Above: Tick-tock, tick-tock… gazing out a clock at the Musee d’Orsay across Paris as our trip quickly comes to an end.
Nope, you haven’t heard much from me lately, and if you can see this photo, you can probably understand why. What once felt like a luxurient amount of time to enjoy “just being” in Paris is almost over for us now and, of course, doesn’t that always happen just when you find the best place in town for take-out sandwiches, not to mention the best playground in Paris? (Yes, and I finally figured out how to run this French washing machine, too!)
Still, we’ve got a short bucket-list left for this trip, and all I can say is those gargoyles had better be ready for team Rivoli. 
If you thought I had great Paris travel tips for families with small children before, just you wait. I hope you all had wonderful Thanksgivings, and I’ll be in touch soon.
Safe journeys,
Shelly Rivoli,
Author of the award-winning Travels with Baby and Take-Along Travels with Baby www.travelswithbaby.com facebook twitter about the author
Curious about this content? See my editorial content disclosure.
Above: Seeing the world through your child’s eyes might change your perspective on… just about everything. Especially the swift passage of your time together.
One of the things I often heard from skeptics, after Travels with Baby first came out, was “Why waste travel on such young kids when they won’t remember it? When they won’t even enjoy it?” Particularly overseas travel–what’s to gain by dragging young children half-way around the world, through stuffy museums, crowded markets? Someone once even suggested I should have saved our money until our kids were old enough to remember traveling and then take them to Disneyland, where “they would at least have fun.”
For these people, I have always felt, it’s clear travel shouldn’t be wasted on them. Here is my daughter at four years old in the British Museum, surprising me with her fascination for and questions about the amazing clocks that I admit I never expected would be so interesting to see, especially to a child. They were intriguing to me, but through her eyes they were magic.
Not surprisingly, she still remembers this day… followed by playing outside in the snow on Russell Square.
This post is part of the Photo Friday Fun at DeliciousBaby.com. Have a great weekend!
Previous post: What are YOUR rights when flying with a car seat on airplanes?
Safe journeys,
Shelly Rivoli
Author of the award-winning Travels with Baby and Take-Along Travels with Baby
www.travelswithbaby.com facebook twitter about the author
Subscribe to Travels with Baby Tips
Curious about this content? See my editorial content disclosure.
Above: The Parker Group at Sequoia National Park – these beauties keep their color in every season.
As leaf peepers flock north by northeast to thrill at the annual rainbow spectacular, I find myself searching for any sign of autumn color on the trees around our California home. Not much to report this year… as usual.
But to say we don’t have trees worth visiting in California? You’d have to be silly.
Here’s just a part of our singlemost favorite stand of giant sequoia trees in Sequoia National Park. The Parker Grove, named for the family of the park’s superintendent from 1893 – 94, is not one of the most famous stands of sequoias in the park. But there is a definite following of those who, like us, happen upon it driving the quieter roads near Moro Rock and simply have to stop and enjoy them.
When you get there, and I hope you will, say hello for us.
For more tips on visiting Sequoia National Park with your family, see the related posts and pages below.
Previous post: Will your car seat be allowed on the airplane?
Related posts and pages:
- Sequoia National Park – Review of Wuksachi Lodge inside Sequoia National Park
- Sequoia National Park – Hiking Moro Rock with little kids in Sequoia
- Sequoia National Park – Crystal Cave – Important tips for your visit
Safe journeys,
Shelly Rivoli
Author of the award-winning Travels with Baby and Take-Along Travels with Baby www.travelswithbaby.com facebook twitter about the author
Subscribe to Travels with Baby Tips
Curious about this content? See my editorial content disclosure.
Above: Learning to make Costa Rican coffee “in the sock” upon arrival at Casa Vista, on the Nicoya Peninsula.
I have managed to do without many things during travel (a forgotten hairbrush, a single pair of socks…), but coffee is not one of them. As I thought about Costa Rican coffee earlier this week, working on the post “A Visit to Doka Coffee Estate,” I had to smile remembering my REAL introduction to Costa Rican coffee on that trip.
After hours of journeying from Alajuela by highway, by ferry, by dirt and rocky roads (one through the Rio Negro), keeping three generations content as I drove in our rented SUV, we arrived at unforgettable Casa Vista, perched just above the Pacific on a lovely, secluded beach. Greeting us there was my contact, Dahlia Nahome, of CostaRicanVacation.com (shown right). She made sure we had everything we would need to make our stay pleasant – including the critical knowledge of how I would make coffee in the morning.
If you’d like to know how to make “Costa Rican coffee in the sock,” don’t miss tomorrow’s post in honor of National Coffee Day.
This post is part of the Photo Friday fun at Deliciousbaby.com.
Related posts and pages:
- Review of Casa Vista vacation rental in Costa Rica
- Tips for traveling by ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera
- Costa Rica’s 5 best for kids under 5: Nicoya Peninsula
- A visit to Doka Coffee Estate in Costa Rica
- See all related Travels with Baby tips for family travel in Costa Rica
Safe journeys,
Shelly Rivoli, Author of the award-winning Travels with Baby and Take-Along Travels with Baby www.travelswithbaby.com facebook twitter about the author
Subscribe to Travels with Baby Tips
Curious about this content? See my editorial content disclosure
"So I say, 'Thank you for the music...'"
Well, in case any of you were guessing where my posts were leading last week… YES, my kids really have already missed a day of school for travel this year! But it was for a very special family event and with our teachers’ blessings.
For our return, we had a most unusual experience – we actually arrived early at the airport! No sprinting was necessary! In fact, we had time to enjoy a leisurely lunch before boarding. If that wasn’t enough, our ears perked to the sound of live music starting nearby… and just to underscore what a special place Portland, Oregon is… there was the lovely Belinda Underwood strumming an electric ukulele and even making music with her feet as she sang. She delighted the the kids with original songs about polar bears and her chickens at home, among other thoughtful and toe-tapping tunes.
Not a bad way to pass the time waiting for an airplane with the kids!
If the airport entertainment doesn’t come so easily on your next trip, remember there are dozens of ways to keep your tot entertained in the airport AND on the airplane in Take-Along Travels with Baby.
Previous post: Hiking Moro Rock with little kids, Sequoia National Park
Related posts:
- How to keep your toddler or preschooler entertained at the airport – while you enjoy a cup of coffee
- Five screen-free favorites to keep the kids entertained during long flights
- Browse family-friendly Oregon destination features and tips
- See (way) more online tips for air travel with babies and young children
Safe journeys,
Shelly Rivoli
Author of the award-winning Travels with Baby and Take-Along Travels with Baby www.travelswithbaby.com facebook twitter about the author
Subscribe to Travels with Baby Tips
Curious about this content? See my editorial content disclosure.
You'd be shocked how many cousins the wild old blackberry has these days.
Here’s a snapshot upon entering Bauman Farm’s amazing market – with bakery – with gift shop – with out-of-this-world nursery and over-the-top playground, which my mother-in-law introduced me to during our first road trip this summer. You’ll have to wait to see more about it, however, because I am taking the next few weeks OFF from this blog to savor what little is left of summer (and, you know, catch up on some of those personal things I’ve been allowing to sliiiiiide) before we dive back in to the new school year.
If you need help planning upcoming travels, however, here are some quick links to help you find just the tips you need:
- Air travel with babies, toddlers and little kids
- Car seat and road trip travel tips
- More family travel FAQs and popular topics
- Travel destination tips, reviews and recommendations
- Recommended gear for travel with baby / toddler
- Trip planning resources, including the Worldwide Directory of Baby Gear Rental Agencies, Moms around the World interviews, Hotel & Vacation Babysitter Agency Directory, and more…
And of course, don’t forget the Travels with Baby (Ultimate Guide) and Take-Along Travels with Baby.
Enjoy the rest of your summer – remember, this time next year your little one will be a whole lot bigger!
Safe journeys,
Shelly Rivoli
Author of the award-winning Travels with Baby and Take-Along Travels with Baby
www.travelswithbaby.com facebook twitter about the author
Subscribe to Travels with Baby Tips
Curious about this content? See my editorial content disclosure.
Huggies Hawaiian Little Movers diaper on the move in Kauai.
Picture me in Kauai on the other end of this camera, pulling my hair out, during these first attempts at photographing the new Huggies Hawaiian diaper in paradise.
As most of you are aware by now, I’ve had the honor of being spokesperson for Huggies’ Every Little Bottom campaign these past few months, offering vacation travel tips, tips for diapering during travel, and spreading the word about this great program benefitting the National Diaper Bank Network and Foodbanks Canada.
As the limited-edition Huggies Hawaiian Diapers and Wipes program comes to a close, with Huggies donating a day’s worth of diapers to families in need for each pack sold, I had to look back on some of the lighter moments… like this.
My little guy was so jazzed to finally be wearing “The Hawaiian Diaper” he’d heard us talking about for months - in this very exciting place also called Hawaii! – he would not hold still for a picture. Not a chance. On a wide open lawn framed by tropical flora, he raced and laughed, chased his sisters, raced and laughed some more. The clouds moved in, the sun lowered, the photos blurred. He would not hold still.
As I looked back through the first photos recently, I had to laugh. Of course! Could you find a more perfect representation of “Huggies Hawaiian Little Movers”?!
Days later, I got the great photo *I LOVE,* which you may have seen here. Though you’ll see he’s still on the move in that photo, too!
There’s still a little time left to get your hands on Huggies Hawaiian Diapers and Wipes in stores and online – and remember it’s about more than a cute diaper. For every pack sold during this campaign, Huggies Every Little Bottom is donating a day’s worth of diapers to families in need — up to 22.5 million diapers!
Want help simplifying diapering during travel? Don’t miss these tips:
- How to diaper a squirmy toddler on an airplane
- Tips for changing diapers during road trips with baby
- Simplify diaper changes on airplanes with a handy “diaper purse”
Need tips for planning your family’s travels to Hawaii? Don’t miss these:
- Big Island – Hiking at Vocanoes National Park while pregnant or with little ones
- Kauai – Kauai’s best beach for babies and toddlers
- Kauai – Visiting the National Tropical Botanical Garden at Poipu
- Oahu – Oahu’s 5 Best Beaches with Kids Under 5
- See more Hawaii family travel tips and advice in destinations
Safe journeys,
Shelly Rivoli
Author of the award-winning Travels with Baby and Take-Along Travels with Baby
www.travelswithbaby.com facebook twitter about the author
Subscribe to Travels with Baby Tips
Curious about this content? See my editorial content disclosure.
Where does the time go? Good thing we take pictures.
I came across this snapshot while looking for a cute camping photo for my previous post (Camping with your Baby or toddler? Remember these tips). While it’s fun to see how tiny my big girl was on her first camping trip (3 mos, near Big Sur), I have to admit it’s a complete shock to see how much younger I look in this photo. I mean, it wasn’t THAT long ago, was it?
(I can hear my mother, who camped with me as an infant, chuckling in the distance…)
Perhaps it was the sheer simplicity of going on a weekend trip as a family without trying to work it into a guidebook or blog post or article. Sigh. I’m happy to say that’s exactly what I’m about to do. Well, for the most part.
Sure, some work will still follow, but when I’m not working, I vow to be in the moment. Well, when I’m not behind my camera taking 500+ photos of my amazing children, I will definitely be, for the most part, in the moment. In fact, maybe I’ll even be in the some of the photos this time around?!
There are times I just have to put my foot, and the camera down. But I’m so glad for photos like this!
How about you?
Are you or your partner able to disconnect from work when you travel with your family? I know many of you travel for your work – do you have any tips for carving out some sacred “family time” in the middle of work trips with kids in tow?
This post is part of Photo Friday at DeliciousBaby.com.
Safe journeys,
Curious about this content? See my editorial content disclosure.
Bronze Award Winner in Travel Blogs from the North American Travel Journalists Association
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