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  • #42 Panama- Girls Trip: Travel Hacks and Tips

    A girls trip to Panama in December 2025 was the inspiration for this site. As the women and I sat around a table on the last night of our trip talking about our passions, I shared that mine is travel and food. We discussed some of my travel hacks and lessons learned that had helped the group while on the trip, and I then decided to turn them into this post!



    Why Panama:



    Cheap nonstop flights from IAD, tropical resorts, history and culture, ecotourism

    View of ships waiting for entry to the Panama Canal
    The view from the Westin Playa Bonita



    Planning Panama:



    Panama got on my radar when I was daydreaming about spring break travel. Panama showed up as the cheapest nonstop international flight out of DCA or IAD for the dates I selected. Not knowing much about Panama outside of the Canal, I got the Lonely Planet Panama book from the library to learn more.

    There were some awesome beach itineraries and eco-lodges featured in the book, but around this time my children expressed interest in doing another Disney Cruise, so I decided to table the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve family trip to Panama, and turn it into a shorter girls trip. Fortunately, an initial girlfriend was up for the adventure, and we quickly started evaluating hotels as we added a few more group members to the trip.

    While we first looked at the Sofitel and other higher-end hotels in the city, we then narrowed our decision to either the Westin Playa Bonita or the Hyatt Dreams Playa Bonita. After reading the reviews, and realizing we would want to spend some time off of the property exploring, we decided on the Westin.    

    Experience in Panama:

    After the Copa flight to Panama City, we took an Uber to the hotel. When planning the trip, and talking to people who had been before, we were advised to avoid taxis and always use Uber.

    Our stay at the Westin Playa Bonita was enjoyable! The front desk experience was not up to the normal Marriott standard, but the service at the restaurants and outside bars were fabulous. You could sit with your feet in the sand drinking pool-side margaritas, or go to a nicer steak or sushi dinner too.

    We decided not to opt into the all-inclusive packages which were a little over $100 per day for the lower option, and almost $150 for the premium option. Since we did not want to be limited to the buffet, and didn’t think we would drink enough alcohol to justify the premium cost, we went a la carte. I did feel old opting out of the challenge of drinking enough to justify the all-inclusive price!

    At the Westin, the multiple resort pools were well-maintained, but one thing that was missing was a quiet area to relax. We tried to find a space to just read and chill in the sun, but after 10AM there was always music blasting, and at two points there were inflatable kid water slides releasing into the pool set-up for some parties. You could find quieter areas on the beach, but there were no umbrellas or sunshades available.  

    Feedback from the ladies who got massages at the spa was positive, and there were no issues scheduling spa appointments after arriving in Panama. Also, while there was a playground and kids club available, my peek into the kid room reeked of moth balls, and I would not have felt comfortable leaving my kids who speak very limited Spanish with the staff.

    Finally, the biggest and most fun surprise from the hotel was on the last night when there was a marching band performance in the lobby of the hotel as part of the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony. I cannot remember another time in my travels where there was a surprise marching band and dance team performance in the hotel lobby coupled with Santa, the Grinch, Mickey and Minnie Mouse. 

    The coolest part of the hotel hands down was the view of the ships in the ocean lined up to go into the Panama Canal. While sitting on the balcony at night the ships illuminated the water and made it look like a new shoreline. When I booked the room, I fully intended on drinking my morning coffee using my portable kettle and travel mug on the balcony, but I did not anticipate that unique view.

    We did leave the hotel to see the Canal and old town for part of one day. The hotel offered both half and full day tours through the Panamazing Tour Company, but we decided the price was a lot for five people. Instead, we pre-booked an Uber to arrive at the Miraflores Visitor Center a few minutes before it opened at 8. We didn’t book tickets in advance, but were able to get in and see a ship go through the lock in front of the viewing platform before the 9:45 IMAX show narrated by Morgan Freeman started.

    As a recovering history buff, I thought the canal experience was awesome and informative, and some of the ladies who dragged their feet on the excursion left feeling OK about our visit 🙂 Also, as a note for those traveling with kids, there is a small play area under the viewing platform that my kids wanted to play on when they saw a picture of it after my trip.

    Geisha Coffee at Sisu Coffee

    After the IMAX show, we easily got an Uber into the Panama City Old Town where we stopped at Sisu Coffee for a coffee, so I could pick up their famous Geisha coffee for my husband as a thank you for holding down the fort at home. From there we wandered for a bit before stopping for lunch atCasa Catedral. The restaurant had some cool old cars as decorations which made for some great conversations as we enjoyed lunch. From there we wandered more before easily finding another Uber to take us back to the hotel.

    Action shot from the Panama Canal Viewing Center

    Lessons from Panama: 

    • Pack good sunscreen. The Avena sun screen available from the hotel gift shop is not a good choice. I didn’t pack enough sunscreen for the trip, and this ended up being a big mistake because despite applying it multiple times in the span of 4 hours I still got moderately burned. 
    • If you are not planning on doing the all-inclusive package, buy beverages at the Airport Duty Free before you go down to baggage claim. Playa Bonita is isolated so your shopping options are limited to the hotel gift shops at the Westin and Hyatt. 
    • The Panama airport had several surprises. 1- The sandwiches available at food stalls end up being a mandatory $30 meal with a beverage. 2- despite already having cleared security once, you had to go through it again at the gate – so any beverages you were forced to purchase with your meal had to get chugged or dumped. Also, there were no water fountains at the gate which made for a thirsty flight home. 
    • Check out my international travel check list for more tips.

    Travel Gear:

    Final Thoughts on Panama:



    Panama was an awesome girls trip and supplied everything we needed- sun, sand, girl time, and a bit of relaxation before the Christmas season kicked into full gear. I want to go back as a family to check out the rainforest, and experience more of their blossoming ecotourism experiences. My Panama trip also ended up being a much vibrant girls trip than the all-inclusive option of the St. James Antigua I took several months later.

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  • #30 The Bahamas – Epic Disney Dream Bahamian Cruise from Ft. Lauderdale Vacation

    We made some pretty big changes in our family at the start of 2025, and I booked our Disney cruise as both something to look forward to six weeks into those changes, and as an escape to warm weather in the middle of a cold and snowy winter.



    Why book a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas:

    It feels like a real vacation for the family, the Disney magic, excellent execution of trip logistics.
    Mickey Bar on the Disney Dream

    Bahamas Cruise Planning:

    I started looking in early December for something our family of four could look forward to in February as we adjusted to our new daily schedule. At this point, round trip tickets from the DC area to any warm, international destination were prohibitively expensive. I started to look into Disney Cruises, and we were late enough booking that the Guaranteed Stateroom (GTY) option was available at a decent discount on the Disney Dream Bahamian Cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale that included a stop at Nassau, a private Disney Island and a day at sea. We booked a room with a balcony and hoped for the best!

    We opted out of having Disney secure our pre-cruise hotel and transit arrangements due to very limited (and expensive) availability of their hotel options. After reading several Reddit threads, we booked a room the night before our cruise ship departure at the Rodeway Inn near the Ft. Lauderdale cruise terminal.

    We survived the night before our cruise at the Rodeway Inn, but next time I would stay at the Embassy Suites. The location is adjacent to the Publix and Total Wine and More which would enable one of the adults to watch the kids at the hotel swimming pool while the other walked to the shopping center to secure sunscreen and beverages on the day we depart on the cruise. It would also eliminate one Uber ride, and potentially be a nicer room set-up for a family of four.   


    Experience on the Disney Dream:

    I cannot say enough good things about our experience on the Disney Dream. From our initial lunch at Animator’s Palate where our kids had their first Mickey bars of the trip, to the efficient departure on the final day, the guest experience was flawless. The restaurant staff especially made such an effort with my kids who were three and five at the time so that it was truly a magical experience for them.

    We enjoyed both our time on the ship, and exploring the private Disney Island. I know that there are many Disney fanatics out there that dedicate their lives to writing about Disney Cruises and park travel. Since I am not one of them, I just want to say this felt like the first relaxing vacation my family has had, and we cannot wait for our next voyage on a Disney Cruise ship.

    Blanket animal on Disney Dream cruise to the Bahamas
    Blanket animals on the Disney Dream

    Lessons from our first Disney Cruise:



    I scoured the internet for tips and tricks for Disney Cruises prior to our departure. Here’s a list of what we learned, and a few things I did not see mentioned on other sites.

    • Air tag your luggage. It takes a while for luggage to arrive in your state room on the day of your arrival, and anything with sound machines gets an extra screening. Also, you have to have your bags ready to go out in the hall the night before your departure so you will be better able to find your luggage after the cruise.
    • Pack a medical kit that includes bandages, and medicine for everyone. This tip came from a coworker who said they learned the hard way that basic medical supplies are hard to come by on the ship. I wanted to be prepared for reef scrapes, headaches, seasickness and other ailments. 
    • Opt out of the welcome beverage and cupcake delivered to your state room. I wanted to make our arrival special, so I tried to have a surprise ready for everyone else in my family. By the time we got to our state room, my kids were full from their Mickey bar at Anamator’s Palate, and the champagne I ordered was not cold. Next time I would make sure a beverage I purchased in advance of boarding the ship was in a cold cooler bag. 
    • Pack snack bags for the private island day. The only snack available on the island before lunch was soft serve ice cream. Next time I will bring some snacks from the breakfast buffet or room service in snack bags to tide my family over. Also, the buffet on the island has limited food options so having something you know your kids will eat can help prevent meltdowns in what can be longer lines.
    • Pack snorkels. My husband and I already own them. I also found some cheap full-face ones online that my oldest used in the water. The day we were at the private island was pretty windy so we did not get any good snorkeling, but we will be prepared for our next visit.
    • Book the early dinner reservation if you have young kids. (We got ours changed the day of arrival) Again, Disney does a great job with logistics so after dinner we learned to put the kids in their PJ’s and brush their teeth before the shows. We did not get this right for the first night of the cruise, and missed most of the Golden Mickeys. The shows are INCREDIBLE and we will not intentionally miss them on our next cruise. We also carried our exhausted kids to the state room after the shows, and promptly put them to bed without issue. 
    • The midship Detective game. This was the highlight of the trip for my oldest child. It’s a scavenger hunt around the ship that uses QR codes and videos to solve mysteries. Our next cruise will be on the Fantasy since it also has this game.   
    • Pack wet bags and clothes pins. If you swim at your hotel prior to getting on the cruise ship you will want something for your wet clothes.The clothes pins made it easier to dry a bunch of bathing suits on the trip.
    • Pack reusable water bottles, a bottle brush, and kid cups with lids. As a family we don’t normally leave the house without water bottles, but this was especially helpful when walking around hot Nassau for a bit, and while on the Disney Island. Also, the cups with lids came in handy for the kids when getting beverages from the pool deck between meals. Next time, they may even make an appearance on the island for a Coke float before lunch.
    • Opt for a wearable carrier over a stroller for kids. It’s hard to navigate the ship with a stroller. We decided to get a toddler carrier for this trip so we could avoid checking any bags for our flights, and to make it easier to navigate the cruise ship without needing to always use the elevator. The waits for elevators can get pretty ridiculous.  
    • Join the Facebook group for your cruise. There are certain Disney Cruise specific things like fish extenders and Pixie dust my family did not partake in, but many consider this an essential part of the Disney Cruise experience.
    • Check out my international travel check list for more tips.
    Midship Detective Game on Disney Dream cruise to the Bahamas
    Clue Door for the Midship Detective Agency on the Disney Dream

    Travel Gear:

    Final thoughts on our Disney Cruise to the Bahamas:

    My kids cannot wait for their next Disney Cruise because we had such a magical experience. On a previous cruise to the Bahamas that I did without kids we went to the Atlantis Hotel for the dolphin experience. It was incredible, and I cannot wait to book it on a cruise when my kids are old enough to appreciate the experience because it was just so cool to pet the dolphins and get to spend time with them.

    Note: We did take a second Disney Cruise to the Bahamas the following year, on the Disney Fantasy and had an even better time!

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  • #38 Denmark, Billund: A Lego Paradise for Kids and Families


    We planned our Scandinavia trip around a Billund visit because of one of our children’s Lego obsessions, and were not disappointed by the Legoland experience. If anything, we could have spent more time at Lego Haus and the surrounding attractions. Our trip started in Bergen, and also included stops in Flam, Oslo and Copenhagen too for our Scandinavian adventure with kids.



    Why Billund, Denmark?

    Do you also have a child who is obsessed with Lego’s or could spend hours being in a state of “Flow” building Lego sets? If so, a trip to Billund, Denmark, home of Lego HQ is a must-do trip! From the time you arrive at the airport until you depart the town, you are living the Lego life. It’s similar to a trip to Disney, but on a much smaller and more manageable scale for younger children.

    Lego dinosaur in Billund airport
    Billund Airport


    Planning for Billund:

    We picked the Legoland at the Holliday Village Ninjago accommodations for our August 2025 stay because my oldest who loves Legos also does Tae Kwon Do (or Ninja class), and the accommodations lived up to the joint Lego and Ninja hype. We reserved a two bedroom cabin for two nights, and had an immersive Lego and Ninjago experience as a result. The cabin was themed with character images on the walls, and ninja decorations throughout.

    The property was also decorated with Lego characters, and there was a themed playground a few cabins over from where we stayed. There were also other themed play areas around the property including a zipline, and bounce area that could have kept the kids busy for most of a day if we had budgeted more time for this part of the trip.

    Ninja cabin at Legoland Billund
    Inside the Ninjago cabin



    The cabin itself was more basic in its offerings including having to rent linens and towels, but it met our needs for two nights. We had brought microwave popcorn as a snack for Legoland, and had to go into the shared kitchen in the camping area of the Holiday Village to find a microwave and other kitchen appliances outside of a sink and hot plate in the room. The bathroom was also more rustic, so if you are somebody who needs more luxury accommodations- like a stand alone shower that does not get the rest of the bathroom floor wet, then I would look at booking either the Castle hotel or the main Legoland Billund hotel. BUT, if you want two bedrooms and a bit of space, including an outdoor play area you can safely send your kids to while you drink coffee on the porch in the morning, then the Lego cabins should not be missed.

    When traveling we almost always prioritize extra space and a place to sit for those two hours between kid and adult bedtime every night, as well as having a place to sit and drink coffee and wait for both kids to wake up in the morning. The Ninja cabin allowed for this, and we had some peaceful evenings watching the sunset on our cabin porch after the kids went to bed. 

    We booked our accommodations over six months in advance, and reserved two day theme park tickets plus Lego Haus tickets with our initial booking. While this did not provide flexibility for weather during our stay in Billund, it did guarantee us time at Lego Haus as well as the ability to book a reservation at Mini Chef for lunch, and it pushed us to spend more time at the park because we had two day passes.
     

    Experience in Billund:


    Even if you are not a Lego fanatic, it’s hard not to get excited about Lego when you land at the Billund airport, and see Lego decorations around the terminal. One of my children felt ill on the flight from Oslo to Billund, but they immediately recovered and rallied when they started to feel the Lego excitement build.

    We took the bus from the Billund airport to Legoland Holiday Village, and it was a bit of a trek from the bus stop to the cabin area. If we had been traveling with overnight bags it would have felt a lot more doable than hauling gear for a two week trip on and off a bus. We did make it to the cabin, and the kids were immediately excited to play on the adjacent playground while the adults unpacked and got situated.

    We took advantage of having two day Legoland Park passes, and were able to spend several hours of our first day at Billund at Legoland. This enabled the kids to ride some of the rides twice over two days, and spend time between when the rides stopped and the park closed enjoining the pirate play area inside of the park. It was also really fun to walk through Miniland, and see the top of the hotel we stayed at in Bergen represented in Lego’s. It helped the kids connect some of the travel dots of our trip which was fun to see!

    Lego Bergen in Billund Denmark
    Bergen in Lego Form



    We got to Legoland before opening time on our full park day, and took advantage of the tip the woman at the Ninjago cabins gave us to go to the back of the park and work your way forward to avoid some of the lines. We hustled to the back, and were able to ride several rides without lines before the rest of the crowds reached the back of the park which was lots of fun! The park closed at 5 the day we were there, so we booked a dinner reservation at the Legoland hotel Panorama restaurant. While slightly fancy after a day at a theme park, it was a fun way to end the day with Lego shaped fries for the kids, and nice wine for the adults.    


    The next day we went to Lego Haus and had lunch at Mini Chef before taking the bus and train to Copenhagen. It was such an incredible morning building in immersive and interactive Lego areas, buying a few exclusive Lego sets, and then using Lego’s to build our lunch orders. We also had fun spending time in the Lego museum located in the basement of Lego Haus. My husband and I had fun identifying sets we played with as kids, and I even recognized some sets as those my Uncle had, and my grandmother kept for her grandkids to play with too.



    My husband and I joked that Mini Chef restaurant may be even more creative than the famed Mini Bar in DC (where we once had foie gras “rubber ducks”) with the way you order, and the food being “delivered” by Lego robots. At Mini Chef you get a package of Lego bricks when you sit down to eat, and then each brick represents a different food item. You then build your lunch order and input it into a computer where Lego characters take your order and cook it on screen. Your lunch is then delivered down a conveyor belt in a Lego box that you open and eat out of. The kids were blown away by this dining experience, and it was a highlight of the trip.

    Lessons Learned:

    • Save space in your suitcase for the many Lego exclusive sets sold in Billund
    • The Holiday Village provides more space, but there is a location tradeoff with a longer walk to the bus stop and Legoland
    • The Legoland Panorama restaurant and Mini Chef are must-do themed dining experiences 
    • Check out my international travel check list for more travel tips

    Travel Gear:

    Lego Ice Cream

    Final Thoughts on Billund:

    At the ages of 4 and 5, Legoland Billund was the perfect speed for my kids. The shorter operating hours and more manageable size of the park compared to those in the U.S. made it a great gateway to theme park adventures.

    Also, Lego Haus can be enjoyed by kids of all ages, and then those that are not obsessed with Lego’s at home due to the interactive nature of the rooms, and the variety of Lego types they have available to build with– including Duplo train sets and the flower series.

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  • #41 Norway: A Family Guide to Enjoying Oslo with Kids

    It feels like we didn’t get to fully appreciate Oslo in August 2025 because it was sandwiched between the beauty of  Flåm, and our anticipation for Legoland, Billund during our Scandinavian adventure. Also, at this point in our trip everyone started to get sick or just tired from the travels, so we decided to pivot and spend an afternoon playing with toys from a really cool local toy store rather than exploring more of the city. From what we did see, it was beautiful and super kid friendly, and I would love to go back so we can enjoy more that the city has to offer.



    Why Oslo, Norway with kids?

    Oslo has a nonstop to Billund which is where Lego Headquarters is, so we wanted to fly into Billund and then journey back to Copenhagen for our flight home since Billund is in a somewhat remote part of Denmark from a transit perspective. Oslo fit the bill, and allowed us to do the Norway in a Nutshell journey too. We learned upon arrival that they have some incredible playgrounds for kids, and the museums are also super kid friendly with activities scattered in the exhibit halls to keep kids engaged.

    Oslo Norway playground for kids
    Kirsebærlunden lekeplass

    Planning:

    Somebody in my local mom group suggested the Thon Hotel Slottsparken and it was an awesome recommendation for families. We were able to get a two bedroom suite with a kitchen which was perfect for letting the kids spend an afternoon and evening relaxing in a hotel and eating familiar foods we were able to get from the local grocery store.


    Experience:

    We really loved the Oslo National Museum. It was so kid friendly! When we arrived at the museum we immediately went to the gift shop so both kids could pick out two post cards for our usual museum scavenger hunt, but honestly the museum had so many cool kid activities interspersed in the exhibits that our scavenger hunt wasn’t really needed for the kids to enjoy the museum. They would have been super happy just coloring at the station set-up on the first floor of the museum, and then enjoying the interactive activities that could be found every few rooms in the museum like blocks and puzzles.

    After spending a morning at the museum, we had lunch by the water adjacent to a playground, and then let the kids pick out souvenirs at Sprell, the local toy store. If everyone had been feeling better we would have done more than walk by the Opera house later in the day after dinner at Kaffistova which offered our final taste of traditional Norwegian food of the trip.

    Dinner at Kaffistova in Oslo
    Dinner at Kaffistova



    Before we departed for our flight to Billund we did take the kids to Kirsebærlunden lekeplass to experience the longest slide in Norway. This playground helped get the kid’s energy out, and they enjoyed the bright colors and design of the park.

    Lessons Learned: 

    • Sprell is an amazing toy store. It was hard to limit the kids to one item they could easily bring home. I somewhat regret not getting more plus-plus toys while there because the options were so much better than what I have been able to find back in the states.
    • Despite Vivino listing a wine from Norway on their app, I could not find one despite checking multiple stores in Norway. I could find Mead, but no real wine.
    • Oslo has incredible playgrounds adjacent to major tourist attractions which makes it easier to travel with younger kids who need to play between cultural activities.
    • Check out my international travel check list for more travel tips.

    Travel Gear:

    • The travel jar of Jiff we carry came in handy when everyone hit the mid-vacation slump
    • Toddler carrier
    • Minu stroller
    • Amazon Fire Tablets for kids
    • Check out my Amazon Storefront for a full list of my product recommendations. Please know I can make a commission from products that help offset the cost of maintaining this blog.

    Final Thoughts on Oslo with Kids:

    In the perfect world we would have more vacation days so we could have enjoyed more of what Oslo had to offer. It felt like we had a quick introduction to a very kid-friendly city, and need to go back to experience more of their history and culture.

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  • #41 Norway, Flåm: The Ultimate Family Stop on Your Norway in a Nutshell Journey

    #41 Norway, Flåm: The Ultimate Family Stop on Your Norway in a Nutshell Journey

    Why Flåm with kids?:

    Flåm was the perfect place to stop over when doing Norway in a Nutshell from Bergen to Oslo with kids. The journey from Bergen to Flåm was a significant portion of a day, and my husband and I could not fathom surviving the entire day trip with two young kids. The full journey includes three separate train rides, a bus ride and ferry cruise and would have been too much in one day with the frequent stops, and vehicle changes that result in a bunch of movement.

    Planning for Flåm:

    We booked theFlåm Marina Hotel for one night, planning to wing dinner and our experience once we got to Flåm knowing the journey from Bergen to Flåm would have already included an early morning train ride, bus trip and ferry voyage. I had visions of the kids throwing a foxtail at the playground near the water to get out their energy, but didn’t know what to actually expect after a full day of travel not too long after our arrival in Europe.

    Flåm is a popular cruise ship destination, so if you can avoid it, I would pick a day that cruise ships are not in port so the town has fewer visitors. When we arrived in Flåm, a ship was in port, so the playground and restaurants were pretty crowded.  

    The ferry to Flam Norway
    The ferry to Flam

    Experience in Flåm:

    The Norway in a Nutshell tour is a train, bus, train, ferry ride and then two separate train rides from Bergen to Oslo. While many choose to complete the trip in one day, we really loved our night in Flåm because of the breathtaking fjord views we had after the cruise ship departed the port.

    We left Bergen at like 8AM which was a lot to ask for the kids who were still adjusting to the time change. We had a bit of a harried bus ride from the hotel to the train station, and then were somewhat disappointed that the train did not have the mythical play car I had read about. Fortunately, the first train ride was pretty short, and we then transferred to a bus. This transfer was a bit confusing to figure out as the buses looked like private tour buses, and were not well marked. Once we were situated on the bus, it ended up being a scenic drive that included a stopover at an old hotel in Stalheim for some really cool views and clean bathrooms. Everyone then got back on the bus to get to the ferry terminal in Gudvangen. The tiny terminal there did have a few food and beverage options, and allowed for ample time for eating and some kid play time at a playground before getting onto the ferry.

    The ferry to Flåm was my favorite part of our time in Norway. It had the most beautiful views, and it was truly breathtaking to stand on the top of the ship watching the fjord go by. It also made for an awesome photo op for our annual Christmas card photo since everyone was pretty happy to be in sunshine watching the world go by after several rainy days in Bergen.


    When we got to Flåm it was a short walk to the  Flåm Marina Hotel where we had an incredible room situated right on the water with two bedrooms.The  Flåm Marina Hotel checked our boxes for having a patio to drink beers and watch the sun set over the fjord, and then wake up and have coffee with a beautiful view before continuing our journey.

    Waterfall Stop on Norway in a Nutshell

    After we got settled at the hotel, our family enjoyed some time at The Fjord Farm in Flåm. The kids really enjoyed the swing that looked out into the fjord, and the adults enjoyed the local beers and fresh air. From there we went over to the port for the kids to enjoy the main playground in Flåm before dinner at Aegir BrewPub. The flights of beer were fun here, but my kids did not enjoy the limited food options. It was one of those meals we were happy to go back to the hotel and break out some bread, peanut butter and jelly we packed so the kids did not go to bed hungry. After they went down we got to enjoy some local beers while watching the sunset over the empty fjord. One thing to note is we tried to find wine at the supermarket in Flåm, but were out of luck. In hindsight we should have bought more wine at duty free at the Bergen airport for the first part of our trip.  

    Dinner at the brew pub in Flam Norway
    Ægir Brew Pub meal

    The next morning was a bit of a rush to get to the first train to Oslo. I did sneak in a mystical, beautiful foggy run before the kids were up, but it was a bit challenging to get them motivated to get packed and ready to get on a train for a second consecutive travel day. Luckily we made the train, and were then met with some incredible views. The scenic train ride was soooo cool, and if my kids were obsessed with trains, it would have been a bucket list item for them too. Instead, they were excited to get special coloring books and pencils from the train operators, and enjoyed the quick stop at a waterfall for some photo opps with a dancer who reminded us of the Frozen movie series. 

    Railway coloring book

    The second and final train ride of the trip from Flåm to Oslo finally checked the box of having a kid play area, and it did not disappoint. This train had a family car with a ladder, some climbing tubes and padded flooring. My kids loved being able to play in it, and at this point my daughter had made friends with a girl from Egypt, and had a blast playing in the tunnels with her new friend. While this train ride was long, and we did break out the tablets for the kids, it was super cool to experience the full Norway in a Nutshell journey which was just as beautiful as people claim it to be. 

    Lessons Learned: 

    • Even though we did check some of our bags from Bergen to Oslo (with air tags), we still should have packed more efficiently for this leg of the trip. It was hard to manage luggage and collapsing a stroller several times in two days
    • Seeing your kids make friends from completely different cultures is such an awesome part of travel
    • Try to visit Flåm on a day without cruise ships in port for a more relaxed experience
    • It’s hard to find wine in Norway. We should have brought our wine wings, and stocked up at the Bergen airport duty free to enjoy the Flåm sunset.
    • Check out my international travel check list for more travel tips.

    Travel Gear for Flåm:

    • Air tags to feel better about leaving your luggage with the tour company for the transit from Bergen to Oslo
    • Foxtail or small beachball to help the kids get their energy out
    • Rain jackets
    • Suitcase backpack
    • Check out my Amazon Storefront for a full list of my product recommendations. Please know I can make a commission from products that help offset the cost of maintaining this blog.


    Final Thoughts on Flåm:

    While it was a lot to ask the kids to complete this journey, the views were truly incredible. It was so peaceful to see the fjord in the morning without crowds, and to experience the magnanimity of nature. If we were to do it again when the kids are older, I would be all in on the adventure zip lining and mountain biking that are offered close to Flåm on the way to Oslo. 

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  • #41 Norway, Exploring Bergen with Kids: Epic Activities and Tips

    #41 Norway, Exploring Bergen with Kids: Epic Activities and Tips

    Historic Bergen
    Bergen Norway

    In the Summer of 2025 my family of four including two young kids (age 4 and 5) explored Bergen, Norway for three days. Taking the kids on a Scandinavian train with a kid play area-  while they were still young enough to enjoy it was one of my travel parent goals.

    When we found decent nonstop flights to Copenhagen on SAS we backed into Norway as our train ride destination because there is a flight from Oslo to Billund where Lego HQ is located. We decided to do the Norway in a Nutshell tour (learn more about that part of our trip here) to experience the play area train cars on the journey from Bergen to Oslo. Also, my youngest child is obsessed with Elsa, so we got them excited about the chance to see the land where Elsa is from. 

    Why travel to Bergen with Kids:

    Incredible playgrounds, an accessible aquarium, breathtaking scenery, and a chance to see the town Araendelle is based on.

    Planning for Bergen, Norway:


    We booked our August 2025 trip to Norway to include Bergen, Flåm and Oslo. We decided to make our first connecting flight ever with kids and fly from Copenhagen to Bergen on the first day of our trip.

    Experience in Bergen:


    We started our trip with three nights at the Radisson Blu in Bergen. The family room at the hotel was pretty awesome–  the hotel is tucked behind the historic main street and has a family room loft that overlooked the harbor. The first floor of the loft had a bathroom, large sitting area and dining table. The large upstairs room had a bathroom, pull-out sofa bed and double bed with harbor views. While it would have been nice if the kids had a separate bedroom, this set-up still enabled the adults to spend time on the first floor while the kids slept, plus it still gave us more space than a traditional hotel room. The hotel was across the street from a basic grocery store so we could get some simple food, but there was no microwave or way to heat food in the room. 

    We experienced the stereotypical rain in Bergen, but still made the most of our time there. A trip to the aquarium which included a penguin feeding and sea lion show was a great introduction to the city on our first day, and lunch at the seafood market is not to be missed. We also found a cool playground with in-ground trampolines which was the perfect way for my kids to get their energy out when we explored around the hotel between rain showers.

    For people traveling with kids, one thing to note is the Egon restaurant has a play area inside of it near the restrooms. It featured a slide, some toys and screens with video games for the kids. I am somewhat ashamed to admit we ate there all three nights of our stay in Bergen because our kids were so excited to play there, and eat chicken fingers and pancakes for dinner.

    Our second and more adventurous day in Bergen included a trip up the funicular for incredible views of Bergen, and the coolest playgrounds of the trip. There was a troll themed playground and wooden troll forest at the top of the hill that had some incredible climbing structures and whimsy to it. There were also goats just hanging out, and an interesting one room accommodation called The Cone tucked into the trees.

    The cone in Bergen, Norway
    The Cone

    Fløirestauranten, a restaurant at the top of the mountain, ended up being our most scenic and delicious meal in Norway. We got a table in the corner of the restaurant with incredible views of Bergen below, and the salad (I forgot a a picture) of was incredibly fresh and delicious! The kids happily ate the warm bread and even some of their ham and cheese sandwiches they ordered which we considered a family win.

    After lunch we began our hike back down into Bergen. On the way down we found the most magical playground tucked into the woods. It had amazing ropes courses and a tree house-like play structure with a huge winding metal slide kids could go down. The setting in the lush forest was breathtaking. Unfortunately, we did cut the play short when we get a bunch of unexpected rain which made the walk down the mountain colder and wetter than anticipated- even in August. After warming up, we spent a portion of the afternoon drinking hot chocolate and eating waffles with brown cheese at Kaf Kafe Bryggen, which is nestled into the historic old town part of the city.    

    Waffles with brown cheese and hot chocolate at Kaf Kafe


    After everyone warmed up we did fit in a quick trip to Håkon’s Hall right before it closed. We really tried to play up the connection to Frozen for the kids while in the museum- calling out names that were similar to characters in the movies, and even pointing out when the artwork looked like something from the movie. Fortunately, the kids were able to stretch their imagination, and they got excited to be in the land of Anna and Elsa.  

    Lessons Learned in Bergen

    • Rain pants are essential in Bergen- even on days that are not calling for rain
    • But rain pants on a wet metal slide aren’t a good idea
    • The right travel toys make a huge difference when spending dry cozy time in your hotel room
    • The Bergen Card may not make sense for your family if you need to spend time adjusting to the time change and rainy weather
    • Maybe somebody else will have better luck, but I could not find an Elsa experience in Bergen (or Oslo for that matter). My youngest became obsessed with Elsa after attending a birthday party with an Elsa performer, and I tried so hard to find a similar Elsa performer to make Norway feel more “Elsa like” to balance out my kids’ interests since the Lego portion of our trip was for our older child.
    • Check out my international travel check list for more travel tips.

    Travel Gear for Bergen

    • Rain coats, Rain pants, rain boots and umbrellas for everyone
    • Clixo toys
    • Uppababy Minu stroller with rain cover
    • Toddler carrier
    • Drawing tablets
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    Final Thoughts on Bergen:


    Making Bergen the first leg of our trip when everyone would have less energy and need time to adjust to the time change was the right call given the cold rainy weather we experienced. While some people may be intimidated to travel there with kids, the aquarium, unique playgrounds and funicular made it an accessible and mostly enjoyable trip for young kids.

    My biggest Bergen regret was not buying a water bottle at Baker Brun, the delicious bakery chain in Bergen. They were super cute, but I decided against it because I thought the kids would insist on getting them too which would be a lot of gear to add to our bags during the first three days of our Scandinavian adventure.

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  •  40 Countries and Counting

    Hi! I’m Kristen, a type-A working mom with two young kids who caught the “travel bug” while studying abroad in college and haven’t stopped. While on a girls trip to Panama for country #42, I realized sharing my travel hacks and sometimes hard lessons learned could help others have better adventures with the people they love.

    All of the content shared on this site is reflective of my own opinions, and does not represent the views of any current or previous employers. Also, I may get a commission or benefit from some of the links shared on this site to help offset the cost of publishing this site.

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

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