EElizabeth Thorpe of Poshbrood shared her exciting plans to go to Dordogne over Spring Break with me last night; our conversation reminded me how much I adore this region of France. It’s not widely known as a tourist destination — surprising, as the Dordogne is brimming with wonderful attractions and scenic villages to explore.

Our last visit was with three boys under 11. In addition to our fantastic farmhouse dinners and zip-line adventure, we all adored …

Many families prefer renting apartments in European cities as they offer more value and living space than traditional hotel rooms.

My issue with apartments is that standalone units can be a quality risk unless you are diligent about checking references (see my post on finding the best family-friendly vacation rental for more tips and links to resources). Moreover, the management of an apartment may be nonexistent which leaves you without someone to help with planning and logistics in a foreign environment.

If it’s possible to be infected by a country … I am. Ever since we returned from our trip to Turkey, I just can’t seem to let it go.

I’ve supplemented my fascination by reading multiple historical and fictional books about this country. With beautiful cookbooks in hand, I’ve been whipping up wonderful Turkish dishes capped off by Turkish coffee. Although if truth be told, my family has about had it with this!

Navigating a ski resort in Europe is not an intuitive experience. Many of the resort areas are vast and comprised of multiple ski areas within a single destination. Language barriers create additional complexity.

Last week’s Photo Friday post featured Grindelwald in the Jungfrau Region of Switzerland. Grindelwald is a stunning winter destination and the ultimate Swiss Alps ski experience. Due diligence, however, is required to ensure you experience more pleasure than pain. It’s worth it!

When you ski in the Alps, you’re skiing mountains not runs. The sense of open space is incredible and one of the things that makes skiing in Switzerland so epic.

Here’s a shot of our 9-year-old Devon skiing in Grindelwald, Switzerland last weekend. Believe it or not, this was taken on a bluebird Saturday, i.e. where are the other people?

I stayed at one of our longtime Ciao Bambino Approved properties last summer, Internazionale Domus, and was reminded why this apart-hotel is such an exceptional option for families visiting Rome.

Located on – literally – one of the most coveted and picturesque squares in Rome, the Piazza di Spagna, Internazionale Domus guests need only to walk out their door to be immersed in their adventure. Many of Rome’s major attractions are walking distance from here, not to mention that wandering the streets in this neighborhood is a joyous activity in and of itself.

London is a fantastic place to eat out with your kids, as long as you know where to look. Wander along the main tourist thoroughfares of Knightsbridge, Oxford Street and Regent Street and you could quickly enter panic mode as the time creeps nearer to dinner time, and the ‘I’m hungry whines turn to I’m starving and you’re searching in vain for a decent restaurant.

The answer is normally to head down a side street, or alternatively, call up this blog on your smart phone. Here are my recommendations:

Oslo, the oldest of the Nordic capitals, located between a fjord and the forest, is breathtakingly beautiful and offers a several parks and recreational activities. Add to that castles and its intriguing Viking history and you get a city where a family can easily wile away 72 hours.

The Akerhus Castle has gone through many reincarnations, starting as a medieval castle in the 13th century, then becoming a fortress in the 16th century and finally being rebuilt in the 17th century as a renaissance castle.

Malta is a shy little archipelago suspended in the middle of the Med. Its modesty is part of its charm, but boy does it have a lot it could brag about. One of its islands is home to what is thought to be the oldest free-standing building in the world. The Egyptian pyramids and Britain’s Stonehenge are youthful in comparison.

If America were lucky enough to find the Ġgantija temples on its soil, it would have turned them into a prehistoric theme park, transporting visitors back to its creation in around 3200 BC.

I’ve been itching to get to the English countryside for months now and finally had the opportunity to do so when we had grandparents in town in September. Given the sheer number of flights going in and out of London, it’s often less expensive to fly into Heathrow (or other London airports) than other European cities (this applies to flights from major North American hubs as well).

Once our tickets were purchased, the real challenge begun. The English countryside is vast and has an unbelievable array of extraordinary things to see and do.