The Talking Suitcase

Cruise & Curated Travel Specialist

Europe Travel with Kids

5 Unique London Experiences to Have with Kids

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Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

London is known for it’s history and famous landmarks, but there is more to the city than Big Ben and Tower Bridge.  We’ve put together a list of 5 unique London experiences to try on your next visit.  Encounter some of TV’s most lovable characters, take in sweeping views of the city, and enjoy delicious food and afternoon tea. Experience a different side of London with kids on your next holiday.

Take a Trip to the Kingdom of Far Far Away:

Lucy at DreamWorks-Tours Shrek’s Adventure

DreamWorks Tours: Shrek’s Adventure is a unique experience that combines live shows and special effects. Let Donkey take you on a 4D bus tour through London to meet Shrek, Pinocchio, the Muffin Man and the Magic Mirror. After escaping from witches and Rumpelstiltskin, have your adventurer pose for pictures with Shrek and play games with the Penguins in Madagascar.

*This experience is best with younger children and should be reserved in advance.

Afternoon Tea with a Kid-Friendly Twist:

Photo Credit: The Sanderson Hotel

 

No trip to London would be complete without afternoon tea. Typically served between 4pm – 6pm, this British tradition can make for a magical experience when visiting with children. A couple of fun recommendations for kid-friendly afternoon tea include:

Charlie and the Chesterfield Afternoon Tea At The Chesterfield Hotel. This will be a delight for Willy Wonka fans. This chocolate themed tea features traditional finger sandwiches and scones plus children can enjoy their own special treats from the kids menu. Get your golden ticket and savor an afternoon of tea with a fizzy lifting cake.

The Mad Hatter Afternoon Tea At The Sanderson Hotel is an experience based on Alice in Wonderland. Guests can enjoy “Alice” China black tea, King of Hearts parmesan croque-monsieur stack and more.

*Look for special offers online before reserving at table.

Discover the Wizarding World of Harry Potter:

Photo Credit: Visit London

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter is an experience no Harry Potter fan, young or old, should miss. Visit the sets of Diagon Alley and the Great Hall, find out how the special effects team created the films, and admire props such as Potions Class and Puking Pastilles. Visitors will want to take time to enjoy a Butterbeer and can even pre-order a souvenir tankard.

*Reservations required

Marvel at 360° Views:

Photo Credit: Up at The O2

Up at The O2 is a completely unique experience to share with older kids (ages 9+). Take a 90 minute climb over the Arena rooftop to see historic Greenwich, Olympic Park, and Canary Wharf. See some of the sights of London from above while the kids take selfies to impress their friends.

*Book online

Enjoy a Day Out with Paddington Bear:

Photo Credit: Visit London

The Paddington Bear movies rekindled our love of the children’s literary character from the 1950’s. Start your day at Paddington Station to pose with the bronze Paddington Bear statue, then follow the Pawprint Trail to find more Paddington statues. Even if you can’t follow the full itinerary, kids will love taking selfies and even getting their own bear at the Paddington Bear Shop, either at the station or the famous toy store, Hamleys.

London is one city that I can’t seem to stay away from. It’s constantly calling my name with something new and exciting to experience. While we love traditional sightseeing, it’s always great to get out and try something unique. Jump on a bus with Donkey, hunt down Paddington Bear, sip tea like Alice and see London from the rooftops. Kids won’t stop talking about their unique London experiences!

Do you have any unique London experiences to share?

See more top family attractions in London before planning your trip.

 

 

Things to Do in Châtel, France with Kids {in Summer}

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Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

If you’re considering a trip to the French Alps, Châtel must be on your list of destinations.  It would make a great home base from which to explore all that the spectacular Alps have to offer.

Chatel has the Famille Plus Accreditation, meaning that parents can rest easy knowing there are accommodations, restaurants, activities and hospitality services designed just for families.  This endorsement is based on continual examinations, so you know the  resort makes a concerted effort to uphold the high standards required.

If you want to stay connected in France and throughout Europe, eSIM cards will save money while allowing you access to call, text and browse the internet.

Things to Do in Châtel, France with Kids:

Summer Lifts in Chatel, France

Ride the summer lifts – In summer, the ski lifts are in operation to transport visitors up and down the mountains.  There are four lifts open, providing access to various points on the peaks.   Riding these turned out to be one of my kids favorite activities.  They loved the aerial views of Châtel and the surrounding countryside.  Plus I think it was just something new for them, so they wanted to ride up and down as many times as we would allow.  What kid doesn’t love rides?!

Ride the lifts (as many times as you want) for no additional fee with the purchase of a Multi Pass.

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10 Must Eat Foods in Nice, France – Local Nice Specialties

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Must Eat Foods in Nice, France

No visit to the French Riviera is complete without sampling some of the local Nice specialties.

In Nice, there is a mix of unique flavors only available in this region – traditional Provençal and Niçoise foods with a heavy Italian influence.  Being on the Mediterranean,  seafood and fresh ingredients play an integral role in the tasty regional specialties. From mussels and tuna to olives and eggplant, once you sample the local fare you’ll see why Nice is a favorite gastronomical city.

10 Must Eat Foods in Nice, France

1. Socca – A quintessential street food of Nice, socca is thin, crusty chickpea pancake with a soft interior. It’s cooked in a wood oven on a large round steel plate. I like it with a bit of pepper, but the kids just dig right in. It’s one of their favorite after school snacks. It also pairs well with beer for those that want a break from wine. Of course it would pair well with wine if you wanted a break from beer!

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What to Do in Nice, France with Kids – Toddlers, Teens & Tweens

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what-to-do-in-nice-france-with-kids

While the French Riviera might conjure up images of celebrities at the Cannes Film Festival and cars zooming around the streets during the Monaco Grand Prix,  the South of France is still a great destination for families. But what do you do with kids when you visit France’s Southern coast?   I suggest making Nice your home base.  You can easily visit much of the Cote d’Azur from Nice using public transport.  Flights arrive from all over the world into the Nice Airport, so it makes sense that your first stop is Nice.

It’s always a good time to visit the South of France.  Nice has 300 days of sunshine a year after all!  My favorite times are the Spring and Fall, but you can find family-friendly activities all year round.   Read on for a locals perspective on what to do in Nice, France with kids.

Since it is likely that most of my American friends don’t speak French, I’ve tried to only include activities that kids can participate in, despite that language barrier.

What to Do in Nice, France with Kids

Hit the Beach

summer-at-nice-beach

One of the nicest things to do in Nice with kids is a trip to the beach.  If you’re lucky enough to visit during the warmer months, you could plan an entire day around the shore. I know many older kids would be perfectly happy to lounge around by the sea all day listening to music, posting TikTok videos and texting with friends.

Younger kids can throw rocks in the water, collect sea glass or simply take a break and enjoy a snack by the sea.  If it’s a sunny day, take a swim.  It’s not uncommon for kids to strip down to their underwear and dive in, not that I recommend this over swimming trunks 🙂

You’ll find both public and private beaches in Nice.  For a fee, you can take advantage of a lounge chair, umbrella and drink service.  We find that the public beaches meet our needs, so that’s where we take our kids. During the summer, you’ll find lifeguard stations at various points to help provide an extra pair of eyes while you’re little ones enjoy the sea.

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5 Ways to Educate Children in Amsterdam – Exploring Amsterdam with Kids

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Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Ways to Educate Children in Amsterdam

Traveling with children provides a unique opportunity for their education. They can learn so much more through first hand experience than by books alone or in a classroom setting. During our travels, we always try to find a way for the kids to learn something new by experiencing it for themselves. For your visit to Amsterdam with children, I have put  together to a list of educational opportunities to take advantage of while there.  I think these ideas provide a range of learning options that will entertain as well as educate them.

5 Ways to Educate Children in Amsterdam:

Anne Frank House

1. Anne Frank House – One of the best educational experiences for my kids during our recent trip to Amsterdam was a visit to the Anne Frank House.  It is definitely an emotional experience, so kids need to be older and able to understand what they are seeing. K (11) said that even though it was sad, it was one of the best museums he has toured.   I think Anne Frank’s age makes her more relatable to children and provides a unique way to teach children about WWII, the Holocaust and life in Europe at that time.

To prepare for our trip, we watched Youtube videos on Anne Frank and discussed some of the history surrounding her story.  I considered reading Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl with the kids prior to our visit but didn’t have time.  However, the kids think it’s better to read it after the visit.  Either way, the diary will help tie the entire experience together.

Walking into the first section of the Anne Frank Museum, we watched a video showing Anne Franks life before and during the war. Each floor provided a unique look into the life of Anne Frank, her family and the other occupants and workers of the building in which she hid.  The warehouse workers were not aware that the Jewish family was hiding in the attic, only the four helpers were entrusted with the secret.

We walked through the warehouse, offices, storeroom and the landing with the movable bookcase which concealed the door to the annex where the families hid.  Throughout the museum, quotes from Anne Frank’s diary, photographs, family objects and videos are displayed for visitors.  Lucy was intrigued with all the quotations throughout and made it her mission to read  each one to us.  Some provoked questions from Lucy that we tried, with difficulty, to answer.

Later we passed into the hiding place and visited the rooms of the eight inhabitants.  Many features of the annex have been preserved including the growth lines from Anne and her sister Margot on the wall in Otto, Edith and Margot Frank’s room.

After exploring the annex, we walked through a passageway to the front of the house.  Here we watched the story of Hanneli Goslar, friend of Anne Frank, as she recounts her conversation with Anne before her death in the concentration camp.  Next was a video of Otto Frank, the only survivor of the eight inhabitants. Finally, we saw the diary which also included passages from the books she read and short stories she composed.

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