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Archive for September, 2010

Bike Culture: Amsterdam to NYC

Posted in General Blogs, Specific Destinations, tagged , , , , on September 15, 2010 | 2 Comments »

Spotted in Vondelpark-Classic Kid Bike Seat

We just got back from Amsterdam and I cant stop thinking about bikes.  Bikes as a form of transportation not just recreation.  Bike culture is always so refreshing to see.  The motorist-bicyclist relationship is one of equality, respect and safety.  Everyone seems to be connected, supportive and abiding by an innate set of road rules.

Mom and Tot 'n Tow on the Go

Rain or shine, entire families are bicycling together.  It is quite the Utopian sight.  Happy Amsterdammer’s carting their kids from place to place.  And the bikes are equally as interesting, coming in all sizes, clever configurations, and expressive colors.  I am covetous bike culture.  It appears simpler, eco-friendly, and family focused.  On a rare occasion you can spot a Cargobike parked outside a daycare or school in NYC, but in Amsterdam they pepper the streets.

Rain Cover Cargo Bike

I grew up in California with Beach Cruisers center stage.  Groups of scantily clad bicyclists lazily enjoying the winding strand, ocean’s breeze and sun’s warmth.  We left the cranking of gears and pumping legs to the professionals.  New York is a different beast.  Bikes mean business.  If you dare to share the road with oblivious drivers, road rage traffic, and taxi-owned streets, you should wear a badge of courage or more importantly head-to-toe reflective tape and strobe lights strapped to every inch of your body.  Commuting by bicycle through Manhattan’s streets is far from a relaxing beach cruise.

Biking in NYC is not about recreation or transportation, it’s about survival.  Getting from A to B unscathed.  Bicyclists don’t seem to get the support they need from the public (but this is old news).  They are not respected as road users and viewed more like pesky pedestrians.   Where did the Old Amsterdam mentality go, when New Amsterdam began to grow?  Have we become so disconnected from our fellow travelers?  How can we mend the motorist-bicyclist relationship?

Red Cargobike with Personality

Why does this matter to me?  Because I want to cart MY kid to school on my cargobike.  I want to explore the city with my tot ‘n tow on wheels.  I want to strap on our helmets and cut across Central Park to my kiddos doctor appointment.  I want to raise my child in a Utopian bike culture.  BUT I also want to be a New Yorker.  There are 2 parents that I know that bike their kids to school over the Brooklyn Bridge, but the truth is…I’d be very apprehensive to do that myself.

It is my sincere hope that NYC’s bike culture changes (and yes, it is getting better).  We, as pedestrians, drivers, bicyclists, and other motorists, must learn to share the road with each other and make the streets safer for our little ones.

Needless to say, I am intoxicated with Amsterdam’s bike culture and am jealous of their ability to hop on a bike and go.

NYC Bike Dreams

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Fruits That Teach

Posted in Recommended Products, tagged , , , on September 9, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Bananagrams, Appletters and Pairs in Pears

Tomorrow we are off to Amsterdam again and our Bananagrams will definitely be packed with us.  Since Charles started to learn to read, we have been traveling with this easy-to-pack word game, which is a scrabble-like game without the board (and can even fit inside my purse).

You can get this game in a set of 3: Appletters, Pairs in Pears and (our favorite) Bananagrams.  All 3 are great word games for kids and make learning words a family fun activity.

An Epic Game of Banana Grams

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Noa Knows About Travel

Posted in Kid Interviews, tagged , , , on September 6, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Noa and Her Lavender Carry-On

I interviewed Noa, a 9-year old girl, in the Atlanta Airport.  She was traveling with her grandmother and younger sister.

With a notebook and pen in her hand, she sat with her knees drawn into her chest.  She peered over her bent knees from time to time watching passing travelers and then busily scribbled notes or drawings (I suspect) into her pink notebook.  At her feet lay a neatly packed lavender carry-on holding her prized travel possessions that she riffled through with fervent determination.  I was struck by her attentiveness and quiet confidence in such a frenzied place.  She was thrilled to participate in the interview and was very generous with her responses.

Do you like to travel? Why or why not?

Yes.  I love to read and I am interested in a country’s history.  I love to know about the kings and queens that once lived in the places that I visit.

What is your favorite thing about travel?  Least favorite thing?

Going to museums is my favorite.  I don’t like when we walk around a city and my mom wants to stop at every store to buy something.

Where is your favorite place that you have traveled?

Paris.  I saw the Louvre.  My favorite part was seeing the Mona Lisa.  I think she is smiling. And the Eiffel Tower; I loved the view!

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you want to go?

I think Africa is interesting.  It would be wonderful to be out in nature and see animals in the wild.

What is the perfect length of a family trip?

I don’t know….5 days.

What do you always want to have with you when you are traveling?

I usually bring paper and pen to draw.  A notebook to write about where I am, the things I see and write down my thoughts.

What kinds of things do you learn when you are traveling?

I learn how people live in other places.

Who is our favorite person to travel with?

My mom.  She likes to travel and she wakes up early like me. We wake up before everyone else and go see stuff early in the morning then come back around 9 to pick up my sister.

What kind of vacation is your favorite?

Camping. I get to live in nature and see how you can survive without a house and lots of extra things.

What advice do you have for kids?

I’d tell them to go to the capitol of the place they are going to visit, see the museums and study the history.

What advice do you have for parents that take their kids traveling?

For older kids, take them to interesting places like museums. For little kids, don’t try to do everything.  Keep it simple and go on a boat ride or something.

When you are older, will you travel more for work or pleasure?

Pleasure for sure.  I want to be a doctor

What has traveling taught you?

The best place is home.

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Top 10 Best Eats in Santa Monica

Posted in Food, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on September 2, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Santa Monica Beach - Photo by Betsi Ewing

We are in Santa Monica often….and a girl’s got to eat, right?  These are my favorite places to eat with Charles.  Some of them are not actually in Santa Monica, but worth the trip!

10.  Gladstone’s- Location! Location!  Gladstone’s 4 Fish is directly off PCH in Malibu.  My favorite time to eat here is during stunning sunsets.  Play on the beach while you wait for your food.

9.  Cora’s Coffee Shop – Fabulous farm fresh food, varied menu, and an adorable outdoor patio framed by an iron arbor make this place one of my favorites for breakfast or lunch.

8.  Pinks’s – What can I say….It’s Pinks and it’s Hollywood.  The hot dogs are legendary and the chili is worth the trip!  Do not be discouraged by the line and embrace the experience.  Your kids will thank you for it.  Yum!

Legendary Pink's

7.  Paradise Cove Beach Cafe – This place just makes me happy.  It’s secluded location is worth the scenic drive up PCH and a hit with the locals.  Come, dig your feet in the sand, and watch your kids build sandcastles steps from your table.  I highly recommend the guacamole and fish tacos!

6.  the Trails Cafe - Griffith park = family fun…and when your little ones get hungry, head to the Trails Cafe!  The outdoor picnic benches and woodsy scenery cannot be beat.  I’m obsessed with the Avocado Sandwich and Charles gobbles up the Waffles and Snake Dogs.  I have never escaped without sampling one of their delicious homemade pies or pastries.  Be sure to bring cash!

Food Paradise in Griffith Park

I tried to safe this blueberry muffin for later....it lasted 6 minutes.

5.  M Cafe – Macrobiotic cuisine never tasted so good.  How they make amazing food without eggs, dairy, refined sugars, red meat or poultry beats me, but I don’t care…I eat it.  If this spot were to migrate to Manhattan, I would eat here regularly.  On your way out, grab some nori sesame snacks and chocolate truffles.

The Mouth-Watering Counter at M Cafe

4.  Shima – Don’t let the fact they only roll with brown rice scare you….this sushi is to die for.  So fresh, so buttery, and so delightful. Shima is an Abbot Kinney treasure.

3.  Axe – Yes, please!  I could eat here every night and be the happiest woman alive.  I could eat a mountain of flatbread and spreads.  This is the kind of restaurant that when the food comes, you are jealous of everyone’s meal, but wouldn’t dare change what you ordered.

2.  Huckleberry – Yes, there will be a line and yes, it is worth it!  My favorite meal is breakfast and Huckleberry has perfected the art of pastries, sweet and savory breakfasts.  This is my kind of joint!  You arrive, stand in a line to order your food, sit and wait, and then indulge.  You will want to go back for lunch and dinner as well.  Check out the chalkboard for daily specials inspired by local farmer’s market produce.

Poached Eggs on Seasonal Veggies

1.  Capo – Perfection.  I dream about this place.  It’s our first place we go once our plane touches down and the elegantly rustic neighborhood dining room welcomes us back each time.  No other restaurant can get pasta, steak and fish done so right.  I am obsessed.  My favorites are the heirloom tomatoes and burrata starter, the fire-place grilled steak, and the blackened salmon.  And you can’t go wrong with any of the desserts.

If your kids get tired of playing on the Santa Monica beach, treat them and yourself to one of our favorite eating spots.

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Family Thoughts on Travel

Posted in Kid Interviews, tagged , , on September 2, 2010 | 1 Comment »

Felice, Brant, Nick and Myself at the Cincinnati Airport

At the Cincinnati airport last Saturday, I interviewed a family who was killing time during a 3-hour layover to Boston.

The youngest, Felice (4 yr.old), volunteered to go first.  She was shy, but I could tell she’d be a chatterbox if we had more time together.  She leaned on her dad (Ryan) throughout the interview and cocked her head to the side with each answer, always checking in with dad before she answered.  ‘I don’t know’ was her first response to most of my questions, but she lit up when she got to talk about and introduce me to her beloved Mini Mouse.

Brant was 8 years old.  He was a bit more quiet than his sister and patiently listened to all of my questions.  He stared straight ahead throughout most of the interview, but when we did make eye contact, it was impossible not to be instantly drawn in with his gorgeous brown eyes and stunningly long eyelashes.

I ended the interview with older brother Nick who was 12 years old.  He told me that he’ll be 13 in October.  Nick was definitely the older brother.  He was well-spoken, protective of his siblings and nose-deep in a book when I met the family.  I instantly liked him.

Here are their responses to my travel questions: 

Do you like to travel? Why or why not?

Felice -  Yeah, I like to travel because it is fun.

Brant -  Yeah it’s fun.

Nick -  Not really (he said with a grin). Well, I don’t know, it just gets boring and we travel a lot.

What is your favorite thing about travel?  Least favorite thing?

Felice -  Shopping at the airport.  Every time I go to an airport, I get a new book. (Least) All the waiting. I wish the plane was here waiting for me.

Brant -  Going into the woods and exploring. (Least) Getting there.  All the waiting in traveling isn’t so fun.  We have a 3-hr layover right now.  Not so fun.

Nick – Seeing new places. (Least) The travel. I don’t like how long it takes to get from one place to another.

Where is your favorite place that you have traveled?

Felice -  Disneyworld. (She has been 3 times in her short 4 yrs. of life).

Brant –   Legoland in Florida.

Nick -  I like Cedar Point, Ohio. It ‘s full of great roller coasters. Millennium Force is great and has the biggest drop in the United States.  When we go as a family, my dad takes my brother and me on the big roller coasters and my mom takes my younger sister on the smaller rides.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you want to go?

Felice -  I would love to sleep overnight at Cinderella’s castle.

Brant -  Going to my grandpa’s house because he gives me toys sometimes.

Nick -  The Bahamas sound really fun.

What is the perfect length of a family trip?

Felice -  A week.

Brant -  About….2 days.

Nick -  A 2-½ hr drive [tops] to get there and a week to stay.

What do you always want to have with you when you are traveling?

Felice –   I go everywhere with Mini Mouse. I sleep with her every night.

Brant –   A backpack.  Water.  My Lego Star Wars Book.

Nick –   My iPod and a book.

What kinds of things do you learn when you are traveling?

Felice -  I learn that I get very hungry, so I tell my dad to be sure to bring snacks.

Brant -  At school I learn a lot, but I don’t learn much when I travel.

Nick -  Well… you can learn about architecture in different places.

Who is our favorite person to travel with?

Brant -  My brother and my dad.

Nick -  My dad and my mom.

What kind of vacation is your favorite?

Nick -  Camping.  I don’t go that much, but I love being out at night and having fun, especially with a bonfire.

What advice do you have for kids?

Nick -  Always come prepared. Little kids should bring a coloring book and big kids should bring a book that they can read.

When you are older, will you travel more for work or pleasure?

Nick -  Work.  I’ll probably be a businessman. That’s what my dad does.

What has traveling taught you?

Brant -  It’s no fun to wait for a plane.

Nick -  Patience.

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