The Talking Suitcase

Cruise & Curated Travel Specialist

Destinations

Is Busch Gardens Christmas Town Worth the Cost? Plus Tips From Locals

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Lights Busch Gardens Christmas Town
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Are you considering a trip to Busch Gardens Christmas Town?  Christmas Town is one of our favorite family traditions.  Each year we take the kids to experience the park, drink hot chocolate and see the lights.  But is it worth the cost?  If you’re unsure if you should spend the extra cash, I’ve listed some of the pros and cons to help make your decision.

Pros:Christmas Town Santa Busch Gardens

Gorgeous light display – Busch Gardens definitely has one of the best light displays in VA with more than eight million lights!  The entire park is lit up and the Polar Pathway is a sight to behold.  We can’t even fathom how they get all those lights on Escape from Pompeii!

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London Itinerary: Top Family Attractions in London with Teens and Tweens

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family-attractions-in-london

It’s really no surprise that London is a top vacation destination.  It’s full of history, culture, food, shopping, theatre, nightlife, royalty and more all lumped together in England’s capital city. And you don’t have to look far to find countless family attractions there to entertain the entire clan.  We recently spent 5 days in London with our tweens.  While it wasn’t nearly long enough to experience all the kids attractions in London,  we were able to visit many of our must-see spots.

Getting around London is easy with the extensive public transportation system.   We alternated between the bus and tube, depending on where in the city we wanted to go. Grab a tube map when you arrive to help navigate all the different lines. We found everyone to be super helpful and willing to answer our questions when we weren’t sure how to get to our destination.   Having the Oyster Card made it easier (and cheaper) to get around as well.  The city is also extremely walkable.  While we used public transport to get us to from point A to point B, we walked whenever possible.

For our London itinerary, we tried to balance the wants of both parents and children.  We typically strive for at least one youth activity and one adult activity per day. As my kids are older, this is a lot easier than traveling with little ones.  Many of the attractions listed will be fun for teens as well as adults traveling without kids.   Keep reading to find the best family attractions in London.

Family Attractions in London:

Fun things to do with kids in London

  • Platform 9 3/4
  • Hamley’s Toy Store
  • Piccadilly Circus
  • British Museum
  • Changing the Guards
  • Westminster Abbey
  • Big Ben
  • Kensington Palace & Princess Diana Memorial Playground
  • Tower of London
  • London Bridge
  • Shrek’s Adventure
  • London Eye
  • Sea Life London Aquarium
  • Afternoon Tea

London Day #1 – Apartment, Relaxation & Cars

cars-in-london

Lucy and I stayed in the apartment during our first day in London.  Lucy was on a high dosage of pain medication from her surgery, so she was sleepy and spent the day resting.

Derrick & K explored the Chelsea neighborhood with the goal of seeing how many exotic cars they could find. They couldn’t get over how crazy it was to see $200,000+ cars parked all along the street!  I think Derrick wanted to go around with a bucket and sponge to wash the dirt and grime off the high priced McLarens and Bentleys parked throughout the neighborhood.

Prior to the accident, our plan was to take a sightseeing tour of London which included an early look at the Crown Jewels and watching the changing of the guards.  The tour would have lasted until 12:30pm.   Afterwards we planned to have lunch at Piccadilly Market, then wander around sightseeing for the rest of the day.

If you don’t want to take a tour and would like to follow the rest of our itinerary, you could visit the ZSL London Zoo and Platform 9 3/4 for my fellow Harry Potter fans.  The Camden Market is near the zoo, so that’s an option for another activity if you have time.

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24 Hours in Bath, England – Fun Things to do in Bath with Tweens

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fun-things-to-do-in-bath-with-tweens

Bath, a World Heritage site, is famous for it’s beautiful architecture and fascinating history. This lovely city is located only a 2.5 hour drive west of London or just a 90 minute train ride from Paddington Station. The city became a spa in 70 AD when the Romans built baths and a temple in the valley of the River Avon.   Today, Bath is well known for these Roman baths and attracts millions of visitors every year.   If you’re planning a day trip to Bath or plan to make it your home base for a few days, take a look at our family friendly guide to things to do in Bath. It’s a city we didn’t get to spend nearly enough time exploring, but I think I can get you off to a good start with these helpful hints!

We had intended to spend more than just a day in Bath. Unfortunately, we experienced our first major travel emergency the morning of our second day.  Lucy fell and broke her wrist. This accident and it’s aftermath took up almost 2 days of our travel time. We spent a significant amount of time at the medical facilities in Bath and now have first hand experience with the Royal United Hospital. The staff was great.   My poor baby broke two bones in her wrist and needed a pin inserted surgically to ensure it healed properly.   We drove straight from the hospital to London, so we only had the chance to explore Bath for one day.   Thankfully, Lucy is recovering nicely.

Things to do in Bath, England

 

exploring-bath-from-the-avon-river

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Getting Up Close With the Animals at Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens

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cotswold-wildlife-park-and-gardens-england-zoo

If you’re searching for Cotswold’s attractions for kids, look no further than the Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens in Burford.  A mix between a zoo and a safari park, the Cotswold Wildlife Park will delight visitors, young and old. The park boasts of over 260 different species of animals & has the largest privately owned zoological collection in the UK.

As you walk around the grounds, you’ll notice spacious enclosures for the animals that blend in with the natural environment, taking advantage of the beautiful Bradwell Grove Estate. Visitors can get closer to animals than in many of the other zoological collections we’ve visited. Even the kids noted how nice it must be for the animals to have so much space.

The park is divided into several sections, each with it’s own unique plant and animal life. Our first stop was at the Large Animals section, home of the giant tortoises and the parks oldest resident, both in age and duration. These massive reptiles were fascinating to watch. They may be slow and ponderous but their size amazed us when compared to their smaller turtle cousins we were used to seeing. We had seen the giant tortoises at only one other park.

 

Next, in large paddocks you’ll see the white rhinoceros up close and personal.  Never have we been this close to one. They are usually so far back at our home zoo that you need the long-range camera lens to get a good picture. These guys were just hanging out, having breakfast near the moat.  While we were safe from the animals (and they were safe from us), the design of the wildlife park made feel it like you could just walk right up to the them.

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How to Get From Nice to Eze: Fall in Love with Eze, France

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Eze France Travel Ideas

Perched on a rocky hill in the South of France, situated between Nice and Monaco, is the picturesque village of Eze. Populated around 2000 BC, Eze experienced a turbulent history.  It was occupied by many strongholds including the Romans, Moors & Turks until becoming part of France in 1860.

 

 

The medieval charm of Eze village is evident at every turn, from the winding cobblestone paths to the ancient château ruins. Plan to spend a couple of hours touring the village to take in all its history and beauty.

Store front in Eze
Local shop

Walk the narrow streets and browse the quaint shops and art galleries.  However, keep in mind that while the shops are intriguing and the local artistry compelling, the prices are expensive.  Many items caught Lulu’s eye, but the prices were all above her budget.

 

 

During your walk through the village, visit the cemetery, war memorial and lovely Baroque church (Eglise Notre Dame de l’Assomption). The church was undergoing renovations during our visit, but it’s still a charming place to reflect.

 

 

Do NOT skip Le Jardin d’Eze (the gardens) perched at the very top of the village. Not only are the exotic plants a sight to behold, but you will experience incredible 360 degree views of Eze and the Mediterranean. We were able to see all the way to the Nice airport!

We almost didn’t spend the 4€ per adult fee to gain access, but I’m so glad we did. Kids are free, so it was definitely worth the 8€ for the views. *The entrance fee is 6€ in peak seasons.  See the remains of the château walls and gaze at the sparkling waters below. After taking pictures, we sat on the ruins to take in the view and snacked on oranges purchased at the Nice market.

Succulents and cacti line the twisting pathways of the garden. Blending in seamlessly with the landscape are statues, “The Goddesses” by Jean-Philippe Richard.

Relaxing in Eze

Don’t miss heading down to the Espaces Contemplatifs (Contemplative spaces) within the Jardin Méditerranéen.  Here you will find over-sized wooden lounge chairs next to a small waterfall with a spectacular view of the Mediterranean Sea and Eze beach.  We sat for 30 minutes, relaxing next to the tranquil sounds of the waterfall and feeling the heat of the sun on the chilly winter afternoon.

Pack a picnic to eat on one of the trails at the base of the village or dine in one of the many restaurants in Eze village.  We visited during the winter, so most of the shops and restaurants were closed for the season.

Another popular destination in Eze is Fragonard or Perfume Factory.  If you are traveling with girls, a tour of the perfume factory might be worth your time. I am sensitive to perfumes, so we opted not to take the tour in case my allergies couldn’t handle it.

With it’s stunning beauty and tranquil setting, it’s no wonder that Eze is a popular destination for honeymooners & tourist alike.

How to get there from Nice:

 

Train From Nice to Eze:

If you arrive by train, you will need to make a steep climb up the Nietzsche Path that will take approximately an hour.  I don’t recommend this with young kids –  some of the path is narrow, there are some steep steps and rocky trails.   Older kids should be fine.  While it won’t be easy with kids, mine would be able to make the hike.  Ensure you have water and comfortable shoes.

We enjoyed the hike & plan to go again, hiking higher than the village.  It was great exersice with lovely views of the hillside and sea.   It took us about 1.5 hours as we stopped for breaks, to chat with our friends, and to to take pictures.

The cost of the train is 3.50€ each way.   You can either hike back down to return by train or catch the bus at the base of the village to return to Nice.

Bus from Nice to Eze:

Bus #100 will drop you off near the train station, down by the water. Again, you will need to walk up the Nietzsche Path.

Town of Eze from Bus Stop

Bus #82 & #112 will drop you off at the base of the village. It is a bit of a climb up to the village from town but not overly strenuous. This is the closest you can get to the village of Eze by public transportation.  This is also where the public car park is located.  The cost is 1.50€ each way or 10€ for a 10 ticket pass which is valid for both buses and trams.

Please note that the buses do not run frequently.  Take a picture of the schedule, so you know when to be back at the bus stop.  Buses only run about every 2 hours.

If you’re not feeling adventurous, I recommend taking bus #82 to Eze then walking down the Nietzsche Path after you have visited the village. This will allow you to explore the beach area before hopping on bus #100 for a ride back to Nice.

Side view from Eze

Best time to visit:

Winter is a wonderful time to visit Eze.  The village won’t be overcrowded with tourists, and you will feel like you have the entire place to yourself.  However, most shops, galleries and restaurants close for the season.  If you are interested in shopping and eating in the village, you want to consider visiting another time of year.  Spring or Fall would be perfect for shopping & the flowers will be in full bloom.  Summer would also be lovely, it’s just the busy season.

Have you traveled to Eze, France? Share your Eze travel ideas.

If you have several days in Nice, you may want to consider a visit to Cimiez.

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