tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67985577058304828802024-03-13T13:14:52.952-04:00Arrows Sent Fortharrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.comBlogger436125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-42058488430230248242017-08-28T10:24:00.000-04:002017-08-28T10:24:10.265-04:00Visiting Toronto with Kids and CityPASSThere's a lot of buzz about Canada these days, especially among Americans brainstorming travel destinations. The country is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2017 to much fanfare.<br />
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But where to start? Quebec City is amazing for European charm, see <a href="http://ciaobambino.com/things-to-do-in-quebec-city-with-kids/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my detailed post on what to do with kids in Quebec City on Ciao Bambino.</a><br />
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Alternatively, <b>Toronto is another great option for families thinking of Canada</b>. It's got an amazing multicultural vibe, skyscrapers sure to impress, and a prime location on the shore of Lake Ontario that offers green space galore. Plus, typically great flight options and price points from most US locations.<br />
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But big city travel (and Toronto is indeed big--4th most populist city in North America) takes a bit of pre-planning when visiting with children. Unfortunately for me, I was so busy helping my Ciao Bambino clients plan their own summer travels that it was only a few weeks before we were due to depart for our Canada road trip when I began sketching out our time in the city.<br />
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Here's where <script language="javascript" src="http://www.kqzyfj.com/placeholder-28138922?target=_top&mouseover=N" type="text/javascript"></script>comes into play. This is a perennial favorite of families visiting cities around North America because it not only offers reduced entry into typically the most popular attractions (read:<i> the places you'd be visiting anyway</i>) but also helps you focus your time. And at certain attractions, their skip-the-line access is invaluable.<br />
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So last month, my family put CityPASS through its paces in Toronto and had a blast. We only had one full day to explore the city, with 2-3 days you could more fully maximize the value of a <a href="http://www.citypass.com/toronto" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Toronto CityPASS.</a><br />
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<b>CN Tower:</b><br />
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The <a href="http://www.cntower.ca/intro.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CN Tower </a>is THE thing to see in Toronto for most visitors. Indeed, you can't avoid it, as the tallest building it is unmissable from anywhere in the city.<br />
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<i>A few tips:</i><br />
-While the CityPASS does offer a special entrance line, everyone visiting the tower must pass through security. So I'd still advise getting there within the first hour that it is open to avoid a long wait at security. Plus, it will feel far less crowded at the top anyway and you'll have more space as a family to move around and enjoy the views. I had the false impression that with our CityPASS we would breeze right up to the top... not so. <b>Get there early.</b><br />
-There's a fun play area at the bottom after you leave the Tower, with comfy couches for parents. We used this as a time for the kids to burn off some steam and for us to plan our next activity.<br />
-On a nice day, enjoy the waterfront area. We loved the beauty of the water in this area more so than the tower itself. (View is amazing though, and I was glad we carved out the time to see it.) It's also fun to stop at the Blue Jay's stadium.<br />
-This is also the perfect time to pop into Ripley's Aquarium, also included in the pass. We didn't have time as we wanted to explore other areas of the city, but the convenience of having two attractions side by side is fabulous for families.<br />
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<b>Royal Ontario Museum:</b><br />
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Since everything in Toronto feels "big," it's fitting that the<a href="https://www.rom.on.ca/en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Royal Ontario Museum</a> is one of the largest museums in Canada. But unlike some museums, it doesn't feel overwhelming and it's easy to take a quick glance at the map and prioritize your time there based on family interests.<br />
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You could easily spend a full day here, but we enjoyed hitting the highlights during our 2 hour visit. The dinosaurs are a must. We especially enjoyed that the diagrams of each fossil display shows which fossils are real and which were recreated. My boys really enjoyed trying to see a difference between the "real" and "fake!"<br />
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<i>A few tips:</i><br />
-You may still wait in a short line to get your ticket checked and bag searched, but the CityPASS will allow you to bypass the ticket counter wait (looked to be about a 15 minute long line when we were there on a Sunday afternoon).<br />
-Special exhibits are an extra cost, however.<br />
-It's an easy walk to the University of Toronto campus with nice green areas if the kids need to run around after the museum.<br />
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Given that we only hit two of the sites covered by the Toronto CityPASS we didn't see a huge cost savings. But had we hit even just one more attraction (we undoubtedly would have with more time in the city), then its value would have been easily justified. In addition to the aquarium near the CN Tower, Casa Loma, the Toronto Zoo or the Science Centre are all part of the pass package as well.<br />
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Another perk of CityPASS is the time limitation is much more flexible. Whereas some tourist passes only allow you 24 or 48 hours, thereby forcing you to rush from one attraction to the next, you get many more days to utilize your CityPASS. I find this works much better with kids--it's hard to see more than 1-2 big sites each day.<br />
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<b>Have you used CityPASS anywhere? I'd love to hear your experience in the comments!</b><br />
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<i>Note: I was provided with two media passes for purposes of this review, but purchased two additional passes for the rest of my family at full cost. All opinions are my own. Links to the CityPASS page are affiliate links which help support this blog and don't change the cost for your family.</i><br />
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<a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-8418679-12382789" target="_top">
<img alt="Toronto_120x90" border="0" src="http://www.awltovhc.com/image-8418679-12382789" height="90" width="120" /></a>arrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.com0Toronto, ON, Canada43.653226 -79.38318429999998243.2856095 -80.028631299999986 44.020842499999993 -78.737737299999978tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-34328543530098629782017-04-25T22:12:00.003-04:002017-04-25T22:12:11.916-04:00Happy 8th Birthday, Big Arrow!<em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">I like to write posts to the boys on their birthdays, and it is Big Arrow's 8th birthday this week (you can read his </em><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2011/04/crawling-around-hope-indiana.html" style="background-color: white; color: #795e3f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration-line: none;"><em>2nd</em></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">, </em><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2012/04/three-years-ago-today.html" style="background-color: white; color: #795e3f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration-line: none;"><em>3rd</em></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">, </em><em style="background-color: white; color: #795e3f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2013/04/happy-4th-birthday-big-arrow.html" style="color: #795e3f; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration-line: none;">4th</a>,</em><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"> </em><em style="background-color: white; color: #795e3f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2014/04/happy-5th-birthday-big-arrow.html" style="color: #795e3f; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration-line: none;">5th</a>, <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2015/04/happy-6th-birthday-big-arrow.html" style="color: #795e3f; text-decoration-line: none;">6th</a></em><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">, and <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2016/05/happy-7th-birthday-big-arrow.html#more" style="color: #795e3f; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">7th</a> posts and Little Arrow's</em><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"> </em><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2012/12/1-year-of-travel-little-arrows-1st.html" style="color: #795e3f; text-decoration-line: none;">1st</a>, <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2013/11/happy-2nd-birthday-little-arrow.html" style="color: #795e3f; text-decoration-line: none;">2nd</a>,<a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2014/11/happy-3rd-birthday-little-arrow.html" style="color: #795e3f; text-decoration-line: none;">3rd</a>, <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2015/11/happy-4th-birthday-little-arrow.html" style="color: #795e3f; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">4th</a>, and <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2016/11/happy-5th-birthday-little-arrow.html" target="_blank">5th</a> </em><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">at the links.) Maybe someday I'll carve out the time to actually write about our travels again!</em><br />
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The sentiment of the quote that inspired this blog's name rang so true this year. I've never shared the full poem from which it comes.<br />
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"On Children"<br />
by Kahlil Gibran<br />
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<i>Your children are not your children.</i><br />
<i>They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.</i><br />
<i>They come through you but not from you.</i><br />
<i>And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.</i><br />
<i>You may give them your love but not your thoughts,</i><br />
<i>For they have their own thoughts.</i><br />
<i>You may house their bodies but not their souls, </i><br />
<i>For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,</i><br />
<i>which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.</i><br />
<i>You may strive to be like them,</i><br />
<i>but seek not to make them like you.</i><br />
<i>For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.</i><br />
<i>You are the bows from which your children </i><br />
<i>as living arrows are sent forth.</i><br />
<i>The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,</i><br />
<i>and He bends you with His might</i><br />
<i>that His arrows may go swift and far.</i><br />
<i>Let your bending in the archer's hand be for the gladness;</i><br />
<i>For even as He loves the arrow that flies,</i><br />
<i>so He loves also the bow that is stable.</i><br />
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I have noticed you beginning to realize life beyond yourself. You ask questions about others, about their lives, about their struggles. Admittedly we sometimes tell you to stop being nosy or to quit interrupting when you need one of your million questions answered. My goal in the year ahead is to better help you with your thirst for all the details about the world around you. To share my thoughts, feelings and emotions about life, without pressuring you to necessarily share my world view.<br />
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This is the year where I found I couldn't fix all your problems the way I could a skinned knee when you were 2 or a lost stuffed animal at age 5. Your issues are taking on a complexity that can best be handled by you. All decidedly first world, but a big deal for a sensitive 7-year-old. Now 8. You seem to recognize this too, though, and you are getting adept at "handling your business" (a frequent mantra in this house).<br />
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I know that this will only increase as the months and years of growing older and more mature stretch before us. I'm confident you're ready for more independence, more self-sufficiency. I hope I am too!<br />
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And since this is your virtual baby book... you also spent the bulk of the past year missing your two front teeth and it was quite possibly your most adorable phase yet. And playing lots of sports. And thinking about sports. And reading about sports. And writing about sports. And trying to con us into letting you stay up late to watch sports.<br />
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This year, I plan to let you read all the past birthday posts I've written for you. And each year going forward from here, my birthday post won't appear on the internet and will instead just be something personal shared between you and I. As you get older, I find your stories are yours to tell, not mine.<br />
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I hope your dad and I have been worthy Bows to you, sweet boy. You are certainly a very fine Arrow to us and everyone who knows and loves you.arrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-16334124208037025712016-11-30T21:58:00.002-05:002016-11-30T21:58:28.963-05:00Happy 5th Birthday, Little Arrow!<em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">I like to write posts to the boys on their birthdays, and it is Little Arrow's 5th birthday (you can read his </em><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2012/12/1-year-of-travel-little-arrows-1st.html" style="color: #795e3f; text-decoration: none;">1st</a>, <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2013/11/happy-2nd-birthday-little-arrow.html" style="color: #795e3f; text-decoration: none;">2nd</a>, <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2014/11/happy-3rd-birthday-little-arrow.html" style="color: #795e3f; text-decoration: none;">3rd</a>, and <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2015/11/happy-4th-birthday-little-arrow.html" target="_blank">4th</a> posts and </em><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Big Arrow's </em><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2011/04/crawling-around-hope-indiana.html" style="background-color: white; color: #795e3f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;"><em>2nd</em></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">, </em><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2012/04/three-years-ago-today.html" style="background-color: white; color: #795e3f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;"><em>3rd</em></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">, </em><em style="background-color: white; color: #795e3f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2013/04/happy-4th-birthday-big-arrow.html" style="background-color: white; color: #795e3f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">4th</a>,</em><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"> </em><em style="background-color: white; color: #795e3f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2014/04/happy-5th-birthday-big-arrow.html" style="background-color: white; color: #795e3f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">5th</a>, <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2015/04/happy-6th-birthday-big-arrow.html"><span style="color: #795e3f;">6th</span></a></em><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">, and <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2016/05/happy-7th-birthday-big-arrow.html#more" target="_blank"><span style="color: #795e3f;">7th</span></a> posts at the links.) In fact, these birthday posts are sadly becoming just about all I have time to write these days. Sigh.</em><br />
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Little Arrow, I just put you to bed for the last time as a 4-year-old. I think a piece of my heart broke, but then again, I'm reminded that a few days ago, I said to my husband, "I wish I could freeze time at this very moment of parenting." I love the phase you and your brother are in right now. Old enough to be fairly independent, but still full of little kid spunk and charm. (With a little bit of frequent afterschool meltdowns sprinkled on top, if we're keeping it real.)<br />
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See, you still take baths. But then you run and put your pajamas on all by yourself and sometimes even throw your dirty clothes in the laundry. (You like a tidy room, very much a credit to your orderly father.)<br />
<br />
You still want to snuggle at bedtime, but you also typically sleep 10-11 straight hours each night. Oh, how I wish I could tell the very-tired-mom-of-two-little-ones this miracle would someday happen round about 4-5 years ago.<br />
<br />
Also, this is the year you learned to swim. Frankly, you were probably ready last summer but I was too lazy to really make the time for that (sorry, second kid) and a 3-year-old swimming independently just seemed absurd. <br />
<br />
Watching you at swim lessons this summer was the perfect synopsis of what I love about you. You just look at challenges and tackle them head on. You can definitely be shy, but you're also rarely intimidated. Your comfort zone is so much wider than mine, and you're very willing to step outside it often. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUW8QMKwB9N-m_15-eLNPqWHAsKeOWd_jpPD4ySux2B6qPWIqcV3_2ZMTXvSiLEkFWf5gkufeCCbde4sd2ruFLwzpO1Uf_FE269N9wg4BSMHQOzkR0SHsrAeUTJXsVMd1_6kisX3TBxNuX/s1600/Abq+b+petroglyph+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUW8QMKwB9N-m_15-eLNPqWHAsKeOWd_jpPD4ySux2B6qPWIqcV3_2ZMTXvSiLEkFWf5gkufeCCbde4sd2ruFLwzpO1Uf_FE269N9wg4BSMHQOzkR0SHsrAeUTJXsVMd1_6kisX3TBxNuX/s640/Abq+b+petroglyph+3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
As a parent, I'm trying to balance my duty to protect you from danger without holding you back. Goodness, do I struggle with this. I want you within 5 feet of me on the trail of life, but you want to be 50 yards ahead, at a full sprint, just out of my line of sight.<br />
<br />
On the last day of swim lessons, they let the kids jump off the diving board. You wanted to jump off the high dive so badly. I was terrified. You gave me a look that said, "What's the worst that could happen?" The answer was, that you would belly flop from 10 feet up, and that's exactly what you did. Ouch. I've watched this video a hundred times and still cringe:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VZvLNft5UJU/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VZvLNft5UJU?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
Guess what? You marched right back up that ladder and tried again. <br />
<br />
I've never had to push you in anything you do. YOU push ME. I'm learning so much from you, kiddo. My heart isn't breaking because you're 5. I think it's just bursting.arrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-23437234944817825782016-11-09T12:43:00.000-05:002016-11-09T12:43:34.088-05:00Focusing on Thankulness and Hopefulness
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today, I’m choosing to focus on all the things I’m thankful
for. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most importantly, I’m thankful for parents who not only told
me, but SHOWED me, that through hard work anything is possible. But that when
you get where you’re going, you don’t forget the people who haven’t been as fortunate.
Their generosity humbles me every single day. It’s through this lens that I
have formed every value I hold dear. I hope I’m a sliver to my kids what they’ve
been to me.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m thankful that I just brought my 4 year old to a school
that looks like a rainbow of humanity. So that he is continued to be reminded
that no matter what country you’re born in or what you look like or who you
love, we’re all equal and worthy of love and respect. We’ve been treated with
that same dignity when we left these shores for a new country and I’ll never
forget that compassion. It changed me to my very core. But I know that the color of our
skin, the money in our bank account, and the nature of our accents affected the
way we were treated, and I know that for far too many immigrants those
differences make their existence an incredible struggle.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m thankful for a husband that sees me as his equal in
every way. I know now more than ever that this isn’t something to take for
granted. I’m thankful for his parents who raised him in this way. I will devote
myself more than ever to raising two boys into men who will stand up for women’s
rights with all their hearts. And so help me God, if so-called locker room talk
ever unfolds in their presence, may I have instilled in them the courage to end
it.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m thankful I’m a part of a religious community that stands
for peace, love and justice. I’m thankful for this space where I can continue
to work on being my best self, as can my family.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m thankful for all the friends in my life. But today in
particular, I’m thankful that the way I’ve lived my life has brought me friends
of every sexual persuasion, race, ethnicity, religion and more. You’ve opened my
eyes to just how privileged I am. And the real, genuine challenges we face. You make me want to work incredibly hard for
a better world. Because it’s so very personal.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m thankful for the power of the pen and the freedom to
travel. It’s not only been my livelihood the past 7 years but it soothes me. I
hope I never lose these rights.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m thankful that each day I wake up and all my life’s basic
needs are provided to me with little thought. Shelter. Food. Clean water.
Adequate healthcare. I know this instantly makes me ridiculously privileged and
fortunate. I know so many don’t have this and I hope we can all work toward
changing that. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For everything I find myself thankful for today, I am renewed in my commitment to make sure all people can experience these same freedoms and joys.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ll continue to live my life with gratitude,
open-mindedness, and love. And I’ll try harder to be the change I wish to see
in this world.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>arrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-53269051997250558112016-09-21T11:19:00.000-04:002016-09-21T11:19:27.110-04:005 Half-Day Adventures in Malta with KidsMy family's feelings toward our trip to Malta are best summed up in a recent conversation we had with the boys about whether or not we should get a turtle. This comes up frequently in our house... Big Arrow is allergic to dogs and cats so they're angling for alternative pet options. In an effort to steer clear of the inevitable, "So can we have one?" question, I raised my own question. "If we got a turtle, what would you name it?"<br />
<br />
There was some chatter, some silliness of wildly inappropriate names (relating to private parts and bathroom talk). And then one of the boys said, "We should name it Malta. Then we can think about that trip all the time." And we all agreed that was a perfect name. And it almost makes me want to seriously consider getting them a turtle just so we could have a pet named Malta.<br />
<br />
That's when you know a trip has reached legendary status.<br />
<br />
Our trip to Malta was all about combining sightseeing with relaxation. We knew it would be our last European trip for quite a while so we wanted to make the most of it, but we were also smack dab in the middle of an international move so we all desperately needed some R&R. (Little Arrow was also fresh off a bout with a terrible flu, so even if we hadn't wanted to go at a slow pace, his lessened energy required it.)<br />
<br />
We tried to balance our days with outings that took 2-4 hours, and then relax by the pool or on the beach for the rest of the day. We also did a spectacular day trip to Gozo, an island off of Malta. I'll devote an entire post to Gozo in the next couple of weeks so stay tuned.<br />
<br />
After a week on the island, there was still more we wanted to see, but these were our highlights:<br />
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<br />
<br />
<b>Option 1: <a href="http://www.rolling-geeks.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rolling Geeks Tour</a></b><br />
<br />
If you do one thing in Malta with your kids, make it this. We rented an electric golf cart that had<br />
an iPad that was pre-programmed with a historical tour of the Three Cities in Malta. The scenery was stunning, the commentary was really helpful for folks who don't know anything about Malta's history (like us), and the ride was a total thrill, especially for the kids.<br />
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<br />
If your kids are still a bit too young for tour guides, this was an ideal way to learn all about what we were seeing, but in a way that was just right for our children. Truthfully, most of the recorded commentary on the iPad was over their heads, but they didn't mind at all because they were completely distracted by the excitement of the golf cart. Plus, we could stop whenever we wanted (like at a beach, a park, a clifftop overlook, etc.) to let them run around and take a break.<br />
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<br />
We saw some amazing areas of the country that we would have never thought to visit on our own. I can't say enough about it. At only 75 euros for all four of us for 2.5 hours, it was an exceptionally good value.<br />
<br />
<b>Option 2: <a href="http://www.visitmalta.com/en/info/marsaxlokk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Marsaxlokk</a></b><br />
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In the era of modern supermarkets and fast food, you must bring your kids to the Sunday market in Marsaxlokk at the southern tip of Malta. Here, the seafood is brought directly from the brightly colored wooden ships to the market vendors and the restaurants and cafes that line the main street along the marina. It's hot, stinky and crowded, but its a scene that will blow you away in appreciation that places like this still exist. Time has stood still in this place in the best possible way.<br />
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<br />
Arrive mid morning and stroll the market, then grab the first open table you see for lunch (it will be absolutely packed by 1 p.m. at all the waterside restaurants). Enjoy a leisurely lunch and then stroll the market again. By mid afternoon most of the delightful boats will be tied back up and you can get incredible photos of the bay.<br />
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<b>Option 3: <a href="http://www.malta.com/en/attraction/culture/garden-park/san-anton-gardens" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">San Anton Gardens and Presidential Palace</a></b><br />
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I've never met a botanical garden I didn't like, but I'm not sure I would have carved out time for this one in Malta if it hadn't been directly across the street from our hotel. But go figure, our kids were up early our first morning and it seemed like a great place to burn off some energy and get some fresh air.<br />
<br />
The gardens themselves are quite pleasant and well maintained. There's even a small aviary with fancy birds. Challenge your kids to count up how many cats they see wandering about. I think we spotted at least a dozen.<br />
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<br />
From there, we wandered through the Presidential Palace (you'll be stunned by how little security there seems to be). Just past the Palace is a coffee shop with incredible playgrounds and play spaces, even a small petting zoo. Just don't come here first, or you'll never drag the kids away.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Option 4: <a href="http://www.visitmalta.com/en/valletta" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Valletta</a></b><br />
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<br />
As Malta's largest city, Valletta truly deserves a full day. But we passed through en route from changing from one hotel to another so we only had a few hours. We mostly just enjoyed wandering the streets, especially the pedestrian only Commonwealth Walkway.<br />
<br />
We did make a stop to watch a 5D movie about Malta's history at <a href="http://malta5d.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Malta 5D</a> (near St. John's Cathedral). Worth doing if you want a nice, kid-friendly introduction to Malta's significance in the history books (and it IS very significant, despite being a somewhat lesser known destination).<br />
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<br />
I wish we had made time to step into St. John's Cathedral. I've never seen such a large structure tucked away amid normal buildings quite like this anywhere else in Europe. It was spectacular just admiring it from the very hilly streets around it.<br />
<br />
<b>Option 5: <a href="http://www.visitmalta.com/en/mdina-and-rabat" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mdina</a></b><br />
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<br />
This was a spur of the moment half-day adventure for us, we were actually en route to another destination and realized the drive was going to take longer than we anticipated so we stopped here instead. With absolutely no pre-planning about one of Malta's most ancient villages, we happily accepted an offer from one of the horse carriage drivers at the ancient entrance gates.<br />
<br />
We spent the next half hour enjoying the ride and exploring the most narrow alleys, beautiful churches, incredible views of the Malta countryside, etc. Then we had a charming lunch in a little cafe, marveled at the strange foods our experienced expat kids now happily ate (if you had told me 3 years prior we'd be ordering our kids chorizo platters that they would then devour I would have fallen over). And then we stopped at the playground near the city gates and watched our boys enjoy their final European playground.<br />
<br />
I don't know when we'll take the kids back to Europe. Perhaps they'll be well past playground playing age. Maybe they'll be driving electric golf carts themselves. And we might even have a turtle named Malta by then. Regardless, Malta was the perfect last hurrah.<br />
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<br />
<a href="http://ciaobambino.com/location/malta/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ciao Bambino has some great articles about Malta here</a>. This was my starting point for planning our trip.<br />
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<br />arrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.com0Malta35.937496 14.37541599999997335.526131500000005 13.729968999999972 36.3488605 15.020862999999974tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-68955581643239392232016-09-06T15:43:00.000-04:002016-09-21T11:19:57.940-04:00Back in business!It's been a little quiet around Arrows Sent Forth these past six months. I could offer you a list of <strike>excuses</strike> reasons, like the fact that I started a new career after 7 years as a mostly stay-at-home mom, executed an international relocation back to Indiana from England, and resettled two kids into new schools. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dispatches-England-American-Familys-Adventure/dp/1533430179/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472952239&sr=8-1&keywords=dispatches+from+england" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Oh, yeah, and I wrote a book</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All settled back into U.S. life, like the joy of front porch swings on summer days.</td></tr>
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While all this is true, I think the most honest answer is I needed to step away for a little while and see what shook out. I've ping-ponged back and forth between A) abandoning this blog altogether, B) cracking the whip and getting serious about posting at least weekly, or C) just continuing my usual approach of willy nilly blogging when I feel like it/have the time to write.<br />
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Option C won out, though A was a leading contender for a while. <br />
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Arrows Sent Forth has always been a hobby for me, though at times it has brought me paid work as a travel writer, and now indirectly as a travel planner for Ciao Bambino. (<a href="http://ciaobambino.com/cb-family-vacation-advisors/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Want my help planning European travel with your kids? Hire me!</a>) I still have European travel stories I want to tell, like our final trip (for now!) to Malta last February. And we've got lots of North American travel on the horizon in 2016 and 2017, including a bucket list trip to New Mexico this October and a grand Quebec road trip sketched out for next summer. As the boys get older, I'm sure I'll continue to rethink the future and direction of this space in my life, but for now, I feel like I have more I want to write and this is my favorite outlet for that.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anglotopia compiled my weekly column about life in England into this book. Check it out on Amazon!</td></tr>
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One thing I know I want to do: share more on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/arrowssentforth/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the Arrows Sent Forth Facebook page</a>. Writing lengthy blog posts is time consuming and the reality is I'll only be doing that sporadically now that I'm working. But Facebook shares are quick and easy. So I'd like to start a daily "Travel Tidbit" series on my Facebook page.<br />
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One day it might be a great travel tip. Another day I might share an article or post I've read and enjoyed. Or I might just share a fun memory from a past trip. Basically, it'll be whatever I feel like posting (isn't that what Facebook is all about?) I've learned a lot about traveling with kids these past few years, and I continue to learn more every day now that I'm a travel planner. I love to share that knowledge and make everyone's travels more fun and fulfilling.<br />
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So if you need a daily dose of travel fun/inspiration/knowledge, be sure to like the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/arrowssentforth/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Arrows Sent Forth Facebook page</a> and join in the conversation. You can follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/arrowssentforth/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/ArrowsSentForth" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, too. I'll be back in this blogging space soon sharing more about Malta. (Hint: You want to go to there.)arrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-15856072119635838752016-05-05T22:49:00.002-04:002016-09-21T11:20:15.083-04:00Happy 7th Birthday, Big Arrow!I wasn't sure what I wanted to write about for your 7th birthday post until just a few days ago. We were curled up on the couch, watching "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," the slightly creepy Johnny Depp version. I was already feeling warm and fuzzy, listening to you and your brother compare the movie version to the play we saw in London last Christmas Eve. I was feeling thankful we had the chance to do that and provide you with such an experience (and who am I kidding... me too! I loved it as much as you did!). I was mentally reflecting on all those many memories from the past few years for which I'm grateful.<br />
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And then one of Charlie's grandmothers says to Charlie as he dreams of winning a golden ticket, "Charlie, nothing is impossible."<br />
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And that's it. That's what I want to tell you this year. Anything is possible. And it truly is. I hope your short yet amazing life has taught you this already.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>You're a rule follower, much like me. I think for people like us, veering off the standard path, turning away from the expected, is quite difficult. Yet it can be so amazing. There were so many moments while we were living abroad that I thought to myself, "I can't believe I'm here in this moment, doing this thing or seeing this place." I have no doubt I'll have experiences like that to come, both in our travels and in day-to-day life. I want you to feel that way about your life as well. I hope you often find yourself standing in amazement at what you're doing, seeing, feeling... something.<br />
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I know your memories of our time abroad will slowly fade until they are just a fuzzy blend of people and places. But I hope it taught you that you can do anything, go anywhere, be anyone. You're full of creativity, spirit, laughter, smiles, and snuggles. That will take you far. But I also hope you know it's ok to take chances, to step off the mainstream track, and do something scary once in a while.<br />
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Last week at school, you had to write a sentence about tackling a challenge with a positive attitude. You so simply wrote, "I moved to a different country and then back." I'll be honest... I'm not sure four years ago I was completely confident you would handle these big transitions so well. But you have, and I promise I'll never doubt your capabilities again. You're better for it, and there's a toughness about you now that you always had somewhere deep inside. You've just developed it more and let it out.<br />
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Though you'll still scream bloody murder the moment your brother so much as bumps into you. You're still not <i>that </i>tough.<br />
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Roald Dahl has always been a hero of mine. He's one of yours now, too, I'm proud to say. So I wouldn't dare disagree with such a genius. Nothing is impossible. <br />
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;">(I write posts to the boys on their birthdays. You can read Little Arrow's </span></i><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2012/12/1-year-of-travel-little-arrows-1st.html" style="color: #795e3f; text-decoration: none;">1st</a>, <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2013/11/happy-2nd-birthday-little-arrow.html" style="color: #795e3f; text-decoration: none;">2nd</a>, <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2014/11/happy-3rd-birthday-little-arrow.html" style="color: #795e3f; text-decoration: none;">3rd</a>, and <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2015/11/happy-4th-birthday-little-arrow.html">4th</a> posts and </em><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Big Arrow's </em><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2011/04/crawling-around-hope-indiana.html" style="background-color: white; color: #795e3f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;"><em>2nd</em></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">, </em><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2012/04/three-years-ago-today.html" style="background-color: white; color: #795e3f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;"><em>3rd</em></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">, </em><em style="background-color: white; color: #795e3f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2013/04/happy-4th-birthday-big-arrow.html" style="background-color: white; color: #795e3f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">4th</a>,</em><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"> </em><em style="background-color: white; color: #795e3f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2014/04/happy-5th-birthday-big-arrow.html" style="background-color: white; color: #795e3f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">5th</a>, and <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2015/04/happy-6th-birthday-big-arrow.html"><span style="color: #795e3f;">6th</span></a></em><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2015/04/happy-6th-birthday-big-arrow.html"><span style="color: #795e3f;"> </span></a>posts at the links.)</em>arrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-19079320735556598812016-01-25T16:33:00.001-05:002016-09-21T11:20:31.525-04:00Postcards from Puglia, ItalyThere's a lot to say about our trip to Puglia, Italy over the Christmas holiday. Unfortunately there's not a lot of time to say it, as we move back to the U.S. in just a few weeks. I'm knee-deep in to-do lists, packing, relocation documents, blah, blah, blah. Apparently repatriating yourself is every bit as time consuming as expatriating yourself. <br />
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Nevertheless, I'm not going to let one of our last European trips of this phase of our lives tick by without being mentioned on the blog. And come to think of it, sharing a lot of photos and not a lot of time-consuming words is probably the best way to reflect on our travels to this region of Italy anyway. Puglia was jam packed with beauty. And also a fair amount of challenges. This is not an area of the world that caters to tourists or even English speakers in general. Which is refreshing in many ways, but also a little stressful and sometimes more than a little inconvenient. Like when you're desperate to feed your children at 6:30 p.m. and nothing is open until 8 p.m. What can I say, we follow a senior citizen eating schedule around here.<br />
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Anyway, let's let the beautiful photos tell the story. Because the incredibly gorgeous places, views, and buildings we saw are what I'm going to remember about Puglia anyway. Not leaving my credit card at a café two hours drive away. <br />
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<b>First Stop: Borgo Egnazia</b><br />
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After flying into the Brindisi airport, we began our Puglian travels at the luxurious <a href="http://borgoegnazia.com/" rel="nofollow">Borgo Egnazia</a> resort. <a href="http://ciaobambino.com/borgo-egnazia-family-friendly-review/" rel="nofollow">I wrote a full review of our experience at Ciao Bambino</a>, head that way if you want the details. The brief summary is that we came, we pasta'd and pizza'd, we indoor pooled, we kids clubbed, and we relaxed. Bliss.<br />
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<b>Next Stop: Ostuni</b><br />
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We made a brief stop on the coast after leaving Borgo Egnazia (picture above), then we headed to the hillside town of Ostuni. The charm of this place was oozing out of every little alleyway and café.<br />
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It was particularly dazzling all lit up for Christmas.<br />
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From Ostuni, we did a day trip to Alberobello to see the famous trulli homes. <br />
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<b>Next Stop: Lecce</b><br />
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We didn't stay the night in this historic city known for its baroque architecture and ancient ruins, but it would be a good place to base yourself if you wanted to just stick to one location but still explore Puglia. Very centrally located and large enough to have enough amenities. For us, a day wandering around its famous sites was enough of a taste of its many visual treats (and there are many).<br />
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<b>Final Stop: Otranto</b><br />
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If I had to pick a favorite area of Puglia, Otranto would be it. Gorgeous beachside location: check. Magical, winding streets and paths through the historic center of town: check. One knock-your-socks-off fantastic meal: check. For my family, it was pretty much the best of what makes Puglia so special, all wrapped up in one convenient town. And for off season travelers like us, it was one of the few seaside towns we passed through that wasn't completely boarded up for the winter season. In fact, it was bustling with activity, at least over the New Year's holiday.<br />
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Puglia was unlike anywhere else we've been in Europe. Gorgeous beyond compare. And with a dash of ruggedness and edginess that kept us on our toes.<br />
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<br />arrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-152201822922597322015-11-30T07:23:00.000-05:002016-09-21T11:20:50.148-04:00Happy 4th Birthday, Little Arrow!<em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">As you may know,</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"> </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">I like to write posts to the boys on their birthdays, and it is Little Arrow's 4th birthday (you can read his </em><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2012/12/1-year-of-travel-little-arrows-1st.html" style="color: #795e3f; text-decoration: none;">1st</a>, <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2013/11/happy-2nd-birthday-little-arrow.html" style="color: #795e3f; text-decoration: none;">2nd</a>, and <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2014/11/happy-3rd-birthday-little-arrow.html" style="color: #795e3f; text-decoration: none;">3rd</a> posts and </em><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Big Arrow's </em><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2011/04/crawling-around-hope-indiana.html" style="background-color: white; color: #795e3f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;"><em>2nd</em></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">, </em><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2012/04/three-years-ago-today.html" style="background-color: white; color: #795e3f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;"><em>3rd</em></a><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">, </em><em style="background-color: white; color: #795e3f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2013/04/happy-4th-birthday-big-arrow.html" style="background-color: white; color: #795e3f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">4th</a>,</em><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"> </em><em style="background-color: white; color: #795e3f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2014/04/happy-5th-birthday-big-arrow.html" style="background-color: white; color: #795e3f; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">5th</a>, and <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2015/04/happy-6th-birthday-big-arrow.html">6th</a></em><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2015/04/happy-6th-birthday-big-arrow.html"> </a>posts at the links.) Forgive this temporary transformation of this travel blog into an incomplete baby book... </em><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">I'll resume my normal travel tales and tips in a few days.</em><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Little man, I've been thinking about what I might write to you in this space, on the eve of your fourth birthday, for weeks now. I want to do justice to my feelings toward you. How complex they are, yet how pure and full of love they are, too. Your personality has truly blossomed this year. We're getting a much clearer snapshots of the boy you're becoming and man you'll be someday. And we love everything we're seeing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">I say my feelings are complex because you challenge me every single day. Sometimes every single minute. Not because you're naughty (though you are, sometimes) or because you're difficult (though you are sometimes that, too). But because in most ways you're nothing like me. And I'm learning to appreciate how parenting someone so different from "my own self" (as you like to say!) is making me a better person.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">I see a coloring sheet, and I can't wait to fill it with fabulous shades that I think will look beautiful together. You see a coloring sheet and you want to make it look exactly like the cover of the coloring book. I see a stack of puzzles and get bored. You see puzzles as a jumble just waiting to be organized. You're gravitating toward counting and math while I'm drawn to words and writing. I love to snuggle my family, but if I lay down next to you in your bed you make me maintain a strict 1 inch boundary of no touching.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">I see risky playground equipment and think, "no way." You see them and think, "challenge accepted."</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">I fill my life with our small families and a few close friends. You're reportedly the most popular kid in your class, and I'm reminded of that whenever I pick you up from nursery and two dozen children come running to the fence to say goodbye to you. I'm a morning person, you're at your grouchiest when you first wake up. I'm laid back and not very picky. You demand things to be exactly as you want them, whether its the color of your dinner plate or the stray string hanging off your sock or only wearing that Captain America shirt with those particular dark blue trousers.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">I hate to admit this, but before I became your mom, I think I may have been a bit judgemental toward people who weren't much like me. Now that I see life through your eyes, I know deeply and purely in a way I never knew before how absolutely fantastic it is that we're all so different. Because of you, I've welcomed friends into my life that are a lot more like you than me and my life is much richer for it. You're open to adventures and experiences that bring so much joy to all of us. And you challenge our family to be more open-minded, more accepting, and more embracing of diversity. Couldn't we all use more of that these days?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Plus, we laugh harder and more often because of the myriad of ways you entertain us. <i>(Some day we'll tell you about that time you shushed us all at dinner only to get up, turn your back to us, and blow us away with an enormous fart. I earned my boy mom badge that day by laughing instead of scolding.) </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">We joke that the scariest words to hear are you saying, "Hey everybody, watch this!" You are my wild child, through and through.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">When they wheeled me into surgery the day you were born, James Taylor's <i>Sweet Baby James</i> was playing in the operating room. I remember being overcome with this feeling that I just couldn't wait another moment to meet you. And each morning, for the past four years, when you yell at the top of your lungs for me to come into your room, I think to myself that I just can't wait to see what you'll get up to that day. I know it'll surprise me, challenge me, frustrate me, and delight me. Sometimes all at the same time. Isn't that wonderful?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">I hope I get to feel that way for many more years, sweet boy. Happy birthday!</span></span></div>
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arrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-38378221838656577142015-11-25T07:40:00.000-05:002015-11-30T07:24:01.412-05:00Saalbach's Kohlmais: Where Mountain Dreams Come TrueIt was hard to gauge how family friendly our summer trip to Austria was going to be. I thought my kids would be in awe of the mountain landscape, something very foreign for this Midwestern family. And they were.<i> (Read my post about </i><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2015/10/-asitz-mountain-leogang-austria.html"><i>our time on Asitz Mountain in Leogang here.)</i></a><br />
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But I also figured that moment of wonder would last about 30 seconds, and I was right.<br />
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What would we do after the enthusiasm died away? I knew we'd still hike... we always do on outdoorsy trips, and we always manage to find a way to keep the kids' legs moving and spirits up, though sometimes we have to get creative so motivation doesn't wane. As we made our way up the Kohlmais Mountain in Saalbach via gondola, we pointed out interesting sights to the kids, trying to get them excited about discoveries they'd want to make as we made our way back down on foot.<br />
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But we needn't have bothered, because lucky for us, the mountain did all that work for us by creating the most engaging and fun children's trail we've ever experienced, called <a href="http://www.saalbach.com/en/summer/lift-company/family/montelinos-adventure-path.html" rel="nofollow">Montelino's Adventure Path</a>.<br />
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Not only we were treated to some of the most magnificent views of my life all along the trail, but we got to enjoy play area after activity station after sports challenge, on and on and on as we made our way down the mountain. <br />
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The stops along the way weren't the least bit intrusive. Rather, they blended in nicely in a natural way. For example, at one station we threw pine cones at a rope target, and then collected our cones back into beautiful baskets for the next hikers to have a turn. No obnoxious neon colored plastic slides or rubber padding in sight. In fact, they blended in so well that we never even noticed them when we peered down at the mountain from the gondola.<br />
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Also, I'm a sucker for lunch with a view.<br />
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<i>(What I love more than anything in this photo is that it showcases Little Arrow's undying love for spaghetti bolognese, which he ordered every single time we went out to eat on this week-long trip, no exaggeration.)</i><br />
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If I had to craft my perfect family travel day, it would include views like this, crisp mountain air all around, whiffs of weiner schnitzel and freshly baked pretzels floating by. I can't see how it gets any better than this for families.arrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.com0Kohlmais Mittelstation, Austria47.4029515 12.6609859999999847.381457 12.620645499999981 47.424446 12.701326499999979tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-68814160771677558592015-10-23T04:31:00.000-04:002015-11-25T07:41:50.261-05:00Floating in the Clouds Atop Leogang's Asitz MountainA good friend of mine studied abroad in Austria while we were in college. When she came back to school after living there for a semester, the thing I remember most is that she said, "Wunderbar!" a lot. (She also taught us how to wear our scarves the way Europeans do, and I still think of her every time I wrap myself up that way.)<br />
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When my eyes first saw those Austrian Alps as we drove from Munich during our summer trip, I finally understood what that wunderbar! nonsense was all about. I can't think of a better way to describe those majestic mountains. They are truly full of wonder in every possible way.<br />
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The mountain view from the top of the Asitz mountain in <a href="http://www.leoganger-bergbahnen.at/en/">Leogang</a> was without a doubt the most breathtaking landscape I've ever seen. Perhaps my feelings toward it is due in part to the fact that the morning started out wet and foggy. We thought there was a good chance we'd take the gondola to the top, only to be completely surrounded by cloud cover. Maybe there's something to the "playing hard to get" philosophy because I'm fairly certain that's what the mountain was doing to us as we made our way toward the top. But Asitz did not let us down, and the skies partially cleared just as we arrived at the summit. <br />
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In fact, the clouds and fog teased us all day as we explored. They added just enough mystery and intrigue as they floated in and out of our line of sight to make the views seem even more majestic and thrilling. Each time I looked up or aimed my camera across the skies, the view had changed and looked even better than it had moments before.<br />
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Next week, I'll write more about how family friendly the Austrian Alps are. But just to give you a taste, as if the view alone wouldn't be worth it, we got to experience a thrilling toboggan run and eat an incredible home-cooked meal at the top of Asitz. We also spent about an hour hiking through the beautiful, largely undisturbed forest there.<br />
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We then took the gondola back down halfway. At the mid-point of the mountain, there was an enormous play space, full of natural elements like a babbling brook and more, which my children easily spent a couple of hours exploring.<br />
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At the end of the day, as we sat down to dinner back at our rented apartment in neaby Saalbach, the only word I could think to describe what we'd seen in Austria and those mountains was, you guessed it, wunderbar!<br />
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<br />arrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.com0Leogang, Austria47.4396028 12.76233860000002147.3536768 12.600977100000021 47.525528800000004 12.923700100000021tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-86576004020899320192015-10-19T05:35:00.001-04:002015-10-23T04:10:41.701-04:00Touring Buckingham Palace, Royal Mews, and Queen's GalleryI have a bit of a history bringing my children to Buckingham Palace. Our first visit ended like this and included <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2013/07/thats-one-way-to-meet-queen.html">Big Arrow getting his head stuck in the gate</a>.<br />
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On another visit, we ended up like this, with Little Arrow trespassing on Her Majesty's front garden.<br />
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Needless to say, I was due for some adult time at the Palace, and that's just what I got a few weeks ago when a group of girlfriends and I went down to London for a day of touring the State Rooms, the Royal Mews, and the Queen's Gallery. I wrote a description of the <a href="http://www.anglotopia.net/columns/dispatches-from-england/dispatches-england-american-tours-buckingham-palace/" rel="nofollow">experience over at Anglotopia as well</a>, but here are a few other highlights and photos.<br />
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First, the Royal Mews is not to be skipped, as I almost foolishly suggested to our pressed-for-time group. (For those not well versed in posh royal terminology, the Royal Mews is where the carriages, horses and fancy cars are kept). Because it's open almost year-round, unlike the State Rooms, it is far more accessible to visitors than the Palace itself. It's also the spot I'd be most apt to return to with my boys. I think they'd find the horse stables, carriages and facility interesting. Personally, I loved this glimpse into royal life that the Queen herself takes such an interest in. <br />
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The carriages range from the every day basic ("think I'll just pop down to the corner shop in the basic black today...") <br />
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... to the exquisitely ornate, once-in-a-lifetime carriage ("Coronation Day, is it? Best get my solid gold ready...")<br />
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The stables themselves fascinated me. The Queen herself names each of the horses, often based on a favorite location or something special happening at the time the horse is acquired. <br />
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We even got to see a few of them ourselves. Meet Coachman, everyone.<br />
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From there, we headed to the State Rooms. These are only open to visitors for a few weeks each year, so I'm so thankful I got the chance to step inside. I'm normally quite understanding and respectful of "no photography" rules. But can I just say my trigger finger was totally itching to sneak a few snaps in there? It was amazing. Not only to see those rooms for myself, but also to hear and learn about the behind the scenes efforts to make parties, state visits, and family milestones a success. <br />
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But a real highlight and moment of surprise for me came when our tour of the Palace concluded and we stepped into the back garden. 38 acres of private, peaceful green space in the center of London? Absolutely unheard of. I've strolled through St. James Park, played with the kids in Hyde Park, and enjoyed other green pockets in London. But it's hard to imagine having this much land all to yourself in such a condensed city, where even renting an itty bitty studio apartment might cost you a few thousand pounds a month.<br />
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After a quick lunch in the café in the back garden (as you do), we were off to the Queen's Gallery. I did my readers a disservice and had no idea what the Queen's Gallery was until I walked in it. Turns out, it's an art gallery where some of the artwork owned by the royal family is displayed, with an often-changing theme. Currently, it's all art based on gardens, which was quite appropriate having basically jogged through the Palace's garden in order to make our timed entrance to the Gallery.<br />
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A few favorites here for me included this painting of a garden party (which I've decided is the royal event I'd be most interested in attending, should I ever get the chance).<br />
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I also loved this painting of Queen Victoria nursing one of her children in the garden, as well as one of her children's toy wheelbarrow and garden hoe that they used when playing outside. Even heirs to the throne need fresh air.<br />
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Should you have kids with you, be aware that the gallery is quite crowded, even with the timed entrance to manage the flow of visitors. But there is a play room where children can wear period costumes and do art projects at the end of the walk through the various rooms in the gallery. With young children, I would suggest heading directly to that space and then maybe venture out to see a few paintings as moods and patience permit. School age children would be fine to walk through the entire gallery. The gallery is also open nearly year-round.<br />
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All in all, it was one of those magical days where you feel immersed in another way of life, a glimpse into how "the other half" lives. I'm not quite sure why Americans are so fascinated with the royal family, and I include myself square into that category. Perhaps it's so foreign to us, having never had a monarchy since we broke free of this one. Maybe it's the fairytales of our youth brought into the 21st century.<br />
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For me personally, there's something about the attention to detail that pulls me in. At my house, it's been a good week if I've swept the floors and scrubbed the toilets. Nine times out of ten you'd find our beds unmade and crumbs on our kitchen chairs. I'm ok with that. But to walk through the Palace and see no fork out of line, no leaf out of place in the garden? That is like stepping into a life so far removed from my own. And why else travel other than to experience a bit of the extraordinary?<br />
<br />arrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.com0Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA, UK51.501364 -0.1418899999999894125.979329500000002 -41.450483999999989 77.0233985 41.16670400000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-69498002345299279722015-10-07T05:25:00.000-04:002015-10-23T04:10:21.671-04:00A Day in Wells Saves the Day<i>On tonight's episode of Family Travel Gone Wrong: A family pulls into a parking spot in the center of the small city of Wells in Somerset, England, a 20-minute drive from their campsite. They arrive very wet, having woken up to a soggy campsite after a torrential downpour all night. (Miraculously, </i><a href="http://www.coleman.com/product/coleman-6-person-instant-tent/2000015606?contextCategory=11020#.VgrrjjZdHVI" rel="nofollow"><i>our Coleman Instant Tent</i></a><i> stayed completely dry!) They had spent the previous 24 hours stranded at their campsite when the matriarch of the family (me) locked both sets of keys in the trunk of the car, leaving them with only one wallet, a little bit of cash, a tent and some clothes. All other belongings including phones, food, camping supplies, books, etc., were locked inside the car. This family endured the drama of three different mechanics attempting to unlock the car over the previous 24 hour period.</i> <br />
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True story.<br />
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Needless to say, we were in need of a hot meal and something (anything) to go our way if our weekend camping getaway was to be salvaged.<br />
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Wells delivered. <br />
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After refueling (oh, what two cups of steaming coffee does to an exhausted parent's disposition!), we embarked on a walk about town. It was raining again at this point, but we were so overjoyed to be out exploring with full, warm bellies that we barely noticed.<br />
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First stop was the landmark that put Wells on the map, so to speak. The cathedral. It stunned in a way that only an architectural triumph like this can. We walked almost entirely around it so we could admire it from all angles. A real highlight was that we were treated to the chiming of the church bells at high noon.<br />
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From there, we made our way to the Bishop's Palace. We were going to only admire it from the outside but then realized they had a festival happening inside, so we bought tickets and ventured inside. It couldn't have been a more glorious afternoon (well, aside from the rain, of course).<br />
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The boys got to watch and then practice sword fighting, archery, and falconry. We toured the palace and learned more about the building, including where the toilet was, which was a real highlight for Little Arrow. Never underestimate the power of potty education for young boys!<br />
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The outdoor space offered lovely views of the cathedral and had a maze, climbing tree, gardens and sculptures. We were even treated to a sword fighting show by some of the festival entertainers. The sound of that metal banging and echoing around those ancient stone walls was thrilling for all of us.<br />
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It was once again a perfect marriage of fun for kids and historical charm and beauty that all ages can appreciate. I don't know how we keep stumbling upon these treasures in our travels, but I hope it never stops. Sometimes I think half the battle is just showing up... not letting a little (or a lot of) rain and some rotten luck slow you down.<br />
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Wells, thanks for the warm food, fun entertainment, and beautiful surroundings. We certainly needed your hospitality that day, and just like that hot cup of coffee, you brought us back to life.arrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-72946767999978737332015-09-25T05:22:00.000-04:002015-10-07T05:27:08.021-04:00Biking Through Munich with KidsGetting from point A to point B when sightseeing through a city with kids can be exhausting, exhilarating and exciting (how's that for alliteration!) My kids have delighted in various subways, trains, buses, etc. as we've traveled around European cities. And we've withstood a few epic tantrums on public transit also. But in Munich, we found our new favorite way to get around: bikes!<br />
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Truth be told, we love to ride bikes as a family, but we almost always head to places with dedicated bike paths. I'm not very comfortable riding my bike through city streets, in and out of traffic, especially with the boys, so we've never rented bikes during city visits. Until Munich, when after our first day there, we realized it was relatively flat and had bike lanes on almost every major street (often protected by a curb away from vehicle traffic). It was the type of biking that seemed both safe and fun, and we knew the boys would love it.<br />
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The weather forecast was glorious on the morning of <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2015/09/3-days-in-munich-with-kids.html">our second day in Munich</a>. After a quick game of footie in a nearby park (and coffee for mom and dad, naturally), we headed straight to <a href="http://www.mikesbiketours.com/munich/" rel="nofollow">Mike's Bikes rental office</a>. (They offer organized tours that leave from the Marienplatz, but we wanted the flexibility to go wherever we wanted that day.)<br />
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We had a route in mind, but the staff there provided us with a helpful map that showed good streets for biking. They got us fitted with bikes and helmets (and a tandem tag-a-long for Big Arrow and a seat for Little Arrow), and off we went. (I'll break down our exact route at the end of the post for those wishing to re-create our day.)<br />
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First stop: the big square outside the opera house. I wanted a few pictures and we also needed to make a few adjustments to bike seat heights, helmet straps, etc. that we hadn't noticed at the bike shop. But the boys made themselves at home, as they always do, treating the statue in the middle of the square as a personal playground.<br />
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Next stop: <a href="http://www.olympiapark.de/en/olympiapark-munich/" rel="nofollow">Olympic Park. </a>This was one of the reasons we wanted to rent bikes, as its too far out of the city centre to easily walk to, at least from where we were staying. Yet it was gorgeous and lots of fun for the kids. If you wanted to spend more time here, you can tour some of the Olympic venues, but we really just wanted to enjoy the big open spaces for playing and having a snack.<br />
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Next stop: Munich's famous English Gardens, and more specifically, the beer gardens found within. Out first beer garden was <a href="http://www.munichbeergardens.com/Hirschau" rel="nofollow">Hirschau</a>. <br />
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At Hirschau, we quickly realized these large beer gardens were awesome for families (buffet-style food service, live music, and most importantly: playgrounds!) We decided to spend the rest of that sunny afternoon visiting several beer gardens throughout the English Gardens. <br />
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Next stop: <a href="http://www.munichbeergardens.com/Seehaus" rel="nofollow">Seehaus</a>. This was probably my least favorite beer garden of the day (though that's like saying whipped cream is my least favorite ice cream topping). The location is gorgeous (directly next to the large lake). But the food and beers were more expensive here, and the playground was very small.<br />
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Next stop: <a href="http://www.munichbeergardens.com/Chinesischer_Turm" rel="nofollow">Chinesischer Turm. </a>It was only fitting to spend one of our best family travel days at what turned out to be our favorite beer garden of the day. Big trees surround this spacious spot, so there was plenty of shade. The playground was large and fun, and the live band playing from one of the tiers in the pagoda gave it such a lively atmosphere. I could have spent the entire evening here, but alas, those bikes needed to be returned before the close of business.<br />
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Final stop: Surfing! We finished our ride through the English Gardens with a stop at the surfing spot. Yes, there's surfing in Munich! Rapids in an artificial stream that runs through the gardens have created a popular place for surfers to take turns riding the waves created. <br />
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You know those days where you wish you could freeze time? I'd happily hit the pause button on that day, whizzing through Munich on bikes, the giggles of my kids floating in the air. arrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-90521753443693894742015-09-16T08:47:00.000-04:002015-09-25T05:24:11.407-04:003 Days in Munich with KidsI'll admit that Munich, and Germany in general, wasn't high on my list of places to travel around Europe. I don't know why. I really don't. It just never had the appeal that other destinations have had for me. But my husband has persistently put it on the top of his travel wish list for years. And so when we began mapping out a week-long summer trip, he finally got me to commit to going.<br />
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We were going to kick the week off in Munich for three days. When I began reading about the city, I realized it was going to be a great fit for our family. Plenty of culture, sightseeing, and yet a fun, family-friendly feel to it. Indeed, it lived up to this and then some. It's one of the most laid back European cities I've been to. Maybe it's all the beer and pretzels.<br />
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<b>Day 1:</b><br />
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We had an early morning flight into Munich, so we had hoped to have almost a full day to explore the city. Alas, a little mix-up on the train into the city centre from the airport cost us precious time that first day. (Remember when I talked about <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2015/09/the-stories-behind-those-vacation-photos.html">the realities of what appear to be perfect-looking vacations?</a> Yes, that.)<br />
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Once we dropped our luggage off at the <a href="http://www.novotel.com/gb/hotel-3280-novotel-munich-city/index.shtml" rel="nofollow">Novotel Munich City Hotel</a>,* we wanted to fully immerse ourselves in Munich/German ambience, so we headed straight for the Marienplatz, which is Munich's central square. We wandered around there for a bit, but eventually the crowds pushed us toward the <a href="http://www.hofbraeuhaus.de/" rel="nofollow">Hofbrauhau</a>s.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJrpsLIKHTZqaOorr4VBa9Q8UjdSlWI8K95c9Nlyv1K6wHJGAJu348bzm7aCDY-NMSq58ls-ZMBC7Hoy81KUhakpts68A6_IOKmP5Bh61RF_70ozdQfNTGTPmhPojxUfS1eySt0GBRacb/s1600/A+Munich+Marienplatz+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJrpsLIKHTZqaOorr4VBa9Q8UjdSlWI8K95c9Nlyv1K6wHJGAJu348bzm7aCDY-NMSq58ls-ZMBC7Hoy81KUhakpts68A6_IOKmP5Bh61RF_70ozdQfNTGTPmhPojxUfS1eySt0GBRacb/s640/A+Munich+Marienplatz+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gorgeous Marienplatz offers visitors a uniquely German flair.</td></tr>
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Had we had more time on this day, I would have elbowed my way into a table (particularly in the lovely beer garden) and we would have spent more time in this famous beer hall, but instead we just walked through and took it all in for only a few moments. Yes, its touristy, but it has such a fun atmosphere. And while we hit several beer gardens the next day, the Hofbrauhaus had a vibe all its own.<br />
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Finally, we ventured through the Viktualienmarkt. This is the large market in the city, selling all kinds of amazing products, food and otherwise. While crowded, it never felt claustrophobic, and we strolled around at a really nice pace.<br />
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Naturally we ended the day with ice cream. And smiles.<br />
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<i>Tips: </i>Time your walk around the Marienplatz for when the Glockenspiel rings (11 a.m., noon and 5 p.m. in the summer, 11 a.m. year-round, so I'm told). And time your visit to the market to coordinate with a meal time. I would have loved to create a picnic with the cheese, meats, bread, and produce found in the market, but we weren't hungry when we walked through. It's a short 5 minute walk between the two places.<br />
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<b>Day 2:</b><br />
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This was my favorite day, and I plan to write a more thorough blog post about it next week. We rented bikes from <a href="http://www.mikesbiketours.com/munich/Bike-Rentals/mikes-bike-rentals-muenchen-fahrradverleih.html" rel="nofollow">Mike's Bikes</a> and pedaled around the city from morning straight through until bedtime. <br />
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Along the way, we saw the opera house, the Residenz, the Olympic Park, and the English Gardens (where we went on the most family-friendly beer garden pub crawl you could possibly imagine). Like I said, more to come, but if you're planning a trip to Munich, renting bikes is a MUST if you have nice weather.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catching some sunshine and resting our biking legs in Munich's Olympic Park.</td></tr>
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<b>Day 3:</b><br />
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We only had the morning on our last day in Munich, but the activity I planned could have easily filled an entire day. My only regret of our time in Munich is that we didn't get to spend more time at the Deutsches Museum, the world's largest science museum. We arrived just as it opened and immediately began exploring an endless maze of hands-on activities.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It took two arrows to figure out the complex water table in the Deutches Museum.</td></tr>
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<i>Tip:</i> We went straight to the Kid's Kingdom in the basement of the building, but we didn't need to do that. There are activities for children throughout the entire museum. In hindsight, I would have hit a few key exhibits in the main part of the museum in the morning when energy levels and attention spans were at their best, followed by lunch, and then spent the afternoon in the basement. Also, I found the food very expensive, but admission for a family of four into the museum is only 17 euros which is insanely reasonable for a museum of this size and quality.<br />
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Rarely can a city vacation in Europe with two young children be considered relaxing. Yet our time in Munich truly was. As much as I hate to admit that my husband was totally right about Germany, I'm sure glad he was.<br />
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<b>Looking for more resources on Munich with children? </b>I found these blog posts enormously helpful:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://travelmamas.com/munich-with-kids-more-than-beer-and-pretzels/" rel="nofollow">Munich with Kids: More than Beer and Pretzels</a> at Travel Mamas</li>
<li><a href="http://ciaobambino.com/things-to-do-in-munich-with-kids/" rel="nofollow">72 Hours in Munich with Kids</a> at Ciao Bambino</li>
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<i>*We paid our own lodging expenses during our stay at Novotel Munich City Hotel, and I highly recommend it especially if you want city-centre accommodation at a reasonable price. In fact, for two nights it was far cheaper than any apartment or self-catering I could find in the city. Plus: indoor pool. The two magic words any family wants to hear when booking a hotel. :)</i>arrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-70054373727695779942015-09-11T09:12:00.000-04:002015-09-16T08:47:54.778-04:00The Stories Behind Those Vacation PhotosLike many people, I spent a portion of the last few months drooling over the photos friends posted of their summer travels on Facebook and Instagram. It's probably my favorite aspect of being active on social media: the chance to window shop all sorts of destinations and get a glimpse into what everyone else's vacations were like. I suspect I receive "likes" and comments on my own travel photos for similar reasons.<br />
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But anyone who has traveled knows that these brief glimpses don't always tell the full story. Especially when you add kids in the mix.<br />
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I don't think there's anything wrong with sharing wonderful vacation photos. I post hundreds each year myself. But I hope it doesn't set an unrealistic expectation for others when they embark on their own journeys.<br />
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Our May trip to Scotland is the perfect example. My photos suggested gorgeous scenery, interesting historical places, and 24/7 smiles. But had you traveled with us that week, you'd know there was much more to it than what friends saw on Facebook. Let me give you a few examples, from just one day of our travels there that week.<br />
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We started the day in Stirling with a brief stop at the castle there. As we were walking through the very quiet parking lot toward the wall where you could admire the view of the town and surrounding countryside, a car veered away from its lane and over to the walking path we were on. An older American woman rolled down her window and yelled at us for not holding the hand of our 3-year-old, saying he was certain to get hit by a car. A few things to note: He was walking on a pedestrian path. There were hardly any cars around. And the only car that came near him was HER car. Also? Mind your own business, lady.<br />
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We shrugged it off although it really rubbed me the wrong way. But this was the photo I posted on social media, taken a few seconds after that irritating interaction:<br />
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Our next stop was the site of the Battle of Bannockburn, a key moment in Scottish history. We let the boys run around the big field, marveling at how incredible it was that our children were playing in the same spot where Robert the Bruce led his troops into battle. Just as I started to fall into a peacefully perfect state of mind, Big Arrow yelled out, "Mom, he needs you!" <br />
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Sure enough, Little Arrow pooped his pants. We now laugh at this incident, saying Little Arrow was just proving what a proper Englishman he has become, shitting on a Scottish landmark for independence.<br />
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From Stirling, we drove to the village of Luss on the banks of Loch Lomond. As we drove there, I remember being worried that our accommodation wouldn't be very nice. I had trouble finding something in that area (waited too long to book on a school holiday week). There were few photos of the place I ended up reserving so I wasn't sure what to expect. The one thing I was confident of was how charming the village of Luss would undoubtedly be. I saw tons of photos of it when I pinpointed it as where I wanted to say.<br />
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Needless to say, karma paid me a visit. Our rental cottage was lovely. Spacious, nicely decorated, great kitchen, even a beautiful patio. The village of Luss? A little disappointing. What those dozens of charming photos didn't tell me is that about a hundred tour buses a day roll through there. This photo of Little Arrow tossing pebbles into the loch doesn't show the bus load of senior citizens <b>taking photos of him</b>.<i> (Creepy.)</i> It was like staying where a cruise ship docks, without being on the cruise.<br />
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I don't write this to turn anyone off from traveling with their kids. Rather, I hope it encourages you that even despite these hiccups, frustrations, and less-than-Instagram worthy experiences, family vacations are still incredibly worthwhile. I wrote about <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2015/06/swimming-at-scottish-parliament-in.html">a wonderful moment in Edinburgh</a> and <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2015/06/on-banks-of-loch-lomond.html">our enjoyment of Loch Lomond</a> in previous posts, and I wouldn't trade a minute of our trip to Scotland just to avoid those experiences mentioned above.<br />
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Just as no individual is perfect, no trip will be either. It's those moments in between the rude encounters, the tantrums, and long waits, that memories are made. Because as I tell people, we sometimes struggle through the average day at home with our boys. I might as well muddle through parenting in beautiful locations around the world if I'm privileged enough to be able to.<span id="goog_101646798"></span><br />
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<br />arrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-56159759461291256222015-06-30T16:08:00.001-04:002015-09-11T09:12:29.276-04:00On the banks of Loch LomondI think one of the reasons we enjoy balancing city breaks with time in the countryside when we travel is because of the need to plan vs. wing it. Our trip to Scotland is a great example. In Edinburgh, we had a pretty good sense of how we might fill our time there. Certainly, it had its unexpected moments (who could have anticipated <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2015/06/swimming-at-scottish-parliament-in.html">a swim in the Scottish Parliament</a>, after all), but for the most part, we saw and did the things we had intended to do. And it was gloriously busy and exciting and memorable. <br />
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But as we drove toward Loch Lomond, at the very southern end of the Scottish Highlands, it became clear we could roll down our window and throw itineraries and guidebooks out into the fields. This wasn't a place where you check sightseeing boxes, unless that list includes shaggy cattle, mountains bleeding into deep blue waters, cozy shops selling wool blankets, and trails that lead you into forests. In which case, check, check, check and check. <br />
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This was a place where you want to maximize your time. Not the way Frommer's or Rick Steves might suggest, but instead to simply embrace each ray of sunshine, each passing cloud, each amazing viewpoint.<br />
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And so we did.<br />
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We hiked, picnicked, boated, tossed pebbles and dipped our toes in the water, stood in line for ice cream cones, and any other number of things during our brief time there. I could probably give you a travel tip or two about visiting the Loch Lomond area. But I'd rather you just fill your time the way a place like this would want you to: <em><strong>exactly as you see fit.</strong></em><br />
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I won't be posting much here this summer, not because we don't have any travels planned, but simply because I'm being realistic about how I want to spend my free moments while the kids are home from school. This may be our last British summer and I'm carpe diem-ing it, not whiling it away on the laptop. <br />
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You can keep up with our travels and day trip adventures on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/arrowssentforth">Arrows Sent Forth Facebook page</a> and <a href="https://instagram.com/arrowssentforth/">on Instagram</a>. I've got a much more lighthearted post planned soon, too, so if you're looking for a laugh, hopefully you'll find one here in a few days. <em>(On a related noted, can somebody get Little Arrow to start taking afternoon naps again so I don't have to write at midnight?)</em><br />
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<br />arrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.com0Luss, Alexandria, Argyll and Bute G83, UK56.101491 -4.642251600000008756.083779500000006 -4.6825921000000088 56.1192025 -4.6019111000000086tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-83652958117970672732015-06-12T05:25:00.000-04:002015-06-30T16:17:59.188-04:00Swimming (?!) at the Scottish Parliament in EdinburghThere's a bit of a ying and yang when you travel with young kids. Want to see what a city is like after about 7:30 p.m.? Tough going when you've got little ones already tucked away in bed. Interested in dining at fancy restaurants that you read about in guidebooks? Probably not going to happen very often. Magical moments as you see the world through your kids eyes? <em><strong>Now we're talking.</strong></em><br />
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It is easy to get hung up on the way traveling Europe with young children can limit you. In fact, sometimes when I mention the places we've been to other families around here, I'm met with strange stares and "what exactly did you do with little kids there?" and "did anyone have any fun?" comments. <br />
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However... on a daily basis, on each and every trip we've taken, I'm reminded of the ways traveling WITH my kids actually enhances our travels. Experiences that can only happen when you've got a toddler who dawdles or a 6-year-old who asks 8 million questions. Moments that those so-called "fortunate travelers" without little ones in tow miss out on.<br />
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Take our evening at the Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh. We spotted it earlier in the day on an open-top bus tour and my husband and I gave each other "the eye," as in "that would be a good place to let the boys run around later." Big reflecting pools, open areas of grass, gently sloping concrete perfect for running up and down (and skinned knees). To be honest, I'm certain we wouldn't have visited this area if we were in Edinburgh without our children.<br />
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After dinner, to burn off the last of the day's energy, that's where we headed.<br />
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It started out exactly as we intended. Lots of running, exploring, making use of big spaces that we certainly didn't have in our itty bitty city rental flat.<br />
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What I didn't realize is that the grounds of the Parliament building are the perfect place to admire Arthur's Seat, the famous hillside that dominates Edinburgh's panoramic views. As the sun started to hang in that low point in the sky, everything about our surroundings took on that touched-with-fairy-dust glow.<br />
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Then the boys (most notably Little Arrow, my wild child) took a keen interest in the water. It started out as "please may I touch?" and soon I knew we were spiraling toward wet clothes. <br />
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Sure enough, a few seconds later, another mom relented and let her daughter go wading. My boys looked at me like a puppy looks at you when you're eating a cheeseburger. Who can resist?<br />
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I spent the first 10 minutes trying to keep them as dry as possible. Rolling up trousers, yelling out cautions about splashing too much. At some point, I looked out on those green lawns, at the other families joining us that night, people and kids from all over the world speaking a handful of different languages, and I completely embraced our situation. Parents were laughing and nodding at each other with the universal acknowledgement that our kids were all nuts to be in the water when it was barely 60 degrees. <br />
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I realized that no one else in Edinburgh was having more fun than we were at that moment. <br />
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All because our kids were simply being kids. In a special setting, at a gorgeous location, on a beautiful May evening.<br />
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My husband and I are quite intentional in living the type of life that we hope affords us the opportunity to return to Europe to travel one day when we're older. I'm certain the boys will have fled the nest by then and be off on their own adventures. As they should be. So for now, we're happy to take a raincheck on those quiet museums, fancy restaurants and night life. <br />
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Now's the moment when I channel Oprah Winfrey. <strong>Because I know this much is true</strong>: this is likely my one shot at Europe with my kids. We're gonna splash every last drop of fun out of it before we leave. And if that means we're the family walking up Edinburgh's famous Royal Mile with little boys in wet underwear, so be it.<br />
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This post is a part of Friday Postcards at <a href="http://www.walkingontravels.com/" rel="nofollow">Walking on Travels.</a>arrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.com0Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, UK55.953252 -3.188266999999996255.8109675 -3.5109904999999961 56.0955365 -2.8655434999999962tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-85407197115122420812015-06-03T17:04:00.000-04:002015-06-30T16:14:28.536-04:00Activities in Snowdonia, Wales for FamiliesI made it no secret<a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2015/05/disconnecting-and-reconnecting-in-wales.html"> in my last post that it wasn't any one activity or site we saw that I'd remember forever about our weekend in Wales</a>. Rather it was the pace of the weekend, the beauty of our surroundings, and the quality time together. But that doesn't mean families will find themselves with a lack of things to do when visiting Snowdonia. Indeed the list of what we wanted to do far exceeded the limitations of our 2 1/2 day trip. <br />
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<strong>Here's what we enjoyed in Snowdonia as a family:</strong><br />
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<strong>1. Conwy Castle</strong>: There's been no shortage of castles in our European travels over the last two years. (We've even been to <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2013/05/ha-ha-tonka-state-park-tips-for-visiting.html">an American one</a>.) But <a href="http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/conwycastle/?lang=en" rel="nofollow">Conwy Castle</a> ranks as a favorite for several reasons.<br />
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<li>At Conwy, you are free to explore on your own, in whatever order you'd like. No shuffling along amid other groups. See a staircase you want to climb? Go for it. Spot a room you want to go into? Be my guest. Plus, the signage was clear and informative throughout the property, so we were learning as we (somewhat aimlessly) wandered. This type of set-up is ideal for families with young kids. My boys felt like they had some control over what they were seeing, yet we could properly answer their questions because of the information provided.</li>
<li>It's an indoor/outdoor environment. It rained for most of our visit to the castle (actually, let me rephrase that... <em>it rained for most of our weekend in Wales</em>). But the castle had plenty of little rooms, tunnels and other shelter where we could get a break from the elements. In fact, it was an ideal way to spend a rainy day as long as you wore suitable clothing to get a bit wet.</li>
<li>There was a fantastic kid's trail. I have a love/hate relationship with all the children's adventure "trails" and "hunts" that attractions produce. Sometimes they're a great tool to get kids interested. Other times, they leave all of us, particularly the kids, frustrated and angry when they're not executed well. But the one at Conwy was fantastic. Suitable for all ages (with a little help from parents) and creatively fun. The best part is that is was more than just a hunt. All four of us learned so much more about the castle via this tool than we would have otherwise.</li>
<li>The highlight of the castle is the amazing views over the vibrant town and sea from the many towers you can climb. Absolutely stunning.</li>
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<strong>2. Bala Lake:</strong> In hindsight, this would be the place I'd probably skip returning to on a subsequent visit. It's hard to believe but that photo above is somewhat lackluster compared to other views we were treated to in Wales. (It really is an embarrassment of riches in terms of gorgeous scenery in this country. The mother in me wants to scold sweet, little Wales for not sharing more of its treasure with other countries.) But this town does offer some advantages for families that are worth mentioning.
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<li>There were relatively flat, smooth hiking paths aroung the lake. The other hikes we took in Snowdonia involved some steep climbs. If your family can't take that physical effort, then Bala Lake is a great place to head instead. I can't speak from experience but I'm relatively sure you could even push a stroller on the path we spent some of our time on that morning.</li>
<li>There's a great café/restaurant with a large indoor play area for young children nearby called <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g672155-d7260168-Reviews-Gorwelion_Ltd-Bala_Snowdonia_National_Park_North_Wales_Wales.html" rel="nofollow">Gorwelion</a>. My kids were being troopers about the wet weather but we were all ready for some indoor heat and shelter and this place delivered that with some tasty food, too.</li>
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<strong>3. </strong><a href="http://www.betws-y-coed.co.uk/feature_pages/item/1067/Swallow_Falls_Betws_y_Coed.html" rel="nofollow"><strong>Swallow Falls</strong></a><strong>:</strong> You won't be winning any awards for finding some off-the-beaten path hidden gem when you visit these famous falls. They are very much discovered, but that also makes them a great choice for families with young children. They're easily accessed by a series of cement stairs with railings, so it was very safe to let our children explore. (Not to mention, they make a perfect backdrop for family photos!) Please note that there's a small admission charge at the turnstile gate so be sure to bring some change with you. And you'll park in a lay-by along a busy street which, quite honestly, made me more nervous with the boys than the raging waterfalls themselves!<br />
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<strong>4. Mount Snowdon:</strong> As the highest peak and the reason the region got it's name, it's a must do. Rarely have I laid eyes on scenery as majestic as this (although maybe that's the flat-land Midwesterner in me coming through.) We hit a trail that offers great views of it on our way back to England and it was a pretty remarkable farewell. There are several options for enjoying the mountain.<br />
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<li>An all-day hike to the peak. If my kids were a few years older, we would have definitely tried to do this. There are several trails that take you to the top, so just research what you think will work best for your family. And be prepared. You'll need food, weather proof gear, and proper shoes.</li>
<li>Short hikes around the base and up as far as you'd like to go. This is what we opted for. Perfect for us. Just enough physical challenge to interest the boys, with amazing views for mom and dad to soak up. The trail we took was the Llwybr Pen y Pass Footpath. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.snowdonrailway.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">Train to the top and back</a>. We almost did this but it would have involved making the boys sit still on a train for more than 2 hours roundtrip. We did quite a bit of driving just to get to and from Wales that I wanted to spend our time moving our legs. But it looks like an amazing experience and had we had more time, we would have done it, I'm sure.</li>
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Whatever you get up to in Snowdonia, Wales, I can pretty much guarantee you this: it'll be beautiful. And maybe wet!<br />
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<br />arrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-67984514616170526942015-05-13T08:14:00.001-04:002015-06-30T16:14:06.346-04:00Disconnecting and Reconnecting in WalesWe're just back from a weekend away in Wales, still clinging to the complete sense of relaxation we had while there. I think what brought the most peace to me that weekend was the cottage we rented and its immediate surroundings. Which is ironic because our accommodations were a bit of a headache to plan.<br />
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I had originally thought we'd camp that weekend, but my husband had the good sense of questioning whether it would really be warm enough for that. (He's a smart guy... it rained about 75% of our trip and was quite cold... we would have been miserable in a tent!) I then struggled to find a self-catering property suitable for us. Big Arrow is becoming ever more allergic to dogs and cats and so I'm now trying to avoid staying in any property that accepts pets. Yet Wales is a popular area to bring dogs along since it's a great spot for hiking. I was also trying to stay within a 4-hour drive of our house, which meant we were limited to the Snowdonia area. At the last minute, I booked a small cottage I found through <a href="http://www.nationaltrustholidays.org.uk/search/" rel="nofollow">the National Trust's website</a>. (<a href="http://www.nationaltrustholidays.org.uk/holiday-cottage/3-siloam-cottage-betws-y-coed-conwy/" rel="nofollow">Link to the exact cottage near Bets-y-Coed here</a>.)<br />
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We had been quite busy leading up to the trip. Lots of commitments, busy schedules, visitors, etc. Something all families can relate to, I'm sure. I was craving time just with just the four of us more than I have since we moved abroad. What better place to cozy up for a few nights than an old, tiny cottage. <br />
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It had a bit of history, considering Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to climb Mount Everest once stayed there. But more than that, it was extremely isolated aside from a couple of neighbors and lots of sheep and lambs. <br />
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<em>That's our cottage at the top of that hill.</em><br />
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If time with just "my guys" as I like to say was what I was after, that's definitely what I got. We were 20 minutes from even the smallest of grocery stores or restaurants. The only sounds were that of the sheep braying and the occasional tractor driving by. We didn't have Wifi, so our cell phones weren't constantly humming with texts and emails. And what I appreciated most was the footpath right outside our door. My favorite moment of the trip was the hour or two we spent one afternoon climbing the hillside behind our cottage and looking out at the gorgeous Welsh landscape.<br />
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The boys yelled and screamed as they ran up and down those hills. There was no need to shush them. They found sticks and had amazing sword fights. We laughed about all the sheep poop. When we got to the top, they marveled at how far we could see all around us. There were no strollers or snacks, just the key to our cottage and my camera. We looked at bugs, squished our wellies into the mud, and had no idea what time it was. What parent doesn't dream of their kids getting to experience that sort of freedom in the great outdoors? It's the kind of upbringing we all imagine in our heads when we become parents. If it's not what everyone hopes for, maybe it should be. And yet, it's so rare during the course of a normal week, month, even year. <br />
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Our time in Wales was brief. But certainly very, very full of just the type of memory with which I want to fill my life.<br />
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<em>I'll write more about some places to see in Snowdonia, Wales next week. Because surprisingly we did drag ourselves away from that charming cottage a few times.</em><br />
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This post is a part of Friday Postcards at <a href="http://www.walkingontravels.com/" rel="nofollow">Walking on Travels</a>.<br />
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<br />arrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.com0Betws-y-Coed, Betws-y-Coed, Conwy LL24, UK53.0930858 -3.801035400000046153.074014299999995 -3.8413759000000463 53.1121573 -3.760694900000046tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-73104376273350461312015-05-07T06:11:00.002-04:002015-06-30T16:13:47.376-04:005 Things to Do in Norfolk, England with KidsOf all the things I imagined doing while living in England, spending time on the beach (or even the coast, for that matter) didn't really cross my mind. But it should have. The UK has some of the most amazing coastal areas I've ever been to. Sunny and 85 degrees? Usually not. But if you can brave the elements, it's totally worth exploring.<br />
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The Norfolk area is only a couple of hours from our house, so we've been able to visit on occasional day trips throughout the past two years. When my sister's family came to visit, we decided it would be a great spot to base ourselves for a few days in order to take in even more of the family-friendly attractions in Norfolk. <br />
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<strong>Here are our favorite things to do in Norfolk:</strong><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up in complete amazement at BeWilderwood.</td></tr>
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1) <a href="http://www.bewilderwood.co.uk/" rel="nofollow"><strong>BeWilderwood</strong></a>. I'm so glad someone recommended this park to us. Because had I just read about it in a guidebook, I might have passed it off as just another glorified playground with pricey admission. But BeWilderwood is in a category all its own. It was a gigantic playground, as promised, but nestled among gorgeous woodland. It is completely in-tune with its natural setting.<br />
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I loved how it almost seemed to defy gravity, with treetop attractions as far as the eye could see. Yet I was never overly worried about my kids tumbling from a tree branch and it was fairly easy to keep them in sight. It all felt rather safe and comfortable. Besides, all the adults were so amazed by the play features that we were right up there with the kids. (And if you can figure out that Sky Maze in less than 20 minutes you are far smarter than us!)<br />
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<em>Tips: Bring a picnic lunch, the food available was pretty average. Ditch the stroller, too. Your kids will be running from play area to play area. Better pack your energy just to keep up!</em><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seeing seals in their natural habitat off the coast of Norfolk</td></tr>
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2) <strong>Boat ride to see seals.</strong> This was another unexpected find. Who knew there were seals in England? I certainly didn't. I loved giving our group of kids the chance to see these somewhat exotic animals in their natural habitat, not just at a zoo or aquarium. Plus the boat ride itself was good fun. I was concerned our motion-sickness-prone group might feel the effects but everyone handled it perfectly fine and the ride was relatively smooth. <br />
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We went with <a href="http://www.beansboattrips.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">Beans Boat Trips</a>, which departs from Blakeney Point, but there were other vendors and they all seemed to follow a similar route. Be sure to book your tickets ahead, and don't forget to pack the binoculars and/or a zoom lens for your camera to enhance the viewing of the seals. My only complaint was that it was really difficult to hear what the guides were telling us about the seals.<br />
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<em>Tips: Be prepared to get splashed a bit on the boat. I wished I had a plastic bag to cover my camera with when I wasn't taking pictures. Dress warm, once you're out at sea the wind will be even stronger (and colder) than whatever the conditions are on land.</em><br />
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<em><a href="http://www.thegeorgehotelatcley.co.uk/food-drink/" rel="nofollow">The George in Cley-Next-The-Sea</a> was a perfect lunch spot after our boat ride. Great kid's menu and quick service.</em><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beaches of Norfolk are perfect for playing</td></tr>
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3) <strong>Beaches.</strong> Maybe its the Midwestern in us, where miles of sandy beaches are a luxury not to be taken for granted. But I love that a beautiful beach is just a 90 minute drive from my house. Our favorite is Brancaster, mostly because it is as simple and as beautiful as it gets. No amenities here other than a small coffee and tea stand and some toilets. But the views of the sandy dunes and the gentle water is unbeatable.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRwx1Hkpipxk-EDmcC59LmjYVjyfvgUhxK8P8KwDIQcQvQpMblRe7QxyC2FvNv-9p82IyYpfVL3jHhfcjgkPekUmFLFvdPkddn3s5Dhcgf7LR4Jzy8lPtPOy-ObCU2rbWZF-yKm24shBl/s1600/Brancaster+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRwx1Hkpipxk-EDmcC59LmjYVjyfvgUhxK8P8KwDIQcQvQpMblRe7QxyC2FvNv-9p82IyYpfVL3jHhfcjgkPekUmFLFvdPkddn3s5Dhcgf7LR4Jzy8lPtPOy-ObCU2rbWZF-yKm24shBl/s1600/Brancaster+13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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There's also something to be said for the more built-up, developed beaches, like those found at Hunstanton or Sheringham, where you can have your toes in the sand one minute, and be elbow deep in some fish and chips or devouring an ice cream cones minutes later.<br />
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<em>Tips: There are times when the sand is more muddy than it is fine. For that reason, I always bring beach chairs along with a beach blanket. If it's too cold to go barefoot, then make sure everyone has a pair of wellies, too!</em><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZTF4JpdvX9xOva7HDyb0ZHNQ0bQuQ_PDBTRMsjBZ9T3bZRGZ93oD7cWHsdEadcJn3DqYEkNK2RsHeq4_pTUrH6xelKhyphenhyphenZuhJmwLxp0z6yqpm5VsbhQp3cVzBqo5vRCTpitwQI5HyMFL-r/s1600/Arcade+Emily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZTF4JpdvX9xOva7HDyb0ZHNQ0bQuQ_PDBTRMsjBZ9T3bZRGZ93oD7cWHsdEadcJn3DqYEkNK2RsHeq4_pTUrH6xelKhyphenhyphenZuhJmwLxp0z6yqpm5VsbhQp3cVzBqo5vRCTpitwQI5HyMFL-r/s1600/Arcade+Emily.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This may be the first and only time I recommend arcades on this blog</td></tr>
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4) <strong>Arcades.</strong> Just about any beachside town in the Norfolk area will have an arcade or two. I normally cringe whenever I step inside this type of place. I think it might be due to residual nightmares from the first time I took Big Arrow into a Chuck E. Cheese. But there's something kinda kitschy and fun about the ones I've been to in Norfolk. And they make a great place to duck your head in when one of those pesky British rain showers pops up. Many of them have 1-pence machines (the equivalent of a penny slot, I suppose), so you can spend an hour in one of these arcades and still have some cash left in your wallet.<br />
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Again, not normally the type of activity I'd suggest, but then I watched my very determined (perhaps a bit head strong?) niece defeat "the claw" and win the stuffed animal of her dreams at the arcade in Sheringham. The whole place erupted in cheers, and seconds later the most gorgeous rainbow appeared just outside the front door. If there had been a bar inside, I probably would have ordered a round of drinks for everyone inside to celebrate. And with that memory made, my snobbishness about arcades vanished.<br />
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<em>Tip: Cash is king at places like this. </em><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoNF30uLvqQjOKqp2WKV_El4O-6tifigVYbqzcfSE2aFGCxhtR9lY4Yxjg1UsRai-T9GL7qYV36YPRc5JUKGyrHWjNXw3xxDY_neiKx8-wV0uZqgsEXldsv8lOP5bhn4YFzH6Wbkj_FJF/s1600/Steam+Train+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoNF30uLvqQjOKqp2WKV_El4O-6tifigVYbqzcfSE2aFGCxhtR9lY4Yxjg1UsRai-T9GL7qYV36YPRc5JUKGyrHWjNXw3xxDY_neiKx8-wV0uZqgsEXldsv8lOP5bhn4YFzH6Wbkj_FJF/s1600/Steam+Train+3.jpg" width="584" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A taste of transportation history aboard a steam train</td></tr>
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5) <strong>Steam train.</strong> Truthfully, we've done little exploration into the historical side of the Norfolk area. But we did take a wonderful step back into the past by way of a real steam train ride through the countryside on the <a href="http://www.nnrailway.co.uk/page.php?pid=49" rel="nofollow">North Norfolk Railway</a>. We hopped aboard our train in Sheringham, and made a stop in Holt before our return voyage.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzoL1DQheVM2YZjnz9tQyVJJ6MZf4cMG4bpyrp6wQBoVFgvHpS58UMIJhekxUBRKPLfqs4Pi4OlMVPVy7bXzMBhlc9S3dx4x1lF8Bki4HNpxah1eCUjoGO233R-TatTQRYlgiUMaZSoNd/s1600/Steam+Train+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzoL1DQheVM2YZjnz9tQyVJJ6MZf4cMG4bpyrp6wQBoVFgvHpS58UMIJhekxUBRKPLfqs4Pi4OlMVPVy7bXzMBhlc9S3dx4x1lF8Bki4HNpxah1eCUjoGO233R-TatTQRYlgiUMaZSoNd/s1600/Steam+Train+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<em>Tips: Perhaps bring some coloring books or a small activity for the return trip. While it was all smiles and excitement on the first leg of our ride, we found the children's interest in the journey back to be a bit limited. And bring a stroller, the walk into Holt from the station takes about 15 minutes.</em><br />
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<strong><em>Places still on my to-do list in Norfolk?</em></strong> I'd love to make it to <a href="https://www.sandringhamestate.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">Sandringham Estate</a>, the Queen's Norfolk retreat. I'd also love to visit <a href="http://www.holkham.co.uk/">Holkham Hall Estate</a>, mostly because I hear the beach and playground at this stately home are spectacular. Luckily, we have a whole summer of fun ahead of us!arrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.com0Norfolk, UK52.6139686 0.8864020999999411351.9977441 -0.40449140000005879 53.2301931 2.1772955999999413tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-32901656258000568412015-04-28T08:42:00.001-04:002015-05-10T16:18:54.952-04:00Tips for Visiting Legoland Windsor (and Legolands Around the World!)As a way of culminating a 10-day visit with my sister's family, which took us from our house to Norfolk to London, we planned an overnight at Legoland Windsor. We were a traveling entourage of 8 people, including 4 kids age 7 and younger. Needless to say, <b>we fell right into the Legoland target market.</b><br />
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And while neither of our families consider ourselves to be amusement park people prior to our time there, we were all sold on the experience after. A visit to Legoland and a stay at the adjacent hotel isn't without its challenges (lines for the rides, a very crowded pool, average and overpriced food, etc.), but the chance to experience the Lego phenomenon with kids who are obsessed with the little bricks was well worth those minor hassles. <b>I doubt I'll do a theme park again anytime soon as it's just not really my thing, but I'm sure glad I didn't miss this experience while my kids are young.</b></div>
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Since I had spent the week leading up to their visit planning the rest of the trip, I did absolutely no reading whatsoever about Legoland. I figured that was a place where surely we could figure out a way to have fun there without researching it. And I was right. <b>However, that doesn't mean a few handy tips couldn't make your visit even better.</b></div>
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<b>Rides:</b><br />
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<li>Ride as many rides as you can during the first two hours the park is open and the last hour before it closes. We found this to be when lines were shortest. There is plenty to do around the park during the crowded middle hours besides rides, so you'll use your time much more efficiently this way. My favorite non-ride activities included Miniland, Star Wars, the playgrounds in Duplo Valley and Pirate Shores, and the pirate show.</li>
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<li>Wear waterproof clothing if you want to do the water rides. Or do those rides toward the end of your visit and just pack a change of clothing for the journey home. Those looked to be some of the most fun, yet we were completely unprepared to get wet. (That didn't stop my husband and wild child Little Arrow from getting soaked on our second day, of course!)</li>
<li>Measure your child in advance. <span style="background-color: white;">If they're less than .9 meters, there will be a lot of rides they can't do. If they're less than 1.3 meters, they'll need an adult with them on many rides.</span> As a frame of reference, my boys were 5 and 3 at the time of our visit and fairly average height for their age. My 5-year-old could ride everything from what I could tell (not that he was brave enough) and there were only a few rides my 3-year-old couldn't ride. However, they both needed an adult to ride with them for many of the rides. Legoland would not be a place I'd want to take both of them without another adult.</li>
<li>If lines are long on the day of your visit (we were there over the Easter holiday period, and yet we never waited more than 30 minutes for any ride, and most were under 15 minutes), the rides that I felt were most worthwhile included the <span style="background-color: white;">Coast Guard boats, L Drivers, Knight's Quest, the Fire Academy, and Atlantis Submarine Voyage.</span></li>
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<b>Hotel Stay:</b><br />
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<li>Swim in the morning. The pool was absolutely packed in the evening, we even had to wait to be allowed in. The attendant told me it's very quiet in the morning. The park doesn't open until 10 a.m. so you'd have time for a swim before that. The kids had fun in the pool but frankly it was so busy that it was very difficult for the adults to relax and enjoy it.</li>
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<li>There's loads of entertainment for kids in the evening. All the more reason to swim in the morning and enjoy those activities in the evening instead.</li>
<li>Don't forget to open the treasure box in your room. Inside will be a small Lego set for each child. (If you end up with sets that don't align with your children's genders, the front desk will be happy to switch them.)</li>
<li>Bricks Restaurant is a good option for dinner. The buffet is much better than I expected and we were all ready for a nice, sit-down meal after grabbing mostly junk food in the park all day. I would not have wanted to round everyone up into the car to eat elsewhere. (And there might have been a revolt among the kids if we told them we were leaving the premises!)</li>
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<b>Overall Experience:</b><br />
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<li>Pack a lot of food. I thought the food was the most disappointing thing at the park, although friends who had been warned me about this. It was very average and very expensive. Packing a lunch and some snacks would have been ideal. If you do get stuck eating the food, the barbecue themed stands seemed to have the best options.</li>
<li>The Hill Train ride is great for saving your legs going up and down the park. There was rarely a line to catch it while we were there.</li>
<li>Decide on the QBot the day of your visit. QBots are passes that allow you to skip lines. There are several options, from the full pass which means you'll rarely wait in line, down to a QBot for each individual ride. Needless to say, you pay for this privilege above and beyond the ticket price. On the days of our visit, I would have only considered a QBot for a couple of rides. The lines just weren't that long. But if I showed up and saw that the lines were crazy? I would definitely consider forking over some extra money for this pass. (Although the premise of it sort of rubs me the wrong way.)</li>
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If a visit to Legoland interests you and you're looking for more reading material, below is a round-up of many Legoland tips and experiences from bloggers around the world, covering some of the amusement parks worldwide.</div>
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<strong>Legoland California</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.musingsfromme.com/who-had-more-fun-mom-and-dad-or-the-kids-legoland/#sthash.whXagrnH.i1YiatSQ.dpbs" rel="nofollow">Who Had More Fun? Mom and Dad or the Kids? Legoland</a> from Musings from Me<br />
<a href="http://www.friscokids.net/2008/08/top-11-things-i-learned-at-legoland.html" rel="nofollow">Top 11 Things I Learned at Legoland</a> from Frisco Kids<br />
<a href="http://www.momendeavors.com/2014/07/legoland-california-planning-tips-with-undercover-tourist.html" rel="nofollow">Legoland California Planning Tips with Undercover Tourist</a> from Mom Endeavors<br />
<a href="http://tipsforfamilytrips.com/california/legoland-tips/" rel="nofollow">11 Tips for Visiting Legoland California Resort</a> from Tips for Family Trips<br />
<a href="http://adventuresinwunderland.com/legoland-california-resort-opens-lego-themed-hotel/" rel="nofollow">Legoland California Resort Opens Lego Themed Hotel</a> from Adventures in Wunderland<br />
<a href="http://adventuresinwunderland.com/fun-in-the-sun-at-legoland-california/" rel="nofollow">Fun in the Sun at Legoland California</a> from Adventures in Wunderland<br />
<a href="http://evan-and-lauren-a.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/42113-legoland-california-family-theme.html" rel="nofollow">Legoland California Family Theme Park</a> from Evan and Lauren's Cool Blog<br />
<a href="http://desertchica.com/2014/12/legoland-california-tips/" rel="nofollow">Legoland California Tips</a> from Desert Chica<br />
<a href="http://desertchica.com/2013/07/5-reasons-to-stay-at-the-legoland-california-hotel/" rel="nofollow">5 Reasons to Stay at the Legoland California Hotel</a> from Desert Chica<br />
<a href="http://desertchica.com/2013/07/legoland-hotel-room/" rel="nofollow">Peek Into Our Legoland Hotel Room</a> from Desert Chica</div>
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<strong>Legoland Florida</strong><br />
<a href="http://havebabywilltravel.com/2013/07/14/legoland-florida-orlando/" rel="nofollow">A Review of Legoland Florida in Orlando from Have Baby Will Travel</a><br />
<a href="http://www.suitcasesandsippycups.com/2012/07/saving-time-and-money-at-legoland-florida.html" rel="nofollow">Saving Time and Money at Legoland Florida</a> from Suitcases and Sippy Cups<br />
<a href="http://www.suitcasesandsippycups.com/2012/05/splash-into-legoland-florida-waterpark.html" rel="nofollow">Splash into Legoland Florida Waterpark</a> from Suitcases and Sippy Cups<br />
<a href="http://www.jenniferslittleworld.com/2011/09/legoland-windsor-with-babies-and.html" rel="nofollow">Legoland: Built for Fun</a> from This Girl Travels<br />
<a href="http://ourtravelingtribe.com/2014/02/orlando-fl-legoland.html" rel="nofollow">Visiting Legoland Florida</a> from Our Traveling Tribe<br />
<a href="http://www.metamorfit.org/post/2014/07/21/Top-5-reasons-why-LEGOLAND-FLORIDA-is-Autism-Friendly.aspx" rel="nofollow">Top 5 Reasons Legoland Florida is Autism Friendly</a> from MetamorFit<br />
<a href="http://www.roadtripsforfamilies.com/2014/01/legoland-florida-amusement-park/" rel="nofollow">Legoland Florida Amusement Park</a> from Road Trips for Families<br />
<a href="http://www.familyadventureproject.org/2013/03/legoland-master-builder/" rel="nofollow">Meet the Legoland Master Builders</a> from The Family Adventure Project<br />
<a href="http://www.mommymusings.com/tips-for-visiting-legoland-florida/" rel="nofollow">Tips for Visiting Legoland Florida</a> from Mommy Musings<br />
<a href="http://www.carriewithchildren.com/2014/01/save-money-legoland-florida-family-travel.html" rel="nofollow">Legoland Florida Money Saving Tips</a> from Carrie with Children<br />
<a href="http://www.mommymusings.com/legoland-florida-souvenirs-under-10/" rel="nofollow">Legoland Florida Souvenirs Under $10</a> from Mommy Musings<br />
<a href="http://madamedeals.com/everything-is-awesome-at-legoland-florida/" rel="nofollow">Everything is Awesome at Legoland Florida</a> from Real Advice Gal<br />
<a href="http://familyfoodandtravel.com/2015/01/5-reasons-visit-legoland-florida.html" rel="nofollow">5 Reasons to Visit Legoland Florida</a> from Family Food and Travel<br />
<a href="http://twokidsandamap.com/2011/10/one-adult-two-kids-at-legoland-florida.html" rel="nofollow">One Adult and Two Kids at Legoland Florida</a> from Two Kids and a Map</div>
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<strong>Legoland Malaysia</strong><br />
<a href="http://malaysianmeanders.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/building-day-of-fun-at-legoland-malaysia.html" rel="nofollow">Building a Day of Fun at Legoland Malaysia</a> from Malaysian Meanders<br />
<a href="http://malaysianmeanders.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/asian-landmarks-at-legoland-malaysias.html" rel="nofollow">Asian Landmarks at Legoland Malaysia Miniland</a> from Malaysian Meanders<br />
<a href="http://travelwithbender.com/travel-blog/johor-malaysia/the-6-lands-of-legoland-malaysia/" rel="nofollow">The 6 Lands of Legoland Malaysia</a> from Travels with Bender<br />
<a href="http://travelwithbender.com/travel-blog/johor-malaysia/legoland-malaysia-asias-first-and-its-a-winner/" rel="nofollow">Legoland Malaysia: Asia's First and It's a Winner</a> from Travels with Bender</div>
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<strong>Legoland Windsor (UK)</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.jenniferslittleworld.com/2011/09/legoland-windsor-with-babies-and.html" rel="nofollow">Legoland Windsor with Babies and Toddlers</a> from Jennifer's Little World<br />
<a href="http://thevacationgals.com/legoland-windsor-resort-hotel-in-england/" rel="nofollow">Legoland Windsor Resort Hotel in England</a> from the Vacation Gals<br />
<a href="http://www.familyadventureproject.org/2012/03/feeling-the-lego-force-at-star-wars-miniland/" rel="nofollow">Feeling the Lego Force at Star Wars Miniland</a> from The Family Adventure Project<br />
<a href="http://familylifeinspain.com/legoland-windsor-dont-leave-late/" rel="nofollow">Legoland Windsor: Don't Leave it Too Late!</a> from Family Life in Spain<br />
<a href="http://www.familytraveltimes.co.uk/blog/5-top-tips-for-visiting-legoland-by-robert-aged-9/" rel="nofollow">5 Tips for Visiting Legoland (by Robert, aged 9)</a> from Family Travel Times<br />
<a href="http://www.familytraveltimes.co.uk/blog/my-guilt-over-legoland-queue-jumping/" rel="nofollow">My Guilt Over LEGOLAND Queue Jumping</a> from Family Travel Times<br />
<a href="http://mumsdotravel.com/2013/06/legoland-windsor/">Legoland Windsor</a> from Mums Do Travel<br />
<a href="http://travelwithbender.com/travel-blog/united_kingdom/everything-is-awesome-legoland-windsor/" rel="nofollow">Everything is Awesome: Legoland Windsor</a> from Travels with Bender<br />
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<strong>General</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.momendeavors.com/2014/07/diy-legoland-surprise-idea.html" rel="nofollow">Easy DIY Legoland Trip Surprise Idea</a> from Mom Endeavors</div>
arrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.com0Windsor, Windsor, Windsor and Maidenhead SL4, UK51.4817279 -0.6135759999999663751.442169400000004 -0.69425699999996637 51.5212864 -0.53289499999996637tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-41287438642740089862015-04-24T04:54:00.000-04:002015-05-10T16:18:32.220-04:00Happy 6th Birthday, Big Arrow!<em>As you may know,</em> <em>I like to write posts to the boys on their birthdays, and it is Big Arrow's 6th birthday. (You can also read his </em><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2011/04/crawling-around-hope-indiana.html"><span style="color: #795e3f;"><em>2nd</em></span></a><em>,
</em><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2012/04/three-years-ago-today.html"><span style="color: #795e3f;"><em>3rd</em></span></a><em>,
</em><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2013/04/happy-4th-birthday-big-arrow.html"><span style="color: #795e3f;"><em>4th</em></span></a><em>
and </em><a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2014/04/happy-5th-birthday-big-arrow.html"><span style="color: #795e3f;"><em>5th</em></span></a><em>
posts or Little Arrow's <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2012/12/1-year-of-travel-little-arrows-1st.html">1st</a>, <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2013/11/happy-2nd-birthday-little-arrow.html">2nd</a>, and <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2014/11/happy-3rd-birthday-little-arrow.html">3rd</a> posts.) </em><em>I'll resume my normal travel tales and tips in a few days... In fact, I'll be writing about his birthday celebration at Legoland next week. But a mama's just gotta love on her boys sometimes.</em><br />
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The thing I've observed more in the past year than ever before is how strong your passions are, and how your enthusiasm is so contagious. And more importantly, how much I love that about you.<br />
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Like any child, you go through phases. Most of them have been fairly typical (Elmo, pirates, superheroes). Although you did veer off the mainstream path with a deep, deep love for Blue's Clues around age 3. <em>What mom doesn't want to buy discontinued products off sketchy Amazon vendors just so she can throw her son a birthday party?</em><br />
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But somehow your interests become our interests, as a family. Not because you force them upon us (well... maybe a little), but because your love for whatever has captured your heart and imagination is completely infectious. <br />
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Take your current obsession. Star Wars. Before you got interested in the movies about a year ago (thank you, Legos), I had never sat through one from beginning to end. I just didn't have an interest and didn't understand the global phenomenon. Sci Fi is my least favorite genre of books, movies, anything. I didn't know my Han Solo from my Anakin Skywalker. And yet watching you dig into this, learning everything there is to know, and the way your eyes light up at the thought of it all, I find that I can't help but fall into it all myself. And that's what everyone around you does, too.<br />
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Because of you, we spend our days doing things like making Kit Fisto masks out of cereal boxes and light sabers out of paper towel rolls. And actually enjoying it. It's not just me. You get your grandparents to pose like superheroes and coax them into donning crazy wigs from the dress-up bin. You persuade your cousins to re-enact episodes of British cartoons that they've never even seen.<br />
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Your teacher once told me that you make her excited to teach phonics. Admittedly, she said, those lessons can sometimes be a bit stale. But the moment she gathers everyone on the carpet for the lesson, and she sees how eager and happy you are, she feels that, too.<br />
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These are the moments that I'm so thankful that for some yet unexplained reason, you're drawn to the good in this world. If you're going to bring along a group of friends, your family, and even your teachers into the things you hold close, I'm glad it's phonics. And Star Wars. And sliding down fireman poles at the playground. And taking turns so that life is a bit more fair. And tennis and "football with ma' mates" (as you say). And being sensitive toward your friends. And making crazy crafts with toilet paper rolls. And loving your family with all your heart.<br />
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I know it's cliché and it is something that every parent (rightfully) feels about their child, but watching you play and learn leaves me filled with the sense that anything is possible. Being six looks pretty great when I see the world from your vantage point.<br />
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A fine Jedi you would make, Big Arrow. May the force of good always be with you. And may you never lose those quirks that make you so special to everyone who loves you.arrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-29208914112761525482015-04-08T08:54:00.000-04:002015-05-10T16:14:54.126-04:00A York Kind of BirthdayI'll never forget <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2012/12/1-year-of-travel-little-arrows-1st.html">Little Arrow's first birthday</a> party. I held back tears through the entire night, not because my baby was turning 1, but because my husband and I had recently learned that we'd likely be moving to England. I was excited about the move, but we hadn't yet told our families, and as they gathered around our dining room table to sing Happy Birthday, I knew it would be his last family party for a while.<br />
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That's the trade-off on this expat thing. Leaving the life you know and love behind for a few years of incredible, exotic moments. We traded birthday parties with the family we miss so much for foreign museums and medieval gardens. Like <a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2014/11/happy-3rd-birthday-little-arrow.html">Little Arrow celebrating his third birthday</a> this past winter by spending the day in the beautiful, ancient city of York.<br />
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Our first stop (and quite frankly, what could have easily been our only stop of the day, as it's so big and so much fun) was the <a href="http://www.nrm.org.uk/" rel="nofollow">National Railway Museum</a>. This is one of those museums that marries children's activities with adult fascinations extremely well. There was plenty for the boys to see and do that they found completely interesting, yet things my husband and I could learn from and enjoy also. Hands-on, but not in a way that deters grown ups without children from also visiting.<br />
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Like I said, our day in York could have easily consisted of only this museum. But since we were here, we wanted to see more. (<a href="http://www.arrowssentforth.com/2013/08/how-to-spend-impromptu-day-in-york.html">We'd only been one other time</a>, when we were passing through the city en route from a camping trip.)<br />
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York is the perfect walkable city. We started by tackling a portion of the old Roman walls, where we could also admire the River Ouse. Then we headed for the shopping area known as the Shambles where the alleyway is so narrow you can literally touch both sides as you walk through it. (Needless to say I don't have photos of that... too busy shepherding small children through narrow walkways.) Street performers abound here, and the boys were equally fascinated by it all.<br />
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And we ended on a high note with a stop at York Minster. It's the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe, so just taking a look at it from all sides meant we easily burned off those chocolate ice cream cones we also indulged in (we were celebrating a birthday, after all!) <br />
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There are many places I hope we get to see again around England before our time here is over and we're once again blowing out candles with our family singing Happy Birthday to our boys. And York is definitely at the top of that list.<br />
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<br />arrowssentforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796175020918705103noreply@blogger.com0York, York, York, UK53.959965100000012 -1.087297900000066953.885224600000015 -1.2486594000000668 54.034705600000009 -0.92593640000006694tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798557705830482880.post-64920495225847034962015-03-06T08:14:00.000-05:002015-04-08T09:08:58.507-04:00A Reason to Return to the Algarve: Ponta da PiedadeAs we embarked on our move to England, our list of places to see in Europe while we lived here was long. We quickly came to the realization that we wouldn't get to see it all, especially if we wanted to travel at a pace that allows us to actually enjoy the experience. So there was an unspoken rule that we wouldn't go somewhere more than once while we were here.<br />
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Rules are meant to be broken though, right?<br />
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Of all the trips we've taken in the last couple of years, I came home from Portugal last December overwhelmed by how much I loved it there, and yet somewhat unfulfilled, knowing we hadn't seen as much as I wanted. The cover of my Frommer's guidebook called out to me... that majestic site, <a href="http://www.mydestination.com/algarve/regionalinfo/6174236/ponta-da-piedade" rel="nofollow">Ponta da Piedade</a>, was only 30 minutes from our resort in the Algarve but we never saw it.<br />
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Fortunately I got a second chance, and happily boarded a plane with the boys by myself to meet my parents for a return to this region of southern Portugal a few weeks ago. At the top of my sightseeing list was, no surprise, Ponta da Piedade.<br />
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Ponta da Piedade is the type of place where you might contemplate tearing up your travel bucket list, and letting those pieces of paper sail across the windy cliffs. Because what could be better than this? I'm so glad I got a chance to return and see it.<br />
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<strong><em>Tips If You Visit:</em></strong> <br />
<ul>
<li>Location: If you have a sat nav or GPS, Ponta da Piedade will likely show up as a destination (it did on my TomTom). Regardless, as you head south out of Lagos you will see a few signs for it.</li>
<li>Parking/Amenities: There is a parking lot and small café at the start of the various hiking trails found there.</li>
<li>Safety: I didn't explore the dirt trails, and instead stuck with the walled path that leads down to the water. I felt comfortable letting the boys explore this path (with both myself and my parents closely monitoring them), but I wouldn't have allowed my 3-year-old onto those dirt trails. So it is necessary to keep young children close to you.</li>
<li>Physical Demands: I could have comfortably taken the 182 steps down to the water and back (with lots of photo breaks). My 3-year-old walked about halfway down, and my father and I carried him back up when he didn't walk himself. (My 5-year-old was a little frightened by the heights and only went down about 1/4 of the way... which tells you a lot about their personalities, actually.) Regardless, the view is impressive no matter how far down you walk. And there are several flat platforms where you can take a break for photos and rest along the way down. Don't let the stairs deter you from coming, they were much less daunting than I expected. </li>
</ul>
This post is a part of Friday Postcards at <a href="http://www.walkingontravels.com/" rel="nofollow">Walking on Travels</a>.<br />
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