My night sleeping like royalty

(Oh! Did you think this was going to be a blog post about how to beat jet lag and have your little prince and princess sleeping like a dream? Reach out to us here; we would love to share all our tips and tricks with you!)

There’s just something about castles that grabs our imaginations. My two sons, from a very early age, loved to dress up as knights and pretend they were defending their castle from the “bad guy” raiders (the oldest once dressed our middle child up as a dragon and then tried to “defeat him,” but that’s another story for another day). Princes and princesses, knights, lords and ladies… something about all of it enthralls us.

Historians (castleologists?) estimate that Germany has between 12 and 25 THOUSAND castles and many- or their ruins- can still be toured. Some are even now available for weddings, events and- like Arenfels castle where my family stayed last summer- great places to spend a few nights of your family vacation.

So how do you go about finding a castle to stay in for a whole or part of your next family trip? As simple as it sounds, it helps to know the word for “castle” in the national language (in German it’s schloss) to help in your search, especially to find the smaller castles that often provide an amazing experience at a fraction of the price. Quite a few countries have associations of castles that will contain good information, including ways to book. Airbnb, Booking.com and VRBO all have filters to search for “unique properties” like a castle or estate. And don’t worry, you don’t necessarily have to book the whole place: Schloss Arenfels, for example, offers a variety of rooms to potential guests.

A castle is more than just a place to lay your head, though. Many castles are still family- or small business-owned and operated, and will most likely love to share more about the castle and the surrounding region with you. And, of course, take advantage of any tours and other programs the castle may have available; many castles in Germany, for example, offer a tour in English a few times a week. We also recommend choosing the “bed and breakfast” option when it's available; who doesn’t want to eat a delicious European breakfast in a 14th century dungeon or wine cellar?!

Even with jet lag, picky eaters, mishaps and unknowns, family travel is fun. Staying in a castle for all or part of your family vacation is a great way to get to know more about the peoples and cultures of your host country and a unique experience your family won’t soon forget.

“Paris is always a good idea”…Yes, even with kids!

This iconic line by Audrey Hepburn in the movie Sabrina usually evokes images of chic adults headed off to Paris for some spontaneous and elegant adventure. But is the City of Lights still a good idea…with your kids in tow? Bien sur, oui! We have found Paris to be a delightful destination with our children. Here are some of our favorite reasons why:

Wide Open Spaces

While there are many busy boulevards in Paris, the city was thoughtfully planned to include plenty of open public spaces. There is so much room to roam that one might think that a parent of a toddler had this in mind when designing the city. From large public gardens to playgrounds to the iconic Champ de Mars, there are no shortages of places for little people to run off all the energy they have (because let’s face it, they have a LOT).

Easy and Beautiful Transportation

While Paris truly is a walkable city in many regards, it is just so large that it is not feasible to assume you can do all you want on foot. Even less so when you factor in pushing strollers or expecting your children to walk miles upon miles. Cabs are abundant but not always cost effective. Enter the Paris Metropolitain underground system. This metro is massive (136 miles in length!), easy to navigate, and will get you and yours wherever you need to go. Moreover, we felt completely safe using it with toddlers and school aged kids. My children are used to using the Metro at home in DC, so taking trains elsewhere added a sense of familiarity for them. Bonus: so many of the stations are designed with art and history in mind. Some of the best stations are the Louvre (with replicas of the museum’s statues on display), Bastille (with depictions of French history on the walls), and Arts et Metier (fashioned after a Jules Verne submarine). Children of all ages will love to see how the stations differ in decor.

Reliably Delicious Food

It’s true, one of the best things about France is the food. Even for the pickiest of eaters (ahem, my eldest daughter), there is something for every palette in Paris. From the delicious baked items at boulangeries (there are over 30,000 in Paris!) to roadside carts with treats-on-the-go to casual family-friendly bistros, your children will have plenty of yummy, delicious things to eat. French cuisine is the perfect mix of just foreign enough that it is different and intriguing, but also hugely accessible to kids. Just maybe not escargot! An added plus: You’ll also find the French are generally more conscientious with their food, using high quality ingredients and listing pesticides used on produce in grocery stores for greater transparency.

No Shortage of Activities

No matter the time of year, there is an incredible amount to do with kids in Paris. The city is chock-full of museums, cinemas, performance halls, historic and cultural sites, parks and gardens, and so much more. Not to mention if you are feeling up for an extra side trip and a taste of Americana, there’s always Euro Disney a short train ride away! It’s hard to be bored, at any age, in a city as vibrant and full of possible adventures as Paris.

Welcoming People

There’s an unfortunate stereotype that Parisians are cold and unwelcoming towards foreigners. My husband and I found that this could not be further from the truth! From helpful cab drivers to restaurant staff to even a neighbor at our AirBnB apartment, we were quite taken with the warmth of Parisians. We had such lovely interactions with locals in Paris, and found that there was a lot of goodwill towards families with young children in particular.

Has visiting Paris been on your radar but you haven’t quite felt comfortable committing to it? Talk to us and we can help put together the perfect itinerary for your family to get the most out of your time in the City of Lights!