Category: trip reports

Our Family Trip to Salt Lake City, Utah for National Parks and Skiing!

Trip Motivation In March 2025, we took a Spring break trip to Salt Lake City, Utah. We visited some friends in the city, took a drive down to the Moab area for a few days of adventuring at Arches National Park and Canyonland Island in the Sky, and enjoyed several days of skiing in the Cottonwood area. For more on our national park itinerary, see this post here Flying: BNA to SLC: 4 hrs We purchased tickets from Southwest Airlines. There are weekend options for nonstop flights to and from SLC but due to our dates and prices, we did quick stop-overs in Texas to and from. You can fly using Southwest points from Southwest credit cards or by transferring Chase points using the Chase portal. Read more about tips for airline trips here. When traveling with layovers or to new cities, we always check the local airport website and the Priority Pass Lounge website prior to the trip. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card (in addition to others) comes with Priority Pass access. This card gets you access to various airport lounges. It is much more common internationally. In Nashville, there is a Minute Suites lounge in terminal D. Another perk you can get from several credit cards we have used is Global Entry/Pre-Check. This is always helpful for avoiding long lines and spending as little time as possible with others. After you activate your credit card, you’ll use it to pay for the Global Entry fee and get reimbursed immediately. If you want more on this particular benefit and how to use a credit card to receive it for free, check out our tips here. Hyatt Hotels in Salt Lake City On our first night in town, after our late arrival, we stayed 5 minutes away at an airport Hyatt Place. This is one of our favorite hotel brands. When sleeping with kids, extra space to spread is always a great perk. For our other nights in Salt Lake City, we stayed at the Hyatt Place near Cottonwood. This location was semi-convenient to our ski adventures at the Brighton Resort area. 30 minutes without traffic and 45 min to an 1 hour with traffic. The prices were very cheap and worth the drive to us. Chase Sapphire Preferred Apply Here Chase Sapphire Reserve Apply Here Chase Hyatt Apply Here You can earn Hyatt points from Hyatt stays, the Hyatt credit card and Chase points, which can be transferred to Hyatt. Learn more about points here. Hyatt Place Moab The Hyatt Place Moab is a perfect base for exploring Arches and Canyonlands. After a day of hiking, unwind in the heated outdoor pool or soak in the spacious jacuzzi, both surrounded by stunning red rock views. Don’t forget to pack goggles and dive sticks. With comfortable spacious rooms, free breakfast, and easy access to Moab attractions, it’s a win for us. Activities in Salt Lake City: Road Trip to National Parks The road trip from Salt Lake City to Moab is a scenic drive that takes about four hours, making it an easy getaway. We grabbed a quick bite at a Maverick gas station halfway before rolling into Moab early afternoon. After some awesome hikes and scenery (see more details here), we ate at Moab Brewery, picked up some snacks at a nearby grocery store for our adventures, and enjoyed the pool. After a brief morning visiting canyonlands , we drove back to Salt Lake City. We made sure to stop for delicious Navajo fry bread at a Tamarisk in Price, a perfect way to wrap up the trip. The combination of stunning desert landscapes, good food, and easy stops along the route made the journey just as enjoyable as the destination. Skiing at Brighton Resort Taking our kids skiing at Brighton Resort was an amazing experience, especially as beginners. With plenty of green and blue trails, it was the perfect place to build confidence on the slopes. Both kids and adults took lessons, which made a huge difference, and the fresh snow made everything even more beautiful. Skiers love powder days because the soft snow makes for a smoother, more enjoyable ride. It was definitely pricey to do lessons but worth it, I think. To save money, we rented gear from Cottonwood Ski and See and limited our ski days to two packed full days. While staying on the town side of the mountain helped with costs, it did add some travel time—so be sure to have traction tires for the snowy, mountainous drive. Brighton is definitely focused more on great skiing than on resort-style amenities, but that was exactly what we wanted. Lunch at the inn was pricey on the first day, so we packed our own meals the next. If you’re planning a trip, look out for deals on season passes and multi-day tickets to make it more affordable! Utah Natural History Museum The Natural History Museum of Utah is a fantastic stop for families, especially with kids who love hands-on learning. It features numerous interactive exhibits and fascinating artifacts, making science and history come alive. One highlight is the impressive collection of dinosaur fossils, including species unique to the region, offering a glimpse into Utah’s prehistoric past. The museum frequently hosts special exhibits, like a well-executed orcas exhibit with engaging digital features. If you have an ASTC reciprocal membership, you can take advantage of free or discounted admission, making it an even better value. Final Thoughts This was such a fun trip! Salt Lake City offers a little bit of everything, making it a fantastic destination. It combines the convenience and amenities of big-city life with easy access to stunning natural landscapes. Whether you’re exploring nearby national parks, hitting the slopes for world-class skiing, or enjoying vibrant city attractions, there’s always something to do. Plus, with easy flight access and a mix of outdoor adventure and urban experiences, we’ll definitely be back to visit again!

Arches and Canyonland Itinerary: Best Viewpoints and Hikes for Kids

Trip Motivation In March 2025, we took a Spring break trip to Salt Lake City, Utah. We visited some friends in the city, took a drive down to the Moab area for a few days of adventuring at Arches National Park and Canyonland Island in the Sky, and enjoyed several days of skiing in the Cottonwood area. For more on our week itinerary, see this post here Arches National Park Arches National Park is an easy drive from Salt Lake City. Just over a 3.5-hour drive, this iconic park sits right outside the adventure town of Moab, which has many hotels with beautiful views. Whether you’re road-tripping from the city or stopping on a larger Utah adventure, Arches offers a surreal playground of towering sandstone formations, gravity-defying arches, and fiery desert vistas—all within a short drive from civilization. We had other things to do on this trip and were very limited on time on this portion. We arrived in SLC late Tuesday night, drove down to Moab early Wednesday morning, spent half a day in Arches, and stayed overnight for 1 night. The next day, we spent just a few hours visiting Canyonlands before heading back to SLC. Tips for Visiting Cost. A park pass costs $30 per vehicle. We have a 4th grader and were able to get a free pass at this website. Obama started this program where all 4th graders are eligible to get a national park pass valid for a year good for the whole car. At the website, there’s like 2 questions and then a paper to print out with a unique barcode. So fun! We’ve also visited Joshua Tree and are planning on a Yellowstone visit as well! Water. Be sure to park water and hydration. We had 4 12 oz bottles per person and a few electrolyte drinks (Gatorades). The only places to get drinking water are at the visitor centers and entrances of the park, so fill up! It may also be worth packing a backpack water carrier if you anticipate long hikes. The weather when we visited in March was great 60-70 degrees. Sun protection. Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, and moisture wicking clothes are highly recommended out here. Food. Pack snacks as there are no stores or restaurants in the park! Trail mix is always a fave along with fruit snack bribes Cell service. There may be limited reception so its a good idea to download maps ahead of time. Maybe even walkie-talkies if you get separated from your group. For trips with lots of car time, I always have a car charger. Be respectful. Remember to leave no trace and pack in what you pack out! Visitors Center We always stop for a potty break and updates from the rangers on conditions in the park at the visitor center. There’s a small gift shop and some interactive exhibits but we were ready to see the sites. Free junior ranger booklets are available at the visitor center. Filled with fun activities, these books are good ways to fill the drives between stops or if you take a longer break. I don’t recommend taking them on walks. By completing pages in the book, participants earn a junior ranger badge and signed certificate. Driving Viewpoints Our biggest priority was the Delicate Arch so we started our journey by driving from the park entrance toward the Delicate Arch trailhead, making sure to stop at a few scenic viewpoints along the way. This took about 30 minutes. The La Sal Mountains Viewpoint was awesome with the snowy mountains in the back and red rocky desert in the foreground. There are always signs at different viewpoints that we make the kids read out loud. Both are learning about erosion and geology in their science classes. We passed by Balanced rock and counted arches even before we got to our main activity. The junior ranger books and brochure had some highlights as well. We parked at the Wolfe Ranch parking lot, the starting point for the Delicate Arch hike. Delicate Arch Hike The Delicate Arch hike is a moderate 3-mile round trip. For reference, our kids are 7 and 10 and did it with minimal whining. There were some areas where it did feel like the climb up didn’t have an end point but it was totally doable and we saw several families and pups making the trek. The trail is mostly pretty wide dessert and rocks with a few short distance ledge areas that made parents slightly nervous. The views at the end were absolutely worth it. On Ben and I’s previous trip without kids, we did the viewpoint far away and it does not compare. Delicate Arch was stunning. Snapped some frameable pics and rested with the views, soaking in the majesty and then worked our way back to the car. Windows Section and Double Arch We then went to the Windows Section, a short drive away and home to some of the park’s most accessible arches. A very quick walk brought us to the North and South Window Arches, and Turret Arch. Very cool seeing the giant stone arches up close. Across the parking lot past the bathrooms is the double arch trail. Because we visited at a non-busy time (March), there was plenty of parking and we actually moved our car to be closer. The trail was less than a mile and led to Double Arch, where two massive arches frame each other and make a really cool picturesque spot. This area was definitely pretty steep and you shouldn’t do it in a dress (Who does that?? :-P) Canyonlands: Island in the Sky The next morning, we did a quick stop at Canyonlands. The Island in the Sky mesa is a beautiful cliff area higher than the surrounding terrain. Every overlook offers a different perspective on Canyonlands’ spectacular landscape. Island in the Sky is the easiest area of Canyonlands to visit in a short period of time, offering many pullouts with spectacular views

2024 Year in Review

2024 was a roller coaster full of adventure and also some memory-making done at home! People are often impressed that our kids travel “well” but we’ve been practicing and training for years! Please don’t try it and struggle and think you’re not cut out for it. 🙂 I’ve read a few articles and books this year about being intentional with your time, energy, and money. Although travel is such a big part of our life, it is still just a part. We have full-time jobs and kids in several sports and activities. We are fortunate to be able to show our kids the world and even though they would often rather be home with their friends playing switch, I’m hopeful they recognize that more than the travel itself, finding space for joy and prioritizing it is something I hope they take with them into their future and adulthood. My sweet Ellie still skips everywhere and loves playgrounds with monkey bars more than anything else. Even at 7, she knows she can still sometimes success in being carried by being cute. She has found a newfound love with ice skating with some school friends, and mom adds ice skating in faraway places to as many trips as possible. My Carter logged several hundred hours of reading time in 2024 (8 in one day!), is becoming a fierce competitor at board games and soccer. I’ve started getting him more involved in the trip planning process and now Ben has multiple people in the family asking for trips! I’ve highlight our year and have listed out our travels and posts from the previous year below. For more ideas, check on our 2021, 2022, and 2023 recaps! January We started our year in Austria! For Christmas break, we did an epic trip through Germany and Austria for Christmas markets and New Years celebrations. We based ourselves in Munich, Salzburg, and Innsbruck, with side trips to Nuremberg, Oberndorf, Berchesgarten, and Seefeld This big trip to Europe over 2 weeks was full of pretzels, gluwhein, schnitzel, castle visits, cave slides, music, snow hikes and more! Such a memorable adventure. We also did quick weekend trips to Pensacola to visit family and Dallas to visit with a few friends in the city. We always love spending time catching up and hitting a few favorites like the Perot science museum or the zoo. February We did a big house remodel in the beginning of the year and tried to ease up on our travel for a little bit (Can you even tell?) Ben and I took a quick overnight trip to NYC for a once in a lifetime John Williams concert conducted by the legend himself. March For spring break, we tried skiing for the first time as a family! Wooo! We took a trip with neighbor friends up to New Hampshire and the Loon Resort. Everyone took lessons and did surprisingly well. We are planning on another ski trip in 2025! April In April, we ditched school and work for a day and drove up to Southern Indiana to witness the totality of a solar eclipse. I don’t think we’ll become eclipse chasers but it was definitely worth it if you’re within a quick distance or have never seen one. We also did a weekend trip to Chicago, one of favorite cities for a quick trip. So many cool museums (Bonus, if you have another science museum pass, they’re free!) May If you’ve been following along, or checked out other years in review, you’ll see that we do a lot of repeat trips to our favorite people. In addition to Chicago and Dallas, we try to take a yearly trip to North Carolina! While Asheville is a fantastic city worth visiting, we usually visit the nearby small town of Waynesville, NC where our friends live. They have the cutest market on main street, worth a visit! June We have family who live on Oahu and love to mix our family-focused trips with some fun just-us family adventure and resort time. It had been several years (decades!) since I’d visited Kauai and the island was a perfect blend for us of adventurous beautiful hikes and resort pool life. July July was a busy month! We did a 4th of July visit to Dallas and Frisco, a Louisville weekend for a kid’s triathlon, and wrapped up our summer with a trip to Merida! Our kids attended a half-day Spanish camp that we absolutely adored. This was such a fun experience for the kids to interact with other world travelers and expand their world. They played games and did art and wrote stories in Spanish. They did a few family activities and it was such a cool spot. We are definitely planning to do this again. They have programs for kids, teens, and adults. While the kids were at camp, the parents were remote working. Lame. But we’re very fortunate that we could do so as we would not have been able to take this 2 week trip otherwise. During weekday afternoons, kids would hang out at the house or if parents were available, cut out early from work to go on some adventures! August/September In the fall, our 2nd and 4th grader started their school years! And I took on a new role as PTO president. No one is surprised that I overcommitted yet again. Busy school year and sports schedules meant we were a little big limited to weekend trips. We took a quick trip to Raleigh NC on one weekend before soccer weekends started. It always feels like a silly thing to say when I say that some of our trips are not really trips in a traditional sense. But truly on some of these trips, we don’t do top things or big adventures but we just enjoy being with our friends, eating pancakes, playing games, or doing puzzles. When we talk about being fortunate to travel as much as we do, we are so lucky

3 days in London, England: A Family Itinerary

Background For Thanksgiving break 2024, our family visited England and Scotland! Last Christmas, we visited Germany and Austria and loved the long train rides through the countryside. We decided that the Scottish Highlands would be the perfect adventure for our next trip to Europe. We spent a few days in Edinburgh, took a bus tour to the Highlands, and wrapped up our trip in busy and historic London. This post covers our 2 This post covers our 3 days in London. For more on our United Kingdom, see our posts here England and Scotland with Kids Winter 2024: Flights and Logistics 2 Days in Edinburgh, Scotland: Itinerary with Kids Our Family’s 3-Day Tour of the Scottish Highlands 3 days in London, England: A Family Itinerary Arrival in London from Railway Station We began our journey aboard a train from Edinburgh Waverley to London King’s Cross, a scenic route that takes around 4.5 hours. We should have purchased tickets ahead of time to save money but weren’t sure if we were going to need a late departure or not. We purchased tickets the evening before for 300 pounds for the family to go from Edinburgh to London. Still a very reasonable price and cheaper and more eco-friendly than a plane ride. The train ride was lovely and offered a comfortable and picturesque experience, with views of rolling countryside, coastal cliffs, and charming villages along the way. The highlight? Glimpses of the North Sea coastline just south of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Transportation in London In London, we took the underground everywhere. Kids are free and entre through the wheelchair gates. We took one long train ride to the Warner Bros studio and these tickets were a little pricey ($30 for all round-trip) but overall bus and subway travel went really smoothly excited!) Hotel In London, we stayed at the Hyatt Place London East near the Tower of London area. It was a little bit of a trip to the main parts of the city near Westminster (15 minute subway) but it was very affordable and its pretty rare for hotels to have spots for 4 people. We paid 150 per night for 3 nights and had a pull-out sofa in a family suite. We have status with Hyatt and received a free breakfast and some gifted chocolates along with some drinks from the bar. I know many families prefer AirBnBs or house stays but we’ve always generally leaned towards hotel stays and we generally use the room and hotel just for sleeping so we don’t need the kitchen or space to spread out that younger families may need. Our 3 day itinerary in London Day 1: Train to London, View Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Evening Boat Tour, Hyde Park Winter Festival After our afternoon arrival, we checked into the hotel and found a restaurant nearby to eat lunch. When we arrived at King’s Cross, I suggested we eat there with the large number of restaurants but we had our suitcases and were ready to unload everything. We were able to find a little fast casual noodle chain to give us energy for a busy evening. Subway to Tower of London and Tower Bridge From our hotel, we hopped onto the London Underground one stop to the Tower Hill area. Navigating the Tube was easy and efficient, and also part of the fun part of being in a new city. We walked right past the large Tower of London on our walk to the river. We didn’t take a a tour on this trip but the outside was really cool to look at and we told the kids a little bit of why it was important. In the area, there was a small Christmas village that we meant to return to and never did. We walked across the Tower Bridge and Ellie immediately asked why we couldn’t go to the top. (Because we adults did it on our last trip without kids and we didn’t feel like it was a worthwhile cost when the cool part of the bridge is looking at it, not looking out from it.) The design on the bridge is really intricate and beautiful and definitely feels like one of the iconic picture spots in the area. River Tour Next, we took a boat tour heading west along the River Thames. We left right after sunset and were able to see a lot of the cool buildings lit up. This was also an easy way to get some guide context to all the landmarks around the city. We passed famous landmarks like The Shard, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and The London Eye. The narrative on board was a little dry and the kids didn’t care much but I enjoyed it and it was a cool way to get our first glimpse of Big Ben and the Elizabeth Tower. Seeing these iconic structures from the water was definitely a wow moment. Hyde Park Wonderland We still had some energy in us and hopped on a double-decker red bus to the Hyde Park area. Instagram had been advertising the Winter Wonderland festival and it looked like a really fun Christmas market/amusement park vibe. We were there on a Thursday night (Thanksgiving) and it was popping. The park was frenetic and there were people everywhere. In retrospect, I wanted to go for the lights and food but the kids were immediately disappointed that we weren’t doing carnival games and rides. Something to keep in mind. We explored the Beer hall area and had some churros and food stand dinners. It was a really magical time and area and would have been fun to explore if it wasn’t so crowded and we had been prepared to spend money for activities. After the park, we took a subway back to our hotel and crashed for the night Day 2: St James Park, Buckingham Palace, View Big Ben, Harry Potter Studio Tour St James Park and Buckingham Palace We got a late start to our morning and

Our Family’s 3 day Tour of the Scottish Highlands

Background For Thanksgiving break 2024, our family visited England and Scotland! Last Christmas, we visited Germany and Austria and loved the long train rides through the countryside. We decided that the Scottish Highlands would be the perfect adventure for our next trip to Europe. We spent a few days in Edinburgh, took a bus tour to the Highlands, and wrapped up our trip in busy and historic London. This post covers our experience with Hairy Coo’s 3-day Isle of Skye, Inverness and Highlands Tour For more on our United Kingdom trip, see our posts here England and Scotland with Kids Winter 2024: Flights and Logistics 2 Days in Edinburgh, Scotland: Itinerary with Kids Our Family’s 3-Day Tour of the Scottish Highlands 3 days in London, England: A Family Itinerary Benefits of a Bus Tour We did not feel comfortable driving in the Scottish Highlands, but knew we wanted to visit the area. A bus tour of the Scottish Highlands offers numerous benefits, making it an excellent option for travelers. We chose to take a multi-day tour so we could see as much as possible without backtracking. Our bus was a 16 passenger bus and filled with several other couples and solo travelers. Here are some benefits of a bus tour through the highlands: No Driving Required: Navigating the narrow, winding roads of the Highlands can be challenging, especially for those unfamiliar with driving on the left. Knowledgeable tour guide Our guide shared great context and history of the area we were exploring. Reasonable prices: When adding in the cost of the car rental, and insurance, it was reasonable. And there’s also the benefit of having a pre-determined itinerary of highlights Reduced Carbon Footprint: Shared transportation is more eco-friendly compared to individual car travel. Uninterrupted Views: Without the stress of trying to direct us, we could enjoy the views and point things out as we were driving. Hotel in Inverness Our tour required us to make our own accommodations in Inverness. We found a cheap family suite apartment above a bar and it was perfect for our needs as it had a separate kids room with bunk beds! We actually didn’t spend a lot of time in Inverness but the main city area was very small and all very walkable. Our 3 day itinerary in the Highlands Day 1: Kelpies, Glencoe, Glenfinnan, Inverness Of course, because we were on a guided tour, we didn’t get a say in our stops but I believe we hit a lot of great highlights in a quick trip. Many other tours make very similar stops along the way. We always saw other small busses at the parking lots where we stopped. Our tour met in Edinburgh at 8am and we drove in hour to 2 hour blocks over the next 3 days to see lots of great sights. Our first stop was in Falkirk, where we visited a giant art horse sculpture. The Kelpies are 30-meter-tall steel sculptures of two horse heads. They are the largest equine sculptures in the world and are named after “kelpies,” shape-shifting water spirits from Scottish folklore. Carter actually had encountered them in several YA fantasy books including The Menagerie. The visitor center also had some cute Highlands items and a little cafe. We always took advantage of every potty break. Our youngest was 7 and we were a little worried about being on a group tour with her little bladder but we ran into no issues as stops were never more than 2 hours apart. We continued our drive and stopped for a quick lunch in the town of Callendar. This was a very little (20 shops) main street that I’m sure is busier in the high season. We also had the chance to take some pics with some cutie Hairy Coos. (A hairy coo is a nickname for the Highland cow.) Our next section was a lot of driving, but with some beautiful scenery and our guide sharing some history of the Clan history of the areas We were also excited that the tour included a stop to see the Glenfinnan Viaduct area. This area is in the Harry Potter 2 movie and I’ve read that sometimes tours can actually see the train go across! The views were a little foggy but still really gorgeous! There was a also a cafe and informational visitor center here. After this stop we did one more potty break at a little souvenir shop area before arriving in Inverness. We actually didn’t get to spend much time in the city during daylight hours. We found a pizza and brewery spot to enjoy dinner and then went to bed early. Day 2: Isle of Skye Tour: Portee, Kilt Rock, Quiraing Isle of Skye It was important that we visit the Isle of Skye on our Highlands tour, even though we only hit some of the highlights. This area would be great to explore in warmer months with tons of amazing dramatic landscapes and scenic hikes. This was definitely a highlight of our trip We made several short picture stops along the way including of Eilean Donan Castle, and gorgeous lakes and mountain landscapes. We stopped for a grocery/bathroom break right before the Isle of Skye bridge and found some of our favorite snacks, millionaire shortbread (caramel chocolate sweetness), and 60 pence pancakes! Portee and the Trotternish Peninsula We had lunch in the cute seaside town of Portree. As we visited in November, many of the spots were closed. There were ads for boat tours and nature adventures. I definitely think if we visited in the warmer months, it would be great to base ourselves in Portree for a longer stay. There was so much beauty to see in the area with gorgeous backgrounds and amazing views of cliffs, waterfalls, and rivers. The tour made sure to make several stops at picture perfect spots along the way, The Quiraing stop was definitely my favorite. We stayed here for a longer period of time and

2 Days in Edinburgh, Scotland: Itinerary with Kids

Background For Thanksgiving break 2024, our family visited England and Scotland! Last Christmas, we visited Germany and Austria and loved the long train rides through the countryside. We decided that the Scottish Highlands would be the perfect adventure for our next trip to Europe. We spent a few days in Edinburgh, took a bus tour to the Highlands, and wrapped up our trip in busy and historic London. This post covers our 2 days in Edinburgh For more on our United Kingdom trip, see our posts here England and Scotland with Kids Winter 2024: Flights and Logistics 2 Days in Edinburgh, Scotland: Itinerary with Kids Our Family’s 3-Day Tour of the Scottish Highlands 3 days in London, England: A Family Itinerary Arrival in Edinburgh We flew from Nashville to London connecting to Edinburgh on British Airways. We were team carry-on for this trip as carrying suitcases up and down subway stairs can sometimes be difficult. Our usual routine is to take an uber from the airport to our hotel on the first day and get the hang of public transport and other options throughout the trip. However, on this trip we found it very straightforward way to take a 30 minute tram with a 10 minute walk to our hotel. The cost of taking the tram from the Edinburgh Airport to the city center for a family of four (2 adults and 2 children) was less than 20 pounds. Tickets can be purchased at the tram stop ticket machines before boarding. For more details, you can visit Edinburgh Trams. Transportation in Edinburgh In Edinburgh, we walked to most destinations and took a few buses that were easy to tap pay at the front. One top tip for international travel is to download the city map to google so that it doesn’t continue to use data every time you load. Hotel In Edinburgh, we stayed at the Hilton Double Tree City Centre . The hotel is located a 5 minute walk of the castle, and very convenient to the rest of the city. Views were absolutely gorgeous and the hotel was fantastic with a great breakfast and bar and super kind staff. We used points to stay for free and were even gifted some drinks and small chocolates for our status. For breakfast, there was a buffet along with the ability to order pancakes, omelets, and other small add-ons. If you’re interested in an AMEX Hilton card, the sign-up bonus points are usually pretty high. We were in a small 2 double bed room which was a little snuggly but we didn’t spend a lot of time in the room (except for sleeping and minecraft world building) Our 2 day itinerary in Edingburgh: Day 1: Late Arrival, National Museum of Scotland, Christmas Festival After our afternoon arrival, we checked into the hotel and then walked towards the main area of town. It was a little snowy but the city was so cute with all the lovely buildings and cobbled streets. Our first stop was Greyfriars Kirkyard with is a historic cemetery famous for inspiring many names in Harry Potter. Tom Riddle, Crookshanks, McGonagall. If you’re interested, search online for a map. We wandered a little bit, saw Tom Riddle’s grave and then moved on. Our next stop was right next door at the Museum of Scotland. The only thing I knew going in was that Dolly the cloned sheep was housed here! We spent about 2 hours at the museum. It was great! There was a technology area that the kids loved. It was very hands-on like a science museum. We also took an elevator to the roof and caught a brief cloudy view of the city from the rooftop. If we had more time, I definitely would have loved to come back and seen more of the history or art sections of the museum as well. After our visit to the museum, we walked to the city’s winter festival. We stopped here on several nights, it was so cute. The old monuments and shiny bright carnival lights made for a really fun backdrop to our exploring. There were also several bagpipers playing Christmas music. So fun! Last year, we did Christmas markets in Germany and Austria and it felt like a mini-version of some of those markets. We had some yummy food and explored. We didn’t do any rides much to the dismay of the kids. In this area near West Princes street, there are a few standard favorite shopping spots like H&M and Uniqlo. We also had to grab a power converter that we forgot to pack at a shop near the railway station. Everyone did a great job fighting off jetlag and we went to bed at a totally reasonable 8p. Day 2: City walks, Harry Potter-themed tea and escape room, Royal mile, Christmas Festival Magic Mile We had a little bit of a late start. After a quick hotel breakfast, we headed out for our day. The sun was shining and it was a lot less gloomy than the evening before. We walked past the gorgeous large castle, and for a little bit of the main High street. I read a little bit of context from Rick Steve’s tour book but we were mostly interested in just soaking in the vibes <3 We decided on this trip to skip some of the castle and palace tours because the middle part of the trip would be very history heavy. I think the kids would have enjoyed it but we’ll just have to come back again another time. Department of Magic I highly recommend making time in your Edinburgh trip to visit Department of Magic. This cute cafe/experience is so great if you have kids into Harry Potter (or if you are a fan). We did an escape room with different puzzles to solve and prophecies to find. Everything was cutely themed and the kids were really into it. We tried our best to let them take the lead

England and Scotland with Kids Winter 2024: Flights and Logistics

Trip motivation For Thanksgiving break 2024, our family visited England and Scotland! Last Christmas, we visited Germany and Austria and loved the long train rides through the countryside. We decided that the Scottish Highlands would be the perfect adventure for our next trip to Europe. We spent a few days in Edinburgh, took a bus tour to the Highlands, and wrapped up our trip in busy and historic London. European travel is quickly becoming one of my favorite things with family-friendly towns, easy navigating with trains and so much history and beauty. Traveling internationally with kids can be daunting but with a little preparation and research and tips from other travelers, we had a successful trip! This post covers our flights, itinerary, planning process, and international logistics such as using the subway, getting a phone card, and finding budget restaurants. For more on our United Kingdom trip, see our posts here England and Scotland with Kids Winter 2024: Flights and Logistics 2 Days in Edinburgh, Scotland: Itinerary with Kids Our Family’s 3-Day Tour of the Scottish Highlands 3 days in London, England: A Family Itinerary Planning our Itinerary I love planning trips, especially through well-traveled places where there’s a ton of information to read through and make plans for. Many online blogs were really helpful! We were in each home-base for around 4 days and read numerous blogs and books (Rick Steves is always a must-read for Europe trips). One tip for traveling with kids is take a 3-day best of guide and cut out half of it to make it actually realistic to manage in those same 3 days. Mix in some kid-focused/less touristy options like malls, playgrounds, hotel pool. We did a lot of bus and train travel on this trip and our kids loved reading their new kindles on the trains and this was a great time for just chatting and reconnecting with gorgeous views. Several months before, I sketched out our plan in excel and on google maps with a balance of activities, rest time, food, rest, and fun. We made sure to research how far areas were and tried to schedule several anchor points with a few optional activities so we didn’t overstuff our schedule. Overview Day 1: Late Arrival, National Museum of Scotland, Christmas Festival Day 2: City walks, Harry Potter-themed tea and escape room, Royal mile, Christmas Festival Day 3: Highlands Tour: Kelpies, Glencoe, Glenfinnan, Inverness Day 4: Isle of Skye Tour: Portee, Kilt Rock, Quiraing Day 5: Loch Ness Boat Tour, Clava Cairns, Culloden Battlefield, Pitlochry Day 6: Train to London, View Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Evening Boat Tour, Hyde Park Winter Festival Day 7: St James Park, Buckingham Palace, View Big Ben, Harry Potter Studio Tour Day 8: British Museum, Kensington Park, Science Museum, West End Matilda Show Day 9: Fly Home! Flying to Scotland and London We used the Chase Portal and Chase Points to fly to Edinburgh (stop in London) and non-stop from London on the way back Chase Sapphire Preferred Apply Here Chase Sapphire Reserve Apply Here Chase Hyatt Apply Here Tips for Long Plane Rides Sleeping on planes West to East: Plan to sleep! For the overnight red-eye flight to Europe, we emphasized that after dinner service, everyone was going to try and get some sleep. I gave each kid a dose of melatonin and they passed out pretty immediately. We packed these cheap pillows from Amazon (They came with eye masks!). On arrival, get outside and try to limit naps so you can readjust. Activities for long flights East to West On the long flight, the kids were happy playing with the personal screen and alternating between coloring, reading, tv, games, and snacks. Ellie has been loving the Magic Treehouse books and when they were little, they used to love activities in the Magic Ink and small play pack coloring books (Amazon links). We have one Nintendo Switch that the kids love. For more on our favorite activities and tips for flying, see our post here. Transportation in Europe Train travel and public transportation is one of our favorite things about Europe. Everything is pretty straightforward and inexpensive. In Edinburgh, we walked to most destinations and took a few buses that were easy to tap pay at the front. One top tip for international travel is to download the city map to google so that it doesn’t continue to use data every time you load. We took the LNER train from Scotland to London. We should have purchased tickets ahead of time as prices went up closer to departure. For our family of 4, it was still very cheap and only $300 for everyone. In London, we took the underground subway and double decker buses everywhere. Kids are free and enter through the wheelchair gates. We took one long train ride to the Warner Bros studio and these tickets were a little pricey ($30 for all round-trip) but overall bus and subway travel went really smoothly excited!) I love how easy train travel is in Europe. We mapped destinations using google maps and compared the time/cost/effort to use a taxi, train, bus, or walk. We used uber or the train depending on where/how far we were going. If you have little ones, it might be harder to use a taxi due to the car seat. If you plan on using a stroller on the subway, many have elevators, but be prepared to fold it and carry up stairs. Eating in Scotland and London Several of our hotels came with free breakfast, and we also stopped by grocery stores for easy cheap meals to start our day and snacks for the hotel room. Tesco pancakes for 60 pence was our favorite snack. During the day, we tried to balance quick meals with sit-down meals. We did do a few fancy meals like a Sunday Roast in Edinburgh and a Brazillian steakhouse. And a lot of fish and chips. In London, we did a few market type set-ups

Favorite Things to do In Merida, Mexico with Kids

In summer 2024, our family spent two weeks in Merida, Mexico, exploring its vibrant neighborhoods, cultural events, and nearby beaches and cenotes with our kids (ages 6 and 9). We combined remote work and kids’ Spanish camp with visits to local attractions like Plaza Grande, Paseo de Montejo, and Parque de La Plancha. We found Merida a safe, family-friendly city brimming with culture and welcoming locals.

Family trip to Merida, Mexico: Logistics for a 2 week Visit with Kids

Our family visited Merida, Mexico, in summer 2024 for a two-week trip, combining remote work with a half-day Spanish camp for our kids, and city exploration with a nearby family. To balance the kids’ activities, we incorporated a realistic itinerary with half-day excursions to cenotes, beaches, and playgrounds while exploring Merida’s cultural sites and neighborhoods. This visit was enriched by the welcoming locals, affordable dining, and the ease of local transport, creating a relaxed and immersive travel experience.

Day trips from Merida, Mexico: Ruins, Cenotes, Beaches, and more fun!

In summer 2024, our family returned to Mérida, Mexico for a two-week adventure, balancing remote work with our kids’ Spanish camp and exciting day trips. Highlights included exploring the ruins of Uxmal, swimming in Cenote Mucuyche, and relaxing at beach clubs like Silcer Club De Playa, all of which made for an unforgettable family trip filled with fun and cultural immersion

Traveling Little Morsels

Sharing memories and tips for enjoying travels with littles. Always looking forward to our next adventure!

❤ Jenn Morse ❤

TRAVELING LITTLE MORSELS