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Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:48:25 -0800

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. Natural and man-made wonders mix in perfect harmony as you wander the neighborhoods and explore a few hidden treasures. …

Continue reading Toddler-Friendly Spots Around Seattle

4/28/12 3:00 PM

A Photo Tour of Granville Island | Vancouver

3/4/12 2:59 PM

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.

Silver Star didn't disappoint us, with blue sky days and fresh powder falling to make for some epic skiing and boarding conditions.

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Continue reading Gold Medal Family Fun @ Silver Star Mountain Resort

2/20/12 1:39 PM

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, inside a hotel resort complex with restaurants, bars, cafes, a spa, arcade, Starbucks, and gift shops, and …

Continue reading A Howlin' good time at Great Wolf Lodge

1/15/12 6:18 PM

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 very family-friendly place with much to do and see. …

Continue reading Whistler Wonderland

1/4/12 4:01 PM

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. There are also tips on playgrounds, beaches, cafes, restaurants and shopping.

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Continue reading A Day in Kitsilano | Vancouver

9/23/11 2:13 PM

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 (WWHP). Despite my mad jealousy that they've been there and I haven't, we just had to get their tips and picks about what is great about this theme park, and why you would want to take your family there too.

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Continue reading The Wizarding World of Harry Potter | Universal Studios

7/12/11 12:50 PM

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. …

Continue reading Rainy Day Family Fun in Vancouver

5/27/11 1:29 PM

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. …

Continue reading Vancouver Best Bets for Kid & Family Dining

2/10/10 1:24 PM

Asia

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:13:40 -0700

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.

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Latest Posts

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:03:56 -0700

Spring is in the air on the west coast & Pacific Northwest! It's such a great time to get outdoors and see all of the amazing and colourful changes in the natural world. One of our favorite springtime daytrips is to Reifel Bird Sanctuary…

Europe

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:40:28 -0700

The chronicles of the travelling mom's many European adventures! Scroll down to view our features and tips about Belgium, France and Italy.

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. …

Sleeping in a Tube | Switzerland

5/6/11 1:37 PM

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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The Most Beautiful Castle in Europe | Burg Eltz

3/21/11 1:24 PM

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. …

Sorrento, Capri & the Amalfi Coast | Italy

3/18/10 1:54 PM

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. …

When in Rome - The Best Cappuccino & Gelato

2/20/10 6:16 PM

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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Ypres | In Flanders Fields Museum

11/8/09 2:40 PM

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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In Flanders Fields | Ypres - the Menin Gate & Last Post

11/5/09 7:41 PM

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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Eternal Rome for Kids and Families

10/30/09 5:04 AM

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'. …

The Top 6 Bruges, Belgium for Kids and Families

10/3/09 8:54 PM

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. …

A Chocolate Obsession | Belgium

9/17/09 8:47 PM

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. …

Life with the Locals - Diksmuids Boterhuis, Bruges

9/13/09 3:54 PM

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. …

Driving in Europe

8/28/09 4:00 PM

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. …

Paris in Spring | Jardins du Luxembourg

5/30/09 8:22 PM

Roman Holiday - Vatican City

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. …

Roman Holiday - Vatican City

3/10/09 9:03 AM

British Columbia

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:03:07 -0800

Discover the Best Place on Earth! There's no shortage of beautiful family travel opportunities in Vancouver, British Columbia, and on the West Coast of Canada.

Toddler-Friendly Spots Around Seattle

Rain or shine, cold weather or mild, Seattle is a great place to bring the family for a day trip or weekend adventure. …

Toddler-Friendly Spots Around Seattle

5/4/12 11:20 AM

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.

…

Gold Medal Family Fun @ Silver Star Mountain Resort

3/4/12 3:48 PM

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 Summer Week of Awesome

9/27/11 1:58 PM

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 families living here as well.

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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The Vancouver Aquarium

3/9/11 9:01 AM

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…

BC's Rustic Playground - Manning Park

1/9/11 4:04 PM

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 - …

Winter Fun on Vancouver's North Shore

11/19/10 4:10 PM

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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Richmond Night Market

8/22/10 8:24 AM

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.

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 …

The Beaty Biodiversity Museum

5/28/10 9:22 AM

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 soon we'll be 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 Best Campgrounds in British Columbia

5/19/10 2:30 PM

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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A Walk on the Super Natural Side

4/18/10 6:54 PM

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 …

Beautiful Bowen Island

4/5/10 2:59 PM

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.

3/8/10 10:18 AM

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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The Vancouver Olympic Village Plaza

12/4/09 11:50 AM

Cypress Mountain Provincial Park

The North Shore Mountains of Vancouver - Cypress, Grouse and Seymour - are spectacular sights that beckon Vancouverites and visitors to leave the city behind and get back to the great outdoors.

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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Cypress Mountain Provincial Park

10/17/09 7:24 PM

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.

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Travelling Mom contributing to InsideVancouver.ca

10/1/09 4:33 PM

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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The new view @ YVR

7/16/09 8:50 PM

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. …

Galiano Getaway

6/23/09 8:15 PM

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. …

Zippin' in Whistler

6/11/09 7:05 AM

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. …

To the Lighthouse

5/8/09 11:19 AM

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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The Great Outdoors

5/1/09 12:30 PM

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, …

A 100 Mile Holiday - Recession-proofing your Summer Vacation

4/30/09 8:00 PM

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? …

Day Trippin' - Our Top 5 100 Mile Day Trips

4/30/09 12:26 PM

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, was just 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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A Break at the Peaks

3/31/09 1:25 PM

Whistler Weekend

We live approximately two hours away from one of the best ski resorts in the world: Whistler, British Columbia.

Unfortunately, we only go there about once a year, for a host of reasons; cost and difficulty in finding time off to get away being the two main ones. If your children are school-aged and busy with extra-curricular activities, finding the time can be the most challenging of all.

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Whistler Weekend

3/21/09 2:00 PM