Costa Rica is a fun, safe place to take your family for a memorable vacation. I have made a 10 days in Costa Rica itinerary that covers the best of this incredible country.

Costa Rica is a small, Central American country, bordered by Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. It is a politically and economically stable country, with a democratically elected government and a high standard of living.

The local currency is colones, although most places take a credit card or US dollars.

Is Costa Rica safe for families?

This is not a country where you have to stay in a resort to be safe: it is a very peaceful place. They don’t even have an army here.

The water is safe to drink, and is delicious! No extra vaccines are required but there is a risk of Zika: if you are pregnant or planning to be, give it a miss this year.

When to go to Costa Rica

Dry season is mid December to April and the rainy season is from May to November. As Costa Rica is so close to the equator, temperatures do not vary much – a pleasant 70 to 80F year round.

The climate varies depending on where in the country you are visiting, however; cities on the Caribbean side experience a lot of rain and humidity, while the Pacific coast gets more dry weather. The central valley of San Jose is generally warm, while the mountain regions can be colder.

I took my three and five-year-old to Costa Rica recently during Thanksgiving week. The end of November is still the rainy season, which meant we did get wet, but it was also far less crowded than in the summer. 

Hotels are half the price compared to the peak season, which meant we were able to stay in some great places for cheap.

We found the weather to be fairly predictable: sunny in the mornings, with rain in the afternoon. Although the forecasts predicted rain every day while we were there, we actually had plenty of sunny days. Even when it did rain, it was warm.

I would recommend going during the rainy season if you don’t like crowds. It seems like a good trade-off to me.

This itinerary is best for families with young kids who can’t do some of the more active stuff (believe me, we will be back in a couple of years for more!) so if your kids are older, check out this great guide on top adventurous things to do in Costa Rica.

10 days in Costa Rica

If you have 10 days, you have enough time to see most of the country’s most popular attractions, including the volcanic region of Arenal and the spectacular natural beauty of Manuel Antonio National Park.

Day One: Arrive at San Jose

San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica and the biggest city. Most tourists skip San Jose to head straight to the coast (to be honest, we did this too!) but it’s a great place to get a glimpse of real life away from the tourism.

A simple airport hotel with a free transfer like Courtyard by Marriott San Jose Airport Alajuela or Hampton Inn & Suites San Jose Airport is your best option for accommodation.

If you arrive in the morning, use the day to explore the city or visit a museum. San Jose is a great place to learn about the history of Costa Rica before you head out on your family adventure.

Visit the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica to discover the history and culture of Costa Rica, from pre-Columbian times up to the modern period.

The bright yellow building was originally a military barracks but became the museum’s home two years after the army was dissolved in 1948. Younger kids may not appreciate the exhibits but will enjoy the butterfly garden.

The museum is located on Calle 17, between Central and Second Avenue. The museum is closed on Mondays and on certain holidays. The fee is $11 and children under 12 are free.

If you are in San Jose on a Saturday morning, check out the farmer’s market in Escazu on Avenida 32, just south of the public park. It’s a great place to try an ice-cold coconut water, fresh-squeezed sugar cane juice, artisan coffee or an empanada.

Day Two: La Fortuna

Arenal Volcano, near the town of La Fortuna, is approximately a three-hour drive from San Jose. It’s just under 100 miles away but finding a straightforward route is tough in Costa Rica.

If you are driving yourselves, Google Maps and Waze work well but bear this in mind when you are choosing your route: the quickest road is sometimes unpaved, narrow and winding. If you have kids prone to car sickness, take the longer way.

Fortunately there are plenty of roadside sodas along the way (that’s a cafe, not a drink!) to stop and enjoy a fresh fruit smoothie.

We used Adobe Car Rental for our ride and can recommend this company. They included two car seats for free and included the cost of the mandatory insurance, so there were no surprises.

The other option is to hire a driver and private car. This doesn’t actually cost much more than renting your own car; the downside is you don’t have the freedom to explore on your own when you get to your destination.

If you don’t have your own car in La Fortuna, you can use Uber to get around or just book yourselves onto a tour. 

Los Lagos Hotel, Spa and Resort

Check yourself into the family-friendly Los Lagos Hotel, Spa and Resort for the next three nights and take the afternoon to enjoy the hot springs.

Los Lagos is a great base to explore the area and you can see a lot of Costa Rican wildlife right here in the lush landscaped gardens.

Our kids loved the pool with a kids’ water slide and waterfall. It was shallow enough for our three-year-old to stand up in. The naturally-heated water is fresh with no chlorine and we could have easily spent all day in there.

There is another, deeper pool with a swim-up bar and a bigger water slide, which our five-year-old also enjoyed. A lot.

The on-site butterfly garden was also a hit with the whole family and we visited it every day on the way back to our room from breakfast.

Breakfast is included with your stay and it was good – we enjoyed pancakes, eggs, fruit, and of course, rice and beans. The restaurant is also open at night for buffet or a la carte service.

Day Three: Arenal Volcano

The town of La Fortuna lies to the southeast of Arenal Volcano, an active volcano that lay dormant for centuries before violently erupting one night in 1968 and destroying the town of Tabacon.

The volcano was pretty active until 2010 and has been peaceful ever since. You can take advantage of this pause in activity and hike the trail leading to the volcano in Arenal Volcano National Park.

You can’t go right up to the rim – despite appearances, this is still an active volcano and the toxic gases billowing out are dangerous – but the looping trail takes you close enough to get a good view of the cone.

There are two parts to the park: the Volcano and Peninsula sectors. The ticket into the park covers both but to get to the peninsula trail, you have to exit the car park and drive further down the road.

In the Volcano sector, there are three trails you can take from the car park after paying at the booth. Las Coladas trail takes you out and back to the lava flow from 1992 and a lookout point, a total distance of two kilometers (1.25 miles). 

El Ceibo trail starts around halfway down Las Coladas, loops past the enormous namesake Ceibo tree, then joins up again at the end of that trail. You can do both trails as a loop, making the total distance around four kilometers (2.5 miles).

The third trail, Heliconias, starts near the entrance to the park and is 600 meters long. All the trails are fairly flat, wide and easy to walk, even with young kids.

If you want to do both the Peninsula and the Volcano sectors, start with the Volcano as the last entrance is 2.30 p.m., while the last entrance time for the Peninsula trail is 4 p.m. 

Day Four: Mistico Hanging Bridges

Mistico Park is a private wildlife preserve where tourists get a bird’s eye view of the forest by walking across a set of hanging bridges. You can get a guided tour or walk the trail by yourselves.

Being in the canopy is a completely different sensory experience to hiking the forest floor. The sounds of the cicadas, tropical birds and monkeys are all around and everywhere you look is a deep, lush green.

The trail takes between two and three hours to walk, although it is not far or difficult to walk: you will simply want to take your time to enjoy the experience.

The path itself is narrow but easy to navigate and our three-year-old had no problems walking the entire length. The six hanging bridges and ten ordinary bridges are well-maintained and not too scary.

It is possible to take a stroller but you would need an off-road model as the path is not paved and there are parts that are quite steep. There are shortcuts that avoid the really tricky parts, however, and there is also a shorter wheelchair-friendly trail you can take.

We took the self-guided option and enjoyed taking the trail at our own pace but the advantage of a guided tour is you will see more wildlife.

Once you have finished the tour, check out the restaurant: the view of the volcano is one of the best around and the fresh fruit smoothies are great.

Day Five: La Fortuna Waterfall and Rainforest Chocolate Tour

If you close your eyes and imagine a thundering waterfall in the jungle, that’s exactly what La Fortuna Waterfall looks like. You can swim in the cool waters at the base once you have descended the 500 steps from the car park.

It’s not really suited for young children but adjacent to the waterfall is a shallow river with darting fish and a sandy bank, perfect for paddling.

As we had our own car, we arrived in the morning and shared the area with about ten people: after noon, the tour buses arrived and the numbers quadrupled.

This is a good place to take some sturdy hiking sandals: I wore a pair of Keens in the water and they gripped the slippery rocks well while protecting my feet. They were perfectly dry to wear again the following day.

In the afternoon, head to Rainforest Chocolate Tour for a sweet (and educational) adventure into chocolate production. The tour guides take you into their farm and show you how the fruit of the Cacao is transformed into the food of the gods.

No spoilers, but bring an empty stomach.

Day Six: Travel to Manuel Antonio National Park

Costa Rica is not a large country and the driving distance between Manuel Antonio National Park and La Fortuna is only 230 km (140 miles). However, unlike the US, there are few freeways.

Roads are narrow, winding and in some instances, unpaved. It took us all day to drive from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio National Park. Not great with small children who get travel sick.

I would recommend breaking up this drive by going back to San Jose for a night, or to Carara National Park, which is a more manageable 3.5 hours. 

If you want to see crocodiles, stop at Tarcoles, near Carara National Park. Jaco is another nice town in this area, make sure you stop at Tacobar for amazing fish tacos.

Another option is to charter a car and be driven to Manuel Antonio.

We found we could easily walk to restaurants from our hotel and a shuttle bus took us to the beach and national park entrance, so we didn’t use the car at all once we arrived at Manuel Antonio.

So rather than driving yourself, you could drop the car at the rental agency in La Fortuna and charter a van to drive you to your destination, then return you to the airport.

Finally, you could also consider a flight. Arenal to Quepos (the closest town to Manuel Antonio) is only 30 minutes by airplane with Sansa, for around $100 each one way.

Driving in Costa Rica is an experience in itself and you will see more of the country but if you don’t want to spend that much time in the car with young children, flying is the way to go.

Day Seven: Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio National Park is a protected rainforest and beach area, full of amazing wildlife. Nearby Quepos is a drive away but we stayed in the tourist area close to the park entrance.

There is a good mix of luxury, mid-range and budget accommodation available here. We picked Si Como No, a mid-range eco-resort perched on the top of a hill.

The resort has a family pool with a waterslide and swim-up bar, an adult-only pool, a movie theater and two restaurants on site.

We booked a Superior room, which has two double beds and a balcony, but on arrival received an upgrade to a Deluxe room. The upgraded room had similar amenities plus a vaulted ceiling and a beautiful stained-glass window.

As we were so close to a number of great restaurants, we only ate breakfasts and one evening meal at the hotel, but the food was good. Breakfast especially was a highlight, with fresh fruit, delicious coffee and house made granola.

The hotel has a free shuttle to take guests down the hill to the public beach and back to the hotel. You can get a timetable from reception. If you miss the bus, you can walk back – it’s about 45 minutes – or take a taxi.

Just opposite the shuttle stops is a path that takes you to the park entrance, where you buy your tickets in a bank, for some reason.

Don’t take any food or drink with wrappers, as all bags are searched on entry and anything that could possibly cause trash is confiscated. Do take sunscreen, bathing suits and a towel or two – but have everything secured in a backpack, or those cheeky monkeys will make off with your belongings.

The park is beautiful and well maintained. A wide boardwalk takes you through rainforest, mangrove and down to Manuel Antonio Beach, where white sands and tropical waters await.

Signposts in English and Spanish offer information about the wildlife, which is easy to spot even if you are not part of a tour. At the end of the trail to the beach are restrooms, showers and a cafe.

It is not necessary to get a guide, but you will see more wildlife if you do.

Day Eight: Espadilla Beach and Night Walk

After breakfast, head to the beach for the morning. There are umbrellas and chairs to rent, plus coconut water to buy. Surf and body boards are also available to rent. 

The water is a bit rough for young kids to swim, but it is fun for a paddle and older kids can have a go at bodyboarding the waves.

Once you have had enough of the beach, take the shuttle back up the hill and check out some of the cafes for lunch.

While not exactly a local cuisine, the Falafel Bar opposite Tulemar Resort serves delicious fresh falafel, salad and pita. The smoothies were particularly memorable. 

Another interesting lunch stop is El Avion, an airplane-turned-restaurant near the beach. Although we didn’t make it here, we heard good things about the food from other tourists.

Have a relaxing day next to the pool and an early dinner before your evening’s entertainment: a guided night walk through the jungle.

Why a night walk? Lots of wildlife only comes out after dark so this is the best way to see Costa Rica’s adorable red-eyed tree frog. 

Si Como No has its own nature reserve across the road from the hotel, which is where we took our tour.

The tour took around two hours with an extremely knowledgeable naturalist, and although the walking distance was not far, it was a tiring night for our three-year-old.  

Also a bit scary: Si Como No’s preserve has crocodiles in an enclosure, along with the snakes and frogs we had come to see. A crocodile roar in the dark jungle certainly sent a shiver down my spine. We all survived however, with amazing photographs and memories.

Day Nine: White Water Rafting Or Chill By The Pool

If your kids are a bit older than ours and you are there during the rainy season, a white water rafting trip is a fun way to see the country from another, adrenaline-filled perspective.

Savegre River, which runs through Manuel Antonio National Park, has a mix of fun rapids and calm areas. Rafting companies will take kids as young as five for a half-day adventure along the river, with lunch included.

Alternatively, use your last day to have fun in the pool, because sometimes you need a vacation from your vacation.

Day Ten: Travel Back To San Jose

Depending on your flight time, this is going to be a travel day. It takes about three hours to drive to San Jose airport, although the front desk at our hotel advised us it sometimes takes more like four.

If you are flying, it is approximately 30 minutes flight time between Quepos and San Jose airport.

Juan Santamaria International Airport, as it is known, is a small and easily navigable place. While it is always a good idea to give yourself two hours to get through security when flying internationally, we got to our gate within an hour.

And that’s it! Let me know in the comments if you found this itinerary useful!

The post 10 Days in Costa Rica Itinerary appeared first on Tiny Trailblazers.

If you’re looking for an affordable family getaway, Oregon is the perfect destination. With pristine forests, lakes, mountains and beaches, there are plenty of things to do for outdoor-loving families, but with fewer crowds – and more bang for your buck – than in neighboring California.

I have planned out an Oregon summer family road trip for a week, hitting some of the best spots in Oregon. If this seems like too much driving for your family, skip Crater Lake and split your time equally between Bend and Portland, or spend a couple of nights at a seaside resort instead.

Fly into Portland PDX: Two nights in Portland

Portland has a reputation for hipsters with its cafes, microbreweries and independent shops, but it is also home to many unique family-friendly experiences.

Portland’s 400-acre Washington Park alone has a Children’s Museum, a zoo, the World Forestry Center, an amazing playground, a steam train and a Japanese Garden. In the summer, concerts are held at the zoo, starting at 7pm.

Parents will also be pleased to hear that Portland’s famous breweries are welcoming to children, so no need to miss out on the northwest pacific beer scene. Portland is also known for its food carts, which are a family-friendly and affordable way to enjoy the best of the region’s food.

If your kids love public transport, Portland has a great little self-guided city tour called the 4T, a 4.5-mile urban loop that includes trails, a trolley, an aerial tram and a train!

For more information on Portland, check out the very informative Travel Portland website.

Where to stay

Budget Portland International Guesthouse

Mid-range Silver Cloud Inn

Luxury Kimpton Riverplace Hotel

How to get there

Portland International Airport (PDX) is well-served by several airlines, including: Air Canada, Alaska, American Airlines, Boutique Air, Condor, Delta, Frontier, Hawiian Airlines, IcelandAir, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, Suncountry, United, Volaris and Westjet. Downtown Portland is a 30-45 minute drive from the airport. 

Oregon’s coast: Day trip from Portland, 90-minute drive

Using one of your day’s at Portland, drive to the coast and explore Oregon’s beaches. Cannon Beach is Hollywood’s go-to filming location for wild and windswept beach scenes. The Goonies is probably the most famous but Cannon Beach also featured in Twilight and Point Break, doubling for Washington’s coastline and Bell’s Beach respectively. 

Oregon has many miles of accessible, beautiful and peaceful beaches to choose from. Although the cold, often rough Pacific Ocean is better left to the surfers, there are tide pools to explore, drift wood and shells to collect, and sand castles to build here.

Other family favorite beaches include:

Devil’s Punchbowl, which features a hollow rock formation where the ocean waters spectacularly churn.

Rockaway Beach, where you can enjoy long stretches of soft sand, as well as take a trip on a steam train in nearby Tillamook.

Seaside, in addition to having a lovely beach, has an amusement park, aquarium, bowling alley and skate park. It’s also home to Fort Clatsop, where Lewis and Clark camped out over winter.

Where to stay

Budget Ecola Creek Lodge

Mid-range Inn at Cannon Beach

Luxury Stephanie Inn

How to get there

Rockaway, Seaside and Cannon Beach are all around an hour and a half’s drive west of Portland, while Devil’s Punchbowl is around a two-and-a-half-hour’s drive from downtown.

Bend, Oregon: Two nights, three-hour drive

Just over a three-hour drive south from Portland, Bend is a small town with a big reputation. Bend is an ideal base for an Oregon family vacation for two reasons: beer and nature.

Some of Oregon’s best natural attractions are right on Bend’s doorstep, including Sahalie and Koosah Falls, Mount Bachelor and Deschutes National Forest. There are also free natural hot springs you can take a dip in, all within an hour’s drive.

Bend is also home to the High Desert Museum, an interactive museum with live animal (and people) exhibits, giving visitors an insight into the area’s unique ecology and history.

Once you have enjoyed a long day of hiking, swimming and exploring, it’s time to discover Bend’s microbreweries and top-notch restaurants. 

Nature plus beer: it really is the best combination.

Where to stay

Budget Riverside Inn and Suites

Mid-range McMenamins Old St Francis School

Luxury Oxford Hotel Bend

How to get there

Bend is a three-hour drive south from Portland. If you want to visit Bend without going to Portland first, Redmond Municipal Airport is just 25 minutes to the north of Bend and daily direct flights are available from Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Seattle. You can even go by train to Central Oregon, as Amtrak has a station in nearby Eugene.

Crater Lake: Two nights, two-hour drive

Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the US, formed by a volcanic eruption 7,700 years ago. I took my family here based on pictures of the stunning blue lake but this National Park has a lot more to offer than a great family selfie. My favorite hike was the Castle Crest Wildflower Trail, which was a short, flat, kid-friendly walk through a fairytale forest filled with colorful flowers.

Getting down to the lake itself is not easy, especially if you are carrying kids, but you can get in the water for a swim at the end so it’s worth the hike.

Another epic hike in Crater Lake Park is at Wizard Island, the whimsically-named island in the middle of the lake. You need to hike down the Cleetwood trail and take a boat out to the island, then there is a trail to the summit. Taking a boat tour is the best way to appreciate the unique beauty of the lake and is a great activity with kids (although children must be two and over to participate).

The camping experience at Crater Lake is excellent. We went at a very busy time, yet the large sites and forest location meant we had plenty of privacy. Although the high-fire risk meant we couldn’t have an open camp fire, our kids had a wonderful time running around our spacious site, collecting pine cones and getting thoroughly filthy.

If camping is not your thing, there are comfortable lodges and cabins available to stay in the Park.

Where to stay

Budget Mazama Campground

Mid-range The Cabins at Mazama Village

Luxury Crater Lake Lodge

How to get there

Crater Lake is approximately a five-hour drive south from Portland, or a six-and-a-half hour trip from San Francisco. Medford Airport is a 90-minute drive away and is served by Horizon Air/Alaska Airlines,  United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Allegiant. Daily direct flights from San Francisco, Portland,  Seattle, Los Angeles,  Denver, Las Vegas, and Salt Lake City are available. If you want to catch the train, shuttles are available from Eugene Station.

Portland: One night, four-and-a-half-hour drive

Stay one more night in Portland, flying out of Portland International Airport the following day.

To make your vacation go as smoothly as possible, check out our Best Travel Gear For Toddlers and Best Travel Gear For Babies posts, which includes a packing list.

The post Best Oregon Family Getaways appeared first on Tiny Trailblazers.

I’ve always thought of New York as an expensive place, and it is – to live. But if you’re only visiting, there are a ton of cheap, fun things to do in New York with your family. New York is a safe, vibrant and energetic city with great public transport. If it’s not on your travel bucket list, put it on right now! Here are 10 cheap or free activities in NYC to get you started. And find out how to get a free book about New York for your kids to read on the flight!

1. American Museum of Natural History – free

Go into the foyer, past the crowds paying at the booths and straight to the ticket desk. The American Museum of Natural History has an inclusive policy of allowing guests to pay what they can. The suggested ticket price is $23 for adults and $13 for children but this inspiring place is open to all.

2. Bronx Zoo – free

You won’t believe you’re in the city at the Bronx Zoo. You could spend the whole day here, watching the animals, wandering the expansive grounds and even riding a camel. If you plan your trip for a Wednesday, you can pay what you like, although the suggested price is $28.95 for adults and $20.95 for children. Get there by subway and bring your own picnic for a cheap day out in New York City!

3. High Line – free 

The High Line is a 1.45-mile long elevated park, built on a disused freight rail line. This walk  gives you great views of the city while enjoying art installations and gardens – all for free! There are elevators, so it is stroller-friendly too. Begin at Gansevoort St and Washington St on the West side of Manhattan and continue up to 34 St. There are several points along the way to get down if you don’t want to do the whole line.

4. Staten Island Ferry – Free

The Staten Island Ferry takes 22 million passengers a year between Whitehall St in lower Manhattan and Staten Island. Keep your camera out because the 25-minute ride offers fantastic views of New York, its harbor and the Statue of Liberty. No ticket is required for this trip!

5. Staten Island Children’s Museum – $8, Free on Wednesday 3pm-5pm

Staten Island has a children’s museum where kids can have fun exploring the interactive, hands-on exhibits. The museum caters to a good range of ages, from babies and toddlers who would enjoy the soft block room, to older kids who will get a kick out of life-size chess games and the bugs exhibition. Perfect for a rainy day or for a break from sightseeing. Find Staten Island Children’s Museum at Snug Harbor by hopping on the S40 bus from the ferry terminal for 10 minutes.

6. Brooklyn Bridge walk – Free

It’s free to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge on the footpath. Enjoy the million dollar views without spending a penny by walking this beautiful bridge! You can take a stroller if your child isn’t up to the 1.3-mile span. Once you get over to Brooklyn, check out the cobbled streets and glimpses of Manhattan’s famous skyline. Go anytime, but try to time the return stretch for sunset to see the city lit up at night – it’s truly magical.

On the Manhattan side, the pedestrian bridge entrance is just across from the Chambers Street subway stop. On the Brooklyn side, the entrance is at Tillary Street and Adams Street.

7. Jane’s Carousel – Cheap at $2

For just $2, ride the Jane’s Carousel just across the Brooklyn Bridge. Open Thursday to Sunday in the winter and every day except Tuesdays in the summer, this historic 1920s carousel is cheap New York fun for all ages. There is a great playground nearby too, as well as a beach giving you a beautiful view of the city, perfect for a family snap.

8. Grand Central Station – Free

To me, exploring New York always feels like wandering around one giant movie set, and Grand Central Station is one of the best locations to enjoy the thrill! Make sure you look up at the ceiling, which is a giant mural of the zodiac painted in gold leaf. See if your kids can spot the dark brick next to Cancer, the crab. This is a small area deliberately left dirty after the restoration project in the 1990s to show how the ceiling used to look. You might think the dark was caused by smoke from the trains but nope, it was cigarettes. Yuck! 

Check out the Whispering Gallery next to the Grand Central Oyster Bar and Restaurant – get your kids to stand on one side of the arch while you whisper to them on the other – see if they can hear you.

There are also lots of restaurants and shops here, including an Apple store, which may have fun demonstrations going on. 

There is even an annex of the New York Transit Museum here, which showcases some of the exhibits of the downtown Brooklyn museum. Admission is free!

9. Domino Park – Free

Williamsburg in Brooklyn is home to super-cool bars, restaurants, shops and possibly the world’s best playground at Domino Park. Inspired by the sugar refinery that used to occupy the site, children crawl, swing and slide their way through this art installation/playground, mimicking the sugar refining process. 

10. Central Park – Free

No visit to New York is complete without a stroll through Central Park. Let the kids burn off some energy at one of the playgrounds and enjoy the views of the city. Check out the rock formations, which offer a glimpse at the bedrock that Manhattan is built on. Also, see if you can find Belvedere Castle, a folly built out of the excavated rock during park construction. It’s a visitor center now, so you will be able to find out more about the park’s history here. 

For families with children aged five and older (or if you can carry younger kids), go for a free guided discovery walk with Central Park Conservancy.

Getting around NYC with kids

Check out our post A Day In New York City With Kids for more ideas on where to go in New York, how to get around and kid-friendly places to eat. I highly recommend a lightweight stroller like this Kolcraft Cloud or a baby carrier like the popular K’Tan. Public transport is great and taking the subway is part of the fun. If you want to take a taxi, consider Uber as there is an option to request a forward-facing car seat (only for 12 months or older) for an extra $10 in New York.

Get your kids inspired ahead of your trip with this colorful Lonely Planet pop up book for New York

Or New York City Trails for slightly older kids.

This book is actually free with Prime reading, another Amazon Prime membership perk. If you don’t have Amazon Prime yet, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial here and read New York City Trails for free on any device!

Finally, New York is so much more than Manhattan. If you have time, take a New York road trip and see more of the Empire State.

Where to stay

I like to use Airbnb when traveling with children, as I like having a separate living/bedroom area and a kitchen. However, I have always stayed with family in Manhattan so I don’t have any specific places to recommend!

Kid & Coe is a good option – an Airbnb for families, it provides listings for places that are kid-friendly and pre-checked by the team. If you don’t want to trawl through Airbnb looking for child-proofed homes, this is the way to go.

More of a hotel fan? I get it, you don’t want to do any cooking on vacation! There are some great-value, family-friendly hotels in New York.

The Four Seasons ($$$) in Midtown East is a five-star hotel providing luxurious accommodation to kids as well as adults. Board games, child proofing and cribs are available free of charge. Children receive a welcome pack including kids toiletries and bath robes! There is also a babysitting service available so you can enjoy New York’s famous night life too.

TRYP by Wyndham ($$) is centrally located near Penn Station and has family rooms that can accommodate up to eight people, perfect for larger families who want to stay in a room together.

POD Times Square ($) is a modern, chic budget hotel, ideal for families. If you just need somewhere quiet to sleep, these rooms with full window shutters and soundproofing offer a quiet sanctuary after a busy day.

The post 10 Things To Do In New York City With Kids For Under $10 appeared first on Tiny Trailblazers.

I asked three top travel bloggers to share the family destinations they are most excited to visit in 2019 and received great inspiration for new adventures for a new year.

Celebrating Life in Mexico

Raphael and Aslan Sinclair, A Life We Chose

The Sinclairs, a young Canadian family with a 6-year-old-son and a puppy, had a dream to travel the world. So they quit their jobs, sold everything and bought one-way tickets to Mexico. Their travel blog, A Life We Chose, is their inspiring story showing everyone can live out their dreams, no matter what!

A Life We Chose

“We’ve been in Mexico since September 11th, 2018. In every city or state we’ve visited there is one common theme: family comes first.

“The children here are very well looked after. Most families are very large and all the members pitch in to make sure a child’s birthday party is a blast. An average birthday party for a child will have a bouncy castle, food, games, clowns and of course, a piñata. The entire family attends in order to make sure the child feels special.

“On one occasion, our family was invited to a child’s birthday party by complete strangers. We attended, were welcomed with open arms, and treated like family.

“For our child, it’s a great lesson in gratitude and family values. Since many families here live below the poverty line, children are taught early to work and do their part for the family. In turn, elders are also looked after.

“Mexico is very safe for children. When we arrived in the small town of Santa Cruz de Miramar, we noticed groups of children playing without adult supervision in the streets.

“It was foreign for us because in Canada though people say it’s safe, no-one lets their little ones go play without supervision.

“We decided to give it a try and let our child play with the other kids without us hovering. The first day, he got hurt and a dozen kids came to our door to get us. Since then, Gryphin has gone out several times by himself and we’ve never had a problem though we’re still reluctant in bigger cities.

“According to friends I’ve talked to, crimes against children are nearly non-existant here. The reason being that people who commit crimes against children are not dealt with by police, they simply disappear. It might sound extreme but that’s the way it is.

“Here in Mexico, religious events like Christmas and Easter are very important since 80% of the population is Roman Catholic. They are celebrated much differently than in Canada. The celebrations usually go on for several days and are more family-focused than material-focused.

“There are several other religious holidays as well as national holidays like independence day.

“They don’t celebrate Halloween here! Instead, at the beginning of November, they celebrate Dia de Los Muertos (day of the dead). It is a time set aside to honor those who have passed on. Celebrations take place for a few days.

“No matter where we go, there are fun activities for kids. Whether it’s a circus, outdoor party, or something else, there’s always action! Some of the bigger cities like Guadalajara have things like arcades, trampoline parks and similar things.

“In the smaller villages, there’s usually outdoor places like rivers, beaches or trails to explore. It’s awesome because you can swim here year round. Is there really anything funner for kids than a family day at the beach?”

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Off The Beaten Track In Altyn Arashan

Krasen Jelyazkov, Journey Beyond Horizon

Krasen, a travel blogger from Bulgaria, lives in China with his wife Ying-Ying and children. Krasen shares his adventures criss-crossing continents and favorite off-the-beaten-path destinations in his travel blog, Journey Beyond Horizon.

Krasen Jelyazkov, Journey Beyond Horizon

“I have always looked to some off the beaten path places, knowing that many of these places are incredibly beautiful, not crowded by over tourism and very natural. One of these places is located in Kyrgyzstan, a little known country in Central Asia, offering some of the most breathtaking mountain landscapes in the world. This place is Altyn Arashan, a valley in Tianshan mountains, with splendid coniferous forests, grasslands, alpine peaks and stunning views.

“Altyn Arashan is located near Karakol city. It can be reached by a 15km dirt road from the nearby village Ak-Suu. Walking on this road is easy, safe and you can meet many hikers from various countries. There are also big truck-buses, arranged by the local travel agencies for tourists. Finally, it reaches Altyn Arashan – a mountain resort at 2,450m altitude.

“This mountain resort is significant for one more thing – hot springs. There are many huts with pools, where the natural hot water flows and you can enjoy 40-50 minutes relaxing inside. And when you are not in the pools, you have a lot of opportunities for hiking, horse riding or just walking and resting on the grasslands and in the forest.

“The best time to visit Altyn Arashan is in summer, when the grassland is green and full of flowers. Other seasons are beautiful too, but summer is also easier to access this place. All this makes it a perfect, non-standard destination for young families with children.”

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Mountains And Lakes In Switzerland

Erika Van ‘t Veld, Erika’s Travelventures

Erika has been backpacking around the world since October, 2017 and started blogging about her adventures on Erika’s Travel Adventures in 2018. Her favorite experiences so far have been trekking in Nepal, Switzerland, and Georgia, and road tripping through the Balkan countries using public transportation.

Erika Van ‘t Veld, Erika’s Travelventures

“Switzerland has been a family destination for Europeans for decades, both in the summer and winter. Its alluring mountains, lakes, little villages, and friendly locals have drawn tourists to Switzerland since Heidi was skipping through the Alps!

“There’s something to do there in every season, such as skiing in the winter, hiking in the spring and summer and exploring cozy towns in the fall. With kids, I recommend going in the summer to enjoy walking some of the trails around the Jungfrau region, swimming in the lakes around Interlaken, and taking the mountain trains up to the beautiful viewpoints of Schynige Platte and Kleine Scheidegg.

“Many families will rent out cabins or Airbnbs here, which gives a sense of being a real local in any number of small welcoming villages around the country. Restaurants are plentiful and varied, and even typical Swiss food could appease many picky eaters. Grab a pot of fondue to eat on the terrace (available year-round), some bread rolls and pastries for breakfast or a picnic by the lake, and cozy up in the evenings with dinner of potato mash and sausages.

“For families with children old enough to hike a couple of hours, there are amazing treks that go for many kilometers in the Interlaken area, such as from Schynige Platte to Faulhorn and Alpiglen, or the famous Eiger trail. For young kids, it’s a fun experience to ride the cable cars around the Alps, such as from Grindelwald to First!

“There are not many downsides to this beautiful country, EXCEPT the price tag. Being one of the wealthiest countries in Europe, accommodation, eating out, and especially transportation is expensive compared to American standards. If you’re cooking for yourself and limited long-distance train excursions however, it’s easy to visit Switzerland on any budget.”

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So there you go! Check out their blogs and Instagram feeds for more posts and stunning photography from these exciting destinations and start planning your trips. If you’ve never been on a long-haul flight with young children, take a look at my posts Flying With A Baby and Flying With A Toddler for tip on how to get there without too much stress.

The post Best Family Destinations for 2019 By Travel Bloggers appeared first on Tiny Trailblazers.

I’ll admit I had my doubts about Provence as a child-friendly destination but it’s actually the perfect place to slow down and just have fun together. In fact, we took a multi-generational trip to France’s beautiful south-eastern region and everyone enjoyed themselves. After all, from toddler to senior, who doesn’t like a pain au chocolat?

I’ll start by saying our trip took more than one day! However, I will condense the best bits down to one day so you have an idea of what to expect if you are planning a family vacation to France. 

The Luberon

We wanted to stay in a village somewhere in the Luberon region, as I had been there once for a wedding and had always wanted to return for longer. The Luberon is a national nature park in the heart of Provence, France’s rural idyll. Enclosed by mountain ranges, the region is home to forests, lakes, orchards and vineyards with medieval villages scattered in between. 

After a lot of research, we stayed in an Airbnb in Cucuron, a quiet walled town on the southern edge of the Luberon. Although there are many beautiful communities in this part of the world, I loved Cucuron because it is somehow in perfect balance with tradition and modernity, embracing the best of both worlds.

Unfortunately, the place we stayed is no longer being advertised but there are plenty of beautiful properties available in Cucuron. Book early if you are planning on visiting during the peak summer months, as accommodation gets snapped up fast.

Croissants and Markets

Wake up to the sound of church bells and head to one of Cucuron’s bakeries. I counted three, which is not bad for a town of 1,800. If it is a Tuesday go straight to the market in the town’s Place de l’Etang, where market stalls selling fresh local produce crowd around the huge pond, shaded by 200-year-old plane trees. You will find plenty of cheese, meat, fruit and vegetable samples to taste as well as the ubiquitous buttery croissants and pain au chocolats for sale. 

This is a good opportunity to introduce kids (and yourself) to some foods they may not be familiar with and to learn the French names.

If the market is not on, you can still find all the local produce at the shops, which you will have to hunt for through the town’s ancient, winding narrow streets. Even at the height of summer the morning the air is cool and the tall buildings shade the narrow streets, so it is a good time to explore the village. 

Cherries, melons and olives are all grown around Cucuron, which is a farming community and not just a tourist town. Apricots are also a regional speciality and an apricot jam tart from the Boulangerie Frederic Sagnes on Rue de la Place is the best way to appreciate the sweet fruit. While you are buying breakfast, get yourself a loaf of bread for lunch later. Stop by the butcher on the corner of Rue de la Mairie and Rue du Portail de l’Etang for pate, sausage, ham and tangy goat’s cheese, then seek out one of the stalls that mysteriously pop up from homes for cherries, grapes or whatever else is in season.

Head over to the Place de l’Etang and hang out with a coffee at one of the cafes surrounding the pond. If you are used to US standards of service, you may need to adjust your expectations. No one is in a particular hurry to serve you but neither are they keen to shuffle you out when you are finished. Take your time, enjoy the natural air conditioning created by the shady trees and the breeze.

Once you are finally ready to move on, head up to the Saint-Michel tower overlooking the town, taking plenty of detours up and down the winding alleys. Try to include the Notre Dame de Beaulieu church in your wandering, a 13th-century Gothic structure with an enormous poplar tree tied up outside. The tree is part of an annual festival dating back to 17th century, celebrating the end of the plague that devastated the town.

Castles and Ice Cream

Once you have explored Cucuron, head out into the French countryside. If it’s a sunny day, pack your swimsuits and towels for the seven-minute drive to Etang de la Bonde, a swimming lake located four miles to the east of Cucuron. Lifeguards are on duty during July and August on the west side of the lake. There is also a snack bar open in the summer if you decided not to bring your picnic.

You could spend all afternoon on the sandy beach or walking through the pine trees but there are also castles to explore. The town of Lourmarin has the Chateau de Lourmarin, a 12th century fortress converted in the 15th century into a home. Restored in the early 20th century, the chateau is full of furniture showing how people lived over the years. If you have a toddler it may be tricky to keep them the right side of the velvet ropes but they can always have a good run around the shady playground outside the chateau grounds afterwards.

The promise of an ice cream may also help. Go to C en Provence in Place Henri Barthelemy nearby for outstanding ice cream and cold lemonade. I enjoyed the lavender but chocolate fans won’t be disappointed either.

After a day of culture and ice cream, head back to your accommodation for a rest before the evening outing.

Music and Wine

If it’s a Tuesday in the summer between June 26th and September 4th, the Domaine de Fontanille in neighboring Lauris hosts Apertif in the Gardens, a weekly event with a singer and upmarket food trucks from 6.30pm. This is hugely popular with locals so arrive on time to get a parking spot and a table under the paper lanterns.

On a warm evening, this stunning winery and hotel is a relaxing place to enjoy a glass of local wine, delicious food and listen to music. As it is all outdoors, kids can run around safely on the lawns without bothering anyone, which reduces the usual stress of eating out. It’s like going to a wedding without the formalities.

If you don’t have a designated driver, taxis are available – ask at your accommodation for help in booking one.

Not there on a Tuesday? Never mind, Cucuron has several restaurants happy to accommodate families. We enjoyed a delightful meal at Les Baravineurs, 40 Boulevard Du Nord, where the owners will happily guide you through the tapas-style menu, with a focus on local, seasonal and fresh dishes. Inside is a cozy space with large wooden tables and a bar, which opens onto a spacious patio under a grapevine arbor.

If you are uncertain whether the kids can handle the menu, Cucuron’s Le Parrot’s, 60 Rue del’Eglise, serves fresh, homemade Italian food, or get a wood fired pizza at Mama Pizza on Place de la Cabreyade.

How To Get Around

Cucuron is small enough to walk around but you will need a car to get there. We flew in from Lyon airport, which is an almost three-hour drive from Cucuron. Nice airport is closer at two hours journey time, while Marseille Provence airport is just 47 minutes. Book flights as far in advance as you can, as they fill up quickly in the summer months.

We stayed at an Airbnb in Cucuron, as it was the easiest way to accommodate a large group in one home. For more tips on how to travel with young children, see my posts on Flying With A Baby and Flying With A Toddler.

Where To Stay

As I mentioned further up, the property we stayed at is not currently available to rent but if, like us, you like to stay in a house when you travel, there are plenty of great places available on VRBO.

We also saw some beautiful boutique hotels in the town, including Les Chambres de Charlotte ($), which was right next door to our house. The rooms have one queen bed but the hotel will add an extra bed or crib on request for families. Breakfast is provided.

Domaine La Parpeille ($$) is just outside the walls of Cucuron but has all the Provençal charm and a swimming pool, perfect for cooling off after a morning exploring. Double rooms with two twin beds and a queen are available. There is also a games room and even a bowling alley.

What to read

I made good use of Lonely Planet’s Provence and the Cote d’Azure guide but if you want to go beyond guidebooks, Peter Mayle’s classic A Year in Provence is great value on Amazon right now. The movie A Good Year with Russel Crowe based on the book was filmed in and around Cucuron.

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What can I say about New York? A place everyone should visit at least once, but are there enough things to do with kids? Sure! And while accommodation may be pricey, the great thing about visiting a city like New York is many of the best things to do are free.

But be warned, no matter where you go, when you ask them what their favorite thing was they will say the subway.

If your child has a fear of flying but you still want – or need – to travel with them, what steps can you take to help them? 

Morning

Bagels seem an obvious choice but I won’t blame you if you want to start the day with cheesecake. The Soho and East Village neighborhoods are good places to track down a coffee and pastry of your choice, then take it to Washington Square Park to enjoy the street entertainment and people watching. Eileen’s Special Cheesecake (17 Cleveland Place) is an excellent way to start the day before heading to one of New York’s famous museums.

Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum

From Washington Square Park, walk to the W 4 St-Washington Sq subway station and take the A train uptown toward Inwood, to 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal. It’s then about a 20 minute walk to Pier 86, where you will find the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, an aircraft carrier turned air and space museum. Even if you are not into military history, it’s hard not to be inspired by the aircraft, space shuttle and the aircraft carrier itself. There’s enough to see and do for everyone, from toddlers to adults. The museum cafe is pretty cool, located in the depths of the aircraft carrier. The Intrepid is open 10am-5pm daily in the winter, 10am-6pm on summer weekends and tickets cost $33 for adults 13-64, $24 for children 5-12 and free for children under 5. Entrance is free for US military and veterans.

American Museum of Natural History

From Washington Square Park, walk to the W 4 St Washington Square subway station and take the B train uptown toward 145 St, to 81 St-Museum of Natural History, to the Museum of Natural History. It’s a traditional museum but one of the best, with an incredible display of dinosaurs to appeal to all ages. Skip the museum cafe and head to the Shake Shack on the corner of W 77th St and Columbus Ave, then eat in Central Park. Open daily 10am-5.45pm, general admission tickets are $23 for adults and $13 for children aged 2-12, but if you go to the ticket kiosks you can pay what you like as a donation. Special exhibitions cost extra.

Bronx Zoo

From Washington Square Park, walk to 14 St and follow signs for Uptown and the Bronx Express, taking the 2 toward Wakefield. It’s a 45 minute ride to Pelham Parkway, then a 10 minute walk to the Bronx Zoo. If it’s a sunny day, a trip to the Bronx Zoo (2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, 10am-4.30pm) is a fun family day out. It’s a beautiful green space and a break from the bustle of the city, with a  children’s petting area and a butterfly exhibit, plus the more exotic animals. Total experience tickets are available online, costing adults 13 and over $28.95, children 3-12 $20.95 and 2 and under are free. General admission tickets are available at the door and if you go on a Wednesday, you can pay what you want as a donation. You can get lunch at one of the cafes in the zoo but I would recommend packing yourself a picnic before heading out there.

Afternoon

The zoo is probably an all-day trip but if you went to one of the Manhattan museums, you probably have time for something else in the afternoon. Central Park is just as beautiful as you imagined and there are plenty of playgrounds for children, so this is a good place to head for the remainder of your day.

If you are feeling energetic (and have a stroller for little ones), take the 4, 5, or 6 trains to the Brooklyn Bridge and find the pedestrian walkway across the bridge. Once on the other side, look out for Jane’s Carousel at Brooklyn Bridge Park, a restored 1922 carousel, open Thursday-Sunday 11am-6pm in the winter and daily except Tuesdays 11am-7pm in the summer. Tickets are $2 with children 3 and under riding free with a paying adult.

A shorter but also great city walk is the High Line, a 1.45-mile long former railroad, which runs above Manhattan’s west side. The park is full of flowers, art and opportunities to admire New York’s street life from a lofty vantage point. You can start at by the Hudson at W 34 St and walk through the Chelsea neighborhood to end at Gansevoort St.

If you would prefer a rest from walking, consider taking the ferry to Staten Island – you still get the great views of the city and it’s one of the best free things to do with kids in New York. Once there, check out the Staten Island Children’s Museum at 1000 Richmond Terrace, open daily 10am-5pm except Mondays, tickets $8, under 1’s free, or visit the Snug Harbor Botanical Garden.

Wherever you go, try and end your day at Times Square. It is much prettier after dark and kids love the M&M’s World store.

Getting around

Public transport in NYC consists of the subway, trains, buses and ferries. The subway is fairly easy to get the hang of, once you have worked out whether you are going uptown, downtown or across the city. Train routes are all letters and the stations all have maps. You can get a Metro card day pass or multi-day pass from one of the kiosks underground.

Metro cards can also be used on the buses, which you may find more convenient if you want to go crosstown (east to west, west to east) rather than uptown or downtown (north to south). Getting a bus might be slower but it’s a good option as you will see more of the city and they are easier to access with small children as there are no stairs.

For toddlers, a light-weight stroller is essential. Many of the subway stations have elevators but some do not or are out of order, so bring something that can easily be folded up and carried down the stairs. For babies, an ergonomic carrier like an Infantino or a Boba is a good option. We have used this Kolcraft Cloud Plus Lightweight Stroller for years and despite clocking up many miles is still going strong. It is very study, folds easily and has a recliner, making your toddler more comfortable if they fall asleep.

Taxis and Ubers

If your child is over 12 months, you can book a car seat with Uber X in New York City, just check the “car seat” box when you book your car. There is a $10 surcharge.

Taxis are exempt from state car seat and seatbelt laws, so you don’t actually need a car seat to hail a cab. However, it’s a safety risk. Taxi drivers are required to wait while you install a seat so you can bring your own – if you are traveling with a baby, you could bring the car seat as part of a convertible stroller, like the Graco Snugride seat plus the stroller frame. Check out my essential travel gear for babies post for more suggestions.

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