Now that you’ve decided to go somewhere its time to pack!
I don’t know about you, but while I have a great love of traveling I don’t really enjoy the packing. I find it stressful trying to decide what to bring… What will the weather be like? Do I have the right shoes for walking? What if I forget something? How many outfits can I fit in the suitcase? Will I feel comfortable and look good in what I brought? Will I look good in the travel photos? HA! HA!
To make matters worse… We also have packing rules in our family. We can all bring ONE european size carry-on each! No matter how long the trip, no matter the time of year. That’s right, the same amount of space whether it be winter or summer. In fact we only took one carry-on our honeymoon for BOTH of us, that’s right we shared the same carry-on suitcase for 12 days!
Thankfully, we don’t have to share anymore, a girl’s got to put her foot down, and over the years I’ve even gotten quite good at making it all fit into my own small sized suitcase! Okay, sometimes I can’t make it all fit, but that’s what the kids suitcases are for… sneaking in a few items here and there!
My Packing Method
About three days before the trip I start pulling clothing from my closet and dressers. I pull everything I currently love to wear and lay it out on my bed. I always pull out too much in this first go around. There will probably be multiple go arounds!
Next, I make outfits out of everything I’ve laid out weeding out the items that I don’t feel comfortable letting someone else wash and/or that don’t match everything else as I go. Space is very limited, so making sure it’s not wasted on items that need to be handled with care, will only be worn once, need to be dry cleaned or don’t match everything else isn’t an option.
Everything fits!
Makeup and medicine go into my purse
The following list is everything I was able to fit into my European sized carry-on suitcase for a 14 day trip. Of course the items will vary according to the time of year and location, but in this case our upcoming destination will be for the most part warm. I’ve tried to allow for cool evenings and a few days in London where the weather can be questionable. Keep in mind the dimensions of a European sized carry-on suitcase are 22in x 18in x 10in, in other words, small!
Packing List:
Two light weight cardigans
Two lightweight dresses (one sleeveless, one long sleeve)
Two Scarves
Four Long sleeve t-shirts
Two Short Sleeve T-shirts
Two pair of Shorts (One denim and one olive-green)
One travel skirt
One cropped Jean
One skinny Jean
One pair of pants
Four Layering tanks
Eight Sleeveless Shirts
One Swimsuit
Two pair of socks (for the plane)
Three pair of shoes (two flip-flop one closed toe)
Two bras
Fourteen pair of underwear
* PJs are included only if there is room after everything else is in the suitcase (in this case they aren’t included)
Items that I never put into my suitcase for international travel
Jacket/Thick Sweatshirt
An extra pair of underwear and one pair of socks in my purse in case of an emergency
Makeup and medicines NEVER go into my suitcase!
I always assume that I won’t have time for shopping and bring everything I might need. After all I am traveling with three boys and no matter what they say, the chances of them waiting patiently while I go shopping are for the most part slim…
But what about the laundry?
I try to pack for about 7 days and hope to wash about halfway through the trip. Of course some items will have to be worn a few different times. This is where layering comes in! In the event that time or location can’t get me to a laundry service I always make sure to have some extra underwear… a lot of it!
If we pack for only seven days what do we do for the rest of the trip? There are multiple options for clothes washing: hotel laundry services, hand washing, and the Laundromat. We’ve tried them all!
The laundry service in hotels is surely the most convenient, but it’s so pricy you might consider throwing out your dirty clothing and buying new, it might actually be cheaper.
Another option is to bring laundry detergent packets with you and hand wash the items yourself in the sink or bathtub of your hotel room. I’ve tried this method and it absolutely doesn’t work. I don’t care what anyone says it just can’t get clean enough! However, it does take forever to dry and gets really crispy! Besides, who wants to waste time hand washing when there are sights to see!
Lastly, and the method I prefer most is to drop the clothing at a nearby laundry mat. We’ve done this multiple times in many countries and it is in my opinion the best method! Simply load up your suitcase or suitcases and wheel them to the closest laundry service. The hotel concierge will be able to assist you in locating the nearest one. In Scotland, not only did they wash, dry and fold all of our laundry, but they delivered the clean items back to us at our hotel! YAY!
Remember! Don’t bring anything you don’t want washed AND dried!
I’ve definitely got the travel bug and I’m doing my very best to pass it along to my kids! If I’m not traveling then I’m already thinking about where I might like to go next! This drives Tim crazy as he travels extensively for work and doesn’t understand why I always want to leave home when all he wants to do is get back to it. In fairness to me… ha ha, he traveled quite a bit before we met and has been around the world many times for work, so he’s already seen many of the world’s amazing sights… It’s only fair that we should see them too, right?! And of course it is educational for the children…
Don’t get me wrong, we’ve had the good fortune to visit many amazing places as a family, it’s just that I hope to visit many more!
“I Like trying new foods and hot chocolates!” – Elliot
Now that some time has passed since our last big vacation I’ve been trying to work out where we should go next. There are a number of places I’d like to check off my list, but there are many factors to be considered when deciding where to go. How much time vacation time do we have? Is it in the budget? Do the kids have any time off from school? Should we stay closer to home, or venture far? If we decide to go far, where in the world should we go? Should it be somewhere new or a repeat destination? Is time of year a factor for that destination? These are just a few of the questions we discuss when thinking about how to spend our vacation time.
All of the above were definite factors when we had the opportunity to visit Japan last year. We had attempted this trip a few other times, but something always got in the way, money, a major earthquake, timing, you get the idea. After 15 years of dreaming about it, we were finally making it happen! This was to be the fulfillment of a lifelong dream and we just had to do it right! Weather and time of year were big factors on this particular vacation. I think all four of us can agree that it was the trip of a lifetime! Thanks, kids for having spring break during the Cherry Blossom season!
“The culture, the history, just being there!” – Simon
The Internet is a great source of information when thinking about future destinations and I do a lot of research online, but I love reading printed travel guides! I’m a big fan of Lonely Planet, but Fodor’s, TimeOut and DK Eyewitness are also great! In fact it was reading the About the Author section in my Lonely Planet guide that helped me find the amazing private tour guide we hired in Kyoto. I usually bring the smaller guides along on our journeys and read them on the plane and in the hotel room at night. Sometimes we leave them behind in the room for future travelers, but more often than not I schlep them back home with me. Lonely Planet has a great series for younger children called The Not For Parents Guide to… definitely worth checking out!
Here are some of our most recent destination considerations:
Ireland
Croatia
Japan (repeat)
Portugal
Cambodia/Thailand
So… Our latest adventure begins in late September! We’re going somewhere new and far! The weather will be great and the crowds will be thin! School is in session, but the lessons learned and experiences had will be many!
The Anderson Collection, a new art museum, recently opened in Silicon Valley and if you’re in the bay area it’s definitely worth making the trip! It opened in September 2014 and I must admit that I’m disappointed it took me so long to finally get around to a visit.
It’s conveniently located right next to the Cantor Arts Center on the Stanford Campus, and one could easily make a day of it visiting both! Admission is free and the Cantor has a nice cafe open Wednesday through Sunday.
Although they do offer guided tours, my older son and I really enjoyed taking our time and wandering from painting to painting on our own. He took this fun photo of mom and me using two phones! He was in the artistic spirit!
The Anderson Collection was a gift from a Bay Area family who built the collection over the last 50 years. According to the official website it is one of the world’s most outstanding private assemblies of modern and contemporary American art. Upon seeing it, its impossible not to agree! It’s hard to imagine one family owning this much incredible art! If you do get a chance to visit there is a lovely video explaining who the Andersons are and showing the art hanging in their home.
There are many wonderful things about living in the Bay Area not the least of which is living a two-hour drive from one of the best wine growing regions in the world! Even if you’re not a wine drinker the region has a lot to offer, beautiful scenery, fine art galleries, shopping, spas, bike tours, ridiculously good food and much more! Within the region of Napa Valley there are many little towns, Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga to name a few.
While I don’t get there as often as I might like, I have been fortunate enough to find myself there for various reasons three different times this year! March found me running the Napa Valley Marathon, August found me shopping and dinning in both St. Helena and the town of Napa with a scenic drive along the Silverado Trail, and finally another trip in August to tour the wineries in high style with a group of girlfriends! So there you have it Napa three ways!
The Napa Valley Marathon
I’ve been an avid runner for a number of years now and after running countless races of all distances I decided it was time to take it to the next level and attempt a full marathon. Many of my marathon running friends suggested the Napa Valley Marathon as a great first marathon! One of my best friends flew up from LA to join me! Yes! She’s an excellent friend!
If you are planning to run the marathon you should know that the course is incredibly beautiful, but also very hilly! The course starts in Calistoga and follows the scenic Silverado Trail for the majority of the 26.2 mile course. It ends at the Napa Valley High School and as most races do this one starts very early in the morning. We drove up the Saturday before so we had time to go to the race expo, explore the town of Napa and have a big carb loading dinner with our running group!
Pre-race. It’s cold and early!
A favorite winery
The end is in sight… .2 to go!
We made it! Check!
The Napa River
Napa is a fairly quiet place, but definitely on the rise with a number of fun little shops and restaurants worth checking out. Visitors often confuse the entire region of Napa Valley with Napa the town so they’ve given themselves the #realnapa. St. Helena, Geyserville, Yountville and Calistoga all have fun little shopping areas to explore as well.
Just east of downtown across the river is the Oxbow Market. It’s a great place to grab a bite and do a little shopping. They have a little bit of everything and I found a fun magnet board in one of the little shops. We weren’t drinking much the day before the full marathon, but we did treat ourselves to one glass of wine. How could we resist?
We stayed a short distance outside of town in a very decent place, however, it wan’t convenient to anything. If I had to do it over again I would choose the Andaz Napa where another friend stayed. It was in a great location walking distance to all of Downtown Napa and the rooms were very nice. Wouldn’t this nice big tub be a welcome sight after 26.2!?
The Oxbow Market
Fun shops and food in the Oxbow Market
lots of goodies to tempt you
I picked up this fun magnet board
The Bathtub at the Andaz is HUGE!
Napa Valley with Family
Recently my folks came for a visit and we drove up for the day. While they weren’t sure they were interested in wine tasting (What?!) I thought they might enjoy the drive and poking around the little towns. Our first stop was at V. Sattui a wonderful and well established winery. If you’ve never been to the area I highly suggest you stop here. They have a large market where you can purchase all sorts of lovely food to accompany your wine. Their grounds are stunning with large picnic areas. I first visited in 1999 when Tim and I were still dating. Very romantic!
We weren’t ready for lunch so decided to keep driving and have lunch a little further up the road in St. Helena. We ate on Main Street in a little place called Market which is Michelin Guide recommended. Both the food and the service were nice, but I’ll probably try somewhere new next time. After lunch we popped in and out of the shops and galleries along the street and sampled some chocolates at Woodhouse Chocolates which I will definitely visit again!
I really wanted my folks to see the Silverado Trail it’s incredibly beautiful and I thought it might be fun to show them my marathon route. It’s lined with winery after winery and a lot of them will probably sound familiar to you as you drive by. Of course you don’t have to keep driving! Most offer wine tastings between 10 am and 5 pm. I recently learned that the Silverado Trail was the first permanent road built between Napa and Calistoga!
We finished up our circle drive in #realnapa where we wandered through the shops and the Oxbow Market before heading home.
V. Sattui
Even the boys enjoyed the flowers
V. Sattui Wine tasting and food market
Peanut Butter Crunch
I mentioned Napa three ways and I’ve saved the best for last…
While Napa Valley has many things to offer let’s be real… the main reason to visit is tasting the WINE! Many people find they don’t want to drive from one winery to the next as their ability to taste becomes hampered by their need to NOT drink and drive, so it makes sense to find alternate transportation.
While there are many options we’ve found that renting a limousine and splitting the cost among us makes the most sense. Not having to think about who will drive takes all the worry out of the day! We’ve done this a few times and usually head out from home around 9 am. As I mentioned most wineries don’t stay open past 5 pm, so getting an early start is a good idea!
If you haven’t been before it helps to consult a map of the Valley before setting out that way you’ll have an idea of where you’re going in advance. Keep in mind that some of the wineries require an advance reservation and the map will help you to figure out which ones those are. In our group we have both white and red wine drinkers so we each pick somewhere that interests us. That’s another great thing about hiring a driver, they know their way around the Valley and if you give them a list of destinations they’ll take care of the rest!
On our most recent trip we visited four different wineries. We had grand plans to visit more, but there is so much going on at each location it’s quite difficult to find the time especially given that most places close early and you’ll want a break for lunch!
When I first started visiting back in 1999 a lot of the wineries had free tastings, but those days are long over. There are pros and cons to this. The con obviously being that it can really add up when you’re paying $20+ at each winery for a tasting, however the pro is that because you’re paying they are even more attentive and take more time explaining the different wines!
St. Supery was our first stop as it’s a favorite of this group! The grounds are really lovely with beautiful ivy and flowers everywhere. They offer tastings and you can choose to stand inside at the counter or there is a lovely seating area just outside, both are very inviting. It’s quite modern inside which really appeals to me! If you have time to linger there is a little shop and there are some lawn type games you can take advantage of.
Wine Shop
It’s almost harvest time
buzz buzz
Our second stop, just 5 min down the road, and just as loved is Peju! While I admit that I’m the white wine drinker of the group, the other girls really prefer red and in fact belong to the wine club here. I will say they do have a great Sauvignon Blanc! The grounds are like stepping into a fairytale with flowers and fountains everywhere. I spent a lot of time taking photos while they spent a lot of time drinking the red! It might be a good idea to call ahead at Peju as its pretty popular. We always walk away with a “few” bottles to bring home.
After the drive up and stops at two different wineries its time for lunch! There are a number of wineries with markets and restaurants, but we thought we might do a less formal lunch and decided to eat on the go. I know I mentioned Dean and Deluca in my New York! Pizza, Restaurants, Markets & Bars! post, but guess what!? They have a location in Napa Valley too! We stopped here to pick up picnic goodies which we ate in the limousine. There are so many choices and everything is so good, it’s hard to make decisions. It definitely doesn’t help matters if you walk in hungry… Oh, and they also sell knives and other kitchen items should you need them.
A little bread…
a little cheese…
a veggie.
Everything looks so good!
Aaron… our very friendly clerk!
After lunch I thought we should try somewhere new, so we visited Long Meadow Ranch also on the St. Helena Hwy. They have a lot to offer here as they aren’t just a winery, but a complete farmstead with multiple locations. Beyond wine they also produce, olive oil, beef, eggs, fruits & vegetables and honey. You’ll find a selection of some of these products in their shop. We did a tasting and probably due to the size of our group they were kind enough to put us in this adorable little private room. I really enjoyed the music, Johnny Cash was playing, and the decor, farmhouse chic, there was something incredibly welcoming about this place. We didn’t get a chance to eat here, but we heard that their restaurant is definitely worth a try!
Our last stop of the day was the Frank Family Vineyards which is a favorite of Tim’s and a little bit off the beaten path, but so worth it! They don’t do a lot of marketing and the wines are really only sold at the winery, and in a handful of select restaurants and retailers. You can order online, but we don’t usually do that… if we want more we have to drive up and get it. It’s a definite favorite around our house and a big hit at dinner parties. The landscaping is really beautiful with a different more wooded or rustic feel than the other locations we visited. Antonio, the gentleman doing our tasting was really funny and definitely very good at his job as I walked out with a case of wine!
We ended our day with dinner at Redd which is located in Yountville. I like to be as positive as I can when talking about my experiences, but I just didn’t love this place. The positives were that the main courses and the waiter were both great! However, I thought my chair was about as uncomfortable as they come and I literally hated one of the desserts and thought the other one was only okay.
After all that lovely wine tasting, eating and beautiful scenery it was time to head home… How great is it that someone else was driving!
So, there you have it… Napa three ways! What do you think? Which one appeals to you?!
I still remember what I was doing on the morning of September 11, 2001. I think we all do. Recently I had an opportunity to visit the National September 11th Memorial and I brought my two young boys. My older son, knows about 9/11 although not in-depth. We didn’t say much to my little one, but he could still sense that this was a place of quiet reflection and sadness. The museum is recommended for ages 10 and up, so we made the decision not to visit the museum with the kids though I am sure it is worthwhile.
Reflecting pool and waterfall. There are two.
The outdoor reflecting pools and waterfalls are surrounded by panels engraved with the names of all those who lost their lives at Ground Zero, the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania. It is a beautiful and moving tribute worth taking the time to see. I’ve included some information from the official website.
The National September 11 Memorial is a tribute of remembrance and honor to the nearly 3,000 people killed in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center site, near Shanksville, Pa., and at the Pentagon, as well as the six people killed in the World Trade Center bombing in February 1993.
The Memorial’s twin reflecting pools are each nearly an acre in size and feature the largest manmade waterfalls in the North America. The pools sit within the footprints where the Twin Towers once stood.
The names of every person who died in the 2001 and 1993 attacks are inscribed into bronze panels edging the Memorial pools, a powerful reminder of the largest loss of life resulting from a foreign attack on American soil and the greatest single loss of rescue personnel in American history.
The Memorial is surrounded by beautiful gardens and many new buildings, the tallest of which is called the Freedom Tower. It stands at 1,776 feet which is taller than the original Twin Towers. It dominates the skyline and is quite an impressive site.
Looking for somewhere to take your family that appeals to all ages? Consider Chicago, its home to world class museums, amazing architecture, fun parks and fantastic shopping! I’ve been there countless times, and it never gets old! You might think that because I’ve been so many times I would just forgo the usual sites and visit just one or two… Nope, we did our best to fit it ALL in! Are you ready!?
Day One
Take a walk down the Magnificent Mile, a 13 block stretch of North Michigan Avenue that runs from the Chicago River to Oak Street. Shopping, restaurants, and world famous landmarks line both sides of the street! The John Hancock Center, The Historic Water Tower and the Tribune Tower to name just a few.
The Tribune Tower
The Tribune Tower is of particular interest to me because because of the stones from famous landmarks around the world, which are embedded in the facade! We used to stop here when I was a little girl and I remember looking at all the stones, but I had never been to any of the places. This time when I went back I had been to many of the places!
Who knows maybe that’s what helped to spark my love of travel? Oh, and there is a Dylan’s Candy Bar located on the ground floor so if you’re in need of a break from all the walking, you’re in luck, or at least the kids are!
Millennium Park
Keep walking along Michigan Avenue and cross the Chicago River and you’ll come to Millennium Park. This is a wonderful place especially on a warm spring or summer day! You’ll find many activities of interest to the entire family here including, concerts, gardens, art and architecture, water splash fountains for the kids to play in, tours and more!
A park favorite is the Cloud Gate Statue sometimes referrd to as The Bean. It’s quite a marvel and we all love looking into it and at it! Millennium Park is a true oasis in the middle of the city.
The Art Institute
Just south of the park on the same road you’ll find the Art Institute of Chicago, a definite must-see. The building is beautiful with giant iconic lions perched out front.
The museum is filled with many iconic works of art, Nighthawks by Edward Hopper, American Gothic by Grant Wood, A Sunday on La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat and many more! Before he lost interest, it had been a pretty long day, Elliot was quite excited to recognize a Vincent Van Gogh painting he had studied in his after school art class!
My saving grace with Elliot were the Thorne Miniature Rooms. There are 68 miniature rooms each one set inside a small glass window. They are all constructed on a scale of one inch to one foot with every single detail created perfectly. Like tiny little doll houses but without the dolls. We all loved this and it was a perfect way to end our visit!
Buckingham Fountain
Buckingham Fountain located about a 10 minute walk from The Art Institute in Grant Park, is another favorite. The fountain is lit up at night on most evenings, and I recently learned that it is one of the largest fountains in the world! Beautiful!
Day Two
Just two miles south from the downtown area, and you’ll find the Museum Campus, a large park, which sits on the shores of Lake Michgan, and is home to three of Chicago’s most popular science museums: The Field Museum of Natural History, The John G. Shedd Aquarium, and The Adler Planetarium. They are not only world renowned institutions, but they are housed in incredibly iconic buildings impressive in their own right.
The Field Museum
I’ve been visiting the Field Museum since I was a little girl and I never get tired of it! I love that I’m lucky enough to share my joy of this special place with my own children. The Field Museum is a magical place with three giant floors each full of countless wonders. Upon entering the museum you’ll be standing inside Stanley Hall which is two stories high and the length of the building!
The Shedd Aquarium
The Shedd Aquarium is high on our Aquarium list! There are many unique creatures here and many wonderful exhibits showcasing different types of habitats from around the world.
My son’s favorite aquarium specimen
This is another place we’ve all been enjoying since we were young and we have definite favorites here too! High on our list are the Beluga whales, the penguins, the Caribbean Reef, the snapping turtle.
The building’s architecture is incredibly grand and even the chandeliers have an aquatic theme! They just don’t make them like this anymore! The front of the building has been named a national historic landmark!
Day Three
I’ve saved the best for last!
The Museum of Science and Industry
The Museum of Science and Industry is one of my all time favorite museums! It opened its doors in 1933 and is the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere, which means you’ll want to allow a lot of time here.
This place is magical! Really! While the other places we visited are spectacular in their own right, they don’t allow for much other than looking, observing and reading. The Museum of Science and Industry is a place where you learn by DOING! Yep! You get to touch almost everything! There are levers to pull and buttons to push, you can make storms and tsunamis, do experiments, create a toy top and watch it go down the assembly line, tour a real submarine from WWII, go into a coal mine, learn about genetics by visiting the baby chicks, climb aboard farming equipment, and visit Colleen Moore’s Fairytale Castle… just to name a few!
Are you interested in ships, trains, or space? It’s here! How about bicycles, airplanes and the human body? Yep, it’s all here too! They have live demonstrations, special exhibits and so much more!
My must-see exhibits are: The U-505 Submarine, Colleen Moore’s Fairytale Castle, Science Storms, The Great Train Story and the current special exhibit. On our last visit the special exhibit was Numbers in Nature and it involved a mirrored maze which Elliot lead us through!
Science Storms Exhibit
Farm Science
Colleen Moore’s Dollhouse
Baby Chicks in the Genetics Exhibit
We love to have our photo taken at the old fashioned photo studio and have tried to take one every visit for the past 13 years!
I just can’t say enough about how great this place is. We’ve never been able to see everything we wanted to see before the closing announcement came over the loudspeaker. It’s just that great!
The Drake Hotel
Although there are many great places to stay in Downtown Chicago on this trip we chose The Drake Hotel located at the end of the Magnificent Mile. Not only is it on the National Historic Register, but my parents got married there 52 YEARS ago on the 4th of July! I thought it might be fun for them to revisit the place where they got married all these years later!
I alerted the hotel to our special occasion! There was a bottle of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries waiting for my parents when they entered their room! What a nice touch!
Tips & Advice:
Chicago has a City Pass which includes many of the attractions mentioned in this article. If you think you might visit more than one of them it’s absolutely worth it!
You can grab a quick bite on the go in Millennium Park, or there are sit down restaurants.
When visiting the Art Insitute DON’T climb on the lions, even for a quick photo! If you do be prepared for a loud roar followed by an even louder voice telling you to get off of the lions.
Don’t miss the Modern Wing which has a stunning view of the Millennium Park Band Shell.
If you have limited time pick up a brochure with a list of the top must-see items in the Art Institute and where to find them. The Museum is open late on Thursday evenings.
Buckingham Fountain’s light and music show takes place most evenings for 20 minutes every hour on the hour.
I highly recommend purchasing tickets or your City Pass to all of these places online prior to arrival online before you arrive. The lines are very long!.
The MSI is located in Hyde Park about six miles from The Field Museum.
All of the museums have multiple food options in all price ranges. The MSI has an old time ice cream parlor
The Drake Hotel offers “family” rooms with two complete bathrooms which makes for a smooth morning routine.
London is one of our favorite cities and lucky for us we’ve had plenty of opportunities to take advantage of its world renowned museums! This collection of photos spans over the course of 11 years, which is why you’ll notice difference in quality and the ages of my boys.
Traveling with kids close to six years apart can be challenging since they have different interests and attention spans. Our solution is to switch off between museums, historic sites and attractions. This way everyone experiences something they love. We also do our best to stick to highlights in each place, so those of us who aren’t quite as interested in a particular place aren’t too tortured. I’ll never forget the time I took the boys to the British Museum by myself. Simon was learning about Egypt in school and was so fascinated he wanted to read/see everything! I looked over and poor little Elliot was licking the glass of the display case… oops! Time to go!!
The British Museum
The world-famous British Museum has a long and fascinating history and has been open since 1759! The building itself is stunning, especially the Queen Elizabeth II Great Court. The British Museum is home to the Rosetta Stone, ancient Greek sculptures originally part of the Parthenon, and 8 million other objects! Yes, 8 million! It is well worth a visit, after all the 6 million people who visit every year can’t all be wrong! If you’re taking my advice and just checking out the highlights you’re in luck because the museum has ideas for you! They offer suggestions for both 1 and 3 hour visits as well as guided tours and self guided audio tours. There are multiple food options ranging from the extremely casual to fancy. There are a number of gift shops and while a lot of museums just sell the same old junk I happen to think the gift shops here are worth a visit!
The Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum in London is a favorite for all of us. It’s been open since 1881 and the building itself is a site to see! The entire outside and the central entrance hall are just beautiful. The boys and I can easily spend an entire day here, leaving only when they close for the evening. Like most of the museums and castles we’ve visited the food in the cafes and restaurants is quite good, so there is no need to eat first before going. They offer both adult and kid friendly food items and adult beverages too! This is definitely a repeat destination, but extremely popular, it can get very crowded.
The London Science Museum
We visited the London Science Museum when Simon was just a little boy and haven’t had a chance to get back. Maybe we’ll give it another shot on our next visit? Like the other museums admission is free and there are nice places to eat.
The Tate Modern
The Tate Modern opened in 2000 and is located in Bankside in what used to be a Power Station This is one of our favorites and is definitely worth a visit! It’s just across the river from St. Paul’s Cathedral and is one of the United Kingdom’s top three tourist attractions. Like the history and science museums I mentioned above the Tate Modern is also free! It’s exhibitions are always changing so repeat visits are a must, just check the website before you go to see what’s on. Of special note at the museum is the Turbine Hall which has ever changing exhibitions of contemporary art. Here is what the official website has to say:
Since opening in 2000 over 60 million visitors have experienced the Turbine Hall and it has earned a unique place in the public imagination.
It has hosted some of the world’s most memorable and acclaimed works of contemporary art. And the way artists have interpreted this vast industrial space has revolutionised public perceptions of contemporary art in the twenty-first century.
An idea for an itinerary would be so start at St. Paul’s Cathedral in the City of London and then cross the River Thames on the Millennium Bridge and see the Tate Modern. The bridge offers spectacular views of St. Paul’s north side and the Globe Theater is also nearby on the Tate Modern side.
The British Museum
Queen Elizabeth II Great Court
Queen Elizabeth II Great Court
Central Entrance Hall
Amazing building details
Natural History Museum
The Turbine Hall with exhibition. Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Recently, it was called to my attention that it seems like I LOVE everywhere I’ve ever been so how can I keep saying this place or that place is my favorite? And while it is true that for the most part I have loved almost everywhere I’ve been fortunate enough to visit, there are some places that I love more than others! Scotland is on THAT list!
I absolutely cannot wait to get back and explore more!
Our visit to Scotland was part of a larger month long trip which also included, London, Paris, and Barcelona! Scotland was the one place on our itinerary I had never been to and it did not disappoint! We took the train from Kings Cross Station in London to Waverly Station in the heart of Edinburgh. It takes about 4.5 hours and it’s a beautiful ride through the country side.
On a side note Kings Cross Station is the famed train station from the Harry Potter books and if you are so inclined you can even “pretend” to push your baggage cart through the wall to Platform 9 3/4!
Tim had been to Edinburgh many times and he told me it was beautiful, but I was not prepared for just how beautiful it is! When I came out onto the street from Waverley station. I was floored and I am quite sure that my mouth literally fell open! It is absolutely spectacular! There is a look about the place that I just fell in love with! The station is located between the medieval Old Town and the 18th century New Town and right near Princes Street which is a main shopping/dining street through New Town.
From the train station we took a taxi to our hotel, The Waldorf Astoria Caledonian which is located on Princes Street. I would definitely stay here again! The people were extremely friendly and so willing to help with everything and anything we might need. The room was very spacious and we had a great view of the Edinburgh Castle.
The hotel also has a nice indoor pool which we visited one rainy afternoon. They added nice little touches for the kids which included little bath toys shaped like what I thought were little green dinosaurs. Okay, so I’ll admit that we were home for about a month before I finally put it all together and realized they were little Loch Ness Monsters! How cute is that?! We were able to walk from the hotel up the hill to the Castle and the Royal Mile as well as many other places!
Old and New Towns of Edinburgh
Old Town is medieval and is made up of narrow passages, cobblestone streets, and hidden courtyards. It is incredibly well preserved and is a treasure trove of history. You can almost feel what it might have been like hundreds of years ago. I loved Old Town!
View of New Town from Edinburgh Castle
Unlike Old Town, New Town is very ordered with everything laid out in a grid. The streets are wide and the buildings were built in the 18th and 19th centuries. Everything is perfectly preserved and it’s a stark contrast to the very tight and enclosed feeling of the Old Town streets and buildings. This is where the upperclass lived and It’s here that you’ll find a lot of upscale shopping and restaurants. The streets and main squares were named for King George, his wife and his sons. Therefore you have Queen Street, Princes Street, George Street and Charlotte Square.
Edinburgh is a UNESCO Heritage Site and here is what they have to say about it:
Edinburgh has been the Scottish capital since the 15th century. It has two distinct areas: the Old Town, dominated by a medieval fortress; and the neoclassical New Town, whose development from the 18th century onwards had a far-reaching influence on European urban planning. The harmonious juxtaposition of these two contrasting historic areas, each with many important buildings, is what gives the city its unique character.
Castles and Palaces
As I’ve mentioned before in earlier posts I have a keen interest in all things history and I do love a good castle or palace! Guess what?! Scotland is an excellent place to visit if you love castles and palaces! We visited two in Edinburgh alone, Edinburgh Castle and The Palace of Holyroodhouse. yep, its all one word!
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is still in use as an official residence of the royal family and both the Queen and Prince Charles stay there performing official duties one week each year. We arrived with one day to see it before Prince Charles arrived, so it was the very first thing we did! It is located at one end of the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle is that the other, hence the name! While their have been various forms of the Palace and the Abbey on this site the Palace in its present form has been there since about 1679.
Adjacent to Hollyroodhouse is the Holyrood Abbey which was founded in 1128. Here is what the official website has to say:
The Abbey was founded in 1128 by King David I of Scotland for the Augustinian Canons. According to medieval legend, a vision of a stag with a cross glowing between its antlers came to David while hunting in the area. Interpreting this as an act of God, the King declared that an abbey should be built on the same spot. Holy Rood, the name of the abbey and subsequently the Palace, means ‘Holy Cross’, a fragment of which had been brought to Scotland by David I’s mother, St Margaret, and kept at the Abbey until the 14th century.
There are many things to see and do at Holyroodhouse, The Queens Gallery, The State Apartments, Mary Queen of Scots Chambers, tour the Abbey (summer months only), audio tours, and walk around the gardens.
The gardens are beautiful and vast
We spent quite a long time visiting here and saw almost everything. Of particular interest to me where the Chambers of Mary Queen of Scots and we really enjoyed walking around in the vast gardens. The Queen throws an annual garden party here when she’s in residence. We ate at the Cafe at the Palace which has quite good food and offers many traditional Scottish dishes. It was here that Simon first tried haggis. We didn’t tell him what is was until after he’d eaten it and liked it and surprisingly, he enjoyed it enough to order it twice more during our visit to Scotland! Do you know what haggis is? Just in case you don’t…
Haggis, the national dish of Scotland, a type of pudding composed of the liver, heart, and lungs of a sheep (or other animal), minced and mixed with beef or mutton suet and oatmeal and seasoned with onion, cayenne pepper, and other spices. The mixture is packed into a sheep’s stomach and boiled
Haggis is traditionally served with “neeps and tatties”, boiled and mashed separately, and a dram (a glass of Scotch whisky).
Of course Simon didn’t have the dram of Scotch whisky! Interestingly, even though Simon is one of the pickiest eaters I know he will often try exotic foods while traveling. Once we arrive back home he goes back to his finicky ways. I recently discovered a place near our home that serves haggis, but so far he’s turned down my offers to go and eat there. 😉 He now says he wishes he’d never tried it because he’ll never live it down!
As is often the case photography inside the palace was very limited, so most of my photos were taken outside and in the Abbey.
Holyrood Abbey
View of the Abbey from the Queen’s gardens
The Abbey and the Palace
Trying haggis with neeps and tatties
Hey, I kind of like this!
Royal Dessert!
Edinburgh Castle is located at the top of the Royal Mile on Castle Rock and is probably one of Scotland’s most famous attractions. It sits high above the city and can be seen from almost anywhere. Its spectacular at night when it’s all lit up! We were there during The Moon Walk which is a Breast Cancer awareness and fundraising event. That night the Castle was lit up Pink as were other monuments around town. It was incredibly beautiful. We learned that the Castle is often lit up for special events!
Their has been a building on this site for close to 3000 years! Really! Since 900 BC! I find that simply Amazing! There is so much to see and learn about at Edinburgh Castle I don’t want to spoil it for you, but here are some of the highlights: The Great Hall, The Royal Palace, The Stone of Destiny (returned to Scotland after 700 years in Westminster Abbey), the Scottish Crown Jewels, St Margaret’s Chapel, Mons Meg, The One o’clock Gun, Half Moon Battery, National War Museum, Regimental Museums, Prisons of War, and the Scottish National War Memorial
I highly recommend visiting allowing the better part of an entire day! If you want to avoid long ticket lines I suggest you purchase your tickets online prior to your arrival.
William Wallace
St. Margaret’s Chapel
Royal Palace
Mons Meg
Mons Meg Cannon Balls
The Castle was used as military barracks
It was also used as a jail
Replica of The Honours of Scotland Sword
More Haggis!
The Royal Mile as I mentioned earlier runs from the gates of Holyrood to Edinburgh Castle and while it isn’t a building or a museum It does have a fascinating history! It’s actually made up of multiple streets Castlehill, the Lawnmarket, the High Street, the Canongate and Abbey Strand. The Royal Mile is the busiest area in Old Town. You’ll find yourself here quite often and it’s a great place to pick up souvenirs, see street performers and grab a bite to eat.
Along the Royal Mile you’ll find St. Giles Cathedral. We wandered inside and it has an impressive history, but we didn’t take a tour on this trip. It’s definitely worth a look and if I ever get a chance to go back I’d like to explore more.
St. Giles 2013
Elliot in one of many tourist shops
A sword swallower
haggis chips!
Walking Tours
If you’re looking for something to do with your kids in the early evening I suggest a walking tour. These ancient cities have so much history and with that comes legends, ghost stories and tall tales! If you want to learn more in a fun and even sometimes silly way a walking tour is a great way to do it! We took two in Edinburgh and both were very kid friendly.
Learning about Closes and Wynds
The Cadies and Witchery Tour company was a bit more on the silly side, but offered a lot of fun and interesting history. We walked all over Old Town, but stayed above ground the entire time. There were a few “jumper outers”, some fun reenactments and the tour guide claimed to be deceased. They were dressed in the absolute worst costumes imaginable which made for a laugh rather than a scream! Simon was picked out of the group to participate and he really enjoyed it! Prices are very reasonable!
The other tour was run by a company called Mercat. They offer history walks, ghost tours and an Outlander Experience tour. We chose the ghost tour because Simon had been reading about a place called the Blair Street Underground Vaults and this is the only tour company who go there. As a side note Outlander is a series of books and recently a TV show on Starz that take place in Scotland and that are incredibly popular, I’ve read them, and if you’re a reader I highly recommend. This tour wasn’t available when I was there or I would have liked to go on it. While a bit more than the Cadies and Witchery Tour Company prices are still quite reasonable.
Can we have a volunteer?!
Listening intently to Cadies & Witchery Tour
Costumed characters
Mercat Tour Company
Uh oh! Is this what happens if you don’t listen?!
heading underground
The Blair Street Vaults
The Blair Street Vaults
Museums
We visited the National Museum of Scotland twice and like many museums in the United Kingdom it’s free with donations welcome. The building itself is very impressive with incredible galleries and architecture. They have an incredibly large collection ranging from Science and Technology, Art and Design, Ancient Egypt, Natural Science, World Cultures and Scottish History and Archaeology! You can see why we needed to visit twice!
Victoria Street
Located in the Grassmarket area which at one time, hundreds of years ago, was a market place for selling cattle and livestock, Victoria Street is about a quaint a street as they come! I read that JK Rowling based her magical shopping street Diagon Alley on this street and it makes perfect sense to me! There are many fine places to grab a bite, cute little shops and it’s simply just a nice place to go for a walk! There are so many wonderful places in this city to wander around and often the buildings are so amazing you feel like they just have to be something more special than just a place to eat or shop, but in fact that’s all they are. How cool is that!?
The People and The Food
The people in Edinburgh are incredibly friendly! I cannot think of one instance the entire time where the people weren’t kind, fun and more than happy to assist where needed! I’m inclined to compare it to Disneyland because no matter what everyone was just so nice!
We ate in a number of places worth mentioning during our visit. As I mentioned earlier Tim had been to Edinburgh a number of times prior to this trip and knew of a few worthwhile places. Oink was one of these places!
Oink is a tiny little shop where you can get freshly carved pork sandwiches. Basically they roast a pig each day and make sandwiches out of it until it’s all gone, that it! You can get three sizes, the Piglet, the Oink and the Grunter. You have your choice of a white roll or a brown roll and there are four different spreads to choose from. We went to the Victoria Street location, but they also have another shop on Canongate Street at the lower end of the Royal Mile and are at the Edinburgh Farmers Market on Saturdays. It’s a very unique place to grab a quick bite to eat with not a lot of fuss and the food is excellent!
Also located on Victoria Street The Grain Store is great little place we stumbled upon while wandering around. We ate lunch here and it’s quite a charming place. They have a prix fix lunch menu.
We have a friend in Edinburgh and we met her and her husband for dinner at her favorite place L’escargot Blanc. This is a classic French restaurant that has been around for 20 years. It’s located on Queensferry Street which if I remember correctly we walked there from our hotel. The actual restaurant is upstairs. The food, service and atmosphere were great!
The Edinburgh Zoo
Like we do in most cities we visit we went to the zoo! Not only is this a nice way to break up the days for our little one, but at this point we have been to the zoo in just about every single city we’ve ever visited and we like adding another one to the list! The zoo is located a bit outside the city and we had a really nice visit. It was a rainy day, but we didn’t mind because they had Pandas and Penguins, two of Elliot’s favorite animals! I wouldn’t say this about every zoo we’ve seen, but if the littles are growing tired of yet another historic site or museum and just need a break this is a very nice place to visit!
The very laid back beach city of Santa Cruz is located about 75 miles from San Francisco and is definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area. It’s got great beaches, an amusement park, a vibrant downtown and friendly people!
Seabright Beach located just off of East Cliff Drive is part of the Twin Lakes State Beach and is your perfect beach stereotype! There are brightly colored beach umbrellas as far as the eye can see. Families can set up camp in the morning and stay all day picnicking, boogie boarding, swimming and more. I’ve been lucky enough to see dolphins, seals and even an otter from my beach chair! The beach is open until 10 pm and bonfires are permitted. During summer days there are lifeguards and there are restrooms as well.
Beach on the Boardwalk Side
Parking is very limited and dogs are allowed on the beaches, which I’m not crazy about. However it’s definitely less crowded than the beach on the other side of San Lorenzo point, which is also the location of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
Harbor and Seabright Lighthouse
If you don’t feel like picnicking or eating at the Boardwalk there are restaurants located at the Santa Cruz Harbor. It’s located on the far end of Seabright Beach. All you have to do is walk to the Seabright lighthouse and take a left. We ate at Aldo’s which has a perfect view of the boats coming in and out of the harbor, decent food and great service! Oh and we saw a seal swimming around in the harbor as well!
If you are familiar with the 1980s movie The Lost Boys you might be interested to know that most of it was filmed in and around Santa Cruz and especially the Boardwalk area! The Boardwalk is open from around 11 am to 11 pm, but hours vary so you’ll want to check before going. There are some winter hours, but they are quite limited. My older son and his friends have summer passes and are happy to go alone.
Above Seabright Beach on East Cliff Drive is the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History! It was the first public museum in Santa Cruz and is over 100 years old. How cool is that?! Its open everyday except Monday and while I haven’t had a chance to peek inside yet, it’s definitely high on my list of things to do next time I visit the area.
Pacific Avenue is the main street in downtown Santa Cruz and it has a lot of great shops to poke around in! There are also some neat candy stores, cafes and a few restaurants worth checking out! We went while the older kids were at the boardwalk and were free to wander and shop without complaint! Here are a few of my old and new favorite places to stop and do a little shopping.
Wallflower a tiny little clothing accessory boutique is on Locust Avenue just off of Pacific. The prices are right and the sales staff is very friendly. I ended up with a new scarf and some really fun handmade necklaces! One of them is a tiny little harmonica that really plays!
Flip Flop just as you would imagine from the name this place has just about every brand and style of flip flop sandal you can imagine for men, women and children!
Sock Shop and Shoe Company this shop has every single sock you can ever imagine and then some. There are even superhero socks with capes! My boys like this shop a lot and we always pick up at least a few pairs each.
Stripe for both women and men are clothing/home shops located just off of Pacific on Walnut Street. They are two doors away from each other and both are decorated beautifully and creatively. I usually find a something fun to bring home. Last time I ended up bring home some borosilicate juice glasses with little stars etched into them and a tiny wooden spoon!
Verve coffee is a trendy small coffee chain with three locations in the Bay Area and one in downtown Los Angeles. The decor is very industrial and current with especially interesting light fixtures! While the coffee was good, It was the cookies they were selling that I loved! They’re made by a woman named Mary from Aptos. They’re the size of a small plate and they taste divine! I tried two Marshmallow and Carmel Pretzel. She makes 12 dozen a week and double that in the summer! They also sell a variety of other baked good and Elliot especially liked the vegan chocolate donut.
Each time we visit downtown Santa Cruz we have to eat at El Palomar Mexican Restaurant! It’s right on Pacific Avenue in the Palomar Inn. They have the most amazing tortilla chips I’ve ever eaten. The tortilla soup and sopes are also delicious!
Tramonti Pizza on Seabright Avenue is another favorite Santa Cruz spot. It’s a friendly neighborhood kind of place and the food is very authentic
A few things to consider before heading to the beach in the Bay Area. The weather along the coast in Northern California can be unpredictable and it is often fogged and in and chilly while the inland areas are sunny and hot, so it’s always a good idea to check the coastal weather before heading over! If you do find that it’s sunny and warm on the coast, then be prepared for some traffic heading over!
Seabright Lighthouse
Surfing
Skim Boarding
Boggie Boarding
Sailing
Playing in the Sand
The Boardwalk
Panorama from San Lorenzo Point
Circle Scarf from Wallflower Boutique
Necklaces from Wallflower Boutique
Verve Coffee and Mary’s Cookies
Carmel Pretzel Heaven
Vegan Donut at Verve
Fisherman’s Platter at Aldo’s In the Harbor
Fish & Chips at Aldos
Tortilla Soup at El Palomar
Fish Tacos El Palomar
Sopes w/Shredded Beef
Margarita!
Kids Menu at El Palomar
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If you’ve never been it’s just got to be on your itinerary! Now, I know some might disagree with me, but according to Travel and Leisure, Times Square is the #3 tourist destination in the WORLD with annual visitors of 50,000,000! There’s a reason for that!
Yes, It’s crowded and yes, it’s loud and chaotic, but it’s also fantastic, exciting, and a true spectacle worth witnessing! With the flashing lights and neon on all sides, Broadway shows, the neon, the many costumed characters and I mean “characters”, the neon, and did I mention the NEON, it’s no wonder that it’s such a popular destination! Even the subway stations are lit up! It’s so bright you can see the glow well before you actually arrive!
Photo credit TDF.org
A lot of the area is pedestrian friendly and there is an outdoor seating area where you can sit and take in the scene or eat a slice from one of the many pizza spots. Over on the 47th Street side is where you’ll find the famous ticket booth, TKTS, where you can purchase same day discounted tickets for Broadway and Off Broadway shows. You’ll find it under a giant red staircase, bleachers if you will, where people can congregate and enjoy the view. If you climb to the top step it’s a great photo opportunity! Keep in mind tickets for matinees are sold in the morning and evening performances are sold in the afternoon. Check the board for available shows.
Times Square is a great place for kids! When asked which sites they were most interested in seeing while in New York, both boys mentioned Times Square. M&Ms World, The Hershey’s Chocolate World Store, Toys R Us and The Disney Store are just some of the big name stores you’ll find! The Toys R Us has its own Ferris wheel, inside!
Elliot was especially interested in visiting M&Ms World which is an experience all in itself! Open from 9 am to Midnight every day of the week its jam packed with people! You’ll also find every color and type of M&M you’ve ever heard of, and many you haven’t. Want to make your own mix of colors and flavors? You can! Want to personalize your M&Ms, you can do that too! Maybe you need an M&M lunch box, backpack, or beach towel? They have them! Also, pjs, toys, t-shirts and pretty much everything else you can think up! After buying about 27 pounds of M&Ms we escaped… to Hershey’s Chocolate World! Can anyone say stomach ache?
Times Square has no shortage of hotels in all price ranges and most of the larger chains are represented. While it’s not my personal favorite part of town to stay, its pretty loud all night long, I recently stayed at the Westin Times Square and you can read my thoughts in my New York! An Overview…post.
If you’re planning a trip to the theater while in New York you’ll end up in Times Square, but I highly recommend a night time visit!
Speaking of the theater… I’ve seen Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway twice and it was well worth it! The first time when visiting last October and again this past visit with my folks and the boys! While tickets are on the expensive side, I would recommend sitting on the main floor and trying to sit in the aisle. The show features some neat surprises and they are best seen from the aisle seats.
This was Elliot’s first musical and I’m glad I waited until he was just about 7. When entering the theater he said, “No need to go, I already know what happens in this story, let’s go do something else.” Uh Oh! He was skeptical, but ended up loving it, both boys did! There are booster seats available and snacks and beverages are allowed in the theater. Adult beverages too! I will say there really aren’t enough bathrooms for the volume of people attending, but if you get there a little early there should be enough time!
There are other kid friendly shows currently playing on Broadway, Aladdin and Mathilda being two of them. We saw Aladdin a few years ago in Seattle and really liked it, but we liked Lion King more. Mathilda is coming to our area soon and we plan on seeing it here, so decided to skip it in New York.
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