We Go With Kids!

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  • Virginia With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

    Virginia With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

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

    Getting to Virginia:

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

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

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

    Virginia!

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

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

    #1: Mount Vernon Estate

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Yorktown:

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

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

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

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

    Jamestown Settlement:

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

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

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

    Colonial Williamsburg:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    #4: Naval Station Norfolk

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

    #5: Busch Gardens and Water Country

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

    Final Thoughts?

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

  • Paris With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

    Paris With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

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

    Our foodra truck ride outside the Musee d’Orsay!

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

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

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

    #1. Disneyland Parks

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

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

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

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

    #2: Jardin du Luxembourg

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

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

    #3: Parc Zoologique de Paris

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

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

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

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

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

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

    #5: Eiffel Tower

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

    Picnicking on the grounds of the Eiffel Tower.

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

    Riding the carousel… for the fourth time!

    Final Thoughts?

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

  • South Korea with Kids: Five Fun Family Activities!

    South Korea with Kids: Five Fun Family Activities!

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

     

    South Korea Family Trip Blog

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

    Row of shops in Sokcho, South Korea

     

    Getting Around in South Korea With A Toddler

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

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

     

    Shopping in South Korea

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

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

     

    Restaurants in South Korea

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

     

    Things to Do in Korea with Kids

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

     

    #1: Theme Parks in South Korea

    Photo credit:  Image by Yoj Rasaili from Pixabay 

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

     

    #2: Stay in a Traditional Korean Homestay

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

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

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

     

    #3: Seoul Children’s Museum

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

     

    #4: Enjoy the Outdoors in South Korea

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

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

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

     

    View of the city from Seoul Tower

     

    #5: Visit the DMZ with Kids

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

    South Korea soldiers marching alongside the Freedom Bridge

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

     

    Final Thoughts About Traveling With Kids in Korea

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

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

  • Tokyo Disney Resort

    Tokyo Disney Resort

    Guest Blogger:  David, his wife, and their five year old son, B, have lived all around the United States, but are currently stationed in Okinawa where David enjoys producing movies and eating pancakes in his spare time. You can find David’s videos of their Okinawa adventures on YouTube.

    Tokyo Disney Resort is a theme park and vacation resort located just east of Tokyo, Japan.  My family and I currently live in Okinawa and when winter break rolled around, we decided to plan a trip to Tokyo Disney. Although it is a short 2 hour domestic flight from Okinawa to Tokyo, I’m assuming most of you won’t be starting off in Okinawa and will instead be making your own personal journey half way around the world. Spoiler alert: it’s worth it.

    We planned our trip to take place over four days, three nights from Monday – Thursday, so we could take advantage of shorter lines. In reality, this left us with 2.5 days to actually spend at the parks, which was sufficient considering our focus was not to go on “grown up rides,” but to make our five year old son happy, while stuffing our faces with Disney treats along the way.

    Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo

    There are plenty of options in terms of places to stay in and around the park, from Disney owned hotels on property to lesser ones just blocks away. We chose the Disney Ambassador Hotel, which was described as a “budget” option outside the park, but it would not be classified as a budget hotel based on our experiences in the USA! When I think of budget hotels, I think of run down, bare bones accommodations, with rooms out of a really bad Quentin Tarantino movie (cue seedy police or gunmen outside your motel room door!). The Disney Ambassador Hotel could not be further from what I had in mind.

    From the moment we stepped off the airport shuttle bus, we were greeted by smiling Japanese staff, willing to help us with every step of the check in process until we reached our room. Smiles abound and the staff was always ready to pose with you for photos, or hand your child a hotel sticker featuring Mickey Mouse. The lobby was palatial with a large sitting area, a walk down cafe with coffee and desserts, and a lounge complete with televisions playing Disney classics (in Japanese) on a loop. This was a genius component to keeping the kids entertained so the parents could complete the check in process!

    Pricing and Accommodations:

    We booked a standard room at the Disney Ambassador Hotel, but were upgraded to a superior room. We did not ask for the upgrade and, in fact, the regular rooms seemed more Mickey themed with Mickey comforters and such, but we took the upgrade because, well, upgrade. Although I am not a hotel snob by any means, I could be after this stay. The room was very spacious, with two slightly smaller than full sized beds. The bathroom came with a tub and a separate shower area. The water pressure was phenomenal – I could have power washed my home with the shower head, so that was a big plus in my book. There’s also a separate room for the toilet, complete with numerous buttons and options for your use and entertainment. Although we did not use any of the options, the seat was heated and stayed heated, which was a nice bonus.

    The rooms also came with small refrigerators, a safe, and included Disney themed pajamas for the adult guests. Yes! Free Pajamas! And I wore them! Because, Free Pajamas!

    The Disney Ambassador Hotel offers a lot for its money, if you’re willing to explore a bit. The hotel has the usual Disney gift shop, small mini Japanese grocery store and restaurants, but the biggest advantage is the location – just an 8 minute shuttle bus ride from the hotel to the parks. The hidden gem of the hotel is that it is connected to the Ikspiari Town Mall, which is a must see if you stay here. The mall has everything: a full grocery store, over 35 restaurants, a movie theater, a Disney store (of course), and many shops that are local only to Japan.

    Dining:

    The Ambassador Hotel has a Chef Mickey character restaurant where you can have breakfast, lunch, or dinner with Chef Mickey. We had breakfast there on the second day of our stay. The buffet breakfast is divided into two sections: (1) traditional American breakfast of pancakes, toast, eggs, etc and (2) Japanese style breakfast area. I never ventured into the Japanese style breakfast area because the traditional American breakfast of pancakes comes in Mickey shapes! Chef Mickey is a character restaurant so the prices were high, costing the three of us about $80 USD for breakfast. But, the food was delicious, and Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy came to our table and were happy and willing to take as many photos as we wanted. The staff also helped us take family photos, so no one was left out. Unlike the character breakfast in Orlando at Walt Disney World where I felt rushed, the food was terrible, and the characters did not engage, the Chef Mickey experience at the Ambassador Hotel is a must do if you have children (and in particular, if you want to erase any previously horrible character breakfast meal experiences).

    A Happy Chef Mickey Experience!

    Pro Tip: Check into your room and, if time allows, visit the Ikspiari Town Mall and stock up on needed supplies. Just eating dinner at the Ikspiari will save you money from the higher priced Disney hotel/resort options.  I spotted three restaurants in the Hotel (Hana Hana, The Grill, Tick Tock Diner), which all looked appetizing, but the Ikspiari Town Mall was not only cheaper but allowed us to sample local cuisine at a much more reasonable price.

    Pro Tip 2: We have been told that tipping is not necessary or expected in Japan, so we have not tipped. Feel free to google and determine whether you’re comfortable with not tipping, but our experience is that it is not expected.

    Day #2: Full Day at Tokyo Disneyland

    Tokyo Disneyland is one of two parks that make up the Tokyo Disney Resort. Disneyland opened in 1983 and was the first Disney park to be build outside the United States.

    Since we were staying at a Disney resort, we were allowed to enter Disneyland 15 minutes prior to the general public. The Park opened at 8 AM, so we woke up bright and early to take advantage of the early entry. After our Chef Mickey breakfast buffet, we boarded the hotel provided shuttle bus to the Park. The shuttle bus was very retro, but way modern with wonderful hidden Mickeys from the outside taillights to the handrails on the inside. The ride to the Park took only 8 minutes and although Tokyo Disneyland is an extremely popular vacation destination for the Japanese, you won’t find people pushing or cutting in line to enter. Everyone is extremely polite and courteous, but I would still plan on arriving at least 30 minutes prior to opening, depending on where you are staying to avoid the rush and also to grab fast passes.

    Here are a few things we did to maximize our time at the Park:

    • Breakfast at the Park its terrible. Eat before you go, because otherwise, you won’t find anything other than coffee and pastries. Most food options open at 10AM, and we found ourselves freezing outside a coffee and pastry shop across from the Monster’s Inc ride, after discovering there was no indoor seating.
    • Stop dragging around all the stuff you brought into the Park and make use of the lockers! This came in handy as we stored our heavy winter jackets during the daytime hours and came back for them towards the evening when the temperatures dropped. This also came in handy for storing purchases.
    • Once you get past the security checkpoints, hang a right just before the Magic Castle and grab a fast pass for Pooh’s Honey Hut Ride. The ride fills up quickly and fast passes run out fast, so get them early on to ensure the opportunity to ride. Once you get the fast passes, circle back to the Monster’s Inc Ride, which should still be short.
    • We enjoyed great shows which had the added bonus of giving our feet a break, but make sure you check in advance which ones are Japanese only or you will end up sitting through a show without understanding anything that is going on.
    • Tokyo Disney has some amazing snacks, and the best one is popcorn. Buy the souvenir popcorn container (there are many themed varieties, including Star Wars and Cars 3!), because then you can get the container refilled throughout the day at a discount. Flavors we sampled include: curry, tomato basil, and honey. Flavors we did not get to sample include: blueberry, chocolate, caramel, and plain old salt and butter.
    • The Electric Parade lives on at Tokyo Disney, complete with original soundtrack! Be sure to bring a blanket, though. We noticed empty blankets along the parade route about 30 minutes prior to the start. The blankets turned out to be people staking out their spot of land to watch the parade. The staff will make you sit so others behind you can see, so don’t expect to put your kids on your shoulders either. Bring a blanket to reserve your spot and also to keep your bum protected from the freezing cold sidewalk!
    • Shockingly, we found the prices to be extremely reasonable – not a mortgage for snacks and water! Definitely try the Tokyo Disney snacks offered throughout the Park!
    • Food at the Park is plentiful, and one nice thing is that people tend to eat and leave, instead of lingering for a long time. The staff only let you order your food when there is a free table, which means that you will have a place to sit once you get your food! This is such a great system that I wish Orlando had something similar.

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    Day #3: Full Day at Tokyo DisneySea

    DisneySea is the companion park to Tokyo Disneyland and was opened in September 2001.  DisneySea and Disneyland are the only two Disney parks that are not wholly owned and managed by the Walt Disney Company (although Disney does have creative control).

    I had no idea what to expect from DisneySea, although we did know that it is more geared towards adults than kids. However, there are many hidden gems for young kids, and we were amazed by how much was squeezed into a relatively small piece of real estate.

    First, I must mention the Toy Story Mania ride, which locals go crazy for. Upon entering the park, there is literally a stampede to the Toy Story Ride. It’s so crazy that there are staff members with “please walk” signs, again with a smile!  Although many blogs that I read prior to our trip suggested skipping this ride, I personally had just as much fun as my son did.

    To maximize time at DisneySea, I recommend:

    • Snag a fast pass when you enter the park, or else you will end up waiting to ride at 10pm!
    • Once you get your fast pass, head over to Mysterious Island, where there are short lines for numerous rides, including 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Journey to the Center of the Earth. Note that Journey to the Center of the Earth is not appropriate for children, “expectant mothers,” or “persons of advanced age.”
    • After Mysterious Island, walk over to Port Discovery, where you can ride the Nemo & Friends ride, which was one of our favorite rides there – a cross between the old Star Wars ride and Soarin. The line was short enough that we got to ride it twice. Port Discovery also has bumper boats and the line was so short that we also rode it twice.
    • A friend recommended that we dine at Vulcania in Mysterious Island, saying the food was amazing. We dined there for lunch, and it was great. The food was counter cafeteria style, but because they only let us in once a table was open, we had no trouble getting our food and sampling the delicious local fare, along with some American style options. If you brought your popcorn souvenir tub, now is a good time to get some popcorn!
    • When we visited in December, temperatures hovered in the mid-40’s during the daytime. It got breezy and we wanted a break, so we stumbled into Mermaid Lagoon. Mermaid Lagoon is all indoors so it is a perfect place to relax whether it’s warm or cold outside! A true hidden gem away from the outside world with rides that kids ages 4-10 will enjoy. There was also soft carpeting, pirate rope bridges to cross, and tons of seating for tired parents to relax and sleep (yep! We saw that!). This is the place to go when the outdoors is too much or your kids need to burn off energy while you relax. There are also shops, as well as a counter service cafeteria style restaurant.

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    The Whirlpool ride at the Mermaid Lagoon.

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    • Although we did not stay at the Disney Miracosta Hotel ($$$$), which is located onsite at DisneySea, we did enjoy the dining area and walked the lobbies. It is beautiful and I really recommend you do it. The hotel has been called the most beautiful Disney property in the world and if you can afford it, you should consider staying there.
    • Since DisneySea is geared towards adults, shows fill up quickly so if you want to see a show, make it a priority and check out times in advance.

    Day #4: Half Day at Disneyland

    On our final day, we had only a half-day to spend, which we choose to spend at Disneyland. We went back to buy gifts and ride Pooh’s Honey Hut (which was out of fast passes on our first day). We got our fast passes at 8AM that morning and rode it at 10AM – definitely worthwhile. Then we went back to the Ambassador Hotel, where our luggage was being held, and started our journey back to Okinawa.

    Although your trip will undoubtedly differ from ours, I recommend that you stick to the weekdays, avoiding weekends and festivals. Your kids will have a great time and so will you, especially if you keep an open mind and try out some of the local dishes! I promise you they are delicious!

    Our family of three had a great trip to Tokyo Disney and will be back to visit again. But, I must admit, that after spending four days in 40 degree weather, we were thrilled to land in Okinawa where it is 65 and sunny all the time!

    We can’t wait to make our own trip to Tokyo Disney and experience that amazing water pressure and stuff our faces! 

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  • Tips for Legoland Orlando with Kids

    Tips for Legoland Orlando with Kids

    A few years ago, as part of a larger trip to Florida to visit family and Disney World for the first time, we planned a side trip to Legoland as my son was five and in the throes of a Lego obsession. To our surprise, Legoland ended up being the most enjoyable day of our long weekend visit to Orlando and I look forward to heading back some day with our younger son! Here are our tips for Legoland Orlando with kids!

    Legoland is approximately one hour away from Orlando and thus, many people opt to forgo Legoland when they’re in Orlando because there’s plenty to do with just the Disney theme parks, not to mention Universal Studios and the other activities all based in Orlando. None of us having been to Legoland previously, however, we decided to make the trip down to check it out.

    The drive south was easy and I had pre-purchased tickets so there was absolutely no delay in getting into the park. I did experience a twinge of regret that we had limited ourselves to a day trip, however, when we drove past the Legoland Hotel, which looked like just an amazingly fun place to stay!

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    Once inside the Park, we quickly proceeded to enjoy the roller coasters and rides and we were happy to take advantage of the shorter lines and minimal crowds. We visited over a long weekend in early October so although temperatures were still warm and somewhat humid, they were certainly not stifling and the crowds were sufficiently moderate that the longest wait time we experienced was 20 minutes.

    One of the more surprising treats at Legoland was Cypress Gardens, which was in existence until September 2009, when it closed to be re-built into Legoland. Cypress Gardens was a historical botanical garden along a lake that featured water-skiing shows and women in antebellum dress. Cypress Gardens pre-dated the Disney theme parks and was once a very popular attraction before it was deemed “too quaint.” There are some vestiges of the old park that remain, including the old Cypress Gardens sign, located near the lake. It wasn’t until we wandered upon this sign that it hit my father-in-law: he had been to Cypress Gardens as a young child with HIS parents!

    The Cypress Gardens sign still stands at one end of Legoland.

    Legoland still makes use of the lake to hold a water ski show, but as you might expect, the characters are legos!

    This was my son’s first “live action” show and he thought it was highly amusing. After the water ski show, we took a walk through Miniland, our favorite part of the experience. Billed as a miniature “land,” Miniland contains structures from all over the United States, including Washington, DC!

    My son, having attended preschool in downtown DC, got a kick out of seeing many familiar sights in Lego form! All told, we spent about six hours wandering around Legoland, enjoying the rides with minimal crowds and just taking in the Lego architecture. It was definitely a nice change of pace from Disney World, where we had spent the two previous days. Our trip to Legoland was so pleasant, in fact, that my husband commented that if we lived nearby, we would be annual pass holders and just visit on weekends for “something to do.” That’s saying a lot coming from someone who despises theme parks!

    My oldest with his grandparents (and R2D2 and Darth Vader, of course)!

    A few Legoland tips if you’re planning a trip:

    • The optimal age for Legoland is somewhere between 3-7. There are some rides that are tame enough for the 3 year old crowd and there is enough to entertain a child of 7. My oldest is now 8, and I think he would be bored at Legoland if we were to plan to spend a whole day there as his taste in roller coasters has definitely taken off in the past two years.
    • Legoland, unlike any of the Disney theme parks, does not have fine dining. You will stand in line and wait for mediocre food and be disappointed. We spent a lot of money on mediocre fried chicken and burgers and wished that there had been more, better options.
    • If you know that you are visiting Legoland, please research ticket prices online before your trip. Even if you purchase tickets two days in advance from the Legoland website, they are cheaper than purchasing day of at the Park.  Indeed, the current gate price is $93.99/adult, but drops down to $79.99/adult if you purchase two days in advance.  If you have more time to plan, google around for “Legoland theme park coupon” and variations of that search.  I googled and found a number of “buy one adult, get one child free” coupon codes, which helped defray the cost of our trip significantly.
    • Legoland is an ideal theme park for visiting with grandparents and young children. We visited with my in laws, but even my grandmother would do fine at Legoland as there is not as much walking as at Disney and the crowds are manageable enough that she would not feel overwhelmed. By that same token, my youngest was only 10 months old when we took this trip and he happily hung out in his stroller and we had no issues maneuvering around the Park.
    • There’s also a water park at Legoland, but it was closed when we visited. If you find yourself planning a trip in the summer, definitely consider spending two days and visiting the water park on one of the days! It’s such an easy drive back to Orlando that if you only wanted to spend one night at Legoland or nearby, leaving to drive back to Orlando after a day at the Park would not be a problem at all.
    One happy boy!

     

  • New York City With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

    New York City With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

    New York City is the most populous city in the United States with over 8.5 million people — more than the entire population of Virginia! Having lived on the East Coast for over fifteen years, my husband and I have spent years making at least twice annual trips to New York City. My best friend from college lives there, so we frequently traveled to NYC for food, wine, and entertainment. Then we had kids. And it took us nearly four years to go back. Why? Because after years of traveling to NYC as single adults and then as a double-income-no-kid couple, the thought of traveling to NYC was daunting.

    Prior to my son’s fourth birthday, I decided our NYC hiatus had gone on long enough and we made plans to travel up to NYC for the weekend, just a short Amtrak ride away from DC. We quickly discovered that many of the things we had enjoyed previously were not off limits just because our son was with us and, as an added bonus, we discovered other activities that we would not have experienced if we weren’t traveling with a child.

    #1: New York Public Library and Bryant Park

    We stayed at the Andaz 5th Avenue, which was conveniently located across the street from the New York Public Library and Bryant Park. Both provided excellent space and people watching, particularly from the coffee shop directly across the street from the NYPL and around the corner from the Andaz. Being located near Bryant Park also provided my son with opportunities to run around in an open space and, we picked up lunch at one of the many eateries located at the Park on our last day there, which we happily ate on the Amtrak ride back down to DC (we picked up sandwiches from ‘Wichcraft, which sadly closed in late ’14/early ’15,  but there are many other options available, and I encourage you to try them and enjoy Bryant Park’s open space).

    eating breakfast across from the New York Public Library

    #2: Central Park / Victorian Gardens

    My godparents live in NYC and recommended meeting up at Central Park one morning during our stay. While my husband and godfather went on a short run through the Park, my kiddo and I decided to check out Victorian Gardens, the amusement park located within Central Park. It ended up being an ideal location to spend a few hours and my son absolutely loved his first exposure to roller coasters. A few weeks after our trip, I happened to mention our trip to NYC to the parent of a classmate of my son, who grew up in Manhattan, but who had never taken her two kids to the city before! When I mentioned what a fabulous trip we had, she realized that she had been remiss in not taking her two kids and planned a trip almost immediately after I reminded her of the existence of Victorian Gardens.

    The roller coasters in Central Park were the perfect introduction!

    #3: Shopping / People Watching / Dining Out

    There are a few things that always spring to mind immediately when NYC is mentioned, including food, Broadway, and shopping.  After our stop in Central Park, we visited FAO Schwarz (now closed) on Fifth Avenue. My godparents insisted, actually, and my son loved it as he has been to only a handful of toy stores in his entire life (thanks to Amazon.com!).

    He also loved wandering around SOHO that afternoon and just taking in all the street vendors – something that we don’t have in DC.

    Although you might think that Fifth Avenue is boring and not a place for kids, my son found the large buildings and the throngs of people to be fascinating. He also found the Sak’s shoe elevator to be fascinating and, during a subsequent visit to NYC years later, enjoyed popping into St. Patrick’s Cathedral as a window-shopping break.

    The Shoe Elevator!
    Popping into St. Patrick’s to light a candle.

    #4: The Highline

    The first time we visited the Highline, a 1.5 mile elevated park built on a former railway, was with my son. The Highline opened in June 2009, the same month my son was born, so this was not something we could have done in any of our prior visits. The day we visited, the weather was absolutely perfect.  Although the significance of the park as an urban revitalization project was likely lost on my son, it was a great way to spend a few hours.

    Family photo on the Highline.

    #5: Empire State Building

    The 86th floor of the Empire State Building has an open-air observation deck, which my son absolutely loved on a later visit to NYC, when he was nearing his sixth birthday. Tickets are steep ($62 for adults, $60 for seniors over age 62, $56 for children ages 6-12), but because my son was just shy of his 6th birthday, he was admitted for free.

    Open air observation deck at the Empire State Building

    Final Thoughts

    Living in DC, we took the Amtrak from DC to New York which my son loveland helped prepare him for a trip to Japan the next year, which involved extensive train travel.  New York City is one of my favorite places to visit and I am glad we waited until my son was older to visit. Because he was over four years of age, I also felt comfortable packing a backless booster for him to use in short rides around the city (whether Uber or my friend/godparents’ vehicle). If he had been any younger, we would have had to either lug around his big convertible car seat or restrict ourselves to traveling via Subway, as I am not comfortable with young children riding without car seats, even though I know they are legally exempt when riding in taxis.

    Waiting for our train!
    In the backseat of an Uber.

    Although my son has no recollection of our trip to NYC, I loved that we finally “ripped off the band-aid,” so to speak, and took him to a place that many do not think of as a great place to bring young children for a weekend. Obviously, there are people who live and work in NYC who have young kids, but for those of us who only experienced the City as young adults, it was hard to envision the logistics of getting around Manhattan with a young child and even more questionable as to whether we would enjoy the City as much as we did before kids. I’m happy to report that we had a lovely long weekend visiting NYC with kids and am looking forward to doing it again and varying up the activities now that my son is older.

  • Why You Should Visit Copenhagen With Kids!

    Why You Should Visit Copenhagen With Kids!

    Guest Blogger:  Lisa, the mom behind TwoTravelingTots, is an American expat living in Copenhagen, Denmark and traveling the world with her husband and two young kids.  From far off wanderlust destinations like Australia, Thailand and Philippines to more local jaunts like Luxembourg, Finland and Italy, Lisa has traveled to 30 countries and 49 cities with her little ones in tow. Having lived in Copenhagen for over 5 years, Lisa is here to tell us Why You Should Visit Copenhagen with Kids and share her Top 10 Things to Do  while there – with some Insider Tips sprinkled throughout. Follow her adventures, tips and tales on Instagram and Facebook. For her detailed tips on Copenhagen, check out #TwoTravelingTotsCPH on Instagram.

    Traveling with kids and babies is not easy! Trust me, I know. My family and I travel the world with our 4 and 1.5 year olds.  There are certain cities that make the experience enjoyable and magical for both parents and children alike.  Copenhagen, Denmark is one of those cities!  Denmark was ranked by the UN World Happiness Report as the happiest country in the world in 2016.  In recent years Copenhagen, has received world-wide recognition for its New Nordic food scene, Danish design, and hygglig (cozy) lifestyle; however, what isn’t widely known is how child-friendly this city is.  It almost feels like every aspect is geared to the reality that people have kids and they travel with them. These things make this city the perfect place for a family visit.  From the free strollers found throughout Copenhagen Airport and the Lego play areas at the luggage carousel, to the ease of using public transport with strollers to the countless kids’ activities and green spaces found throughout the city; life in Copenhagen with children is AMAZING!

    Copenhagen is in Scandinavia, so the weather isn’t always the best. Summer is by far the best time of the year to visit, with warmer and longer days (sun sets around 9:30 pm).  December is also a very special time of year to visit because of the Christmas markets, street decorations and festive moods. However, the days are shorter, darker, and colder (sun sets around 4pm).

    This post highlights our Top 10 Things to Do with Children while also including Insider Tips that we’ve learned throughout the 5 years we have lived here. You’ll also find section called “Good to Know Tips” for some general pointers about what kind of clothes to pack, the Copenhagen Card (which provides free entrances to many of the attractions), and public transport tips.

    Stroget, the Walking Street, dressed up for Christmas.

    10 THINGS TO DO IN COPENHAGEN WITH KIDS

    #1: TIVOLI GARDENS

    No trip to Copenhagen is complete without a visit to Tivoli Gardens, a fairytale-like amusement park located in the heart of the city said to have inspired Walt Disney’s Disneyland. It’s the second oldest amusement park in the world – second only to Bakken, another Danish amusement park located on the outskirts of Copenhagen. Tivoli is only open four seasons a year – the summer period (mid-March – mid-September), the Halloween period (mid-October to November), the Christmas season (Mid-November – December) and the winter season (February) (Please check exact opening times before you go). It is beautiful and magical all times of the year. The Copenhagen Card provides you free entrance, and children under the age of 8 enter for free.

    Halloween at the Nimb Hotel in Tivoli Gardens.

    #2: CANAL TOUR

    Another favorite activity for parents and kids alike is the Canal Tour.  Copenhagen is located on a harbor, so on a beautiful sunny day there is nothing nicer than seeing the city by water.  This is also a good way to see the bronze statute of the Little Mermaid from the back (in my humble opinion, it is not worth your time to make a trip to see her as she is underwhelming small). You can catch the canal Tour at Nyhavn or Gammel Strand.  The Copenhagen Card provides you free entrance to the Canal Tour but only at the Gammel Strand location.

    Insider Tip: Strollers are not allowed on the canal boats, so I recommend you leave them by the ticket counters.  I suggest investing in a simple flexible bike lock for your stroller so you can just lock it up wherever, and put your mind at ease.

    Nyhavn, originally a busy commercial port where ships from all over the world would dock, is now the perfect place to enjoy a canal ride.

    #3: ROSENBORG CASTLE

    A Royal Hermitage set in the middle of the City Center and the King’s Garden. It was built by Christian IV in the early 17th Century.  Not to be missed is the Crown Jewels Exhibit – my kids’ favorite.

    I recommend this castle because it’s not too big, easy to do with children and also in the heart of the King’s Garden. So, after a quick tour of the castle, you can set up a picnic in the King’s Garden, let the kids run around or visit the playground in the park.

    Insider Tip: If you visit mid-summer, you may be able to catch a free puppet show (currently Tuesday-Sunday at 2pm and 3pm located near the restaurant Orangeriet.

    #4: PLAYGROUNDS – INDOOR AND OUTDOORS

    Copenhagen can be an expensive city, so a visit to one of the many amazing parks located around town is a good free way for the kids to let off steam.

    Outdoor Parks

    The biggest open space park is Fælledparken located in Østebro. There are several different playgrounds located in this massive park:

    • “Mini Copenhagen,” just as it sounds, it’s a playground designed after iconic Danish buildings
    • A cycling park where kids can rent bicycles for free and practice riding on fake streets
    • Trampolines and swings
    • A skateboarding area
    • An outdoor gym both for kids and parents.
    • A free waterpark (open in the summers)
    “Mini Copenhagen”

    Superkilen, is another massive park located in the Nørrebro district.

    Superkilen

    Indoor Parks/Play Areas

    On a rainy day, which is quite often, try the FREE indoor playground called Remisen, located in Østebro, a short 10-minute bike ride or bus ride from the City Center.

    Remisen

    Ku.Be is another great indoor play area located in Frederiksberg; however, it is not free. There’s a climbing area and a café – great place for kids to get energy out.

    #5: COPENHAGEN ZOO

    The Copenhagen Zoo is a great zoo with elephants, hippos, polar bears, monkeys, giraffes and tons of other exciting animals. Also, there is free entrance with the Copenhagen Card. If you don’t take your stroller, you can rent a wagon for the kiddos. There are also two different playgrounds, a petting zoo and designated picnic areas (you can bring in your own food!).

    Copenhagen Zoo

    Insider Tip: If a day at the Zoo seems too overwhelming or you’re short on time, try the Free Petting Zoo, ByOasen, in the Nørrebro district.

    ByOasen

    #6: EXPERIMENTARIUM

    Copenhagen’s new Science Center is fun for all ages, from little toddlers to parents! Two floors with 16 interactive exhibits from soap bubbles to a Labyrinth of Light to a Tunnel of Senses.  There is free entrance with the Copenhagen Card. It’s located in Hellerup – a 15-minute bus ride from the city center.

    Experimentarium

    Insider Tip: It gets crowded on weekends, so go early. Also, if the café is too crowded, the Waterfront shopping center, located next door, has tons of eating options.

    #7: THE LAKES

    Another favorite is to walk or bike around the lakes that surround the city center. I love to pick up a coffee from Lagkagehuset and a free bread bun (boller) for the kids (see my tips below on “Where to Eat”) and take a nice stroll around the lakes. On a sunny summer day, we like to rent swans at Kaffesalonen and ride them in the lakes. They also have a great food menu!

    Rented Swans from Kaffesalonen

    #8: SMK – The National Gallery of Denmark

    This museum provides more than 700 years of Danish Art. Plus, every weekend there are special art workshops for children, with tips and information on how your family can get creative at home.

    Insider Tip: SMK is located near the King’s Garden and can easily be combined with a trip to the Rosenberg Castle.

    #9: KLAMPENBORG – Dyrehave and Bakken

    Take a 20-minute train ride out of the city center to Klampenborg station to visit Jægersborg Dyrehave and the Bakken amusement park. Jægersborg Dyrehave, the deer park, is a huge forest where approximately 2100 deer live among the woods. Also, located within the forest is Bakken, the oldest amusement park in the world!

    Insider Tip: The entrance to Dyrehave is located right near Klampenborg station.  When you reach the train station, go up the hill (over the over-pass) and make a left. Also, you can take a horse carriage ride through the park. Final tip, beware of tics.

    Horse and Carriage Ride in Dryehave

    #10: BABY-BIO

    Bring your baby to the movies! As a new parent, the one thing I missed was going to the movies because let’s be realistic you can’t take a crying baby to the movies. However, in Copenhagen there is something called Baby-Bio – a couple of different films showings on specific days where you can bring your baby into the movie theater with you. The lights are not dimmed all the way so you can still see, and if the baby cries it’s no big deal. Also, if your baby is sleeping, you can leave him in his stroller by the movie attendant. Once your baby wakes up, the movie attendant will come get you. Win, Win! Google “BabyBio Copenhagen” for participating theaters near you.

    WHERE TO EAT WITH KIDS

    There are tons of great restaurants and cafes located everywhere in the city, and pretty much all of them have great children’s menus and high chairs. I’ve highlighted only a couple of our favorite places.

    Torvehallerne

    A food hall located within the city center near Rosenberg Castle. My kids’ favorites include the Fish and Chips and Oatmeal #2 from Grød. I would suggest visiting Torvehallerne in the morning to grab your lunch for a picnic, then head over to the Rosenberg Castle where you can have your picnic in the King’s Garden. After, you can even wander over to SMK, which is close by.

    Inside Torvhallen

    Boller (Bread Bun)

    A favorite treat or after school snack for my kids is a Danish bread bun called boller (pronounced bo-lla). They can be found at different pastry shops throughout the city – try the ones from Lagkagehuset, Emmery’s and Myers. They come in different flavors – plain, with raisins or with chocolate.

    Insider Tip: If you get yourself a treat or a coffee from Lagkagehuset, you may be able to get a free boller for your child – just ask!

    Laundromat Café

    This café offers a small play area right in the middle of the café, so parents can enjoy a relaxed meal while the kids play. They have three different locations – Nørrebro; Østebro and Frederiksberg C. The food is delicious!

    Café Norden

    Located right in the middle of the pedestrian walking street, Stroget, Café Norden is a favorite for locals and tourists alike. You can bring your stroller inside, and there’s great seating options upstairs with views of the walking street. The brunch plate is a must-try.

    GOOD TO KNOW TIPS

    After living in this wonderful city for over 5 years and raising our two kids here, I’ve learned lots of tips and tricks. Here are some of my essential “Good to Know” tips.

    Copenhagen Airport

    In my opinion, it is one of the best airports in Europe because it’s not too big and overwhelming, there is a kids play area in terminal 2; there are fantastic eating options and best of all there are FREE STROLLERS to use throughout the airport. So, feel free to gate check your stroller as you can just pick one up at the airport – they are around everywhere. They also lay flat, so they are suitable for all ages.

    Free Strollers in Copenhagen Airport

    Nursing and Diaper Changing Area

    I’ve nursed my two little ones almost everywhere in Copenhagen with no issues whatsoever as it is very common here. However, if you’re in the City Center and would like some privacy and a break from shopping and sightseeing, stop by either Illums or Magasin. The rooftops of both department stores offer a special nursing area and diaper changing area – a nice break for parents and kids.

    The nursing area at Illums Rooftop.

    Strollers and Public Transport

    Copenhagen is a very stroller friendly city in the sense that all the roads and sidewalks are paved (aside from a couple cobblestone streets), it’s flat with no hills so it’s a very walkable city, and strollers are allowed in most stores. There is a maximum allowance of two strollers per bus, and the entrance for the strollers is in the middle of the bus. The metro and trains also have special stroller sections.

    Insider Tip: If there are already two strollers on a bus and you have an umbrella stroller, just fold up your stroller and get on the bus.

    Yes, even our big double stroller fits on the bus!

    Copenhagen Card

    Invest in a Copenhagen Card: it provides entrance to over 70 museums and attractions plus offers free public transport.

    Bring along two children under the age of 10 for free. You can purchase different cards depending on how many days you intend to spend in the city.  You can pick one up at the CPH Airport Service Center or throughout the city.

    Rain Gear

    “There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear.”

    I love this old Scandinavian saying!! Depending on what time of year you visit, it is important to pack accordingly – think lots of layers for both yourselves and the kids. In the summer, even though your the weather may reach 65 degrees, in the sun it gets very hot and in the shade it might be too cool. Also, it’s very important to bring a rain jacket and rain boots. I know luggage space is precious – but it tends to rain often, and having the right gear will only make your stay more memorable.

    I hope this is helpful! Enjoy your time in this beautiful city!

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  • Irvine, California With Kids!

    Irvine, California With Kids!

    Ya’ll know about Orange County, home of Disneyland and the Angels, but there’s more to Orange County than Disney and baseball, which I was delighted to discover during a visit to Anaheim in 2013. The stated purpose of our trip was, of course, to visit Disneyland, but since my son was only four, one day in the Magic Kingdom was more than plenty. With family in Orange County, we decided to stay a few extra days and check out some other sights, including these two attractions in Irvine that everyone enjoyed.

    Irvine is located just a short 20 minute drive down I-5.  For both of these experiences, we simply hopped into the car from our hotel in Anaheim and made the quick drive south. With wide highways and ample space for parking, these were no stress destinations that provided my son with outdoor time at little to no cost to the adults – a definitely treat following a day at Disneyland!

    Irvine Regional Park

    Irvine Park Railroad is a really wonderful place to spend the morning or afternoon with young children. There are walking pony rides, train rides, bike and paddle boat rentals, and even a small zoo.  Although we did not visit the small zoo or rent paddle boats/bikes, we did ride the train and my son took his first pony ride, which he loved!

    lovin’ his first ever pony ride

    Decorations change seasonally and so you can expect a Christmas-themed train ride in the winter and other holiday themed games and activities for kids. Food options at the Park are limited (there is a small snack bar), but you are welcome to bring your own food like we did. We simply visited the IN-N-OUT drive thru prior to arriving at the Park and happily devoured our lunch on the picnic benches.

    My favorite thing about the Park was that even though we were there on a weekend during beautiful weather, there was ample parking and it wasn’t swamped and over run with people. There are plenty of activities for young children and you can easily spend a day there. Be sure to have cash on hand, however, as many of the rentals/rides are cash only!

    The Great Park Balloon

    Also located in Irvine is the Great Park Balloon, perhaps one of the strangest attractions I have ever seen. It’s a giant orange balloon that holds 25-30 people with an clear base so that you can see the ground below as you soar into the sky. I am pathologically afraid of heights so I was uncomfortable on the ride, even though the balloon is tethered to the ground and does not go that high, but my son and his cousin loved the experience.

    There is ample parking at the park and reservations to ride are first-come, first-serve. Operations are limited, however, by weather and wind, so call ahead if the weather looks iffy! Luckily for us, the weather was perfectly calm the morning we visited, so we had no problem riding. The facility also has a carousel and playground area, which the kids loved running around in after the balloon ride.

    Overall, our visit to these two locations was a great way to break up our stay in Orange County. My son loved the diversity and the opportunity to ride “high in the sky!,” while I loved the slower pace of things after a day at Disneyland. I highly recommend you check these two attractions out if you find yourself in Orange County with a few hours or an afternoon to spare!

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  • Top Tips for Harry Potter World at Universal Studios

    Top Tips for Harry Potter World at Universal Studios

    My eight year old son has spent the past year feverishly reading the Harry Potter World series. I did not read Harry Potter as a child or as a young adult, so when he started reading it, I decided to start reading it with him to share the experience. Although there have been times where he has been convinced that he will never finish, I’m happy to report that he finished the last book of the series just two days before our weekend getaway to Universal Studios Orlando! Here are my top tips for Harry Potter World at Universal Studios so that you too can maximize your experience!

    Why Universal Studios Orlando?

    Earlier this year, a friend of mine and I were discussing Harry Potter and how amazing the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios sounded.  She had been to the Hollywood version and when she said she was game to visit Orlando with my eight year old and myself, I snapped up the opportunity.  Within four hours, we had booked a weekend getaway to Universal Studios in Orlando, which is a convenient two hour plane ride away.  When my mother-in-law heard that we had planned a trip to Harry Potter World, she immediately asked if she could tag along.  We happily added her to our reservation and the trip was set for three adults and one kid.

    How did we book our trip?

    For the first time ever, I booked a vacation package via the theme park. I’ve visited Disneyland and Disney World before, but have never stayed on-site, much less booked a vacation package. Since our plan was strictly to focus on Harry Potter World, we knew we wanted to get the early entry offered only to hotel guests. We also wanted easy access to the Park, so we called Universal Orlando Vacations to get an estimate on how much the trip would cost.

    Much to my surprise, a vacation package at Universal Orlando is extremely affordable. We booked:

    • three night stay in a two bedroom, two bathroom suite at the Cabana Bay Hotel;
    • three park-to-park tickets for four (three adults, one child) so that we could enter the Park on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday prior to our afternoon departure;
    • breakfast for four at Three Broomsticks on Sunday morning.

    The total cost for three people was just over $600/person. Considering that a one day park-to-park ticket costs $165, I was floored by how reasonably priced our vacation package was and happy booked away. Our vacation package did not include flights (which we booked separately) and meals outside of breakfast the Three Broomsticks. Although there may have been a shuttle from the airport to the resort, we chose to ride Lyft to and from the airport. We did make heavy use of the hotel to theme park shuttle, which was prompt and, importantly, air conditioned.

    Our hotel was located next to Volcano Bay, Universal’s water theme park. We had a great view of the volcano from our hotel room and this provided hours of people watching while we were holed up in our room either resting or cooling down.

    view of Volcano Bay from our hotel room

    Our hotel was retro themed and came equipped with VO5 and Zest. Of course, my friend and I noticed this right away and spent the rest of the week humming the “Zest fully clean” theme song under our breath.

    The hotel’s major short coming, in our opinion, was the lack of a real restaurant. The Cabana Bay has a diner, which is self-serve cafeteria style. After a long day of walking through the Park, the last thing I wanted to do was wait in line at multiple stations to gather food for my son and myself.

    We did, however, take advantage of the bowling alley at our hotel which, curiously, offers table service. On the second day of our trip, temperatures were nearing 100 degrees and thus, we decided to spend an hour bowling and munching on food in the air conditioning, rather than fighting the crowds and searching for dining locations within the Park.

    What did we do?

    We Harry Pottered of course! Going into the trip, I warned my son that our primary goal was to spend time in Harry Potter World. I did a small amount of online research for tips and travel suggestions and thanks to the advice I was able to glean online, we had a fabulous, yet not overwhelming experience.

    First, park-to-park tickets are essential.  The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is comprised of two parks with two larger parks – Universal Orlando and Island of Adventure.  Diagon Alley is the defining area at Universal Orlando and Hogsmeade and Hogwart’s are the two defining Harry Potter areas within Island of Adventure. For ease of reference, I’ll often refer to the two areas as either the Diagon Alley side or the Hogsmeade side. The two Harry Potter sections of the larger Parks are connected by the Hogwart’s Express, and you must have admission to both parks in order to ride.

    Second, our hotel’s early admission policy gave us an extra hour to tour the Wizarding World of Harry Potter on the Diagon Alley side. During our visit, Universal Orlando opened one hour prior to Island of Adventure, so we had two full hours to experience Diagon Alley before high tailing it over to Hogshead and Hogwart’s.

    entering Universal Orlando at 6:45am, before the sun is even up

    To fully take advantage of the early entry, we woke up at 6am, got dressed, and took the shuttle bus over to Universal Orlando. Although there were many others entering the Park at the same time, it was by no means crowded. The walk through the Park is eerie, however, as the rest of the Park is not technically open. Early admission only gets you in early to Diagon Alley – the rest of the Park opens at the regularly scheduled time, so it is quite odd to walk through a deserted theme park, much of which was still covered in darkness due to the time of year and early entry.

    The entrance into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Orlando.

    There is only one way to enter Diagon Alley and that is behind the London Waterfront. The London Waterfront is located at the far end of the Park, so it is quite a bit of a hike, but the first glimpse of Diagon Alley is well worth the walk.

    my son’s first words to me were “this is so weirdly awesome”

    Immediately upon entering Diagon Alley, you’re confronted by a row of shops and Gringott’s Bank. We practically ran to Gringott’s so that we could get on the Escape from Gringott’s ride. The ride does not allow any purses or backpacks and there are free lockers that you can store your stuff while riding. Although the locker areas were manageable in the early mornings and evenings, I would imagine they would get overly crowded during the day so to the extent possible, try to limit what you bring.

    The ride itself is a treat (we ended up riding it a total of four times), but what surprised me was the level of detail that went into constructing Gringott’s itself. As you wind through Gringott’s bank for your turn to ride, there are little details that we took great delight in noticing and pointing out.

    goblins banking as you wait for the Escape from Gringott’s ride

    bank register
    dial above the elevator

    Because of our early entry, we had no trouble getting onto the ride, after which we explored the shops and sights of Diagon Alley, including Ollivander’s, where my son purchased his interactive wand.

    The attention to detail extended throughout the Park, including the fire breathing dragon at Gringott’s.

    +Video credit Julie Powers of Learn, Live, and Explore!

    When the dragon breaths fire, there is heat that emanates (from the buildings?) so you can actually feel the warmth!

    After walking around Diagon Alley a few times, it was nearing 9am and thus, time to ride the Hogwart’s Express to the other Park – Island of Adventure.To get to the train station, we had to exit Diagon Alley from the same entrance that we entered and walk to the London Terminal side of the building (less than 20 feet away). Although there was a slight delay as they had to check to make sure everyone had proper park-to-park admission tickets, we were on the Hogwart’s Express in no time and traveling to Hogsmeade and Hogwart’s!

    View of Hogwart’s

    Hogsmeade is less visually stimulating and impressive than Diagon Alley, but my son loved the shops there better than in Diagon Alley. Not only did Hogsmeade have its own Ollivander Outpost, but it also had Honeyduke’s, which was definitely my son’s favorite place to browse. My son also loved the “big ride” on the Hogsmeade side – The Forbidden Journey.  As with Escape from Gringott’s, the line for The Forbidden Journey snakes throughout the castle and has small details to notice as you wait.

    house beads hanging inside The Forbidden Journey

    Although my son and his grandmother loved The Forbidden Journey, I was partial to the Flight of the Hippogriff, which is significantly tamer and includes not only a Hagrid’s Hut sighting, but a Buckbeak sighting as well!

    Hagrid’s Hut as seen from the Flight of the Hippogriff line.
    Buckbeak, hiding in the grass near the start of the Flight of the Hippogriff.

    There is so much to do in the two Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter but the crowds quickly fill up and the Orlando heat did us no favors. In fact, the crowds were such that both full days we were at the park, we left the Harry Potter areas during mid-day and explored other areas of the Park or just went home to relax.

    Tips & Suggestions

    To make the most of your trip to Harry Potter Orlando, I recommend:

    • Staying on-site and getting park-to-park tickets, including one hour early access. With this perk, you can explore the Diagon Alley side for nearly two full hours prior to hopping over to the Hogsmeade side just as it opens.
    • If you have the time, I recommend staying two full days or at least 1.5 days. With 1.5 days, you can explore Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade early in the morning on two occasions, prior to when crowds get overwhelming. You can then spend the afternoon/evenings or the next morning leisurely exploring the shops and sights of the respective areas. It’s important to note that the two Wizarding World of Harry Potter areas are located within their larger respective theme parks and that each area is relatively tightly built to mimic the true feel of Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Because of the tight nature of the space, there just isn’t enough room for everyone who wants to be there, so if crowds are not your thing, you should try to stay more than one day so that you can fully experience both areas.
    • If you absolutely cannot stay onsite and your visit is limited to one day, I recommend pre-purchasing your tickets and splurging for the Express Pass. The Express Pass line will allow you to take a shorter line, thus ensuring sufficient time for rides and browsing. We did not do this because we had a full 2.5 days to spend at the Parks and the early entry allowed us to get our rides in before the crowds got overwhelming.
    • Plan to enter the various Harry Potter worlds at two separate times – once immediately upon opening (whether you have early access or not) and in the two to three hours prior to closing. On the first night we were there, we wandered back over to Hogsmeade at around 5pm and found that the earlier crowds had died down significantly. What had been shoulder to shoulder crowds mid-day had thinned out such that my mother-in-law and my son happily rode The Forbidden Journey with only a 15 minute wait (mid-day wait times had reached 90 minutes). Because our stay was 2.5 days, we had a total of five planned entries into the various Harry Potter areas. Although we only made four (we were rained out the evening of the second day), with our early entry, we go to ride each of the rides multiple times and spend plenty of time exploring the shops and doing the spells.
    • Get an interactive wand (or not). We did purchase an interactive wand (or three) for our party of four and although some love the spells, I didn’t find them to be too compelling. My son found them to be confusing at first, but enjoyed casting spells once he got the hang of it. During mid-day, the crowds to do the spells were overwhelming, so this was another activity that was good for our early morning visits.

    Finally, there are a number of “secrets” that you can find on the internet about each of the Parks. Some of them are easy to discover on your own (Moaning Myrtle in the bathroom at Hogsmeade) and others are near impossible to know about without some prior internet research. I encourage you to search the internet for these “secrets” if you are so inclined. I did go to Park armed with a few secrets, but discovered one of my own while there:

    You can exchange muggle money for Gringott’s currency at Gringott’s Bank in Diagon Alley (not the big Gringott’s that is the ride, but a separate storefront). That itself is not a secret – the secret is that there’s counterfeit deterrent on the currency – if you rub the money with your fingers, the heat generated will cause the keys to fade. Although it is intended as counterfeit deterrent, I thought this was a secret little bit of “magic” and loved it when the cashier at Honeydukes let me in on the secret. You can exchange muggle money for Gringott’s currency in denominations of $10 and $20 and Gringott’s money is accepted within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and other select locations within the Park. There is no cost for the exchange or the experience – it’s a $1 for $1 exchange – so I highly recommend doing this just for fun.

    I loved seeing 12 Grimmauld Place from the London Waterfront.

    Final Thoughts

    This was my first visit to a Universal theme park since I was a young child and I definitely noted that the Parks were not as nice as the Disney parks. Due to our early arrival at the Parks (7am all three mornings), we were usually starving by 10am, but there was no food to be found except for churros and pretzels. There are very few sit down, full service dining options within either Park. Indeed, we dined at both Three Broomsticks and the Leaky Cauldron while we were there and both were fast service restaurants where you order at a counter and then bring your food to a table via tray. We did dine at the one full service in Island of Adventure during our stay, Mythos, and the food and service were perfectly acceptable. I just wish there were more opportunities for full service sit down dining so that we could recharge our batteries in the air conditioning. And, while I found the dining options to be lacking, the quality of the food that we had at both The Three Broomsticks and The Leaky Cauldron was excellent (although maybe we were just starving from our early morning wake-ups?). We enjoyed both breakfasts that we had at the two restaurants and I would not hesitate to work them into future visits (although I loathe the thought of what must be a mob scene at lunch).

    The bulk of our time was spent in the Harry Potter sections, but we did walk through the other portions of the Parks. Unfortunately, I found much of the Parks to be dated – Betty Boop? Popeye? The Simpsons? My son has no idea what any of these are and I’m not entirely sure he ever will, although he did enjoy the giant donut from Lard Lad Donuts!

    Lard Lad Donuts to the rescue!

    That said, however, all of the Universal employees were pleasant – from the ride/line operators to the trash collectors, all of them were super helpful and willing to assist. I particularly loved that each of the spell locations within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter had employees posted to help the little ones cast their spells. The facilities (bathrooms) were also more than adequate in terms of size and cleanliness.

    The Hogwart’s Express conductor was happy to take photos with anyone interested!

    Overall, if you have a Harry Potter fan, I highly recommend Universal Studios Orlando for the experience! When I close my eyes, I can still imagine how wondrous it was to walk into Diagon Alley for the first time and the best part? It has my son feverishly reading The Cursed Child.

    reading The Cursed Child at the airport on the way home

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  • Japan Part V: Four Nights in Tokyo With Kids! (where we stayed and what we did)

    Japan Part V: Four Nights in Tokyo With Kids! (where we stayed and what we did)

    From Kyoto, we took the bullet train to Tokyo. My son, of course slept the whole time and has no recollection of the experience – such is traveling with a 4 year old! The cost of the trip was 17,600 Yen per person, or approximately $160 USD. My husband, who spent a summer in Switzerland in college, said the Japanese train system was much like Switzerland – clean as a whistle and punctual. The train ride was smooth, fast, and an hassle free way to travel from Kyoto to Tokyo for the last leg of our journey – 4 nights in Tokyo.

    Where we stayed:

    Hyatt Regency Tokyo (Shinjuku)

    Our 4 nights in Tokyo were spent at the Hyatt Regency Tokyo in Shinjuku. We booked our room using points and requested a slightly larger room than the standard offering. Imagine our surprise when we entered our room and found the nicest hotel room we have stayed in to date! We also received a lovely welcome treat from the hotel and were delighted to learn that our room came with access to the Regency Club, so we had free breakfast and drinks and hors d’oevres before dinner. As if that wasn’t enough, on clear mornings, we could see Mount Fuji from the club room!

    our remarkably spacious bathroom
    the desk/office area
    I loved the partition that separated the sitting area from the bedroom
    the welcome amenity we found awaiting us upon arrival; they refilled the fruit daily
    the pre-dinner spread in the Club one night during our stay

    The hotel also has other amenities we did not get a chance to take advantage of, namely, the pool and the spa. From these photos, however, I sure wish we had snuck in a trip to the pool. The following three photos are from the hotel’s website:

    The absolutely stunning lobby. Not visible in this photo, but there were small storefronts on the outer edges of the lobby, so you could purchase macarons on your way up to your room in the afternoon (and we did this on more than one occasion)!

    What we did:

    Our hotel was conveniently located in Shinjuku. Although many of the travel sites we read said it was a business area, it ended up being centrally located to quite a bit of shopping and entertainment.

    photo credit

    Kabukicho:

    Located just a few blocks away from the hotel was Kabukicho, the entertainment and red light district. Unfortunately for us, it was the first place we wandered to upon arrival in Tokyo and did not leave a great impression on us. We had a difficult time finding restaurants to dine in and were turned away from a number of restaurants when they spotted our son. We also tried to go to the massive arcade they had, but were told no kids after 6pm. In hindsight, I suppose we should have done better research and perhaps it was a blessing in disguise that they did not let us in because who knows what we would have found behind the doors, but it was a jarring experience and unpleasant introduction to Tokyo.

    Nevertheless, we ended up returning to Kabukicho a few times during our time in Tokyo and it was there that my son discovered video games!

    Shinjuku Skyscraper District

    Our hotel was located right in the Shinjuku Skyscraper District, and so we got to see first-hand the sheer number of people who flood into Tokyo every day to work. Our first morning there, I ventured out in search of a laundromat so that our clothes could finally get a good wash. While I was out, my husband and my son went to a park, so that my son could stretch his legs and get some energy out, and they also went to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and took the elevator up to the observatory (admission free). The weather was not great, so reports on the view were less than stellar.

    It took me a while to figure out the machines, but I enjoyed the solitude

     

    Speaking of playgrounds, we absolutely loved the playgrounds in Tokyo. While there weren’t a lot of children in Tokyo, we did find at least two playgrounds with fantastic climbing equipment. My son, a  natural born climber, loved hiking up the equipment and it was a great opportunity for him to release some energy. Tokyo actually is very similar to San Francisco in that you see very little children in the city. One afternoon, while at the playground, we did see a crowd of school children who had obviously just gotten out of school; but we never saw kids in any of the shopping districts or areas that we were visiting – not even the parks where the cherry blossoms were. We definitely got the sense that the children typically lived outside the city center or played a more “back seat” type role in their parents lives than they do in the US, so that is definitely something to consider when planning a trip to Japan.

    Shinjiku Gyoen Park

    Cherry blossom season begins in January in southern Japan in Okinawa and moves north, peaking in March/April in Kyoto and Tokyo. When we planned our trip, we hoped to hit the cherry blossom trees in peak bloom, but living in DC, we knew there was no guarantee, so we crossed our fingers and hoped for the best.

    Happily for us, we hit the season in full throttle and basically chased the blooms from Kyoto to Tokyo. By the time we reached Tokyo, the cherry trees were in full bloom, and we were fortunate that our hotel was located within walking distance to the Shinjiku Green Park (admission 200 Yen, or ~$2). We absolutely loved walking around the gardens and visited at least twice during our stay.

    Hakuhinkan Toy Shop in Ginza

    We did quite a bit of people watching and window shopping in Tokyo, and Ginza did not disappoint. For a good portion of the afternoon, the main street is closed to traffic, so pedestrians can walk freely and the roads can accommodate the heavy foot traffic. One of our stops was the Hakuhinkan Toy Park in Ginza – a massive multi story toy shop. While there, we discovered and indoor motorized race track, which my son got a kick out of. The store was also fully stocked in Frozen dresses, and I was sad that I didn’t have the foresight to purchase a suitcase full of dresses to bring home! Based on the level of Frozen-insanity going on in the US at the time, I could have financed a good portion of our trip that way!

    Ueno Zoo

    After dragging our son through quite a number of department stores, we decided to spend a morning at the Ueno Zoo so he could stretch his legs and enjoy being a kid! The zoo was a perfectly fine way to spend a few hours, but it was nothing to write home about.

    Ueno Park

    A short walking distance from the zoo is Ueno Park, which we were delighted to discover was in full swing due to the annual cherry blossom festival. There are a number of museums and temples in the area, but we were happy to experience the park, which was hopping in activity. The pathways were lined with people and there was a street food festival going on as well. We spent a few hours just walking around and sampling the different food offerings, while also taking in some of the sights. Curiously, we were one of the very few tourists there – we saw some tourists, but others were there in large groups with pets, blankets, friends… It was clear that the Japanese enjoy spending time outdoors enjoying nature!

    My son had a blast the day we went to Ueno for the Zoo and Park. Getting a break from the constant walking, train riding, and window shopping was good for him, and it gave him an opportunity to just be a kid. He even took part in some of the food sampling and the Park also had carnival like rides for little kids. All in all, it was probably the most kid-friendly and kid-centric activity we did while in Tokyo!

    Asakusa’s Kappabashi

    a typical display of food offerings in a restaurant window

    One of the more random things we stumbled across in Tokyo was Kappabashi, Tokyo’s fake food mecca. Nearly every restaurant in Japan displays fake food, or sampuru, to provide a quick visual of what the restaurant has to offer. Until we stumbled across Kappabashi, we frequently wondered where the fake food came from and how one goes about acquiring the fake food displays for a restaurant.

    Our questions were quickly answered in Kappabashi, where we encountered blocks and blocks of shops containing every single imaginable kitchen/dining item you could imagine.

    fake burgers so good you can *almost* eat them
    we had to take a picture with the stock pot so large, you could cook a four year old in it!

     

    If you happen to find yourself in the area, definitely wander through and take a look. We ended up coming home with some items which we still use today!

    Continue to Part VI – What We Ate