I must admit, packing is my least favorite part of travel. The fact is that packing the right items makes all the difference in world when traveling with kids. Condé Nast Traveler asked me to be on a panel of family travel experts offering tips and advice on various topics, starting with the all-important and unavoidable art of packing.

The joy of a family vacation is well worth any packing pain

I’m in great company on this panel — all of the contributors selected have logged miles and miles with children of all ages. Check out our family travel packing tips.

Relevant Links:

Tips for healthy travel with kids

Tips for traveling with baby

Tips for finding and booking family tours

Multigenerational trip planning tips

Tips for planning a family vacation with a tour operator

This trip to Paris was sponsored by HouseTrip. As always, our opinions are our own on Ciao Bambino.

The children and sightseeing combo is a tricky one to get right. To enjoy a tourist attraction kids need to be impressed … and kids are hard to impress. What’s more, if they’re not enjoying the experience they will make sure that no one within ten feet is either.

Travel tips for making a city break work with children

As the children of a travel writer, my kids are experienced city breakers and by trial and error we’ve worked out a formula that keeps everyone happy ‘most’ of the time.

>> Stick to one tourist attraction a day. If you have children in their teens you might squeeze in two

>> Stay near to public transport, kids quite like riding on foreign boats, buses and trains, but they hate walking a long way to get to them.

>> Choose to stay close to a park so your kids can run around, kick a football (soccer ball) and let off steam; just as they would do at home.

>> Make sure that there are plenty of restaurants and food shops nearby so that you don’t have to traipse miles to eat, and if there are shops within walking distance too that will keep teenagers happy

>> Consider staying in an apartment rather than a hotel. When you’ve been out at a museum, art gallery or zoo all day, you want your kids to have a place where they can relax, play or nap without being interrupted.

>> As it takes longer to visit anywhere with children in tow, give yourself longer to do everything you want to do and stay at least a day longer than you would if you were visiting without them.

With this in mind we set off for Paris.

HouseTrip apartment close to Luxembourg Gardens

Where to stay in Paris with kids

Using Housetrip.com, we chose to stay in a house in Boulogne – Jean Jaurès in the upmarket 16 arrondissement, twenty minutes into the centre by Metro.

It turned out to be the perfect place for introducing children to Paris and the Parisian way of life. That first morning we set off with them clutching a handful of funny new money – Euros to buy croissants at the lovely boulangerie around the corner and then fruit and cheese at the market. We went back to the house to eat it all and then they didn’t want to leave. The owner of the house must have had children of a similar age and they would have been happy playing with their novel French toys all day.

For something more central and baby-friendly I really like Houstrip.com’s modern apartment right by the Luxembourg Gardens, with its fantastic playground and boating lake. It’s also bang in the middle of the biggest concentration of children’s boutiques in Paris and there are some great bistros nearby too.

Or just a few minutes’ walk away in the heart of Montparnasse, is a cute apartment surrounded by speciality food shops; it feels like it’s in its own little village, despite being in the centre of Paris. A great place for teens.

Hide ‘n seek, by the Louvre

Visiting Paris attractions with kids

When I visit a city on my own I like to wander around it. If I’m on my way to a museum and I spot an interesting gallery en-route, I’ll make a detour to investigate it. Kids are exactly the same. Whilst walking through the Tuileries garden on the way to the Louvre we found ourselves in an area of the park made out of hedges with gaps just small enough for my children to tunnel through. So we stopped and sat on the grass for half an hour whilst they did all the hide and seek that they needed to do.

Ask them what their favourite bit about the Louvre was and they will say those tunnels. The Mona Lisa won’t get a look in. They had a bit of a giggle at the amount of nudity in the other paintings we saw, but after half an hour they were done with the place.

If you aim for one major attraction a day you should all be able to enjoy it. Any more and crankiness will set in. For Paris put these on your to do list:

>> The Eiffel Tower – kids generally love heights

>> La Cité des Science - Europe’s biggest science museum full of interactive elements.

>> A Batobus hop-on hop-off boat ride along the Seine

>> The Louvre and Musée D’Orsay

>> Luxembourg Gardens

If you want to do Paris’s museums and galleries, time your visit for the first Sunday of the month, when many of the city’s museums and art galleries waiver their entrance fees. If you’ve spent nothing and you’ve seen one painting and the toilet it doesn’t matter so much.

Be sure and check out the local opening hours

Commerce hasn’t hit Paris quite as much as it has in cities in other parts of the world, they actually have days of rest here. The Louvre, for example, shuts every Tuesday, and the Musee d’Orsay is shut every Monday. Restaurants are often closed Sunday nights until Tuesday lunchtime, and many shops are closed Sunday and Monday too. If you’re planning a mini-break opt for Thursday until Sunday.

Photos by Anna Tobin

Relevant Links:

72 hours in Paris with kids

Paris Muse Scavenger Hunt in the Louvre

Tips for visiting Paris with babies and toddlers

Kid-friendly dining in Paris

Tips for visiting Versailles with kids

I recently participated in the TMS Family Travel Summit in Orlando, Florida, where top-notch travel writers and marketers discussed current family travel trends and needs. Per Peter Yesawich of MMGY Global, demand for luxury family travel products is growing. To meet the surge in interest for both independent and multi-generational family travel, leading luxury brands are rolling out all kinds of exciting programs.

I’m constantly reviewing incredible offers around the world and it’s difficult to narrow down a giant list of options to just a handful of amazing experiences for families, but here’s a peek at my latest luxury family vacation dream list:

Family adventure down the Amazon River

Aqua Expeditions | Peru

All I needed was just one look at a photo of Aqua Expeditions all-suite ship that travels down the Peruvian Amazon to have goosebumps. The ship can hold just 24 guests at a time so the experience is guaranteed to be intimate and customized. Despite the small size and ultra-remote destination, Aqua Expeditions is catering to families (the minimum age is 7) with connecting suites and services. The wildlife experience must be insane and includes pink dolphins and manatees. Aqua Expeditions offers cooking classes for children during onboard downtime.

Private house with a front-and-center wildlife view in Africa

Singita Serengeti House | Tanzania

We spent our honeymoon at Singita in South Africa and to this day, the life-changing safari experience is an all-time favorite in my memory bank. I’m thrilled to learn that Singita Serengeti House recently opened in Tanzania and offers a four-suite house that is ideal for multi-generational trips to East Africa. Beyond the star attraction – epic wildlife viewing – the house is connected to the adjacent Singita Grumeti lodge offering a range of activities including tennis, archery, and swimming.

The Alpina Gstaad | Switzerland

In past years, you would never see luxury property open up in iconic jet-set hot spot like Gstaad and bother with children. Not so in 2013! The new Alpina Gstaad Hotel offers a kids’ club for ages 4-10 and rooms that sleep families. Summer activities in and around Gstaad include hiking, mountain biking, an alpine roller coaster, and lovely Lake Geneva/Lac Leman is only 1.5 hours a way via train or car.

Acqualina teaches kids that marine fun and conservation should go hand-in-hand

Acqualina | United States

We’ve covered Acqualina Resort on the Atlantic Coast near Miami on Ciao Bambino and love it for families (read Nancy’s Acqualina kid-friendly beach resort review on the CB Blog) with a wonderfully appointed beach and pool, as well as villa-style rooms. I love that the resort actively engages children in eco-education, i.e. it offers a beach vacation+. Acqualina is located near a protected zone where endangered turtles lay and hatch their eggs and the kids’ club incorporates turtle education into the programming between May and November to ensure kids have a first-hand view of why conversation is important.

Hotel Fouquet’s Barrière | France

Hotel Fouquet’s Barrière is a five-star property that opened in Paris in 2006. Owned and operated by a French family, they are offering families real and extensive amenities including a “Young Gourmet’s Menu” in their Michelin-star restaurant, spa services and swimming lessons in their indoor heated pool, and educational workshops for children. All of this infrastructure for children in a luxury Paris hotel? Bravo!

Peninsula kids’ cooking academy, Shanghai

The Peninsula Hotels | Worldwide

One of most exclusive names in luxury travel is The Peninsula Hotels with just nine properties around the world. They don’t use their exclusive portfolio as an excuse to ignore the family market. I spent time with Peninsula’s VP of Marketing, Robert Cheng, at the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) in Cannes and it’s clear they are thinking about how to meaningfully engage families throughout their portfolio from chocolate making fitness classes to customized city guides. “Tradition doesn’t need to mean stuffy,” per Mr. Cheng. Key for luxury-loving families!

Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa | Germany

Although Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa in Baden-Baden Germany is a world-famous spa, they figured out that for many parents to indulge in treatments, they need (and want) to include children in their vacation. Brenners Park-Hotel offers a free kids’ club for ages 3-12. What I found most interesting, however, is that kids are so important here that Brenners Park actively manages relationships with the children throughout the year – not just with their parents – and send the kids they know treats and gifts. A very smart way to create a lifetime of loyalty through generations …

Oman with kids? Yes!

Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa | Oman

Oman? Absolutely. Case and point that there are few destinations too remote or too exotic for families. The Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa is offering a huge array of amenities for children of all ages including an Adventure Zone, a comprehensive kids’ club, a lazy river, mini-golf, camel rides and more.

The Langham Chicago | United States

Langham Hotels is opening up a new Langham hotel in Chicago in a 52-story Mies van de Rohe building this summer. Expect families to be there given the 67 foot indoor swimming pool and a drop off kids’ zone!

We can help! Booking luxury accommodations takes a bit of extra effort. After all, when you are spending more for an incredible hotel or service, it’s important that the experience meets or better yet, exceeds, expectations. If you’d like helping booking a hotel featured on Ciao Bambino or even those not (yet) in our curated hotel collection, email info@ciaobambino.com.

Editorial Note: All photos provided by hotels except for the Acqualina photo, taken by Nancy Solomon

Relevant Links:

Ciao Bambino’s curated collection of luxury kid-friendly hotels and resorts

2013 luxury family travel trends

Luxury family travel on the Ciao Bambino blog

A luxury family safari in Africa

If you are dreaming of a trip where you “do” with your kids instead of supervising them, Costa Rica is the ultimate participatory family adventure travel vacation. Don’t let the word “adventure” scare you, Costa Rica with kids doesn’t need to be all thrills, or all animals, or all beach for that matter – you can fit a taste of everything into the right itinerary.

Up close and personal with a Strangler Fig tree

Costa Rica Family Itinerary: 7 to 8 Days

Costa Rica is easy to access with two international airports, Liberia and San Jose. It makes an ideal weeklong family vacation for American families who need to work around limited school holiday periods.

I worked with our tour operator, Kensington Tours, exhaustively to figure out the best family itinerary that is suitable for a wide variety of ages and interests. (See our tips for planning a family trip with a tour operator.) In this itinerary, you can do mix of iconic Costa Rica attractions like zip-lining and wildlife viewing, and still have all-important downtime.

If you have just a week, I recommend limiting the itinerary to two stops, excluding the first or last night that may need to be spent near the airport depending on flight times. Despite Costa Rica’s small size, driving from one place to another takes time. Although more roads are paved than when I was last there 15 years ago, many roads are narrow and transfers takes time.

Zip-line adventure in Arenal

Arenal

Arenal is the area around the Arenal Volcano, located 90 km northwest of San Jose. It’s known as adventure central in Costa Rica as tourists can access thrills in the water, on land, and in the air. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that despite the extensive tourist growth over the years, Arenal and the main town of La Fortuna, have not lost their off-the-grid charm.

A wide selection of excellent zip-line adventures, river excursions, hiking, biking, hanging bridges, waterfall rappelling, horseback riding exist right here. The exotic rain forest setting is spectacular and filled with wildlife including tropical birds and my favorite for noisy ambiance, Howler Monkeys.

Arenal is also known for a plethora of natural hot springs and swimming is a key activity for excursion downtime. To ensure time in Arenal is not rushed as most structured excursions take at least a half a day, I recommend staying no less than three nights in Arenal. I’ll cover hotel recommendations in another article.

Tropical paradise in Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio National Park

The most visited park in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio, is known for its incredible National Park filled with extraordinarily diverse plant and animal life, including three of the four species of monkeys found in Costa Rica, as well as two kinds of sloths. I love this park with children-in-tow as the wildlife experience is very accessible. The park is concentrated, so little legs don’t need too far to appreciate all the jungle has to offer.

The exotic beach in Manuel Antonio is out of a movie with lush tropical foliage and soft white sand. The jungle backs right up to the water so it is not unusual to have monkeys frolicking on the beach looking for snacks to steal.

Like in Arenal, zip-lines, hanging bridges and other adventure activities are offered in spades. Although given the beauty of the beach, it’s an ideal place to get some family downtime. Depending on the time of year, dolphin and snorkeling excursions are available for families to get out on the water.

Important Note

To say these are the only destinations that are wonderful for families in a weeklong itinerary is a gross understatement! One big factor to consider is weather. The rainy season in Manuel Antonio runs from May through October, so the best time to visit in terms of sunshine is November to May, making it an excellent option for winter and spring breaks.

Another popular beach option for families in the Guanacaste province, on the northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica; this region is easily accessible via the Liberia airport. Dana Rebmann, one of our writers, experienced Guanacaste during her family vacation in Costa Rica and loved it. Note, Guanacaste has the same rainy season as Manuel Antonio.

Tip: The upside of rainy season travel is prices are lower, the rivers and waterfalls are full, and rain can be limited to the afternoon.

Aptly named, Hot Lips flower in Monteverde

Costa Rica Itinerary: 10 Days

If you have a few extra days to spend in Costa Rica, there are wonderful additions to add to a family-friendly itinerary.

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Monteverde is ecological paradise, best known for the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. It’s time-consuming to access via unpaved, windy roads, but the journey is worthwhile, if you have enough time.

Our 10-year-old thought his Quetzal sighting in Monteverde was a trip highlight. The bird watching experience around Monteverde is phenomenal, as is the warm hospitality and passion that the locals have for their natural wonders. There a few private nature reserves in this area, as well as a variety of adventure activities including zip-lining and hanging bridges tours.

Tip: The reason I recommend Monteverde only for the longer itinerary is that it takes a minimum of a half-day drive to get to/from Monteverde on rugged roads and the weather can be wet year-round.

Tortuguero

We didn’t make it to Tortuguero on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, but it is considered one of Costa Rica’s jewels. Tortuguero translates to Land of Turtles and is famous as a key nesting site for sea turtles and the canals that can be explored by boat are filled with wildlife. Dana also visited Tortuguero National Park with her kids and highly recommends it for families.

Tip: It’s easiest to get there via a short plane right from San Jose, so given these extra logistics, a visit is best suited for longer itineraries, unless you are in Costa Rica during turtle hatching season (June through August), in which case a visit should be a priority.

Kensington Tours kid-friendly naturalist enhanced the trip experience, for all of us!

Use a Costa Rica Specialist Tour Operator

I recommend using a tour operator for Costa Rica. These adventure family travel vacations are all about activities and the logistics require an expert. In addition, there are many people providing different services and they are not created equal from a safety, knowledge, or kid-friendly standpoint. The top-rated family tour operators use the best resources and guides with kids in mind.

We used Kensington Tours for our trip. Their approach combines the best of group travel, where you have access to exceptional local resources that have been tried and tested over and over again, and independent travel, where every client customizes their own trip to meet their exact travel needs.

The Costa Rica country expert for Kensington Tours, Brandi Merchant, is incredible and helps families run through each and every trip option until their dream trip is in hand. Although, Costa Rica is not a bargain trip by any means, given that Kensington Tours has many different resources at their disposal, they can bring trip pricing down (or up) as you pick and choose different options.

Are you excited to plan a trip to Costa Rica but still have questions? Email us on info@ciaobambino.com and we’ll provide some additional insight.

Editorial Note: Kensington Tours provided complimentary access to their Costa Rica itinerary for Ciao Bambino to review. As always, all opinions expressed on Ciao Bambino are our own. Photos by Amie O’Shaughnessy

Relevant Links:

Ciao Bambino recommended Costa Rica family hotels

Why families love to vacation in Costa Rica

Family vacation in Tortuguero National Park

Tips for using a tour operator for a family vacation

Costa Rica with kids itinerary

The dream of a family African Safari takes a tremendous amount of work and planning. If you’re one of the many families like mine, who dream of an family safari in Africa like Amie’s, keep planning and saving. If you find you need a little inspiration along the way, consider an easily arranged safari adventure in the open space of Monterey County, California.

Breakfast delivery like no other

Wild Things

Famous for its world class aquarium, there’s a wilder side to Monterey that many don’t know exists. Wild Things was created in 1983. At first the animals that called it home spent much of their time working in the entertainment industry.

Most families already know one of Wild Things most famous residents. The creators of The Lion King used Josef the lion as a model to study lions’ body movement and facial expressions for the wildly successful animated film.

But as time went on, owner Charlie Sammut started focusing more on education as his family of animals grew. What started with a cougar named Samson and a lion named Josef has grown into a family of more than 150 animals. Every day at 1pm they open their gates to visitors, and introduce them to the likes of Butch the elephant, Ed the hyena, Gertrude the pelican and many, many more.

Oz watching visitors from a comfy position

The tour only takes about an hour, but you’ll be amazed by what you see. There are set safety zones that surround the animals’ cages, but it’s the closest most have ever been to a lion, tiger or bear. Being able to be close enough to watch the changing facial expressions of a lion is a once in a lifetime type experience that may even change the way you think about animals that aren’t exactly cute and cuddly.

Monkey Manor

Spend the Night

The tour is packed with great information, but the highlights of your stay will most likely begin after check-in at the on-site Vision Quest Safari-Style Bed & Breakfast. This is no ordinary hotel stay. There are eight authentic and well equipped African bungalows with all the makings for a great family getaway.

The theme and décor of each tent is different. To give you an idea, there’s Pachyderm Palace, Giraffe Manor, and the Zebra Zone. My family was appropriately placed in Monkey Manor. We could hear the lions and tigers roaring while laying on our beds.

Moksha out for an evening stroll

Evening Stroll

While your kids oh and ah over the room, keep a lookout from your bungalow deck. In the afternoons, trainers are known to take animals for walks. You never quite know what animals will need some extra exercise, but when two baby tigers, Moksha, a Royal White Bengal tiger cub and buddy Rajani a Golden Tabby cub, appeared in our front yard, it was like hitting the vacation jackpot.

Dinner is Served

Once the animals have stretched their legs, you can head  toward town for dinner, but if you’d like some more quality time with the animals, there are plenty of options. It takes 15 pounds of meat to keep Jacob the lion happy and healthy. Delivering his dinner – with a long metal pole- is always a roaring success during Crunch Time. Help tuck in the African elephants and feed them a late night snack during Butch’s Bedtime. Who knew bread could be such a treat.

Jacob the lion

Give the family a little extra time to settle in for bed. Everyone will be warm and comfy, but falling asleep to the sounds of lions, tigers and elephants can take some time. That said, it’s an amazing wake up call.

Morning Delivery Service

Vision Quest is a bed and breakfast and your meal will be delivered to your room typically sometime between 9 and 10 in the morning. If your kids are early risers and aren’t used to waiting that long for breakfast, I’d recommend having some healthy snacks on hand.

Remember Butch, the African elephant you put to bed last night? Well, he gets up early because it’s his job to deliver breakfast. He’s fairly efficient too, because he knows when you get food, so does he. Trainers will bring along plenty of healthy treats for your family to feed Butch from your bungalow deck.

“A kitten could chase him out of the barn,” says Sammut.

This gentle giant came to Wild Things from a carnival on the United States East coast and it’s obvious he likes his new job. At 26 years old, he’s doing more than just delivering breakfast, he’s delivering a new understanding and respect of animals to visitors, especially young ones.

A Zoo in the Making

San Francisco and San Jose have a zoo, so why not Monterey? With the help of his family, staff and the animals, Sammut is working hands on to build the Monterey Zoological Society on the unused portions of his 51-acre ranch. This will allow daily visitors to spend more time and also give the animals more living space. The first exhibit scheduled to open is the for the tigers and folks are roaring with anticipation.

Dana’s trip was hosted by the Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau and Wild Things, but as always her thoughts and opinions are her own. All photos by Dana Rebmann.

Relevant Links:

Ciao Bambino recommended Monterey and Carmel kid-friendly hotels

Favorite activities in Monterey with kids

Things to do in Carmel with kids

Exploring the California Coast with kids

Africa with kids, family safari basics

Africa with kids, planning a family safari

Family safaris in Africa, lion hunt for photo friday

An approachable, easygoing city with plenty to see and do, Portland makes a great family getaway. A fun fact for wine-loving parents is that the Willamette Valley, one of the nation’s fast growing high-quality wine regions with over 200 wineries, lies just outside Portland and makes a perfect day trip, with or without kids.

Best known for its award-winning Pinot Noir, the Willamette Valley is leading the charge around sustainable farming and that goes hand-in-hand with incredible dining opportunities today given our passion for the freshest possible food. In a day trip, there’s time to visit two to three wineries and stop for lunch.

Home-like welcome and tasting room at Alloro Vineyards

How to Choose Willamette Valley Winery Visits

The Willamette Valley offers both well-known brands like Adelsheim Vineyards, Archery Summit, Ponzi, and Domaine Drouhin, and up-and-coming producers to visit. Despite the success of these Oregon wines, the Willamette Valley feels local, undiscovered, and authentic. It is the anti-Napa Valley experience in many ways and you are certainly more likely to meet a wine maker here than in other popular wine regions.

I recommend choosing a mix of the well-known producers and boutique producers for a variety of perspectives. There are also six distinctive sub-appellations within the Willamette Valley, each with their own growing conditions. Within a day trip, you can easily experience at least two of them.

To help narrow down the best options and not have to worry about drinking and driving, we spent the day with Grape Escape Tours, who helped us plan an optimal itinerary. Ralph Stinton, our guide, provided excellent historical facts about the region and wineries.

Grape Escape Tours can take up to 12 passengers at a time in one of their vans and can even plan a catered wine dinner or lunch. Pricing runs from $80 to $175 per person depending on the size of the group and length of the tour. Ralph and his team can also coordinate a kid-friendly day out.

We checked out Alloro Vineyards in the Chehalem Mountains, a taste of Italy in Oregon with cypress trees and Italian-style architecture. It’s more akin to visiting a lovely family home than a commercial tasting room and is definitely kid-friendly with a garden and winery dog who is eager to play. We contrasted Alloro with the more commercial Domaine Serene, a cult favorite Pinot producer on an elegant estate.

Award-winning eco-luxury at The Allison

Lunch at the Allison Inn and Spa

After lunch and a tour of The Allison Inn and Spa, this boutique hotel is high on my parents-only getaway bucket list. Awarded the LEED Gold Certification, the Allison is both eco-friendly and luxurious with colorful, contemporary designs and textures using wood, stone, and other natural materials that integrate the hotel beautifully with the surrounding setting.

Although the hotel feels expansive and is set on 35 acres, it has just 85 guest rooms and is decorated with stunning pieces from Oregon artists. There’s a 15,000-foot spa featuring Eminence organic face and body products and treatments, as well as a lovely indoor pool. The hotel flows wonderfully and there’s a strong sense of place. Rooms start around $330 per night.

In-house butcher produces the charcuterie at Jory

If you just have lunch at The Allison’s signature restaurant, Jory, it’s worth the stop, even if you aren’t lucky enough to stay the night. The open kitchen, serving farm-to-table culinary wonders using regional sources, is a huge treat. An in-house butcher produces their charcuterie, including melt-in-your-mouth smoked-duck pastrami. A model for eco-conscious dining, zero food goes to waste in Jory’s kitchen as everything is recycled and used for something.

Of course, they have an extensive regional wine list. A decadent day of pampering would be lunch at Jory followed by a visit to The Allison spa. In this itinerary, even if you didn’t have time to tour wineries, you could still try a variety of Oregon wines paired with amazing food.

Local Oregon artists featured at The Allison Inn and Spa

Family-Friendly Portland Hotel

If you stay in Portland with kids and want an urban home-base, Kimpton’s RiverPlace Hotel is a great family-friendly option with a variety of rooms that sleep families and wonderful service. See my full review of the Kimpton Riverplace Hotel for details.

Editorial Note: The Allison Inn and Spa provided complimentary lunch and a tour.  As always, our opinions are our own on Ciao Bambino. Photos by Amie O’Shaughnessy

A great family beach vacation ranks as one of life’s most enjoyable experiences. I asked family travel experts from around the country to send me a favorite beach vacation spot. What a list! From Cuba to Oregon to Cambodia, there’s something on this list for every age and interest. Thank you family travel bloggers for these incredible ideas!

Coyo Coco and Cayo Guillermo, Cuba | Corinne McDermott of HaveBabyWillTravel.com

Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo are two keys off the mainland of Cuba that are basically just hotel strips. They are beautiful, beachy hotel strips, mind you – but still devoid of the Cuban culture that is the biggest draw for us. It’s an incredibly affordable vacation, however, and the tip of Cayo Guillermo houses a beach gem that makes the entire trip worthwhile, Playa Pilar – a stunning public beach. It’s easy to get to from any of the hotels via taxi or the public bus, and the trip is definitely worth it. Pack a lunch, and bring a few pesos for lounge chairs, and of course for a couple of cold cervezas from the Ranchon.

Seattle, Washington | Anne Hartzell Taylor of HipTravelMama.com

Throw a blanket on the beach and don’t forget lunch, because Hip Travel Mama’s favorite beach for summer 2013 is perfect for a mid-day picnic. Let the kids take to the water and play in the sandy shores of Alki Beach located in West Seattle. There’s nothing sweeter than Seattle in the Summertime and sharing a meal outdoors with your family.

Cannon Beach, Oregon | Keryn Means of WalkingOnTravels.com

Cannon Beach, Oregon gives families a laid-back beach experience in the Pacific Northwest that is so much more than splashing through the waves, and that’s not just because the water is too cold to swim in. The annual Cannon Beach Sandcastle Festival in June draws a crowd, along with 4th of July festivities in the area. Since the beach doesn’t have it’s own fireworks this little town stays sleepy for families looking for the quieter side of beach life. Great food and outdoor activities keep little ones active as your feet squish in the sand, hike through caves at Hug Point, take in majestic views at Ecola State Park, and play around Cannon Beach’s iconic Haystack Rock.

Forte dei Marmi, Italy | Amie O’Shaughnessy of CiaoBambino.com

Italians and tourists in-the-know flock to Forte dei Marmi on the Tuscan Coast over the summer months. Unlike the rocky beaches prevalent in other Italy beach vacation favorites like the Italian Riviera, Forte dei Marmi has a soft sand and gentle surf, making it ideal for young children and swimming. Best of all, beach clubs line the sand offering umbrellas, chairs, and sustenance, i.e. hotel-like services. The beachfront promenade is perfect for strolling and biking, and the town has shops featuring all the beloved Italian designers.

Ko’Olina, Hawaii | Debbie Dubrow of DeliciousBaby.com

You don’t have to be staying at Disney’s new Aulani resort to take advantage of the baby-friendly beaches at Ko’Olina.  Just park in the public parking lot and bring a picnic blanket and cooler!  These manmade lagoons make it easy for families with young kids to enjoy the ocean without the worry of unexpected undertow.  My favorites are Lagoon 2, which is the least crowded and paradise cove where you can swim with and feed seaweed to the turtles.

Dominican Republic | Carol Cain of GirlGoneTravel.com

The beach town of Las Terrenas is becoming popular among tourists, but it’s commitment to staying true to the culture and the community, makes this a fun beach destination for families. Because of it’s proximity to the capital city of Santo Domingo (about a 2 hour drive), as well to the beautiful peninsula of Samaná (a 45 minute drive) this is the perfect stop when looking to get away from the big city noise and the big resort vibe. Almost all lodging in the area, with a few exceptions, encourage travelers to venture out, taste local eateries, take tours, and experience what are some of the most beautiful beaches in the country.

Coronado Beach, California | Colleen Lanin of TravelMamas.com

Coronado Beach stands out as the most pristinely-kept of San Diego County’s 70 miles of beaches. Although this sandy stretch of shoreline is meticulously maintained by the castle-like Hotel Del Coronado Resort (after which Disney World’s Grand Floridian was modeled), the beach is open to the public. Grab a bite to eat at one of the hotel’s kid-friendly restaurants or rent a surrey on which to tour Coronado Island with kids. In the winter, take a spin on the Del’s seaside outdoor ice skating rink, open to hotel guests and visitors alike.

Clearwater Beach, Florida | Tina Buell of Trekaroo.com

On Florida’s Gulf Coast, Sandpearl Resort’s private beach, two-bedroom family suites with well-appointed kitchens, beachfront fire pits with s’mores kits, and zero-entry pool with poolside service and free pool and beach toys make it a coastal paradise for families on Clearwater Beach. Children are in for a treat when they participate in one of Camp Ridley’s activity programs building sandcastles, hula hooping with staff, or ringing the sunset bell to signify the end of a day spent in paradise. Off-site, the entire town of Clearwater Beach is connected with complimentary transportation services from Florida Free Rides.

Kiawah Island, South Carolina | Kim-Marie Evans of LuxuryTravelMom.com

Our favorite beach that’s fun for the whole family is on Kiawah Island in South Carolina. Just thirty minutes from historic Charleston you can bike or walk on a breathtaking ten miles of hard packed sand.  The water is 85 degrees in the summer, it is shallow for hundreds of yards out so little kids (and moms) can boogie board with ease. The more daring adventurers can sea kayak out next to the dolphins. One year I even tried surfing, it’s easy when the waves come in chest deep.  Kiawah Island is also home to five championship golf courses and the Forbes Five Star Sanctuary Hotel.

Chinoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia | MotherofAllTrips.com

Mara Gorman of the Mother of all Trips loves Chincoteague, Virginia for its low-key, family-friendly vibe, fantastic oysters, and natural beauty. What’s special this barrier island beach are the opportunities it offers for viewing not only birds but wild ponies; that’s because it’s situated right on the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Start planning now and book your room or campsite for the annual pony swim the first week in July, when the local fire department brings horses over from the refuge to town for an auction.

Laguna Beach, California | Amy Whitley of PitStopsforKids.com

The ultimate beach town, Laguna Beach has something for everyone, from a vibrant art scene for parents, eclectic fine dining, and postcard perfect beaches. Spend the day at Heisler Park overlooking Main Beach, swim at Main Beach and the family-friendly Aliso Creek Beach (both public), and stroll through the Sawdust Festival (held every July and August) for one-of-a-kind artistry and music. Stay at the Montage Laguna Beach or rent a beach house with Dwellable or HomeAway.

Jekyll Island, Georgia | Sue Rodman of FieldTripswithSue.com

Jekyll Island, off the coast of Georgia was once the winter escape for some of America’s richest families. It still offers something for everyone. History buffs can take a trip back in time with a stay at the historic Jekyll Island Club Hotel, once frequented by Vanderbilts and Rockefellers. Conservationists enjoy visiting the Georgia Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center, or the Tidelands Nature Center, which offers marine science programs for kids and adults. Thrill seekers love Summer Waves Water Park.  Everyone can enjoy visiting their favorite spot via the 20 miles of bike trails on this seven mile long, 1.5 mile wide island.

Southampton, New York | Holly Rosen Fink of The Culture Mom

Coopers Beach in Southampton, New York, is a beautiful beach with white sands facing blue waters and a sun filled sky.  It’s a place for kids to pick seashells, ride the waves of the Atlantic Ocean and bask in the sun. In 2010 it was listed as America’s top beach according to the annual list of the best American beaches. Equipped with lifeguards and concessions, families can spend the day worry-free.  Seasonal parking stickers are available at village hall and at the beach.

Koh Rong Island, Cambodia | Gabi Klaf of TheNomadicFamily.com

After a year of loving South East Asia’s city-life, beaches, and jungles, if you woke me up in the middle of the night to ask me where’s my favorite summer beach, I would tell you Koh Rong Island. off the Southern coast of Cambodia. It’s a year-round tropical paradise compared to no other for Koh Rong Dive Center scuba diving, CoCo Bungalow’s famous BBQ, or that breath-taking jungle hike through the island to what has been bequeathed ‘Top Ten Most Beautiful Beaches In The World.” Justifiably, the one and only place in our world travels that we’ve backtracked to.

Malibu, California | Jennifer Miner of The Vacation Gals

Think of Southern California in the summer, and of course you’ll think of the beaches (well, and Disneyland, but forget about that for a minute). My favorite Los Angeles-are beaches are in Malibu; a 20-minute drive up the iconic Pacific Coast Highway, and there you are. Zuma Beach, Nicholas Canyon Beach, El Pescador and El Matador State Park Beaches, Surfrider — guess the sort of activity you’ll see here — and Point Dume all dot PCH amid beach houses and spots made famous on various television shows. My favorite Malibu Beach though, is Leo Carillo State Park Beach. It’s the northernmost of Malibu’s beaches, hence the least populated by sun-starved tourists. There’s something undeniably romantic about leo Carillo State Park Beach on a cloudy day, but fortunately, this is Malibu in the summer: your family’s beach vacation here will be sun-drenched and full of happy discoveries.

Sanibel Island, Florida | Jamie Pearson of TravelSavvyMom.com

If your kids love beachcombing – and what kid doesn’t? – they’ll love Sanibel Island and its near neighbor Captiva, a pair of upscale Gulf Coast barrier islands in southwest Florida.   Besides having 250 types of shells, these islands have 15 miles of beaches, 22 miles of bike paths, 230 types of birds, and 0 stoplights. Since no building can be taller than the tallest palm tree, it feels remarkably underdeveloped for a Florida beach town.

Sydney, Australia | Michelle Duffy of Wandermom.com

There are over 100 beaches in Sydney Australia, some large, some small, some – like Bondi – famous worldwide. A visit to Sydney would not be complete without spending some time at the beach at any time of year. If you’re planning a visit to Sydney with kids the beaches are a must!

Editorial Note: Photo credit for each destination goes to the participating blogger

Hanging Bridges at Selvatura in Monteverde

Costa Rica is an increasingly popular adventure family travel destination. With good reason! The list of thrilling things to see and do is long and Costa Rica has done a phenomenal job of protecting and preserving its vast natural resources for the world to enjoy. From National Parks and Biological Reserves, to beaches on both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, to six active volcanoes, the biggest challenge in enjoying Costa Rica with kids is deciding what to do.

We just spent a week in Central America with Kensington Tours and learned first-hand why families love to vacation in Costa Rica:

Action-Packed Days

Costa Rica is the ultimate action-packed destination. Since the tourist boom started in the late 1980s, resourceful Costa Ricans and expats alike have been investing in giving tourists access to extraordinary and unique experiences. Four of the most popular activities are:

Canopy Tours: Canopy tours (zip-lining) are very popular and available throughout the country. Zip-lining with kids is fun in a parking lot — it’s that much more enjoyable in a tropical rainforest teeming with wildlife or, in the case of the Costa Rica Sky Adventure in Arenal, under the shadow of a great volcano.

Hanging Bridge Tours: As the name implies, Hanging Bridges are walkways strung between trees so visitors can appreciate the forest from above where wildlife has a whole different perspective. This is a particularly amazing way to see birds.

White Water Rafting: Costa Rica offers some of the world’s best white water rafting adventures for all ages and experience levels. From half-day trips to multi-day journeys, there are a vast variety of experiences within this small country.

Surfing: Costa Rica is a world-class surfing destination. Lessons are available for kids including specialty family surf camps like Peaks N’ Swells.

Always-smiling sloth in Manuel Antonio National Park

Extraordinary Natural Wonders and Wildlife

Rain Forests, Cloud Forests, Dry Forests, Mangroves, and Coral Reefs — the varied topography on land and in the water within a relatively small geographic area is nothing short of astounding. Each of these ecosystems support unique animal and plant life including all-family favorite mammals like sloths and monkeys.

Wildlife viewing can be done by foot, horseback, boat, raft, car … you name it. All of this variety makes it optimal for families.

Quality Family Time

Costa Rica is filled with vacationing families with kids of all ages. I observed and spoke to many families sharing our activities and accommodations and concluded that the benefits of a family vacation in Costa Rica are not unlike those of a family ski trip. Although there can be independent time, many of the fun activities are done as a family unit. Sharing thrilling, exciting, and perhaps even terrifying moments like waterfall rappelling, force everyone to come together in a meaningful way. Smart phone addiction comes to an end here, as least during activity time.

It’s a cliché, but this is how some of the best family memories happen. I love a great family beach vacation where everyone does their own thing as much as the next mom, but each day is a blur. It’s amazing to take a trip where each day presents a radically different experience.

World Exposure

The more I see of the world, the more I appreciate how lucky we are as a family to lead the life we do. One of the gifts of traveling with kids is exposing children to different living conditions around the world.

Although Costa Rica enjoys better living standards than most of Central America, it is still a developing country and many Costa Ricans live a very simple life compared to the United States and Europe. That said, it has no army, a 98% literacy rate, and political stability. We felt safe at all times in Costa Rica and found the locals to be extremely hospitable.

Canopy Tour in the shadow of Arenal Volcano

Clean

Likewise, Costa Rica is remarkably clean. The government has engaged in a number of environmental awareness initiatives over the past several years and it has worked.  The roads and highways are cleaner than most of what I pass every day in the San Francisco Bay Area!

Although we were careful as nothing ruins a vacation faster than tummy troubles, much of the tap water is treated and drinkable. It’s so much easier to travel with kids and not be paranoid about every morsel.

Easy Access

We traveled over our spring break and found flights to be expensive. I’m not sure how this fluctuates over the different seasons.  The good news, however, is that there are an increasing number of direct flights into both San Jose and Liberia, the two main airports.

Our route from San Francisco was US Airways via Phoenix on the way out and United via Houston on the way back. The flight and connection times were good.

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We selected the award-winning Kensington Tours as our Costa Rica tour operator for this trip and they coordinated our itinerary and ground arrangements including drivers, guides, activities, and accommodations. We experienced an incredible amount of Costa Rica in our eight-day itinerary … but there is still much to see. We can’t wait to go back! Stay tuned for a deep dive into our Costa Rica tour.

Editorial Note: Kensington Tours provided complimentary access to their Costa Rica itinerary for Ciao Bambino to review. As always, all opinions expressed on Ciao Bambino are our own. Photos by Amie O’Shaughnessy

Relevant Links:

Costa Rica family hotels and resorts on Ciao Bambino

Family surf camp in Costa Rica

Family vacation in Tortuguero National Park

Quetzal photo Costa Rica

Costa Rica with kids itinerary

Tips for healthy travel with kids

Late April and May is Narcissus season around Lake Geneva (Lac Leman) in Switzerland. The Paper White varietal cover the fields in the mountains above the lake — they smell and look amazing. The best way to view these flowers is to go on a hike so you can get into the thick of them. I have a few favorites kid-friendly hikes around Lake Geneva that provide wonderful views of Narcissus blooms.

Les Pléiades

For a very short walk with just a little bit of uphill, you can take the train from Vevey (from a special station just behind the main station) called the “Train des Etoiles” to Les Pléiades. At that point you can take a signed path towards the restaurant La Cha across from the station and will hit fields of flowers in the meadow, up the hill, and beyond. Or you can do a full loop to “Les Tenasses” and back up to Les Pléiades via Lally.

If you drive, I prefer starting from Les Motalles car park and doing the above mentioned loop the other direction. The trail starts at Les Tenasses” through an incredible meadow with all kinds of flowers. You follow the signs to La Cha restaurant again, but this time there is a steeper climb involved. It is still very doable with school age and up kids, but this hike is definitely not stroller or toddler friendly.

You can then grab lunch on either at La Cha or at the restaurant with a wonderful panoramic lake view at Les Pléiades. On the way home follow the sides to Lally and then take the road to Les Motalles. The entire loop is 5.40 km. It’s a few-hour excursion with lunch.

In addition to the amazing flowers, the views from this loop on a clear day are spectacular. You can see both Mont Blanc and the Dents du Midi.

Les Avants

The other kid-friendly Narcissus hike is at Les Avants behind Montreux. Again, you can either choose a quick out and back to the flowers by going up the end of the trail directly to the meadows, or you can take the funicular train to Sonloup and do the full 5km loop trail which takes a few hours. The trail is school age and up ready, but not stroller or toddler friendly.You can also take the Goldenpass Train from Montreux to Les Avants instead of driving.

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For both of these hikes, the trail is marked with wooden signs that have the flower on them. For more information on these areas and other activities, the Montreux Riviera website is a great resource for tours around Montreux and Vevey; the office speaks English and is happy to answer questions. You can email them on info@montreuxriviera.com.

For more Photo Friday posts, head over to Delicious Baby.

Relevant Links:

Ciao Bambino recommended Switzerland family hotels

Chocolate tasting in Switzerland

Summer Alpine wildflowers in Verbier

Kid-friendly hiking in Mürren, Switzerland

Visiting the extraordinary Trümmelbach Falls

Switzerland tourist attraction resources

Tips for exploring Lake Geneva/Lac Leman by boat

Adventures by Disney home-base in Edinburgh is the historic, luxurious Balmoral Hotel

There are destinations well-suited for a trip where a multi-faceted itinerary is managed by a talented tour operator. Scotland is certainly one of them, particularly if you want to see and do as much as possible in a short amount of time. Adventures by Disney launched their new Scotland itinerary in 2013 and I gave a condensed five-night version a go on their inaugural media trip.

I now understand why Adventures by Disney escorted group travel makes a fantastic family vacation in Scotland for families with kids ages 8 and up. A huge benefit of a tour like this is the sheer number of activities you can enjoy without having to worry about logistics and details. You just show up and appreciate each stop with zero stress as there is no reason to think about the how or what, or if your kids will be happy. For those of us who engage in marathon trip planning, this is a very liberating experience!

Brave’s Director, Mark Andrews, enhances the tour via a daily video

This Scotland itinerary is the first Adventure by Disney trip to be connected with a movie. Brave, the award-willing film by Director Mark Andrews, provides the inspiration for the itinerary.

I don’t want to give the trip surprises related to the movie away as they are part of the fun, but the movie theme enhances the trip experience as Mark and his team provide insight into how they developed the film through travel in Scotland via daily videos. Their visual approach is so detailed that after hearing their explanations, you look at the scenery through an entirely different filter.

Here’s an overview of our itinerary and activities:

Adventures by Disney Scotland: A Brave Adventure Highlights

The beauty of Adventures by Disney Scotland itinerary is that you experience many destination highlights with a variety of activities incorporated into each stop; it’s not just looking, but doing, which of course is the ultimate kid-friendly approach.

Overall, I’d recommend arriving a day or two prior to when the Adventures by Disney Scotland tour starts to give everyone time to adjust to the time zone and recover from jet lag.

Note: The actual (versus media sampler) Adventures by Disney Scotland itinerary follows a different trip flow. See the Adventures by Disney Scotland page for details.

Archery lessons on the grounds of Glamis Castle

Ghost Stories and Archery at Glamis Castle

Privately owned by the same family for 600 years, Glamis Castle is the grand estate where Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother grew up and is filled with original furnishings, art, and memorabilia.

Haunted Glamis Castle is an all-age crowd pleaser

A visit is like stepping back in time and the castle guide captivates children and their parents by sharing the castle’s numerous ghost stories. The interior castle visit is paired with a private archery lesson on the grounds. It’s one thing to learn to shoot a bow and arrow, it’s another to learn to shoot one with this backdrop!

Donnottar Castle, once defender of the Scottish crown jewels

Castle Right Out of a ‘Visit Scotland’ Postcard

Like a ‘Visit Scotland’ postcard, the setting of what’s left of Donnottar Castle is perched right over the sea and view is truly spectacular.

With over 300 steps each way to get to and from the castle, everyone gets a big stretch. There’s nothing too rigorous to uncover, it’s just a fun place to check out an amazing castle’s crumbling nooks and crannies, plus take wonderful photos (weather permitting).

Learning about the history of Nessie, the Loch Ness monster

Searching for the Loch Ness Monster

Believe it or not, the story of the Loch Ness monster is very much alive and a visit to the lake gives families a first hand look at what all the fuss is about.

The tour starts at the Exhibition Center, which provides the background and history of Nessie sightings and research through the years. The museum is not for kids per se, but the videos and large-scale reproductions of lake artifacts and research equipment keep everyone’s attention through the short tour.

We came up empty handed – no Nessie sightings, but the lake is beautiful nonetheless

After the exhibition, families choose between kayaking or a boat ride around the lake. We chose the latter and loved the opportunity to get in the middle of the lake and get perspective on its scope. The captain entertains the kids with more accounts about Nessie sightings over the years.

Urquhart Castle sits above Loch Ness

The Loch Ness experience ends with a visit to Urquhart Castle with a glorious expanse of grass and ruins perched right on the shores of the lake.

Mountain bike riding on Rothiemurchus Estate

Sporty Adventures in the Largest Natural Forest in Britain

Rothiemurchus Estate, a privately owned wilderness area in the Highlands, was a trip favorite for us. The estate includes the largest natural forest in Britain set against wild mountain scenery.

Setting for an excellent picnic lunch

On this day the Disney Adventurers explore the vast estate via Highland Ponies and mountain bikes, with a delicious picnic lunch in between each excursion.

Rothiemurchus Estate horseback riding

Disney is good about customizing experiences; families who couldn’t participate in both activities were provided with other options.

Weaving with the Masters

Our tour ended in Edinburgh where we toured Dovecot Studios, the oldest working tapestry factory in Scotland set in an old public bathhouse filled with light. It’s amazing to see master weavers doing the same intricate work that has been in place for generations. The kids had an opportunity to join the weavers for a wee session on a Brave-themed tapestry.

Going local for the farewell dinner

A Royal Evening at Edinburgh Castle

Our last night with Adventures by Disney will be stuck in our memory banks forever. We had a private viewing of the crown jewels followed by a private dinner at Edinburgh Castle. We felt like Royalty. Disney magic at its finest.

Editorial Note: Adventures by Disney provided complimentary access to their new Scotland itinerary. As always, our opinions on Ciao Bambino are our own. Photos by Amie O’Shaughnessy

Relevant Links:

The Disney Difference: Adventures by Disney Escorted Group Travel

Scottish Highlands travel with kids

Edinburgh with kids

The best castles to visit in England with kids

72 hours in London with kids