Set Sail on These Epic 2024 Family Cruises

by Kate LowethDecember 27, 2023

There are even a few cruises where kids sail free

Cruising is back in full swing with families enjoying the ease of getting to visit many ports without having to lug your luggage around with you. The good news is that 2024 promises to be an exciting year for sailing with the inaugural sailings of Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas and Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess happening in early 2024. Whether you are wanting to check out the stunning beauty of Alaska or you have always wanted to spend the day at Coco Cay, we have the cruise for you. There are a few adventure cruises on this list for those looking for a more active cruise and plenty that will work well for that multi-generational trip. Bonus: You can even find some “Kids Sail Free” deals mixed in!

Royal Caribbean | 7-Day Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day

Royal Caribbean

Ready to welcome up to 7.600 guests, the Icon of the Seas is setting sail for the Eastern Caribbean in late January and families are already booking their next adventure. The stats on this massive ship are quite impressive: 20 decks, 7 pools, 9 whirlpools, and the most waterslides at sea. With stops in St. Kitts, the Bahamas, and St. Thomas, you'll get to enjoy the Caribbean culture when you head off the ship. Book by January 2, 2024 and take advantage of their Kids Sail Free promotion for sailings departing between January 5, 2024 – April 25, 2026.

Princess Cruises | Sun Princess 7-Day Mediterranean

Sun Princess Cruises for families deck image — Princess Cruises

Have you ever wanted to hang glide at sea? The brand-new Sun Princess is setting sail for the Caribbean and the Mediterranean next year and we can't wait to check it out. Kids will go crazy over the new activity zone named “Park19” that will feature simulated hang gliding, a two-story climbing structure, a splash zone, and even a hammock area for parents who need a little break from it all. Reimagined teen and tween zones will welcome these hard-to-please age groups with gaming areas, air hockey, foosball, and more.

We especially have our eye on their Mediterranean sailings that offer stops in Sicily, Montenegro, Barcelona, and Naples. You can often find their 3rd and 4th guests sail free promotion which makes this a very affordable option for families.

Windstar Cruises | 7-Day Costa Rica Cruises

Windstar Cruises at sunset — Windstar Cruises

Windstar Cruises offer families a small ship experience that's full of adventure, education, and immersion in exciting new destinations. With only 148 to 342 guests on board each sailing, you'll get access to ports and areas of the world that other larger ships are unable to visit. There's ample downtime to relax while you are sailing and also access to the watersports platform where you can go swimming, snorkeling, or kayaking right off the back of the ship when anchored.

The Windstar Costa Rica itineraries offer ziplining and hikes to waterfalls, visits to natural parks with the possibility of glimpsing a sloth in the wild, and lots of opportunities to enjoy local cuisine. Families will enjoy the naturalist discussions onboard as well as the relaxed atmosphere.

Disney Cruise Line | Disney Wonder 7-Night Alaskan Cruise from Vancouver

Disney Cruise Line mickey minnie — Disney Cruise Line

Families who set sail with Disney Cruise Line know that the Disney magic follows you aboard from the friendly staff to the thoughtful kids programs and excursions. You can expect to enjoy Broadway-quality shows while onboard along with fireworks at sea, character experiences, movie screenings, and more. Disney cruises are particularly suited to multi-generational travel so be sure to invite the grandparents!

Disney's Alaskan cruises will have you spotting bald eagles and brown bears, cruising past majestic glaciers, hiking the mountains of Juneau, and visit the salmon capital of the world—Ketchikan. Excursions are the highlight of an Alaskan cruise and Disney has so many to choose from that you'll definitely find one that suits your family's interests.

Holland America Line | 7-Day Mexican Riviera

Make it easy on yourself and depart from San Diego aboard the Koningsdam for a seven-day Mexican Riviera cruise with stops in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta. Families will appreciate that this ship features family staterooms with beds for five (plus an extra bathroom) so you can easily keep an eye on your crew while sailing. Kids can participate in arts and crafts, sports, video game competitions, scavenger hunts, challenging team games, and themed parties while on board.

Optional excursions include bird watching expeditions, ziplining over the canopy, and a mini speedboat outing with private beach day.

Lindblad Expeditions | 7-Day Galapagos Cruise

Meet the wildlife of the Galapagos Islands—from sea lions and blue-footed boobies to giant tortoises and Darwin’s finches. This kid-friendly cruise aboard the National Geographic Islander II will have you snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding and exploring the wildlife and local culture.

Kids will love participating in the onboard National Geographic Global Explorers program where they can choose among a host of cool activities—from recording wildlife sightings in their field notebook to collecting and observing plankton fresh from the ocean—all designed to help them develop what National Geographic Education defines as the attitudes, skills and knowledge of an explorer. They can collect points on their way to becoming a National Geographic Global Explorer—with the certification to prove it!

Hawaii—UnCruise Adventures

UnCruise offers a different type of cruise, and families will love it. Think smaller ship, more individualized attention and programming that kids and parents will both enjoy. You can visit four islands aboard UnCruise's : Molokai, Hawai’i, Maui, Lanai, and you have the opportunity to view loads of marine life. No need to dock and pick up another boat to go snorkeling or swimming, there's an option to do so right off the ship, along with paddleboarding.

UnCruise prices its adventures to include everything from room charges, meals, alcoholic beverages and even off-ship excursions, so you know upfront what your vacation will cost. There won't be any expectations to bring fancy clothing to dress up for dinner, as meals are much more streamlined on UnCruise. It really caters to families looking for bucket list experiences. Kids eight and up are always welcome, and special exceptions are made for those seven and under.

Avalon River Cruises | Paris to Normandy via the Seine

If river cruising is more your family’s speed, Avalon Waterways has fantastic options for seeing Europe (or Asia or South America). You won’t find the clubs that keep the kids entertained during long stretches at sea, but you will find wraparound wonder with so much constantly in view right from the ship (your room included), making this a trip-of-a-lifetime for culture-seeking big kids (ages 8 and up).

Take a voyage down the epic Seine to visit landmarks made famous by the likes of Napoleon, Joan of Art, and Vincent Van Gogh. Plus, Paris! In addition to visits to the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, the kids will love counting the 37 Parisian bridges—or challenge the family to keep a tally on the whole journey.

15 Jet Lag Adjustment Tips for Kids of All Ages

by Melissa HeckscherAugust 2, 2023

Top jet lag prevention tip: try not to stress about it too much

You’ve packed. You’ve planned. You’ve crossed your fingers for no delays, cancellations, lost luggage, fevers, tantrums, accidents, earaches, or upset tummies.

But what about jet lag? Is there any way to prevent its trademark exhaustion from turning your otherwise cheerful jet-setter into a crabby, irritable mess?

“Exploring the world is fun, but having a cranky toddler dealing with jet lag isn’t,” sleep medicine physician and pediatric pulmonologist Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown said in an article on her website, Restful Sleep MD. “Toddlers and older kids tend to have a more challenging time as they adjust to the different time zones. While these adjustments only take a few days, they could be the longest days of your and your child’s travel experience.”

So what’s a globetrotting parent to do? From what time to fly and what to bring on board to what sorts of things to schedule on the first day of your trip, here are a few expert tips for helping your kids (and you!) beat jet lag fast.

First of all: What is Jet Lag—And Why Does it Happen?

It’s not just because you didn’t sleep on the plane (though that doesn’t help). Jet lag happens when our body’s natural circadian rhythm gets mixed up by crossing multiple time zones. Basically: Your brain thinks it’s in one time zone (home); your body is in another (vacation). Not surprisingly, the more time zones you cross, the worse the jet lag.

Note: Jet lag does not occur on north-south flights that do not cross multiple time zones, according to The Sleep Foundation.

“When you travel across time zones, that internal clock is still in sync with your original time zone and out of sync with the new time zone,” Afolabi-Brown said in the article.

Symptoms of jet lag include exhaustion, brain fog irritability, headaches, and digestive upset (especially in children). And, depending on how you acclimate (and whether you follow the steps below), experts say it can take one day to adjust for every time zone crossed—though you likely won’t have all the symptoms for this long.

Does it happen for babies? Yes! According to the Pediatric Sleep Council, babies are just as likely to experience jet lag as adults, though it may be less noticeable for babies under 6 months who don’t have a regular sleep schedule.

Tips to Prevent Jet Lag—Before Your Flight

1. Stay hydrated: Dehydration can make jet lag worse, so make sure your kids drink plenty of water (or formula/breast milk/etc.) before, during, and after a long flight. Caffeinated beverages can also contribute to dehydration, so if you’ve got older kids who like Coke or other caffeinated drinks, try to encourage them to choose non-caffeinated pop instead.

“I always try to make this fun for my kids. We make Kool-Aid the day before and we make sure to drink it all,” a mom blogger wrote on Jet Lagged Mama. “Then during the trip, we always let them pick out fun drinks either at gas stations or sometimes I will pack a few fun drinks in my carry-on.”

Note for parents: While you might want to drink a glass of wine to ease your nerves before and during a flight, alcohol can also make jet lag worse—so try to say no.

2. Prep for your destined time zone: If you know your destination is a few hours behind, don’t stress when your kids aren’t asleep at 11 p.m. as it’ll actually help them! Similarly, if you’re traveling to a place where it’s later than your home time zone, try to move your kids’ bedtime earlier as you get nearer to takeoff. (This is easier said than done, we know. So don’t stress!)

What You Can Do to Prevent Jet Lag—On The Plane

1. Pick your flight wisely. While some parents avoid red-eye flights (especially with younger children who may keep the whole cabin awake when they can’t sleep), many prefer to fly the night away because kids simply fall asleep better when they know it’s dark outside. Depending on when you’ll land, it’s good for your kids to sleep at least a little bit on the plane.

That said, if you know you’ll be landing at nighttime, you don’t want your kid to get a full night’s slumber on the airplane. To keep them from sleeping too much, pack games and “presents” for them to open to keep them entertained (this way they’ll be able to sleep when you get there). This is one of those times when screen time is your friend since blue light actually inhibits melatonin production and will help your kids stay awake longer.

2. Choose a flight that arrives in the daytime—and stay awake when. you get there! Getting to your destination during the day means you’re more likely to jump right into the new schedule. (Hint: Don’t take a nap when you get to your hotel!). Stay awake and relatively active when you arrive so that, by evening, your kids will be so pooped they’ll practically put themselves to bed.

“We typically take red eyes and then try to plan an activity close to when we land so it forces us to stay awake through the excitement of the activity,” said family travel Vlogger Trevi O’Neil from The Adventure Buddies. “Versus getting to your destination and then looking to sleep right away.”

3. If you have. a baby (and want them to sleep), get a bassinet seat. Sure, holding your baby while they sleep will do the trick, but if you want to catch some Zzzs yourself, it helps to have a place to put your little one. Many long-haul or international flights offer travel bassinets that clip into the wall of the bulkhead seats. The rules vary by airline, but most bassinets are only available for infants under the age of one and less than 25 pounds. For details on where your chosen airline stands, check out this comprehensive list of bassinet seats on 50+ airlines.

4. Pack these things: Even if you’ve got a like-clockwork sort of sleeper, getting kids to knock out on planes can be tough. So arm yourself with all the sleep-inducing extras you can fit in your carry-on. This could include:

Your child’s favorite blanket, pillow, and stuffie
Pajames (at least two sets, if you’re worried about accidents)
A mask to block out light (if your child will keep it on)
For babies in car seats: A cover or light blanket to block out light
For smaller children: This inflatable cushion which allows kids to put their feet up or lay flat in the seat (if allowed by your airline).

Tips to Prevent Jet Lag—At Your Destination

1. Follow the Light: One of the key strategies for helping kids beat jetlag is adjusting their exposure to light and dark, according to Kelly Murra, a certified pediatric and adult sleep consultant based in Los Angeles. “Light plays a crucial role in regulating our internal body clock,” Murra said. “When we travel across time zones, our body clock gets all confused, and that’s when jetlag kicks in.”

So use light to your advantage! If you arrive in the daytime, expose your child to natural light to help signal to the body that it’s daytime.”Encourage them to go outside, play in the sunlight, or simply have a stroll in a nearby park,” Murra said.

Then, when you wake up the next morning, get them some sunlight as soon as possible. For example, take a family walk, go to a playground, or push your baby around in the stroller.

“This will signal to their body that it is the new wake-up time by triggering the production of cortisol, the alert hormone, as well as program their body to produce melatonin, the sleepy hormone, earlier than it normally would,” according to Murra.

2. Limit the lights at nighttime: While getting your kids some sun helps acclimate them to daytime; when it’s nighttime in the new time zone, you want to do the opposite. Murra suggests limiting your kids’ exposure to bright lights in the evening, especially from screens like phones, tablets, or TVs. Turn off overhead lights and use lamps instead to create a softer light.

“Create a calming and dim environment, mimicking nighttime conditions,” she said. “This helps trigger the release of melatonin, a hormone that encourages sleep.

3. Stay awake! Sure, the first thing you’ll want to do when you arrive is lay down flat for a long nap. But… Resist! Afolabi-Brown advises not letting kids sleep more than two hours during the day for the first few days of your trip. Remember: You want them to be tired at nighttime. (Pssst: Same goes for you!).

“The faster you get your sleep aligned with the new time zone, the faster you will get over your jet lag,” Jet Lagged Mama blogger said in this article. “So staying awake on your first day is extremely important.”

4. Keep kids moving (until bedtime): During the first two days, try to keep things busy so that kids are revved up until bedtime. Sure, there may be a few meltdowns, but if you stick it out, you’ll kick jet lag to the curb way faster. At least, that’s according to veteran traveler Katie Dillon, a writer who has flown across oceans with her daughter since she was 6 weeks old.

“If you can sleep through the night on nights one and two after flying overseas, the remaining nights will typically be easy peasy,” Dillon said on her website, LaJollamom.com. “Be strategic about how you keep them awake, and they’ll never know what you’re up to. It’s one of the best ways to ensure they don’t get jet lag, or it may last for just a night or two versus an entire week.”

5. Keep the activities mellow in the beginning: The first day of your trip should be considered a “buffer day.” So keep things light. You want to be busy—but don’t do the big stuff that you know will take a lot out of you (and your kids). Go to the park or playground. Take a walk. Play games together outside. Remember, exposing yourself to the sun helps your body adjust faster, so whatever you do—do it outside, if possible.

“Hopefully you do not plan to climb the Eiffel Tower or tour the Colosseum on the first day of your trip,” wrote this travel blogger. “Take the kids walking around the neighborhood, to a local park or square, something relaxing and low key. They need to be out in the sun exercising, and the more time you can spend outdoors in the bright light, the easier the adjustment to the new time zone will be for everyone.”

6. Eat like a local: Afolabi-Brown suggests adjusting your child’s meal times to the new destination as soon as you arrive. If your kids are begging for food outside of these times (like when you’re struggling to sleep at 2 a.m.), you can give them a small snack, but try to hold out until they can have a proper meal at the right time.

7. Exercise: According to research published In The Journal of Physiology, exercising at certain times of the day can potentially help treat jet lag. According to the study, exercising between 1 and 4 p.m. can potentially shift your circadian rhythm to an earlier schedule, which could help get your internal clock back to its happy place. So get your kids out and play!

8. Make Your Child’s “Vacation Room” Feel Like Home: Sleeping in a bed far, far away can be scary for kids. To make things feel more familiar, bring things from home that your child already associates with sleep. If you use a certain sound machine or night light, for instance (we love this Sleep Sheep and this Tranquil Whale music and light projector), bring those with you to make home-away-from-home feel just as cozy.

9. Try melatonin: While you should always check with your pediatrician before giving your child melatonin, it can help kids adjust to a drastically different sleep schedule, Afolabi-Brown said. It also helps to get kids (and their parents) back to sleep when they wake up in the middle of the night.

Don’t use adult-dose melatonin for kids. Try brands marketed for children containing 1 mg or less of melatonin as approved by your pediatrician.

What You Can Do to Prevent Jet Lag—When You Return

mom and daughter packing for family vacation — *Vlada Karpovich/ Pexels*

It’s inevitable: Just when you and your fam are finally feeling A-OK—You have energy! The kids are doing great! Vacation life is perfect!— It’ll be time to come home.

Cue the jet lag once again! But this time, you know the drill: Spend your days in the sun; keep things dim in the evening. Hydrate. Eat meals on time. Don’t nap. Sure, it’s a process, but if you follow these steps, you’ll be back to normal in a few days.

Depending on which way you’re flying, you may find jet lag easier or harder the second time around. Flying West? You may have an easier time, according to The Sleep Foundation, it’s easier to delay your internal clock than advance it.

“Like everything that comes with parenting, each child is different. Each situation is different,” Tavia Carlson wrote on her blog, Big Brave Nomad. “The best way to overcome jet lag is to take it one day at a time. It is temporary.”

And it’s worth it! Despite the sleep snafus, foggy mornings, and cranky moments, traveling not only brings families closer, but studies show it also makes kids smarter and more empathetic humans.

So bring on the jet lag!

Disney’s ‘Private Jet Adventure’ Is Back—Visit 6 Countries & All 12 Disney Theme Parks

by Karly WoodJune 20, 2023

Over 24 days, you’ll see the Taj Mahal, Pyramids of Giza, Eiffel Tower and all 12 theme parks

Are you an uber Disney fan but bored with the regular sights and sounds of the parks? Then Disney has the ultimate vacation just for you!

Adventures by Disney has just released details for the fanatics among us: Disney Parks Around the World – A Private Jet Adventure. The 24-day vacation spans six countries, three iconic landmarks (Taj Mahal, Pyramids of Giza, and Eiffel Tower), and all 12 of the Disney theme parks. You and your travel companions will be able to enjoy the world-class accommodations that Disney is known for, all with that magical flair you’ve come to adore and expect.

Superfans will visit Anaheim, San Francisco, Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Agra, Cairo, Paris, and Orlando via a VIP-configured Boeing 757, with long-range capabilities that allow for direct flights to maximize your time in each destination. Also along for the ride are a dedicated flight crew, an in-flight chef, 3 staff members, and a traveling physician.

Over the course of your trip, you’ll be served 69 meals and enjoy 23 nights at nine stunning locations. They include Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Summit Skywalker Ranch (which is not available to the public!), Tokyo Disneyland Hotel, Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, The Oberoi Amarvilas (Agra), Marriott Mena House (Cairo), Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, Disneyland Hotel Paris, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

Two trip dates are available:

June 16-July 9, 2024
July 28-August 20, 2024

While the once-in-a-lifetime trip sounds like the Disney adventure of our dreams, there are a few caveats. First, the opportunity is only open to 75 travelers, and kids must be at least 12 years old. Second, the experience starts at $114,995 per person. And no—we did not misplace a comma!

But can you place a price tag on magic and access to opportunities that are not open to the general public? Superfans think not.

So grab your calendars (for most of us, the imaginary ones) and take note. All previous Adventures by Disney Guests already had the opportunity to book this trip, and it’s now open to the general public. If you’d like to get even more information, head to Adventures by Disney.

Not Fake News: Fascinating Facts About Chicago That Every Kid Should Know

by Maria ChambersMarch 6, 2023

What was the original filling in the Twinkie? How fast can an L train go?

Breathtaking skyline with never-ending Lake Michigan views, freakishly unpredictable weather, sports-hungry locals. . . these are some of the obvious well-knowns about Chicago. But what about the lesser-known or forgotten facts? From super helpful or delicious inventions to fascinating Chicagoans, here’s a Chicago history lesson to share with the family over dinner.

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1. Chicago got its name from the French translation of the Native American word shikaakwa, known in the plant world as allium tricoccum. Which is a reference to the wild garlic that grew in abundance in the area. Yikes! Anyone have a mint?

2. How about some gum? While gum has been plentiful for thousands of years, the first to sell it flavored and packaged the way we know and love was Chicago-based Wrigley's. The originals were Wrigley's Spearmint and Juicy Fruit in the 1890s.

3. When we get one of those beautifully clear days in Chicago, shoot to the tippy-top of Willis Tower (Sears Tower to the loyalists). You can see Lake Michigan and 4 states Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Indiana. Hi-de-ho, neighbors!

4. The Ledge at Willis Tower's Skydeck is the highest observation deck in the United States, standing 1,353 feet in the air and extending 4.3 feet from the Skydeck.

5. The L train travels at speeds of up to 55 miles per hour and carries over 800,000 people per day.

6. Kids likely never heard of Josephine Cochrane, but their lives are made easier by her existence. Frustrated that her circa 1600 heirloom China kept getting chipped while being hand-washed, she threw her brains into developing a cleaning mechanism that used water pressure and was safe on dishes: a.k.a. the dishwasher. Thank you much, Josephine!

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7. Our city's skyline wouldn't be the same without the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier. Designed by George Washington Gale Ferris to rival the majesty of France's Eiffel Tower, the first Ferris Wheel in the world debuted December 16, 1892, as part of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. While the original was destroyed by dynamite in 1906, we get to enjoy Navy Pier's nod to the wheel's original Chicago roots.

8. Speaking of the Eiffel Tower, a time capsule at the top of the building formerly known as John Hancock contains a piece of the Tower.

9. This lil tidbit is for the parents. Pabst's Blue Ribbon used to be Pabst's Best Select until it won an actual blue ribbon at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. In a show of marketing genius, Pabst's started selling their bottles with silk blue ribbons attached, and the name PBR stuck.

10. The Chicago World's Fair is the gift that just keeps on giving. Do you know that zipper on your pants, your jacket, your backpack? Came from the Chicago World's Fair and was originally called a "clasp locker". Glad they went with zipper.

11. Okay, maybe don't share this one with the kids, but Chicago was also home to the first serial killer, H.H. Holmes, and he opportunistically used the Chicago World's Fair to lure his victims by building a hotel with soundproof rooms. We recommend reading Erik Larson's The Devil in the White City for all the fascinating details and a healthy dose of Chicago history.

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12. Not only is Barack Obama the first Black President in U.S. history, but he was also previously an Illinois State Senator who laid roots with his family in the Hyde Park neighborhood.

13. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed over 17,000 buildings and 2,000 square feet and many locals like to hold on to the utterly tall tale that it was caused by Catherine O'Leary's cow knocking over a lantern in her barn. But the fact is, the true cause has never been determined.

14. At the point of the Great Chicago Fire's origin now appropriately sits a training facility for Chicago firefighters and a bronze sculpture entitled Pillar of Fire.

15. As a show of sympathy and kindness for the Great Chicago Fire, Londoner A.H. Burgess suggested England present a free library to Chicago. The first Chicago Public Library opened on January 1, 1872, in a circular water tank that survived the fire at the southeast corner of LaSalle and Adams Street and consisted of 8,000 books. Cheerio, England!

16. Grant Park, a.k.a. Chicago's front yard, is home to big-time notables Millennium Park, Buckingham Fountain, Art Institute of Chicago, and the Museum Campus and plays host to some of our most-attended fests. It was named after the 18th President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant, who along with former President Lincoln, led the Union Army to a victory over the Confederates in the American Civil War.

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17. The centerpiece of Grant Park, Buckingham Fountain, uses up to 15,000 gallons of water per minute and runs Apr.-Oct. Visit after sunset and you'll be treated to a spectacular light and music display that runs every hour on the hour.

18. Many a joke is made about the longevity of a Twinkie. But, did you know, they were invented right here in Chicago in 1930? They were first filled with banana cream, but that was replaced with vanilla flavor during WWII when you couldn't slip on a banana peel even if you wanted to because of the scarcity of the yellow fruit.

19. A researcher at Schaumburg-based Motorola was the first to successfully develop the cell phone. The first brick-sized phone weighed close to 2 1/2 pounds and 10 hours of charging bought you 30 minutes of talk time. Next time your kids complain about how fast their devices lose power, drop that little info nugget on their brains.

20. Born in the Lakeview neighborhood, Jane Bryne became the first female elected to the office of Mayor in the U.S. in 1979, at a time when Chicago was the second largest city in the country. Absolute legend!

21. Chicago Bulls mascot "Benny" the Bull is one of the longest-tenured and most recognized mascots in sports history, getting his name from Ben Bentley, the Bull's first Public Relations Manager and Stadium Announcer.

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22. The Chicago River runs right through the city and is one of the reasons Chicago is of geographic importance, as it is a link between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River Basin, and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. It has a place of honor on the Flag of Chicago represented by two horizontal blue stripes. It's also a feat of civil engineering, as the direction of its flow was reversed in 1900 in an attempt to protect the city's water supply.

23. Black Chicagoan and physician, surgeon, and medical researcher Charles Drew worked with Red Cross on critical discoveries around blood transfusions and played a major role in developing the first blood banks and blood plasma programs.

24. My bologna has a first name, O-S-C-A-R! German immigrant, Oscar Mayer made his way to Chicago and laid the groundwork for one of the most well-known names in the food industry on the near-northside. And, blessed the USA with hot dogs, the super dope Weinermobile and the longest-running tv commercial to date that starred a 4-year-old singing about bologna. Just don't forget to ALWAYS forgo the ketchup on your hot dog, please.

25. Not only did Chicago gift the world with the hot dog, but we're also responsible for deep-dish pizza. Thanks to Pizzeria Uno for your contribution to the history of deliciousness.

26. The beloved brownie was invented in Chicago at Palmer House Hilton. And, good news! We have the recipe.

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27. The Field Museum is home to SUE, the most complete T-Rex skeleton in the world. And, SUE got a new home at Field a few years ago to help make room for Máximo. At 122 feet across and 28 feet tall, it's modeled after a titanosaur (the largest animal that ever lived) excavated in Argentina. Fun tip: If you go to the second story of the Field, you can snap a selfie with the remarkable Máximo.

28. M-I-C-K-E-Y, M-O-U-S-E! The pioneer of American animation who holds the record for most Academy Awards won by an individual at 22, Walt Disney was born in the Hermosa neighborhood.

29. Lake Michigan is the third largest of the Great Lakes (when measured by surface) and the only Great Lake located entirely in the U.S. It touches 4 states: Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan, and is sometimes referred to as the "third coast", behind Atlantic and Pacific Coasts.

30. Chicago has a ton of nicknames (some of which highly annoy the natives): The Windy City, Chi-Town, City of Big Shoulders, The Second City, The White City, The City That Works—just to name a few—but our favorite name to call it is: HOME! (Insert block of cheese emoji.)

16 Roadside Attractions You’ve Got to See to Believe

by Melissa HeckscherJuly 12, 2022

Going cross-country this summer? Get your motor running and head out on the highway. Family road trips rock, especially when you stop and take in the amazing (and sometimes oddball!) roadside attractions along the way. Giant dinosaurs? Check. Troll under a bridge? Definitely brake for that too! Sometimes the most memorable part of the trip isn’t the destination, it’s the journey to get there!

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Carhenge - Alliance, NE

Stonehenge + cars = Carhenge. There's not much more of an explanation given by creator Jim Reinders and we kind of like that. You can visit Carhenge from dawn to dusk any day of the year.

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Center of the World - Felicity, CA

If you ever wondered where the center of the world is, exactly, it's in Felicity, California. This is where, in the 1950s, French-born Jacques-Andre Istel purchased 2,600 acres of empty land, declared himself the mayor, and erected a hodgepodge of monuments including a spiral staircase supposedly salvaged from the Eiffel Tower, a hilltop church, and a "History of Humanity" wall that starts with the Big Bang and is still unfinished.

For a small fee, you can step inside a peach granite pyramid, place your feet on the metal plaque that says, "Official Center of the World," and check this one off your bucket list.

Dog Bark Park Inn - Cottonwood, ID

Dog-lover? Have a thing for beagles? Put this offbeat bed and breakfast on your list of stops if you're traveling anywhere near Cottonwood, Idaho. Why? Because the giant brown-black-and-white pooch at the Dog Bark Park Inn is officially the World's Biggest Beagle! And you can sleep inside of it! Well-behaved pets are, of course, also welcome.

Cadillac Ranch - Amarillo, TX

A legend on historic Route 66, these 10 Cadillacs were half-buried in the dirt by San Francisco artists in 1974. Road ramblers have spray painted and deconstructed them since, but it doesn't take away from their allure.

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A Christmas Story House and Museum - Cleveland, OH

Fans of the 1983 comedy, A Christmas Story, will be in stiletto-lamp heaven at the Christmas Story House and Museum— the real-life home that served as Ralphie's house in the famed film. Walk the halls and check out a slew of original props, costumes and memorabilia from the film, as well as hundreds of behind-the-scenes photos. If you're so inclined, you can even stop into the gift shop and buy your very own FRAGILE (Frah-Jee-lay) red-stocking lamp.

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EddieWorld - Yermo, CA

If you are road tripping between Las Vegas and LA, chances are you've made a pit stop at EddieWorld. Dubbed the "Disneyland of Gas Stations," EddieWorld can be easily spotted with its 65-foot ice cream sundae out front (the cherry even lights up at night!). Snacks and gas pumps are plentiful and the bathrooms are reported to be impeccably clean (not something you hear often from gas stations). In addition to getting chips and soda, you can snag burgers, chicken fingers and even sushi at EddieWorld. Don't skip the homemade ice cream!

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Cabazon Dinosaurs - Cabazon, CA

Pee-Wee Herman might have made them famous in the eighties, but these giant concrete dinosaurs are still worth a stop if you need a place to stretch your legs on the way to Palm Springs (or if you need a diversion before a day of shopping at the Cabazon Outlets). Climb inside the three-story T-Rex that towers over the park, as well as inside the 150-foot-long Apatosaurus, which was the first of the dinos to make an appearance here in the 1960s.

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The Thing - Dragoon, AZ

Thanks to the can't-miss signage that pops up every few miles (247 times, to be exact) on the long stretch of I-10 between El Paso, TX, and Tucson, AZ, you'll be wondering what "The Thing" is hours before you reach the massive roadside trading post that houses its mysterious remains. So what is it? Only those who have seen it can speculate (and we're not telling).

Four Corners - Utah, New Mexico, Arizona & Colorado

Sit—and get your photo taken—in four states at one time. Four Corners is the only place in the U.S. where four states meet. It's managed by the Navajo Nation, and there's a small admission fee.

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Hole N' The Rock - Moab, UT

Knock, knock. Visitors are welcome to enter and tour this historic 5,000-square-foot home and trading post in Utah's Canyonlands Country. It began as a little alcove for a family's children to sleep at night and now is a full-blown tourist destination that has even added a petting zoo.

Leaning Tower - Niles, IL

See a piece of Pisa in a northern suburb of Chicago. The Leaning Tower is located in the Village of Niles and was originally built as a creative way to house water tanks. Since its completion in 1934, the city has added a reflecting pool and fountain. Faux Italy, here you come.

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The Mystery Spot - Santa Cruz, CA

You won't know which way is up, down, or sideways when you visit this strange tourist destination located in the woods about 20 minutes northeast of downtown Santa Cruz. Watch water (seemingly) roll uphill; stand crooked inside a tilted log cabin; get taller or shorter than your fellow visitors, depending on where you stand. Find out more here.

Fremont Troll - Seattle, WA

Rumored troll sightings underneath the Aurora bridge led to the carving of this huge troll statue. One of his eyes is a hubcap and he's clutching a Volkswagen Beetle. Look out, drivers!

Wall Drug - Badlands, SD

Welcome to the Badlands—and all the kitschy fun that comes along with it. Wall Drug is a 76,000-square-foot destination packed with free attractions and photo opportunities. A big fave is posing with the jackalope statue outside the drug store.

North Pole, CO

Sure, you could go to Santa Claus, IN or Christmas Cove, ME, but why not take your kids to Saint Nick's hometown itself? Go to the North Pole! OK, so it's in Colorado. And it's an amusement park. But who cares? Located just west of Colorado Springs in the town of (shhh) Cascade, this North Pole is home to Santa's Workshop, a Christmas-themed amusement park that's open year-round. Soar on the sleigh-themed zip-line; hop on the Candy Cane Coaster; chug along on Santa's train, and see the white-bearded man of honor himself. Your kids will be seeing sugarplums all day long. Find out more here.

Pssst: Stuck on the East Coast? There's a North Pole there, too!

Cupid's Span - San Francisco, CA

Right next to the Ferry Building you'll find the totally awesome, giant bow and arrow known as Cupid's Span. This 60-foot sculpture sits on a grassy spot that's fun for both picnics and Bay Bridge photo opps. Bonus: right next door is the home of SFFD's fire boats.

—Melissa Heckscher & Kelly Aiglon

Oui Oui, Paris! Our Guide to the Best Things to See & Do with Kids

by Kate LowethJuly 7, 2022

Your Paris visit doesn’t have to include a trip to the Louvre. Make it your own!

If you’re looking for the best things to do in Paris with kids, you’ve come to the right spot! We spent five days exploring France’s capital city with two teens and a tween, and have recommendations for the best places to go in Paris and insider information to make this trip one they won’t soon forget.

Our jam-packed itinerary has some tips for saving money in Paris (spoiler alert: it’s the Go City Paris Pass) but you won’t find many of the traditional spots like the Louvre on our list (GASP!). For kids, we really feel that mixing things up with unique spots like the catacombs and a pretty rad flea market is the way to go to keep them interested and energized with all that walking. Bonus: There’s a low-cost airline that flies direct from SFO (as well as LA, NYC, and soon Miami) to Paris that will get you there without the exorbitant airfare prices we are seeing these days.

Paris Travel Tip 1: Snag the Go City Paris Pass to see all the best attractions.

Paris with kids eating pastries — Kate Loweth

For our five days in Paris, we grab a two-day Go City All-Inclusive Pass and were able to use it to visit so many attractions. Get your pass in advance because a few of the activities on the list require pre-booking like the Eiffel Tower climb and the Fragonard perfume workshop.

You can visit as many included attractions as you wish using this pass so it’s a great way for first-time visitors to check out loads of museums, monuments and special activities. The pass includes the Paris Museum Pass as well, so you’ll get access to spots like the rooftop of the Arc de Triomphe and Sainte-Chapelle. You can also use the hop-on, hop-off Big Bus to make your way around the city with an awesome view!

NOTE: As we go through our top Paris picks below, we’ll mark the attractions with *Go City* if they are included in the Go City pass.

Paris Travel Tip 2: Take a tour with a local.

Family on a tour of Paris Chateau Vincennes — Kate Loweth

There’s really no better way to get to know a city than by booking a tour with someone in the know. We took a private tour of Chateau de Vincennes through ToursByLocals and it was definitely a trip highlight. This massive castle was easy to access via the Metro and didn’t have any of the crowds you can expect at Versailles. Our guide, Ellen, told us all about the history of the buildings and pointed out unique features like the ancient “graffiti” on the walls that was carved when the castle was used as a prison. Ellen really brought the Middle Ages to life and pointed out things we would not have seen on a self-guided tour of the castle.

Paris Travel Tip 3: Explore the city on a food tour.

family in Paris, France enjoying crepes on food tour — Kate Loweth

On our final night in Paris, we took the Paris Montmartre Food Tour with Secret Food Tours and it was a culinary delight! We walked through this gorgeous area of the city and got to sample some of the city’s best treats: crêpes, macarons and baguettes. We also visited a fromagerie and meat shop to snag some charcuterie to enjoy at the end of the tour with a glass of wine. This was a great way to explore the city, learn some of its history, and enjoy some traditional foods.

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Best Things to Do in Paris with Kids

1. Climb the Eiffel Tower. *Go City*
If you have kids in your crew and everyone is moderately fit, it’s lots of fun to ascend the Eiffel Tower via the stairs. There are three viewing platforms on the tower and the stairs can get you to the second level. If you want to go to the tippy top, it’s elevator-only. We suggest you book your Eiffel Tower tickets in advance if you visit in the busy summer months, especially if you want to go all the way to the top. Tickets for the final portion often sell out.

2. Visit the Saint Ouen Flea Market.

family walking through saint ouen flea market in paris, france — Kate Loweth

This was the perfect spot to visit on our first full day in the city. It’s just outside the city limits but is an easy walk from a number of Metro stops. Open on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, the flea market has everything from knock-off Nikes to vintage toys from your childhood. The teens really enjoyed snagging some retro posters to bring home. Make sure you find your way to the inner covered section of the market and look for the UFO!

3. Go underground the city in the catacombs.

This was a top pick for the kids in our group and it was a terrific option for a hot day. Now offering pre-booked tickets, you won’t have to wait in a long line before you can make your way under the city to see this macabre labyrinth that has been open to the public since the early 1800s.

4. Cruise the River Seine. *Go City*

kids on a Seine River cruise on Paris family vacation — Kate Loweth

This activity is perfect for when you need a little downtime, like after you’ve walked up and down the stairs at the Eiffel Tower. At the foot of the Eiffel Tower, you’ll find a number of companies that offer a one-hour cruise of the River Seine accompanied by an audio tour describing the history of the area.

5. Make your own perfume at Fragonard. *Go City*

Family at perfume workshop in Paris, France — Kate Loweth

The teens really enjoyed this activity that included a hands-on portion where you learned about one of the Fragonard scents and then made your own version to take home with you. Afterward you get a tour of the Fragonard Perfume Museum to learn more about how perfume is made.

6. Climb the stairs to the rooftop of the Arc de Triomphe. *Go City*
For an epic view of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, you’ll definitely want to put this climb on your list. For families with strollers and those with mobility issues, there are elevators that will get you to the top level but for views of the city, you’ll need to take the stairs.

7. Try out the trampolines at Tuileries Garden.

Children at trampolines in Tuileries Garden in Paris, France — Kate Loweth

Everyone knows about the mini boats you can rent in Tuileries Garden but did you know there are also trampolines there? Kids 12 and under will love this spot where you can pay a small fee to jump on trampolines in a gorgeous setting. Parents will love that there’s plenty of seating in the shade to relax while the little ones jump, jump, jump!

8. Take in the beauty of Sainte-Chapelle. *Go City*
While Notre Dame may still be under repair (estimated to be completed in time for the 2024 Olympics), you can visit Sainte-Chapelle to get your stained glass window fix. Timed tickets were required when we visited.

9. Go thrifting.
If you are traveling with teens who love thrifting, Paris has some amazing spots to visit like Free’p’Star and Kilo Shop. Just make sure you have enough room in your carry-on for all of the treasures you purchase!

10. Visit famous people at the Grevin Wax Museum. *Go City*

Kids with Pope Francis at paris Grevin Wax Museum — Kate Loweth

Yes, this might not be on everyone’s “Best of Paris” list but it was definitely a hit with our young travelers. You get to “meet” some famous French politicians and television stars before you hit some more familiar personas like Lady Gaga, Nostradamus and Pope Francis.

11. Walk up the stairs (or take the funicular) to check out Sacre Coeur.

family standing in front of Sacre Coeur in Paris France — Kate Loweth

Undeniably one of the best views of Paris can be found at the top of the stairs in Montmartre. Here you can see the Eiffel Tower and the city surrounding it and you can also visit Sacre Coeur (for free). The lines can be long to take the funicular instead of the stairs but it just might be worth it if you have tired travel companions (plus it’s a pretty fun ride).

12. Download the FlashInvaders app and see how many you can “catch.”

Kid in Paris finding Flash Invaders — Kate Loweth

Part street art, part video game, this was a particularly fun activity for the teens/tweens. Starting in 1998, an artist known as “Invader” (Frank Slama) began erecting small mosaic art installations on the buildings around Paris, many of them looking like characters from Space Invaders. You can now download the FlashInvaders app to take pictures of these mosaics and get points (it’s now available in 78 cities)!

Where to Stay in Paris with Kids

Family walking in front of Meininger Hotel Paris — Kate Loweth

For our Paris visit during the very busy month of June, we chose to stay at the Meininger Hotel Paris Porte de Vincennes. It offered a family room that could sleep up to six people (two sets of bunk beds and a double bed) and the price was right. The room’s layout worked well because both the shower and the toilet were in their own rooms so multiple people could be using the facilities at the same time.

The hotel has a hostel feel with a communal kitchen and washer/dryers available. Breakfast is offered every morning for an additional fee and we definitely suggest you take advantage of it because you’ll get chocolate croissants, crêpes, fruit, cheese, meat and so much more (did we mention how good the coffee is?). Kids will love the arcade games in the lobby and the fact that ice cream can be purchased at any time of the day. There’s also a bar just off the lobby for when you want to grab a glass of wine after your long day exploring the city.

The hotel’s location was outside the city center but we found that was not an issue because of its proximity to two different Metro lines and bus lines as well. Within walking distance, there’s an awesome pizza place, a boulangerie, and a number of traditional bistros and grocery stores. Bonus: the hotel is just two stops from the Chateau de Vincennes so you’ll definitely have to go there!

How to Travel to Paris with Kids: The French bee Experience

kids on an airplane on family vaction — Kate Loweth

If France has been on your must-visit list but the price is just too much to make it a consideration, look at French bee. This low-cost airline flies direct from SFO, LAX, and Newark (with Miami coming in December) to Paris Orly and we found the service to be friendly and the in-flight entertainment to meet the needs of kids and parents alike (important when you are spending 10+ hours in the same seat). We especially loved being able to watch the plane’s external cameras during takeoff and landing.

French bee makes things a bit cheaper for your family by keeping fees like checked baggage and meals separate so if you don’t need them, you don’t pay for them. Select the Smart fare when booking your ticket and you’ll get both checked baggage and a meal included. If there’s availability in rows 11-15 on your flight, we found that it was worth it to pay a little extra to sit here as it is a smaller section with easier access to flight attendants (if needed).

If your French travels take you beyond Paris, you can book a combo train+air ticket with French bee that will get you to destinations like Bordeaux and Strasbourg. And a mental note for the future: French bee also flies direct to Tahiti!

Editor’s note: This trip was hosted by French bee, City Pass, Secret Food Tours, and ToursByLocals and partially hosted by Meininger Hotels but all opinions belong to the writer.

10 International Cities That Are Actually Kid Friendly

by Kate LowethMay 31, 2022

Taking the kids abroad on a family vacation may not be as difficult as you think. We’ve found 10 international cities that are kid-friendly—from European vacations to exotic tropical destinations to bustling cities that will light up every one of your senses. You’ll create enduring family memories (and probably eat a lot of sundry foods) and your brood will learn a little something along the way. Keep reading to see them all.

Panama City, Panama

A visit to Panama offers not only exposure to culture, parks and serene villages, but also the destination that rewards travelers with two coasts, beautiful islands, mountains and lush tropical rainforests.

What to do: Visit the district of Casco Viejo, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to learn about how the city of Panama was founded in 1519 by Spanish conqueror Pedro Arias de Avila. Here you’ll find stunning Spanish architecture, boutique shopping and lots of restaurants. Two of our picks are Diablicos for authentic Panamanian dishes and dancing or Savaje (if you have older kids), an incredible Asian Fusion restaurant with a popular rooftop bar.

Pop into BioMuseum, Panama City’s most popular museum for kids (the building itself was designed by Frank Gehry!) to check out the new galleries: Oceans Divided, The Living Web and Panama is the Museum. Rent bikes and cross the Amador Causeway, connecting Panama City to the Amador islands. Go on a whale watching and snorkel tour, or hang out at the playground, admire one of the best skylines in Central America and grab a bite to eat. Visit the Metropolitan Natural Park to see a jungle in the city.

Of course, no trip to Panama is complete without seeing the Panama Canal, a manmade wonder of the world that brings the Atlantic and Pacific oceans together. When you visit the Miraflores Visitor Center, you'll find an IMAX 3D movie about the history of the canal, a three-floor museum with interactive exhibits and a restaurant that gives guests a great view of the boats as they move through the lock system.

Where to stay: The Santa Maria Hotel & Golf Resort is ideally located 10 minutes from the Panama City airport, has a variety of room options, including singles and suites and three restaurants, one of which is a pool-side spot that does a paella night on occasion. The 40-meter long pool is stunning, and there's a one-foot deep pool just for kids.

Find out more: tinybeans.com

Papeete, Tahiti

The island of Tahiti receives about as many visitors in a year as the Hawaiian islands receive in one weekend. So you can expect far fewer crowds and in general, a much less developed or touristy experience when you visit. This is especially evident when you head to the pool at your Tahitian hotel to find that you don't have to stake out a lounge chair before breakfast or jockey for a table at lunch.

What to do: Taste the local flavors from a food truck. There are many areas that have nightly food truck gatherings where you can try local favorites like poison cru (fresh fish with coconut milk), crepes and chow mein.

Where to stay: We love the Manava Suite Resort Hotel for its proximity to the airport and bi-level rooms that include a kitchen. If you want to stay a little farther away from the action, the Tahiti Pearl Beach Resort has black sand for miles as well as a massive pool.

Getting there: Budget-friendly French bee offers direct flights from SFO and other US cities to Papeete.

Find out more: tinybeans.com

Toronto, Canada

This capital city of the province of Ontario is incredibly diverse (half of the residents were born outside of Canada), and because of that, visitors are afforded many wonderful dining options, exciting urban happenings and neighborhoods to explore.

What to do: Check out this post with some super fun things to do when you visit Toronto. Highlights for families include Casa Loma (yes, there’s a real castle in Toronto!), Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto Botanical Garden, the Hockey Hall of Fame and Ontario Science Center. Thrill-seekers will love getting strapped into a harness to walk around the top of the CN Tower on the outside, 116 stories high.

What to eat: Scarf down authentic global cuisine in Little Italy, Little Portugal, Greek Town, China Town, Korea Town or Little India.

Where to stay: The Chelsea Hotel is great for families. They have a special kid check-in area where littles can receive a prize. There are also fantastic year-round kids’ programs and activities (including visiting the resident bunnies!) and an indoor pool with a water slide. Dining options are plentiful too, whether you need grab-and-go items or a nice alfresco meal in the courtyard.

Find out more: tinybeans.com

Auckland, New Zealand

Imagine a bustling urban metropolis, the largest and most diverse—Māori, European, Pacific Island and Asian cultures—in New Zealand, with a strong link to nearby nature, and you’ve got Auckland.

What to do: Top family-friendly activities include The Maritime Museum, the Bug Lab at Auckland Zoo, Brick Bay Sculpture Trail, Butterfly Creek, Auckland Art Gallery, Sky Tower, Auckland Harbour Bridge, Auckland Botanic Gardens and Stardome Observatory. Catch the downtown Auckland Ferry, cruise across Waitemata Harbour for 25 minutes, and dock at Rangitoto Island, where you can summit Auckland’s youngest volcano.

Go slightly north, and you’ll find beach-y Takapuna, the seaside village of Devonport, snorkeling at Goat Island Marine Reserve and Shakespeare Regional Park.

What to eat: Dine at the carnival-themed Circus Circus or The Library Café, complete with chalkboards, a kids’ corner, and a bouncy castle.

Find out more: aucklandnz.com

Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki has made our list of great cities to visit with kids not only because of its smallish, manageable size—about 628,000, which is very accessible on foot or bike—but also because the city has a nice balance between nature (one-third of Helsinki is covered in greenery) and urban fun.

What to do: Take a ferry over to Suomenlinna, the sprawling 18th-century island fortress, and enjoy walking around the gardens, climbing on old cannons, dipping your toes in the Baltic Sea, and chasing each other through the underground bunkers and tunnels of the upside-down castles. Visit the Natural History Museum, the tropical gardens of Gardenia, a glow-in-the-dark cave at Helsinki Playground and one of the many flea markets sprinkled all over the city. Finland is also well-known for their saunas (as well as Nokia and Angry Birds)—stop by one and relax before heading out for more sightseeing.

What to eat: Stop at one of the many indoor markets and eateries for Finnish favorites like gelato, cloudberries, chocolate, smoked fish and really strong coffee.

Find out more: visitfinland.com

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Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam is not all “coffee” shops and red light districts, it’s actually an incredibly charming, kid-friendly destination with more bicycles than people (and not too far from multi-hued tulips as far as the eye can see).

What to do: This circular full-of-canals city is home to beautiful parks (like Vondelpark, with its lakes, ponds and cafes), electric trams (they even have spaces for strollers), and nearly 75 museums. The Van Gogh Museum offers audio tours for children and the Anne Frank House, while difficult to walk through and fathom, provides great opportunities for practicing empathy and acceptance. Woonboot Museum, or houseboat museum, is super cool and kids will dig the activity corner. There’s a science center, Nemo, that is worth checking out for their interactive exhibits, and TunFun is an underground play space for kids that will spark their imagination. A number of petting zoos and farms, oddly enough, are sprinkled around the city as well.

Where to stay: Check out Airbnb for reasonably priced accommodations that will give you a local aesthetic.

Find out more: tinybeans.com

Los Cabos, Mexico

On the very southern tip of the Baja California peninsula sits two very different cities, that together make Los Cabos.

What to do: On one end, you’ll find the vibrant Cabo San Lucas, where you’ll stroll by plenty of merchants calling out and selling their wares, boats docked along the marina with music flooding the walkway (look out for sea lions trying to hop on the back of boats for fish scraps), and pirate-themed restaurants with live steel drum music in front. Sandwiched between beaches Playa del Amor and Playa del Divorcio sits El Arco, large chunky rock formations that were carved out by rough winds and waves over millions of years. You can see the arc by land, but it’s best to take a boat over, snorkel and enjoy a picnic.

On the other end of the Los Cabos corridor sits San José del Cabo, an authentic and colorful Mexican town that features art galleries, small festivals and a much slower pace than Cabo San Lucas. You’ll see lovely churches, a large plaza with surrounding shops and plenty of great guacamole-heavy Mexican cuisine. Make sure you keep your peepers out for humpback and gray whales—every year, hundreds of whales can be spotted in Los Cabos during their migration from the Arctic.

Where to stay: If you want to stay somewhere in between the two cities, Hacienda Encantada is a great family-friendly, peaceful option. Here you’ll find multiple swimming pools, dining options, a short hiking trail to a vista point, beautifully landscaped desert gardens, and hammocks to swing in while reading a book. If you’re looking for something closer to the marina and the bustling Cabo San Lucas, check out Marina Fiesta, a nautical-themed resort that is walking distance to everything you’ll need in the way of food, boating activities and shopping.

Find out more: visitmexico.com/loscabos

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Dublin, Ireland

Lush avocado-colored fields, vast rocky landscapes, peat bogs and sprawling farms dot Ireland, the Emerald Isle. Dublin is the capital of this island nation, located at the westernmost edge of Europe.

What to do: Kids will love Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, Ark Children’s Cultural Centre, land and water tours, National Aquatic Centre, and Imagionocity children’s museum. Parents will enjoy stepping inside some of the oldest and most stunning cathedrals in Ireland. Dublinia is a great way to learn about Ireland’s medieval past through exploration of medieval sites, cathedrals, and even a stop at an underground crypt. Everyone will salivate at the Chocolate Warehouse while learning about the history and methods of chocolate making in a workshop. And, of course, you should visit the National Leprechaun Museum because, you know, you’re in Ireland.

What to eat: You’re sure to work up an appetite, in which case, you should dine on Irish favorites like stew, soda bread, farmstead cheese, and colcannon. If you purchase a Dublin Pass, you can get discounts at over 30 popular attractions, restaurants, and tours around the city.

Find out more: visitdublin.com

Paris, France

Paris isn’t just for couples—families will find a plethora of belly-filling restaurants, museums and interesting happenings in the City of Light.

What to do: Our favorite must-see stop is Shakespeare and Company bookstore, located in Paris’ left bank. The first bookshop opened in 1919 and was a favorite haunt of Ernest Hemingway and the Lost Generation of the twenties until German occupation closed the store in 1941. The second bookstore, with the same name, opened in 1951 and has been open ever since. The amazing thing about this bookstore is that they host traveling writers—the shop has several beds, often with cats sitting on them, tucked away within the books.

One of the most historic and beautiful neighborhoods is Montmartre, and it is here that you can have your portrait sketched or painted, drink copious amounts of coffee and hot chocolate, walk through Basilica Sacre-Coeur and explore the winding flower-studded cobblestoned streets of Paris.

Of course, there are the popular must-do activities, especially for first-timers, like: Disneyland Paris, Jardin d’Acclimatation, Parc Zoologique, The Grévin wax museum (which predates Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum), The Louvre, Notre-Dame, Musee d’Orsay, Luxembourg Gardens, Arc de Triomphe, Paris Catacombs, shopping along Champs-Élysées and a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

Getting there: Check out budget-friendly French bee for cheap flights and excellent service when flying to Paris.

Find out more: enparisinfo.com

London, England

Bustling and full of rich history, London is the hub of England and a quick flight from neighboring countries. Between a vast array of museums (both free and paid), sprawling parks and cultural neighborhoods, London is easily a family-friendly city.

What to do: Kids will love the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground, the Natural History Museum and Tower of London (there are torture chambers!). As a family, there are also tons of museums to soak up Europe's history, like the Tate Modern, British Museum and the London Film Museum with a fun Harry Potter display. Don't skip out on tours of Westminster Abbey and a visit to Buckingham Palace! Be sure to also take a walk through Covent Garden and make a quick trip to Harrod's, too. London is also the perfect central location if you want to take a day trip to the Warner Brother's Studio, Windsor Castle and Stonehenge. If you purchase a London Pass, you can get discounts at over 80 popular attractions, museums and tours around the city.

What to eat: London is a very walkable city with a robust subway system (aka the Tube) that is super affordable, so food options are always at your fingertips. Unlike America, families are welcome at pubs (just don't sit the kiddos at the bar) where comfort food abounds. Feast on fish and chips, cottage pie, meatloaf and other tummy-filling meals. Don't forget to get at least one iconic British breakfast and schedule an afternoon tea while you're there. London is also home to tons of international cuisines, in particular Indian food. Make sure to snag a reservation at Dishoom in Covent Garden and scarf down Chicken Ruby and A Bowl of Greens.

Find out more: visitlondon.com

—Kate Loweth & Wendy Altschuler

Need a Weekend Activity? This 51,000-Piece Puzzle Will Do the Trick

by Karly WoodJanuary 27, 2022

If you are looking for something to help pass the time, this puzzle may be the answer. With 51,300 pieces, Kodak’s “World’s Largest Puzzle” is bound to keep your family busy for quite some time.

Measuring at 28.5 feet wide and a little over 6 feet tall, the puzzle depicts 27 different destinations from around the globe. Not only that, it’s packed with unique-shaped pieces to keep you on your toes.

Each of the 27 images are packaged in separate bags and are made of up of 1,900 pieces. Tackle each section individually and then piece them together to create this larger than life puzzle featuring sites such as the Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal and Eiffel Tower.

The puzzle is available on Amazon for a cool $600.

—Karly Wood

Featured photo: Amazon

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Time for Trivia: 64 Fun Facts about DC

by Meghan Yudes MeyersDecember 27, 2021

Brush up on your DC trivia with this list of fun facts about the Nation’s capital. Want to know why so much of the city is built in white granite? Look up fact #5. Ever wonder how many windows and doors the White House has? Check fact #59. Curious what was originally planned for the Lincoln Memorial? Scroll down for fact #7. Whether you’re a tourist or live in town, there is something new to learn below.

1. Look up at the ceiling of Union Station. All that glimmers isn’t paint. It’s solid 23-cart gold gilding.

2. During World War II, over 200,000 travelers passed through daily.

3. Today, more than 5 million passengers pass through Union Station every year.

4. As you exit Union Station, see if you can find the replica Liberty Bell in Columbus Circle.

5. The use of white granite set a trend in The District. It became the preferred stone for monuments and many buildings.

6. This train station was originally the intended site for the Lincoln Memorial.

7. Both the site of the Lincoln Memorial and the design were controversial. Other proposals included a Mayan temple and an Egyptian pyramid.

8. Sculptor Daniel Chester French used actual molds of Lincoln's hands when creating the memorial.

9. Rumor has it that Lincoln is signing his initials in American Sign Language. This was the intention of French, but it sure looks like he's loosely flashing an "A" and an "L".

10. The statue of Lincoln was originally supposed to only be 10 feet. As plans for the monument expanded so did the statue, which wound up being 19 feet.

11. There is a typo in the Gettysburg Address on the north wall. Instead of “future” the word was inscribed “euture.” Though the typo has been corrected, the original spelling is still visible.

12. The same team that designed the Lincoln Memorial also designed another DC landmark: Dupont Circle. The fountain in the middle of the circle was state-of-the-art in 1921 when it boasted an electric water pump.

13. The Patterson House at 15 Dupont Circle served as a temporary residence for then-sitting President Calvin Coolidge while The White House was being restored.

14. The United States Supreme Court is a relative "newcomer" to the city. It was completed in 1935. Before then, the Court used the Old Senate Chamber, as well as spaces in the basement of the Capitol and even Philadelphia’s Old City Hall.

15. While becoming a Supreme Court Justice is the dream of many lawyers, you don’t need to have a law degree to be on the court. In fact, a majority – 57 percent - didn’t have law degrees.

16. Talk about a resume! William Howard Taft is the only person who has served as both President and Chief Justice.

17. There’s a gym with a basketball court on the top floor – meaning that there’s a high court inside the Highest Court in the Land.

18. A fruit or a vegetable? Everyone knows that tomatoes are actually fruits – not vegetables – but that didn’t stop the Court from arguing the point in an 1893 case. The Court ultimately decided that tomatoes are vegetables because they are served during the salad or main course and not during dessert.

19. Across the street from the Supreme Court is the US Capitol, which is topped by a statue officially called the Statue of Freedom. She weighs in at 15,000 pounds.

20. Plans to bury George Washington in a crypt in the basement were scrapped. Visitors, however, can still see where the tomb was going to go and browse the gift shop.

21. While GW isn’t under the Capitol, its own subway system is.

22. The Capitol is literally strewn all over the Capital – original stone blocks litter Rock Creek Park and the original columns stand in the National Arboretum.

23. If you head west from the Capitol you will arrive at the National Mall. Before this National Park was dotted with Smithsonian museums a train ran down the strip of ground.

24. Trees have always been part of the Mall. Today there are over 9,000 of them.

25. The Mall continues to grow and change – with the Martin Luther King Jr. and World War II memorials being the most recent additions. A World War I, Disabled Veterans, and Eisenhower Memorials are all scheduled to open on the Mall in the near future.

26. While sometimes used synonymously, the Smithsonian and the Mall are two different things. The Smithsonian is a group of 19 museums only some of which are on the Mall.

27. Today's most visited museums almost didn't exist. The Smithsonian’s founder and namesake, James Smithson, never set foot in the United States and because of this Congress was skeptical of accepting Mr. Smithson’s gift.

28. The Smithsonian’s collection is HUGE! Remember those 19 museums? Together they display only about 1 percent of their Institute’s collection at any given time.

29. There are nearly 30 million visitors a year to the Smithsonian.

30. One of the most popular Smithsonian museums is the Museum of Natural History. Not only does the museum host roughly 8 million visitors a year, but it also employs close to 200 natural history scientists – the largest such group in the world. Even better, you can watch some of these scientists at work during a visit.

31. Aside from some of the most famous items in its collection – like the Hope diamond – the museum has unknown artifacts waiting to be discovered. One of these is a 20 million year old dolphin fossil that scientists only identified in 2016 because it looked “cute.”

32. Across the street from the Natural History Museum is another Smithsonian blockbuster: The Air and Space Museum. It is the most visited museum in the world!

33. While the glass façade looks solid, the East wing of the Air and Space Museum acts like a giant garage door opener that allows the museum’s artifacts to be brought in and out.

34. The museum has the largest collection of aviation artifacts in the world – ranging from the Wright Brothers’ flyer to a rock that was brought back from the moon (they also have the capsules that went to the moon).

35. The Air and Space Museum's artifacts are housed in not one, but two museums. The second campus, known as the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, is located in Dulles, VA.

36. While all Smithsonian museums are free, Udvar-Hazy charges for parking. You can score a free space after 4 p.m.

37. Though not on the Mall, the National Zoo is also part of the Smithsonian and is home to over 2,700 animals.

38. The zoo has been home to giant pandas since 1972, though they are officially “on loan” to the United States from China.

39. The zoo’s original location was behind the Smithsonian Castle on the National Mall.

40. Pandas aren’t the only famous bear residents. Smokey Bear – yes, THAT Smokey Bear – was a resident from the time he was saved from a forest fire in New Mexico.

41. Like The Air and Space Museum, the National Zoo also has two campuses. The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute is a 3,200 acre is located in Front Royal, VA. It is not open to the public.

42. The original plan for the Washington Monument called for it to have a flat roof. The pyramid on top wasn’t added until 1879.

43. Three future presidents – including Abraham Lincoln – were at the ceremonies at the start of construction of the Washington Monument in 1848.

44. When the Washington Monument opened on October 9, 1888, it was the tallest man made structure in the world. It only held the title for about five months until the Eiffel Tower opened the following March.

45. It is still the largest obelisk in the world.

46. If you look about a third of the way up the Washington Monument, there is a slight difference in color. That’s because construction was halted during the Civil War and had to get stone from a different quarry when construction started back up.

47. The Washington Monument might be made out of stone, but Washington’s home on the Potomac River, Mount Vernon is not. It is made out of wood that has been made to look like stone.

48. The home is approximately 10 times larger than the average home during the same period.

49. A weathervane with a bird of peace was commissioned by Washington for the mansion while he was presiding over the Constitutional Convention.

50. Despite what some movies say, there are no secret entrances out of Mount Vernon’s cellar.

51. The kitchen garden has been continuously growing herbs and vegetables since the 1760s.

52. George Washington never lived in the White House. The first to do so was John Adams, though it was still called the Executive Mansion then.

53.. The name wasn’t changed to The White House until President Theodore Roosevelt changed it in 1901.

54. The Oval Office wasn’t added until 1909.

55. The White House was burned by the British during the War of 1812. The White House almost collapsed a second time – in 1948 – when it was found that the wooden, load-bearing columns were rotted through.

56. The White House has been home to some unusual pets. Two presidents kept alligators at the people's house (Adams and Hoover).

57. Some other unique pets include a hyena (Roosevelt), bears (Roosevelt, Coolidge and Jefferson) and a zebra (Roosevelt).

58. Over 100 dogs have lived in the White House. President Joe Biden's dog, Major, was the first shelter rescue.

59. The White House has 412 doors, 147 windows, 132 rooms and 35 bathrooms.

60. None of The White House bathrooms are public. If you take a 45 minute tour, go before you go!

best spring blooms in seattle, cherry blossoms in seattle — Kazuend via Pixabay

61. Washington is known for its cherry blossoms, but these trees aren’t a native species – they come from Japan and were first given as a sign of friendship between the two countries in 1912.

62. How seriously do Washingtonians take their 4,000 cherry trees? Very. It is considered vandalism of federal property to pick the flowers, so look but do not touch!

63. Originally, 3,020 trees were gifted. Most of the originals have died, but you can still visit the few remaining trees still stand near the John Paul Jones statues near 17th street.

64. While the average cherry blossom tree lives for 30 years, these gifted trees are now over 100 years old!

—Meghan Yudes Meyers and Chris McGurn

featured photo: Jared Short via Unsplash

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10 Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Downtown Los Angeles

by Carter JungNovember 9, 2021

Few neighborhoods in Los Angeles have seen as much change as DTLA has. A decade ago, it was a ghost town after sunset—office workers would clear out at 5 p.m., leaving the streets empty. Through revitalization efforts, it’s become the more than just a place of commerce, it’s become the hub of culture for our city, museums, boutiques and the hottest new restaurants and bars all call DTLA home. When it comes to kid-friendly activities, one might think Downtown is a virtual desert but having raised my own little Mowgli in the concrete jungle for the past five years, I can attest there are adventures aplenty. In fact, some of the most uniquely LA experiences are sandwiched between the 110, 101 and 10 freeways. Here are 10 of our favorite kid-friendly things to do in Downtown LA.

Best Things to Do in DTLA: Vista Hermosa Natural Park

the best things to do in downtown Los Angeles — Carter Jung

This hidden gem of a park tucked on the other side of the 110 freeway, known as the western gateway to Downtown Los Angeles, offers some of the best views of the city. And one bench in particular is easily the most picturesque in the city. In addition to stunning vistas, the 10.5-acre well-sculpted park is home to small manmade stream, picnic benches, and hidden nooks and crannies. A play area consisting of giant, crawl-able turtle and snake sculptures is a hit with kids and a circular dirt path is perfect for running with a jogging stroller.

221 S Grand Ave.
Los Angeles
Online: mrca.ca.gov/parks/park-listing/vista-hermosa-natural-park

Best Things to Do in DTLA: Walt Disney Concert Hall

Sydney has their Opera House, Paris has the Eiffel Tower, and we in Los Angeles, have the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Designed by the legendary Frank Gehry, the sweeping stainless-steel structure with dramatic curves inspired by the sails of a clipper ship is an architectural icon. For kids ages 5 to 11, the Toyota Symphonies for Youth concert series hosts music-themed workshops followed by a session with the LA Phil orchestra (canceled this season due to COVID). Currently available are free self-guided audio tours of the concert hall. When telling your kids about this destination, uttering the first two words are going to take some managing of expectations. As impressive as the facilities are, an amusement park this is not (we learned this the hard way).

111 S Grand Ave.
Los Angeles
Online: musiccenter.org

Best Things to Do in DTLA: The Broad

Having opened in 2015, The Broad is a great addition to the modern art scene in Los Angeles. Inside the honeycombed exterior structure is a collection of contemporary art from the biggest names, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Barbara Kruger, Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, Takashi Murakami, and Keith Haring. For little ones, exhibit highlights include Under the Table by Robert Therrien, a comically oversized dining set that will have parents empathetic of their kid’s height, Jeff Koons’ Tulips, giant polished stainless-steel flowers coated in highlighter hues, and Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrors, mind-bending rooms that are life-sized kaleidoscopes. Best of all, The Broad is completely free. Head to their website to reserve a spot before showing up.

221 S Grand Ave.
Los Angeles
Online: thebroad.org

Best Things to Do in DTLA: Grammy Museum

The Grammy Museum celebrates music and the artists who have won the prestigious award from the Recording Academy. The whole family will enjoy the interactive installations that walk through the process of creating music and the multimedia displays telling the stories of famous singers past and present, including artifacts from early sound recordings. If you appreciate fashion, the museum has a collection of some of the most recognizable outfits worn on the red carpet, from Taylor Swift to Lionel Richie.

800 W Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles
Online: grammymuseum.org

Best Things to Do in DTLA: The Last Bookstore

There are bookstores and then there is The Last Bookstore. Located in a former bank building in the heart of DTLA, The Last Bookstore is touted as the largest new and used bookstore in California, measuring 22,000 square feet. But more than just a vendor of the printed word, it’s a two-store world where books are thoughtfully staged in installations worthy of a gallery. There is a tunnel of novels, books arranged by color of their cover, and crime and mystery novels housed in the bank’s former vault. For your junior reader, there is a kid’s section offering new and used books at a discounted price. For discerning parents, there’s a room with first edition, rare books and collectibles.

PS: The Last Bookstore is one of our favorite spots to purchase gifts for birthdays, holidays and more.

453 S Spring St.
Los Angeles
Online: lastbookstorela.com

Best Things to Do in DTLA: Grand Park

Located at the foot of City Hall, Grand Park spans three city blocks, adding a welcomed bit of greenery to DTLA. The park features a custom playground area filled with colorful berms and a 12-foot tube slide that looks like it was plucked from a Dr. Seuss book. A water fountain at the other end of the park features a splash pad your kiddos can wade into. In addition to the fixtures, the park offers a variety of must-go programming throughout the year, ranging from holiday lights, live music and dance lessons.

200 N Grand Ave.
Los Angeles
Online: grandparkla.org

Best Things to Do in DTLA: Los Angeles Central Library

The Central Library isn’t your average library. The art deco architecture, gardens, water fountains, sculptures, and murals built in 1926 is a walk down memory lane of early LA with a museum feel. The third largest public library in the US, it’s massive, the children’s book section on the second floor alone is the size of most neighborhood libraries. Beyond loaning books, the Central Library hosts tours, regular events, classes and community services. It’s the perfect place to sign up your child for a library card, stoking a thirst for knowledge and a lifelong love for books.

630 W 5th St.
Los Angeles
Online: lapl.org

Best Things to Do in DTLA: LA Live

In the same area as The Grammy Museum, is LA Live—home of the Staples Center, Microsoft Theater and The Novo, the biggest entertainment venues in LA. It’s also home to solid restaurants, Lucky Strike bowling alley, and one of our family’s faves, the Regal theater. The multiplex has one of the nation’s few 4DX theaters boasting motion seats and wind, fog, mist, and scent special effects, all synced to the biggest blockbusters, creating an immersive experience (think Star Tours at Disneyland). During the holiday months, LA Live sets up an ice skating rink with a brightly lit Christmas tree at its center.

800 W Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles
Online: lalive.com

Best Things to Do in DTLA: Olvera Street

best things to do in downtown Los Angeles — Jean B. via Yelp

The birthplace of Los Angeles, Olvera Street is home to the city’s earliest standing architecture—the Avila Adobe house dates back to 1818 and the main square is from the 1820s—when the area was still part of Mexico. That heritage continues in the bustling Mexican marketplace lined with stalls offering sombreros, ponchos, string puppets, candies and pottery. Tiene hambre? Cielito Lindo at 23 Olvera St. has been frying up crispy taquitos since 1934, and come slathered in their signature green avocado sauce. Afterwards, take the familia to Mr Churro for one of their fried treats. Perfecto.

Olvera St.
Los Angeles
Online: olvera-street.com

—Carter Jung

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