Tag: international

A Week in Switzerland with Kids – Logistics and Itinerary for a Family Trip

Trip motivation For our first big summer trip of 2026, our family headed to Switzerland! We were inspired by pictures of alpine peaks, gorgeous train routes, and other travel bloggers raving about the country’s epic playgrounds. We loved spending a few days in the Jungfrau region using Wengen as our home base to explore misty mountains, gondola rides, and massive waterfalls. We also fell in love with the picturesque town of Lucerne, and even got to experience the local sports culture firsthand by catching a world hockey festival in Zurich! We love European travel because it always offers incredibly family-friendly towns, easy navigating with trains, and so much history and beauty. Traveling internationally with kids can be daunting, but with a little preparation, research, and tips from other travelers, we had an incredibly successful trip! This post covers our itinerary For more on our Switzerland Adventure, see our posts here A week in Switzerland with Kids – Logistics and Itinerary for a Family Trip Zurich and Lucerne Highlights with Kids Jungfrau Region – 4 days in Wengen, Switzerland with Kids Planning our Itinerary I love planning trips, especially through well-traveled places where there’s a ton of information to read through and make plans for. For this trip, I saved tons of instagram reels for inspiration and used the Busy toddler website as inspiration. We were in Lucerne for 2 days, Wengen for around 4 days, and Zurich for our last night. We read numerous blogs and books (Rick Steves is always a must-read for Europe trips). One tip for traveling with kids is take a 3-day best of guide and cut out half of it to make it actually realistic to manage in those same 3 days. Mix in some kid-focused/less touristy options like playgrounds, interactive museums, or a local festival. We did a lot of train and gondola travel on this trip and our kids loved reading their kindles on the trains. This was a great time for just chatting and reconnecting with gorgeous views. Several months before, I sketched out our plan in excel and on google maps with a balance of activities, rest time, food, rest, and fun. We made sure to research how far areas were and tried to schedule several anchor points with a few optional activities so we didn’t overstuff our schedule. Overview Day 0: Departure from Nashville Day 1: Arrival in Zurich, Scenic Train to Lucerne, Swiss Museum of Transport, & Old Town Exploration Day 2: Mount Pilatus (Frakmuntegg Area); Ropes Course and Tobaggan Slide Day 3: Train to Jungrau Region, Wengen, & Trummelbach Falls Day 4: Interlaken Day: Giessbach Falls, Boat Ride, & Pool Relaxing Day 5: Manlichen Cow Playground, Liselotte Cow Hike, Pfingstegg Slide & FlyLine Day 6: Murren: Allmendhubel Flower Playground, Detective Trail, & Mountain Valley Views Day 7: Return to Zurich, Chocolate samples, & IIHF World Hockey Festival Day 8: Return home Flying to Switzerland For this adventure, we cashed in our American Airlines AAdvantage points to fly round-trip directly into and out of Zurich! About 55k points RT per person. It was an incredible value and saved us a ton out of pocket. Even though we used airline miles to book the actual seats, we made sure to put all of our trip expenses on our favorite travel credit cards to keep building up our point balances for the next big family getaway! Chase Sapphire Preferred Apply Here Chase Sapphire Reserve Apply Here Chase Hyatt Apply Here Tips for Long Plane Rides Sleeping on planes West to East: Plan to sleep! For the overnight red-eye flight to Europe, we emphasized that after dinner service, everyone was going to try and get some sleep. I gave each kid a dose of melatonin and they passed out pretty immediately. We packed these cheap pillows from Amazon (They came with eye masks!). On arrival, get outside and try to limit naps so you can readjust. Activities for long flights East to West On the long flight, the kids were happy playing with the personal screen and alternating between reading, tv, games, and snacks. When the kids were younger, they loved the Magic Treehouse books and activities in the Magic Ink and small play pack coloring books (Amazon links). We have one Nintendo Switch that the kids love. For more on our favorite activities and tips for flying, see our post here. Lodging Lucerne: We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Lucerne – Kriens. We actually booked this one through the Chase Travel portal using our Chase Ultimate Rewards points, making it completely free out of pocket! It was located just a few quick train stops from the main Lucerne station, which made it super convenient to drop our bags and head straight out to explore. Wengen: For our mountain home base, we wanted a bit more space to spread out and the ability to cook a few meals, so we opted for an Interhome Apartment. I originally found the listing while scrolling through Booking.com, but I ended up booking it directly through Interhome to get the best rate. Having a full kitchen and separate bedrooms in the middle of the car-free village of Wengen was absolutely perfect for a four-day stay. Zurich: On our last night before flying home, we stayed at the Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle. As huge Hyatt fans, we loved being able to book two separate rooms using our Category 1-4 Free Night Certificates! It was a quick walk to the airport terminal, and meant zero stress on the morning of our flight back to Nashville. They didn’t feed us breakfast but it was ok because we had airport lounge access. Transportation in Switzerland Train travel, cable cars, and public transit are the absolute crown jewels of visiting Switzerland. The entire system runs like clockwork, but navigating the ticket options as a family does take a little strategy! For our trip, we used a combination of the Swiss Half Fare Card and a 3-Day Jungfrau

Zurich and Lucerne Highlights with Kids

Background For our first big summer trip of 2026, our family headed to Switzerland! We were inspired by pictures of alpine peaks, gorgeous train routes, and other travel bloggers raving about the country’s epic playgrounds. We loved spending a few days in the Jungfrau region using Wengen as our home base to explore misty mountains, gondola rides, and massive waterfalls. We also fell in love with the picturesque town of Lucerne, and even got to experience the local sports culture firsthand by catching a world hockey festival in Zurich! We love European travel because it always offers incredibly family-friendly towns, easy navigating with trains, and so much history and beauty. Traveling internationally with kids can be daunting, but with a little preparation, research, and tips from other travelers, we had an incredibly successful trip! This post covers our days in Zurich and Lucerne For more on our Switzerland Adventure, see our posts here A week in Switzerland with Kids – Logistics and Itinerary for a Family Trip Zurich and Lucerne Highlights with Kids Jungfrau Region – 4 days in Wengen, Switzerland with Kids Arrival in Lucerne We flew from Nashville to Zurich and arrived early in the morning. At the airport it was easy peasy to grab our train tickets (and some coop snacks) and head to Lucerne with a quick beautiful one hour train ride. We checked into our hotel in Kriens around noon, dropped our bags and then kicked off our adventure in Lucerne. Transportation in Lucerne For our trip, we took adventure of the Swiss Half Fare Card and a local free pass given to us at our hotel. Trains were easy to look up on google maps and the sbb app. Hotel We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Lucerne – Kriens. We actually booked this one through the Chase Travel portal using our Chase Ultimate Rewards points, making it completely free out of pocket! It was located just a few quick train stops from the main Lucerne station, which made it super convenient to drop our bags and head straight out to explore. Our 2 day Itinerary in Lucerne Day 1: Scenic Train to Lucerne, Swiss Museum of Transport, & Old Town Exploration We decided to walk from the main Lucerne train station to the museum to stretch our legs and get some fun lake vibes. It was about 45 minutes and a nice introduction to the city seeing ducks and paddleboarders and boats on our walk. Swiss Museum of Transport (Verkehrshaus der Schweiz) If you are traveling to Lucerne with kids, this museum is so cool! It is massive, incredibly interactive, and we spent hours exploring every corner. The outdoor areas were the kids’ favorite. They have an awesome setup with miniature construction excavators, road-rollers, and outdoor bikes that the kids could ride around. Inside, the interactive elements felt a little outdated but were still really fun. It was definitely pricey and I’m not sure if we would repeat this stop on a future trip. Upstairs in the main museum, there was a fun VR sports area and there were several spots that had some interesting information. Everything was in English! We grabbed lunch at the museum cafe, and while the food was just okay, the bill gave us our very first real-glimpse into just how expensive Switzerland was going to be. It definitely forced us to budget a bit more intentionally for the rest of the week! Afternoon reset Instead of taking a boat, we hopped on a local transit bus to head back toward our hotel. Everyone was feeling the jet lag from the transatlantic flight, so we took a quick, highly necessary one-hour power nap to recharge. Old Town Exploration Later that evening, we headed into the heart of Lucerne to explore the historic bridges. We crossed the famous Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke). As in other trips, I quickly read the paragraph explainer from the Rick Steves book to mildly interested kids. The wooden covered bridge dating back to the 14th century. There were some really interesting historic paintings tucked up under the roofline. Because the sun stays out so late during the Swiss summer, we had plenty of daylight left to find a great dinner spot right on the river. We snagged an outdoor table at Rathaus Brauerei, a fantastic local brewery situated right under the historic town hall. Ben got to try a locally brewed house beer, we ordered some classic comfort plates like schnitzel and trout, and we just soaked in the gorgeous waterfront views as the city lit up. It was the perfect, cozy way to officially wrap up our first full day in Switzerland! Day 2: Mount Pilatus (Frakmuntegg) Day Partial Golden Round Trip Many travelers visiting Lucerne opt for the famous “Golden Round Trip,” which involves a boat cruise, a steep cogwheel railway, and a full trip to the very top of Mount Pilatus. However, since we knew we were going to get a massive dose of epic mountain views later in our trip in the Jungfrau region, we decided to follow a great tip we read online: do a partial Pilatus trip and focus entirely on Fräkmuntegg, a station half-way up with awesome activities perfect for our kids (age 8 and 11) Our original plan was to head up early on the panoramic gondola from Kriens, smash out the alpine toboggan slide first thing to beat the crowds, grab lunch at the top restaurant, tackle the ropes course, and then do a scenic family hike down to the next station below. As any parent knows, travel day timelines can get derailed by personal logistics! Due to a late start, our day shifted a bit. We skipped the hike and the playground (which looked a bit young for our kids anyway) and focused entirely on the main attractions at Frakmuntegg. Even with a compressed schedule, this ended up being one of our absolute favorite activities of the entire trip. Take the Kriens Gondola (30 minutes): Board

Jungfrau Region – 4 days in Wengen, Switzerland with Kids

Background For our first big summer trip of 2026, our family headed to Switzerland! We were inspired by pictures of alpine peaks, gorgeous train routes, and other travel bloggers raving about the country’s epic playgrounds. We loved spending a few days in the Jungfrau region using Wengen as our home base to explore misty mountains, gondola rides, and massive waterfalls. We also fell in love with the picturesque town of Lucerne, and even got to experience the local sports culture firsthand by catching a world hockey festival in Zurich! We love European travel because it always offers incredibly family-friendly towns, easy navigating with trains, and so much history and beauty. Traveling internationally with kids can be daunting, but with a little preparation, research, and tips from other travelers, we had an incredibly successful trip! This post covers our days in the Jungfrau region. For more on our Switzerland Adventure, see our posts here A week in Switzerland with Kids – Logistics and Itinerary for a Family Trip Zurich and Lucerne Highlights with Kids Jungfrau Region – 4 days in Wengen, Switzerland with Kids After an amazing couple of days exploring Lucerne, we packed up our bags and headed deep into the Swiss Alps. We chose Wengen as our home base for the next 4 days Train to Wengen We left Lucerne early in the morning by train and spent several hours winding through pretty landscapes, passing through Interlaken, down into the Lauterbrunnen, and finally catching the steep train up to Wengen. Our kids absolutely love train rides, and it is the perfect time for them to read and relax. Ellie kept busy with a new dot-to-dot activity book we brought along! Apartment home base Wengen is all about that cozy apartment life. We booked a beautiful local house via Interhome Apartment (which we found after searching on Booking.com). It was about a 10-minute walk from the Wengen train station. Having our own kitchen to cook in, separate bedrooms, and plenty of space to spread out made it the perfect family sanctuary after long days on the trails. An Early-Season Reality Check: Wengen is incredibly cute, but we ran into an interesting twist. Back home in the US, May was scorching hot, but in Switzerland, it was still very much early spring. A major theme of our stay was navigating early-season closures. The famous marble mazes in town weren’t set up yet, the local outdoor swimming pools hadn’t opened for the season, and several higher-altitude hiking trails were still closed due to snow! If you travel in the late spring, always check the local lift and trail status reports before you head out. Our 4-Day Jungfrau Itinerary Day 1: Arriving in Wengen & Trümmelbach Falls We arrived in Wengen in the early afternoon, unpacked our bags, and set out to explore the village. We grabbed some lunch, played a game on the giant life-size outdoor chess boards in the town center, and stopped by the local Coop grocery store to stock up on snacks. For our late afternoon adventure, we took the cogwheel train back down the mountain to the Lauterbrunnen stop and hopped on a local transit bus to Trümmelbach Falls. While some bloggers recommend squeezing this into a massive day trip, making it our sole afternoon activity was perfect. These are subterranean cave waterfalls with ten waterfalls hidden inside the mountain itself. It is incredibly loud, powerful, and absolutely spectacular to walk through. The sheer force of the water misting past you is something the kids will never forget! We took the bus and train back up to our apartment, whipped up an easy dinner in our kitchen, watched a hockey match on TV, and had a great, chill evening. Day 2: Männlichen Cow Playground, Lieselotte Trail, & Grindelwald This was one of the absolute best days of the entire trip! We purchased a 3-Day Jungfrau Travel Pass for all the gondolas and mountain trains. Money Saving Tip: Because we already had the Swiss Half Fare Card, we got a discount on our 3-Day Jungfrau Pass. The kids were free with the family card. Morning: Cow Playground We started the morning by taking the quick cable car straight up from Wengen to Männlichen. We hung out at the outdoor tables at the restaurant and ate a scenic breakfast while the kids hit the legendary Alpine Cow Playground. The adults played on this playground too! It features a massive, multi-story wooden cow with a slide coming out of it, balancing ropes, swings, a mini bowling lane, and the most breathtaking mountain views backdrop you could ever imagine. Lieselotte Trail After playing, we picked up a free hiking map from the mountain restaurant and kicked off the Lieselotte Trail down to the Holenstein mid-station. This 3.5 km hike took us about 3 hours because it is packed with 13 interactive stations. The map has little punch-boxes, and the kids had to hunt for the hidden stamp locations at each stop. We got turned around once or twice and had to backtrack, but we found almost all of them! Along the way, the kids got to do a mountain long-jump, try blowing a real Swiss alphorn, play at a water mechanics table, and even practice “ax chopping” wooden logs. It’s an incredibly easy downhill walk with stunning views of the gondolas gliding overhead and plenty of fresh alpine water fountains to refill your bottles. At the very end near Holenstein, there is a fun little elevated tree-walk path to finish the trail. Grindelwald and Pfingstegg From Holenstein, we took the gondola down into the valley town of Grindelwald and grabbed some pizza for lunch (pricey, but standard for Switzerland!). Afterward, we headed over to Pfingstegg. Honest Blog Review: I wish I had researched this stop a bit better. Pfingstegg was not included in our Jungfrau Pass, so paying out-of-pocket for the separate cable car up plus the individual tokens for the activities made it quite pricey. Once at the top, the

Italy Adventures with Kids: Rome and Amalfi Coast Itinerary and Logistics

Trip motivation During Thanksgiving week 2025, our family took a trip to Italy! November is a tricky time to travel with weather, but the combination of great prices and fewer crowds convinced us to go. Ben and I had been before without the kids (Italy without kids), but this time we decided to bring them along! We loved spending a few days in Rome with some history and museums and then took the train down to the Naples/Amalfi Coast area, where we explored the cities, including an epic visit to Pompeii. We love European travel as it always offers family-friendly towns, easy navigating with trains, and so much history and beauty. Traveling internationally with kids can be daunting, but with a little preparation, research, and tips from other travelers, we had a successful trip! This post covers our flights, itinerary, planning process, and international logistics such as using the subway, getting a phone card, and finding budget restaurants. For more on our Italy Adventure, see our posts here Italy Adventures with Kids- Rome and Amalfi Coast Itinerary and Logistics 3 days in Rome with Kids 3 days Amalfi Coast Itinerary for Families Planning our Itinerary I love planning trips, especially through well-traveled places where there’s a ton of information to read through and make plans for. Many online blogs were really helpful! We were in each home-base for around 4 days and read numerous blogs and books (Rick Steves is always a must-read for Europe trips). One tip for traveling with kids is take a 3-day best of guide and cut out half of it to make it actually realistic to manage in those same 3 days. Mix in some kid-focused/less touristy options like playgrounds, interactive museums, or a cooking class. We did a lot of bus and train travel on this trip and our kids loved reading their new kindles on the trains and this was a great time for just chatting and reconnecting with gorgeous views. Several months before, I sketched out our plan in excel and on google maps with a balance of activities, rest time, food, rest, and fun. We made sure to research how far areas were and tried to schedule several anchor points with a few optional activities so we didn’t overstuff our schedule. Overview Day 0: Departure from Nashville Day 1: Arrival in Rome, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon Day 2: Colosseum/Forum, Pasta Class Day 3: Leonardo Museum, Vatican City, Evening Shopping Day 4: Train to Salerno, Christmas Lights Day 5: Naples day-trip for Archeology Museum and Castle Views Day 6: Ferry to Amalfi Coast Day 7: Vesuvius Hike, and Pompei Visit Day 8: Return home Flying to Italy We paid cash for a flight on Icelandair after finding a great deal from BNA Cheap Flights. I highly recommend following for some ideas. The cost was $400 RT per person!! Incredible! On the way there, we stopped in Iceland, and on the way home, we stopped overnight in Dublin. Although we didn’t use points for this trip, we did put the trip on our Chase card to build up points for our next trip! Chase Sapphire Preferred Apply Here Chase Sapphire Reserve Apply Here Chase Hyatt Apply Here Tips for Long Plane Rides Sleeping on planes West to East: Plan to sleep! For the overnight red-eye flight to Europe, we emphasized that after dinner service, everyone was going to try and get some sleep. I gave each kid a dose of melatonin and they passed out pretty immediately. We packed these cheap pillows from Amazon (They came with eye masks!). On arrival, get outside and try to limit naps so you can readjust. Activities for long flights East to West On the long flight, the kids were happy playing with the personal screen and alternating between coloring, reading, tv, games, and snacks. Ellie has been loving the Magic Treehouse books and when they were little, they used to love activities in the Magic Ink and small play pack coloring books (Amazon links). We have one Nintendo Switch that the kids love. For more on our favorite activities and tips for flying, see our post here. Lodging Rome: Our home base was the Hyatt Rome The Tribune. We are loyal Hyatt fans, and for this trip, we booked a Family Room (around $350/night), which was big enough to comfortably fit a queen bed for us and two separate single twin beds for the kids. Later on our last night before leaving, we stayed at the Holiday Inn EUR Parco dei Medici. While it was conveniently located near the FCO airport (which was the whole point!), trying to get there late at night from the city center after a long day of travel was exhausting. Salerno: Housing here was incredibly cheap in chilly November! We booked a Mini Apartment at Il Salernitano (via Booking.com) for a steal at about $80 a night. It had decent space, with 2 bedrooms, and a mini kitchen. Transportation in Europe Train travel and public transportation is one of our favorite things about Europe. Everything is pretty straightforward and inexpensive. We did learn that the trains are not always on time and to make sure you’re on the right stop when you stop! In Rome, we did a combo of walking, uber/taxi rides and public transportation. One top tip for international travel is to download the city map to google so that it doesn’t continue to use data every time you load. Kids under 10 are often free, but policies can vary We took trains between Rome, Frascati, Salerno, and Pompeii. We prioritized flexibility in our schedule and purchased tickets the day before or day of which let us pivot due to weather variability. If you prioritize cheaper tickets or are more firm in plans, you should buy tickets 2 weeks out as prices went up closer to departure. Other transportation: For the Amalfi coast, we planned a full-day ferry trip with Travelmar . While in Pompei, we took the

3 Day Amalfi Coast and Naples Area Itinerary for Families

Background During Thanksgiving week 2025, our family took a trip to Italy! November is a tricky time to travel with weather, but the prices and crowds convinced us to go. Ben and I had been before without kids (link) but this time we decided to take the kids! We loved spending a few days in Rome with some history and museums and then took the train down to Naples/Amalfi Coast area where we explored the cities in that area, including an epic visit to Pompei. We love European travel as it always has family-friendly towns, easy navigating with trains and so much history and beauty. Traveling internationally with kids can be daunting but with a little preparation and research and tips from other travelers, we had a successful trip! This post covers our days in the Amalfi Coast area with Salerno as our home base. For more on our Italy Adventure, see our posts here Italy Adventures with Kids- Rome and Amalfi Coast Itinerary and Logistics 3 days in Rome with Kids 3 days Amalfi Coast Itinerary for Families After our three action-packed days in Rome, we took the high-speed train south to Salerno, the perfect base for exploring the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, and Naples. Salerno is the Cutest! We knew we wanted to see the Amalfi Coast, but we preferred a base that felt less like a tourist trap and more like a real Italian town. Salerno was the perfect fit. It felt like we were part of regular life here-with walkable streets and alleys and real people with their cute running clubs and vibes. It didn’t feel overrun with tourists. Apartment home base Housing here was incredibly cheap in chilly November! We booked a Mini Apartment at Il Salernitano (via Booking.com) for a steal at about $80 a night. It had decent space, with 2 bedrooms, and a mini kitchen. It didn’t really have a dining or living space but that’s ok, the kids enjoyed setting up their Nintendo switch on some down times. The location of the apartment was an easy walk or bus ride to the main train station and port, and definitely met our needs. Our 3 day itinerary in the Amalfi Coast Day 1: Arrival in Salerno We arrived early afternoon in Salerno after a train from Rome. One of the reasons we picked Salerno was for the Luci d’ Artista Christmas lights. This was a magical bonus of visiting in the winter months. From mid-November to early February, Salerno hosts a spectacular Christmas light display. The streets and park are lined with beautiful light installations such as jellyfish, clouds, flowers, and dinosaurs. It felt like a low-key version of the cool light projections we’ve seen in places like Chartres and Innsbruck. Definitely check the dates if you visit in winter! Because it was raining when we arrived, we decided to do some exploring at the Salerno Archeology Museum: Not a must-do, but it was a fun, free, short stop right in town to break up the afternoon. We didn’t spend a whole lot of time exploring Salerno except for the lights. One thing I wished I had done ahead of time was to make reservations at La Botte Pazza: I found a recommendation for this restaurant with all-you-can-drink wine! We missed out because we didn’t book ahead. We ate close by at other restaurants and had great pizza, pasta and steak options. Day 2: Naples Visit Because of some yucky rain, we pivoted our plans and decided that indoor museums in Naples (about an hour’s train ride from Salerno) were the best use of the day. A mini umbrella would be a great item to pack if you have room! Morning: Naples National Archaeological Museum (MANN) We skipped a lot of museum time in Rome because all of the sites were really outdoor museums. We really enjoyed this museum in Naples as a rain option. This archeological museum houses the best artifacts recovered from Pompeii, giving us context before seeing the ruins themselves. Every exhibit had English signage, which helped us read up on the history. We used the Rick Steves audio guide here, too! (Just the transcripts) The downstairs statues were beautiful. We especially liked the Roman Gods room, which features the massive Hercules statue and the impressive Farnese Bull. Near the stairs, there was a cool video about the House of Faun. It made our later visit to the actual site in Pompeii come to life. Kid-Tip: Bathrooms are in the basement! Use the elevator rather than trying to wrangle kids down the stairs. Pizza Lunch & Afternoon Wandering We grabbed pizza along a Via dei Tribunali where there were tons of choices. We went to the famous Gino Sorbillo on Via dei Tribunali. This was the best pizza of the entire week! It was packed and busy but worth the wait. We briefly considered the science museum outside the city but decided the 30-minute commute wasn’t worth the time investment. Sometimes, cutting an activity is the smartest move! Sunset at Castel Sant’Elmo After a late lunch, we walked towards the Castel Sant’Elmo. This castle is mostly just a viewpoint, but it was half-price after 4 PM! (Don’t be like us and accidentally walk all the way around the castle to get to the top!) Look for the elevator to go up. Even with the rain, the views of the Bay of Naples were spectacular. We took a funicular down and had pasta near the Napoli train station before heading back to Salerno. Day 3: Gorgeous Amalfi Coast Views Boat Itinerary We planned a full-day ferry trip with Travelmar for about €142 total, aiming for: 9:40 AM Salerno to Positano Short time in Positano 1:30 PM Positano to Amalfi Short time in Amalfi 4:30 PM last ride back to Salerno Our boat to Positano was canceled due to weather, so we ended up with a simple 9:40 AM ferry straight to Amalfi and spent the full six hours exploring the

3 days in Rome with Kids

Background During Thanksgiving week 2025, our family took a trip to Italy! November is a tricky time to travel with weather, but the combination of great prices and fewer crowds convinced us to go. Ben and I had been before without the kids (Italy without kids), but this time we decided to bring them along! We loved spending a few days in Rome with some history and museums and then took the train down to the Naples/Amalfi Coast area, where we explored the cities, including an epic visit to Pompeii. We love European travel as it always offers family-friendly towns, easy navigating with trains, and so much history and beauty. Traveling internationally with kids can be daunting, but with a little preparation, research, and tips from other travelers, we had a successful trip! This post covers our days in Rome. For more on our Italy Adventure, see our posts here Italy Adventures with Kids- Rome and Amalfi Coast Itinerary and Logistics 3 days in Rome with Kids 3 days Amalfi Coast Itinerary for Families Arrival in Rome from Airport We flew from Nashville to Rome with a short layover in Iceland. There is a new non-stop on Iceland Air to Reykjavik, and this opens up several cheap options throughout Europe. (On the way home, we had an overnight layover in Dublin.) We arrived in Rome around 2 PM and took a train to our apartment. Transportation in Rome In Rome, we mostly did a lot of walking with a few bus and train rides. In-City Transit: When we needed to use the city transport (buses or the inner-city Metro), we used the tap-to-pay feature with our credit cards on the buses and at the Metro turnstiles. Kids under 10 are free but policies can vary, so always check the latest rules! Longer Trains: For our pre-planned longer journeys (Frascati, Salerno), we booked the tickets ahead of time at trenitalia, which simplified those specific transfers. Uber/Taxi: Uber is used as a taxi-hailing app but is not widely used. When leaving Rome, we did choose to call an uber to help us make our way to the train station. Walking: Make sure you have a powerbank since having maps open often drains battery. Hotel Our home base was the Hyatt Rome The Tribune. We are loyal Hyatt fans, and for this trip, we booked a Family Room (around $350/night), which was big enough to comfortably fit a queen bed for us and two separate single twin beds for the kids. Having that separate sleeping space is a non-negotiable for happy travel! More about sleeping in hotels linked here. Because of our status, we had free breakfast which was great. Omelets, pastries, and good coffee meant we could fuel up without having to make a decision before 9AM. Our hotel was near the Borghese area. Many bloggers recommend staying in the Historic Center or Trastevere for the easiest walking access, but we found our spot was still very central and a great location for us. We were near a street that often had sirens nearby, but I’m not sure how one would avoid that while still being close to the action Our 3 day itinerary in Rome Day 1: Sunset Views, Trevi Fountain, and a Gorgeous Church Our first afternoon was a classic Roman walk, checking off some of the biggest icons right away. Spanish Steps to Trevi Fountain Walk We used the Rick Steves audio guide (read from the transcript!) as we walked the cobblestone streets. Spanish Steps: Gorgeous at sunset, but very busy. (Quick Tip: Sitting on the steps is prohibited, so just admire the view from the bottom or the top!) Trevi Fountain: Again, packed with people, but still completely magical. (Other blogs advise getting here right at sunrise to beat the crowds, but the sunset crowds have a special energy.) Sant’Ignazio di Loyola Church Before trips, I rely on guidebooks and social media posts for suggestions. Near the Pantheon, we made a stop at the Church of Sant’Ignazio di Loyola that has a famous “fake dome.” Because the original builders ran out of money, a painter created an incredible optical illusion dome on a flat ceiling. It was such a fun stop and the first of many beautiful churches that we loved Dinner at Peroni Brewery For dinner, I had pre-selected some options that were recommended by other bloggers and guidebooks. I save them to google maps so that when we’re hungry, I can say “We’re a few blocks from this spot” or “Nothing near here, let’s wander”. Near the Pantheon/Trevi Fountain area, we chose the Peroni Brewery for dinner, a decent, inexpensive spot a little off the main walking track. The food was good, the service was fast, and it was a perfect way to settle into Rome life. After dinner, we took a bus back toward our hotel, stopped at a grocery store for some snacks and drinks, and stayed up late back at the Hyatt watching an awesome Vandy football game. Time-zones don’t matter when you’re a true fan! Day 2: Classic Roman History and Pasta Class! Morning at the Roman Forum & Palatine Hill We pre-booked our combo tickets online €18 adults, kids free. (Pro-tip: Don’t line up at the main Roman Forum entrance. Instead, walk through the Arch of Constantine (with the Colosseum on your left) and walk a little ways down toward the Palatine Hill entrance, which had virtually no line! Starting at the Palatine Hill area, you can see where Rome was founded and then work your way back toward the Forum. The ruins are so expansive, and the history is incredible. I did some “mild history teaching” from the Rick Steves audio guide about the different sites. My daughter kept finding spots to do some ballet posing for a photo op! Afternoon Colosseum Visit We had a pre-booked 1 PM entry time for the Colosseum. (The Forum combo ticket can be used 24 hours before or after the specific Colosseum time.)

Summer Portugal Adventures with Kids- Lisbon and Algarve Itinerary and Logistics

Trip motivation In summer of 2025, our family took a trip to Portugal! We loved spending a few days in Lisbon with some history and museums and then took the train down to Lagos and the Algarve area where we soaked in the sun and beach vibes. We love European travel as it always has family-friendly towns, easy navigating with trains and so much history and beauty. Traveling internationally with kids can be daunting but with a little preparation and research and tips from other travelers, we had a successful trip! This post covers our flights, itinerary, planning process, and international logistics such as using the subway, getting a phone card, and finding budget restaurants. For more on our Portugal Adventure, see our posts here Summer Portugal Adventures with Kids- Lisbon and Algarve Itinerary and Logistics 3 day Lisbon Itinerary for Families 4 day Algarve Itinerary for Families Planning our Itinerary I love planning trips, especially through well-traveled places where there’s a ton of information to read through and make plans for. Many online blogs were really helpful! We were in each home-base for around 4 days and read numerous blogs and books (Rick Steves is always a must-read for Europe trips). One tip for traveling with kids is take a 3-day best of guide and cut out half of it to make it actually realistic to manage in those same 3 days. Mix in some kid-focused/less touristy options like malls, playgrounds, hotel pool. We did a lot of bus and train travel on this trip and our kids loved reading their new kindles on the trains and this was a great time for just chatting and reconnecting with gorgeous views. Several months before, I sketched out our plan in excel and on google maps with a balance of activities, rest time, food, rest, and fun. We made sure to research how far areas were and tried to schedule several anchor points with a few optional activities so we didn’t overstuff our schedule. Overview Day 0: Layover in Ireland Day 1: Lisbon city walks and Belem sights Day 2: Parque das Nações Science Museum Day 3: Side trip to Sintra sights with evening ferry to Cacilhas Day 4: Train to Algarve and beach walk Day 5: Benagil kayaking and town exploring Day 6: Lagos walk and Meia Praia beach bike ride Day 7: Train to Faro and ferry to beach hangs Day 8: Return home Flying to Portugal We used American express points transferred to Aer Lingus for our flights (Nashville to Dublin, Dublin to Lisbon) and United Miles for our flight from Faro (Layover in New York) Chase Sapphire Preferred Apply Here Chase Sapphire Reserve Apply Here Chase Hyatt Apply Here Tips for Long Plane Rides Sleeping on planes West to East: Plan to sleep! For the overnight red-eye flight to Europe, we emphasized that after dinner service, everyone was going to try and get some sleep. I gave each kid a dose of melatonin and they passed out pretty immediately. We packed these cheap pillows from Amazon (They came with eye masks!). On arrival, get outside and try to limit naps so you can readjust. Activities for long flights East to West On the long flight, the kids were happy playing with the personal screen and alternating between coloring, reading, tv, games, and snacks. Ellie has been loving the Magic Treehouse books and when they were little, they used to love activities in the Magic Ink and small play pack coloring books (Amazon links). We have one Nintendo Switch that the kids love. For more on our favorite activities and tips for flying, see our post here. Transportation in Europe Train travel and public transportation is one of our favorite things about Europe. Everything is pretty straightforward and inexpensive. We did learn that the trains are not always on time and to make sure you’re on the right stop when you stop! In Lisbon, we did a combo of walking, bolt/uber rides and public transportation. One top tip for international travel is to download the city map to google so that it doesn’t continue to use data every time you load. We took trains between Lisbon and Lagos and between Lagos and Faro. We should have purchased tickets ahead of time as prices went up closer to departure. We also got a little “lost” on our way to Lagos as the train was delayed and the number of stops and timing made us get off at the wrong stop. We ended up calling a taxi found through rome2rio In both cities, we stayed at apartments found on booking.com/recommended by friends. These were bot in the old town section and very convenient to walking. If we had a slightly younger kid, it would probably be more important to stay close to a main train line. We didn’t have a car for either portion of our trip. I love how easy train travel is in Europe. We mapped destinations using google maps and compared the time/cost/effort to use a taxi, train, bus, or walk. We used bolt/uber or the train depending on where/how far we were going. If you have little ones, it might be harder to use a taxi due to the car seat. If you plan on using a stroller on the subway, many have elevators, but be prepared to fold it and carry up stairs. Eating in Portugal We stopped by grocery stores for breakfast meals to start our day and snacks for the hotel room. LIDL and Pingo Doce bakery items are amazing and so cheap. During the day, we tried to balance quick meals with sit-down meals. We did do a few fancy meals like a waterfront seafood restaurant in Cacilhas and a Brazillian steakhouse. We also did sandwiches and quick meals. A few restaurants had kids menus or we would get entrees to share. We always say trips are for eating. We ate a wide variety of yummy foods (Yum Pastel de Nata!)There are

4 day Algarve Itinerary for Families

Background In summer of 2025, our family took a trip to Portugal! We loved spending a few days in Lisbon with some history and museums and then took the train down to Lagos and the Algarve area where we soaked in the sun and beach vibes. We love European travel as it always has family-friendly towns, easy navigating with trains and so much history and beauty. Traveling internationally with kids can be daunting but with a little preparation and research and tips from other travelers, we had a successful trip! This post covers our days in the Algarve area with a base in Lagos and Faro. For more on our Portugal Adventure, see our posts here Summer Portugal Adventures with Kids- Lisbon and Algarve Itinerary and Logistics 3 day Lisbon Itinerary for Families 4 day Algarve Itinerary for Families Arrival in Lagos After a blast in Lisbon, we hopped a train to Lagos for four days, ready to explore Portugal’s gorgeous southern shores. We love European train travel, so no rental car for us! But, word to the wise: not all train rides are created equal. Our journey began smoothly enough: a cab from our Lisbon apartment to the Entrecampos train station, then a train heading for Faro with a transfer in Tunes. Except, I totally messed up and we ended up in Santa Clara, a town with literally nothing. Seriously, nothing! But we survived! Ben went for a run, the kids got creative, and we all laughed about how it was just like The Amazing Race where contestants get lost. The station was super remote. We eventually split a cab with some other lost souls and finally made it to Lagos by late afternoon. Transportation in Algarve We used Lagos as our home base for 3 evenings. We could walk everywhere, exploring the town or to the nearby beach. This was a big “pro” for us in skipping a rental car. A car gives you more flexibility, but for our trip, the costs for transport were reasonable, and we absolutely loved the walkability in both Lagos and later, Faro. For bigger adventures, like our trip to Benagil, we called Bolt ( like Uber, but cheaper). About $30 each way. We also rented bikes from Coast Bike Shop right near our place and had a blast cycling to a close-by beach. Getting around was never an issue; there’s a few buses and Bolts were always super easy to find. To wrap up our Lagos leg, we bought our train tickets for Faro, our final quick stopover. This train station was a little far walk so we again called a bolt. The train to Faro was a little older but it was fine. (Carry toilet paper though :-P) When we arrived at the Faro station, we used Bolt to take us to our apartment. From there, it was a pleasant walk to get a ferry (hourly?) to a gorgeous beach. Also accessible by taxi/bolt. On our last morning, it was an easy 10-minute ride from town to the airport. Hotel While we’re usually total hotel people (Hyatt, almost always!), there just weren’t any in this part of Portugal. We took a recommendation and booked an apartment called Henri’s Apartment (Available on Booking.com). It was wonderful! It had three large rooms, which meant the kids could really spread out. The manager even left us some snacks and wine, which was such a lovely touch! Something we might remember to look for next time is a pool, but honestly, all that beach time was more than enough. Our location was fantastic too. We were right next to some amazing, delicious restaurants and, conveniently, the bike shop where we rented bikes for a big beach adventure. Our 3 day itinerary in Algarve Day 1: Arrival and Praia da Batata Beach After our late afternoon arrival, the summer daylight allowed us to keep adventuring (Late May)! We immediately purchased a $5 shovel and bucket and headed straight for Praia da Batata. This beach is beautiful, with incredible natural bridges and rock formations. The kids loved playing in the sand and ocean. We went back to our apartment for a quick change, and then just a short stroll around the corner to a fantastic spot for some delicious seafood. A perfect introduction to the southern Portugal vibes! Day 2: Benagil kayking and more 45 minute drive to Benagil We kicked off our big adventure day with some delicious pastel de nata pastries from a nearby shop! Then, it was a quick Bolt ride to the small town of Benagil, home to the famous sea caves. This is a super popular spot, and there’s tons of boats and people buzzing about. Some opt for skippered boat tours, zipping past, while others even make the longer journey all the way from Lagos. But for us, kayaking was the clear winner to truly experience the magic. It allows you to get right inside the caves and explore at your own pace, unlike larger boat tours that often just pass by the entrance or don’t allow disembarkation. Kayak Algarve: Secret Algarve We booked our adventure with Kayak Algarve: Secret Algarve. Prices were reasonable ($35 per person)and our two guides were incredibly knowledgeable and helpful, making the whole experience seamless and safe. We took out double kayaks, one adult and one kid per kayak. Our two-hour journey was exhausting but so, so much fun! We paddled into the famous Benagil Cave with its iconic “eye” to the sky, but our guides also led us to nearby dark grottos, under incredible natural bridges, and even let us disembark at a secluded beach to play and snap some selfies. It’s truly a unique way to see the Algarve’s incredible geology up close. We refueled with lunch at Restaurant Litoral, a short walk up from the meet-up spot Evening relaxing and Italian for dinner Back in Lagos, we lounged at the apartment with kids on Switches, and adults doing some light email catch-up

3 day Lisbon Itinerary for Families

Background In summer of 2025, our family took a trip to Portugal! We loved spending a few days in Lisbon with some history and museums and then took the train down to Lagos and the Algarve area where we soaked in the sun and beach vibes. We love European travel as it always has family-friendly towns, easy navigating with trains and so much history and beauty. Traveling internationally with kids can be daunting but with a little preparation and research and tips from other travelers, we had a successful trip! This post covers our days in Lisbon. For more on our Portugal Adventure, see our posts here Summer Portugal Adventures with Kids- Lisbon and Algarve Itinerary and Logistics 3 day Lisbon Itinerary for Families 4 day Algarve Itinerary for Families Arrival in Lisbon from Airport We flew from Nashville to Lisbon with a long layover in Dublin, Ireland. There is a new non-stop and award tickets were really cheap. Usually arrivals from the US would be earlier in the morning, but we spent part of the day in Ireland and arrived to Lisbon late in the evening around 10p. We took an uber to our apartment. Transportation in Lisbon In Lisbon, we mostly did a lot of walking with a few uber trips. (Later in the trip, we learned that Bolt was a better option) We also took a few bus and train rides. We tapped our cards on the buses and at train turnstiles. We also took a longer train to Sintra and a ferry ride that both required tickets. At the end of our trip, we pre-purchased train tickets to Lagos, our next stop. Hotel While we generally are hotel people (yay Hyatt), the location and cost didn’t make sense for this visit. We found on airbnb an inexpensive apartment in Amalfa that allowed us to spread out a little. The kids had their own (small) room and we had ours as well. It was fine and met our needs but I wouldn’t recommend due to the small size and lack of air conditioning Our 3 day itinerary in Lisbon Day 1: Lisbon city walks and Belem sights We slept in a little (like 9a) and then head out for adventure. We were staying in Amalfa and it was an easy walk on cobblestone paths to the coolest views Miradouro de Santa Luzia Viewpoints and Castelo de Sao Jorge We started our day with a short walk past some cool viewpoints and headed our way to the castle. We didn’t pre-buy tickets but they were reasonable priced (check for family prices) and we enjoyed climbing and exploring. The views were incredible and it was fun imagining how it would feel to be an archer or cannonballer. There were peacocks wandering and a very small museum and gift shop. While it was fun to explore, I wouldn’t count this as a must-do especially if you have the monastery or other palaces in your itinerary. Midday Market and Lunch We then walked towards the Feira da ladra flea market. This was a really quirky market with treasure and odd junk. It was fun to explore but I wouldn’t necessarily force it into your itinerary. It is only open on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Nearby, we had a wonderful authentic Portuguese lunch at Tabernita. The prices were very reasonable and the food was delicious. After lunch, we stopped at a grocery store for some snacks and drinks and headed back to the apartment for some down time. This is one of the biggest tips I have for traveling with kids. A midday break is perfect for kids to read or play video games, adults to do a short run (or play candy crush and watch a soul crushing kdrama-shoutout to when life gives you tangerines) Praca do Comercio and Belem When we visited there was a UEFA women’s fan festival tied to the big Arsenal Barcelona soccer match. The festival watch party had some cool little activities and food trucks but we just passed by for the vibes. We walked along the waterfront (and told the kids 700 times we weren’t buying a pineapple pina colada) and went to the train station to hop a tram to Belem. The tram was air conditioned, not one of the older ones. About 30 minutes away, we enjoyed seeing the exteriors of the Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower. We were too late to tour any sights and would have likely prioritized this higher. Definitely worth a full afternoon. We ate some pizza and pasta nearby on the waterfront and took the tram back. A long and fun day Day 2: Parque das Nações Science Musem Morning Pastries and trains to the Parque das Nações We started our day the Lisbon way – with pastel de nata and coffee. This is an absolute must do. A delicious broiled custard tart, they are best fresh and go perfect with a small takeaway coffee. We took the train north to the riverside nacoes park area which is home to both the Aquarium and the Science museum. We loved and explored every inch of the Pavilhão do Conhecimento, and it absolutely delivered for both kids. Highlights included: The explore room had some of the typical STEM learning hands-on module but with an artistic twist. Every section had a English translation and there was lots of cool things dealing with light and perception and how things work. A younger kids’ carnival-style play area with climbing, games, and soft play. We spent a good amount of time here just playing. So fun. A temporary (and amazing) Pixar animation exhibit downstairs with behind-the-scenes movie magic. Brazilian BBQ break We took a break at the Vasco da Gama Shopping Center, just a few minutes’ walk away, for a Brazilian steakhouse lunch. Endless grilled meat and a salad bar? Big hit. Ellie’s favorite part of the whole trip. LOL. We actually planned on going to the food court but got distracted by AYCE steak.

3 days in London, England: A Family Itinerary

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

Traveling Little Morsels

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

❤ Jenn Morse ❤

TRAVELING LITTLE MORSELS