When you’re ready to dip your children’s tiny little toes into Africa, Marrakech, in the heart of the former French colony of Morocco and a short skip from Spain, is where to begin. With its wide Parisian-style boulevards in the new part of the city and its narrow rabbit warren-like donkey cart runs within the old walls of the Medina, it offers both first world luxury and developing world charm.

One of the most challenging parts of international travel with kids is enabling them to really engage with a new culture. It’s the difference between being an observer versus a participant; the latter creates the biggest impact. Ways to accomplish this include kid-friendly walking tours or taking a class — anything that brings kids and locals together in an interactive way.

During our extraordinary family tour of Morocco, Kensington Tours organized a lunch in a home. This authentic glimpse of Moroccan life was a trip highlight for all of us.

Marrakech is a well-known haven for incredible luxury boutique hotels. I was determined to find a kid-friendly version of one while planning our family trip to Morocco in October.

Boutique Souk, a popular upscale concierge and trip planning service, introduced us to the Beldi Country Club. We are forever grateful for this recommendation as this property is a gem for families who want an intimate hotel experience with a strong sense of place.

Ever since I watched (and re-watched) the movie English Patient, I’ve dreamed of seeing the Sahara Desert sand dunes in North Africa.

When I planned our family trip to Morocco in October, I was determined to include sand dunes in our itinerary. A task that proved challenging and ultimately, impacted every stop we made on our trip. I quickly realized that no matter how you organize sightseeing stops in Morocco, a trip to the dunes involves 10+ hours of driving through remote parts of the country.

When we travel to destinations in remote regions where day-to-day life for local people is a struggle, we try and select accommodations that support the communities around them.

Fortunately for all, Sustainable Tourism is fast-growing around the world. If your kids are old enough to process the shift in how people live versus what they are used to seeing at home, staying in accommodations that are deeply integrated …

The highlight of Marrakech for adults and kids alike is undoubtedly the medina (old city). Stepping into the medina is like landing on another planet — one where the same traditions have been in place for hundreds of years.

The medina is comprised of a network of souks — open-air markets — where anything and everything is on display. Many of the handicrafts are produced within the market and you can watch artisans at work. This is the only shopping experience we’ve encountered thus far in our travels that our 8-year-old has enjoyed.

Marrakech has experienced a huge tourist boom over the past several years and the hotel possibilities are endless, particularly for couples in search of a romantic retreat. For families, however, the list of optimal options is quite small.

Staying in a riad, a traditional Moroccan house or palace with an interior courtyard, seems appealing at first blush as many are in heart of the atmospheric old city (medina). The challenge of this accommodation category …

If you followed my recent trip to Morocco on Twitter or read Morocco Family Adventure on Mother of All Trips last week, you know our experience in this North African country was tremendous.

International trips that include multiple stops in remote locations, however, require meticulous planning. Add kids to the trip and there’s a new layer of vulnerability and complexity to consider. There are things …

I kicked off 10 day tour of Morocco with my family in Marrakech this week. We’ve had a marvelous stay at the new Four Seasons Marrakech, but otherwise the highlight here is without a doubt the exotic medina, the largest of its kind in North Africa. More on that soon!

As I begin my coverage of Morocco on the Ciao Bambino blog, I want to acknowledge that we are not impervious to feelings of uncertainty …

I’ve taken my girls all around the world. And my mother never blinked an eye until Morocco. She had a really tough time with Morocco. She couldn’t really tell me why. She was just worried. I think it was that whole dark, sultry Africa thing … better known as the unknown.

Morocco. more specifically Tangier, is the only traveling many people will ever do in Africa. It was never on the top of my list. We were headed to Spain, and when my husband realized it was only about an hour’s trip by ferry, the deal was done. Africa!