The ancient city of Pompeii, under the looming shadow of (what remains of) Mount Vesuvius, was not precisely as we imagined it. The layout, exhibits, and interpretive materials were not clearly marked, and it took some persistence to find what we were looking for (and even then, we missed things). It’s also most certainly a lengthy and expensive commute from Rome. All this said, we were glad we … [Read more...]
Getting from Pisa to Florence with a side trip to the Leaning Tower of Pisa
March 28, 2016 By
If you're flying into Pisa's airport and then getting from Pisa to Florence Italy, you have several options, all of which are pretty cheap and pretty fast. However, if you want to take advantage of your time in the town to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, there's really only one way to do it. Here's how (and why it's worth the time): From Pisa International Airport (PSA), also called Galileo … [Read more...]
Exploring Rome with kids: Overome Colosseum tour review
March 21, 2016 By
Touring Rome's Colosseum and Forum is always in the top three attractions for families. This center of ancient Roman history is a must-do, but also big, crowded, and complex. We were very glad we opted to see the Colosseum and Forum with a small group tour. If Rome is in your family travel plans, read on for our Overome Colosseum tour review. We chose to see the Colosseum with Overome based … [Read more...]
Why you should tour Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome with kids
March 18, 2016 By
While visiting Rome with kids, the time will come when you’ll face a full-on mutiny if you suggest even one more museum. This is the moment to head to the Castel Sant’Angelo. This underrated and overlooked site in Rome is a must-do. We are so glad we tried it! Unlike the Colosseum, Vatican, and Forum, kids are let loose at Castel Sant’Angelo. This mausoleum turned fortress dates back to AD … [Read more...]
Paris day trip: Touring Normandy D-Day battlefields
February 15, 2016 By
In each major city we visited during our European trip, we opted to take one long day trip outside the city limits. In Paris, many options for day trips vie for attention, but for our family, a tour of the Normandy D-Day battlefields won out. We have two teens who have studied WWII history, and this tour was their pick. Touring Normandy D-Day battlefields: We opted to go through Viator for … [Read more...]
How to plan a Paris itinerary with kids
January 13, 2016 By
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 … [Read more...]
Touring Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin: Why this site should be on your itinerary
January 11, 2016 By
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 … [Read more...]
Pompeii or Ostia Antica: Which to include as a day trip from Rome
January 4, 2016 By
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 … [Read more...]
Best Mountain Towns: Breckenridge Colorado
October 26, 2015 By
Yes, Breckenridge, Colorado could certainly fall into Pit Stops for Kids' Best Ski Towns category; however, this resort town truly is a four-season destination. While it's best known for winter sports, Breckenridge shines in the warmer months as well, boosting hiking, rafting, biking, and lots of storied history. Here's what to do with kids and without in Breckenridge, truly a Best Mountain … [Read more...]
Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield
June 24, 2015 By
Southwest Missouri hosts a great deal of rich history, including more Civil War history than we realized. While visiting in the Springfield or Branson area, plan to spend at least half a day, if not more, at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. In case you need to brush up on your Civil War history (as I always do), Wilson's Creek was the site of the second major battle of the war fought … [Read more...]
