Amy Hagstrom - Pitstops for Kids

How to plan a Paris itinerary with kids

January 13, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

With its 20 arrondissements connected by a busy metro system, Paris can feel intimating at first. The key to planning a Paris itinerary with kids is to plan your days ahead of time, grouping destinations by proximity and utilizing walking tours to bridge the gaps (figuratively and literally).

When planning our five days in Paris, I started by making a list of our must-do’s, which included the usual suspects: the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame, and d’Orsay. Of course, at this point in my planning, I knew I was missing a lot. To properly fill out my itinerary, I utilized itinerary planning services that offer local recommendations, walking tours, and dining picks. Once I had ‘B list’ destinations and restaurants in the mix, I organized my days based on where we could walk after only one or two metro rides per day. Finally, I bought every ticket possible ahead of time, including Paris Museum Passes, which allowed us to skip every entrance queue we found (and we found quite a few).

Itinerary services we recommend:

Momaboard:

I’ve known the folks at Momaboard for years, and I was thrilled to learn they’d launched their trip planning program. Momaboard pairs traveling families with local experts with kids of their own. After a brief questionnaire about our trip, the ages of our kids, and our interests and goals, our Momaboard expert put together several days’ worth of itineraries for us, including detailed directions, dining recommendations, and fun facts en route.

How I used this information: certainly, families can use the itineraries ‘out of the box’. They’re ready to go. However, since I already had a very loose sketch of our our days would look, I instead mixed and matched the attractions suggested. For instance, our Momaboard itinerary suggested a morning in Montmartre followed by an afternoon near the Eiffel Tower. I did both, but broke them up into two different days. By far the most useful part of our Momaboard itinerary: the dining recs. We are not foodies, and we have hungry teens to feed, and all the restaurant picks were right on target for us.

TraveLove:

We also tried out Travelove on this trip. Similar to Momaboard in that Travelove uses local itinerary-builders and asks families questions ahead of time, Travelove printed us a multipage, bound guidebook with custom itineraries, walking tours, and maps…lots and lots of useful maps. They also put together a journal/activity book for our ten-year-old that included custom-built questions and activities based on our particular itinerary. He had a lot of fun with it.

By far, the best attribute of our Travelove service was the walking tours suggested. They went point-by-point, with great maps and descriptions. For instance, they put together an excellent walk from the Tuileries to the Lourve, which we actually walked in reverse. Starting at the Lourve after our morning there, we walked along the Seine past the booksellers, Latin Quarter, and Notre Dame, learning things along the way.

Here’s what our itinerary looked like by the time we’d implemented both these services and gathered ideas from other guidebooks. (I recommend Rick Steves.) Our must-dos we started with are highlighted.

Day 1:

Metro from our neighborhood in Montmartre to Musee de Lourve. Morning at the Louvre, followed by a walking tour along the river through the Latin Quarter to Notre Dame. Dinner in the Hotel D’Ville area. Metro back ‘home’ in time to walk to Sacre Coeur at night to watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle.

Day 2:

Metro from our neighborhood to the Eiffel Tower area, where we booked a morning Fat Tire Tour of the Concorde and Invalides area. (See separate post.) Lunch at street vendors under the tower, followed by a stop at a creperie recommended by Momaboard. Timed tickets to go up the Eiffel Tower at sunset.

Day 3:

Metro from our neighborhood to the d’Orsay Museum, followed by a shorter stint in the Rodin courtyard (recommended by a tour guide). Built-in ‘free’ afternoon; we spent it watching the new Star Wars movie followed by a visit to the Paris catacombs.

Day 4:

Toured the area near the Arc d’Triumph and Champs Elysees, including dining recommendations from Momaboard. We concluded our day with a boat tour along the Seine, and explored the seasonal Christmas markets. Almost all of this day was built out based on local recommendations.

Day 5:

Viator tour through Normandy to see D-Day beaches and museums (see separate post).

Getting around:

We used the Paris metro system exclusively. We found it very easy to use once we got our bearings, with good signage and multiple stops. Each day, we hopped on the metro from our Montmartre neighborhood (Chateau Rogue stop) and rode it multiple times per day. To do this, we found multi-day metro passes to be crucial (see below).

A word on the Paris Museum Pass:

The Paris Pass allows families to skip the long lines at museums, and gives parents the freedom to plan shorter museum visits (with the pass, it’s no big deal if you only spend 30 minutes checking out 2-3 major works). Kids are free at almost all museums (18 and under) which is wonderful, but if they don’t have a kids’ Paris Pass, you’ll still need to wait in line to get them a ticket (silly, I know). Because the Paris Pass comes included with a multi-day metro pass, it may be worth it to pay for kids’ passes along with adults, so everyone can skip the lines. Without these passes, we would have waited over an hour to get into the Lourve and Notre Dame each (instead we walked in immediately). Look for the Paris Pass or advanced tickets queue, or ask for it. Note: a few locations indicate they ‘don’t guarantee line skipping’, such as Notre Dame. I asked the guard at the start of the line politely if we needed to wait in line, showing our Paris Pass, and he waved us right in.

General tips:

Seek out the less touristy cafes and food carts, but not at the expense of hunger. After hours in the Lourve, we knew we should go in search of a crepe or baguette, but everyone was hungry and tired and ready to revolt if we walked in the wrong direction. The museum cafe sufficed (and actually had very good takeaway sandwiches).

Give kids spending money: there are so many tempting treats as you walk along the streets in Paris, you’ll be saying ‘no’ every ten minutes if you’re asked to open your wallet that often. Give kids money of their own to spend on tasty but small change treats such as macarons, eclairs, and crepes.

What are your best tips for touring Paris with kids?

Touring Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin: Why this site should be on your itinerary

January 11, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

Few attractions in Dublin, Ireland feel more sobering to me than Kilmainham Gaol. An Ireland heritage site, Kilmainham’s influence spans from the 1780s to the 1920’s, serving as a backdrop to multiple tragic and heroic moments in Irish and European history. It’s now one of the largest unoccupied gaols in Europe, and a great place to start learning about Irish history, particularly the Irish Revolution.

Families will want to take a 60 minute tour of the gaol; this is definitely the way to understand what you’re seeing. However, some of the stories told on the tour can be upsetting. For instance, we learned about a man jailed here for starting a political riot in the early 1900s who was permitted to marry his fiancé while in the gaol…only to be executed minutes after the ceremony. We also learned about the harsh conditions of life in Kilmainham, including drafty cells, extreme discomfort and cold, and manual labor, such as moving rocks in the stone yard for hours on end. However, we also learned that during the Irish famine, conditions were so bad in Dublin, many people purposely placed themselves in Kilmainham by stealing bread or some other small crime, just so they’d have a roof over their head and humble meals.

The halls and cells are dank and depressing, but the entire building is impressive to see. School-aged kids will be able to appreciate the stories and history and be wowed by the architecture (and the cool-factor of being in a big prison). Young kids may either lose interest or become frightened; you know you children and can be the best judge.

If you do opt for the guided tour, they are timed tickets, but cannot be booked in advance, unless you’re a group of over 10 people. Otherwise, groups are small: our tour had about 8 people present. We didn’t wait long for our tour time, even in the peak of summer. While you wait, there are exhibits to see.

Hours and Admission:

The gaol is open all year. Hours are:

April – September: Daily 09:30 – 18:00 (last admission at 17:00)

October – March: Mon -Sat 09:30 – 17:30 (last admission at 16:30)

Sunday: 10:00 – 18:00 (last admission at 17:00)

Admission is very reasonable at €4.00 for adults, €2.00 for kids and students, or even better, €10.00 for families.

Getting here:

Most families will rent a car in Ireland. If this is the case for you, it’s easy to get to Kilmainham, which is only 3.5 km from Dublin. The address is Inchicore Road, Kilmainham, Dublin 8. It’s also possible to take public transit.

Photo credit

Family travel tips for major airport delays

January 6, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

Everyone knows air travel delays are out of our control, and at best, inconvenient. There’s not much families can do about them other than wait and hope for the best. But what about big delays…the ones that can stretch for days? What then? Just about everyone who travels regularly has at least one extreme delay story. Here’s ours, followed by tips for major airport delays, to make the best of a bad situation.

My son Tobias and I set out from Southern Oregon headed to Savannah, Georgia to review a hotel and gather some stories on the region. Our planned 12 hour travel day was on schedule until our layover in Chicago…where we crossed paths with their first snowstorm of the season. The storm brought blizzard conditions for two days straight, stranding just about everyone. Our flight that evening was delayed, then delayed again, and again, until it was finally cancelled well after midnight. Because our delay was due to weather, we were on our own to rebook our flights and put ourselves up for the night. We finally fell into a bed at a pretty terrible airport hotel at about 2 am.

The earliest flight I could find to rebook was a full 24 hours later, and we spent another full day in the airport. That flight, too, was cancelled. Faced with spending yet another night in a bad hotel and another day in O’Hare (and having missed 3/4th of our trip in Savannah at this point), we decided to cut our losses are book ourselves on a flight back home. This flight was scheduled for 36 hours later, so we got the heck out of the airport and enjoyed 36 hours in the city. The result: a stressful, awful few days ended in a spontaneous city getaway! How to make the most of your extreme delay:

While still in the airport:

1. Be prepared to rebook when delays start stretching out. Minor delays are pretty routine, but when your flight is continuously delayed multiple times (often by increments of 15-30 minutes at a time), a cancellation may be in your future. You’ll want to do you best to beat others to the customer service counter, especially if you’re not a flyer with elite status. Locate the costumer service center for your airline (it will likely be in your terminal) ahead of time, so you’ll know where to go, and look up the 800 number so you can be calling while you wait in line. Note: you can’t rebook before your flight is officially cancelled…just be at the ready.

2. Once in that dreaded customer service line because of the dreaded cancellation, call the service number while you wait. It’s very possible you’ll be helped before you reach the front of the line. If your cancellation is due to mechanical issues, you’ll need to stay in line to get lodging and food vouchers, but if it’s due to weather, you’re now free to leave.

3. If you need to book a hotel, search for best rates using a 3rd party site (I recommend Trivago) but then call the hotel directly instead of booking online. The reason for this: you’ll find out if the hotel’s shuttle system is still running (they typically stop at 11 pm) and find out exactly where to wait for it. Plus, they’ll know you’re waiting and will usually make an extra run to the airport or offer you a voucher for a cab. Ask for the rate you found online and it will almost always be honored. Plus, by booking directly, you’ll be able to cancel the reservation much more easily should it be necessary for any reason. For example, when our flight was cancelled, I was flustered and made a reservation at the wrong location of the hotel chain I wanted. I called right back (within five minutes) and they were willing to cancel my reservation without a penalty. Had I booked through a large 3rd party site, I would have been responsible for the first night’s rate.

4. Consider paying for airport lounge access. If you’ll be delayed a long time and cannot leave the airport (you’re delayed all day rather than overnight, for instance), consider paying for your airline’s lounge access. The fee is usually around $30-$40 per person, and therefore rarely worth the money if you don’t have passes due to elite status or miles; however, in extreme cases, it can be of good value. For the price of admission, you’ll be able to wait in comport away from crowds, with unlimited snacks and soda (enough to make a few meals out of), free WiFi, and a bar (with some free drinks). Kids can stretch out, you can change your devices, and still keep an eye on your flight via monitors.

5. If you decide to cut your losses: if you’re delayed so long it’s no longer worth going to to your planned destination, there are several steps you need to take. Step 1: make sure you can cancel your planned hotel reservations, car rental, etc in your original destination. This will require some phone work and possible begging. If the delay is this long, there’s likely a good reason for it (epic snowstorm, hurricane, you get the idea) and usually you can find some mercy. Do this as soon as possible though, to avoid last-minute cancellation fees where possible.

Step 2: Head back to that customer service counter and explain that you no longer want to go to your final destination. Instead, you want to be rerouted home. This is called a Carry Over Carry Back. To do this without paying a re-scheduling fee, you’ll be asked to book the earliest option available. If you’d like to salvage some of your holiday, however, you’ll actually want to be rebooked home at least 24-36 hours later, so you can get out of the airport and have a little fun. This is the part where you’re very nice and polite to your desk agent. He or she has the power to bestow some goodwill your way, and help you out as much as possible. Acting angry and rude will not work. Believe me, I’ve seen it played out time and again. When we were delayed in Chicago, I was helped by several agents during my long layover, and all were kind and generous with what they could do. I believe this is because they are kind people, but also because I was kind and patient when talking with them.

Note: on most airlines, after you’re successfully rebooked home without a fee and in the time window you desire, you’ll keep the same confirmation number, but you won’t have boarding passes (because your flight will be more than 24 hours away). You also won’t be able to check in online or via the airline’s app, in our experience. You’ll need a desk agent to check you in when you return, so include that into your plans. You’ll also, in my experience, be issued two sets of boarding passes, one of which you’ll need to hand to the gate agent, even though you’ll already have seats assigned. I have no idea why.

6. Once you’re all rebooked and ready to get the heck out of the airport, you’ll need a hotel. Don’t go to a lame airport hotel. This is your chance to salvage your trip! This is the time to book a nice hotel downtown in the city you’ve found yourselves in, upgrading yourselves silly. Trust me, you’ll be glad you pampered yourself, and probably, you’ll still spend less money than you planned to spend wherever you were going (because now your trip is much shorter). Call the hotel of your choice directly, so you can book their best rate (just like with the airport hotel) and to ask a local hotel desk staff member for the best directions and transportation method to the hotel. We like to use public transit when possible, but depending on the weather situation and location of your hotel, the hotel desk clerk may suggest a taxi or car service. If this is the case, ask for the approximate rate you should expect.

Once on your ‘new’ holiday:

1. Use your hotel’s concierge. It has one, because you booked a nice place, right? Because this city wasn’t what you planned on, you probably are at a loss as to what to do and how to go about doing it. The concierge is your new best friend. He or she can tell you what maybe be happening that day or weekend in the city, any special events causing traffic, and what attractions are must-dos. During our trip to Chicago in the snowstorm, we only knew about a Thanksgiving parade because of our concierge. She also gave us exact directions to the best museums so we could stay dry and warm, and recommended a seasonal Christmas market.

2. Get some R&R. If your hotel has a club level, upgrade to it (many Westins and Grand Hyatts have these). If not, book a spa treatment or order room service. Buy that pay-per-view movie and watch it in hotel robes under the covers. Have a nice meal or try that excursion you never thought you’d do.

3. Reach out to social media. Get tips for your ‘new’ city, find out if far-flung family or friends live nearby, and ask for restaurant recommendations. I got a 25 ideas in less than an hour when I asked about Chicago! (Just don’t take rides or offers from strangers, of course.)

4. Allow time and budget for getting back to the airport. When your salvaged mini holiday is over, remember you’ll need to get yourselves back to the airport without the convenience of a free shuttle. Plan the time to take public transit, or, if your flight is very early in the morning, ask your concierge whether it’s best to hire a car service or take a taxi. Depending on the distance to the airport and the number of people in your party, the answer varies. Allow extra time to see an agent at check-in, since you likely won’t be able to check-in online, and extra time to see a gate agent.

With our impromptu 36 hours in Chicago, we had a magical time. We started with a chilly commute to our downtown hotel, but quickly made up for it with club level access and amazing views at Westin River North. The next day, we enjoyed a full day on the town, during which we said ‘yes’ to everything from hot cocoa to ice skating to souvenirs, and while our trip wasn’t what we planned on, I know we’ll have fond memories of our ‘stolen’ day in the Windy City.

Pompeii or Ostia Antica: Which to include as a day trip from Rome

January 4, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

Click on just about any message board or forum about Roman travel, and you’ll see the question, “Should we go to Pompeii or Ostia Antica during our trip to Rome? After debating the question for ourselves last month as we planned our own Roman holiday, I can tell you there’s no easy answer.

For those in the early stages of planning, here’s the scoop: Pompeii is, of course, the site of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, and the archeological remains are those of a civilization caught in time. Ostia Antica is the site of the one-time Roman seaport, which fell out of popularity slowly, as the sea receded (it’s now several miles away). Ostia Antica is also beautifully preserved, and somewhat more accessible in both location and visual layout. The bottom line: do you want to see your ruins with our without a volcano? Here are some questions to ask yourself as you plan:

How much time do you have?

Pompeii is easily a long full day trip from Rome, whereas Ostia Antica is just 30 minutes away. You’ll want to dedicate at least half a day to tour either location (the more the better), so take this into account. Some travelers even make Pompeii an overnight trip. It’s that extensive. To get to Pompeii, you’ll want to take the Frecciarossa line from Termini station in Rome to Napoli Centrale in Naples, then transfer to the local line. Be sure to start your trip early in the day, especially in the off-season, when exhibits at Pompeii closer earlier (as early as 3 pm). Advanced reservations are only needed for the first leg of the train trip. If you opt to rent a car in Italy, you’ll definitely save time and have more flexibility.

What’s your budget for a day trip?

Train tickets to Pompeii ran about $70 per adult and $30 for children in late 2015. Consider this cost in your considerations. Tickets to Ostia Antica are just a few euros, and the train line is included in the greater metro area of Rome. This means that if you have Roma Pass, you’ll travel there for free. Both locations charge entry fees, but they’re minimal. At both locations, it’s possible to either tour on your own or hire a local guide.

What type of preservation do you hope to see?

Pompeii is unique in that it’s literally a moment preserved in time. Ostia Antica was abandoned more slowly and naturally, as the port grew out of service (as the sea receded). Therefore, what you’ll see there is a more generalized ruin that represents many centuries. There’s more to physically see at Ostia Antica, because it’s all above ground and spread out in a city format. At Pompeii, much is still hidden under layers of ash and dirt, but what you can see is magnificent. So the question boils down to: do you want to show your children what a civilization looks like in mid-movement, when struck by a natural disaster, or what many centuries of commerce look like? There’s no wrong answer.

What we decided:

After much debate, we decided to take the plunge and go to Pompeii. Why? Several members of our traveling party were set on it, and when there’s that much enthusiasm for a site, that’s where we head. There’s something vey iconic about seeing Pompeii, and I didn’t want to damper this excitement. Would we have loved Ostia Antica? I have no doubt we would have. As I said before, there’s no wrong answer here.

The above post was written in partnership with Alamo Europe. All opinions remain my own.

Why First Tracks ski tickets are worth the splurge

December 28, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

More and more family ski resorts are now offering First Tracks ski tickets. What is First Tracks? It’s a ski ticket add-on that allows the bearer to access the slopes earlier than the general public. Usually, First Tracks programs start at 7:30 am, allowing skiers first access at groomed and powder terrain before the lifts begin turning at 9 am. First Tracks tickets are fairly spendy at approximately $75 per person (lift ticket not included), and are usually limited to a small number of skiers and snowboarders. Some First Tracks programs set an age limit (usually 13), while others welcome kids of any age, provided they are intermediate to expert skiers, and accompanied by an adult. When (and why) are First Tracks tickets worth the money? Read on!

Upgrade to First Tracks when your time on the mountain is tight.

Last season, I skied First Tracks at Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah, and from 7:30 to 9 am, I skied seven long runs…over twice what I could accomplish during public hours. If you’re skiing a resort for only a day or so, or visiting during a peak season, such as spring break or Christmas, First Tracks allows you to get a significant amount of quality skiing in early in the day. We always remind travelers that time is money at Pit Stops for Kids, and First Tracks is a perfect example of maximizing your time with a moderate investment.

Upgrade to First Tracks when extra perks are included.

Nearly all First Tracks programs include breakfast at an on-mountain restaurant included with your ticket price, but First Tracks at Canyons provides an unique opportunity: skiing with an Olympian. Canyons Resort pairs their Olympic Ambassador program with their First Tracks offering, which means that with every First Tracks group skies an Olympic skier or snowboarder. I had the honor of skiing with Lake Placid’s Holly Flanders, which was not only a thrill, but a great source of Canyons information: Holly was able to take us to the best runs and glades, and was a wonderful ski companion.

Upgrade to First Tracks when the rest of your ski day will be slower-paced.

If you have babies, toddlers, or small children on your ski vacation, you’ll likely be spending a fair amount of time on or near the bunny slopes (or at least signing kids in and out of childcare and ski school). A First Tracks upgrade is a great way to give the adults what they crave: great skiing, even when skiing with young kids. On a trip to Jiminy Peak, MA, our east coast editor Kate Lepore skied First Tracks while her kids were in childcare…which allowed her to experience more of the mountain before taking over preschool ski duties.

Before you go: Not all ski resorts offer First Tracks, and those that do are on a limited schedule (most offer it two times per week). First Tracks age limitations and pricing varies, and most require reservations. If you do take the spurge, enjoy!

Snow day activities that get kids and adults outside

December 26, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

It’s easy to succumb to cabin fever during our long Canadian winters. Most of us probably don’t get outside as much as we would like to in the winter months, which is unfortunate because winter offers a host of fun activities that are perfect for the whole family. Not only are winter activities fun, but they are a great way to make sure your children stay active and healthy. So when the snow starts to fall, grab your scarf and mittens and head outside to enjoy any of these fun snow day activities.

Skiing and Snowboarding

Skiing and snowboarding are certainly one of the most popular winter activities around. Having a vehicle in Canada, is a great — and sometimes the only — way to get to and from some of our country’s excellent ski destinations.

Most ski resorts offer ski and snowboard classes and bunny hills that are perfect for children and families. But don’t assume that you need a hill to ski. Cross-country skiing may not be as popular as its downhill counterpart, but it is a fun way to spend the day together and enjoy the great outdoors. Furthermore, it offers a gentler pace for the little ones or for those who prefer the tranquility of nature over the adrenaline rush of downhill skiing.

Skating and Hockey

Most towns and cities operate free skating rinks during the winter months. The ice rink at Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square has long been a huge draw for families throughout southern Ontario, but there are plenty of other (and less crowded ones) in towns and backyards throughout the country. For many, of course, the best skating is not to be found at an ice rink, but the old fashioned way by enjoying skating and a game of hockey on a frozen pond.

Alternatively, Arrowhead Provincial Park’s ice skating trail may be one of the most unique skating experiences available. This frozen trail takes families on a skating journey through one of Ontario’s most scenic natural parks.

Sledding and Tubing

It’s free, it’s fun, and it’s a great way to keep kids (and adults!) happy and healthy during the winter months. From toboggans to magic carpets, there are plenty of ways to sled down a hill and all of them are a blast for children. Because it is so much fun, kids hardly even realize how much exercise they are getting dragging their sleds back up the hill after each run.

Of course, be sure to only choose a hill that is safe and legal to sled down. Similarly, you can also take your family to a snow tubing park, which provides for even more thrills. Linking the tubes and going down the hill together is especially popular with kids.

Winter may be cold and snowy, but that is no excuse to stay indoors. Instead of spending countless hours watching television or playing video games, do something this winter that will get the whole family healthy and active. There are countless snow day activities that are bound to make this winter one your family will remember for years to come.

Victoria Edge is an advocate for getting kids (and parents!) outdoors and away from screens and technology. Saying this, she does enjoy blogging in her down time. Her articles can be found on a growing number of parenting, lifestyle and travel blogs.

Where to stay in Chicago: Westin Chicago River North

December 21, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

The moment we entered the elegant lobby of the Westin Chicago River North at the blustery, snowy start of our winter Chicago weekend, we felt awash in warm and hospitality. While our hands and feet warmed up quickly, that cozy feeling never went away. For the entirety of our two night stay, we were met with smiles, helpful staff, beautiful surroundings, and convenient amenities. Here’s why we’ll definitely be back:

Westin Chicago River North provided impeccable service and hospitality from start to finish. Every question we had was answered promptly and competently, our room was spacious and had everything we needed, and the location was ideal for a fun weekend in the city.

We stayed on the 9th floor, with wonderful river views. We had a double with a full bath and shower, plenty of sink and counter space, and a spacious closet. WiFi is free for SPG members (free to join) and we had robes and a large flat screen TV with plenty of free channels so we could settle down comfortably during the chilly nights we visited. Out our window, we could watch the snow fall on the the Chicago River and enjoy the skyline.

River North has a club level lounge, which we took advantage of. For an added fee to your nightly rate, guests can access this lounge on the 20th floor, which puts out a full breakfast every morning, snacks during the day, and appetizers and small plates in the evening. All day long, a fridge with soda, water, and other non-alcoholic drinks are on offer. We find that with a family of five, this upgrade is always worth the money. Our rule of thumb: if we’ll be at the hotel to enjoy breakfast and at least one other trip to the lounge per day for snacks, the value is there. During our stay, the lounge put out several appetizers, cut veggies and dip, fruit, cookies, and a soup of the day each evening. We found this to be more than enough for us for dinner. At very least, it’s enough to feed the kids before having a dinner out for the adults. Wine and beer is also available in the lounge for an added fee. Other guests can also use the lounge, during which they pay $15 per visit per person. (Don’t do it this way…it won’t be worth it!)

From the River North property, we were only two blocks from the CTA lines we needed both for the train and the bus. We could easily visit the Sears (Willis) Tower, Millennium Park, and the Museum Campus (all in different directions) within 15 minutes by public transit. We loved being right on the river for a genuine Chicago feel. Note: Chicago’s CTA (Chicago Transit) is different than the Metra (short for Metropolitan Rail), which services the suburbs.

Special Westin touches:

I love Westin’s StayFit program, which allows you to rent exercise clothing and shoes for only $5. The gear is clean and stylish, and saves me room in my carry-on bag. The exercise facility on site is convenient and contemporary, and while not terribly large, it met my needs just fine.

Westin also provides a SuperFoods menu among their room service offerings in many hotels, including River North. Anything I can do to stay healthy and eat well during a trip, I’m grateful for!

I can’t say enough good things about the Westin River North concierge desk. During my stay, I was helped by three concierge staff members, and all three were excellent. I got wonderful recommendations on what to do in the city, then very specific directions when I needed them, and a swiftly called cab exactly when necessary (at oh-dark-thirty for a trip to the airport). Trust me, this doesn’t always happen!

The front desk staff at River North always greeted us with a smile, asked if we needed any bottled waters before heading out in the morning, and had infused water on hand in the lobby. Bowls of fresh fruit were abundant, and every public space was clean, well-lighted, and welcoming. When we returned after the end of a busy day in the city, we felt the sanctuary of a home away from home.

Rates:

Nightly rates started around $150 at the time of our visit (non-holiday weekend). Upgrading to club level was an additional $50 per night, which would definitely pay for itself.

Location:

The Westin River North is located at 320 N. Dearborn. We arrived from O’Hare, and took the Metra train Blue Line easily to the property. Valet parking is available if arriving by car.

As I disclose whenever applicable, we were hosted at Westin Chicago for the purpose of review. All opinions are our own.

Photo credit: Amy Whitley, Westin

24-hour Chicago winter itinerary with kids

December 18, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

On a snowy November weekend, my youngest son and I found ourselves in Chicago. Our trip there was accidental; we had been en route to Savannah, Georgia when we became stranded at O’Hare during the first snowstorm of the season. After 30-plus hours trying to continue our planned itinerary, our flight was cancelled and rebooked two days later. Rather than sit around waiting to depart, we decided to enjoy a Chicago winter itinerary. Here’s what we did with 24 hours in Chicago:

Morning: Head to the Museum Campus

Captain Obvious alert: Chicago in winter is cold! Rather than brave the weather all day long, start your itinerary with an indoors activity. We took Metra to the Museum Campus, which houses both The Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium. Families will want to budget at least three hours for each. Because we wanted to spend some time outdoors enjoying the wintry atmosphere as well, we opted to visit just one indoor attraction—Field Museum—but if you’d rather spend all day indoors (or the weather necessitates it), you could happily spend all day on the Museum Campus, checkout out both attractions.

We chose to visit the Field Museum for its temporary exhibits, including an excellent exhibit on Ancient Egypt and on Mastodons and Mammoths. In order to see these, we upgraded from a standard entrance fee to a full access pass, a difference of approximately $10 per person. With this pass comes admission to the museum’s 3D movie options as well. We started downstairs, checking out these special exhibits first, then moved our way up the museum to end with a 3D movie (check movie times when you enter). Favorite stops among the permanent exhibits included the mammals section and dinosaur section (which has a focus on extinctions during the ages).

We spent all morning enjoying the warmth of the museum, then ate lunch at the museum bistro, which had many healthy options, including a full salad bar and specialty sandwiches and soups. Alternatives include classic Chicago hot dog carts outside and—we were told later—food trucks on the museum ground floor.

Afternoon: Ice skating at Millennium Park

From the Museum Campus, we used the pedestrian underpass to access the nearest Metra bus stop, and took a bus back toward downtown to Millennium Park. We used Google Maps to find the correct bus lines for both the ride to and from the Museum Campus, and had no trouble using the system. If paying cash, our rides were $2.50 for adults and $1 for kids, each way.

At Millennium Park, the McCormick Ice Skating Rink is only about half a block further on foot. On the Sunday before the Thanksgiving holiday, the rink was crowded, but not unmanageable. Plus, the snowy weather added charm to the experience! We waited in line approximately 25 minutes to rent skates (they have a timed system here, so not too many people are crowding the rental area and rink at one time). Once on the ice, we could skate indefinitely. We enjoyed the rink for about 45 minutes, then took a break at the Warming Hut, which serves hot cocoa with a full hot cocoa ‘bar’ (toppings include several kinds of marshmallows, chocolate shavings, candy bar crumbles, and syrups), plus tea and coffee, to which liquors can be added. The hut has a padded floor, so there’s no need to take off skates while warming up.

We continued skating about 30 minutes or so, then unlaced so we could climb the stairs above the rink to check out the famous Chicago ‘bean’ sculpture, which overlooks the skating area. It was fun to see it reflecting the snowy Chicago landscape! We didn’t see much else to do outdoors in the immediate vicinity, but were told that had we been there just a week or so later, the ‘ice skating ribbon’ at adjacent Maggie Daley Park would have been open.

Early evening: City lights

Twilight hit the cityscape at approximately 4:30 pm, and we made our way back to the Metra stop to take a bus to Sears Tower (now called Willis Tower). The SkyDeck allows visitors to enjoy amazing views of the city from the 103rd floor, and even step out onto a glass floor for a thrill. Because we weren’t in the city long enough to warrant buying CityPass (more on this below), we had an hour wait in line for the SkyDeck (including the security line). We loved the views of the city with lights aglow, but agreed the wait was too long. There are two alternatives:

1. Buy CityPass tickets. We always buy CityPass when we visit participating cities, but our visit to Chicago was just too short this time around to make it worthwhile financially. However, if we’d even had one more day, we would have bought the tickets, which are approximately $95 for adults and $69 for kids, and allow entry to 5-7 attractions. With CityPass, families skip the majority of the queue at all attractions, and CityPass holders we saw at Willis Tower enjoyed very little wait time.

2. Head to Hancock Tower instead, and eat a meal at Signature Room on the 95th floor. I’m told the views here are just as amazing, and while you do need to purchase something to eat or drink to enjoy it, the price is less than SkyDeck. Unfortunately, during our visit, a small fire caused the building to close.

Evening: Dining in or out

I polled my favorite Midwest travel writers when I realized we’d be spending a day in Chicago, and they offered several great dining recommendations. Topping the list is Eataly, an upscale but fun Italian dining experience that even includes a Nutella bar. Eataly can be found at 43 E. Ohio. Other top picks are Pizzeria Due at 619 N. Wabash and Flo and Santos at 1310 S. Wabash. Where did we go? Back to our hotel to cozy up with room service! We loved ending our day in Chicago in our robes, looking out our window to watch the Chicago skyline.

Deal: Save up to 53% on Chicago’s 5 best attractions with CityPASS. Shop Now!

Alternate ideas for a Chicago winter itinerary:

While we couldn’t get to everything we wanted to during this trip, the following additional winter activities are on our radar for next time.

Museum of Science and Industry: This year, this museum is hosting an amazing robot exhibit called Robot Revolution, which cutting edge robots around around the world kids can interact with. During the holiday season, it also features Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light, which depicts holiday traditions from dozens of countries and cultures.
Christkindl Market: This annual German Christmas market is held on Daley Plaza, with traditional wooden huts and vendors from Germany.
A Christmas Carol: This show is also an annual tradition and almost always a sell-out, so get advanced tickets for the Goodman Theatre.
Zoolights: Held every holiday season, Zoolights at Lincoln Park Zoo showcases light displays across the zoo in the after-hours; families can come during daylight to see the animals and stay for the light show.
Navy Pier: Though a different experience than during the warmer months, Navy Pier has events and attractions open year round. Pick a day that’s not too chilly to be directly on the water. During our visit, it was simply too windy for us to feel comfortable at Navy Pier!

Where to stay: Westin Chicago River North

We stayed two nights in complete luxurious comfort at Westin Chicago River North, which offered the perfect downtown location for our adventure. Our room on the 9th floor overlooked the Chicago River, and we loved watching the snow fall on the water and bridges. We upgraded to club level, which allowed us to use the club lounge on the 20th floor included in our stay. While an initial investment, I always recommend upgrading to club or concierge level when available. Most offer a complete breakfast service, plus snacks and drinks available all day and an appetizer and small plates spread in the evening to easily feed children and even adults (depending the day’s offering). If you’ll be at the hotel enough to take advantage of at least the breakfast and one additional stop-in during the day or evening, the value is there.

From O’Hare airport, the Westin North River is only one metra train line away (blue line from O’Hare), plus a two block walk. It’s also only two blocks from the metra bus lines. The views are amazing, and the concierge desk is invaluable when planning a last minute itinerary!

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Ecotourism activities in Costa Rica: Nature parks and lodging

December 17, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

The Republic of Costa Rica is a rough and tropical rain forested Central American country, with a population of around 4.5 million. The country is popular for nature travel destination among the tourist because of its rich flora and fauna, beaches and volcanoes. Costa Rica has the highest population of plants and animals species on earth.

There are around 26 nature parks, 8 biological reserves, 32 protected zones, 11 forest reserves, 58 wildlife refuges, 15 wetlands in Costa Rica (source: Costa Rica National Parks) which is home to 850 type of bird species, 237 mammal species, 1,260 tree species, 1,200 orchid species, and 361 reptile and amphibian species. Because of the rich wildlife, ecotourism activities in Costa Rica are one of the popular and key activities of the tourism industry which attracts large crowd of tourist to this country. As ecotourism is a major source of income; the country has very strict environmental policies, to safe guard the environment. Government also implemented special programs like Bandera Azul Program (Ecological Blue Flag) and Voluntary Certification Program to evaluate and maintain sustainable tourism with the conservation of the environment.

Ecotourism activities in Costa Rica provides a combination of luxury and adventure activities, which includes visits to rich wildlife to experience flora and fauna, visiting volcanoes, hiking, river rafting, bird watching, whale watching, canopy tours, horse riding, bungee jumping, surfing and snorkeling are some of the few mentions. You can also visit to the local coffee plantations and visits to the local communities to know more about their culture. In Costa Rica you will experience rainforest, volcanoes, beaches, wetlands and caves all at one place. These activities are not only for fun and leisure but also take you closer to the nature and help you understand the natural life more properly.

Top 5 nature parks in Costa Rica

Manuel Antonio National Park (Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio)

A small national park established in 1972 near Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Although smallest of all Costa Rican natural parks, the park is among the most beautiful natural parks in the world. It covers an area of around 680 hectares. About 150,000 tourists visit this park annually. Manuel Antonio National Park encompasses tropical rain forest, white sand beaches and coral reefs. Although the park is smallest of all in Costa Rica, the diversity of wildlife is immense. This park is home of is 109 mammal species and 184 bird species. Brown-throated three-toed sloth, Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth and white-headed capuchin monkey are the major feature of this park.

Rincón de la Vieja National Park ( Parque Nacional Volcán Rincón de la Vieja)

A national park situated in the Guanacaste province of the northwestern part of Costa Rica. This 34,800 acre national park is a combination of active volcanoes and tropical forests with naturally heated pools, mud fumaroles and beautiful waterfalls. Rincón de la Vieja, Santa María and dormant volcano Cerro Von Seebach are the volcanoes in this national park. The park is rich of flora and fauna which include species like pumas, jaguar, monkeys-howler, spider, and white-faced-kinkajous, sloths, and tapirs.

Isla del Coco (Cocos Island)

An uninhabited island declared as a protected national park, situated in Pacific Ocean around 550 kms from Costa Rica. Cocos Island is the only oceanic island in Pacific region with such a dense rainforests and diverse flora and fauna. Because the island is never linked to the continent, the island is home of endemic species. There are around 230 species of plants, 400 species of insects, 90 bird species and rich marine fauna with a large population of yellow fin tuna, giant mantas, sailfish and sharks such as white tip reef shark, scalloped hammerhead shark and the whale shark. About 3200 of tourists visits this park annually. One of the major attractions of this park is the rich underwater world, ideal for scuba diving.

Corcovado National Park (Parque Nacional Corcovado)

A national park established in 1975 situated on Osa Peninsula in south eastern part of Costa Rica covering a 42,400 hectare of area. It’s the largest park in Costa Rica, with intense and richest bio diversity in the world. The park is open for day and overnight visits (with professional guides) for tourists. This park is home to abundance of wildlife like, scarlet macaws, spider monkeys, Central American squirrel monkey, mantled howler monkeys, sloths, anteaters, pumas, white faced capuchin monkeys, woodpeckers, hermit crabs and pelicans just to name some few.

Tortuguero National Park

This is third most visited national park, which is situated in the northeastern part of the Costa Rica, reached only by airplane or boat. It covers an area of 31173 hectare. This national park is a protected area because of its bio diversity and eco system, which supports endangered species of flora and fauna. The park is located in a tropical climate, which includes rain forests, mangrove forests, swamps, beaches, and lagoons. This national park has a long beach nearly 35 kilometers, which serve as protective nesting ground for the sea turtles which is the main attraction. This park consist of around 400 species for trees and 2200 species of plants and fauna species like, sea turtles (hawksbill, loggerheads, green, and leatherbacks), bull shark, eel and 30 species of freshwater fish.

Where to Stay in Costa Rica

Apart from the ecological activities, Costa Rica is also famous for the ecofriendly resorts. As the government in the country have very strict environmental rules. Every resort in the country has to go through CST (Certification for Sustainable Tourism) program. Under this program, the resort has to be made and run in such a way that they have minimum impact on the nature. Some of the key parameters which all the resorts have to maintain is recycling products, implementation of water and energy saving devices, proper disposal of the waste and conservation and expansion of Costa Rica’s forests.

These ecofriendly resorts are built very close to the nature, far from the towns, which gives the visitors a direct access to the natural outdoor. Tourists can very easily hike through the trails from the resort property to the surrounding forests, hill sides and beaches. As they are situated in isolated locations, they are dependent on solar and wind power for electricity and grow their own food with the help of the local people. These resorts are less fancy and no that much luxurious in comparison of the regular resorts, but definitely they provide accommodation in places like these, which is hard to find mostly. Also the Costa Rican food available in eco lodges is very organic, tasty and fresh. Still some of these are providing luxury rooms, villas and bungalows with AC and WIFI facilities.

Not only the stay, the activities offered in Costa Rica resorts is numerous and also very popular, which includes day and night tours to the wild life, hiking tours, horse-back riding tours, tours to the natural hot springs with local eco-guides, volcano views from observation towers, visits to herbal farms, bird watching, dolphin, whale-watching and adventure activities like mountain bike rides, canopy zip line tours, sport fishing, white-water river rafting, snorkeling, surfing, kayaking and scuba diving. Also the resort helps you to properly schedule your activities and tours for you. So if experiencing nature is your priority travel goal in Costa Rica, these eco lodges will be your priority spots for stay. Here are some popular eco-friendly Costa Rica resorts, Lapa Rios, Luna Nueva Lodge, La Cusinga Lodge, Bosque Del Cabo, Danta Corcovado Lodge, Costa Rica Tree House Lodge, Cerro Escondido and Rara Avis Rainforest Lodge and Reserve.

Holidays away from home: Tips for preparing kids

December 16, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

At least every other year, we travel during the holiday season. This means my kids are pretty accustomed to celebrating holidays away from home, and as a parent, I’m pretty good at making Christmas special…wherever we are. This year, we’ll be celebrating Christmas Day in Italy. In the days leading up to the holiday, we’ll be renting a HomeAway apartment in Paris. Here’s how we’ll celebrate the holidays away from home:

Think of your trip as a gift in itself:

Older kids and teens should be able to appreciate that a family trip during the holidays costs money and can be considered a gift in its own right. To help kids take ownership of this gift, allow them to plan a portion of your vacation, pick one special activity each, or otherwise engage in the planning process. Spend a day doing each child’s special outings or attractions, if possible. As an alternative idea, gift kids souvenir money (in the currency of the destination) and don’t put any restrictions on how they spend it.

Help kids feel oriented by ‘rerouting’ Santa:

A recent study by HomeAway has shown that 84% of families will spend the holidays together. But traveling to be with family can have its difficulties. It’s hard to change the way gift-giving works in your family if you have Santa believers among you. And kids can feel genuine worry that Santa ‘won’t find them’, causing unnecessary stress during a happy vacation. HomeAway has solved this problem with their ‘Rerouting Santa’ microsite. Check it out: RerouteSanta.com. Just tell Santa where you’ll be, and he’ll find you!

Consider gift-giving in a new way:

For our upcoming trip, we simply won’t have room in our carry-on luggage to bring gifts halfway around the world. Instead, our school-aged kids (and we parents) will be gift-giving on the go. We’ll each draw a family member’s name, and shop for them while we travel. We’re focusing on smaller, stocking-stuffer type gifts in order to keep the ‘stuff’ we haul around manageable. If you have more space, such as a car trunk, you could adapt this system to include larger gifts.

Alternatively, parents can gift kids with one smaller gift per day during their trip, instead of all gifts on Christmas morning. For those celebrating Hanukkah, this ‘new’ system will feel even easier to implement. Gift kids with small toys, crafts, goodies, and games they’ll use during your travels.

Bring holiday decorations:

I love bringing decorations with me on trips when possible…so much so that we have an entire post on decorating your home rental, condo, or hotel room. It’s especially easy to decorate a HomeAway house for the holidays: ask the home owner if there’s a stash of holiday decor you can access…chances are they’ll leave them out for you or decorate before your arrival. We like to bring small strings of lights operated on battery pack (these can even be adorned to strollers or backpacks!).

Ask your home owner for seasonal events and tips:

We asked our Parisian hosts for their top holiday events in Paris, and almost immediately, I received an emailed list of events and happenings during our stay. Inspired, we did the same for our Italian hosts! Plan to attend at least a few holiday events in your destination to add cheer and keep ‘normalcy’ for kids who are used to plenty of seasonal hoopla in their home town. Some of the best activities include parades, holiday window shopping, and light displays.