40 Countries and Counting - Tips and Tricks for Better Global Travel

#37 Australia: A Two Week Adventure Itinerary

July 17, 2026
Australia- the only country that is also a continent has so much to offer for adventure travel. It’s so hard to prioritize where to go within the country for a two week trip to maximize the experience and minimize travel time. Here’s a two-week trip itinerary that includes seeing Cassowaries in the wild, holding Koalas, seeing the Sydney Opera house and taking a scuba trip in the Great Barrier Reef. Also, if you are an ornithophile, then Australia is a must-visit place for all of the rare bird species.

Sydney Opera House in Australia

Why travel to Australia?

Dreams of a trip to Australia started in 4th grade with a social studies teacher who made Australia seem like a magical place because of Kangaroos, Koalas, Platypus and Uluru. After getting Scuba certified, the potential to dive in the Great Barrier Reef became yet another draw to the mythical continent.

Fish in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Planning a Trip to Australia:

It’s so hard to prioritize what all to see in one two week trip to Australia. When thinking about a trip we decided to prioritize Sydney, the Whitsunday Islands, scuba diving and then added the Daintree to minimize additional flights. This itinerary does not include a trip to Uluru, so I guess we need to go back to have that experience!

The Lonely Planet Australia book is incredibly helpful for planning itineraries and getting detailed information on accommodations, restaurants, and Scuba operators for the trip.

To begin our Australia adventure, we booked roundtrip flights into Sydney, and reserved a room at the Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel for two nights. Knowing we would be destroyed from jetlag we did not want to splurge on a luxury hotel at the beginning of the trip that we would not be able to fully enjoy.

Next up were flights from Sydney to the Whitsunday Islands for a three night stay. These islands in the Great Barrier Reef are famous for their beaches made of pure silica sand. Hamilton Island is within the archipelago, and is an expansive resort with multiple types of accommodation options and restaurants. We booked a Palm Bungalow on Hamilton Island for our time in the Whitsundays to be able to sit outside at night and enjoy the wildlife on the island.

One of the reasons we also decided to visit Hamilton Island was at the time they allowed visitors to hold Koala bears. This experience is no longer available. We also reserved dinners at Coca Chu, Sails and the Beach Club restaurants well in advance of our arrival.

It was hard to decide what to do with a few days before a Scuba trip out or Cairns, and we picked a visit to the Daintree to see the rainforest and eliminate an additional flight from our travel schedule. We booked three nights at the Heritage Lodge and then one night at the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino before our scuba trip.

Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel in Sydney

For certified divers, a live aboard scuba trip is a must for the Great Barrier Reef. After researching a few options we decided to go with Mike Ball Dive Expeditions in Cairns. We selected a three day dive trip that included taking a prop plane to an island, and then spending three days sailing from the island back to Cairns.

GBR Dive Sites

To complete the trip, we planned to fly back to Sydney to spend two nights at the Park Hyatt Sydney before returning to the United States.



Experience in Australia:

Australia ended up exceeding our expectations on almost every front. It was a truly incredible trip, and worth the long flight time.

We really loved staying in the Rocks neighborhood in Sydney. It was a central location for seeing the Opera House, going to the Zoo, and experiencing everything Sydney had to offer. Our room in the Park Hyatt Sydney had views of the Sydney Opera House and was such a luxurious hotel. The rooftop pool was a fun place to relax after a day of exploring and prepare for a long flight home.

The Sydney, Australia zoo

Also, I am still trying to replicate the recipe for some incredibly delicious homemade coconut yogurt the Park Hyatt Sydney served at breakfast. It’s the only coconut yogurt I have ever had that has the same consistency as real Greek yogurt.

Next, the Whitsunday Islands were beyond beautiful, and offered such an intimate Australian wildlife experience. For example, Wallabees just hung out on the beach and around the island property, and at the time of our trip we were able to arrange a Koala holding experience. We were also surrounded by Cockatoos and other tropical birds. At night the Bush Stone-Curlew would come and scream at us as we drank wine on the patio or our bungalow. Overall we enjoyed a trip we booked to see other islands within the Whitsunday archipelago, and had fun paddle boarding in the ocean too.

The Daintree offered the biggest surprises of the trip. First, we saw fresh crocodile tracks when we did a rainforest hike near the ocean, and learned from some other hikers that we narrowly missed seeing a wild crocodile- phew! Next, when we were packing our car at our cabin at the Heritage Lodge, we male Cassowary ran by with his two children. Given how endangered Cassowaries are, this was a once in a lifetime animal experience. If my husband can find the video of the sighting I will share it since it was truly incredible to see after learning about the bird while in the Daintree.

Wallaby on the Hamilton Island beach

The craziest part of our trip was the drive from the Daintree to Cairns. We experienced Cyclone Nora without any real understanding of the storm we were experiencing. We had been without cell reception in the Daintree, and experienced crazy rain storms the night before we planned to drive to Cairns for our dive trip. The morning of our departure we had to wait for floor waters to recede for us to leave the Heritage Lodge. Little did we know we would experience over a dozen mudslides that blocked roads, more flooded roadways and the downright craziest drive I have experienced to make it back to Cairns. We made it to our hotel in the middle of the night and were lucky the rental car did not experience any damage.

Whitsunday Islands Australia

Mike Ball Dive Expedition’s scuba trip far exceeded any expectations we had for diving in the GBR. It was so cool to get the volume of dives, and different experiences like night dives on the trip. (I was also terrified by the night dives, but having the experience once was fun.) Again, it’s been over eight years since our Australian adventure so some of the specific details are fuzzy, but it was truly amazing.

Lessons Learned:

Purchase rental car insurance. Know what is covered under your credit card policy, your home insurance policy f you have one, and any trip insurance policy you purchase. We are lucky our rental car did not flood and die when it was driven through flood waters.

Flooded road in the Daintree, Australia

Insuring jewelry from Opal Minded upon return home from your trip is very easy. The paperwork they provide with purchase was enough to ensure quick insurance without a second opinion in the states.

Also, check out my international travel checklist for must-do items before every trip.

Koala on Hamilton Island, Australia

Travel Gear:
- Neoprene socks are one of my must-have dive items for anything other than shallow dives that feel like bath water. Snorkel masks for Scuba are such a personalized item that I can’t suggest what would work best for other people.
- Handheld GPS: Used on Hamilton Island while hiking, in the Daintree, and during our Cyclone Nora experience. This device goes everywhere with us.
- Hydration bladder: Hydration was critical in Australia due to the heat and humidity. This bladder fits in an Osprey hiking backpack, and allowed for easy access.
- Check out my travel gear page for a full list of my recommendations. Please know I can make a commission from products that help offset the cost of maintaining this blog.
Final Thoughts:

Wild Cassowary in the Daintree, Australia

Australia does not disappoint. It is such an incredible country, and I cannot wait to go back and explore more of it. It far exceeded any and all expectations I had held about the country. Sadly, I think it will be a while before my return to Australia since my next trip to that region needs to include New Zealand instead.

Prop plane to the GBR dive boat

#3- France: Top Tips for a Gourmand Experience in Paris

July 7, 2026

Eiffel Tower in Paris on a fall day — Eiffel Tower in the fall

As one of the top tourist destinations in the world, Paris has something for almost everyone. There’s so much to enjoy about Paris- the food, culture, and people watching. But, I have learned after two trips to Paris that your preparation, budget and accommodations can really make or break your experience. My first trip to France (and Europe) left me questioning why anyone liked to travel. I went as part of an EF Tour in high school that traveled around France in giant tour buses. While I really enjoyed the cultural experiences the trip offered, I learned that the multi-day tour bus experience was not for me. Also, several meals included green french fries, and I left the country wondering why everyone made such a big deal about French food when it seemed pretty terrible after that trip.

A second trip to Paris in the fall of 2018 made me understand why people rave about French food, and I learned how much more fun you can have exploring Paris when you do it on your own time, and your own two feet.

Why Paris?

For our fall of 2018 trip to France, my husband and I decided to plan a gourmand experience for his birthday. We wanted to experience the famous restaurants of Paris, and see the museums at our own pace. We also wanted to go wine tasting, so we booked a half day champagne tasting tour in Reims to have the wine tasting experience without having to change accommodations during our trip.

Store front of Barthelemy cheese shop in Paris — Barthelemy cheese shop

Planning:

Sadly, the airbnb we booked, with a balcony view of the Eiffel Tower, as our base for the trip is no longer available for reservations. When picking our accommodations, we knew we wanted a place in a central location with a kitchen so we could shop at French markets and cheese shops to mix up our dining experiences, and have a balcony that allowed us to drink coffee or wine with a view of the Eiffel Tower.

We also created a spreadsheet that organized the attractions we wanted to see, and which days they were open and closed. This matrix got somewhat complicated as we planned what to see on which day of the week based on closings, the locations of the attractions, and what was on the Paris Museum pass or not. This helped us determine which days we wanted to use the Paris Museum Pass to maximize its value since we did not need it for the duration of our trip.

Here is our list from 2018 for what is closed or noteworthy by day of the week:

Saturday	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Holocaust memorial, make sure we have a dinner reservation this night	Markets close at 1PM	Orsay, Rodin, Marmottan, Picasso, Catacombs, Petit palais, Victor hugo’s house, Quai branly, Versailles, Market streets like rue cler, and more lesser known	Louvre, Orangerie, Cluny, Pompidou, Delacroix, Chateaux Chantilly, Fontainebleau	Later hours at the louvre	Sewer Tour	Sewer Tour

Next, we created a pinnable Google map of the restaurants, bars, cafes and attractions we wanted to see. This helped us plan what we wanted to do by day, and also allowed us to be somewhat spontaneous once we got to Paris too based on our location. We sourced our attractions list from friends, the Micheline guide, articles in Bon Appetit and Food and Wine, and a PDF guide we purchased for like $5 that I can no longer find the name of. Since it’s been over seven years since our trip, many of the restaurant and bar suggestions may no longer be helpful.

To plan our dining experiences, we created a list of three-star Michelin Restaurants, and their reservation policy at the time. We then identified which restaurants were on the top of our list to try to get into, and then which would be the ones we would reserve if we could not get into our top tier list. Below is the reservation policy we researched at the time of our travel:

3 Star Michelin in Paris	Reservation policy
Guy Savoy	Currently open
L’Ambroisie	2 months
Arpège	Currently open
Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen	3 months
Épicure	3 months
Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée	3 months
Le Cinq	3 months
Pierre Gagnaire	2 months
Astrance	Currently closed through 8.27- no bookings during that time
Le Pré Catelan	Currently open
2 Star
Kei	must email. Closed in August
Le Grand Véfour	currently open
L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon – St-Germain	email requests through website
Passage 53	booking 2 months out
Le Meurice Alain Ducasse	2 months
Carré des Feuillants	2 months
La Table de l’Espadon	available
Sur Mesure par Thierry Marx	must email
Le Grand Restaurant – Jean-François Piège	2 months out
Le Gabriel	3 months
Sylvestre	3 months
Le Clarence	3 months
Le Taillevent	3 months
L’Abeille	3 months
Maison Rostang	3 months

Finally, we also booked a half day Champagne Tour in advance so we could venture outside of Paris for a day of our trip too.

Plate of food at L'Arpège — A dish at L’Arpège

Experience:

Our gourmand tour of Paris exceeded expectations. The food and wine were beyond incredible. The dinner we had at Le Cinq may be the best meal of my life, and it was so cool to meet Alain Passard while at L’Arpège for lunch, after seeing him on the Netflix show. I will say there was one three Michelin-star restaurant I would not go back to, but you will need to message me to learn more about that experience.

As a couple who also loves fine cheese, we enjoyed being able to go to different cheese shops around Paris to pick new varieties of cheeses, and then take them back to our airbnb for lunch or dinner. Barthelemy was our favorite shop both for the variety, and because it was adorable inside too. It was fun to be able to make our own wine and cheese boards from the local shops after visiting museums and stores around Paris.

Having a kitchen for this trip was a huge benefit so we could mix fine dining with some low-key dinners and cheese plates on our balcony watching the evening Eiffel Tower light show at night. We were also able to save leftovers in the fridge, and purchase some larger scale desserts from the delicious pastry shops without having to worry about them going bad being left on the counter of a standard hotel room.

We of course had an amazing time at the museums and other attractions too. Going in late fall meant we had fewer crowds to contend with, and we were able to see some stores already decorated for Christmas which made things extra beautiful and festive. Another unique part of this trip was we saw Notre-Dame before the fire, which also made for our second attraction that was destroyed after we visited. The Arch in Gozo being the first we are aware of.

The champagne tour we booked was also incredible. We were able to visit family owned vineyards you cannot easily find sold in the United States, and see how champagne is produced on both large and small scale vineyards. I would recommend the Champagne Tour Co. to anyone looking for a champagne tour company as they provided an excellent experience. After the tour we had lunch in Reims on our own, and we learned several of the lunch specials at the restaurant we picked came with their own bottles of wine – which can easily make for an over-indulgent wine day.

Picture of wine and cheese with a view of the Eiffel Tower — Wine and cheese with a view

Lessons Learned:

Watch the local news, and always have an emergency situation plan. The most wild part of our trip was walking up the Champs-Élysées, and being met by police in riot gear and yellow vest protestors. It ended up being the first of many yellow vest protests, but at the time we had no idea what the heck was going on. We were taken completely off guard, by the dense sea of people and were lucky we did not get separated from one another. Several attractions were forced to close without notice, and we even struggled with street closures to make our way back to our airbnb that day.

Bring a travel cooking kit: You never know how sharp knives will be in your airbnb and what kitchen utensils it will have. We brought a small knife, some cheese knives and other tools to ensure we could dine in without issue.

The police and protestors in Paris — The police and yellow vest protestors

Travel Gear:

Travel Umbrella: We experienced some rain, and this umbrella was small enough to fit in my purse.
Pairing knife: I love traveling with this knife because it has a cover that makes it safer to pack in my checked luggage without worrying about cutting myself while unpacking at my destination or at home.
Check out my travel gear page for a full list of my recommendations. Please know I can make a commission from products that help offset the cost of maintaining this blog.

Final Thoughts:

Our gourmand tour of Paris ended up being our last trip before I got pregnant, and it was such a fun way to end that life phase. Compared to our next trip we took to the Faroe Islands and Copenhagen, while I was pregnant in the Spring of 2019, the trips could not have been more divergent in experience. I am excited to go back to Paris at some point with my kids to find more family-friendly restaurants for them, and show them the incredible museums and sites Paris has to offer.

Galeries Lafayette in Paris decorated with a Christmas tree — Galeries Lafayette Christmas tree

Fun Family-Friendly Adventures in Philadelphia

June 25, 2026

A friend recently asked where we stay when we go to Philadelphia, so I wanted to share some of our recent experiences with the city. While I’ve visited Philly a ton because my extended family lives in the area, I wanted to focus on the last few visits I have done solo with the kids.

Why Philadelphia?

Philadelphia has so much amazing culture and food! Before kids, my husband and I enjoyed spending a weekend in the city eating at Stephen Starr restaurants, and visiting some of the museums. Now, I try to take the kids once a year to see family, and add in something fun for them too. The Liberty Bell, Mint and Independence Hall are must-see’s for older kids, but I am waiting for mine to get a bit older before we invest time in those activities.

Also, while my kids loved the food hall in Budapest, I have still not braved taking them to the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, knowing their preference will be for the incredible desserts the market has rather than cheese steaks or other Philadelphia specific foods.

Philadelphia love sign

Planning for Philadelphia:

Booking our Amtrak tickets at least six weeks in advance of our visit tends to get us the best rates. While it may be faster to drive to Philadelphia from DC, I appreciate being able to sit with the kids and have fun on the train over having the experience of fighting crazy traffic on 95. Everyone can relax with some snacks, a beverage and a screen for our Philly trip.

Book your hotel reservation at The Logan Hotel using Amex to get perks from the Centurion card. For example, our most recent stay was free because we had not yet used the semi-annual hotel credit offered through the card. I really love the Logan hotel because of its location, and the hotel set-up.

There is a nice green space in the center of the hotel that is perfect for sitting outside on a nice day with a cocktail, and for the kids there is an indoor pool in the basement they can use to burn off energy on a longer visit. There is also a gym and a spa that offers really relaxing massages. I have not spent time at the rooftop bar, but hear it has incredible views of the city too.

Booking tickets to the Franklin Institute in advance saves time, and makes for an easy start at the museum. This museum is a huge hit with my kids, and they can spend the better portion of a day at the museum exploring the giant heart, watching gravity in motion or playing in space exhibits. There is a playground outside of the museum that the kids like to visit before going into the museum too, and has made for the perfect meeting spot before going into the museum.

Also, the Logan is only a few blocks from the Franklin Institute so it makes for a really walkable visit with a stay at the Longan Hotel for smaller kids who are still building strength to spend a full day exploring a different city without a nap.

Another favorite activity with the kids that is worth making reservations for in advance is a meal on the Moshulu. It’s a giant ship that has been converted into a restaurant on the river. While it is not easily walkable from the Logan Hotel, we have eaten there a few times when we drove to Philadelphia as a family. The food is decent on the ship, but more importantly, we have even seen groups of people dressed up as pirates dining in the restaurant which made for an even more exciting meal experience for the kids.

Two other activities my kids love in Philadelphia that we did not make time for the last two visits are the Please Touch Museum, and Sesame Place. I would book tickets for both activities in advance. The Please Touch Museum is dedicated to kids, and is very enjoyable for younger children. There are so many hands-on activities including a grocery store and water play.

If you want to venture a bit outside of the city, then a day at Sesame Place is also lots of fun. It’s a Sesame Street themed amusement park with rides geared towards younger children. We actually went for NYE several years ago so we did not get to enjoy all of the rides or the water features in the park. It’s one of those places on my list I keep thinking we need to do one more time before my kids get too old to still enjoy Sesame Street.

The Logan Hotel

Experience:

Taking the kids to Philadelphia via Amtrak is actually an easy and enjoyable trip for everyone involved. This time my kids befriended some slightly older kids on the train, which made for a more entertaining train ride than previous trips where they just watched their tablets for the duration of the ride. The kids also learned about a new toy called Shashibo which may now be the next gift my kids give for some upcoming birthday parties because it was so engaging and easy to pack.

I made my kids walk to the Logan hotel after the train ride to Philadelphia to expend some energy before meeting up with a friend of mine for dinner. On a nice day it is a doable walk for kids who are four and older. For our trip back to the train station at the end of our visit, the kids did use their Ride Safe vests to take a Lyft because it was pretty hot outside, and I did not think the kids would easily make the journey back.

Once we arrived at the Logan, the kids were able to pick “treasures” at the front desk during check-in which made for a fun arrival at the hotel. After dropping our bags in the room, the kids were excited to bring their new treasures to the Rodin Garden Bar where we were able to enjoy the museum’s beautiful gardens with some snacks and beverages in hand. The food options in the rose garden were not substantive enough for dinner so we then walked over to Pizzeria Vetri for a very kid-friendly dinner.

The next morning started with donuts at Federal Donuts which is across the street from the Logan Hotel. A former coworker from Philadelphia swears they are the best donuts in the city, and I happily take his word on that.

A quick tip for traveling with kids is that I packed chocolate milk boxes for the kids (and a protein coffee for me) to drink when they woke up to put some sustenance in their bodies ASAP before letting a bunch of sugar hit their stomachs. Previous visits also included an immediate stop at the Sister Cities Park. There are some water features in that park which are awesome on a hot day, and help get icing off of sticky hands.

We got to the Franklin Institute shortly after arrival and stayed for most of the day. The kids really loved playing in the giant heart in the center of the museum, and playing in Sir Isaac’s Loft. My kids can spend hours watching the marble runs, optical illusions and playing with the other objects in that room. They also loved the space room, but I missed our chance at the Planetarium due to poor timing on my part. Next time I need to make sure to set an alarm to make that show since they only run a few times each day.

We also ate lunch at the museum. While the food is not as good as some of the restaurant food we have had like at the Modern in New York, or Hampton Court Palace in England, there are enough options for picky kids and adults alike. It was super hot when we left the museum so the kids also grabbed some ice cream before our trip home.

Side note- In 2025 I also made my kids hike to Sweet Box for desserts. They have some incredible treats such as edible cookie dough, a brownie with fun icing, and massive cookies. I did not bring car seats on that trip, but I did bring a stroller for my younger child. To incentivize the walk for my older child they were able to pick extra treats at the bakery which made them happy. There were asks to return to Sweet Box this past trip, but we ran out of time. Next year, I will try to work the bakery in as a stop on our walk back from Independence Hall.

Federal Donuts

Lessons Learned:

Kids get priority boarding with Amtrak until they are twelve. This is helpful as the train can get very crowded in both directions. On the return trip I was lucky to get on early and find two adjacent empty seats with one behind them. This allowed me to stay close to the kids which was not a guarantee without assigned seats. If I were traveling solo with younger kids, then I would have paid up for reserved seats.

Travel Gear:

I have a giant Osprey backpack that I use as our suitcase to free up my hands to help the kids onto and off of the train. The steps on and off of the train can be difficult for young kids, and it gets very crowded during peak travel times, so make sure you have your hands free to help the kids as needed. I was also to detach the smaller backpack, and use it as a purse for our time at the Franklin Institute.

Check out my travel gear page for a full list of my recommendations. Please know I can make a commission from products that help offset the cost of maintaining this blog.

Final Thoughts:

While I don’t want to live in Philadelphia because it is colder than DC, my family and I do love to visit. The kids are already asking to spend two nights in Philadelphia next year because they want to see Independence Hall and the Mint. The smaller size of the city makes it easy to walk, and more accessible than NYC for younger kids.
#39 – The Faroe Islands- Exploring the Untamed: A Travel Guide

June 14, 2026
My husband and I went to the Faroe Islands back in the Spring of 2019 as part of our last big trip before having kids. We planned a Scandinavian trip that also included time in Copenhagen, and spent six days driving around the Faroe Islands.

Sod house

Why the Faroe Islands?

By the time we started planning this trip, my husband and I had already been hiking in Iceland, Switzerland, Japan and Australia. We were looking for a new country to explore, and had been reading that the Faroe Islands were one of those “up and coming” hiking destinations because of the incredible scenery and sod covered buildings.

We were pretty confident in both our hiking abilities at this point, and my husband’s comfort level driving rental cars in foreign countries. It seemed like a good idea to spend some time in nature sandwiched between fun urban culinary and cultural experiences in Copenhagen before becoming parents.

Breathtaking cliff views

Planning:

There weren’t a lot of hotel options outside of Tórshavn, so we decided to stay at different Airbnb’s for this trip. (Our last positive experience before Vienna). We wanted to explore some of the different islands, and decided to break up our stay with two nights in Muli, two nights on the south island, and then two nights in Tórshavn. We didn’t plan much else in advance knowing we would spend most of our time outside hiking.

It’s been seven years since our trip, but this listing is for one of the places we stayed. It was super cozy inside, and we were able to get groceries at a store not too far away.

Experience:

We were pretty surprised at the lack of travel infrastructure in the Faroe Islands. Unlike all of our other hiking trips, there were not really well-marked hiking trails or even parking lots outside of the area immediately surrounding Tórshavn. A few times we just parked the car and hoped for the best as we explored. I was really glad we had a hand held GPS on our hikes to help us navigate because a few times we had to hope and pray a pile of rocks was the trail marker we needed. I was also several months pregnant, and hiking poles were a must for this trip because the trails and grassy areas had some pretty extreme elevation changes too.

A totally crazy thing about driving in the Faroe Islands is the one-way underwater tunnels between the islands. There are little holes carved into the tunnels for cars to stop in, and you have to navigate figuring out which direction in the tunnel has the right of way, and when you need to be ready to pull to the side of the tunnel/cave so another car can pass through.

Lessons Learned:

The Faroe Islands are for more adventurous and experienced travelers. You cannot go there expecting an established travel infrastructure like other countries. You should expect very limited options at grocery stores, and not plan to find “fun” coffee shops and other businesses during your travels to the island.

Sheep crossing

Travel Gear:
- A hand-held GPS is a must for this trip. You need it for hiking and navigating the islands.
- Bring basic kitchen equipment like a sharp knife, spatula and some cooking oil if you plan to stay in something other than a hotel because the available kitchen supplies vary greatly between accommodations.
- Hiking poles. The lack of marked trails and established paths makes for some treacherous hikes.
- Check out my travel gear page for a full list of my recommendations. Please know I can make a commission from products that help offset the cost of maintaining this blog.
Final Thoughts:

I’m glad we went to the Faroe Islands before having kids because it would have been really hard to travel there with kids under twelve due to the limited food and activity options. While the scenery and landscapes are breathtaking, the lack of travel infrastructure means I would not recommend the Faroe Islands for anyone who isn’t very comfortable navigating foreign countries with limited resources.

Views of the Faroe Islands
#43 Antigua – An Enjoyable All-inclusive Vacation

May 23, 2026

Antigua is hands down the most spontaneous vacation I have planned yet. I was in need of a long weekend to reset, relax and recharge and wanted to do it in a tropical location. Antigua fit the bill.

Beach view of the St. James Antigua

Why Antigua?

I needed to get away for a long weekend to a tropical location within two weeks of deciding to book this trip. An island without travel advisories or security issues was preferred since there was a 30% chance this would be a solo trip.

I last booked a vacation using Costco Travel back in 2016, and liked the experience of having my flight, resort transfers and accommodations all taken care of under one reservation. Plus there’s the benefit of getting some cash back with my annual Costco Executive membership benefit which is always a nice perk. Given the quick turnaround of this trip, and lack of time to do a ton of research and preparation, I wanted the ease of being able to trust the Costco brand to book a quick trip.

When I started to book this trip Antigua was listed as one of Costco’s Caribbean package locations, and I decided to narrow my search to Antigua and one other island.

Planning:

Since this had the potential to be a solo trip, booking through Costco Travel felt a bit safer so I could have my transportation and resort arrival all coordinated in advance through one reservation. I found the St. James Club listed as an all-inclusive option on the Costco Travel website, and the price was in the middle of the other Caribbean all-inclusive options I saw on the website available for my travel dates.

What I liked about the St. James when checking out their website was it looked like there were multiple beaches and water activities available in addition to multiple pools and a gym. It appeared to have several dining options, and bars so I would not need to leave the property.

Map of the St. James Beach Club Antigua

Experience:

While not as nice as Aruba, I had a great experience in Antigua. A friend ended up traveling with me, and it was easy for us to combine our transportation reservations for the forty minute drive from the airport to the St. James, and the property was able to place us in rooms next to one another to make our stay very easy.

Upon arrival at the St. James we learned that the resort was massive. There are a bunch of villas on the property, and some of the pools and other amenities are dispersed throughout the villa area. For people with mobility challenges we learned that there are golf carts available for transportation around the resort, and the staff are super friendly during the rides around the property.

I booked an ocean view room, and it was located near the reception area, and the main hotel pool. This made it very easy to get to breakfast or grab a quick drink at the coffee shop first thing in the morning.

While the St. James is a bit worn around the edges, I appreciated the fact that neither my travel companion nor I experienced stomach issues during our stay. We were able to drink the water provided on the property, and have ice in our drinks without issue. I will take that over a pristine resort any day of the week.

One of the best activities of the trip was the Friday night beach party at the St. James. Dinner was served at sunset on the beach, and then they had a dance party with people wearing traditional Antigua costumes as entertainment. There was a balloon arch, welcome cocktails, a huge variety of food, and it was so fun to be able to sit out on the beach and watch the sunset during dinner.

We also booked an excursion off property during our stay. We were able to book for the day after our arrival without issue. After reviewing a handful of options, we decided to swim with Sting Rays out in the ocean, and visit a turtle sanctuary for half a day, and that excursion did not disappoint. We had no issues with the taxi service the hotel arranged to the sting ray excursion site. After a brief excursion overview, we boarded a boat to Sting Ray Alley. It was so cool to be able to touch sting rays in the ocean, and have them swim around you too. There were more than a dozen of them that came to the feeding area, and we loved being able to feel how soft they were, and also get a chance to feed them squid. It was surprising that the guides seemed to know the myriad of different sting rays and their personalities. After our sting ray session, we took a boat to a turtle sanctuary where we got to feed large tortoises and then hold baby ones before taking a boat back to the excursion site. Our taxi back to the resort was also on time, and we had no transportation issues – which is always a relief.

Party on the beach!

Lessons Learned:

The sargassum smell is real in Antigua. On our first day the smell was especially bad, but it got better as the wind picked up during our trip. There was one part of the resort that was particularly smelly so we did not lounge on that beach during the trip. The side of the property that had water sports like paddle boarding and kayaking did not smell bad, so you can still have a very nice beach vacation.

Book travel insurance, and try to avoid checking a bag when traveling. There is not a direct flight to Antigua from DC, so I had a connection in Miami. Our trip down to Antigua did not have any issues, but on our way back there was a storm that prevented checked bags from coming out to the luggage carousel on time in Miami. My travel companion checked a bag, and as a result of having to wait for it, and then clear security again, they missed our flight home to DC. Fortunately they made a flight home only two hours later.

Swimming with sting ray

Travel Gear:

I brought my snorkel and was glad to have it for the Sting Ray excursion. That said, there was no snorkeling at the St. James, so it was not a must-have for this trip if I had only remained on the resort property.

My waterproof phone case was a must-have to get pictures during the sting ray excursion. I did not bring a waterproof camera on this trip, so this was the perfect pouch for my phone.

This collapsible beach bag came in handy for our excursion when I had a towel, and snorkel gear. It fit in the front pocket of my suitcase and did not take up a bunch of extra room. The resort also provides beach bags for your stay, but it was nice to have a larger bag for the Sting Ray excursion since I packed snacks from the coffee shop.

Check out my travel gear page for a full list of my recommendations. Please know I can make a commission from products that help offset the cost of maintaining this blog.

Final Thoughts:

Feeding turtles

I’d rate Antigua in the middle of the pack of my Caribbean island adventures. We didn’t have the same pristine bright blue ocean views like I had in Aruba or the Bahamas, but it was also nice to not have any of the GI issues we had with Jamaica.
#11- Hungary: Ultimate Budapest Guide for Traveling with Kids

April 22, 2026

If you are planning a trip to Hungary, then I am happy to have an offline conversation about the beauties of the larger country and different regions. I studied abroad in Budapest for a semester, and had an opportunity to see many different parts of Hungary.

For this post I am going to focus on my family’s visit to Budapest in the Fall of 2022 when my kids were one and three. It was basically a playground tour of Budapest, but wow– the Budapest playgrounds were actually incredible! Since I think most people would be intimidated to take kids to Budapest, I want to share some of the things we did that made it one of the most kid friendly cities we have been– and my kids have been to eight countries as I write this post.

Why Budapest?

I love the architecture and geography of Budapest. Budapest is built up along the Danube river with Buda Castle on one side, and magnificent bridges to the Pest side that has unique buildings like Parliament, the Central Market, zoo, Opera House etc. that provide for some incredibly scenic walks around the city. One of the most beautiful hotels I have ever been in is the Four Seasons Budapest because of its views of the Buda side, and incredible lobby decor. One of my bucket list items is to stay in a room at the Budapest Four Seasons with a view of the river.

Budapest is also relatively inexpensive compared to many places in Europe. When traveling with kids you can find larger accommodations and better prices on restaurants and attractions than other European locations.

Night time ferris wheel ride

Planning:

Our original plan had been to spend the night before my birthday at the Intercontinental Budapest with a view of the Danube River. We were going to take a morning train from Vienna to Budapest, and then spend the better part of two days seeing Buda Castle, showing my kids where I went to school, Parliament, and the zoo if we had time. I also wanted to go for a run on Margaret Island for my birthday morning gift. We were going to eat in the Central Market Hall, celebrate with Dobos Torte cake, and have a nice quick trip.

Experience:

As I shared in my Vienna post, we had to pivot, and ended up unexpectedly spending over a week in Budapest. It was surprisingly awesome. When we learned we could not stay in Vienna for the duration of our almost two-week trip due to accommodation shortages, my gut was to go to Budapest because we had already planned to go there, and I knew my way around the city. I was concerned if we booked our stay in a smaller Austrian city we may not have enough to do, or would struggle if we had an emergency with the kids.

We booked a last minute Airbnb apartment on Vaci Utca in the main shopping area. While rain ended up flooding the apartment through the ceiling during the last morning of our stay, the rest of our stay in the apartment worked really well. We had a small kitchen, two bedrooms and sitting area which was great for the kids to play in. At the ages of one and three we needed more space than a traditional hotel room for such a long trip.

It was fun to be able to shop for groceries again in the Central Market. We were able to get meat and produce from the main floor of the market, and used the grocery store in the basement for frozen food, diapers etc. There’s an incredible cheese shop too so you can have quite the foodie experience even if you have to cook your own food. There is prepared food on the upper level which makes also it a perfect lunch spot.

As a college student I never gave any thought to the playgrounds in Budapest, but during our trip I think we went to all of the major ones– and some of them were truly incredible. Next to Buda Castle there is a castle themed playground that was such a fun way for the kids to relate to what we were seeing during our afternoon on the Buda side. We also took the funicular down Buda Hill which the kids loved!

There’s another playground near Gellert bath house that is built into the hill so kids can ride massive tube slides before or after a trip to the bath house. We were able to go to the Gellert bath house as a family despite the young ages of my kids which was very fun on a colder day of our trip.

The playground that really captured my kid’s imagination was Múzeum Kert Játszótér. It has a marble run, and my oldest child has since developed an affinity for marble runs because of the experience of playing with the marble run in one of the play structures.

The playground on Gellert Hill

The Budapest Zoo is both an architectural masterpiece, and a unique way to experience animals up close unlike zoos in the states. I took a class on Budapest architecture during study abroad, and we spent a class walking around the zoo learning about the history and design of all of the buildings. During my 2022 trip the kids did not care to hear about buildings – they were more focused on the butterfly house, being able to get up close and personal with the outdoor Wallaby exhibit, and being in an open room with bats. I highly recommend this zoo because it also has many play areas interspersed with the animals.

The Ferris Wheel was built after our trip to Budapest, and ended up also being a fun activity for the kids. We rode it at night to enjoy the views, and magic of the city. There is also a small playground in that park with in-ground trampolines that my kids loved to jump on. This playground was their introduction to Budapest and it set a high bar for our trip.

If you like to run, then you must run along the Pest side of the Danube River up to Margaret Island. There is a path that goes around the island that is roughly 5K. It’s such a beautiful way to see the city, and it gives you a chance to preview the park and other attractions available on the island too. We found a fountain with an interactive light and music display that captivated the kids one afternoon.

St. Steven’s Basilica

Gellert Bath House

Lessons Learned:

Budapest is a very kid friendly city. There are so many unique playgrounds and other family friendly activities like multiple bath houses, the zoo and museums that provide an engaging experience for everyone. We did not even journey out of the city to other places like Statue Park that can help bigger kids learn more about communism and the history of Eastern Europe.

Travel Gear:

We had many things from the younger kid part of my kid travel gear list on this trip.

At one and three my kids still slept in sleep sacks, and the Woolino sleep sack was perfect for the huge temperature fluctuations we experienced this trip. We had not planned for the slightly colder weather in Budapest, and the wool sleep sacks still kept our kids warm at night in our apartment with vaulted ceilings.

Check out my travel gear page for a full list of my recommendations. Please know I can make a commission from products that help offset the cost of maintaining this blog.

Final Thoughts:

Budapest may be off the beaten path for most American’s, but don’t let that stop you from planning a family trip to Budapest. There are so many things for families to do, as well as delicious food that I didn’t dedicate enough of this post to. If your young kids love carbs, then know they will not starve in Budapest given the pastries and delicious cakes available around this beautiful city.
#13 Austria- Navigating Vienna: Our Family’s Unique Travel Adventure

April 22, 2026

My first trip to Vienna, Austria was for a snowy long weekend with some friends during study abroad. We stayed in a hostel, went to every major museum and famous coffee shop, and then got standing tickets to the opera.

A fall 2022 trip was planned as my family’s first major international trip after having kids. Thanks to COVID we did not get to take a Spring 2020 trip to Portugal with our oldest child, so our first big family trip was with two kids who were one and three at the time of travel. We were excited to be able to get out and travel again after a three year hiatus from international trips, and start to show the kids the joys of new adventures– or at least experience new playgrounds and coffee shops.

The Natural History Museum

Why travel to Vienna?

There’s a nonstop flight from IAD to Vienna, so we thought it would be easy to fly into Vienna, and then take the train into the city center. We wanted to visit museums and coffee shops in between trips to the playground, and then spend time hiking in forests and visiting wineries on the outskirts of Vienna.

Planning for Vienna:

We thought we found the perfect Airbnb for this two week trip. It was 800 meters from the Wien Hauptbahnhof so we thought we could take the S-Bahn into the city and then walk to our lodging. The pictures of the Airbnb we picked had bunk beds, a crib and even a tumbling mat for play so we thought it would be an ideal home away from home. We had planned our check-in to be the day before our early morning arrival so we could get into our lodging as soon as we arrived in the city center.

We also booked an overnight trip to Budapest, about a week into our travels with the goal of leaving our big suitcases and kid things, like a hiking backpack, at the Airbnb to then spend one night in a Budapest hotel for my birthday.

We did not book activities in advance because we had no idea how a one and three year old would acclimate to the time change.

Experience:

My husband and I got onto the train from the Vienna airport with both kids to the city center thinking we were in great shape. The flight was super easy, and the kids were in relatively good spirits. Little did we know we were about to walk into a horrific Airbnb scam.

We walked the 800 meters from the train station to the Hotspot Museum 5, Airbnb with two little kids and luggage for a two week trip. We packed things like sleep sacks, sippy cups and kid bowls and utensils thinking we would only have to haul everything the days of our arrival and departure.

We made it to the Airbnb and the door code my husband entered did not work. He then texted the Airbnb host Erich who asked if we had arrived the day before. Of course we had previously communicated our arrival plan, and Erich then let my husband know the unit could have bed bugs, but we were welcome to meet him at a park that afternoon where he could then transport us in a van to new lodgings. Despite not sleeping on the overnight flight, we still had enough sense to realize this was an Airbnb scam, and we declined that offer.

At this point our luck with the kids ended, everyone started to melt down, and we needed a place to rest, and FAST. We then walked the 800 meters back to the train station area, and found a Hilton. I’d previously run multiple marathons, and that 800 meter walk was one of the hardest of my life.

Y’all, Hilton SAVED us after that painful walk. My husband walked up to the registration counter, explained the situation, and the staff at the Hilton Vienna Park could not have been more helpful and kind. They immediately set us up in two adjoining rooms, and sent up a crib within minutes of us getting into the room. A basic level room was not available, so they even gave us an upgraded room at the standard rate. That level of service has made us Hilton customers for life.

After getting settled into the amazing Hilton, we had to completely re-plan our trip. There were no Airbnb’s in Vienna with ten plus consecutive nights available for the duration of our stay, and Airbnb did nothing to help us find family friendly accommodations. Not knowing what to do, we decided to pivot and book an Airbnb in Budapest for the majority of our trip. You can read more about that Airbnb experience here, but after this trip I will never stay in an Airbnb again.

We did spend three nights at the Hilton Vienna Park before departing for Budapest, and then returned for two additional nights before flying home. While our Vienna trip did not go as planned, we did manage to make the most of our time there once we got our lodgings sorted out.

The Museum of Natural History was a highlight for our young kids. The dinosaur bones were the big draw for them, and they were able to enjoy other parts of the museum on a rainy morning in Vienna. We have some great pictures of them with dinosaur bones and fake cave people. There are also a lot of beautiful gardens in this part of town that we enjoyed. Since it’s been a few years since our trip, many of those park details are a bit blurry since they were overshadowed by our stress in finding new accommodations.

I do remember we also spent a lot of time at Stadtpark. There are multiple playgrounds within the park, so we started each day at the playground before trying to see a museum or other sight.

The night before we flew home we also ventured out to Mayer winery. It was an awesome way to end our travels to Vienna and Budapest. Adventures to the forests and wineries on the outskirts of Vienna were what we had envisioned for the majority of our trip, so we were grateful we got to experience an Austrian winery once before flying home.

We were able to take public transportation and walk the remainder of the way to Mayer winery on a beautiful fall evening. We were then pleasantly surprised to find both an outdoor climbing structure and indoor play room for the kids. This made our visit extra enjoyable, because my husband and I were able to take turns enjoying the delicious wine flights we ordered and watching the kids play. Both kids ended up napping for a bit which made for a peaceful wine tasting in a beautiful outdoor courtyard. We also made a pit stop at yet another playground between the winery and train stop to make the journey back to the hotel more enjoyable for the kids.

Mayer Winery

Lessons Learned:

As previously stated our biggest lesson was to never book with Airbnb again. We had previously enjoyed stays in Paris, the Faroe Islands and Switzerland, but we learned with two young kids you need better lodging guarantees.

Travel Gear:

Our Osprey Poco Child Carrier Backpack was a star of this trip. We were able to carry one child on our back for longer distances while the other child sat in the stroller. This helped while we were out exploring.

Check out my travel gear page for a full list of my recommendations. Please know I can make a commission from products that help offset the cost of maintaining this blog.

Final Thoughts:

Despite our bad lodging experience, I really do love Vienna. It would be nice to go back when the kids can appreciate the museums, opera and coffee shops that made my first trip to the city so memorable.
#4 England – London Travel Tips: Successful Exploration with Little Ones

April 19, 2026

It’s been almost three years since our trip to London, but I still wanted to share some of our trip details that could help others plan a trip with younger kids. I had already been to England a few times before our Summer 2023 trip with kids who were one and three at the time. After our trip to Vienna and Budapest the summer before, we wanted to plan something slightly less intense for our second trip overseas as a family of four.

The Peppa Pig Bus Tour

Why London?

At the ages of one and three our kids were into all things Peppa Pig. This fascination combined with the fact that there are so many family friendly things to do in London, made London an easy vacation choice for our family.

Planning:

This was our first big trip after Hilton saved us in Vienna, so we decided to stay at the Hilton London Metropole. We knew we could easily access the Heathrow Express to get into the city from the airport, and the Two Bedroom Family Suite would allow us to relax while the kids napped every day, and eat some meals in the room. By booking with the American Express Centurion Card we were guaranteed breakfast every day plus happy hour at the hotel which makes for an even better hotel stay.

Since we took this trip when both kids needed to go back to the hotel most days for an afternoon nap, being able to take turns working out in the Hilton gym was also a nice perk. I was able to log a few Peloton rides while the kids slumbered.

We were lucky to find the Peppa Goes to London book in the free library by our house before our trip. The kids read this book several times before we left to learn more about London and what to expect during our trip.

I found out about the Brigit’s Bakery Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea London Sightseeing Bus Tour before we left, and booked tickets for our last day in London. I wanted to end the trip on a memorable note, and hoped this would achieve that goal.

Experience in London:

The Hilton London Metropole exceeded our expectations for our stay. The family suite had a separate kitchen area, and a massive bathroom with a soaking tub which was perfect for bath time with little kids. Also, the hotel was across the street from Marks and Spencer, so we were able to get groceries there for lunch and dinner when needed. When traveling with such young kids some days we just needed to relax at the hotel after a day of exploring.

Hampton Court Palace was such a treat for the kids. Our older child enjoyed turning meat on a spit in the palace hearth, and then both kids had so much fun playing in the massive play area adjacent to the palace. The castle playground was a great way for the kids to burn off energy and have fun after having to behave in the palace. The tickets to the play area were timed entry, and we stayed for the duration of our allotted time.

Turning Meat at Hampton Court Palace

I’m glad we booked tickets to the London Eye in advance because the line was somewhat long. Once on the ride, the kids got a lot of joy from seeing Big Ben and other buildings from the air which made for a really great experience and some great pictures for our annual holiday card. After the London Eye, we went to The Children’s Play Area Jubilee Gardens Playground so the kids could play more before we went to dinner at Giraffe. Giraffe was a very kid-friendly restaurant and we were able to eat outside which made it more relaxing for everyone in our family.

We skipped the crown jewels during our half day visit to the Tower of London because it had super long lines that we did not think the kids could tolerate. BUT, we also found the coolest souvenir for the kids in the Tower of London gift shop. We found a set of London themed wooden cut out toys like a double decker bus, a moving London Eye, a Beefeater etc. that the kids still play with three years later. During our trip they made for a fun quiet toy to play with in the hotel at night, and since our return they have also worked well for show and tell items at school.

A nice perk of the Transportation Museum tickets is that they are valid for a year after your visit. If you plan on going to this museum located near Covent Garden, you should go early on your trip. We ended up going to the Transportation museum multiple times so the kids could play on the indoor bus and other items in between our sight seeing trips around the city. It was also nice to be able to duck into the museum to use the museum’s restrooms while out and about.

Since it’s been a few years since our trip, I have forgotten every playground that we went to; but Hyde Park, Regents Park, and St. James Park all had playgrounds I remember being very impressed with. We spent a lot of time at playgrounds on this trip, and they did not disappoint.

Jubilee Gardens Playground

Lessons Learned:

As I mentioned at the start of this post, I booked the Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea London Sightseeing Bus Tour for our last day in London. My youngest was just under two years old at the time of travel, and I booked them a ticket despite the fact that the booking page said the minimum age was two. I was a bit nervous getting on the double decker bus that the bakery would ask for some kind of age verification, and they did not, which was amazing since my kids had so much fun during the bus tour.

The tea was adorable for the kids, and a great way to see the city a final time before we flew home. Next time, I will book our Brigit’s Bakery tickets even further in advance so we can sit on the upper level of the bus to get better views of the city. The bakery has several other themed bus tours, so I would happily take the kids on another tour like Paddington Bear when they are older.

Afternoon Tea by Bus

Travel Gear:

We were loaded down with all of the young child travel gear for this trip. What came most in handy though was the Ergobaby Carrier. Not all of the underground stations have elevators which sometimes made it challenging to navigate public transportation with young kids.

Our OXO Tor 2-in-1 Go potty was also a must have on this trip. We carried in while out during the day to help with public restrooms, and also used it in the hotel at night. It was such a huge help with two young kids who were learning to use the potty while on the go.

Check out my travel gear page for a full list of my recommendations. Please know I can make a commission from products that help offset the cost of maintaining this blog.

Final Thoughts on London:

We really enjoyed our playground tour of London, and I can’t wait to take the kids back when they are a bit older so we can take advantage of more of the cultural offerings of the city. Maybe we can book a long layover in London before exploring a new part of Europe.
#15 The Netherlands: Family-Friendly Amsterdam: Our Spring Break Adventure

April 14, 2026

My first trip to Amsterdam was during study abroad for a long weekend with family. Some stakeholders were less than amused when I demonstrated at the first bar we went to in Amsterdam that part of the experience I had had during my semester in Eastern Europe was learning the proper way to drink Absinthe – whoops! We spent the rest of the weekend going to museums, seeing the canals and taking a day trip to Edam for cheese.

Keukenhof gardens

This post is focused on my seven day spring break 2024 trip with my husband and kids who were two and four at the time. Sadly, no absinthe was consumed during this trip, but we did eat our weight in Stroopwafels. We also broke up the trip by spending a few days in Belgium as a chance to see more of the region.

Why Amsterdam with a young family?

Our nanny at the time requested to use PTO over spring break so we decided that that week would be our big annual trip. When looking at flights for the dates we had available, we saw that Paris and Amsterdam were some of the cheapest nonstop flights from IAD to European cities that also had public transit from the airport to the city center. From there we asked our oldest if they had a preference, and they selected Amsterdam.

Stroopwafels

Planning for Amsterdam:

Our trip to Amsterdam was less than two years after our family’s trip to Vienna, and our allegiance to Hilton was still going strong. We booked our stay at the Hilton Amsterdam using the Amex Centurion card to ensure free breakfast and potential room upgrades during the trip. One of the people we traveled with during the tail end of our trip had also previously really enjoyed their stay at the Hilton Amsterdam, so it was the top choice for them too.

The most impactful planning we did for this trip was reading books to the kids about the Netherlands before our trip. I purchased Theodore’s Netherlands Adventure, and KeeKee’s Big Adventures in Amsterdam, Netherlands to teach the kids about what we would see prior to our travels. It helped get them excited for the tulip fields, wooden shoes and windmills. Also, the kids got their Easter baskets prior to this trip, and they were filled with travel toys that have become staples on our adventures.

Experience in Amsterdam:

We ended up using the KeeKee book as a guide for our stay in Amsterdam. We would read the book at night to see if the things we had done that day were also mentioned in the book. We then tracked what else we could do during our trip that looked like fun in the book.

Standout activities included going to the Nemo museum for a rainy day where the kids had a blast running around the exhibits learning about sounds and gravity. This was followed by lunch at the floating Sea Palace restaurant where the kids were mesmerized by the robot servers, and the adults enjoyed quality Dim Sum brunch.

When not exploring Amsterdam, we spent a lot of time playing, running and eating in Vondel Park. We especially liked sitting outside at Brouwerij ’t IJ – ’t Blauwe Theehuis to eat and relax while the kids played in the surrounding grass or eating at Groot Melkhuis because it also had an outdoor kids play area attached to the restaurant. I also went running in the park a few times and felt very safe.

I am not sure how many stroopwafels we consumed during the trip, but it was a lot. They were all delicious, but some were way messier than others depending on how fresh and melty the caramel was. We kept a pack of wet wipes in the stroller on this trip, and they came in handy for sugar covered covered hands. We also stopped at Lourens Bakery because they were selling the trendy and scrumptious croissant cookies.

Lourens Bakery

We also spent a rainy day at Keukenhof where we were overcome by the beauty of the tulips and other flowers, and the kids had the chance to go into their first windmill. The beauty of the gardens was next-level, and I was blown away by the sheer quantity and variety of tulips the park had. We booked tickets with a bus transfer to Keukenhof in advance to make the visit easy. One thing to know is there was a line for the buses when we arrived, so you need to plan to book a very early ticket to avoid the lines, or bring activities to keep the kids entertained while you wait to board the bus.

Another Netherlands highlight was a bus trip to Zaanse Schans to see more windmills, and a klompen factory. The KeeKee book talks about klompen being made for stompin, so the kids had fun trying on wooden shoes after seeing how they were made. They also had fun running around in the open air museum while the adults admired the unique architecture.

We spent several hours one day at the Rijksmuseum. We did our usual scavenger hunt for the museum– which is letting each kid pick out two post cards from the museum gift shop, and then looking for that art in the museum. But, the coolest part of the visit was the Play Mobile toys we got there. They are special edition, limited-release toys that focus on Dutch Master painters.

We are two years out from our trip, and the kids still love getting the sets out to play with the painters. It’s also becoming more relevant as they learn about Dutch painters at school and are able to recall the figures they have at home.

A final must-do activity is the canal cruise. We were able to book same-day canal cruise tickets for a group of ten, and it was so fun to be able to see the city by water. The kids had a blast listening to the presentation, and the parents were able to catch-up while we saw the sights of Amsterdam. We also looked at the pancake canal cruise, but the available times did not align with the needs of the group. It looked like another great way to engage kids while sightseeing in Amsterdam.

Limited Edition Dutch Masters Playmobil

Lessons Learned in Amsterdam:

Our biggest lesson learned was to book tickets to the Van Gogh museum in advance. We did not, and the tickets sold out for regular admission for several days prior to the end of our trip. We even had the idea of calling the Amex Centurion line for help, and were advised to use Get Your Guide to book a tour.

We did book the tour which seemed a bit excessive with very young kids, but yet again the post card scavenger hunt kept the kids engaged for a significant portion of the guided tour while the adults followed along. The tour did talk about suicide, so I would plan in advance if you do not want to have hard conversations about that topic with kids during vacation.

The Hilton Amsterdam is incredibly kid friendly. From the moment we arrived at the property, the kids were welcomed with activity packets and even a special themed check-in step at the registration counter. The Hilton took such good care of the kids while we were there, and went above and beyond with bunny chocolates on Easter morning. While the location is a bit of a walk from some of the main sights, the quality of service we had justified the extra steps.

Travel Gear:

Kid rain boots were essential for this trip. My kids love to jump in puddles, and boots kept them dry during the rain and hail we experienced on the trip. I buy these boots in gender neutral colors so both kids can wear them. They are super durable, and have come on many trips.

Travel silverware was also a must. Several times we picked-up lunch or dinner to go and it did not include utensils. We have learned to always travel with it knowing Europeans have moved away from distributing single use utensils.

Check out my travel gear page for a full list of my recommendations. Please know I can make a commission from products that help offset the cost of maintaining this blog.

Final Thoughts:

Amsterdam is such an incredible city to visit, even if you are going with young kids. Despite its reputation, we were able to have such a lovely time experiencing Dutch culture, and the kids really loved being able to explore both Amsterdam and the surrounding area.
#23 Belgium: Successful Exploring with Kids: Tips and Highlights

April 11, 2026

My first trip to Belgium was actually senior year of college. I convinced some girlfriends to take advantage of cheap flights to Germany and Poland for Spring break. During our final few days in Cologne I talked everyone into taking the train to Liége, Belgium for the evening to get authentic Belgium waffles and beer before we flew home.

View from a canal tour of Bruges

Why Belgium?

This post will focus on our family trip to Belgium for Spring Break 2024 when my kids were two and four. We decided to break up a trip to the Netherlands with a stop in Belgium. We picked Brussels as our home base because it was an easy train ride from Amsterdam, and would enable us to take a day trip to Bruges too.

Planning for Belgium:

When planning our trip to the Netherlands and Belgium we knew we wanted an accommodation with a kitchen for a few days of the trip so we were not asking the kids to eat dinner at a restaurant every night for over a week away from home. We found the Hilton Garden Inn Brussels City Centre had a family suite with kitchen and offered free breakfast too.

We did not plan activities in advance for this trip because of the kid’s ages. We did not want to book anything in advance and then be unable to do it because of a meltdown or spontaneous stroller nap. We had an idea of things we wanted to do like eat a ton of waffles, drink some Belgium beer, and see the Grand-Place, but did not book anything prior to our departure.

The Speeltuin Poort van Halle-Vanderschrick playground

Experience in Belgium:

A morning train from Amsterdam to Brussels started our Belgium adventure. We were able to drop our bags at the Hilton, and begin exploring the city. Our first stop was the Speeltuin Poort van Halle-Vanderschrick playground two blocks from the hotel. This playground was really incredible with a castle theme, lots of places to run around, a slide and some climbing areas too. We then enjoyed an outdoor lunch at Gusto Petit which was across the street from the playground. After everyone filled their bellies we were able to continue to explore the city. We really loved the waffles at Maison Dandoy for our first taste of Belgium waffles as a family.

A day exploring mini-Europe and the Atomium on the outskirts of Brussels ended up being a highlight of the trip for the kids. They enjoyed standing on a rumbling board seeing a fake volcano eruption, and then using their Digital Camera’s to take pictures of all of the mini European buildings. It was a fun way for the kids to burn off energy at some place that was also entertaining for adults. The knight climbing up the side of a castle was a highlight for everyone to see.

The Atomium part of the day was quite the experience with colored lights and a 1950’s futuristic vibe to the interior of the exhibit. There were lots of different levels to the structure, which kept the kids excited to see what was next. After an action-packed day we were grateful to be able to relax and eat dinner in the hotel so the kids could decompress and we did not have to worry about them being exhausted while eating dinner at a restaurant.

We also took the train to Bruges from Brussels for a day trip. It was such a picturesque city that I wish we had spent more time there during our trip. The kids really enjoyed taking a canal cruise to see the city, and there were also some playgrounds like Koningin Astridpark with incredible views of churches and other architecture behind the play area.

Hands down though the best part of Bruges was the beer and Easter chocolate. We stopped in several chocolate shops to get easter eggs to fuel the kids during our exploration of the city. Leonidas ended up being our favorite brand, and we have even ordered it back at home for a treat.

Before taking the train back to Brussels we made sure to stock up on beer at the Bottle Shop in Burges because it had such an incredible selection of beer. It was a bit of a heavy walk from the main part of the city to the train station at the end of the day. One child fell asleep in the Minu Stroller, and the other slept on my back in the Ergobaby Carrier as we transported the kids, some beer and chocolate back to the train station for our ride to Brussels.

Mini-Europe

Lessons Learned:

While Brussels was an easy train ride from Amsterdam, we may have had a more beautiful trip staying in Bruges and doing a day trip to Brussels rather than what we planned. While we enjoyed our time in Brussels, it was so hard to say goodbye to Bruges after only a day.

The Atomium

Travel Gear:

At ages two and four, Window Stickers were a huge source of enjoyment for the kids. They covered the mirror in our suite with the stickers after a long day of exploring and were able to stay entertained while we got dinner prepared.

We also packed some sippy cups, and kid silverware which was helpful for our dinners in the hotel.

Also, our Ergobaby Carrier was essential for this trip. We decided to forgo naps at the hotel, and frequently had one or both kids napping in the stroller or in the carrier while we explored.

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Final Thoughts:

Belgium has such a fun mix of food and culture. Mini-Europe was an unexpected hit with the kids, and everyone enjoyed eating as many waffles as our stomachs could handle. I can’t wait to go back and see more of Belgium.