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Photo Fave: Our happy place… and yours?

On December 31, 2011 · Leave a Comment
In 2012… may you go to your family’s happy place!
Well, here is the last Photo Fave I’ll be posting for 2011. As I look back over the past year (okay, actually the past 3 or so), it’s shocking to realize how many places and experiences I still haven’t managed to mention in this blog! However, I’ll gladly take the problem of “too much material” to draw from over the alternative! My Photo Fave posts have been a nice excuse to hop, skip and jump around in our family’s travel timeline (you can browse them here), and touch on some of the places I haven’t managed to give the full attention I hope to… eventually! Here is a snapshot of me and the little guy on this year’s trip to Yosemite – the first place my husband always asks to go when I say I’m planning a trip again! Of all the places I’ve dragged him to, we continue to count ourselves so lucky to live with this spectacular national park so close at hand, and we do our best to get there each year at least once. Yosemite holds a dear place in each of our hearts, and as long-time followers of this blog know, it’s actually where Travels with Baby was conceived (the book – not the baby!).  

Does your family have a special place you return to each year – or try to? Whether it’s the place itself or perhaps the very special people you journey to see there, here’s wishing you the best of “happy places” in your 2012.And on that note, I’ll be back next week with some tips to help fit more travel into your family’s New Year!

Safe journeys,

Shelly Rivoli
Author of the award-winning Travels with Baby guidebooks

All content of this blog (c) Shelly Rivoli 2007 – 2011

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Argentina’s tradition of Three Kings… and their thirsty camels

On December 29, 2011 · 2 Comments
Placing their shoes by the door reminds the Kings how many children live there.
Today, Travels with Baby Traditions takes us to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where the children are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Three Kings next week… and their camels. Sharing this Central and South American tradition with us is Argentine native, Alejandra Vicco, who owns and operates Bebeba Baby Equipment Rentals in Buenos Aires.
In Argentina, and throughout Latin America, on the 6th of January children celebrate “Los Tres Reyes Magos,” known in English as The Three Wise Men or Three Kings. This is a tradition that has been passed down by the Spanish immigrants since their arrival in Central America and on the South American continent. As the familiar story goes, the Three Kings followed a star to meet the new King of Kings (Baby Jesus) and offered three presents: gold, frankincense and myrrh, to the newborn child born in Belén (Bethlehem). 
When December comes, all the boys and girls in Spain and Latin America start to write their letters to the Three Kings or to their favorite King: Melchor, Gaspar or Baltasar. They write about the things they’d like to receive on the morning of the 6th of January, (which is the day the presents get delivered) and also about their behavior during the year. If they’ve been good, they get presents; if they’ve been bad, they get a piece of coal. 

Their Majesties travel by camel and, due to the fact that they come from the East, they take a long time to arrive. Once here, they visit all the cities and villages and, after a spectacular parade, listen to the kids’ requests. On the night of the 5th, the kids put their shoes by the door before going to bed so that the Kings will know how many children live there. They also put out something to eat and drink for Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltasar, and also water and grass for the camels (true, they can last a month or more without drinking water, but that night they have a lot of work to do, so they need extra water and food). 

On the morning of the 6th, children find their presents inside and outside the shoes (it’s very unusual for their Majesties to bring carbones (coal) because no child really behaves so badly, and many people say it’s not true that naughty girls and boys get only coal and no toys). The food and drink placed on the plates and in glasses are gone. The children start playing with their toys, and excitedtly await for the next 5th of January to come around.

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Thanks so much to Alejandra for sharing this fun South American tradition with us! And for any of you planning travel to Buenos Aires with your young child, check out her gear rentals and remember you don’t have to lug it all with you!  Next week we’ll globe trot to another famed city where the children are also looking forward to (hopefully) treats from a very different visitor!

Safe journeys,

Shelly Rivoli
Author of the award-winning Travels with Baby guidebooks

All content of this blog (c) Shelly Rivoli 2007 – 2011

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Go-to tips for holiday travel with your baby, toddler, or preschooler

On December 21, 2011 · Leave a Comment
Once upon a Christmas train ride…

Need holiday travel help?
See some of our most popular tips online for planning holiday travel: Before you go:

At the airport and on the plane:
On the road:
Find hundreds more tips for your family’s holiday travels in the Travels with Baby guidebooks and also in FAQs and Popular Topics. Know someone else who could use these tips? Please forward to a friend!

Safe journeys – and happy holidays to all!

Shelly Rivoli
Author of the award-winning Travels with Baby guidebooks

All content of this blog (c) Shelly Rivoli 2007 – 2011
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Important tips for childproofing during holiday travel with babies and toddlers

On December 16, 2011 · 3 Comments

Heading off for a holiday with friends or relatives this year? Here are some helpful tips and topics to think through to help make sure your baby or toddler stays safe through the holidays–especially when staying in somebody else’s home (click video frame above or click here to watch).

For more help planning your childproofing for travel:
See our recommended products for childproofing and safety on the go
Don’t forget to pack along (or download) your Take-Along Travels with Baby with its handy Checking-in Safety Checklist and dozens of other tips to help during your stay .

Also, check out the new Travel-Tot convenience kit of temporary childproofing products featuring some of my favorites. Click here to take a look.

And as mentioned in the video, the Passports with Purpose travel fundraiser is in progress, and although I’m not participating this year, there are some fantastic family travel prizes being given away at only $10 per raffle ticket – and the contest closes TONIGHT! Click here to see the prize list.

Safe journeys,

Shelly Rivoli
Author of the award-winning Travels with Baby guidebooks

All content of this blog (c) Shelly Rivoli 2007 – 2011

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The captivating carousels of Paris in December

On December 8, 2011 · 5 Comments
Paris has lovely carousels year round, with an extra 20 carousels offering free rides the final 2 weeks of December.

Today, the Travels with Baby Traditions series takes us to Paris, where resident mom Camille Spanjaard whisks us past the loveliest carousels in all the city – a definite highlight of Paris in December. Camille is the founder of Baby’Tems baby equipment rental agency in Paris, and she recently partnered with Babychou, a long-term and short-term babysitting specialist.

I’ll not make a generic article on what to visit in Paris with your little ones nor explain about the magical (but over-crowded!) Chrismas decorated department stores’ windows nor the (free) ice rinks (as these are for older children and adults… ), but I will give you what MY kids are looking forward to the most (after the expected Chrismas gifts!) in December in Paris…the merry-go-rounds. 

Actually there’s a multiplication of carousels in Paris at this time of year. And besides those present all year round, kids will discover various other merry-go-rounds appearing in addition to those from December 17th till January 1st of 2012, during which time Paris is making 20 of its carousels free for everyone (note: the carousels listed here are not among those free).Since I (or more precisely, my kids) have repeated experience with a lot of them in Paris, here are my children’s top 3 favorite carousels, chosen because they are special… and with one on each side of Paris…


1st Place is for the “Dodo manège”, in Jardin des Plantes (5th arrondissement) … kids will be able to turn sitting astride a dodo, a gorilla or a sivatherium (have a look here to find out what animal it is…)…the kids like it because there’s no other place you can experience this!

2nd Place is for the oldest one in Paris: after visiting the Eiffel Tower, have a walk in the Champ de Mars … with the Eiffel Tower in your back, go to the right of the park, you’ll find a tiny (but so cute !) merry-go-round with wooden horses only…and no electric engine. 2 guys are needed to start it…pushing it manually. Once launched, one turns the handle while the other one is installing the game (rings that kids need to catch with their stick).

3rd Place (but certainly not the last place…it’s so hard to make a selection among all Paris carousels tested) is the traditional one at bottom of Sacré-Coeur (place Saint Pierre)… for its view on the basilica and its proximity to great baby friendly places. ok, this one is rather my favorite rather than my kids’ one…

Thanks so much to Camille for contributing this post and to Amélie Dupont of the Paris Tourist Office for these photographs. For more tips on planning your visit to Paris with your baby or toddler, don’t miss Camille’s feature “5 Best with Children Under 5: Paris,” and find more of her insider tips for travel to Paris with tots in the Baby’Tems blog. Visit our previous World Tour stops at Rome, Guatemala and Copenhagen.

Related posts and pages:
France – Paris: 5 Best with Children Under 5
France – Best baby-friendly cafe in Paris
France – Finding diapers in France
France – Tips for juggling toddler naps while visiting Paris
See more Travels with Baby tips for Europe
Safe journeys,

Shelly Rivoli
Author of the award-winning Travels with Baby guidebooks

All content of this blog (c) Shelly Rivoli 2007 – 2011

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Check the new "Flying with babies and toddlers" page for extra travel tips and advice

On December 6, 2011 · 1 Comment
Flying with a baby or toddler? Check out the new help page.
Sometimes, when I get a perfectly innocent question like, “So can you give me any tips for flying with my toddler?” I admit I feel a little like a pine tree being asked–does it have any needles? Sure. But where to begin?
Well, now I can say be sure to visit the new flying with babies and toddlers tips and advice page. 

Of course, from the ground up, there’s no better place to start than Travels with Baby‘s Part 5, which covers everything from picking the best airline and seats to packing the carry-ons and planning for your in-flight entertainment. And once you’re at the airport and on the plane, Take-Along Travels with Baby‘s got your back.

And if you want more tips on healthy travels, road trips, and more, don’t forget about the FAQs and Popular Topics page as well.
Happy “Tip Tuesday”!

Safe journeys,
Shelly Rivoli
Author of the award-winning Travels with Baby guidebooks

All content of this blog (c) Shelly Rivoli 2007 – 2011

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