Summer happens to be my favorite time of year to visit Boston with kids. After a long winter, the city comes alive with summer activities. People are ready to be outdoors again and embrace the warm weather, creating an air of celebration that takes over the city.

Boston strikes the perfect balance between being educational and entertaining for kids.  You can sneak in bits of colonial and revolutionary history and children of all ages barely notice! When asked to share some of our experiences for Expedia’s Kids in the City program, I decided to focus on the unique summer activities that can help make a family vacation in Boston more memorable.

On the Expedia’s Kids in the City Boston page, I compiled an extensive list of what to do, where to stay and what to eat while visiting Boston.  Take note! Here are some additional summer family-friendly activities in Boston to consider …

Strolling through Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market.

Historic Charm on the Waterfront

We like to start our family time in Boston the Waterfront area.  Not only is this area packed with historic charm, but it’s also easy to navigate with kids. The new Rose Kennedy Greenway is a kid-friendly walkway that connects a few key spots like Faneuil Hall, New England Aquarium, and the North End.  This walkway also has sculptures, a carousal, a water fountain, and occasional food trucks, making it both beautiful and functional.

A fife and drum band marching through Faneuil Hall.

Festival Fun

We always try to time our summer visits with Boston’s unique local festivals.

Boston Harborfest. A week-long series of events starting June 28^th celebrates Boston’s colonial and maritime heritage.  With over 200 events, there are plenty of activities to entertain all the family members.  Don’t miss the re-enactments, Chowderfest and the tall ships, including the USS Constitution, that sail through the harbor.

The North End Cultural Festivals. The North End, Boston’s Italian neighborhood, is a year-round favorite of ours.  Even if we are just running into town for a doctor’s appointment, we make a point of stopping by to get some fresh pasta from DePasquale or Cannoli from Mike’s Pastries.  However, in the summer it’s even more enjoyable, as the weather is conducive to leisurely strolling around this authentic corner of boston.  We get a bite to eat here and there and just people watch.  I love to spy neighborhood ladies peering out of their apartment windows.

Multiple Italian festivals are popular in The North End when they close the streets to cars and only allow pedestrians. There is music, carnival rides, amazing food, and fun crowds. It’s our little slice of Italy while on US soil.  Check the North End Festival website for 2012 dates.

The daily menu at DePasquale’s.

Jammin’ Out

Just walking down the streets, you’ll hear fife and drum bands, bagpipes, drum groups and the like. This lively time of year is perfect for relaxing and taking in some local music.

When staying at the Boston Harbor Hotel, we enjoyed the Summer Series, live music that they play weekdays on their terrace.  Some of the music appealed to my kids and some did not — it was hit and miss.  What is guaranteed, however, is the relaxed atmosphere overlooking Boston Harbor.

Another spot to hear some great music is walking around Faneuil Hall.  During the summer nights, the restaurant windows are all open and you can see the musicians at various pubs.  It’s an easy place to grab a bite to eat from one of the many food stations, then sit next to whatever entertainer you would like to watch.  My kids adore street entertainers.  Usually, there is a great break dancing group that flips, jokes and keeps the kids completely enthralled.

Having fun in the fountain on the Rose Kennedy Greenway.

Cooling Off

Okay, Boston summers can get hot … steamy hot. Add sightseeing and families definitely need some ways to cool off.  Our waterfront favorite is the splash fountain on the Rose Kennedy Greenway.  Kids have so much fun here.  Be sure it’s either at the end of the day or that you have access to a place to change because they get soaked.

Boston Common attracts tourists and locals alike to splash around in the Spray Pool. Starting June 27^th, the Spray Pool opens at 11:00 am each day. There’s even a lifeguard on duty and a snack shop.

Pools are ideal for summer travel.  Whenever we stay in a city during the summer, a pool is a must.  It gives the whole family a break, refreshing anyone who may have gotten grumpy during touring — including parents.  Boston has an extensive collection of family-friendly hotels with pools including: Boston Harbor Hotel, Intercontinental, Seaport Boston Hotel, Four Seasons Boston, and The Colonnade.

Inside Scoop: Boston takes its ice cream seriously. People are often found arguing about which of the local shops makes the ultimate ice cream.  One thing is for sure, you will have plenty of chilly options.  We love Gigi’s Gelateria in the North End, JP Licks in Back Bay. Toscanini’s makes a trip to Cambridge worthwhile.

Enjoying a gelato at GiGi’s Gelateria in the North End.

For more ideas about how to enjoy Boston with Kids, checkout my previous post Five Fun Summertime Activities in Boston, Spring in Boston: Sports Revolution and Art, and Off-the-Beaten Path Activities in Boston.

For great coverage from some of our favorite travel bloggers, go to Expedia’s Kids in the City page.  This group also offers additional insight on trips to Philadelphia, Denver, New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Diego and San Fransisco (by our own Dana Rebmann).

Editorial Note: Ciao Bambino was compensated to support the Kids in the City summer-travel campaign. Photos by Nancy Solomon

A Lake Tahoe summer vacation is a dream for active, adventurous families.  I consider my family in this category with a twist — we’ll never be the family that camps or does the true roughing it vacation, although we do prioritize outdoor adventures and exercise.  A great compromise is a hotel that allows us to experience the outdoors but at the end of the day has all the creature comforts we equate with vacation.  The Resort at Squaw Creek is a perfect fit.

The Resort at Squaw Creek is an all-season resort in North Lake Tahoe/Squaw Valley that offers a long list of on-site kid-friendly activities.  The convenience of having so many things to do at the resort makes it easy to try new activities without it being a big “production” with the kids.

The pools are relaxing for everyone after a day of activities.

On-site Activities for the Entire Family

Kids will immediately notice the large pool area with several pools and whirlpools and a slide.  The mountain views are gorgeous from here and the spa is conveniently located near the pool area. Once inside you feel a million miles away.

Other activities offered include tennis, golf, on-site fly fishing (how easy is that with kids?), mountain biking and hiking on nature trails.  The Truckee River bike path passes by the resort and leads directly to the lake.  The resort provides convenient bike valet service for guests bringing their own bicycles.  Resort staff can also arrange guided hikes and horseback riding.  All of the activities are kid-friendly and some, like golf, have special family pricing where kids are free.

An Active Kids’ Club

If you’ve used kids’ clubs before you already know that you can’t judge a book by its cover.  It’s all about the staff and how they engage your kids.  What most impressed me about the Mountain Buddies kids’ program was the involved staff and the variety of activities, both indoor and outdoor that is part of a regular day.  We tried an evening program and when the weather spoiled outdoor plans the kids moved inside and roasted marshmallows in the lobby fireplace!

Comfortable Accommodations

The resort offers deluxe hotel rooms and one and two-bedroom fireplace suites.  The rooms have been recently renovated and are comfortable.   The suites are ideal for families with a separate bedroom, sitting room, dining table and kitchenette.  After a couple of days of eating out, we found it more relaxing to pick up food from the resort’s deli and let the kids eat breakfast leisurely in their pajamas.

Fresh, Seasonal Dining

Wherever you choose to eat at the resort, you’ll find high quality ingredients throughout using locally sourced seasonal items when available.  There are three main dining areas at the resort.  The upscale Six Peaks Grille has floor to ceiling windows with spectacular views and a good kids menu.  Sandy’s Pub is a sports bar with casual fare and according to my son, has “the best” hot chocolate.  However, our favorite dining at the resort is Sweet Potatoes Deli.  It’s a gourmet deli with a great variety of breakfast items and sandwiches not to mention a myriad of coffees and fresh juices.  Portions at breakfast are large and can be shared.  But beware; there are many treats to tempt little eyes here.

Disabled Access Ambassador

As someone who travels several times a year with a family member who is in a wheelchair I know how challenging it can be to find hotels with roll-in showers and hotel staff that can tell us the flattest route to take or activities that will work for us.  If you stay at the Resort at Squaw Creek you’ll find Mario, the resort’s disabled access ambassador.  He’s ready to help you make the most of your Lake Tahoe vacation and has a guide printed and ready to hand you that lists wheelchair accessible routes at the resort and accessible summer and winter activities.  Mario is not only immensely helpful but his personal experience is a huge time saver when you’re on vacation.

Coincidentally, my room at the resort was handicap accessible and I can tell you that the roll-in showers here rock – so big that my kids wanted to use our shower instead of their own.

Editorial Note: Ciao Bambino received complimentary accommodations, activities and meals in order to fully experience and review the property.  As always, opinions are our own. Photos courtesy of The Resort at Squaw Creek.

Relevant Links:

Resort at Squaw Creek Review on Ciao Bambino

What’s New at Squaw Valley for Families

Things to do in Squaw Valley with kids

Skiing in Lake Tahoe with kids

Favorite Lake Tahoe summer activities with kids

Ciao Bambino’s family-friendly ski vacation recommendations

Give my family an excuse to head to San Francisco and we won’t even hesitate to hop in the car and get rolling. I use the term excuse lightly. “I’m in the mood for dim sum,” has been known to lead to fun-filled days in the city by the bay. San Francisco isn’t a huge city by most standards, and as my kids have gotten older, we’ve discovered one of our favorite ways to get around during the summer is by bike. When I was asked to participate in the Expedia Kids in the City Program, I knew exactly what I’d recommend.

Summer Things To Do in San Francisco with Kids

My family’s perfect summer day in San Francisco goes something like this:

Park the car somewhere in the Fisherman’s Wharf vicinity and unload the bikes. I know, bikes don’t travel easily. Out-of-towners park your rental car if you’ve got one, and then rent bikes from Blazing Saddles.

Hey Batter!

If we’ve scheduled it right we’ll head south along the waterfront, also known as the Embarcadero,  to catch a Giants baseball game at AT&T Park. If they’re not playing the day you’re in town, don’t fret, AT&T Park Tours are great for visitors and baseball fanatics. Tours are available most days at 10:30am and 12:30pm.

Chocolate with a View

Don’t eat too much ballpark food because chocolate is waiting. Unlock your bikes and roll to Tcho Chocolate Factory at Pier 17 on the Embarcadero. You can buy all sorts of chocolate goodies made in the onsite factory, or even better go on a tour to learn everything you’ll ever need to know about chocolate. Free public tours run twice daily at 10:30 am and 2 pm, 7 days a week. They also fill fast, so to avoid disappointment make a reservation.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better … it does. The Exploratorium is an incredibly popular art and science museum for kids, and in 2013 it’s moving to Piers 15 & 17, right next to Tcho. Chocolate and science, I can’t wait.

America’s Cup is Coming

San Francisco is also the Host city for 2013 America’s Cup. It’s the first time the immensely popular international yachting competition has been hosted in the US since 1995, so exciting things are happening all around the Embarcadero.

The Rock

If you’ve never been to San Francisco, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t recommend a trip to Alcatraz. It’d be criminal to miss out. The Rock is best known as the maximum-security prison that once held some of the nation’s most notorious bad guys. The tour includes the ferry to Alcatraz, a self-guided audio tour (my daughter did it at age 7), and ferry back to terra firma. Give your family a good three hours for the whole trip.

Roll on to Pier 39

There is no denying, Pier 39 is designed for tourists but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun for locals too. The pier is loaded with plenty of places to eat and lots of souvenir shops. We head straight for the end of the pier to say hello to the sea lions. California sea lions are known for their noisy barking, so just listen and let your ears lead the way. The sea lions first appeared in 1989 after the San Francisco Loma Prieta earthquake, and since they’re animals of habit, it’s a good bet you’ll be able to bring your kids and grandkids to see them.

Catch a Show

This section of the waterfront is popular and pretty crowded. It’s a good bet you’ll have to walk your bikes from now on, but that’s okay because you’ll want to move slower to take it all in. Take time to stop and watch the assortment of street performers. There’s a little bit of everything; musicians, artists and jugglers, to folks just covered in silver and gold. You never quite know what you’ll see.

Bakers Front & Center

Don’t miss the always fabulous performance at the Boudin Bakery demonstration window. You can watch bakers turn sourdough bread dough into works of art. Just about every shape you can imagine from crabs, alligators and turtles to fancy bunches of grapes. There’s even a microphone system so you can ask the bakers questions as they create their doughy masterpieces. This always makes my family hungry. This is where we typically lock up the bikes and head inside to share a sandwich or Boudin’s famous clam chowder in a bread bowl.

Sharing is Important

Our last stop of the day is always Ghirardelli’s Flagship Chocolate Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop. (I did recommend sharing something at Boudin.) In the summer, hot fudge sundaes are popular. In the winter, hot chocolate hits the spot. The likelihood of a sample or two pulls my girls into the chocolate store like a magnet. They could be attracted to worse.

Some quick pedaling back to the car and were on our way home. Most of the time the backseat’s asleep before we hit the Golden Gate. Be sure and check out the Kids in the City San Francisco page on Expedia for more insider tips on San Francisco with kids.

Editorial Note: Ciao Bambino was compensated to support the Kids in the City summer-travel campaign. Photos by Dana Rebmann

Looking for more summer vacation ideas for the family? Check out these posts from other savvy family-travel bloggers: Philadelphia,  New York, Chicago, Boston, Denver, Washington, D.C., San Diego, and Los Angeles.

Relevant Links:

Ciao Bambino recommended San Francisco family hotels

Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary Celebration

Visiting Golden Gate Park in San Francisco with kids

Review of CA Academy of Sciences with kids

Things to do in San Francisco with kids

Tips for checking out San Francisco’s tourist spots

Zeum San Francisco, a museum your kids will love

Things to do in the Presidio with children

Visiting Angel Island with kids

Omni Hotels & Resorts is well known for its family-friendly vibe. Kids are welcome here.  Families are top of mind and Omni Hotels & Resorts strive to make your family vacation a great experience for everyone.  If you’ve ever stayed at an Omni with your family you know what to expect: great service and kid-friendly amenities.

My first experience at an Omni hotel was at the Omni San Francisco, a very elegant hotel in the heart of the city.  My first impression as a parent was a moment of panic – the hotel looked too elegant and maybe too quiet.  And then we met the doorman and any fears were dispelled as he smiled and welcomed us.  We stepped inside and received more of the same attention and service.  The kids were given welcome backpacks filled with goodies from the Omni Sensational Kids program that kept them entertained for hours.

This is why families love Omni.  They get it.  Traveling with kids can be challenging but it’s much easier when you stay at a hotel that welcomes all of you.

Is this your idea of a great family vacation?  Then you’re in luck because we have good news for you!

Ciao Bambino and Poshbrood have partnered with Omni Hotels & Resorts to offer a fantastic giveaway to celebrate their new summer Camp Omni package.

The Camp Omni package is available at all Omni Hotels & Resorts this summer.  Our Grand Prize winning family will have an opportunity to experience the Camp Omni camp-themed amenities and more at Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate. Two additional families will win gift certificates to stay at the Omni hotel of their choice.

Prize information is detailed below.  We’ll announce the winners on our blog once they are confirmed.

Go to Ciao Bambino’s Facebook page to enter now.  When you finish the entry form, don’t miss another chance to enter on Poshbrood!

Lazy River at Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate

Camp Omni Giveaway Prizes

Grand Prize: 1 Winner

Two Night-Three Day Camp Omni vacation package at Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate

• 2 nights complimentary lodging in Premier accommodations (one room) for a family of four including applicable taxes
• Camp Omni package includes:
• $10 custom, Camp Omni gift cards for kids to use in the commissary (gift shop or restaurant)
• A camp-themed amenity with s’mores-flavored marshmallows, collapsible water bottle and lanyard string in a cinched-up backpack
• An adventure newsletter with a property/area scavenger hunt that can be redeemed for a Camp Omni merit badge and “dirt & worms” dessert in the restaurant
• A pre-call from the camp counselors
• Complimentary breakfast for kids 12 and under on the buffet or children’s menu

In addition to Camp Omni amenities, winners will receive Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate special offerings:

• Daily Breakfast in Trevi’s Restaurant
• Round of Golf on Champions 9, the resort’s lighted 9-hole par 3 Pitch and Putt
• 3 hour Camp Omni Kids Escape, (Camp Omni is open from 5-10pm for ages 4-12, includes kid meals at  7pm, activities and a movie)
• Dinner for two adults in ZEN
• Reservations are required and subject to availability; blackout dates apply
• Prize not transferrable and not redeemable for cash
• Certificate valid through December 31, 2012
• Approximate value ($910)

Note:  Camp Omni promotion ends on September 16, 2012.  If reservation is after September 16, winner will receive only other listed amenities.

Additional Prizes:  2 Winners

Two night stay for up to four people in one room, including applicable taxes at any Omni Hotels & Resorts.

• Winner receives 2 one-night certificates
• Reservations are required and subject to availability; blackout dates apply
• Prize not transferrable and not redeemable for cash
• Certificate valid through December 31, 2012
• Approximate value ($500 each)

Offical Rules

You must be a U.S. or Canada resident, 18 years or older. Only one entry per person per participating website.  Sweepstakes ends on June 5, 2012 at 11:59 EST.  Read the official rules for complete details.

Thank you to Online-Sweepstakes, CashNet Sweepstakes and Blog Giveaway Directory for help spreading the word about the giveaway.

On my family’s recent trip to Paris, I sometimes felt overwhelmed with the staggering amount of amazing architecture and history at every turn.  I never tired of looking at it but I did tire of not knowing the stories behind the buildings, statues and paintings.  This is where a great tour makes all the difference. Ciao Bambino has covered a variety of private family tours, including the Paris Muse Louvre tour which receives rave reviews from our readers.  I have always wondered if the private guided tours are really worth it with kids.

What I failed to realize is that while most tours are just a few hours long, the benefits of what the kids learn lasts an entire trip and even a lifetime.  Paris Muse recently hosted my family on their “If Buildings Could Talk” Paris family walk.  My kids are 5 and 8 and I know that there are certain aspects of the tour that they will always remember.

The Tour

The walking tour lasts 2.5 – 3 hours and it flows well. The tour starts at the Place des Vosges and Victor Hugo’s house (author of The Hunchback of Notre Dame) and ends at Notre Dame.  Along the way we learned about important architectural structures and personages of the time.

For the most part, the walking tour took us away from the large summer crowds and into parts of Paris that we would never have seen otherwise.  The tour is focused on the children although the adults learn as much as the kids do and are welcome to participate.  During the tour, the kids are given a unique combination compass/binoculars instrument to use throughout the walk to help lead the way and identify sculptures and markings on buildings including an embedded cannon ball – these were a big hit.

Highlights of Paris Muse Walking Tour with Kids

The guide. It was obvious from the first five minutes that Inge, our tour guide, knew how to engage kids.  And when sibling bickering came up she didn’t flinch.  Her knowledge of the history of Paris and how to convey that to the kids was astounding.  Even with a guidebook, I could never have shown them history in this way.  Inge was able to show them through the architecture how the French value and preserve their history and I think the kids got it.

History mixing with present-day Paris. The tour successfully shows how history mixes with and becomes part of everyday life in Paris.  Never was this more apparent then when we stopped to look at a portion of the old Paris city wall.  While we learned to read the mason’s marks on the stones of the wall, French teenagers played basketball on the court right next to us. It was a bit surreal and so unlike anything we see in the U.S.

They learned something! You never know what kids will remember from a vacation and it seems like mine tend to remember the desserts they ate more than anything else.  I didn’t realize what they had absorbed from the tour until our next visit to a church and castle. They immediately began to search for the mason’s marks on the stones of the castle and the rose stained glass window in the church only to remember that rose windows are only found in the cathedrals or basilicas.  I felt like they left the tour with a set of tools that they subsequently used the rest of our vacation. This was an unexpected surprise.  Granted they’ll never forget all those chocolate croissants either.

Tips for Families Considering the Paris Muse Walking Tour

Age Appropriate. The recommended age group is 6-12 and after seeing my 5-year-old start to break down at two hours, I think the age limit is correct.  Kids also fill out a workbook as they go along, so a parent will need to help them if they cannot read and write.

Pack snacks and wear comfortable shoes. Although we had just eaten, walking around for three hours is tiring and a good snack helps keep the whining to a minimum.

Finally, to answer my own question about whether these types of private, guided family tours are worth it, the answer is yes.   The tour costs 290 Euros and if I could have this same type of experience again with my kids, I wouldn’t hesitate to book it.

Editorial Note:  Paris Muse provided Ciao Bambino with a complimentary tour for review purposes.  As always, our opinions are our own.

Relevant Links:

Ciao Bambino recommended Paris family hotels

72 hours in Paris with kids

Best family hotels in Paris; review of Relais Christine

Exploring Musée des Arts et Métiers with school-age kids

How not to visit Versailles with kids

A scavenger hunt in the Louvre with kids

Tips for visiting Paris with babies and toddlers

Off -the-beaten path things to do in Paris with kids

Meet Oliver

Oliver the black Labrador, must have the best job in the canine world. He is the hotel dog at the Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire. That’s Hampshire in the UK, about an hour southwest of London. Oliver’s job description involves being stroked and cuddled all day long, breaking only to be walked or jogged around the hotel’s beautiful grounds or to take the occasional nap amidst the cosy luxury of the hotel’s interior.  Only the hotel’s guests are more spoilt …

Traditional county house design

Accommodation

On check-in, our luggage was whisked off and my two little girls were shown to the toy chest and asked to choose a gift. Grabbing their doll and model-car kit, they trotted after us as we were shown to our suite, and what a suite it was.

There is this awful trend amongst British hotel designers to try and fix things that aren’t broken. They take a perfectly lovely room in a traditional manor house setting and decide to jazz it up. They leave the four-poster bed, but they add a zebra-print carpet and a Philip Starck Ghost chair. Nothing wrong with any of these, but when I go to a British country house hotel I want to feel the luxury, sophistication and opulence of the period to which it belongs; in this case, a time when all people seemed to do was drink Highballs on the lawn and enjoy themselves.

The bedrooms, and indeed the whole interior, at the Four Seasons get this feel of traditional, understated grandeur just right, minus the delicate ornaments that would break if hit by a paper airplane. They do it in a welcoming family-friendly way. Our suite was enormous and there were a lot of wows and gasps as we took our initial walk through it.

In the lounge room there was fresh fruit; children’s magazines for the kids; and, a dish of sweet treats bearing each of their names in chocolate. In the bedroom there were pint-sized bathrobes and slippers to match our own. And in the bathroom sponge letters spelt out the kids’ names on the tub.

Garden and grounds

Spa

We then made our way down to the spa, where my 7 and 4-year-old were treated to their first manicure! I had a pedicure and the varnish remains unchipped after almost three weeks.

Suitably spruced up, we grabbed bikes and were furnished with bottles of mineral water and we set off on a cycle ride around the delightful grounds, which are a mixture of formal English gardens and pasture with a pretty canal running through it. You don’t realise how extensive they are until you pedal through them and we couldn’t wait to cool off in the pool afterwards.

Conservatory indoor/outdoor swimming pool

The indoor/outdoor infinity pool is housed in a lovely period-style conservatory, which is thankfully adjoined to the main hotel. I hate having to walk outside to reach an indoor hotel pool – another common feature in British hotels, trying to create additional income from non-resident leisure memberships. Grown ups can swim from the indoor section into the outdoor vitality pool complete with a selection of massaging jets, and there is plenty of room for the kids to play in the half of the pool that is not sectioned off for serious swimmers.

Eating

There are three restaurants at the hotel. Café Sante, which is attached to the spa and open during the day for light meals and snacks. You can dine in spa robes here, which gives it a quiet hushed air so we steered clear of this with the kids. The home-style food on offer at the Bistro is perfect for family meals, whilst Seasons offers a more sophisticated French/European inspired menu that’s best enjoyed whilst a babysitter waits on the little ones.

Ready for pony ride on Scooby Doo and Choice

Activities

After having the full works for breakfast, the kids were ready for their pony ride. We strolled down to the stables where Ella and Lily got hatted and booted before being introduced to Scooby Doo and Choice. They then climbed on to the ponies and set off around the course.

After collecting their rosettes, we explored the well-equipped kids club – Kids For All Seasons run a fantastic kids programme during weekend and school holidays – and then we searched out Oliver. Lily felt the need to take another animal for a stroll. He showed us where the croquet lawn was and took us down to the canal. Then the rain came. The Four Seasons Hampshire strives to make everything perfect for its guests, and it succeeds in everyway, but it can’t control the weather.

Canal boating, fishing, clay pigeon shooting, tennis and falconry will keep until next time.

Out and about

If you can tear yourselves away from the hotel and its grounds, there are a host of places and attractions to visit nearby. Windsor Castle, Legoland, Jane Austen’s House and the prehistoric circle Stonehenge are just some of the places you can check out. Alternatively, you can explore the picturesque villages dotted around the Hampshire countryside or venture into the New Forest.

Editorial Note: Ciao Bambino received complimentary accommodations at Four Seasons Hampshire in order to fully experience and review the property. As always, all opinions are our own. Photos by Four Seasons Hampshire and Anna Tobin

Relevant Links:

Summer holiday at the Four Seasons Provence

Review of Four Seasons Miami with kids

Four Seasons Marrakech highlights for families

Four Seasons Maldives resorts with kids

Four Seasons Bosphorus (Istanbul) for Photo Friday

Review of Four Seasons Hualalai

Review of Four Seasons Punta Mita

Four Seasons Paris for Christmas on Have Family Will Travel

Four Seasons Milan memory montage on Have Family Will Travel

The Golden Gate Bridge is recognized around the globe. More than just a bridge, it’s an iconic symbol of the state of California. As many as ten million people visit the Bridge every year. If you’re lucky enough to visit with your family this year, you’re in for a treat. The Golden Gate Bridge is celebrating its 75^th Anniversary this year!

Photo by Zoonabar of Flickr

Celebrate on Your Own

Part of the beauty of the Golden Gate Bridge is its pivotal role in so many of the best things to do in San Francisco and beyond. It’s more than just a backdrop. It’s an inspiration to get out and about whether the sun is shining or the fog is rolling in. There are endless fun things you can do to mark the occasion with your family. But here are a few of my favorites.

Pedal Power

Biking is a great way to see San Francisco. You’ll get some exercise and best of all never have to worry about parking a car! Blazing Saddles rents bikes in all shapes and sizes for families; trailers, tag-a-longs, tandems, you name it. The guided tour of San Francisco is a great option for first time visitor.

After rolling through the Palace of Fine Arts, the Presidio and soaking in an assortment of views of the Golden Gate, you’ll start biking your way across the 1.7 mile span into Sausalito. The bikes are yours to keep for the day to cruise around. When you’re ready to call it a day, you ride home on the waves instead of wheels. The tour includes ferry tickets back to San Francisco. You just roll the bikes right on the boat with you.

Whale Watching

If the idea of cruising the Bay sounds like fun, consider going whale watching with the non-profit Oceanic Society. May through November tours head to the Farallon Islands in search of blue and humpback whales, coastal gray whale watching runs December through April. Bring extra batteries for your camera, between the whales and the Bridge, you’re going to need them.

Fly a Kite

Some of the best activities are the simplest. Take the kids and fly a kite at Crissy Field. The former military airfield turned park showcase offers postcard views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay at every turn. Crissy Field Beach is always a hit, and The Golden Gate Promenade is a great place to go for a stroll. If hunger strikes, the Warming Hut (located at the west end of Crissy Field) sells snacks, sandwiches, and drinks.

Catch Some Air

If the kids still have energy to burn after running laps with a kite, consider another high flying adventure. House of Air indoor trampoline park is just steps away from Crissy Field in a historic airplane hangar.

Spend the Night

Kid-friendly Cavallo Point Lodge offers a different view of the Golden Gate every time you blink. Most of the lodge is comprised of turn-of-the-century buildings that were part of the original Fort Baker army post.

Along with seeing the Bridge, expect to hear it as well. To help guide vessels safely through the Golden Gate Strait, foghorns have been mounted on the Bridge since its opening in 1937. The foghorns cry out, on average, about two and a half hours a day. But during the summer, the Bay Area’s prime fog season, foghorns blare on average for more than 5 hours a day.

Maybe throw some earplugs in your camera case? I doubt you’ll need them, all that hunting for views of the Golden Gate pretty much guarantees the entire family a good night’s sleep. But don’t forget to set your alarm, there’s always the Bridge at sunrise to consider.

Dana and her family received complimentary bike tours from Blazing Saddles, but as always her thoughts and opinions are her own.

Relevant Links:

Ciao Bambino recommended San Francisco family hotels

Visiting Golden Gate Park in San Francisco with kids

Review of CA Academy of Sciences with kids

Things to do in San Francisco with kids

Tips for checking out San Francisco’s tourist spots

Zeum San Francisco, a museum your kids will love

Things to do in the Presidio with children

Visiting Angel Island with kids

I finally made it to Burano on our last family trip to Venice. This colorful fishing village is an island in the Venetian archipelago. There’s not much to do there other than stroll, shop, and eat a fresh seafood lunch, but it’s unique and fun to pair with a trip to a glassblowing factory in Murano. Burano also is famous for traditional lacemaking and there’s a lacemaking museum, Museo del Merletto, to visit as well. Although, that was a tough sell for my boys so we didn’t go.

When I say colorful village, I mean colorful … as this picture of Burano shows, the palette is seriously bright. The more colors clash, the more they are combined. It’s something to see!

ACTV, the Venetian public transport company, has regular boats from Venice Fondamente Nuove and the Murano Faro stop. The trip from Venice directly takes about 45 minutes.

For more Photo Friday posts, visit Delicious Baby.

Relevant Links:

Ciao Bambino recommended Venice/Veneto family hotels

Exceptional guided walking tour for families in Venice

Venice for kids highlights

Mask making class for families in Venice

Family-friendly activities in the Veneto Region

This is a guest post by Paloma (9 years old) and Giulia (11 years old) Martinez-Brenner about their experience on Context Travel’s Symbols and Legends of Florence Tour.

Symbols and Legends of Florence Family Tour

Paloma and Giulia were both born in Rome and essentially have grown up in a hotel, The Beehive, which their American parents own.  They went to a private British School until 2009 when they moved to Bali and attended Green School, and ambitious all bamboo school in the middle of the jungle, for two years.  In the summer of 2011 they moved to Orvieto, a small medieval hill town in Umbria, an hour north of Rome, where they go to Italian public school.  They have a little sister named Viola and their parents run their hotel, as well as an accommodation website called Cross-Pollinate, mostly from home, or wherever else they may be.

Over the Easter break we went to Florence and met up with Monica and Elena of Context Travel who took us on their “symbols and legends” walk.  It’s a tour for families where you walk around and learn about interesting stuff.

Our guide gave us pictures of the different symbols hidden all over Florence

We started at the Palazzo Vecchio in Piazza della Signoria where Monica gave us pictures of different symbols that are hidden all over the city. The Palazzo Vecchio was a government building, made over 700 years ago.  It looks like a castle and it was built to show how important Florence was in the world.

Florence used to be a Roman city. The name came from Flora, the goddess of flowers and plants.  The Iris, the symbol of the city, is everywhere. During the renaissance, Florence grew to be a really rich city by making and selling fancy fabrics.  All this money that was used to trade all over Europe needed to be exchanged safely, so they started banking too.

The statues of David are famous in Florence

We talked about the statues and how the people of Florence started to appreciate ancient things from the Romans during the renaissance.  The statues of David are the ones that most people know. The people of the city had Michelangelo carve the statues because they felt that Florence was like David in the bible story of David and Goliath.

Probably the most important family of Florence were the Medici.  They were very rich and paid for a lot of things to be built in the city. One of the Medicis, Cosimo, declared himself the Grand Duke of Florence and he had the Uffizi built, first as offices, then as an art gallery. A corridor was constructed so that they could walk from the Palazzo Vecchio to the Uffizi and then cross the river to the Palazzo Pitti, which is one of the many palaces that they lived in.

At the Ponte Vecchio, which means “old bridge” Monica explained that back then, they had this good idea to move all the butchers onto the bridge so they could just throw away all the scraps of meat into the river instead of stinking up the city.  But then the important Medici who were crossing the bridge in their corridor didn’t like the smell.  So they decided it would only be used for goldsmiths.  And still today it is filled with jewelry stores.

Rubbing Porcellino’s nose for a guaranteed trip back to Florence

Next we walked to the Mercato Nuovo (which means “new market”).  Since the 1500′s it’s been used as an outdoor market – so it isn’t really “new” at all.  We saw the Porcellino (which means little pig), but it’s not that little – it should be called “Porcellone”.  We rubbed his nose which is supposed to guarantee a trip back to Florence.

We went to a building where they used to store grain which was important to make food.  Here were statues of all the patron saints that represented the guilds, which are groups of people who do the same thing.  So there was a blacksmith’s guild, a doctor’s guild, a banker’s guild, and they all had their own symbols.  but only the more important ones got to have statues.

We saw what was once the original Roman Forum at Piazza della Repubblica

When Italy came together as one country in the late 1800′s, Florence was the capital of Italy before it was moved to Rome.Next we went to the Duomo – Florence’s enormous cathedral.  It’s real name is the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore – which means St. Mary of the flower.  They started building it in 1296 and finished it in 1436, over 100 years later.

Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore and the Campanile

Back then, cities used to compete with each other to be the best and richest, so Florence decided it had to have a bigger dome and better cathedral than Pisa and Siena which were its rival cities.  The dome alone took 15 years to build, which was pretty quick for such a complicated construction.  you can go up to the top, which I bet has a great view. There’s a huge bell tower called the Campanile.  Monica asked if we knew why the belltower was important.  Back then, people didn’t have clocks, so the ringing of the bells told everyone what time it was and what stuff they needed to do. In front of the Duomo was the baptistry.  The doors on it are called the doors of Paradise and they have pictures in bronze which tell stories from the bible.

We kind of made Monica tell us each story which took awhile, but she new them all by heart, and you could tell she liked explaining them. Then it was time for us to get one last gelato and catch our train back home.

We were very tired, but it was much better than walking around trying to figure out everything for ourselves. Before, I felt like Florence was just any other city, but now that I’ve done this tour, I understand the city better and feel closer to it.

Photos by the Martinez-Brenner family

Relevant Links:

Ciao Bambino review of The Beehive in Rome

Things to do in Florence with kids

Most popular family-friendly itinerary in Italy

Family-friendly luxury in Florence at Villa La Massa

Fantastic personal chef in Tuscany

Art and culture camp for kids in Italy

My friend Amy recently had misgivings about going on a family reunion cruise (not Disney).  She had wanted an educational and adventurous experience in Costa Rica but other family members thought a cruise would be easier.  The Bahamas won out but it brings up the question of how do you evaluate if a cruise or more specifically, a Disney family cruise, is right for you?

I’ve been on three Disney Cruise Line cruises, all to the Bahamas and on three different ships; the Wonder, the Dream, and the Fantasy.  My family had amazing experiences on each occasion. We enjoyed our family time together, but also appreciated the plentiful opportunities for adult-only time and our kids loved the activities in the youth clubs.

The Experience Versus the Destination

Cruising is about the on-board ship experience: the service, the food, the entertainment and the activities.  Someone else plans it all for you.  That’s why people love cruises – they are stress free and easy.  No navigating, no getting lost.  It’s a vacation for everyone.

What will you miss on a cruise?  The maps, the hours of trip planning and possibly the road mistakenly taken that leads to the little restaurant that becomes a highlight of your trip.  There isn’t enough time to explore off-the-beaten path.

This was one of Nancy’s revelations when she cruised on the Disney Dream.  With sometimes just hours in port, your experience is a super condensed version of the destination.  When we stopped in Nassau, many guests never left the ship and were never sorry about it as the endless activities offered on-board means there is always something to do.

Disney Cruise Special Service

When I tell my friends that the waiters on our Disney cruise cut up my kids’ food for them at the dinner table, they’re sold.  Where do you ever receive this type of service?  And if your kids have food allergies, Disney sets the bar high to ensure that your child can enjoy the cruise safely.

The staff makes you feel pampered and surprises meet you at every turn: ketchup in the shape of Mickey Mouse ears, animal art towels on our beds at turndown that make bedtime more fun, an unsolicited private cooking class with the chef when my daughter missed a kids’ cooking class, the list goes on and on and every family has a story to tell.

Disney Cruise Kids’ Clubs

The Disney Cruise Line kids’ clubs are legendary.  They are so engaging that your kids may want to spend more time there than with you. They are contained, organized, very clean and safe.  Kids have electronic wrist bands for check-in and with the complimentary wave phones provided to guests, they can text you if they want to contact you.

Even the tweens and teens love them.  On the Disney Fantasy the teens have their own pool and lounge area.

The youth clubs all accessible practically around the clock as they are open all day from early morning until after midnight.  Your kids can drop in anytime. If your kids would never use a youth club, this is something to consider as they are such a big part of the experience.

Disney Cruise Entertainment and Activities Aimed at Families

I went on a girls getaway cruise on the Disney Dream and had loads of fun in the adult areas of the ship and Castaway Cay.  They really do allow you to escape the kids and completely relax.  However, the main musicals and activities are family-oriented and there are no casinos on Disney ships.  While these factors may not affect a single family, it’s something to consider on a multi-generational trip where there may be adults with no children.

Disney Cruise Line Prices

Alas, the Disney cruises may be more expensive than other cruise lines, so it’s important to prioritize what you want to get out of the vacation.  I wanted to go on a family reunion Disney cruise to Alaska but price was the primary reason we chose not to do it.  The price difference for the same category stateroom was enough that some family members wanted to try another cruise line while we wanted to stay with Disney based on the service and quality of our previous experiences.  The compromise was no cruise at all and we chose a different vacation.

There are a lot of extras on the Disney cruise ships to consider when factoring in price.  For better or worse, soda is complimentary.  The kids clubs are open all day, shows are Broadway quality and the split bathrooms in the staterooms are a huge plus.  And it’s Disney.  They are masterful storytellers and entertainers and they design activities for all ages from babies through grandparents.  And for parents, the excellent youth clubs mean you’ll get coveted adult time – priceless in my book.

And what happened with my friend Amy?

She said a cruise still wouldn’t be her first option for a family vacation, but that she liked it more than she thought she would because it was so easy with a big group.  Her kids and their cousins loved the kids’ clubs so much that they wanted to spend time there instead of with their parents.  She was fine with this, but did note that the clubs had limited hours and were not always open when the kids wanted to go.

Editorial Note: Kristi received complimentary airfare and cruise accommodations from the Disney Cruise Line.  They did not ask her to express any particular point of view.

Relevant Links:

Family Vacation on the Disney Fantasy

Health and Safety Tips on a Disney Cruise

10 Surprises on the Disney Dream

Disney Dream inaugural cruise ship pictures

Getting ready for the Disney Dream cruise ship

Preparing for Disney Dream Cruise

Girls Getaway on the Disney Dream

Disney Cruise Line vacation review

Tips for an optimal Disney Cruise