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. …
View Comments