latest posts | the travelling mom
Trekaroo Canada, eh?
If you like the skinny on the what and where is great when you travel - from travelling moms just like you - you're in the right place.
You're also in the right spot to learn that family review site Trekaroo, the largest independent community of travel savvy parents in the United States, is expanding into Canada.
Families will now be able to search Trekaroo's database for the inside scoop on Canadian attractions, lodging, restaurants, and tours. …
Up, up and away to the Museum of Flight | Seattle
We're very pleased to have Lora Shinn of the Washington-based Cascadia Kids travel blog introduce us to Seattle's most excellent Museum of Flight.
With more than 150 aircraft, The Museum of Flight is one of the largest air and space museums in the world. Located on Boeing Field, not far from where real planes are built in Renton, Washington, the Museum takes transportation-obsessed kids and their grown-ups over the moon and back again.
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Ode to the Islands | Postcards from Kauai
As my father reminded me recently, there is only one Hawaii. The allure and beauty of the Islands are unique unto themselves, and we're happy to share some photos of our recent visit to Kauai that require few words to show why. I think you'll understand. Aloha!
Room with a view: Nihi Kai Villas, Poipu
Salt Pond Beach : super younger kid-friendly
Learning to surf at Sheraton Beach: it's tough stuff
Waimea - Canyon of the Pacific : Pictures don't do it justice
…A Visit to Vatican City | Rome, Italy
The Swiss Guard
Did you know that you can arrange to attend an audience with the Pope and, if you're lucky, be less than 20 feet away from His Holiness? And do this all for free?
Keep in mind that you'll be sharing the experience with 5,000 or so other interested folks and pilgrims, but if visiting the Vatican is in your Roman travel plan, you may want to arrange the experience of a public papal audience. Even if you're not Catholic.
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This is My Canada
Happy Canada Day! Camping on Vancouver Island
As a Vancouver-based family travel writer, my first and most loyal allegiance is to my home and native land: Canada. I've lived in three provinces over my lifetime - Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia - and we've been lucky to have travelled in all of them as a family as well.
So when Pamela from Spunky Girl Monologues organized a group of Canadian travel bloggers to share what they love about Canada in a …
Why Advance Trip Planning {equals} Family Travel Sanity
How far in advance do you plan your family vacation? Are you 'spur of the moment' travellers, or do you prefer planning things out well in advance, even up to a year ahead?
We're in the midst of some heavy trip planning going into spring 2014, with solid travel plans for spring and summer 2013 already booked and in some cases, even paid for. I also posed this question via our Facebook page, and those respondents were universally in the '…
Whistler Blackcomb | Family Certified Ski Fun
You know that we're no strangers to the awesome snow fun of Whistler Blackcomb. Living in Vancouver, only 1.5 hours away from Whistler, we try to get up there as often as we can.
We've planned some holiday time there this winter, much to the joy of our skiing t(w)eens who love to hit the slopes, and who enjoy Whistler's resort amenities as much as we do.
So, what's new this season?
Family Certified
This season, Whistler is continuing to improve its guest experience by introducing a new …
Tofino Insider | A storm watching & beach-combing paradise
Have you ever stood on the edge of the world?
That's what it feels like standing on Long Beach, Tofino, Vancouver Island, on the (nearly) most westerly point of Canada. Standing on the beach, there is nothing between you and Japan except the cold, vast, churning Pacific Ocean.
It's been a long time since we visited Tofino ourselves, so we were thrilled to interview local Tofino resident and guidebook author …
Why Cruising is Great for Multigenerational Family Travel
Have you taken a cruise that included your parents, in-laws, or other members of your extended family? Or does just the thought of holidaying together make you queasy?
There is a way to holiday with the folks while minimizing family blow-ups and rekindling old disputes. Check out our reasons why cruising is so great for multigenerational holidays, in our very first post as the Curious Travel Mama at The Travel Mamas…
Rainy Day Family Fun in Vancouver
It seems to rain in Vancouver as many days as the sun shines in a year. Even though we are an outdoorsy bunch, there is so much to do indoors too, and since it does rain here (more days than we might wish), here's our handy list of fav indoor spaces to spend some quality family time.
Great Places for Indoor Kid and Family Fun
Granville Island Kids Market - The Kids Market offers not only great shops for all manner of kid-friendly toys and products, there’s also a fun family arcade, and a multi-level jungle gym to climb around in on a rainy afternoon. …
Asia
The diversity of family travel options in Asia is exciting and overwhelming at the same time. Bustling urban centres, beautiful beaches, mysterious jungles, ancient heritage sites, and the many wonderful cultures found within each country.
Thailand - A farmstay family holiday
Traditional family travel can often bring up images of Disneyland, an overcrowded minivan, or all-inclusive resorts with child-minders and large playgrounds. But what's it like to travel as a family 'off-grid', in a non-traditional way?
Friends recently travelled to Thailand on a just such a family holiday. Tim F. and his family aimed to get into the spirit and flavour of how a traditional Thai family lives their lives. That meant leaving the lights and chaos of Bangkok behind for part of their vacation and heading into the jungles of northern Thailand for a farmstay with a local family.
How did you find this farmstay?
We used the Internet for much of our research and trip planning. There are so many travel resources online that it can take quite a long time to sort through them all to find the right place. When you're travelling off the beaten path, you also need to trust your instincts in reserving a place that may not have been 'rated' on any travel website or found in a guidebook. (Those can be awful too.) You need to have an appetite for adventure.
Europe
The chronicles of the travelling mom's many European adventures! Scroll down to view our features and tips about Belgium, Switzerland, France and Italy.
Westside | The Coolest Mall in Europe
Most of us don't go to Europe to visit a mall.
In fact, we actively avoid them most of the time. But when the mall is an architectural wonder that also includes the most incredible Adventure Pool & Spa facility we've ever seen, it's a must-see attraction.
Westside is located in Bern-Brunnen, Switzerland, about 10 minutes from the old city. It's easily accessible…
Skiing in Switzerland | Adelboden, Bernese Oberland
A Swiss ski holiday. It's the stuff of dreams.
Unfortunately, due to climate change, several Swiss ski resorts have been affected by a lack of snowfall and mild winters. This spells trouble for the strong Swiss ski & tourism industries, sources of intense national pride and identity in the country.
Fortunately, the Adelboden-Lenk ski region in the …
Top Ten Family-Friendly Attractions | Bern, Switzerland
Switzerland isn't all about the mountains, though they are a prime reason to travel there any time of year. Swiss cities, towns and villages offer families a surprising number of things to see and do, and one of our favorites is the UNESCO World Heritage capital city of Bern.
Here are our Top Ten Child and Family-Friendly picks for Bern, Switzerland.
Sleeping in a Tube | Switzerland
I love Switzerland.
It's my maternal homeland, and I have strong ties to this compact, western European country of cows & chocolate. I love visiting Switzerland every chance I get and am always amazed by its beauty, sense of order and unique history and culture.
On our most recent visit, we decided to try a unique accommodation experience for our family. …
The Most Beautiful Castle in Europe | Burg Eltz
Rick Steves calls this the 'most beautiful castle in Europe'. It is certainly one of the neatest and most well-preserved castles we've ever visited.
Burg Eltz, in Moselkern, near the Rhineland in central Germany, was built 850 years ago, and has remained in the same family's hands for that entire time. The castle is privately owned but in a special arrangement with the German government, it is open to the public as a national historic site.
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Sorrento, Capri & the Amalfi Coast | Italy
Just saying the names of these special places conjures up images of a warm Italian sun, steep sea-side cliffs, and the blue, inviting waters of the Mediterranean. This part of Italy has inspired artists, poets and travellers for centuries, and with good reason.
The countryside, houses and topography of southern Italy are a stark contract to the more industrial north of the country. …
When in Rome - The Best Cappuccino & Gelato
I've often wondered how Italians became 'the' global coffee cognoscenti. After all, there are no coffee beans grown in Italy; beans are imported from the tropics and roasted, ground, and consumed in Italy in vast quantities.
It's the ritual of coffee in Italy that has risen above all others, and been embraced world-wide as the favourite coffee rite of many in the western world. …
Ypres | In Flanders Fields Museum
One of the bloodiest battlefields during the four years of World War I was located in and around Ypres, in Flanders, Belgium. The prosperous market town was completely destroyed during the War. Its most impressive symbol and landmark, the magnificent 13th-century Cloth Hall (Lakenhalle) overlooking the Market Square, was burned down in the early part of the war.
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In Flanders Fields | Ypres - the Menin Gate & Last Post
In the Great War between 1914-1918, Belgium became one of the main battlegrounds between the great European powers. A trench system stretching from the North Sea to Switzerland was built in the farmland and mud of Belgium and France. The trench warfare employed by military commanders resulted in over 8 million soldiers' deaths during the four year span of World War I.
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Eternal Rome for Kids and Families
What can one say about a city that has existed unto itself for thousands of years?
Rome fits our criteria for an outstanding, educational family travel adventure that combines art, history, architecture, food and culture. You can spend a few days or an entire month exploring the glory of Rome, as it exists today and as it was in ancient times, and leave amazed and enlightened about this wonderful, mad city.
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The Top 6 Bruges, Belgium for Kids and Families
One of our favorite cities in the world is Bruges (or Brugge as it's known in Flemish). Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, Bruges was once a bustling and wealthy city in the Middle Ages, its wealth built upon its skill and trade in weaving. After its access to the North Sea - the Zwin - started silting in the 1500s, Bruges began a slow decline and became a forgotten city - 'Bruges-la-Morte' or 'Bruges-the-dead'. …
A Chocolate Obsession | Belgium
First, a confession.
I am of Swiss ancestry. My husband, Belgian. To say that chocolate is of importance to our very essence is a serious understatement. But whose nation's chocolate reigns supreme? The heated discussions on this topic over the years have tested our time together as a married couple. Belgian! No, Swiss! No, BELGIAN!
Fortunately, it is a delicious duel. …
Life with the Locals - Diksmuids Boterhuis, Bruges
To say that good food and drink are obsessions in Belgium is not an exaggeration.
This is, after all, a small country of 10 million people that produces over 600 different beers, many of which have their own specially shaped and labelled glasses in which to enjoy the national beverage.
Further, it's been my experience that the Belgians rival the French in their appreciation of good food - croissants, bread, moules (mussels), steak tartare (filet americain, as it's known in Belgium), grey North Sea shrimp, cheese of every kind, frites (fries) and of course, chocolate. …
Driving in Europe
We drove over 5,000 km through 5 European countries in our rental car - an Opel Astra (not shown above!) - on our recent family holiday. The car worked very well, though it was hardly the performance vehicle that my husband was craving (he nicknamed it the 'gutless wonder'), especially for the German Autobahn.
Driving in Europe has some unique advantages over driving here at home in North America. …
Paris in Spring | Jardins du Luxembourg
Paris may be for lovers, but it can just as fun - in a different way! - for kids too.
A favourite of children and families everywhere - ourselves included - is the Jardins (Gardens) du Luxembourg, located near the historic Latin Quarter of Paris. This stunning 25 hectare park is a gorgeous green space in the heart of the city. It is lively with Parisians eating lunch and tourists resting between visits to Notre Dame Cathedral, the Sorbonne or the next stop on their tour itinerary. …
Pacific Northwest
Discover the Best Place on Earth! There's no shortage of beautiful family travel opportunities in Vancouver, British Columbia, and in the Pacific Northwest, USA.
BC's Family Day Long Weekend | Where are you going?
Do you have plans for British Columbia's very first Family Day holiday long weekend? Have you chosen sun or snow for your mini-vacay?
We have some great snowy recommendations for you, if you're still undecided about what BC ski resort you might want to visit this weekend. There are so many great options to choose from.
Whistler Blackcomb - the number one ski resort in North America offers family fun and vertical terrain options like nowhere else.…
Favorite Holiday Events in Seattle
Special thanks to Keryn at WalkingOnTravels.ca for sharing her 5 favorite things to do in Seattle, WA, this holiday season!
Grab your favorite hot beverage and the kids; it’s time to head south to Seattle and explore all the Christmas mayhem they have to offer this holiday season.
Our family loves to dive right into the holiday cheer popping up around the city. …
Libraries Rock | The Vancouver Inspiration Pass
Who doesn't love the library?
One free card unlocks thousands of literary possibilities to the past, present and future. With the right book, you can dream of travel to faraway or fantasy places, right in the comfort of your living room.
The Vancouver Public Library has taken things a step further, with its new Vancouver Inspiration Pass {VIP} Card.…
Family Friendly Parksville + Qualicum Beach | Vancouver Island
I always find that my body relaxes when it realizes it's on Vancouver Island. There's an 'Island time' feeling for me, as soon as we drive off of the ferry. The pace of life is not as rushed as other places, such as in Metro Vancouver, that's a welcome thing.
Travelling here as a family at least once a year, we appreciate and value this special atmosphere of relaxation and friendliness that we find every time we travel to Vancouver Island.
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Vancouver Aquarium | Penguin Point
The Vancouver Aquarium's latest inhabitants are none other than six endangered African penguins, found in the new outdoor Penguin Point area. These small and highly likable creatures are one of 18 penguin species found in the wild, and the only ones who call Africa home.
The Aquarium has a live Penguin Cam, where you can watch the as yet unnamed Vancouver penguins 24/7. …
Toddler-Friendly Spots Around Seattle
We're very pleased to have this guest article from Keryn Means of Walkingon Travels. Keryn is based in Seattle and believes that just because you have kids doesn't mean you have to put your travel dreams aside - if anything they just get bigger and more exciting!
Rain or shine, cold weather or mild, Seattle is a great place to bring the family for a day trip or weekend adventure. …
Gold Medal Family Fun @ Silver Star Mountain Resort
The promise of dry, Okanagen powder is a powerful lure to anyone who enjoys skiing or snowboarding. And we certainly do.
And so for this February mini-break we chose to drive 6 hours into the BC Interior, north of Vernon, to experience the famous amazing, light, dry snow that has made Silver Star Mountain Resort a well-known winter holiday destination for locals and savvy foreign tourists alike.
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A Howlin' good time at Great Wolf Lodge
Family friendly hotel + 50,000 sq ft water park = License to print money.
Well, judging from the amount of kids and families we met during our recent visit to the Great Wolf Lodge Resort in Grand Mound, Washington, it certainly must be. The concept is simple; build an awesome water park packed with slides, rides, wave and kiddie pools and hot tubs, …
Whistler Wonderland
A quick family escape to Whistler for the weekend. Living in Vancouver, the temptation to get away for a few days of skiing and snowboarding is ever present during the winter months.
Whistler can be an expensive place for families. After all, skiing and snowboarding are among the most pricey sporting activities out there.
But, given that fact, Whistler remains a super family-friendly place with much to do and see. …
A Summer Week of Awesome
Sometimes, you don't have to travel far from home to get away from it all and have a terrific holiday. You can be a tourist in your own town, and take advantage of the great amenities and activities around you.
That's what we chose to do during our Family Week of Awesome, which took place the second-last week of summer holidays in August.
Our galavanting was generously sponsored by …
A Day in Kitsilano | Vancouver
We were honoured to provide a "Mother Insider" guest post for the Seattle-based Cascadia Kids website, specializing in family travel advice for the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia.
The article provides families with a guided tour on how best to spend the day in one of Vancouver's most vibrant and family-friendly neighbourhoods, Kitsilano. …
Rainy Day Family Fun in Vancouver
It seems to rain in Vancouver as many days as the sun shines in a year. Even though we are an outdoorsy bunch, there is so much to do indoors too, and since it does rain here (more days than we might wish), here's our handy list of fav indoor spaces to spend some quality family time.
Great Places for Indoor Kid and Family Fun
The Best Campgrounds in British Columbia
It's no secret.
British Columbia has some of the most well-designed, best-located provincial (state) campgrounds anywhere in North America. We've camped all over this great land (and in the south too), and we who live and camp in BC know how lucky we are to have this all at our doorstep.
The firewood may no longer be free, and now we're being charged the HST, but camping remains the cheapest and most fun family holiday you can have (without crashing at your parents' cottage - but where's the freedom in that?).
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The Vancouver Aquarium
The Vancouver Aquarium is one of the top tourism sites in the city. It's also one of the most popular destinations for local families as well, making any visit a potentially crowded one.
We must have spent hundreds of hours at the Aquarium over the years. The kids had freedom to safely wander and run around in the play area, nurse 'sick' stuffed otters, and identify all kinds of cool and interesting creatures.
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BC's Rustic Playground - Manning Park
Located east of Hope, three hours from Vancouver, is Manning Provincial Park, one of British Columbia's most popular outdoor recreational playgrounds.
We've been visiting here since 1992, in both winter and summer; pre-kids and as a family. It's become an annual vacation destination for us around the New Year, starting when we used to winter camp…
Winter Fun on Vancouver's North Shore
The weather forecasters have predicated a colder & snowier-than-normal winter season for 2011. With the school holiday break only one month away, there's no better time than now to plan for some snow play fun & snow sports on our local mountains. And you don't have to break the family piggy bank to enjoy these pursuit.
The three local north shore mountains - …
Richmond Night Market
The influence of Asian culture in Metro Vancouver shines brightest at the annual summer tradition of the Richmond Night Market. It's a vibrant & busy night market, modeled on those found in Hong Kong or Taiwan.
Vendors sell everything from Asian DVDs to clothing to care products to dollar-store toys. You can enjoy the displays of martial arts & Asian culture, and the quirky contests, but the main draw in our book is the food.
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The Beaty Biodiversity Museum
The newest museum in Vancouver has unofficially opened at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and it includes not only a whale, but a whale of a tale.
The new Beaty Biodiversity Museum is holding some special, free public previews this summer in anticipation of its official public opening in fall 2010.
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The Museum will display specimens and collections of all manner of animal and plant life found on earth through the millenia, including over 800,000 …
Whistler Weekend
We live approximately two hours away from one of the best ski resorts in the world: Whistler, British Columbia.
Unfortunately, we don't get to spend as much time there in winter as we'd like. If you have school-aged children and are busy with extra-curricular activities, finding the time to get away, even for a weekend, can be a challenging thing.
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A Walk on the Super Natural Side
Walking? Sixty-five feet up in the air?
That was my first thought when we were invited to tour the Greenheart Canopy Walkway at the UBC Botanical Garden. I have a fear of heights, and the thought of being that high up, walking on very bouncy, see-through metal bridges attached to large Douglas Firs didn't thrill me, at first.
But I am an adventurous mom and so, enthusiastic family in tow, we proceeded to introduce ourselves to our guide for the 45 minute, 308-metre Canopy Walkway tour in the Garden.
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Beautiful Bowen Island
Looking for a family day trip from the city that combines natural beauty with touches of modern civilization? You can't do better than a visit to Bowen Island, just a twenty-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay, northwest of Vancouver, and now, also a 25-minute, 'express' water taxi ride from Granville Island (pedestrian-only).
Bowen Island has long been a weekend playground for Vancouver residents and visitors, going back nearly one hundred years to the days of the …
Olympic Memories
It was an incredible 17 days in February in Vancouver. The experience changed the city and its residents in personal and profound ways that we'll cherish for a long time to come.
Vancouver Best Bets for Kid & Family Dining
Food plays a big part of any family holiday or one-day trip outing. Children can be picky eaters at any age, and finding a family-friendly dining spot to suit all tastes and appetites can be a huge challenge.
Vancouver is justly famous for its wide and affordable variety of dining out options. This multicultural mix has produced some of the best restaurants of their kind in North America, and many of them are kid-friendly. …
The Vancouver Olympic Village Plaza
The Olympic Countdown clock is ticking down the days until the 2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies on February 12, 2010.
In Vancouver, it remains the calm before the storm. We're all going around town on our pre-Christmas business, with the holiday season top of mind. I think that the the penny will drop with a very loud 'bang' on January 2nd, when we wake up to realize that this event is really, actually happening.
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Cypress Mountain Provincial Park
Not only do these mountains offer winter recreational activities such as skiing and snowboarding, two of them - Cypress and Seymour - are also designated Provincial Parks with wonderful summer and fall hiking opportunities.
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Travelling Mom contributing to InsideVancouver.ca
It's been an exciting past few weeks at thetravellingmom.ca.
We received lots of comments about our article on Belgian chocolate - thank you for the feedback! It was a true pleasure to taste-test all of those delicious chocolate temptations on our recent travels in Belgium. We plan to volunteer for that task again - and soon!
Our efforts to spread our wings a bit have been warmly received by a couple of very supportive travel sites that we'd like to highlight.
…The new view @ YVR
Thirty years is a long time to wait to see an airplane up close. Today I had the opportunity to attend the opening of the new Public Observation Area at the Vancouver International Airport (YVR), the first public viewing area at YVR in 30 years.
The Observation Area offers the public a magnificent view 'from the air side' of the take-off and landing strips, the busy airport operations, and the beauty of Vancouver's UBC Endowment Lands, the north shore mountains, and Vancouver Island.
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Galiano Getaway
I wrote about Galiano Island, one of the Southern Gulf Islands, in my article about the Top 5 100 Mile Holiday destinations near Vancouver. A recent visit confirmed its place on our list, and here are a few reasons why:
1. Short ferry ride. From the Tsawwassen ferry terminal it takes just one hour to reach Sturdies Bay terminal on Galiano Island. …
Zippin' in Whistler
There's nothing like overcoming your fear of heights by suspending yourself from a metal clamp attached to what seems like a thin metal cable 200 feet over rushing Fitzsimmons Creek in Whistler B.C.
But how about subjecting your beloved offspring to such an experience?
Now that we've done it, I can only say - go for it! Our 9 and 11 year olds astounded us with their courage and overcoming their own fear of letting go, literally. …
To the Lighthouse
This Mother's Day, my family has decided to forgo the fancy brunch and lunch plans.
This decision was made easier by the fact that every restaurant my poor husband called (last night) was of course full to bursting with reservations previously booked a week or more ago in honour of mom's' one day (morning?) break from cooking.
Rather than wallow in self-pity over a lack of eggs benedict this Sunday, I suggested revisiting an old friend - Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver - and that we would bring our own food to enjoy after a lovely hike to the seaside. …
The Great Outdoors
There's nothing like being all snug in your sleeping bag, fast asleep in your tent.
Suddenly, you are awakened by a murder of black crows right above your campsite, cawing incessantly, and very, very loudly. It's 5 AM and nature's alarm clocks are saying 'Good morning in the great outdoors!' (I understand why a group of crows is referred to as a 'murder', because at that hour, I know what I'd like to do to those birds.)
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A 100 Mile Holiday - Recession-proofing your Summer Vacation
Planning a holiday during a recession, when many of us are watching every dollar we spend, seems a bit decadent and in many cases simply impossible. Is this summer really the best time to take a holiday?
Taking inspiration from local B.C. authors Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon and their successful 100 Mile Diet and book chronicling their one-year experiment in local eating, …
Day Trippin' - Our Top 5 100 Mile Day Trips
The 100 Mile philosophy, inspired by local B.C. authors Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon and their successful 100 Mile Diet and book chronicling their one-year experiment in local eating, applies to our family's attitude towards rewarding day trips from our Vancouver home.
Think about your home-town, city and surrounding environment. What are all of the recreational opportunities within a 100 mile radius of where you live? …
A Break at the Peaks
Skiing and snowboarding for Spring Break is my idea of a fun and care-free family holiday.
Sun Peaks Resort, located north of Kamloops, BC, and a five hour drive from Vancouver, has been voted #2 Best Ski Resort in Canada (and #10 in North America) by Conde Nast Traveler magazine (2008).
This was great news as we'd booked a week of skiing there in March!
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ABC's
Looking for advice on how and what to pack? On how to survive a plane or car ride with babies, toddlers, or older children? The ABC's will teach you what you need to know to plan and execute a successful family travel strategy.
2012 | A Year in Travel
This year was a busy one at the travelling mom. We were fortunate to enjoy some great family adventures in 2012, in Florida, Oregon, British Columbia, Ontario, Mexico and Peru.
We hope you shared some great family travel memories too. Best wishes to your travelling family for a wonderful holiday season, and a very happy and healthy 2013!
Review | Lonely Planet's Not-for-Parents travel books
News flash. Books are not dead.
Despite the lure of iPhones, iPads, Xboxes and PS3s, kids still like to read. This fact makes me very happy, because I love to read as well. And despite the 'e-competition', there are still so many great books out there to read and enjoy.
Imagine my delight when I received copies of the new Lonely Planet's Not for Parents…
Passports with Purpose Fundraiser
Do you ever think about fresh water? Probably not.
Many others in the world are not so lucky. It's a daily struggle to find clean water for their families and children. But in a couple clicks, you can do something to help.
Donate to the Passports with Purpose campaign, and contribute to help raise $100,000 to build five new water wells in two communities in Haiti, with …
Let it Snow! Prepping for this winter's ski season
If you're a skier or snowboarder, you know it's never too early to plan for a successful ski season or holiday. As the days shorten and the temperature dips, skis, boots & gear are taken out of the closet, measured, and yes, of course, the kids have grown again and need new equipment this year. Cha ching!
It's all part of the excitement of preparing for family fun on the slopes. …
An exciting new relationship with Travel Mamas
I'm very excited and pleased to announce that, in addition to still blogging and maintaining thetravellingmom.ca (of course!), I will be a contributing writer & blogger with the popular San Diego-based family travel blog & website TravelMamas.com.
It will be truly great to be part of a group of like-minded travel enthusiasts, so I'm really happy to be joining TravelMamas founder …
Some thoughts about travelling with kids
Il Prato | Padova, Italy
Ever since our first family trip with our five-month old son, I have, for the most part, enjoyed travelling with our children. 'Well I should hope so', you're thinking, 'you have a travelling with kids blog, don't you?' That's certainly true.
I may not have enjoyed the tiredness & jet lag (affecting one and not the other), the sick days, early nights, or the occasional tantrums (surprisingly, there weren't that many, or I've purged them from my memory) from time to time, but that's pretty par for the course. …
The 7 Steps to Planning (and Surviving) Multigenerational Travel
For some of us, the idea of planning a holiday and spending weeks together in a foreign land with our parents and children sounds like a new circle of hell in Dante’s Inferno. But, if your family relationships are solid and you can ride out the occasional emotional storms and historical family member behavioral patterns, the benefits of multigenerational travel far outweigh the downsides.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter | Universal Studios
As excited - and sad - as I am about the last movie in the Harry Potter series, as a fan I'm comforted by the fact that I can live the magical experience at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.
Two fabulous travelling mom friends, Sharon B. & Tracy L., have recently visited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter…
Travelling Mom Profile | fillyourown
Sick of packing plastic for summer road-trips and in the lunchbox? We had the pleasure of test-driving fillyourown's great eco-friendly food storage products for the past few weeks.
Fillyourown is a local Vancouver company that creates stainless steel water bottles, plastic-free food containers, reusable lunch bags, compact folding shopping bags,…
He's Leaving Home
Well, not really.
My eldest child is going on a school trip to Quebec, and it's his first trip without his family. He's been in a French Immersion program for eight years, and in his final year of elementary school, he gets to travel with his classmates to La Belle Province.
This is a great opportunity to practice his French, explore a different part of our country, and immerse himself in the unique …
Travel Style: Don't Leave Fashion at Home
“Be Glamorous. Every Day.”
- Rachel Zoe
We are very pleased to present this Guest Post by Trish Friesen, of TripStyler.com, a fabulous website for daily trip style tips for the aspiring jetsetter. Trish offers some excellent style tips on what to include in your travel bag, suitable for the budget of any travelling mom. Like Trish says, there is no excuse for frump when you're on the plane or on the road!
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Travelling Mom Profile: Tales2Go | Audiobooks Rock
We love, love, love audiobooks. I've been known to drive right by our intended destination (even school!) while engrossed in a Percy Jackson or Artemis Fowl audiobook. Nothing guarantees silence in the back seat quite like a great story, well-told on an iPod or a CD.
The beauty of audiobooks is their portability. Whether in a plane, train, automobile or airport waiting lounge, you can listen and be spirited away into a novel or storyline that is engrossing and captivating. …
The Importance of Being Polite
Travel etiquette. Is it a dying art?
This thought struck me on a recent overseas flight. The topic was front and centre in Air Canada's En Route in-flight magazine, in the article The Ultimate Guide to Travel Etiquette.
The article covered the ways in which travellers could be better, more polite human beings while travelling, and included tips like; check your bags, keep your hotel room neat & tidy, be respectful to service personnel, and share those arm rests. …
Travelling Green?
There is a big debate in travel circles about the challenges in travelling 'green' - reducing our carbon footprint and our impact upon our natural world.
Is such green, or eco-travel even possible when we need to drive across vast distances to visit landmarks, or get on a large aircraft and jet halfway around the world, utilizing thousands of litres of jet fuel and burning tonnes of carbon, to visit faraway places in Europe or Asia? …
The Trouble with Travelling with School-aged Kids
Memories | Digital Photo Books
Your fabulous holiday trip is over, and you've downloaded the 1000+ digital photos from your 1, 2 (or more) cameras. Now what do you do? Do you preserve those photos and memories for viewing, or leave them piling up, unseen and unloved on your computer's hard drive?
In the digital age, it seems harder than ever to keep up with photo albums and scrap-booking your trips and daily lives. …
Motherly Advice
My friend and fellow travelling mom Isabel recently returned from a trip to Austria, Croatia, and Slovenia with her husband and 8 month old baby. It was a wonderful trip, but it wasn't without its challenges and trying moments along the way.
Isabel has some very good advice for other moms travelling or thinking about travelling with babies, and I'm pleased to share her thoughts with you.
…
The Border
There's nothing like the threat of a baggage or vehicle search to strike fear into the heart of any traveller. Every time I inch closer in the car or passenger line-up at customs, my heart rate goes up along with my body temperature.
R + D - Tools to Building a Better Holiday Plan
Planning a holiday? Don't know where to start? The world is literally at your fingertips! The internet offers more information and travel planning sites than you can ever hope to read.
Here are some of our favourite thetravellingmom.ca resource websites.
tripadvisor.com - Need to find a good place to eat in New York or hotel in Honolulu? This popular site offers traveller-submitted comments and ratings on hotels, restaurants and destinations worldwide. …
Food Glorious Food
Your plane has been delayed for 2 hours and the kids are starving. You had planned to feed them with the breakfast service on the flight (rare these days, I know), but that's out.
But you are not worried because you're a modern travelling mom who's planned for every possible outcome.
These days, in-flight meal service can be quite sporadic, if it exists at all. …
The Check List
The phrase 'I have nothing to wear!' does not hold true for those savvy travellers who know how to pack their suitcases. When I travelled as a child, flying was a very special occasion that required us all to dress up for the flight in our Sunday best. Old habits die hard, and I still do this today, and the benefit in my mind is that flying is still a special occasion, and who knows? …
How to Pack A Suitcase
I was taught the Art of Packing a suitcase by my mother. She was a master at filling every nook and cranny to ensure every item found a place in our bags. It's a simple system that incorporates many common sense elements, and I swear by it when packing for a weekend or a one-month holiday.
1. Gather the items required from the Check List in one place where you can see each family members clothing and personal items. …
Notes on a Suitcase - Carry-on!
Featured Product
When I was a child, my brother and I were each responsible for our own suitcase, a brown, vinyl ten-pound (empty!) monster with no wheels for carrying comfort.
Suitcases today are a marvel of engineering. Lightweight - under 5 lbs - with high-tech rolling wheels and in many cool designs to fit every style and budget. It's got to be lightweight, and able to roll down a cobble-stone street without losing a single wheel!
…
Baby on Board
I was one year old for my first plane trip. I don't remember the experience of course, but there is one story from that journey that is worth retelling.
My parents, who were very experienced travellers, decided it would be a good idea to give me some Gravol prior to our overnight flight overseas. The medicine would knock me out and I would sleep well on the plane, they reasoned. …
The Value of Education through Travel
We are all experiential learners.
As wonderful as it is to read about places and things that interest us, to experience those places and things allows us to learn and appreciate our world, and our own lives, in a deeper, more lasting, and more meaningful way.
In planning family travel with young children, the opportunities to open up their minds to new things, people, places and experiences are nearly limitless. …
Family Travel - Why it Matters
Why is it so important to plan and experience travel as a family?
Today's working moms and dads are extremely busy people. We have our jobs, our duties, our responsibilities, our daily routines that rule and govern our lives. Our children also live extremely busy and structured lives - school, homework, organized sports, artistic pursuits, organized play - governed by weekly routines. …
Trekaroo Canada, eh?
If you like the skinny on the what and where is great when you travel - from travelling moms just like you - you're in the right place.
You're also in the right spot to learn that family review site Trekaroo, the largest independent community of travel savvy parents in the United States, is expanding into Canada.
Families will now be able to search Trekaroo's database for the inside scoop on Canadian attractions, lodging, restaurants, and tours. To celebrate, Trekaroo will be kicking off their Canada launch with week-long coverage of four major Canadian cities: Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal. Throughout the summer, families can expect week-long features of each city, including travel advice, lodging reviews, and fabulous Canada vacation giveaways.
Up, up and away to the Museum of Flight | Seattle
We're very pleased to have Lora Shinn of the Washington-based Cascadia Kids travel blog introduce us to Seattle's most excellent Museum of Flight.
With more than 150 aircraft, The Museum of Flight is one of the largest air and space museums in the world. Located on Boeing Field, not far from where real planes are built in Renton, Washington, the Museum takes transportation-obsessed kids and their grown-ups over the moon and back again.
Even if you’re not particularly enchanted by transportation or planes (like me), the museum’s exhibits are so well presented that it’s hard not to crush over candy-red fighters and a quirky car-plane hybrid.
In the six-story-tall, glass-roofed Great Gallery, dozens of full-size biplanes, jet fighters and prop planes hang from the ceiling and seem to be flying indoors. More aircraft are scattered across the bottom floor. One of my favorites is the "Gossamer Albatross," a human-powered plane that once crossed the English Channel.
Ode to the Islands | Postcards from Kauai
As my father reminded me recently, there is only one Hawaii. The allure and beauty of the Islands are unique unto themselves, and we're happy to share some photos of our recent visit to Kauai that require few words to show why. I think you'll understand. Aloha!
Room with a view: Nihi Kai Villas, Poipu
Salt Pond Beach : super younger kid-friendly
Learning to surf at Sheraton Beach: it's tough stuff
Waimea - Canyon of the Pacific : Pictures don't do it justice
Polihale Beach : at the end of the road, literally
Shave ice is a must! Hee Fat General Store, Kapa'a
The stormy Na Pali coast on the north shore @ Ke'e Beach
Sunset at Brennecke Beach, Poipu
Ladies of the luau : Tahitian-style
A Visit to Vatican City | Rome, Italy
The Swiss Guard
Did you know that you can arrange to attend an audience with the Pope and, if you're lucky, be less than 20 feet away from His Holiness? And do this all for free?
Keep in mind that you'll be sharing the experience with 5,000 or so other interested folks and pilgrims, but if visiting the Vatican is in your Roman travel plan, you may want to arrange the experience of a public papal audience. Even if you're not Catholic.
You can plan to spend an entire day experiencing and visiting the Vatican on your Roman journey; exploring the magnificent Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, and even climbing St. Peter's Dome, if you don't mind the height and narrow staircases.
We did spend an entire day at the state within a city. Vatican City is a separate state jurisdiction from Rome and from Italy. You won't need to show your passport at the border to enter, as there isn't one, and getting there simply involves either walking or making your way by bus from wherever you are in Rome. There are no Metro stops within easy distance, so wear comfortable walking shoes.
This is My Canada
Happy Canada Day! Camping on Vancouver Island
As a Vancouver-based family travel writer, my first and most loyal allegiance is to my home and native land: Canada. I've lived in three provinces over my lifetime - Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia - and we've been lucky to have travelled in all of them as a family as well.
So when Pamela from Spunky Girl Monologues organized a group of Canadian travel bloggers to share what they love about Canada in a travel blog roulette, I was excited about joining in. After a roulette tag from Lisa Goodmurphy of Gone With Family, I'm very happy to share our favorite Canadian experiences.
1. Experiencing the Great Outdoors
Sitting on the dock of the lake, Vancouver Island
Why Advance Trip Planning {equals} Family Travel Sanity
How far in advance do you plan your family vacation? Are you 'spur of the moment' travellers, or do you prefer planning things out well in advance, even up to a year ahead?
We're in the midst of some heavy trip planning going into spring 2014, with solid travel plans for spring and summer 2013 already booked and in some cases, even paid for. I also posed this question via our Facebook page, and those respondents were universally in the 'plan ahead' category, apparently to the frustration of some more spontaneous spouses.
We tend to do a little of both - short and long-term planning styles. It really depends on where we're going, who else might be involved in the trip, and the length of trip time.
Whistler Blackcomb | Family Certified Ski Fun
You know that we're no strangers to the awesome snow fun of Whistler Blackcomb. Living in Vancouver, only 1.5 hours away from Whistler, we try to get up there as often as we can.
We've planned some holiday time there this winter, much to the joy of our skiing t(w)eens who love to hit the slopes, and who enjoy Whistler's resort amenities as much as we do.
So, what's new this season?
Family Certified
This season, Whistler is continuing to improve its guest experience by introducing a new “Family Certified” program. The Family Certified icon {as seen above} will be displayed on ski runs, in stores, on Whistler Blackcomb’s website, and in Whistler Blackcomb food and beverage locations to indicate kid-friendly areas, products and services.
Tofino Insider | A storm watching & beach-combing paradise
Have you ever stood on the edge of the world?
That's what it feels like standing on Long Beach, Tofino, Vancouver Island, on the (nearly) most westerly point of Canada. Standing on the beach, there is nothing between you and Japan except the cold, vast, churning Pacific Ocean.
It's been a long time since we visited Tofino ourselves, so we were thrilled to interview local Tofino resident and guidebook author John Platenius. John has published the Tofino Guide book, offering great advice for families wanting to experience a long weekend of storm watching in fall or winter, or those planning ahead for a summer vacation on the beach.
TTM: What are some great places to stay in Tofino?
Platenius: There are so many great family-friendly accommodations in Tofino, which makes this answer difficult and lengthy! The first hotel/resort that always comes to mind for families is Pacific Sands Beach Resort. They are the original family beach resort, and it's owned by a wonderful local family that lives near the resort. Like many of the hotels and resorts here, they have options for rooms or autonomous suites, which provides a good range of price options.
latest posts | the travelling mom
Trekaroo Canada, eh?
If you like the skinny on the what and where is great when you travel - from travelling moms just like you - you're in the right place.
You're also in the right spot to learn that family review site Trekaroo, the largest independent community of travel savvy parents in the United States, is expanding into Canada.
Families will now be able to search Trekaroo's database for the inside scoop on Canadian attractions, lodging, restaurants, and tours. …
Up, up and away to the Museum of Flight | Seattle
We're very pleased to have Lora Shinn of the Washington-based Cascadia Kids travel blog introduce us to Seattle's most excellent Museum of Flight.
With more than 150 aircraft, The Museum of Flight is one of the largest air and space museums in the world. Located on Boeing Field, not far from where real planes are built in Renton, Washington, the Museum takes transportation-obsessed kids and their grown-ups over the moon and back again.
…
Ode to the Islands | Postcards from Kauai
As my father reminded me recently, there is only one Hawaii. The allure and beauty of the Islands are unique unto themselves, and we're happy to share some photos of our recent visit to Kauai that require few words to show why. I think you'll understand. Aloha!
Room with a view: Nihi Kai Villas, Poipu
Salt Pond Beach : super younger kid-friendly
Learning to surf at Sheraton Beach: it's tough stuff
Waimea - Canyon of the Pacific : Pictures don't do it justice
…A Visit to Vatican City | Rome, Italy
The Swiss Guard
Did you know that you can arrange to attend an audience with the Pope and, if you're lucky, be less than 20 feet away from His Holiness? And do this all for free?
Keep in mind that you'll be sharing the experience with 5,000 or so other interested folks and pilgrims, but if visiting the Vatican is in your Roman travel plan, you may want to arrange the experience of a public papal audience. Even if you're not Catholic.
…
This is My Canada
Happy Canada Day! Camping on Vancouver Island
As a Vancouver-based family travel writer, my first and most loyal allegiance is to my home and native land: Canada. I've lived in three provinces over my lifetime - Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia - and we've been lucky to have travelled in all of them as a family as well.
So when Pamela from Spunky Girl Monologues organized a group of Canadian travel bloggers to share what they love about Canada in a …
Why Advance Trip Planning {equals} Family Travel Sanity
How far in advance do you plan your family vacation? Are you 'spur of the moment' travellers, or do you prefer planning things out well in advance, even up to a year ahead?
We're in the midst of some heavy trip planning going into spring 2014, with solid travel plans for spring and summer 2013 already booked and in some cases, even paid for. I also posed this question via our Facebook page, and those respondents were universally in the '…
Whistler Blackcomb | Family Certified Ski Fun
You know that we're no strangers to the awesome snow fun of Whistler Blackcomb. Living in Vancouver, only 1.5 hours away from Whistler, we try to get up there as often as we can.
We've planned some holiday time there this winter, much to the joy of our skiing t(w)eens who love to hit the slopes, and who enjoy Whistler's resort amenities as much as we do.
So, what's new this season?
Family Certified
This season, Whistler is continuing to improve its guest experience by introducing a new …
Tofino Insider | A storm watching & beach-combing paradise
Have you ever stood on the edge of the world?
That's what it feels like standing on Long Beach, Tofino, Vancouver Island, on the (nearly) most westerly point of Canada. Standing on the beach, there is nothing between you and Japan except the cold, vast, churning Pacific Ocean.
It's been a long time since we visited Tofino ourselves, so we were thrilled to interview local Tofino resident and guidebook author …
Why Cruising is Great for Multigenerational Family Travel
Have you taken a cruise that included your parents, in-laws, or other members of your extended family? Or does just the thought of holidaying together make you queasy?
There is a way to holiday with the folks while minimizing family blow-ups and rekindling old disputes. Check out our reasons why cruising is so great for multigenerational holidays, in our very first post as the Curious Travel Mama at The Travel Mamas…
Rainy Day Family Fun in Vancouver
It seems to rain in Vancouver as many days as the sun shines in a year. Even though we are an outdoorsy bunch, there is so much to do indoors too, and since it does rain here (more days than we might wish), here's our handy list of fav indoor spaces to spend some quality family time.
Great Places for Indoor Kid and Family Fun
Granville Island Kids Market - The Kids Market offers not only great shops for all manner of kid-friendly toys and products, there’s also a fun family arcade, and a multi-level jungle gym to climb around in on a rainy afternoon. …
Asia
The diversity of family travel options in Asia is exciting and overwhelming at the same time. Bustling urban centres, beautiful beaches, mysterious jungles, ancient heritage sites, and the many wonderful cultures found within each country.
Thailand - A farmstay family holiday
Traditional family travel can often bring up images of Disneyland, an overcrowded minivan, or all-inclusive resorts with child-minders and large playgrounds. But what's it like to travel as a family 'off-grid', in a non-traditional way?
Friends recently travelled to Thailand on a just such a family holiday. Tim F. and his family aimed to get into the spirit and flavour of how a traditional Thai family lives their lives. That meant leaving the lights and chaos of Bangkok behind for part of their vacation and heading into the jungles of northern Thailand for a farmstay with a local family.
How did you find this farmstay?
We used the Internet for much of our research and trip planning. There are so many travel resources online that it can take quite a long time to sort through them all to find the right place. When you're travelling off the beaten path, you also need to trust your instincts in reserving a place that may not have been 'rated' on any travel website or found in a guidebook. (Those can be awful too.) You need to have an appetite for adventure.
Europe
The chronicles of the travelling mom's many European adventures! Scroll down to view our features and tips about Belgium, Switzerland, France and Italy.
Westside | The Coolest Mall in Europe
Most of us don't go to Europe to visit a mall.
In fact, we actively avoid them most of the time. But when the mall is an architectural wonder that also includes the most incredible Adventure Pool & Spa facility we've ever seen, it's a must-see attraction.
Westside is located in Bern-Brunnen, Switzerland, about 10 minutes from the old city. It's easily accessible…
Skiing in Switzerland | Adelboden, Bernese Oberland
A Swiss ski holiday. It's the stuff of dreams.
Unfortunately, due to climate change, several Swiss ski resorts have been affected by a lack of snowfall and mild winters. This spells trouble for the strong Swiss ski & tourism industries, sources of intense national pride and identity in the country.
Fortunately, the Adelboden-Lenk ski region in the …
Top Ten Family-Friendly Attractions | Bern, Switzerland
Switzerland isn't all about the mountains, though they are a prime reason to travel there any time of year. Swiss cities, towns and villages offer families a surprising number of things to see and do, and one of our favorites is the UNESCO World Heritage capital city of Bern.
Here are our Top Ten Child and Family-Friendly picks for Bern, Switzerland.
Sleeping in a Tube | Switzerland
I love Switzerland.
It's my maternal homeland, and I have strong ties to this compact, western European country of cows & chocolate. I love visiting Switzerland every chance I get and am always amazed by its beauty, sense of order and unique history and culture.
On our most recent visit, we decided to try a unique accommodation experience for our family. …
The Most Beautiful Castle in Europe | Burg Eltz
Rick Steves calls this the 'most beautiful castle in Europe'. It is certainly one of the neatest and most well-preserved castles we've ever visited.
Burg Eltz, in Moselkern, near the Rhineland in central Germany, was built 850 years ago, and has remained in the same family's hands for that entire time. The castle is privately owned but in a special arrangement with the German government, it is open to the public as a national historic site.
…
Sorrento, Capri & the Amalfi Coast | Italy
Just saying the names of these special places conjures up images of a warm Italian sun, steep sea-side cliffs, and the blue, inviting waters of the Mediterranean. This part of Italy has inspired artists, poets and travellers for centuries, and with good reason.
The countryside, houses and topography of southern Italy are a stark contract to the more industrial north of the country. …
When in Rome - The Best Cappuccino & Gelato
I've often wondered how Italians became 'the' global coffee cognoscenti. After all, there are no coffee beans grown in Italy; beans are imported from the tropics and roasted, ground, and consumed in Italy in vast quantities.
It's the ritual of coffee in Italy that has risen above all others, and been embraced world-wide as the favourite coffee rite of many in the western world. …
Ypres | In Flanders Fields Museum
One of the bloodiest battlefields during the four years of World War I was located in and around Ypres, in Flanders, Belgium. The prosperous market town was completely destroyed during the War. Its most impressive symbol and landmark, the magnificent 13th-century Cloth Hall (Lakenhalle) overlooking the Market Square, was burned down in the early part of the war.
…
In Flanders Fields | Ypres - the Menin Gate & Last Post
In the Great War between 1914-1918, Belgium became one of the main battlegrounds between the great European powers. A trench system stretching from the North Sea to Switzerland was built in the farmland and mud of Belgium and France. The trench warfare employed by military commanders resulted in over 8 million soldiers' deaths during the four year span of World War I.
…
Eternal Rome for Kids and Families
What can one say about a city that has existed unto itself for thousands of years?
Rome fits our criteria for an outstanding, educational family travel adventure that combines art, history, architecture, food and culture. You can spend a few days or an entire month exploring the glory of Rome, as it exists today and as it was in ancient times, and leave amazed and enlightened about this wonderful, mad city.
…
The Top 6 Bruges, Belgium for Kids and Families
One of our favorite cities in the world is Bruges (or Brugge as it's known in Flemish). Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, Bruges was once a bustling and wealthy city in the Middle Ages, its wealth built upon its skill and trade in weaving. After its access to the North Sea - the Zwin - started silting in the 1500s, Bruges began a slow decline and became a forgotten city - 'Bruges-la-Morte' or 'Bruges-the-dead'. …
A Chocolate Obsession | Belgium
First, a confession.
I am of Swiss ancestry. My husband, Belgian. To say that chocolate is of importance to our very essence is a serious understatement. But whose nation's chocolate reigns supreme? The heated discussions on this topic over the years have tested our time together as a married couple. Belgian! No, Swiss! No, BELGIAN!
Fortunately, it is a delicious duel. …
Life with the Locals - Diksmuids Boterhuis, Bruges
To say that good food and drink are obsessions in Belgium is not an exaggeration.
This is, after all, a small country of 10 million people that produces over 600 different beers, many of which have their own specially shaped and labelled glasses in which to enjoy the national beverage.
Further, it's been my experience that the Belgians rival the French in their appreciation of good food - croissants, bread, moules (mussels), steak tartare (filet americain, as it's known in Belgium), grey North Sea shrimp, cheese of every kind, frites (fries) and of course, chocolate. …
Driving in Europe
We drove over 5,000 km through 5 European countries in our rental car - an Opel Astra (not shown above!) - on our recent family holiday. The car worked very well, though it was hardly the performance vehicle that my husband was craving (he nicknamed it the 'gutless wonder'), especially for the German Autobahn.
Driving in Europe has some unique advantages over driving here at home in North America. …
Paris in Spring | Jardins du Luxembourg
Paris may be for lovers, but it can just as fun - in a different way! - for kids too.
A favourite of children and families everywhere - ourselves included - is the Jardins (Gardens) du Luxembourg, located near the historic Latin Quarter of Paris. This stunning 25 hectare park is a gorgeous green space in the heart of the city. It is lively with Parisians eating lunch and tourists resting between visits to Notre Dame Cathedral, the Sorbonne or the next stop on their tour itinerary. …
Pacific Northwest
Discover the Best Place on Earth! There's no shortage of beautiful family travel opportunities in Vancouver, British Columbia, and in the Pacific Northwest, USA.
BC's Family Day Long Weekend | Where are you going?
Do you have plans for British Columbia's very first Family Day holiday long weekend? Have you chosen sun or snow for your mini-vacay?
We have some great snowy recommendations for you, if you're still undecided about what BC ski resort you might want to visit this weekend. There are so many great options to choose from.
Whistler Blackcomb - the number one ski resort in North America offers family fun and vertical terrain options like nowhere else.…
Favorite Holiday Events in Seattle
Special thanks to Keryn at WalkingOnTravels.ca for sharing her 5 favorite things to do in Seattle, WA, this holiday season!
Grab your favorite hot beverage and the kids; it’s time to head south to Seattle and explore all the Christmas mayhem they have to offer this holiday season.
Our family loves to dive right into the holiday cheer popping up around the city. …
Libraries Rock | The Vancouver Inspiration Pass
Who doesn't love the library?
One free card unlocks thousands of literary possibilities to the past, present and future. With the right book, you can dream of travel to faraway or fantasy places, right in the comfort of your living room.
The Vancouver Public Library has taken things a step further, with its new Vancouver Inspiration Pass {VIP} Card.…
Family Friendly Parksville + Qualicum Beach | Vancouver Island
I always find that my body relaxes when it realizes it's on Vancouver Island. There's an 'Island time' feeling for me, as soon as we drive off of the ferry. The pace of life is not as rushed as other places, such as in Metro Vancouver, that's a welcome thing.
Travelling here as a family at least once a year, we appreciate and value this special atmosphere of relaxation and friendliness that we find every time we travel to Vancouver Island.
…
Vancouver Aquarium | Penguin Point
The Vancouver Aquarium's latest inhabitants are none other than six endangered African penguins, found in the new outdoor Penguin Point area. These small and highly likable creatures are one of 18 penguin species found in the wild, and the only ones who call Africa home.
The Aquarium has a live Penguin Cam, where you can watch the as yet unnamed Vancouver penguins 24/7. …
Toddler-Friendly Spots Around Seattle
We're very pleased to have this guest article from Keryn Means of Walkingon Travels. Keryn is based in Seattle and believes that just because you have kids doesn't mean you have to put your travel dreams aside - if anything they just get bigger and more exciting!
Rain or shine, cold weather or mild, Seattle is a great place to bring the family for a day trip or weekend adventure. …
Gold Medal Family Fun @ Silver Star Mountain Resort
The promise of dry, Okanagen powder is a powerful lure to anyone who enjoys skiing or snowboarding. And we certainly do.
And so for this February mini-break we chose to drive 6 hours into the BC Interior, north of Vernon, to experience the famous amazing, light, dry snow that has made Silver Star Mountain Resort a well-known winter holiday destination for locals and savvy foreign tourists alike.
…
A Howlin' good time at Great Wolf Lodge
Family friendly hotel + 50,000 sq ft water park = License to print money.
Well, judging from the amount of kids and families we met during our recent visit to the Great Wolf Lodge Resort in Grand Mound, Washington, it certainly must be. The concept is simple; build an awesome water park packed with slides, rides, wave and kiddie pools and hot tubs, …
Whistler Wonderland
A quick family escape to Whistler for the weekend. Living in Vancouver, the temptation to get away for a few days of skiing and snowboarding is ever present during the winter months.
Whistler can be an expensive place for families. After all, skiing and snowboarding are among the most pricey sporting activities out there.
But, given that fact, Whistler remains a super family-friendly place with much to do and see. …
A Summer Week of Awesome
Sometimes, you don't have to travel far from home to get away from it all and have a terrific holiday. You can be a tourist in your own town, and take advantage of the great amenities and activities around you.
That's what we chose to do during our Family Week of Awesome, which took place the second-last week of summer holidays in August.
Our galavanting was generously sponsored by …
A Day in Kitsilano | Vancouver
We were honoured to provide a "Mother Insider" guest post for the Seattle-based Cascadia Kids website, specializing in family travel advice for the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia.
The article provides families with a guided tour on how best to spend the day in one of Vancouver's most vibrant and family-friendly neighbourhoods, Kitsilano. …
Rainy Day Family Fun in Vancouver
It seems to rain in Vancouver as many days as the sun shines in a year. Even though we are an outdoorsy bunch, there is so much to do indoors too, and since it does rain here (more days than we might wish), here's our handy list of fav indoor spaces to spend some quality family time.
Great Places for Indoor Kid and Family Fun
The Best Campgrounds in British Columbia
It's no secret.
British Columbia has some of the most well-designed, best-located provincial (state) campgrounds anywhere in North America. We've camped all over this great land (and in the south too), and we who live and camp in BC know how lucky we are to have this all at our doorstep.
The firewood may no longer be free, and now we're being charged the HST, but camping remains the cheapest and most fun family holiday you can have (without crashing at your parents' cottage - but where's the freedom in that?).
…
The Vancouver Aquarium
The Vancouver Aquarium is one of the top tourism sites in the city. It's also one of the most popular destinations for local families as well, making any visit a potentially crowded one.
We must have spent hundreds of hours at the Aquarium over the years. The kids had freedom to safely wander and run around in the play area, nurse 'sick' stuffed otters, and identify all kinds of cool and interesting creatures.
…
BC's Rustic Playground - Manning Park
Located east of Hope, three hours from Vancouver, is Manning Provincial Park, one of British Columbia's most popular outdoor recreational playgrounds.
We've been visiting here since 1992, in both winter and summer; pre-kids and as a family. It's become an annual vacation destination for us around the New Year, starting when we used to winter camp…
Winter Fun on Vancouver's North Shore
The weather forecasters have predicated a colder & snowier-than-normal winter season for 2011. With the school holiday break only one month away, there's no better time than now to plan for some snow play fun & snow sports on our local mountains. And you don't have to break the family piggy bank to enjoy these pursuit.
The three local north shore mountains - …
Richmond Night Market
The influence of Asian culture in Metro Vancouver shines brightest at the annual summer tradition of the Richmond Night Market. It's a vibrant & busy night market, modeled on those found in Hong Kong or Taiwan.
Vendors sell everything from Asian DVDs to clothing to care products to dollar-store toys. You can enjoy the displays of martial arts & Asian culture, and the quirky contests, but the main draw in our book is the food.
…
The Beaty Biodiversity Museum
The newest museum in Vancouver has unofficially opened at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and it includes not only a whale, but a whale of a tale.
The new Beaty Biodiversity Museum is holding some special, free public previews this summer in anticipation of its official public opening in fall 2010.
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The Museum will display specimens and collections of all manner of animal and plant life found on earth through the millenia, including over 800,000 …
Whistler Weekend
We live approximately two hours away from one of the best ski resorts in the world: Whistler, British Columbia.
Unfortunately, we don't get to spend as much time there in winter as we'd like. If you have school-aged children and are busy with extra-curricular activities, finding the time to get away, even for a weekend, can be a challenging thing.
…
A Walk on the Super Natural Side
Walking? Sixty-five feet up in the air?
That was my first thought when we were invited to tour the Greenheart Canopy Walkway at the UBC Botanical Garden. I have a fear of heights, and the thought of being that high up, walking on very bouncy, see-through metal bridges attached to large Douglas Firs didn't thrill me, at first.
But I am an adventurous mom and so, enthusiastic family in tow, we proceeded to introduce ourselves to our guide for the 45 minute, 308-metre Canopy Walkway tour in the Garden.
…
Beautiful Bowen Island
Looking for a family day trip from the city that combines natural beauty with touches of modern civilization? You can't do better than a visit to Bowen Island, just a twenty-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay, northwest of Vancouver, and now, also a 25-minute, 'express' water taxi ride from Granville Island (pedestrian-only).
Bowen Island has long been a weekend playground for Vancouver residents and visitors, going back nearly one hundred years to the days of the …
Olympic Memories
It was an incredible 17 days in February in Vancouver. The experience changed the city and its residents in personal and profound ways that we'll cherish for a long time to come.
Vancouver Best Bets for Kid & Family Dining
Food plays a big part of any family holiday or one-day trip outing. Children can be picky eaters at any age, and finding a family-friendly dining spot to suit all tastes and appetites can be a huge challenge.
Vancouver is justly famous for its wide and affordable variety of dining out options. This multicultural mix has produced some of the best restaurants of their kind in North America, and many of them are kid-friendly. …
The Vancouver Olympic Village Plaza
The Olympic Countdown clock is ticking down the days until the 2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies on February 12, 2010.
In Vancouver, it remains the calm before the storm. We're all going around town on our pre-Christmas business, with the holiday season top of mind. I think that the the penny will drop with a very loud 'bang' on January 2nd, when we wake up to realize that this event is really, actually happening.
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Cypress Mountain Provincial Park
Not only do these mountains offer winter recreational activities such as skiing and snowboarding, two of them - Cypress and Seymour - are also designated Provincial Parks with wonderful summer and fall hiking opportunities.
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Travelling Mom contributing to InsideVancouver.ca
It's been an exciting past few weeks at thetravellingmom.ca.
We received lots of comments about our article on Belgian chocolate - thank you for the feedback! It was a true pleasure to taste-test all of those delicious chocolate temptations on our recent travels in Belgium. We plan to volunteer for that task again - and soon!
Our efforts to spread our wings a bit have been warmly received by a couple of very supportive travel sites that we'd like to highlight.
…The new view @ YVR
Thirty years is a long time to wait to see an airplane up close. Today I had the opportunity to attend the opening of the new Public Observation Area at the Vancouver International Airport (YVR), the first public viewing area at YVR in 30 years.
The Observation Area offers the public a magnificent view 'from the air side' of the take-off and landing strips, the busy airport operations, and the beauty of Vancouver's UBC Endowment Lands, the north shore mountains, and Vancouver Island.
…
Galiano Getaway
I wrote about Galiano Island, one of the Southern Gulf Islands, in my article about the Top 5 100 Mile Holiday destinations near Vancouver. A recent visit confirmed its place on our list, and here are a few reasons why:
1. Short ferry ride. From the Tsawwassen ferry terminal it takes just one hour to reach Sturdies Bay terminal on Galiano Island. …
Zippin' in Whistler
There's nothing like overcoming your fear of heights by suspending yourself from a metal clamp attached to what seems like a thin metal cable 200 feet over rushing Fitzsimmons Creek in Whistler B.C.
But how about subjecting your beloved offspring to such an experience?
Now that we've done it, I can only say - go for it! Our 9 and 11 year olds astounded us with their courage and overcoming their own fear of letting go, literally. …
To the Lighthouse
This Mother's Day, my family has decided to forgo the fancy brunch and lunch plans.
This decision was made easier by the fact that every restaurant my poor husband called (last night) was of course full to bursting with reservations previously booked a week or more ago in honour of mom's' one day (morning?) break from cooking.
Rather than wallow in self-pity over a lack of eggs benedict this Sunday, I suggested revisiting an old friend - Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver - and that we would bring our own food to enjoy after a lovely hike to the seaside. …
The Great Outdoors
There's nothing like being all snug in your sleeping bag, fast asleep in your tent.
Suddenly, you are awakened by a murder of black crows right above your campsite, cawing incessantly, and very, very loudly. It's 5 AM and nature's alarm clocks are saying 'Good morning in the great outdoors!' (I understand why a group of crows is referred to as a 'murder', because at that hour, I know what I'd like to do to those birds.)
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A 100 Mile Holiday - Recession-proofing your Summer Vacation
Planning a holiday during a recession, when many of us are watching every dollar we spend, seems a bit decadent and in many cases simply impossible. Is this summer really the best time to take a holiday?
Taking inspiration from local B.C. authors Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon and their successful 100 Mile Diet and book chronicling their one-year experiment in local eating, …
Day Trippin' - Our Top 5 100 Mile Day Trips
The 100 Mile philosophy, inspired by local B.C. authors Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon and their successful 100 Mile Diet and book chronicling their one-year experiment in local eating, applies to our family's attitude towards rewarding day trips from our Vancouver home.
Think about your home-town, city and surrounding environment. What are all of the recreational opportunities within a 100 mile radius of where you live? …
A Break at the Peaks
Skiing and snowboarding for Spring Break is my idea of a fun and care-free family holiday.
Sun Peaks Resort, located north of Kamloops, BC, and a five hour drive from Vancouver, has been voted #2 Best Ski Resort in Canada (and #10 in North America) by Conde Nast Traveler magazine (2008).
This was great news as we'd booked a week of skiing there in March!
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ABC's
Looking for advice on how and what to pack? On how to survive a plane or car ride with babies, toddlers, or older children? The ABC's will teach you what you need to know to plan and execute a successful family travel strategy.
2012 | A Year in Travel
This year was a busy one at the travelling mom. We were fortunate to enjoy some great family adventures in 2012, in Florida, Oregon, British Columbia, Ontario, Mexico and Peru.
We hope you shared some great family travel memories too. Best wishes to your travelling family for a wonderful holiday season, and a very happy and healthy 2013!
Review | Lonely Planet's Not-for-Parents travel books
News flash. Books are not dead.
Despite the lure of iPhones, iPads, Xboxes and PS3s, kids still like to read. This fact makes me very happy, because I love to read as well. And despite the 'e-competition', there are still so many great books out there to read and enjoy.
Imagine my delight when I received copies of the new Lonely Planet's Not for Parents…
Passports with Purpose Fundraiser
Do you ever think about fresh water? Probably not.
Many others in the world are not so lucky. It's a daily struggle to find clean water for their families and children. But in a couple clicks, you can do something to help.
Donate to the Passports with Purpose campaign, and contribute to help raise $100,000 to build five new water wells in two communities in Haiti, with …
Let it Snow! Prepping for this winter's ski season
If you're a skier or snowboarder, you know it's never too early to plan for a successful ski season or holiday. As the days shorten and the temperature dips, skis, boots & gear are taken out of the closet, measured, and yes, of course, the kids have grown again and need new equipment this year. Cha ching!
It's all part of the excitement of preparing for family fun on the slopes. …
An exciting new relationship with Travel Mamas
I'm very excited and pleased to announce that, in addition to still blogging and maintaining thetravellingmom.ca (of course!), I will be a contributing writer & blogger with the popular San Diego-based family travel blog & website TravelMamas.com.
It will be truly great to be part of a group of like-minded travel enthusiasts, so I'm really happy to be joining TravelMamas founder …
Some thoughts about travelling with kids
Il Prato | Padova, Italy
Ever since our first family trip with our five-month old son, I have, for the most part, enjoyed travelling with our children. 'Well I should hope so', you're thinking, 'you have a travelling with kids blog, don't you?' That's certainly true.
I may not have enjoyed the tiredness & jet lag (affecting one and not the other), the sick days, early nights, or the occasional tantrums (surprisingly, there weren't that many, or I've purged them from my memory) from time to time, but that's pretty par for the course. …
The 7 Steps to Planning (and Surviving) Multigenerational Travel
For some of us, the idea of planning a holiday and spending weeks together in a foreign land with our parents and children sounds like a new circle of hell in Dante’s Inferno. But, if your family relationships are solid and you can ride out the occasional emotional storms and historical family member behavioral patterns, the benefits of multigenerational travel far outweigh the downsides.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter | Universal Studios
As excited - and sad - as I am about the last movie in the Harry Potter series, as a fan I'm comforted by the fact that I can live the magical experience at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.
Two fabulous travelling mom friends, Sharon B. & Tracy L., have recently visited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter…
Travelling Mom Profile | fillyourown
Sick of packing plastic for summer road-trips and in the lunchbox? We had the pleasure of test-driving fillyourown's great eco-friendly food storage products for the past few weeks.
Fillyourown is a local Vancouver company that creates stainless steel water bottles, plastic-free food containers, reusable lunch bags, compact folding shopping bags,…
He's Leaving Home
Well, not really.
My eldest child is going on a school trip to Quebec, and it's his first trip without his family. He's been in a French Immersion program for eight years, and in his final year of elementary school, he gets to travel with his classmates to La Belle Province.
This is a great opportunity to practice his French, explore a different part of our country, and immerse himself in the unique …
Travel Style: Don't Leave Fashion at Home
“Be Glamorous. Every Day.”
- Rachel Zoe
We are very pleased to present this Guest Post by Trish Friesen, of TripStyler.com, a fabulous website for daily trip style tips for the aspiring jetsetter. Trish offers some excellent style tips on what to include in your travel bag, suitable for the budget of any travelling mom. Like Trish says, there is no excuse for frump when you're on the plane or on the road!
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Travelling Mom Profile: Tales2Go | Audiobooks Rock
We love, love, love audiobooks. I've been known to drive right by our intended destination (even school!) while engrossed in a Percy Jackson or Artemis Fowl audiobook. Nothing guarantees silence in the back seat quite like a great story, well-told on an iPod or a CD.
The beauty of audiobooks is their portability. Whether in a plane, train, automobile or airport waiting lounge, you can listen and be spirited away into a novel or storyline that is engrossing and captivating. …
The Importance of Being Polite
Travel etiquette. Is it a dying art?
This thought struck me on a recent overseas flight. The topic was front and centre in Air Canada's En Route in-flight magazine, in the article The Ultimate Guide to Travel Etiquette.
The article covered the ways in which travellers could be better, more polite human beings while travelling, and included tips like; check your bags, keep your hotel room neat & tidy, be respectful to service personnel, and share those arm rests. …
Travelling Green?
There is a big debate in travel circles about the challenges in travelling 'green' - reducing our carbon footprint and our impact upon our natural world.
Is such green, or eco-travel even possible when we need to drive across vast distances to visit landmarks, or get on a large aircraft and jet halfway around the world, utilizing thousands of litres of jet fuel and burning tonnes of carbon, to visit faraway places in Europe or Asia? …
The Trouble with Travelling with School-aged Kids
Memories | Digital Photo Books
Your fabulous holiday trip is over, and you've downloaded the 1000+ digital photos from your 1, 2 (or more) cameras. Now what do you do? Do you preserve those photos and memories for viewing, or leave them piling up, unseen and unloved on your computer's hard drive?
In the digital age, it seems harder than ever to keep up with photo albums and scrap-booking your trips and daily lives. …
Motherly Advice
My friend and fellow travelling mom Isabel recently returned from a trip to Austria, Croatia, and Slovenia with her husband and 8 month old baby. It was a wonderful trip, but it wasn't without its challenges and trying moments along the way.
Isabel has some very good advice for other moms travelling or thinking about travelling with babies, and I'm pleased to share her thoughts with you.
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The Border
There's nothing like the threat of a baggage or vehicle search to strike fear into the heart of any traveller. Every time I inch closer in the car or passenger line-up at customs, my heart rate goes up along with my body temperature.
R + D - Tools to Building a Better Holiday Plan
Planning a holiday? Don't know where to start? The world is literally at your fingertips! The internet offers more information and travel planning sites than you can ever hope to read.
Here are some of our favourite thetravellingmom.ca resource websites.
tripadvisor.com - Need to find a good place to eat in New York or hotel in Honolulu? This popular site offers traveller-submitted comments and ratings on hotels, restaurants and destinations worldwide. …
Food Glorious Food
Your plane has been delayed for 2 hours and the kids are starving. You had planned to feed them with the breakfast service on the flight (rare these days, I know), but that's out.
But you are not worried because you're a modern travelling mom who's planned for every possible outcome.
These days, in-flight meal service can be quite sporadic, if it exists at all. …
The Check List
The phrase 'I have nothing to wear!' does not hold true for those savvy travellers who know how to pack their suitcases. When I travelled as a child, flying was a very special occasion that required us all to dress up for the flight in our Sunday best. Old habits die hard, and I still do this today, and the benefit in my mind is that flying is still a special occasion, and who knows? …
How to Pack A Suitcase
I was taught the Art of Packing a suitcase by my mother. She was a master at filling every nook and cranny to ensure every item found a place in our bags. It's a simple system that incorporates many common sense elements, and I swear by it when packing for a weekend or a one-month holiday.
1. Gather the items required from the Check List in one place where you can see each family members clothing and personal items. …
Notes on a Suitcase - Carry-on!
Featured Product
When I was a child, my brother and I were each responsible for our own suitcase, a brown, vinyl ten-pound (empty!) monster with no wheels for carrying comfort.
Suitcases today are a marvel of engineering. Lightweight - under 5 lbs - with high-tech rolling wheels and in many cool designs to fit every style and budget. It's got to be lightweight, and able to roll down a cobble-stone street without losing a single wheel!
…
Baby on Board
I was one year old for my first plane trip. I don't remember the experience of course, but there is one story from that journey that is worth retelling.
My parents, who were very experienced travellers, decided it would be a good idea to give me some Gravol prior to our overnight flight overseas. The medicine would knock me out and I would sleep well on the plane, they reasoned. …
The Value of Education through Travel
We are all experiential learners.
As wonderful as it is to read about places and things that interest us, to experience those places and things allows us to learn and appreciate our world, and our own lives, in a deeper, more lasting, and more meaningful way.
In planning family travel with young children, the opportunities to open up their minds to new things, people, places and experiences are nearly limitless. …
Family Travel - Why it Matters
Why is it so important to plan and experience travel as a family?
Today's working moms and dads are extremely busy people. We have our jobs, our duties, our responsibilities, our daily routines that rule and govern our lives. Our children also live extremely busy and structured lives - school, homework, organized sports, artistic pursuits, organized play - governed by weekly routines. …
latest posts | the travelling mom
Trekaroo Canada, eh?
If you like the skinny on the what and where is great when you travel - from travelling moms just like you - you're in the right place.
You're also in the right spot to learn that family review site Trekaroo, the largest independent community of travel savvy parents in the United States, is expanding into Canada.
Families will now be able to search Trekaroo's database for the inside scoop on Canadian attractions, lodging, restaurants, and tours. …
Up, up and away to the Museum of Flight | Seattle
We're very pleased to have Lora Shinn of the Washington-based Cascadia Kids travel blog introduce us to Seattle's most excellent Museum of Flight.
With more than 150 aircraft, The Museum of Flight is one of the largest air and space museums in the world. Located on Boeing Field, not far from where real planes are built in Renton, Washington, the Museum takes transportation-obsessed kids and their grown-ups over the moon and back again.
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Ode to the Islands | Postcards from Kauai
As my father reminded me recently, there is only one Hawaii. The allure and beauty of the Islands are unique unto themselves, and we're happy to share some photos of our recent visit to Kauai that require few words to show why. I think you'll understand. Aloha!
Room with a view: Nihi Kai Villas, Poipu
Salt Pond Beach : super younger kid-friendly
Learning to surf at Sheraton Beach: it's tough stuff
Waimea - Canyon of the Pacific : Pictures don't do it justice
…A Visit to Vatican City | Rome, Italy
The Swiss Guard
Did you know that you can arrange to attend an audience with the Pope and, if you're lucky, be less than 20 feet away from His Holiness? And do this all for free?
Keep in mind that you'll be sharing the experience with 5,000 or so other interested folks and pilgrims, but if visiting the Vatican is in your Roman travel plan, you may want to arrange the experience of a public papal audience. Even if you're not Catholic.
…
This is My Canada
Happy Canada Day! Camping on Vancouver Island
As a Vancouver-based family travel writer, my first and most loyal allegiance is to my home and native land: Canada. I've lived in three provinces over my lifetime - Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia - and we've been lucky to have travelled in all of them as a family as well.
So when Pamela from Spunky Girl Monologues organized a group of Canadian travel bloggers to share what they love about Canada in a …
Why Advance Trip Planning {equals} Family Travel Sanity
How far in advance do you plan your family vacation? Are you 'spur of the moment' travellers, or do you prefer planning things out well in advance, even up to a year ahead?
We're in the midst of some heavy trip planning going into spring 2014, with solid travel plans for spring and summer 2013 already booked and in some cases, even paid for. I also posed this question via our Facebook page, and those respondents were universally in the '…
Whistler Blackcomb | Family Certified Ski Fun
You know that we're no strangers to the awesome snow fun of Whistler Blackcomb. Living in Vancouver, only 1.5 hours away from Whistler, we try to get up there as often as we can.
We've planned some holiday time there this winter, much to the joy of our skiing t(w)eens who love to hit the slopes, and who enjoy Whistler's resort amenities as much as we do.
So, what's new this season?
Family Certified
This season, Whistler is continuing to improve its guest experience by introducing a new …
Tofino Insider | A storm watching & beach-combing paradise
Have you ever stood on the edge of the world?
That's what it feels like standing on Long Beach, Tofino, Vancouver Island, on the (nearly) most westerly point of Canada. Standing on the beach, there is nothing between you and Japan except the cold, vast, churning Pacific Ocean.
It's been a long time since we visited Tofino ourselves, so we were thrilled to interview local Tofino resident and guidebook author …
Why Cruising is Great for Multigenerational Family Travel
Have you taken a cruise that included your parents, in-laws, or other members of your extended family? Or does just the thought of holidaying together make you queasy?
There is a way to holiday with the folks while minimizing family blow-ups and rekindling old disputes. Check out our reasons why cruising is so great for multigenerational holidays, in our very first post as the Curious Travel Mama at The Travel Mamas…
Rainy Day Family Fun in Vancouver
It seems to rain in Vancouver as many days as the sun shines in a year. Even though we are an outdoorsy bunch, there is so much to do indoors too, and since it does rain here (more days than we might wish), here's our handy list of fav indoor spaces to spend some quality family time.
Great Places for Indoor Kid and Family Fun
Granville Island Kids Market - The Kids Market offers not only great shops for all manner of kid-friendly toys and products, there’s also a fun family arcade, and a multi-level jungle gym to climb around in on a rainy afternoon. …
Asia
The diversity of family travel options in Asia is exciting and overwhelming at the same time. Bustling urban centres, beautiful beaches, mysterious jungles, ancient heritage sites, and the many wonderful cultures found within each country.
Thailand - A farmstay family holiday
Traditional family travel can often bring up images of Disneyland, an overcrowded minivan, or all-inclusive resorts with child-minders and large playgrounds. But what's it like to travel as a family 'off-grid', in a non-traditional way?
Friends recently travelled to Thailand on a just such a family holiday. Tim F. and his family aimed to get into the spirit and flavour of how a traditional Thai family lives their lives. That meant leaving the lights and chaos of Bangkok behind for part of their vacation and heading into the jungles of northern Thailand for a farmstay with a local family.
How did you find this farmstay?
We used the Internet for much of our research and trip planning. There are so many travel resources online that it can take quite a long time to sort through them all to find the right place. When you're travelling off the beaten path, you also need to trust your instincts in reserving a place that may not have been 'rated' on any travel website or found in a guidebook. (Those can be awful too.) You need to have an appetite for adventure.
Europe
The chronicles of the travelling mom's many European adventures! Scroll down to view our features and tips about Belgium, Switzerland, France and Italy.
Westside | The Coolest Mall in Europe
Most of us don't go to Europe to visit a mall.
In fact, we actively avoid them most of the time. But when the mall is an architectural wonder that also includes the most incredible Adventure Pool & Spa facility we've ever seen, it's a must-see attraction.
Westside is located in Bern-Brunnen, Switzerland, about 10 minutes from the old city. It's easily accessible…
Skiing in Switzerland | Adelboden, Bernese Oberland
A Swiss ski holiday. It's the stuff of dreams.
Unfortunately, due to climate change, several Swiss ski resorts have been affected by a lack of snowfall and mild winters. This spells trouble for the strong Swiss ski & tourism industries, sources of intense national pride and identity in the country.
Fortunately, the Adelboden-Lenk ski region in the …
Top Ten Family-Friendly Attractions | Bern, Switzerland
Switzerland isn't all about the mountains, though they are a prime reason to travel there any time of year. Swiss cities, towns and villages offer families a surprising number of things to see and do, and one of our favorites is the UNESCO World Heritage capital city of Bern.
Here are our Top Ten Child and Family-Friendly picks for Bern, Switzerland.
Sleeping in a Tube | Switzerland
I love Switzerland.
It's my maternal homeland, and I have strong ties to this compact, western European country of cows & chocolate. I love visiting Switzerland every chance I get and am always amazed by its beauty, sense of order and unique history and culture.
On our most recent visit, we decided to try a unique accommodation experience for our family. …
The Most Beautiful Castle in Europe | Burg Eltz
Rick Steves calls this the 'most beautiful castle in Europe'. It is certainly one of the neatest and most well-preserved castles we've ever visited.
Burg Eltz, in Moselkern, near the Rhineland in central Germany, was built 850 years ago, and has remained in the same family's hands for that entire time. The castle is privately owned but in a special arrangement with the German government, it is open to the public as a national historic site.
…
Sorrento, Capri & the Amalfi Coast | Italy
Just saying the names of these special places conjures up images of a warm Italian sun, steep sea-side cliffs, and the blue, inviting waters of the Mediterranean. This part of Italy has inspired artists, poets and travellers for centuries, and with good reason.
The countryside, houses and topography of southern Italy are a stark contract to the more industrial north of the country. …
When in Rome - The Best Cappuccino & Gelato
I've often wondered how Italians became 'the' global coffee cognoscenti. After all, there are no coffee beans grown in Italy; beans are imported from the tropics and roasted, ground, and consumed in Italy in vast quantities.
It's the ritual of coffee in Italy that has risen above all others, and been embraced world-wide as the favourite coffee rite of many in the western world. …
Ypres | In Flanders Fields Museum
One of the bloodiest battlefields during the four years of World War I was located in and around Ypres, in Flanders, Belgium. The prosperous market town was completely destroyed during the War. Its most impressive symbol and landmark, the magnificent 13th-century Cloth Hall (Lakenhalle) overlooking the Market Square, was burned down in the early part of the war.
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In Flanders Fields | Ypres - the Menin Gate & Last Post
In the Great War between 1914-1918, Belgium became one of the main battlegrounds between the great European powers. A trench system stretching from the North Sea to Switzerland was built in the farmland and mud of Belgium and France. The trench warfare employed by military commanders resulted in over 8 million soldiers' deaths during the four year span of World War I.
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Eternal Rome for Kids and Families
What can one say about a city that has existed unto itself for thousands of years?
Rome fits our criteria for an outstanding, educational family travel adventure that combines art, history, architecture, food and culture. You can spend a few days or an entire month exploring the glory of Rome, as it exists today and as it was in ancient times, and leave amazed and enlightened about this wonderful, mad city.
…
The Top 6 Bruges, Belgium for Kids and Families
One of our favorite cities in the world is Bruges (or Brugge as it's known in Flemish). Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, Bruges was once a bustling and wealthy city in the Middle Ages, its wealth built upon its skill and trade in weaving. After its access to the North Sea - the Zwin - started silting in the 1500s, Bruges began a slow decline and became a forgotten city - 'Bruges-la-Morte' or 'Bruges-the-dead'. …
A Chocolate Obsession | Belgium
First, a confession.
I am of Swiss ancestry. My husband, Belgian. To say that chocolate is of importance to our very essence is a serious understatement. But whose nation's chocolate reigns supreme? The heated discussions on this topic over the years have tested our time together as a married couple. Belgian! No, Swiss! No, BELGIAN!
Fortunately, it is a delicious duel. …
Life with the Locals - Diksmuids Boterhuis, Bruges
To say that good food and drink are obsessions in Belgium is not an exaggeration.
This is, after all, a small country of 10 million people that produces over 600 different beers, many of which have their own specially shaped and labelled glasses in which to enjoy the national beverage.
Further, it's been my experience that the Belgians rival the French in their appreciation of good food - croissants, bread, moules (mussels), steak tartare (filet americain, as it's known in Belgium), grey North Sea shrimp, cheese of every kind, frites (fries) and of course, chocolate. …
Driving in Europe
We drove over 5,000 km through 5 European countries in our rental car - an Opel Astra (not shown above!) - on our recent family holiday. The car worked very well, though it was hardly the performance vehicle that my husband was craving (he nicknamed it the 'gutless wonder'), especially for the German Autobahn.
Driving in Europe has some unique advantages over driving here at home in North America. …
Paris in Spring | Jardins du Luxembourg
Paris may be for lovers, but it can just as fun - in a different way! - for kids too.
A favourite of children and families everywhere - ourselves included - is the Jardins (Gardens) du Luxembourg, located near the historic Latin Quarter of Paris. This stunning 25 hectare park is a gorgeous green space in the heart of the city. It is lively with Parisians eating lunch and tourists resting between visits to Notre Dame Cathedral, the Sorbonne or the next stop on their tour itinerary. …
Pacific Northwest
Discover the Best Place on Earth! There's no shortage of beautiful family travel opportunities in Vancouver, British Columbia, and in the Pacific Northwest, USA.
BC's Family Day Long Weekend | Where are you going?
Do you have plans for British Columbia's very first Family Day holiday long weekend? Have you chosen sun or snow for your mini-vacay?
We have some great snowy recommendations for you, if you're still undecided about what BC ski resort you might want to visit this weekend. There are so many great options to choose from.
Whistler Blackcomb - the number one ski resort in North America offers family fun and vertical terrain options like nowhere else.…
Favorite Holiday Events in Seattle
Special thanks to Keryn at WalkingOnTravels.ca for sharing her 5 favorite things to do in Seattle, WA, this holiday season!
Grab your favorite hot beverage and the kids; it’s time to head south to Seattle and explore all the Christmas mayhem they have to offer this holiday season.
Our family loves to dive right into the holiday cheer popping up around the city. …
Libraries Rock | The Vancouver Inspiration Pass
Who doesn't love the library?
One free card unlocks thousands of literary possibilities to the past, present and future. With the right book, you can dream of travel to faraway or fantasy places, right in the comfort of your living room.
The Vancouver Public Library has taken things a step further, with its new Vancouver Inspiration Pass {VIP} Card.…
Family Friendly Parksville + Qualicum Beach | Vancouver Island
I always find that my body relaxes when it realizes it's on Vancouver Island. There's an 'Island time' feeling for me, as soon as we drive off of the ferry. The pace of life is not as rushed as other places, such as in Metro Vancouver, that's a welcome thing.
Travelling here as a family at least once a year, we appreciate and value this special atmosphere of relaxation and friendliness that we find every time we travel to Vancouver Island.
…
Vancouver Aquarium | Penguin Point
The Vancouver Aquarium's latest inhabitants are none other than six endangered African penguins, found in the new outdoor Penguin Point area. These small and highly likable creatures are one of 18 penguin species found in the wild, and the only ones who call Africa home.
The Aquarium has a live Penguin Cam, where you can watch the as yet unnamed Vancouver penguins 24/7. …
Toddler-Friendly Spots Around Seattle
We're very pleased to have this guest article from Keryn Means of Walkingon Travels. Keryn is based in Seattle and believes that just because you have kids doesn't mean you have to put your travel dreams aside - if anything they just get bigger and more exciting!
Rain or shine, cold weather or mild, Seattle is a great place to bring the family for a day trip or weekend adventure. …
Gold Medal Family Fun @ Silver Star Mountain Resort
The promise of dry, Okanagen powder is a powerful lure to anyone who enjoys skiing or snowboarding. And we certainly do.
And so for this February mini-break we chose to drive 6 hours into the BC Interior, north of Vernon, to experience the famous amazing, light, dry snow that has made Silver Star Mountain Resort a well-known winter holiday destination for locals and savvy foreign tourists alike.
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A Howlin' good time at Great Wolf Lodge
Family friendly hotel + 50,000 sq ft water park = License to print money.
Well, judging from the amount of kids and families we met during our recent visit to the Great Wolf Lodge Resort in Grand Mound, Washington, it certainly must be. The concept is simple; build an awesome water park packed with slides, rides, wave and kiddie pools and hot tubs, …
Whistler Wonderland
A quick family escape to Whistler for the weekend. Living in Vancouver, the temptation to get away for a few days of skiing and snowboarding is ever present during the winter months.
Whistler can be an expensive place for families. After all, skiing and snowboarding are among the most pricey sporting activities out there.
But, given that fact, Whistler remains a super family-friendly place with much to do and see. …
A Summer Week of Awesome
Sometimes, you don't have to travel far from home to get away from it all and have a terrific holiday. You can be a tourist in your own town, and take advantage of the great amenities and activities around you.
That's what we chose to do during our Family Week of Awesome, which took place the second-last week of summer holidays in August.
Our galavanting was generously sponsored by …
A Day in Kitsilano | Vancouver
We were honoured to provide a "Mother Insider" guest post for the Seattle-based Cascadia Kids website, specializing in family travel advice for the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia.
The article provides families with a guided tour on how best to spend the day in one of Vancouver's most vibrant and family-friendly neighbourhoods, Kitsilano. …
Rainy Day Family Fun in Vancouver
It seems to rain in Vancouver as many days as the sun shines in a year. Even though we are an outdoorsy bunch, there is so much to do indoors too, and since it does rain here (more days than we might wish), here's our handy list of fav indoor spaces to spend some quality family time.
Great Places for Indoor Kid and Family Fun
The Best Campgrounds in British Columbia
It's no secret.
British Columbia has some of the most well-designed, best-located provincial (state) campgrounds anywhere in North America. We've camped all over this great land (and in the south too), and we who live and camp in BC know how lucky we are to have this all at our doorstep.
The firewood may no longer be free, and now we're being charged the HST, but camping remains the cheapest and most fun family holiday you can have (without crashing at your parents' cottage - but where's the freedom in that?).
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The Vancouver Aquarium
The Vancouver Aquarium is one of the top tourism sites in the city. It's also one of the most popular destinations for local families as well, making any visit a potentially crowded one.
We must have spent hundreds of hours at the Aquarium over the years. The kids had freedom to safely wander and run around in the play area, nurse 'sick' stuffed otters, and identify all kinds of cool and interesting creatures.
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BC's Rustic Playground - Manning Park
Located east of Hope, three hours from Vancouver, is Manning Provincial Park, one of British Columbia's most popular outdoor recreational playgrounds.
We've been visiting here since 1992, in both winter and summer; pre-kids and as a family. It's become an annual vacation destination for us around the New Year, starting when we used to winter camp…
Winter Fun on Vancouver's North Shore
The weather forecasters have predicated a colder & snowier-than-normal winter season for 2011. With the school holiday break only one month away, there's no better time than now to plan for some snow play fun & snow sports on our local mountains. And you don't have to break the family piggy bank to enjoy these pursuit.
The three local north shore mountains - …
Richmond Night Market
The influence of Asian culture in Metro Vancouver shines brightest at the annual summer tradition of the Richmond Night Market. It's a vibrant & busy night market, modeled on those found in Hong Kong or Taiwan.
Vendors sell everything from Asian DVDs to clothing to care products to dollar-store toys. You can enjoy the displays of martial arts & Asian culture, and the quirky contests, but the main draw in our book is the food.
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The Beaty Biodiversity Museum
The newest museum in Vancouver has unofficially opened at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and it includes not only a whale, but a whale of a tale.
The new Beaty Biodiversity Museum is holding some special, free public previews this summer in anticipation of its official public opening in fall 2010.
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The Museum will display specimens and collections of all manner of animal and plant life found on earth through the millenia, including over 800,000 …
Whistler Weekend
We live approximately two hours away from one of the best ski resorts in the world: Whistler, British Columbia.
Unfortunately, we don't get to spend as much time there in winter as we'd like. If you have school-aged children and are busy with extra-curricular activities, finding the time to get away, even for a weekend, can be a challenging thing.
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A Walk on the Super Natural Side
Walking? Sixty-five feet up in the air?
That was my first thought when we were invited to tour the Greenheart Canopy Walkway at the UBC Botanical Garden. I have a fear of heights, and the thought of being that high up, walking on very bouncy, see-through metal bridges attached to large Douglas Firs didn't thrill me, at first.
But I am an adventurous mom and so, enthusiastic family in tow, we proceeded to introduce ourselves to our guide for the 45 minute, 308-metre Canopy Walkway tour in the Garden.
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Beautiful Bowen Island
Looking for a family day trip from the city that combines natural beauty with touches of modern civilization? You can't do better than a visit to Bowen Island, just a twenty-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay, northwest of Vancouver, and now, also a 25-minute, 'express' water taxi ride from Granville Island (pedestrian-only).
Bowen Island has long been a weekend playground for Vancouver residents and visitors, going back nearly one hundred years to the days of the …
Olympic Memories
It was an incredible 17 days in February in Vancouver. The experience changed the city and its residents in personal and profound ways that we'll cherish for a long time to come.
Vancouver Best Bets for Kid & Family Dining
Food plays a big part of any family holiday or one-day trip outing. Children can be picky eaters at any age, and finding a family-friendly dining spot to suit all tastes and appetites can be a huge challenge.
Vancouver is justly famous for its wide and affordable variety of dining out options. This multicultural mix has produced some of the best restaurants of their kind in North America, and many of them are kid-friendly. …
The Vancouver Olympic Village Plaza
The Olympic Countdown clock is ticking down the days until the 2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies on February 12, 2010.
In Vancouver, it remains the calm before the storm. We're all going around town on our pre-Christmas business, with the holiday season top of mind. I think that the the penny will drop with a very loud 'bang' on January 2nd, when we wake up to realize that this event is really, actually happening.
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Cypress Mountain Provincial Park
Not only do these mountains offer winter recreational activities such as skiing and snowboarding, two of them - Cypress and Seymour - are also designated Provincial Parks with wonderful summer and fall hiking opportunities.
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Travelling Mom contributing to InsideVancouver.ca
It's been an exciting past few weeks at thetravellingmom.ca.
We received lots of comments about our article on Belgian chocolate - thank you for the feedback! It was a true pleasure to taste-test all of those delicious chocolate temptations on our recent travels in Belgium. We plan to volunteer for that task again - and soon!
Our efforts to spread our wings a bit have been warmly received by a couple of very supportive travel sites that we'd like to highlight.
…The new view @ YVR
Thirty years is a long time to wait to see an airplane up close. Today I had the opportunity to attend the opening of the new Public Observation Area at the Vancouver International Airport (YVR), the first public viewing area at YVR in 30 years.
The Observation Area offers the public a magnificent view 'from the air side' of the take-off and landing strips, the busy airport operations, and the beauty of Vancouver's UBC Endowment Lands, the north shore mountains, and Vancouver Island.
…
Galiano Getaway
I wrote about Galiano Island, one of the Southern Gulf Islands, in my article about the Top 5 100 Mile Holiday destinations near Vancouver. A recent visit confirmed its place on our list, and here are a few reasons why:
1. Short ferry ride. From the Tsawwassen ferry terminal it takes just one hour to reach Sturdies Bay terminal on Galiano Island. …
Zippin' in Whistler
There's nothing like overcoming your fear of heights by suspending yourself from a metal clamp attached to what seems like a thin metal cable 200 feet over rushing Fitzsimmons Creek in Whistler B.C.
But how about subjecting your beloved offspring to such an experience?
Now that we've done it, I can only say - go for it! Our 9 and 11 year olds astounded us with their courage and overcoming their own fear of letting go, literally. …
To the Lighthouse
This Mother's Day, my family has decided to forgo the fancy brunch and lunch plans.
This decision was made easier by the fact that every restaurant my poor husband called (last night) was of course full to bursting with reservations previously booked a week or more ago in honour of mom's' one day (morning?) break from cooking.
Rather than wallow in self-pity over a lack of eggs benedict this Sunday, I suggested revisiting an old friend - Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver - and that we would bring our own food to enjoy after a lovely hike to the seaside. …
The Great Outdoors
There's nothing like being all snug in your sleeping bag, fast asleep in your tent.
Suddenly, you are awakened by a murder of black crows right above your campsite, cawing incessantly, and very, very loudly. It's 5 AM and nature's alarm clocks are saying 'Good morning in the great outdoors!' (I understand why a group of crows is referred to as a 'murder', because at that hour, I know what I'd like to do to those birds.)
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A 100 Mile Holiday - Recession-proofing your Summer Vacation
Planning a holiday during a recession, when many of us are watching every dollar we spend, seems a bit decadent and in many cases simply impossible. Is this summer really the best time to take a holiday?
Taking inspiration from local B.C. authors Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon and their successful 100 Mile Diet and book chronicling their one-year experiment in local eating, …
Day Trippin' - Our Top 5 100 Mile Day Trips
The 100 Mile philosophy, inspired by local B.C. authors Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon and their successful 100 Mile Diet and book chronicling their one-year experiment in local eating, applies to our family's attitude towards rewarding day trips from our Vancouver home.
Think about your home-town, city and surrounding environment. What are all of the recreational opportunities within a 100 mile radius of where you live? …
A Break at the Peaks
Skiing and snowboarding for Spring Break is my idea of a fun and care-free family holiday.
Sun Peaks Resort, located north of Kamloops, BC, and a five hour drive from Vancouver, has been voted #2 Best Ski Resort in Canada (and #10 in North America) by Conde Nast Traveler magazine (2008).
This was great news as we'd booked a week of skiing there in March!
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ABC's
Looking for advice on how and what to pack? On how to survive a plane or car ride with babies, toddlers, or older children? The ABC's will teach you what you need to know to plan and execute a successful family travel strategy.
2012 | A Year in Travel
This year was a busy one at the travelling mom. We were fortunate to enjoy some great family adventures in 2012, in Florida, Oregon, British Columbia, Ontario, Mexico and Peru.
We hope you shared some great family travel memories too. Best wishes to your travelling family for a wonderful holiday season, and a very happy and healthy 2013!
Review | Lonely Planet's Not-for-Parents travel books
News flash. Books are not dead.
Despite the lure of iPhones, iPads, Xboxes and PS3s, kids still like to read. This fact makes me very happy, because I love to read as well. And despite the 'e-competition', there are still so many great books out there to read and enjoy.
Imagine my delight when I received copies of the new Lonely Planet's Not for Parents…
Passports with Purpose Fundraiser
Do you ever think about fresh water? Probably not.
Many others in the world are not so lucky. It's a daily struggle to find clean water for their families and children. But in a couple clicks, you can do something to help.
Donate to the Passports with Purpose campaign, and contribute to help raise $100,000 to build five new water wells in two communities in Haiti, with …
Let it Snow! Prepping for this winter's ski season
If you're a skier or snowboarder, you know it's never too early to plan for a successful ski season or holiday. As the days shorten and the temperature dips, skis, boots & gear are taken out of the closet, measured, and yes, of course, the kids have grown again and need new equipment this year. Cha ching!
It's all part of the excitement of preparing for family fun on the slopes. …
An exciting new relationship with Travel Mamas
I'm very excited and pleased to announce that, in addition to still blogging and maintaining thetravellingmom.ca (of course!), I will be a contributing writer & blogger with the popular San Diego-based family travel blog & website TravelMamas.com.
It will be truly great to be part of a group of like-minded travel enthusiasts, so I'm really happy to be joining TravelMamas founder …
Some thoughts about travelling with kids
Il Prato | Padova, Italy
Ever since our first family trip with our five-month old son, I have, for the most part, enjoyed travelling with our children. 'Well I should hope so', you're thinking, 'you have a travelling with kids blog, don't you?' That's certainly true.
I may not have enjoyed the tiredness & jet lag (affecting one and not the other), the sick days, early nights, or the occasional tantrums (surprisingly, there weren't that many, or I've purged them from my memory) from time to time, but that's pretty par for the course. …
The 7 Steps to Planning (and Surviving) Multigenerational Travel
For some of us, the idea of planning a holiday and spending weeks together in a foreign land with our parents and children sounds like a new circle of hell in Dante’s Inferno. But, if your family relationships are solid and you can ride out the occasional emotional storms and historical family member behavioral patterns, the benefits of multigenerational travel far outweigh the downsides.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter | Universal Studios
As excited - and sad - as I am about the last movie in the Harry Potter series, as a fan I'm comforted by the fact that I can live the magical experience at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.
Two fabulous travelling mom friends, Sharon B. & Tracy L., have recently visited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter…
Travelling Mom Profile | fillyourown
Sick of packing plastic for summer road-trips and in the lunchbox? We had the pleasure of test-driving fillyourown's great eco-friendly food storage products for the past few weeks.
Fillyourown is a local Vancouver company that creates stainless steel water bottles, plastic-free food containers, reusable lunch bags, compact folding shopping bags,…
He's Leaving Home
Well, not really.
My eldest child is going on a school trip to Quebec, and it's his first trip without his family. He's been in a French Immersion program for eight years, and in his final year of elementary school, he gets to travel with his classmates to La Belle Province.
This is a great opportunity to practice his French, explore a different part of our country, and immerse himself in the unique …
Travel Style: Don't Leave Fashion at Home
“Be Glamorous. Every Day.”
- Rachel Zoe
We are very pleased to present this Guest Post by Trish Friesen, of TripStyler.com, a fabulous website for daily trip style tips for the aspiring jetsetter. Trish offers some excellent style tips on what to include in your travel bag, suitable for the budget of any travelling mom. Like Trish says, there is no excuse for frump when you're on the plane or on the road!
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Travelling Mom Profile: Tales2Go | Audiobooks Rock
We love, love, love audiobooks. I've been known to drive right by our intended destination (even school!) while engrossed in a Percy Jackson or Artemis Fowl audiobook. Nothing guarantees silence in the back seat quite like a great story, well-told on an iPod or a CD.
The beauty of audiobooks is their portability. Whether in a plane, train, automobile or airport waiting lounge, you can listen and be spirited away into a novel or storyline that is engrossing and captivating. …
The Importance of Being Polite
Travel etiquette. Is it a dying art?
This thought struck me on a recent overseas flight. The topic was front and centre in Air Canada's En Route in-flight magazine, in the article The Ultimate Guide to Travel Etiquette.
The article covered the ways in which travellers could be better, more polite human beings while travelling, and included tips like; check your bags, keep your hotel room neat & tidy, be respectful to service personnel, and share those arm rests. …
Travelling Green?
There is a big debate in travel circles about the challenges in travelling 'green' - reducing our carbon footprint and our impact upon our natural world.
Is such green, or eco-travel even possible when we need to drive across vast distances to visit landmarks, or get on a large aircraft and jet halfway around the world, utilizing thousands of litres of jet fuel and burning tonnes of carbon, to visit faraway places in Europe or Asia? …
The Trouble with Travelling with School-aged Kids
Memories | Digital Photo Books
Your fabulous holiday trip is over, and you've downloaded the 1000+ digital photos from your 1, 2 (or more) cameras. Now what do you do? Do you preserve those photos and memories for viewing, or leave them piling up, unseen and unloved on your computer's hard drive?
In the digital age, it seems harder than ever to keep up with photo albums and scrap-booking your trips and daily lives. …
Motherly Advice
My friend and fellow travelling mom Isabel recently returned from a trip to Austria, Croatia, and Slovenia with her husband and 8 month old baby. It was a wonderful trip, but it wasn't without its challenges and trying moments along the way.
Isabel has some very good advice for other moms travelling or thinking about travelling with babies, and I'm pleased to share her thoughts with you.
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The Border
There's nothing like the threat of a baggage or vehicle search to strike fear into the heart of any traveller. Every time I inch closer in the car or passenger line-up at customs, my heart rate goes up along with my body temperature.
R + D - Tools to Building a Better Holiday Plan
Planning a holiday? Don't know where to start? The world is literally at your fingertips! The internet offers more information and travel planning sites than you can ever hope to read.
Here are some of our favourite thetravellingmom.ca resource websites.
tripadvisor.com - Need to find a good place to eat in New York or hotel in Honolulu? This popular site offers traveller-submitted comments and ratings on hotels, restaurants and destinations worldwide. …
Food Glorious Food
Your plane has been delayed for 2 hours and the kids are starving. You had planned to feed them with the breakfast service on the flight (rare these days, I know), but that's out.
But you are not worried because you're a modern travelling mom who's planned for every possible outcome.
These days, in-flight meal service can be quite sporadic, if it exists at all. …
The Check List
The phrase 'I have nothing to wear!' does not hold true for those savvy travellers who know how to pack their suitcases. When I travelled as a child, flying was a very special occasion that required us all to dress up for the flight in our Sunday best. Old habits die hard, and I still do this today, and the benefit in my mind is that flying is still a special occasion, and who knows? …
How to Pack A Suitcase
I was taught the Art of Packing a suitcase by my mother. She was a master at filling every nook and cranny to ensure every item found a place in our bags. It's a simple system that incorporates many common sense elements, and I swear by it when packing for a weekend or a one-month holiday.
1. Gather the items required from the Check List in one place where you can see each family members clothing and personal items. …
Notes on a Suitcase - Carry-on!
Featured Product
When I was a child, my brother and I were each responsible for our own suitcase, a brown, vinyl ten-pound (empty!) monster with no wheels for carrying comfort.
Suitcases today are a marvel of engineering. Lightweight - under 5 lbs - with high-tech rolling wheels and in many cool designs to fit every style and budget. It's got to be lightweight, and able to roll down a cobble-stone street without losing a single wheel!
…
Baby on Board
I was one year old for my first plane trip. I don't remember the experience of course, but there is one story from that journey that is worth retelling.
My parents, who were very experienced travellers, decided it would be a good idea to give me some Gravol prior to our overnight flight overseas. The medicine would knock me out and I would sleep well on the plane, they reasoned. …
The Value of Education through Travel
We are all experiential learners.
As wonderful as it is to read about places and things that interest us, to experience those places and things allows us to learn and appreciate our world, and our own lives, in a deeper, more lasting, and more meaningful way.
In planning family travel with young children, the opportunities to open up their minds to new things, people, places and experiences are nearly limitless. …
Family Travel - Why it Matters
Why is it so important to plan and experience travel as a family?
Today's working moms and dads are extremely busy people. We have our jobs, our duties, our responsibilities, our daily routines that rule and govern our lives. Our children also live extremely busy and structured lives - school, homework, organized sports, artistic pursuits, organized play - governed by weekly routines. …
Trekaroo Canada, eh?
If you like the skinny on the what and where is great when you travel - from travelling moms just like you - you're in the right place.
You're also in the right spot to learn that family review site Trekaroo, the largest independent community of travel savvy parents in the United States, is expanding into Canada.
Families will now be able to search Trekaroo's database for the inside scoop on Canadian attractions, lodging, restaurants, and tours. To celebrate, Trekaroo will be kicking off their Canada launch with week-long coverage of four major Canadian cities: Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal. Throughout the summer, families can expect week-long features of each city, including travel advice, lodging reviews, and fabulous Canada vacation giveaways.
Are you an expert on a Canadian destination? I'll bet you know more than you might think.
If you have experience travelling in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, or Quebec, or if you're a Canadian expert on your home city, Trekaroo wants to hear from you. Signing up as a Trekaroo member is easy and free. Reviews need only be a few lines long, but they assist fellow family travelers forever.
Up, up and away to the Museum of Flight | Seattle
We're very pleased to have Lora Shinn of the Washington-based Cascadia Kids travel blog introduce us to Seattle's most excellent Museum of Flight.
With more than 150 aircraft, The Museum of Flight is one of the largest air and space museums in the world. Located on Boeing Field, not far from where real planes are built in Renton, Washington, the Museum takes transportation-obsessed kids and their grown-ups over the moon and back again.
Even if you’re not particularly enchanted by transportation or planes (like me), the museum’s exhibits are so well presented that it’s hard not to crush over candy-red fighters and a quirky car-plane hybrid.
In the six-story-tall, glass-roofed Great Gallery, dozens of full-size biplanes, jet fighters and prop planes hang from the ceiling and seem to be flying indoors. More aircraft are scattered across the bottom floor. One of my favorites is the "Gossamer Albatross," a human-powered plane that once crossed the English Channel.
Play Frustrated Passenger and Grouchy Stewardess (well, it’s more dramatic that way) in the interior of the passenger airliner, conduct landings and takeoffs from the replica flight tower and battle fierce enemies (like bedtime) in the sound-equipped fighter plane.
Ode to the Islands | Postcards from Kauai
As my father reminded me recently, there is only one Hawaii. The allure and beauty of the Islands are unique unto themselves, and we're happy to share some photos of our recent visit to Kauai that require few words to show why. I think you'll understand. Aloha!
Room with a view: Nihi Kai Villas, Poipu
Salt Pond Beach : super younger kid-friendly
Learning to surf at Sheraton Beach: it's tough stuff
Waimea - Canyon of the Pacific : Pictures don't do it justice
Polihale Beach : at the end of the road, literally
Shave ice is a must! Hee Fat General Store, Kapa'a
The stormy Na Pali coast on the north shore @ Ke'e Beach
Sunset at Brennecke Beach, Poipu
Ladies of the luau : Tahitian-style
A Visit to Vatican City | Rome, Italy
The Swiss Guard
Did you know that you can arrange to attend an audience with the Pope and, if you're lucky, be less than 20 feet away from His Holiness? And do this all for free?
Keep in mind that you'll be sharing the experience with 5,000 or so other interested folks and pilgrims, but if visiting the Vatican is in your Roman travel plan, you may want to arrange the experience of a public papal audience. Even if you're not Catholic.
You can plan to spend an entire day experiencing and visiting the Vatican on your Roman journey; exploring the magnificent Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, and even climbing St. Peter's Dome, if you don't mind the height and narrow staircases.
We did spend an entire day at the state within a city. Vatican City is a separate state jurisdiction from Rome and from Italy. You won't need to show your passport at the border to enter, as there isn't one, and getting there simply involves either walking or making your way by bus from wherever you are in Rome. There are no Metro stops within easy distance, so wear comfortable walking shoes.
An Early Start
Pope Benedict, now Pope Emeritus
This is My Canada
Happy Canada Day! Camping on Vancouver Island
As a Vancouver-based family travel writer, my first and most loyal allegiance is to my home and native land: Canada. I've lived in three provinces over my lifetime - Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia - and we've been lucky to have travelled in all of them as a family as well.
So when Pamela from Spunky Girl Monologues organized a group of Canadian travel bloggers to share what they love about Canada in a travel blog roulette, I was excited about joining in. After a roulette tag from Lisa Goodmurphy of Gone With Family, I'm very happy to share our favorite Canadian experiences.
1. Experiencing the Great Outdoors
Sitting on the dock of the lake, Vancouver Island
Like many other Canadians, we like to spend as much time as we can in the great outdoors. We love camping, and our kids have grown up camping all around British Columbia, whether it's on long weekends or on 3 week-long road trips. We've had some amazing and hairy adventures on our camping travels, but nothing beats getting out into Mother Nature and the Canadian wilderness.
2. Playing in the Snow
Why Advance Trip Planning {equals} Family Travel Sanity
How far in advance do you plan your family vacation? Are you 'spur of the moment' travellers, or do you prefer planning things out well in advance, even up to a year ahead?
We're in the midst of some heavy trip planning going into spring 2014, with solid travel plans for spring and summer 2013 already booked and in some cases, even paid for. I also posed this question via our Facebook page, and those respondents were universally in the 'plan ahead' category, apparently to the frustration of some more spontaneous spouses.
We tend to do a little of both - short and long-term planning styles. It really depends on where we're going, who else might be involved in the trip, and the length of trip time.
Some things to think about:
- The more people involved, the longer the lead time. If you're travelling with other people - grandparents, relatives, other families - more advance planning, scheduling, savings and coordination will be required. Once a common date and destination are decided upon though, there's lots of time to iron out smaller trip details closer to departure time.
- Penny saved, penny earned. By booking well in advance, you can take advantage of early season airline seat sales, with choice of routes, dates and seat choices. While waiting until the last minute may result in some cheaper fares, the selection and flexibility of dates and routes might be more limited or non-existent. The same holds true if using points to book air travel, especially in high season and during school holidays (pretty much the same thing!).
Whistler Blackcomb | Family Certified Ski Fun
You know that we're no strangers to the awesome snow fun of Whistler Blackcomb. Living in Vancouver, only 1.5 hours away from Whistler, we try to get up there as often as we can.
We've planned some holiday time there this winter, much to the joy of our skiing t(w)eens who love to hit the slopes, and who enjoy Whistler's resort amenities as much as we do.
So, what's new this season?
Family Certified
This season, Whistler is continuing to improve its guest experience by introducing a new “Family Certified” program. The Family Certified icon {as seen above} will be displayed on ski runs, in stores, on Whistler Blackcomb’s website, and in Whistler Blackcomb food and beverage locations to indicate kid-friendly areas, products and services.
New signage and additional flags have also been added to on-mountain ski/snowboard areas to better mark children and beginner-friendly terrain.
Here are some newly improved family-friendly runs and activities to check out while exploring Whistler Blackcomb:
Whistler Kids Training Centre on Whistler Mountain, featuring a larger skills zone, an improved race training zone and additional flags and signage for ease of finding.
Tofino Insider | A storm watching & beach-combing paradise
Have you ever stood on the edge of the world?
That's what it feels like standing on Long Beach, Tofino, Vancouver Island, on the (nearly) most westerly point of Canada. Standing on the beach, there is nothing between you and Japan except the cold, vast, churning Pacific Ocean.
It's been a long time since we visited Tofino ourselves, so we were thrilled to interview local Tofino resident and guidebook author John Platenius. John has published the Tofino Guide book, offering great advice for families wanting to experience a long weekend of storm watching in fall or winter, or those planning ahead for a summer vacation on the beach.
TTM: What are some great places to stay in Tofino?
Platenius: There are so many great family-friendly accommodations in Tofino, which makes this answer difficult and lengthy! The first hotel/resort that always comes to mind for families is Pacific Sands Beach Resort. They are the original family beach resort, and it's owned by a wonderful local family that lives near the resort. Like many of the hotels and resorts here, they have options for rooms or autonomous suites, which provides a good range of price options.
Why Cruising is Great for Multigenerational Family Travel
Have you taken a cruise that included your parents, in-laws, or other members of your extended family? Or does just the thought of holidaying together make you queasy?
There is a way to holiday with the folks while minimizing family blow-ups and rekindling old disputes. Check out our reasons why cruising is so great for multigenerational holidays, in our very first post as the Curious Travel Mama at The Travel Mamas.
Rainy Day Family Fun in Vancouver
It seems to rain in Vancouver as many days as the sun shines in a year. Even though we are an outdoorsy bunch, there is so much to do indoors too, and since it does rain here (more days than we might wish), here's our handy list of fav indoor spaces to spend some quality family time.
Great Places for Indoor Kid and Family Fun
Granville Island Kids Market - The Kids Market offers not only great shops for all manner of kid-friendly toys and products, there’s also a fun family arcade, and a multi-level jungle gym to climb around in on a rainy afternoon. There are also special events on weekends, such as face-painting and crafting, to keep little hands busy. Just check out their web page for the latest news.
YVR Airport – This might strike some as an odd choice, but it can really be fun, especially if you take the CanadaLine to get there, which can be an adventure in itself (if your family doesn’t ride it on a regular basis). The free Observation Deck area in the Domestic Terminal at the Vancouver International Airport offers an unobstructed view of the runways, operations area, and the city of Vancouver. The Observation Deck has telescopes, a model of the Airport, and displays about the history of the Airport and Sea Island. And of course, there are shops and restaurants to visit if you want to make a day of it.
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