Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for April, 2009

Paris in Springtime

Posted in Specific Destinations, tagged , , on April 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

Jardin du Luxemburg

Jardin du Luxemburg

Spring always changes the way a city looks, feels, and smells.  Paris seems to be alive and bustling with new life, warmth and energy.  The architechure is beautifully accented with the ‘proof’ of spring.’  Flower boxes are filled, trees are in full foilage and everything appears brighter.  The baby ducklings are swimming with their mom in petal-filled ponds.  The leaves are vibrantly green and the fragrant flowers are stunning in their manicured beds.  Sunlit evenings beckon children to play longer in the park before making their way home for family dinners.

Biking in the Bois de Bologne

Biking in the Bois de Bologne

Charles and I celebrated spring by soaking up the sun in Paris’ parks.  Biking in the Bois de Bologne was amazing.  We were wearing t-shirts, long pants and big grins, racing each other on the winding paths.  The birds rooted us on as we passed families picnicing, lovers strolling, kids chasing balls and rolling down grassy hills.  We returned our rented bikes (only 5 euro for 1 hour) and headed to the Jardin d’Acclimatation for a leisurely lunch outside before we hit up the amusement rides and playgrounds.  We rode the carousel in the Jardin des Tuileries and sailed a boat in the Jardin du Luxemburg.

The truth is Paris in springtime is enchanting.  We spent a lot of time Parisian parks this 10-day trip and happily boarded the plane anxious to tackle springtime in our own city….Central Park here we come!!!

For more information about the parks mentioned above and other great parks in Paris, see Top Five Paris Parks.

Charles Taking a Picture of Me

Mama Duck and Her Ducklings

Charles Taking a Picture of Me

Charles Took a Picture of Me in the Bois de Bologne

Flowers in the Jardin du Luxemburg

Flowers in the Jardin du Luxemburg

Read Full Post »

New Blog for Cookie Magazine

Posted in Specific Destinations, tagged , , on April 28, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

Check out my new article, “just back from London,” at Cookie.

Cookie Logo

Read Full Post »

Manger à Paris (Eating in Paris)

Posted in Food, tagged , , , , , , , , , on April 19, 2009 | 3 Comments »

Le Pain Quotidien - YUM

I live for food! Indulgence is a necessary component in my life.  I enjoy eating healthy, fresh and tasty cuisine, which is why Paris and I have a positively delicious relationship.  I am encouraged to feed Charles organic food and since he is a five-year old boy, his tastes can sometimes be limiting, especially if we eat out.  The casual cafes that dot every Parisian street are great for kid-friendly food options, but Charles and I have found some great restaurants in Paris that make us both smile.  Here are 8 of our favorite lunch places. YUM!

Bread and Roses- This bakery and deli-café is a must stopover as it’s sinfully tasty breads, tarts and mouth-watering treats are coupled by the staff’s smiles and friendly greetings.

L’Esplanade- French modern cuisine that serves separate dishes, so you can order for your child a la carte.

Le Pain Quotidien- There is five locations in Paris of this cozy, welcoming bakery, whose motto is to simply make good bread daily.  With its long, rustic wooden communal tables, the setting is ideal for family lunches or dinners.  Charles and I eat lunch here on a regular basis and are never disappointed.  The menu can be ordered a la carte or entire plates.  There are always daily soups, plats du jour, and warm tartines.

Les Deux Abeilles- I am a bit hesitant to include this tearoom on my list, as it is already difficult to get a reservation here for lunch.  The mother and daughter who run this place are very welcoming and cater to Charles’ food desires.  The lentils and tomato tart are to die for, but don’t stop there, as the desserts are heavenly.

Le Café de Flore-The french food here is always consistent and good.

Laduree- This Parisian tea salon is a traditional place to have afternoon tea although they serve meals as well.  The amazing selection of pastries and the famous macarons are delicious!  The ambiance and décor at Paris’ three locations are equally fantastic.

Bertillon- France’s best ice cream!  Bertillion is the most celebrated ice cream in town and it would be a shame to not have sampled it from the shop itself.  Its reputation has been growing since 1954 thanks to artificial-free ingredients, lashings of cream and a host of flavors, including at least 5 different chocolates.

Angelina- The lethally rich chocolat chaud here is AMAZING!  I always steal a little Charles’ milk to make this hot drink to die for!  The Parisians have perfected hot chocolate, especially at this very popular tea room.

Bread and Roses

Read Full Post »

Eurostar Adventure

Posted in Specific Destinations, tagged , , , on April 18, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

Charles' Train Track Masterpiece

Charles' Train Track Masterpiece

Charles LOVES trains, like any 5-year-old boy!  No matter which city we are visiting or if we are home in NYC, we are building tracks, playing with toy trains, pointing out anything that resembles a train (subways, trams and trains), and last weekend he RODE a train!  Much to his delight, we boarded the Eurostar to take the chunnel from London to Paris.  We have taken this route many times before, but Charles never grows tired of this cho-cho adventure!

Eurostar Station

Eurostar Station

The high-speed Eurostar is sleek, fast, and the most convenient way to travel to and from London and Paris’ city centers. The three-hour adventure takes roughly the same amount of time to fly to these destinations, but it is more comfortable and less of a hassle.  Our group of seven sailed through the countryside in style with our premium first-class service, complete with lounge access, choices of food and wine, and roomy seating, playing epic hands of UNO.

This way of travel is ideal for families, less stress and more adventure.  The prices for tickets are reasonable and children get discounts (roughly 50% reduced fare).  There is also the option to get a full refund for your reservation if your plans suddenly change.

Eurostar

Eurostar

Your kids will get a kick out of rocketing through the countryside and passing through the black space of a tunnel that travels under the water above and will get a thrill each time an opposing train whizzes by their window at combined speeds of up to 350 miles an hour!

Read Full Post »

London on Spring Break

Posted in Specific Destinations, tagged , , , , on April 17, 2009 | 2 Comments »

Big Ben

Big Ben

London is one of my favorite places with or without a tot in tow!  So, naturally, I was thrilled to hear that we were going to spend a week in this fabulous city.

Charles and I always look forward to spending time here, hitting up our favorite child-friendly spots; the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Aquarium, London Transport Museum and the beautiful parks.  We are used to visiting empty playgrounds and quiet museums while the children of London are learning their ABC’s, but this particular trip we found ourselves surrounded by British families off on Spring Break.  London was alive with active, anxious families tackling child-friendly venues during their holiday.  The sun was out, the jackets and scarfs were left at home and the streets were lined with queuing Londoners!

Harrod's Toy Department

Harrod's Toy Department

At first, we were not bashful and jumped right into the seemingly endless queues.  We hit the London Zoo the first day, the Science Center the next and visited our favorite playground (click HERE to read more about this Pirate Ship Playground), but after a few days of crowds, we got creative and found new things to do: a Chinese Circus, exploring the entire 4th floor of Harrods, visiting Alexandra Palace, and shopping through street markets.  We even joined the tourists on a shiny red double-decker tour bus and boat cruise along the Thames.  We usually see London from the backseat of a car, but sitting on the top tier of the front of a bus was really exciting for Charles.  He saw London from a new perspective and was all smiles.

Statue in the Queen's Garden

Statue in the Queen Mary's Garden

It seems every time we visit London, it is raining.  This trip’s weather theme was sunshine!  Happily, we spent oodles of time wandering through parks, feeding the ducks, smelling the spring flowers, and licking popsicles after running around a kid-filled playground.

For a week, we called the Dorchester Hotel our ‘home.’  The hotel has two amazing reasons for our return next trip; it’s location and Afternoon Tea.  The Dorchester is located directly across from Hyde Park.  Before breakfast, I would zip over to the park to take my morning run.  After breakfast, Charles and I would feed the ducks our leftovers.  But the true reason to return to this hotel is its extravagant tea time experience.  Charles fell in love with their scones and I am a sucker for a blow-out tea time moment.  Yum!

A lot can happen in one week…we learned patience in British queue, experienced new London attractions, frolicked in London’s finest parks, and returned to our beloved hotel knackered each evening.

Tower of London (View from Boat Cruise)

Tower of London (View from Boat Cruise)

Queen Mary's Garden

Queen Mary's Garden

Read Full Post »

UNO!

Posted in Recommended Products, Travel Advice, tagged , , on April 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

The solitary word, “Uno!” can be heard clear across the train car.  I am sure the commuting business men and women aren’t too thrilled with Charles’ new card game obsession, but we are as happy as clams!  We picked up this ideal traveling game a month ago in Paris-Charles de Gaulle and haven’t lost interest in this competitive pursuit of a winning hand yet.

Charles and I Playing UNO

Charles and I playing UNO

At first, Charles needed a partner to help him choose the right cards to put down, but now the only difficulty he has is holding all of the cards in his five-year-old hands.  We have solved this little problem by putting up book barriers for him to lay out his cards on the table.  He is an expert hoarder and keeps the draw fours and wilds until the end, often securing a victory.

We play in airplanes, trains, hotel rooms, restaurants, lounges and lobbies….often playing for hours.  I don’t mind.  I loved this game as a child myself, playing epic tournaments with my brother and sister, so bring on the UNO cards, I am game!

Read Full Post »

The Pirate Ship Playground

Posted in Specific Destinations, tagged , , on April 15, 2009 | 3 Comments »

Being a nanny, I spend a lot of time in parks and playgrounds.  Living in Nolita in NYC, I am always hard-pressed to find a good, clean park with an innovative children’s playground in our area.  The truth is….there isn’t one and Central park is too far away for us ‘downtowners.’  We live in no-man’s land for playgrounds.  Frankly, traveling has spoiled us.  Charles and I have become park connoisseurs.  We know what we like and expect from a well-thought out park.  It is true that I am covetous of other city’s playgrounds, wishing that I could magically transport the entire park to our neighborhood.

The Infamous Pirate Ship

The Infamous Pirate Ship

If I had this power, I would choose to put London‘s Diana, Princess of Wales’ Memorial Playground on our street.  Charles simply refers to this park as the ‘Pirate Ship Playground.’  (I am sure my obsession is a bit nostalgic since I grew up playing in a similar pirate ship playground at Polliwog Park in Manhattan Beach, California).  Located next to her Kensington Palace home, Princess Diana’s Memorial park was inspired by the stories of Peter Pan, creating an environment of discovery and make-believe.  The main attraction is the pirate ship surrounded by CLEAN, powdery sand (great for sandcastle building).  The playground is an adventureland featuring teepees, musical gardens, sensory trails, a rock garden and other typical playground wooden structures.  Aesthetically, this playground is beautifully arranged with plants, flowers, sculptures, grassy areas intermixed among the play areas.  There is also a cafe and well-kept bathrooms.

Teepees

Teepees

I am happy in this playground and Charles is always asking to stay ‘just a little bit longer, please.’  Even when the park is crowded, I don’t feel trapped.  If I could transport this playground, I would certainly include the lake located outside its fenced walls.  The open space is much needed in our neighboorhood and feeding ducks and swans never gets tiring!

Fortunately this trip, we stayed at the Dorchester hotel located directly across from Hyde Park.  The Pirate Ship Playground beckoned us from our hotel windows.

Diana, Princess of Wales' Memorial Playground

Diana, Princess of Wales' Memorial Playground

Read Full Post »

Older Posts »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 30 other followers