than any I had taken during my backpacking days.
Even though my three year old did not have to pay to ride the train if she used existing seats/couchettes, we did not think that we could comfortably have two people share a couchette in one of the four person sleeper cars. So, we chose to book all the couchettes in a six person sleeper car to make sure that no other passengers were placed with our family. The overnight train cost us a total of €210, which was roughly the same as our average accommodation cost! I figured that we also saved at least $800 by avoiding flights, travel to and from the airports in Paris and late Airbnb check in fees.
We were pretty sure that our kids would enjoy the overnight train as a fun family sleepover experience, and they definitely did. The three level bunk beds were a particular hit. We bought dinner in Gare de Lyon before our departure and had a relaxed evening in our sleeper car. Our boys chose the top bunks, and our daughter quickly mastered climbing the ladder up and down. We all slept for about nine hours of the journey. The main negatives were that we couldn’t shower and the train arrived in Venice about an hour and a half late, which meant we were late for our scheduled Airbnb check in. Otherwise, taking an overnight train from Paris to Venice was a fun and convenient way to travel. While we flew from Rome to Paris at the end of our time in Italy, it took seven and a half hours door to door, which meant that we lost almost an entire day of sightseeing en route. We’ll definitely consider a night train in the future.
We departed Venice by taking a Trenitalia train from Venice to Bologna. We planned to rent a car to explore Northern Italy, but found renting a car from Venice challenging because the island is pedestrian only. It seemed easier to take a train to Bologna rather than travel to Venice’s Marco Polo Airport to pick up our car.
Accommodations in Venice
Although we booked our 2 days in Venice only a few weeks in advance, we found an amazing Airbnb in Venice. We stayed at La corte di San Marco, an Airbnb close to Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Rialto Bridge. This authentic, air-conditioned Venetian apartment was updated and had two bathrooms and a washing machine. The host, Jenny, was extremely responsive and had lots of tourist information available in her clutter-free apartment.
The master suite featured its own attached bathroom with a unique arched doorway.
The kids slept on a pull out couch and single bed located in the apartment’s large living area. This room featured exposed ceiling beams, a kitchenette and dining table. We did not eat any meals in the apartment, but it was well-equipped with all the necessities and even offered children’s silverware.
The apartment also had an adorable enclosed outdoor patio connected to the master bedroom, the main living space and the laundry room.
Jenny asked that we place a barrier in the door frame of the apartment’s front door every time we left the apartment due to possible flood waters. With the recent severe flooding in Venice, the danger is clear, and we hope that La corte di San Marco did not sustain any damage. We would definitely recommend La corte di San Marco for families visiting Venice and would not hesitate to book this Airbnb again ourselves.
Local Transportation in Venice
We found most of Venice very walkable but did need public transportation to get to our Airbnb. With no roads in Venice, buses or taxis are not an option. The public transit system consists of water buses, which are known as vaprettos. One way tickets for riders over age six cost €7 each, which is substantially higher than typical public transportation costs in other metropolitan areas. We are experienced mass transit riders, but found the vapretto system somewhat confusing. After purchasing tickets from the kiosk, riders need to validate at the electronic ticket reader before boarding. Typically, no one checks tickets on the vapretto itself, but a rider without a validated ticket could be subject to a hefty fine.
Lines 1 and 2 follow the Grand Canal, and Line 1 makes 14 stops between Santa Lucia Railway Station and St. Mark’s Square while Line 2 is the express option that makes only 5 stops. Lines 4 and 5 circumnavigate the main island. Upon arrival, we purchased tickets and were directed to Line 4 because it is the shortest journey from Santa Lucia Railway Station and St. Mark’s. However, we had to wait quite some time for a Line 4 vapretto to arrive and didn’t have the most scenic route. On the way back to the train station, we chose to take the slightly longer but much more aesthetically enjoyable route on Line 1 through the Grand Canal, which we definitely recommend.
Packing For a Trip to Venice
Our entire trip to Europe was 17 days and 17 nights. Because we were primarily staying at homestay apartments with washing machines, we packed approximately five to six full outfits for each person. It was definitely more than we really needed, but I always worry about washing machines not working and want to avoid visiting a laundromat on vacation at all costs. Wow air charges for each carry on larger than a personal item (e.g. backpack) and each checked bag, which cannot weigh over 44 pounds without incurring overweight fees. So, we chose to check one bag and also bring two backpacks with us and also carried an extra bag inside our checked suitcase, knowing that we would likely be returning with more than we brought with us.
With a three year old who would need to nap on the go, a stroller was a necessity. While we did need to carry our small umbrella stroller up and down stairs at times, especially over Venice’s many bridges, we found that much easier than carrying our daughter, especially when she was sleeping. She typically hopped out whenever we reached stairs to make the stroller easier to manage, and my ten year old was an expert in helping when she was sleeping. We do look forward to being stroller-free soon but will miss the built-in storage and bottle holders.
I’ve never tried packing cubes, mostly because I don’t want one more thing to store and search for before a trip, but I have been intrigued by the organization of separate packing. It’s amazing how challenging it can be to choose outfits from a large suitcase. As an experiment, I rolled and packed each person’s clothes in zip lock bags and had separate bags with our pajamas and first day clothes packed into one of the backpacks. This helped with the organization of the large suitcase and provided a back up in case our suitcase was delayed at the beginning of the trip.
My packing was efficient, but it was far from perfect. I forgot a few easy to purchase items like soap and shampoo and found that our converter was not compatible with my flat iron. I had read that cathedrals and churches in Italy require visitors have covered knees and shoulders, so we also each brought a few pairs of pants, and I decided not to bring any sleeveless dresses. The rules may have been relaxed because of the July heat, but the covered knees rule was not enforced at any church we visited. We probably visited two dozen churches and cathedrals, and covered shoulders were required only at the Sistine Chapel, Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Basilica of Saint Mary in Cosmedin. At Saint Mark’s, coverings were available for a small fee at the entrance to the church. Shorts and sundresses were appropriate outfits for the unseasonably warm weather we experienced, and I wish I brought more sundresses and a scarf and left all the pants for me and the boys at home. And, next time, we’re definitely going with a maximum of four to five outfits each.
Eating in Venice With Kids
A major benefit of using our feet as the main mode of transportation in Venice was that we could enjoy amazing Italian meals guilt free. We typically sat down for lunch and dinner. Even during peak tourist season, we never had to wait more than five minutes for a table. Hosts or hostesses often stand outside to encourage anyone passing by to take a look. A few times, we were put off by a hard sell and moved on. We noticed that chicken was not really available at any of the restaurants we visited in Venice, but we all tried a variety of dishes. My older son was particularly adventurous, and my younger son developed a love of margarita pizza. I enjoyed amazing daily seafood dishes, including of seafood risotto and salmon pasta. At dinner, my husband and I regularly shared house wine and were never disappointed. We found that restaurants did not provide tap water, so we always had to purchase a large bottle or two with every meal.
We had some fabulous meals during our two days in Venice and visited one restaurant that we would not recommend.
Trattoria da Nino. Following our arrival in Venice and some relaxation in our Airbnb, we headed out for our first Italian meal. We settled on Trattoria da Nino and sat on the outside patio. My husband ordered squid ink pasta, a Venetian specialty, and we had a lovely time watching people pass by on the narrow pedestrian street.
Squid ink pasta
Ristorante AgliArtisti. On the first night, we headed out to find a restaurant showing the France-Belgium Semi-Final FIFA World Cup match. We stumbled upon Ristorante Agli Artisti, which had an available table with a perfectly situated television. Service was impeccable, and the food was wonderful. The eclectic decor included exposed wood beams, grape vines and grapes and other interesting objects affixed to the walls and ceilings, and I especially liked the Murano glass water tumblers. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and celebrated France’s win.
As soon as we paid the bill, my husband asked to reserve the same table for 8 pm the following night for the England-Croatia Semi-Final FIFA World Cup Match. A family from New Zealand with a father who also grew up in England reserved the table next to ours for the same reason the following afternoon. Their three young daughters were not at all interested in the game but excitedly invited our daughter to join them in watching Netflix on their iPad as soon as we finished eating. World Cup soccer might not be a can’t miss activity on everyone’s European vacation, but my husband and sons are soccer fanatics, and that England-Croatia match was England’s first time in the World Cup Semi-Finals since 1990. Unfortunately, the ending was a devastating loss.
Watching the England-Croatia FIFA World Cup semi-final match
Rio Venice di Chen Weili. On our final afternoon in Venice, we ate lunch at Rio Venice di Chen Weili, which was unfortunately our least favorite meal in Italy. Service was slow, the food was mediocre and we were charged a much higher service fee than anywhere else in Italy. Had we had data to check reviews before we entered, we would have avoided this restaurant. Note that we had been warned that many menus (including Rio Venice’s) feature seafood platters priced per 100 grams, which some tourists believe to be a fantastic bargain and order. The surprise comes at the end when they discover they are charged 10 times the advertised price for a 1000 gram meal.
We did not prepare any meals in our Airbnb apartments but occasionally warmed up leftovers for breakfast. We made sure to have a daily afternoon dose of tasty gelato. The most creative presentation were creative flower-shaped cones. Check out this guide to the best gelato in Venice.
Shopping With Kids in Venice
We generally enjoy peeking into local souvenir shops while traveling but particularly enjoyed checking out all the gorgeous Murano glass in Venice, and our next visit to the city will definitely include a trip to the Murano, a Venetian island. Ever since I purchased a stone turtle on Bavaro Beach in Punta Cana, I’ve looked for the most unique and traditional decorative turtles during our travels. We probably visited every glass shop, looking for the perfect turtle, and of course, ultimately settled on the first one we saw.
One shopkeeper gave us a mini-lesson on how Murano glass is made. My daughter loved the glass and carefully looked at all the pieces while keeping her hands glued to her sides. She chose one of the Christmas trees on her left from this shop.
While the island typography clearly made transportation of goods more challenging in Venice, prices for shoes, clothes and souvenirs were not dramatically inflated. I even found a pair of Geox sandals significantly reduced from what I would have paid in the US.
Restrooms in Venice With Kids
Restrooms are not as widely available in European cities as they are in the US. Free restrooms for customers are often available in restaurants, hotels and museums, but public restrooms typically require a fee. My three year old and I visited a public WC in Venice. The €1.50 fee was only charged for me, continuing the glorious European trend that kids under six are never charged for admission. The restroom fee may be an unnatural phenomenon, but the facilities were clean.
Cell Service in Venice
We researched relatively inexpensive options to add voice/data to our Verizon mobiles while in Italy but used only WiFi service in Venice. WiFi was available at all of the Venetian restaurants we visited, and we were able to mostly unplug during the day and use WiFi in the evenings.
Currency in Venice
We definitely needed to use euros at times in Italy, so it was essential to get some local currency. We traveled with about €200 in cash and then withdrew money twice from ATMs during the trip.
Language Barrier in Venice
Most people in the Italian tourist industry speak English, and almost all menus were translated into English as well. My husband and I both learned some key Italian words and phrases, which were helpful in exchanging pleasantries but were rarely necessary. The only time we truly experienced a language barrier was at lunch outside of Modena where no one spoke English. We thought we ordered three fixed price, three-course meals but wondered when the large portions of delicious food were brought to our table if we misunderstood the pricing scheme. It turned out to be an amazing and unbelievably inexpensive meal.
Pickpocketing Warning in Venice
We had read many reports of pick pockets active in Italy and were extremely cautious. I carried a Travelon anti-theft messenger bag (review), and diligently kept the clasps locked. Our valuables were all safe during our visit to Venice, and we did not have any run ins with likely pickpocketers as we did in the Rome train station. But, with three kids, I’m often distracted and felt much more secure with my belongings secured inside of anti-theft bag.
Planning Our Italy Itinerary for Venice With Kids
To help get our kids involved with planning our five nights in Italy, I borrowed some children’s books on Venice from our local library, including 13 Architects Children Should Know, which featured Venice’s Andrea Palladio’s Church of the Most Holy Redeemer.
Church of the Most Holy Redeemer
We prebooked our visits to St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace, but made errors in each. We scheduled the 4:30 pm entry into St. Mark’s Basilica without realizing that the Basilica closed at 5:00, making our visit very rushed. And, we mistakenly made reservations for a special exhibit at the Doge’s Palace opening in September instead of general admission entry. These mistakes were unfortunate, but luckily our only booking missteps.
Best Itinerary for Venice With Kids
We spent two days in Venice at the beginning of 10 days in Italy and planned to take a slower pace, sit and enjoy meals, watch World Cup games and really explore each city. We really didn’t acclimate to waking up early, and it was always late before we got into bed. Even though we weren’t in full tourist mode, we saw many of Venice’s top sights during our 48 hour visit. We didn’t have time to visit Venice’s other islands, including Burano or Torcello or the Lido beaches, but next time we hope to explore beyond the main island.
Here is our basic daily itinerary:
Day One – Venice
Train arrives in Venice at 11 a.m.
Take vapretto to Airbnb
Explore Venice streets
Saint Mark’s Square
Rialto Bridge
Gondola ride
World Cup Game
Day Two – Venice
Doge’s Palace/Bridge of Sighs
Explore Venice streets
Return to Saint Mark’s Square and Rialto Bridge
Visit Saint Mark’s Basilica
World Cup Game
Day Three – Depart Venice
Vapretto ride up Grand Canal to train station
Train to Bologna
Venice For Kids
We highly recommend a trip to Venice for kids. Make sure to check out our listing of blog posts on visiting Italy, including posts about Florence and Rome.
England is a great country to visit with kids. It’s particularly near and dear to our family’s hearts as my husband and I both lived there. His family moved to London before he started high school, and England was his home until he finished college. I studied abroad at the University of York for a semester of my junior year. We’ve visited five times as a couple, and three times with kids. Because we have family and friends in London and a connection to York, we tend to stick to these two cities during our return trips to England. However, with its beautiful beaches, idyllic country side, stunning Gothic cathedrals and world-renowned landmarks, England really has something to offer visitors of any age. England might be known for its frequent rain, but the weather is all part of its charm. We asked some of our favorite family travel bloggers for suggestions on locations for fun family weekend getaways and now want to hop the next plane to start checking out more of these best places to visit in England with kids.
Best Places to Visit in England With Kids
Bath With Kids
Bath is a fantastic city in England to visit, and it’s perfect for a weekend getaway, as just one day isn’t really enough. The entire city center is a World Heritage Site, and its Georgian architecture is worth exploring. Visitors can take a free walking tour from outside the cathedral. Those who explore on their own should make sure to visit the Royal Crescent and the Circus. Bath was once a Roman city called Aquae Sulis due to its hot spring (the hottest in the UK). The Romans built a public bath and temple to the goddess Minerva. The baths are still here, and they still work, so a highlight of going to Bath is looking around the fantastic museum. Visitors who want to bathe in the hot springs have to book into the Thermae Bath Spa (ages 15+).
There are many brilliant museums to look around; the museum at No.1 The Royal Crescent where kids get an explorer backpack is a favorite with our kids. Other interesting museums include the Jane Austen Centre and the Bath Assembly Rooms and Fashion Museum. For families looking for a more low key weekend can check out some of Bath’s green spaces. There’s an enormous playground in Victoria Park, as well as a botanical garden; alternatively head up to Prior Park gardens and the Bath skyline for great walks and views over the city. Bath is in the south west of England and is a two hour train journey from London, with direct trains running from London Paddington.
Currently undergoing massive regeneration, Birmingham, in the center of England is a fabulous city for a weekend break with kids. It’s just a couple of hours on the train from London, and is small enough to be completely walkable.
The National SEA LIFE Center is a favorite of my daughter’s, and we can spend hours visiting the penguin enclosure. If we’re feeling creative, we’ll head to the Ikon gallery, a small and friendly contemporary art gallery which holds hands on family sessions on weekends and during the holidays or to one of the family music events at Birmingham Symphony Hall. For a culture hit, the Birmingham Museum of Art is totally free and features a lovely interactive area for kids, or Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum allows children to get hands on with their learning. The new LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Birmingham will also appeal to most ages.
For eats, there are loads of chain restaurants in Brindley Place where visitors can eat overlooking the canals or the Digbeth Dining Club, which is street food style eating and open Thurs-Sat evening. Birmingham has many theaters and concert venues so if possible, take in a show. The performance is always great, and it’s so much cheaper than the West End!
Recommended by Karen Quinn from Are We There Yet Kids. Read Karen’s out more from Karen about UK destination guide.
Brighton With Kids
England has some wonderful seaside towns, but none are quite like Brighton. One of the country’s coolest cities, it’s perfect with teens but has plenty to tempt families with kids of all ages. My daughter, aged six, has been several times. A short train journey away from London, it has a very walkable city center and buses available along the coast and through the city. Note that parking isn’t great in the central area.
Start at the seafront and walk along the pebble beach spotting the old pier, little galleries and quirky stalls, to the entertainments of Brighton Pier or the SEA LIFE Brighton for rainy days. The best views come from the 162 meter i360 observation tower. In the summer, the Volks electric railway trundles between the pier and the marina. Or amble through the Lanes, with its vintage shops and kitschy souvenirs, as well as family-friendly shows at Komedia comedy club and the Painting Pottery Café.
Brighton’s iconic landmark is the Royal Pavilion, an extravagant royal seaside escape, created by George IV. With Indian and Chinese influences plus plenty of opulent décor inside, the fairy tale feel is just as fun for kids. There’s also a trail to spot animals dotted throughout the rooms, including dragons, and you’re encouraged to lie down on the carpet in the music room to appreciate the ceiling. Add in a variety of other attractions, from the toy museum to the old police cells, plus a street art bike tour, and visitors won’t have any trouble whiling away a few days.
Recommended by Cathy Winston from MummyTravels. Find out more from Cathy about Brighton with kids.
Bristol With Kids
Bristol is a city straddling the River Avon in the southwest of England with a prosperous maritime history. Its former city-center port is now a cultural hub, the Harbourside. The harbor’s 19th-century warehouses now contain restaurants, shops, art galleries and the M Shed museum, which explores local social and industrial heritage. There’s no need to spend a fortune visiting Bristol as many of the big-hitters are free to visit. These include the M Shed, Leigh Woods National Nature Reserve, Blaise Castle Estate and the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge, for visitors on foot.
There are three attractions however, definitely worth paying for: the SS Great Britain, the newly opened Being Brunel Museum, and the We Are The Curious science center. These attractions are fully interactive and loved by children of all ages. Bristol is easy to visit without a car and can be reached via train or bus from many other UK cities.
Recommended by Nicky from Go Live Young. Find out more from Nicky about Bristol with kids.
Cambridge With Kids
Beautiful Cambridge is just a short train ride from London’s Kings Cross station and a great place to spend a few days as a family. The university city is compact and full of attractions. A perfect first stop is a punting tour (a chaufferred river tour) of the River Cam. While gliding past the famous colleges and under the Bridge of Sighs and Mathematical Bridge, the guide will share stories of the university and its renowned alumni. Two of the most famous alumni are Charles Darwin and Sir Isaac Newton, who serve as inspiration for your budding students. After the punting tour, explore the colleges on foot. Make sure to spend time admiring King’s College Chapel, a masterpiece built-in the Tudor era with a soaring vaulted ceiling.
Cambridge is a market town with pedestrianized cobbled streets perfect for exploring. If the weather is cold and wet, the fascinating Fitzwilliam Museum features works by Da Vinci and Rembrandt.
Recommended by Katy Clarke from Untold Morsels. Find out more from Katy about Cambridge with kids.
Chipping Camden With Kids
Chipping Campden is one of many charming small towns in the Cotswolds, but its location makes it the perfect home base for exploring the area. The best way to get around is certainly by car, but we cheated a bit and took the train from London to Stratford-Upon-Avon and picked up a car there. The town’s centerpiece is an old market hall on its main thoroughfare that dates to 1627. There are several pubs and local shops worth exploring, and many hikes that are easily accessible from town. We rented a self-catering apartment on the main street that allowed us to explore once the tourists left for the day.
Our day trips included Stratford-Upon-Avon where we toured Shakespeare’s family homes and took a boat ride along the river. We also toured Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill and one of the most beautiful estates in England. Kids will not find it boring with its butterfly house, hedge maze, and miniature train. Warwick Castle was a fan favorite and an easy drive from Chipping Campden. The kids loved dressing up like knights and watching the trebuchet shoot fireballs across the lawn. The Cotswolds shouldn’t be missed on any trip to England.
Recommended by Kirsten Maxwell from Kids are a Trip. Find out more from Kirsten about England with kids.
Devon With Kids
Devon is a county in southwest England. Visitors definitely need a car when visiting with kids as public transportation is not readily available in England‘s third largest county. This area has so much to offer, including red cliff beaches that join the South West’s Jurassic Coast, traditional sandy seafronts and rocky Atlantic coastlines. The Hartland Point and Lighthouse (pictured) offers an amazing panoramic view. Inland Devon has two National Parks – Dartmoor and Exmoor – which are ideal for family hikes, rock climbing and river water sports. There is also an abundance of family attractions ranging from medium-sized theme parks and zoos to historic houses and fortifications dating back to medieval times. Devon has two major cities, Exeter and Plymouth that each offer chain and boutique hotels. But to experience the real Devon, we recommend finding a holiday cottage or campsite in a picturesque coastal town like Dartmouth or nestled in Dartmoor’s dramatic landscape.
Recommended by Claire Hall from Tin Box Traveller. Find out more from Claire about Dartmouth with kids.
Lake District With Kids
The Lake District wasn’t awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status for no reason. I defy anyone who visits Cumbria not to be blown away by the sheer and epic beauty of the surrounding landscape. We spent a week exploring the Lake District in our car – from taking a steamboat gondola on Lake Coniston and learning why it is the inspiration for the children’s book Swallows and Amazons, to paddling in several of the 16 lakes – our favorites included Wastwater, Buttermere and Ullswater. We even climbed up a waterfall at Aira Force and caught newts in the grounds of a grand castle at Sizergh. And with so many activities aimed at families from the Beatrix Potter Museum to caves and eerie manor houses and sprawling gardens – it’s the perfect destination for an adventure holiday in England. Plus, the cream teas and ice creams are pretty wonderful, too…
Liverpool was a city that I hadn’t really thought about visiting with kids until a few years ago. When we did visit for a weekend break, I had very low expectations about what to expect when we got there. Well, it turned out to be one of those family travel experiences that really changed my perception of the location, and I urge families looking for places to visit in England to put Liverpool on that list.
Liverpool is easily reached by car or train, and it’s a city that is easy to navigate by foot, even with children. Liverpool was the European Capital of Culture in 2008, and this gave the city a real boost in terms of family-friendly tourist attractions. We had no trouble at all filling our time with visits to the World Museum, complete with aquarium and natural history exhibits, the Walker Art Gallery, with its interactive zone dedicated to young artists, and the Museum of Liverpool which helped us appreciate Liverpool’s long standing history with music and popular culture. As well as being fascinating places to visit with kids, they were all free to enter too! The city also has some incredible architecture and a fascinating dock where family visitors will enjoy taking the ferry across the River Mersey.
Recommended by Zena from Zena’s Suitcase. Find out more from Zena about Liverpool with kids.
London With Kids
London is one of the best cities for families in the world! London has something to offer visitors of any age. As a major transportation hub, London is easy to access by train or plane. Accommodations can be expensive, so make sure to reserve well in advance.
Some of our favorite attractions are:
its amazing parks (we absolutely loved Regents Park for the squirrels!)
free entry world-famous museums, like the Natural History Museum or Tate!
family-friendly plays (when we were there, The Cursed Child, Aladdin, and The Lion King were all playing!
fun-filled shopping districts like Camden Market for the teens or Hamley’s Toy Store for all ages! Hamley’s is enormous, and it’s the oldest toy store in the world!
lots of Harry Potter filming locations
and the classics, of course! Don’t miss the Tower of London, Big Ben Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace.
Public transport on the Underground (aka the Tube) is efficient, and the double decker buses are iconic and easy to use. Kids under 12 ride for free, and kids over 12 receive discounted fares. The only problem with a weekend getaway in London is that it’s not long enough to fully explore all the city has to offer!
Recommended by Thais Saito from World Trip Diaries. Find out more from Thais about London with kids.
Peak District With Kids
Green rolling hills, dry stone walls, quaint country cottages and old pubs serving real ale in front of a roaring fire. This is the England that I love. The Peak District, nestled between the big cities of Manchester, Sheffield and Derby, is a place I have been visiting since I was a young girl and because we love the area so much, we have just moved here! With the kids dressed in puddle suits and wellies, we love nothing better than a long family walk in the Peaks. Our favorites are the Nine Ladies Circle through Stanton Moor Peak or the walk starting next to The Robin Hood pub in Baslow, with spectacular views from Birchen Edge. These walks are each only 2 kilometers long, perfect for little legs. Alternatively, we enjoy hiring some bikes and riding the Monsal Trail or Tissington Trail. We often visit Blaze Farm in Wildboarclough for a free walk around the farm and a taste of the scrumptious A2 ice-cream or head over to Chatsworth House to play in one of the best playgrounds around! However, if Mum and Dad are needing a drink (the fantastic pubs are part of the Peaks’ charm), we suggest stopping by The Bulls Head Inn, Monyash, which has a wonderful playground for the kids behind the garden. Public transport is available around the Peaks, but it’s very infrequent. The best way to get around is to hire a car.
Recommended by Jenny Lynn from Travelynn Family. Find out more from Jenny about family walks in the Peaks.
Salisbury/Stonehenge With Kids
For our family’s trip to Stonehenge, we opted for a guided, private tour with Stonehenge Tours at sunrise that let us INSIDE the inner circle with private access only granted to 16 people per day. A small van picked us up from our apartment in London at 4:30 a.m. so we arrived in time to catch the sun popping up over the English countryside and through the monoliths. We met our archeologist guide who had studied Stonehenge for decades. Through our special access, we could walk in between the stones, learning the geology, history, and mystery. The archeologist guide was a masterful educator, holding the attention of my 7- and 9-year old boys. There is a visitor’s center and some outdoor exhibits that show how the prehistoric people who built Stonehenge may have lived.
After our Stonehenge tour, we then headed to historic Salisbury Cathedral (15 minutes away), which is home to one of the four copies of the Magna Carta. Salisbury itself is a cute English town worth exploring or at least visiting some shops and stopping for lunch. Our private tour wasn’t inexpensive (around US $600), but compared to the bus tours we could have done, it was well worth the expense and an awesome way to visit Southeast England. We enjoyed Stonehenge and Salisbury so much that we’d definitely recommend it as a destination for a weekend getaway.
Scarborough is a popular seaside resort in North Yorkshire on the north eastern coast of England. It’s a perfect place to stay as a family, especially just for a couple of nights. There is so much to see and do. For families who enjoy historical places, a visit to Scarborough castle is a must. Down by the harbor, there are amusements, boat rides and a mini fairground. Further down there is a beach with donkey rides and a lovely view over to the Spa and out to sea. If you hop on a tourist bus you can take a ride up to the north beach. Here it is a little less chaotic with beach chalets and just a short walk away there is the popular Peasholm Park with boats to hire. Plus, a miniature steam train over the road which takes you up to Scarborough Seacliff entre. There are plenty of choices for accommodation and we love the family friendly resort The Sands, with luxury self-catering apartments.
The South Downs National Park is England’s newest national park. It covers the area mostly along the coast from Eastbourne to Winchester. Train access is available to Eastbourne or Winchester, but renting a car allows visitors to get the most out of the South Downs.
Eastbourne is a seaside resort that had its heyday in Victorian times. The Georgians would take the waters at spa towns like Bath. The Victorians preferred the seaside which started the trend for our current love of beach holidays. Much of the architecture reflects this Victorian heritage including the buildings that line the waterfront and the famous Eastbourne Pier. It’s a totally British thing to eat fish and chips by the seaside. Although Eastborne is a pebble beach, kids still enjoy.
From one end of Eastbourne, visitors have direct access to South Downs National Park. It’s not too far to the Seven Sisters Cliffs (white chalk cliffs that drop pretty vertically straight into the English Channel) or Birling Gap, a National Trust property. Erosion of the cliffs is visible at Birling Gap. The national park is great for walking and cycling through farmland, valleys and cliffs. It also encompasses a handful of postcard-perfect English villages.
Recommended by Shobha George from Just Go Places Blog. Find out more from Shobha about the South Downs with kids.
Staffordshire With Kids
The middle England County of Staffordshire is not the most obvious weekend getaway destination – no mountains, no beaches, and very few holiday parks. But, Staffordshire offers acres of beautiful English countryside, quaint villages and a whole heap of history. It’s where the famous Anglo-Saxon Staffordshire Hoard was discovered a few years ago which is worth over £3m and is now on show at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent.
Staffordshire is home to multiple stately homes, each with its own fascinating history. Many hold family-friendly events over the holidays, and all have extensive grounds to explore. We love Sudbury Hall with its Museum of Childhood and Shugborough Hall for its grounds. Getting outside in Staffordshire is practically compulsory, whatever the weather. There’s Cannock Chase, a 3,000 acre country park, which is a family favorite. We also love the Gruffalo trail, spotting deer and other wildlife, and the Go Ape tree top adventures if we’re feeling brave. There’s also the monkey forest at Trentham Gardens where you can walk around the grounds with real life monkeys! Thrill seekers are spoiled for choice with Alton Towers, Drayton Manor and the Snow Dome all fantastic family days out. Public transport is available to the major towns and cities, but a car is necessary to explore the countryside.
Trevone Beach in North Cornwall is the perfect place to get away from it all and have a family & friends’ gathering. Different holiday agencies and bed and breakfast providers offer great accommodations. Don’t worry about the British weather, this beach offers an activity no matter what. On the left side of the bay, there are great rock pools ideal for keeping the whole family occupied by naming or should I say, trying to name, all the different creatures living in there. During the warmer months, a man-made pool provides a safe swimming area for the ones that do not mind the cold Cornwall seawater.
A great large sandy beach with little alcoves provides a playground for all ages is located on the right side of the bay. Families can easily spend hours down at the beach. During low tide, take your picnic, a few chairs if necessary, some sand buckets and shovels, and I can guarantee any visitor will forget busy city lives instantly. Beautiful walks around to the blowhole or along the coastal path will make you realize how beautiful the North Cornwall coast is. Careful it gets quite addictive… once Cornwall always Cornwall.
York is the perfect weekend getaway in England! Easy to get to either by car or train from most major UK cities, York is very accessible! There are tons of family friendly things to do whatever the weather, such as the fabulous National Railway Museum, river cruises and the yummy chocolate story museum. For older children why not learn some more about York’s gruesome history on a ghost walking tour or a trip to York Dungeons! But for the budget conscious, a trip to York doesn’t have to be expensive for families with plenty of free activities such as walking the historic city walls and taking a trip to the Shambles!
York is full of historical gems that no visit is complete without! Firstly, be sure to visit the York Minster and marvel at the stained glass. With older children, climb the tower for unrivaled views across the city! Clifford Tower is another gem that explores some of York’s more unpleasant history! And, at any time of year, children will love the Museum Gardens! My little one especially loves a visit York during Christmas to see the beautiful illuminations!
A Visit to England For Kids
Recommended by Leona Bowman from Wandermust Family. Find out more from Leona about York with kids.
Looking for the more of the best places in England for kids? Check out all our posts about visiting England with kids.
An anti-theft handbag was an absolute necessity for our recent family trip to France and Italy where many tourists fall victim to pickpockets. Our biggest travel fear was losing our passports, iPhones or credit cards. My Travelonanti-theft classic essential messenger bag was a great way to easily protect these valuables while traveling with three kids (ages 3, 8 and 10) on a vacation that included seven different overnight accommodations and various planes, trains and automobiles during our 2.5 week trip. Our itinerary included Rome, Paris and Florence, three of the top six cities in the world where visitors are likely to be pickpocketed, according to Travelocity. This Travelon review outlines why I recommend Travelon handbags.
Travelon Messenger Bag Review
Is an Anti-Theft Bag Necessary?
Our family of five packed relatively light for our trip, carrying with us only one checked suitcase and two personal item-sized backpacks. On travel days, I usually pushed my three year old daughter’s stroller and did not have any free hands. My husband handled the suitcase and a backpack, and the two of us were often distracted as we kept track of our three kids in the midst of crowded cities. I had never invested in an anti-theft handbag for prior trips but knew that our valuables could be at risk in one of my usual over the shoulder totes. While I honestly avoid purchasing specific items for travel, I decided that an anti-theft handbag was a necessity and purchased the Travelon messenger bag after significant research and many Amazon searches.
Travelon – Anti-Theft Capabilities
I was attracted by Travelon’s locking zippers, slash-resistant body and straps, and RFID blocking compartment when I started exploring anti-theft bags. The zippers to the main and front compartments have locks that are easy to fasten but make it much harder for thieves to access valuables inside the bag without the wearer noticing. Although locking zippers is an extra step that doesn’t come natural to me, I got into the habit of fastening the zippers whenever closing a compartment. My three kids (ages 3, 8 and 10) understood the importance of keeping our valuables safe and regularly checked if my bag was locked.
Travelon Messenger’s Exceptional Organization
Travelon’s messenger bag is smaller than my go to totes at home but offers many pockets for easy organization. The front compartment also provides protection from radio-frequency identification. The fact that thieves could potentially collect credit card data wirelessly is pretty terrifying. The necessity of RFID blocking technology is debatable, and aluminum foil apparently offers similar protection. Admittedly, my bags at home do not offer this protection, but I thought it was an added benefit that this Travelon crossbody was equipped with RFID blocking technology. Contacting credit card companies while abroad is no easy feat, and we heavily rely on credit cards for travel expenses.
I used the front compartment to store my credit cards, driver’s license and pens. It also had a zippered pocket that was perfect for change, Metro tickets and receipts. All five passports did not fit in the specially designed pocket in the front compartment, but a zippered pocket at the back of the main compartment of the bag fit all five. I felt safer with two sets of zippers protecting these most valuable items on travel days. The main compartment also featured two mobile phone-sized pockets, and a pocket at the back, which did not lock, was perfect for holding maps and other items that I needed to access often. The main compartment was large enough to hold my son’s Nikon Coolpix camera, a small wallet, tissues and the relevant Rick Steves’ travel guide, when necessary.
Travelon’s messenger bag makes it easy to organize travel essentials. Photo credit – Travelon
Are Travelon Bags Fashionable?
So, the downside to Travelon bags is that their slash proof body and straps and locking compartments make their bags not nearly as fashionable as my everyday Michael Kors’ tote. I don’t claim to be trendy, but we were visiting Paris, the fashion capital of the world and Rome, which is not far behind. I appreciated the wide selection but was not in love with any of the bags. I really wish slash proof shoulder straps could be made thinner and might even be willing to forego the slash proof functionality for a sleeker strap. After examining all the options, I chose to stray from my go to tote-style handbag in favor of a messenger bag that would be easier to keep in my range of vision. I purchased the messenger bag in basic black for versatility, and it was much more budget friendly than Michael Kors. And, the adjustable shoulder strap made it easy for me to shorten the length for a more comfortable fit.
Travelon Anti-Theft Test
Our family had a somewhat scary experience at the Rome train station with likely pickpockets. As we were navigating our way out of the station, a well-dressed woman who spoke broken English stood at the top of an escalator and said we had to use the elevator because of our stroller. While taking a stroller on an escalator is not common in the US, it is very common in Europe, where elevators are often not available. However, we prefer to use elevators if they are easily accessible, especially when we are carrying all of our luggage. Even though I was not sure if she was a station employee, we thought this was useful information and followed her to the elevator. Unexpectedly, she and two other women jumped on with us at the last-minute and caused constant confusion obviously trying to distract us during our short ride, even telling us not to get off when we reached the Metro floor. We remained alert and careful and luckily did not fall victim to their ploy. I kept a hand clutching the clasp of my bag and was relieved that our five passports, two iPhones and most of our cash were safely locked inside. We emerged unscathed but aware that we could have been victims if our valuables had not been securely stored.
Our Travelon Messenger Bag Review
My Travelon anti-theft messenger bag protected our valuables while traveling in Europe. While this anti-theft classic messenger bag will not replace my everyday totes, I will absolutely use it again when traveling.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, We Go With Kids will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Opinions are the author’s.
Looking for a destination in the heart of Tuscany? We recommend a weekend trip to Florence. This capital of Tuscany and birthplace of the Renaissance was my introduction to Italy as a college backpacker years ago, and I was so excited take my kids (ages 3, 8 and 10) on a holiday in Florence this past summer during a 10-day family tour of Italy. We visited during a particular hot weekend halfway through our European summer vacation after visiting Paris, Venice, Pisa and San Gimignano. While there are so many things to do in Florence, we uncharacteristically chose not to tour any museums, royal residences or historical buildings. Instead, we spent our weekend in Florence roaming around and enjoying the unique architecture and atmosphere. While tours of the Uffizi, Accademia Gallery and Pitti Palace are almost certain to be on our itinerary the next time we visit, there was no shortage of sights to see in this very walkable city. Our list of the best things to do in Florence with kids includes iconic sights and hidden gems.
Top 10 Sights in Florence For Kids
#1: Duomo With Kids (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore)
Florence’s Duomo, located in the center of the city, is the world’s third largest church, dwarfed only by St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. Its neo-Gothic facade, which is decorated with pink, green and white Tuscan marble, was added in the 19th century and is brilliantly ornate. It may be my favorite church exterior in the entire world, and I could spend hours examining its details.
The Duomo’s dome was an impressive architectural feat. Plans included a dome, even though the architects were not sure how to construct it. The only dome on this scale was in Rome’s Pantheon, which was over 1,000 years old, and the building method had been long since forgotten. Filippo Brunellschi studied the Pantheon to design the Duomo’s dome. His plans involved the construction of both an inner dome and an outer dome.
The Duomo’s dome
While we did not make it inside on our last visit due to the long line, we planned to attend Sunday morning Mass at the Duomo during this visit. Like many other cathedrals, the Duomo is foremost a religious building that just happens to also be a popular tourist attraction. There were no admission fees or lines to attend Mass. The Mass times posted online were not exactly accurate, so instead of arriving 15 minutes early for Mass, we ended up 15 minutes late but still welcome. At the end of Mass, which was completely in Italian, the priest welcomed English-speaking visitors and briefly summarized the readings and his homily. Attending Mass while traveling is a tradition for our family, and we’ve heard Masses in several foreign languages, and we all really appreciated and enjoyed this English greeting.
The Duomo’s interior
The interior of the Duomo is not as impressive as its exterior. Large portions of the walls are painted white, and the stained glass windows are significantly smaller than those of other major cathedrals in Europe. Brunellschi’s 330-foot red brick dome was certainly an architectural masterpiece, but its mosaics are not as ornate as those that adorn the dome at St. Peter’s Basilica. It’s still impressive and beautiful, just a bit underwhelming, especially when compared with interiors of other major European cathedrals.
The interior of the dome
Duomo Facts for Kids: The Duomo’s iconic dome was the first Renaissance dome and served as a model for many other domes, including St. Peter’s Basilica.
#2: Piazza del Duomo With Kids
Piazza del Duomo is always crowded with the hustle and bustle of tourists and locals. Because the square is relatively small, it’s hard to get a good view of the entire Duomo and the surrounding buildings, the Baptistery and Giotto’s Bell Tower from street level.
The octagonal Florence Baptistery was constructed in the 11th and 12th centuries in Florence Romanesque style. It is known for its three stunning 14th and 15th century doors. Michelangelo nicknamed Lorenzo Ghiberti’s east doors the “Gates of Paradise.” The Baptistery is a truly beautiful building, but it’s size seems to be disproportionate with the Duomo. Their proximity really makes it hard to really appreciate each building for its own beauty, and we all wished they could be more spread out like Pisa’s Field of Miracles, which showcases its cathedral, baptistery and tower with an enormous square and pristine grass.
The Giotto’s Bell Tower is another popular sight, and visitors can climb 414 to the top and get a close-up view of Brunelleschi’s dome. We did not visit the interiors of either on this trip.
Piazza del Duomo Facts for Kids: Lorenzo Ghiberti won a competition to design the Baptistery’s north doors, beating Donotello and Brunelleschi. The north doors took him 21 years to complete but were so impressive that he was asked to design the east doors, which face the Duomo.
#3: Ponte Vecchio With Kids
Ponte Vecchio (or “Old Bridge”), Florence’s oldest and most famous bridge, is enclosed and lined with shops. A bridge has been located on this site since 966, and the current stone, pedestrian bridge was completed in 1345.
Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge across the Arno River to survive German’s World War II retreat on August 8, 1944. There are many theories on why it wasn’t destroyed by the Nazis who blew up ancient buildings on either end to block it off. Nazi officials may have saved it due to its age and beauty, or possibly it was saved because it was not considered a defensive asset. Now, it is a popular tourist sight, with shops lining both sides. Personally, I think that the view from Ponte Vecchio may be as beautiful of the bridge itself.
Ponte Vecchio Facts for Kids: While butcher shops were originally located in Ponte Vecchio, Ferdinand I evicted them in the 16th century because he didn’t like the stench that emanated into Pitti Palace from their shops. It is now a popular place to purchase jewelry.
#4: David Replica With Kids
Michelangelo’s David replica statue may be one of the world’s most famous copies. This marble statue depicts the Biblical hero who is known for defeating Goliath. David is an iconic Renaissance sculpture, originally designed as a symbol of Florentine freedom to be placed on the Duomo’s roof line but ultimately placed at the entrance of the Town Hall upon completion. After 350 years being exposed to the elements, David was moved to the Accademia Gallery in 1873 to protect it from damage. A copy was placed in Piazza della Signoria in 1910.
Michelangelo was raised in Florence, and his works were a highlight of our visits in Florence and Rome. Michelangelo sculpted David in his late 20s as a symbol of Florentine freedom right before he was commissioned to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. David and Pieta, which we saw at St. Peter’s Basilica a few days later, are probably Michelangelo’s two most well-known statues.
David Replica Facts: David was originally intended to be installed in the Duomo’s roofline. On November 12, 2010, a fiberglass replica was installed at the Duomo for one day.
#5: Piazza della Signoria With Kids
Piazza della Signoria is the city’s main square, where its town hall, Palazzo Vecchio, the David replica and Fountain of Neptune are located. The Fountain of Neptune was closed for restorations after vandalism during our 2007 visit and again under renovation during this visit but is scheduled to be reopened by the end of 2018.
Palazzo Vecchio was constructed at the turn of the 14th century. Duke Cosimo I and the Medici family made it their home in the 16th century. I love that the Tower is unexpectedly slightly off-center.
This castle-like fortress now serves as Florence’s Town Hall. There was no charge (or line) to enter the ground-floor courtyard, so we took a quick peek inside.
The Loggia dei Lanzi is a building on the corner of the Piazza del Signoria with wide arches open to the square at street level.
Piazza della Signoria Facts: The Tower is not symmetrical with the rest of the Palazzo Vecchio because the ancient tower of The Vacca was incorporated into the palace’s design.
#6: Santa Croce Church With Kids
The Basilica of Santa Croce is the world’s largest Franciscan church and located in the Piazza Santa Croce, only 800 meters from the Duomo. Santa Croce was designed by architect Arnolfo di Cambio, who went on to design the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio. Santa Croce was built between 1294 and 1442, and is the burial place for Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Ghiberti and Rossini. Like the Duomo, the Basilica of Santa Croce features a 19th century neo-Gothic marble facade. The Star of David is a focal point of the facade. Santa Croce was featured in E.M. Forester’s A Room With a View and was the main impetus for my college visit to Florence because the book was one of my companion’s favorites.
We did not tour the interior of Santa Croce because we really only had one full day to explore Florence, it was really hot, and we were a bit worried about church fatigue before heading to Rome. We enjoyed the view of Santa Croce from Piazza Santa Croce, which is much larger than that square surrounding the Duomo.
Santa Croce Church Facts for Kids: Piazza Santa Croce is a major gathering spot in Florence and was covered with 15 feet of water on November 4, 1966 when the Arno River flooded.
#7: Church of Santa Maria Novella With Kids
The Church of Santa Maria Novella was built for the Dominican order in the late 13th and 14th centuries. Its green and white marble facade is original 15th century artistry. Santa Maria Novella remains the home of the Dominican order and the centerpiece of the adjacent square. We did not visit the interior, which houses the Trinita, the first painting that featured linear mathematical perspective.
Church of Santa Maria Novella Facts for Kids: Santa Maria Novella is adjacent to Florence’s train station, which is named after the church, and sometimes shortened to Florence SMN.
#8: Fort Belvedere With Kids
Fort Belvedere is the largest fortress in Florence. It is located across the Arno River from the central part of the city and on the highest hill of the Boboli Gardens. I clearly remember the amazing panoramic view from my college visit and return 10-years later while visiting Florence with friends.
Our pre-kids visit to Fort Belvedere
Fort Belvedere is my favorite place to view Florence’s city center, and especially the Duomo, which rises far above the rest of the skyline.
Fort Belvedere Facts for Kids: Fort Belvedere gained world-wide notoriety after Kim Kardashian and Kanye West rented it for their 2014 wedding for the reported sum of $400,000.
#9: Boboli Gardens With Kids
Boboli Gardens are the gardens of the Pitti Palace. They were constructed in the 16th century for Duchess Elenora of Toledo, who married Cosimo I of the Medici family. Because we visited Florence on an extremely hot weekend, we came to the Boboli Gardens in search of a park bench in the shade with a view. Adult tickets cost €10 each, and the kids were free. We were sadly disappointed to find very few benches, and none in the shade. We had to settle for taking a seat on a step of a staircase that had a magnificent view, but little shade and few benches.
View of Pitti Palace and Fountain of Neptune
Fort Belvedere is a steep hike from the Boboli Gardens. We just couldn’t manage more walking on the hot day we visited, so we settled for the view from the entrance to the Boboli Gardens, which isn’t quite as detailed, but still shows the Duomo’s impressive scale over the Florence skyline.
View of Florence from the Boboli Gardens
Boboli Gardens Facts for Kids: At the time that Elenora married Cosimo I, the Medici family was in danger of becoming extinct. Elenora had eleven children to protect the family’s future. Clearly, she needed an amazing garden to relax.
#10: Piazza della Repubblica With Kids
Piazza della Repubblica is located on the site the original Roman Forum. The triumphal arch was constructed in the nineteenth century to celebrate Italy’s unification.
The 20-horse antique carousel of the Picci family is now a centerpiece to this public space.
Piazza della Repubblica Facts: The English translation of the arch’s inscription is “The ancient centre of the city restored from age-old squalor to new life.”
A Trip With Kids to Florence, Italy
There are so many fun things to do in Florence with kids, and this list just scratch the surface. There were so top attractions in Florence that we definitely recommend a short trip. Planning an Italian holiday? Check out our listing of all posts featuring Italian destinations.
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.
The Eiffel Tower is visible from so many spots in Paris that we saw it multiple times each day during our two weekends in Paris. Each bridge across the Seine offers a slightly different perspective, and it was fun to find it in the skyline. On our second evening in Paris, we took a classic Seine River boat cruise with 
A close second favorite experience at the LA Zoo was the petting zoo, called Muriel’s Ranch. Free with admission, the petting ranch offers the opportunity to get up close and personal with the zoo’s residents goats and sheep. I was thrilled to be handed a brush on our way into the petting area and my three year old and I had a great time, brushing the very docile and friendly goats.
Lines 1 and 2 follow the Grand Canal, and Line 1 makes 14 stops between Santa Lucia Railway Station and St. Mark’s Square while Line 2 is the express option that makes only 5 stops. Lines 4 and 5 circumnavigate the main island. Upon arrival, we purchased tickets and were directed to Line 4 because it is the shortest journey from Santa Lucia Railway Station and St. Mark’s. However, we had to wait quite some time for a Line 4 vapretto to arrive and didn’t have the most scenic route. On the way back to the train station, we chose to take the slightly longer but much more aesthetically enjoyable route on Line 1 through the Grand Canal, which we definitely recommend.
Recommended by Kirsten Maxwell from Kids are a Trip. Find out more from Kirsten about 
Recommended by Corina Swan from 
The Loggia dei Lanzi is a building on the corner of the Piazza del Signoria with wide arches open to the square at street level.
