Happy holidays to everyone reading (anyone left?). I'm hanging out in Brooklyn with my teenager, playing hipsters, this weekend, still traumatized by the disastrous, sad news of Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. The world will never be the same again. Both women left such a strong imprint on American culture, and I so hope that their spirits are joining up in heaven. I was a huge fan of Carrie Fisher when I was a teenager/young adult. I read all her books, hung onto her every word. She was so much more than Princess Leia. Don't get me wrong, I was a fan Read More
06Sep
Hotel Review: Old Swan & Minster Mill in England’s Cotswolds
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When we first pulled up to the Old Swan & Minster Mill, I was instantly intrigued and inwardly delighted. The hotel is a village within a village, literally 60 rooms and a few cottages that resembles a small village. It has so much charm with its dose of traditional English culture and stunning setting, with a 18th century mill located on the River Windrush across 65 acres. It's right down the road from a cathedral and authentic ruins from Minster Lovell Hall, a 15th century Oxfordshire manor house, and the nearby scenery is dynamic. In addition, the Read More
05Sep
Hotel Review: The Rectory Hotel in England’s Cotswolds
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When I first walked into the Rectory Hotel during our recent visit to the Cotswolds, I was in total awe of its decor which is a modern ode to British culture. The hotel is a bit of Pottery Barn mixed with luxury, and its modern yet rustic features and amenities are extremely welcoming. Located in a grand Georgian country house on three acres of walled beautiful gardens, it was the perfect spot for my family to rest our heads and one of my favorite hotels I've experienced as of late. Why were we there? To experience some of England's most stunning Read More
12Jan
Our Recent Visit to Family-Friendly London
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Our recent visit to family-friendly London took us to spots we love, as well as spots we haven't yet been to. Every time we visit, which happens to be annually due to the fact that it's my husband's birth country, we see more and more of this historical, beautiful city and I leave loving it even more. I know that my kids are lucky to go as often as they do, and they surely don't appreciate it enough, but we manage to take advantage of our time there and soak in the sights whilst visiting family and friends. I've written about our time there again and Read More
05Jan
A Few Days in York, England
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As a traveling mom, it’s always key for me to incorporate a few ingredients into our family trips: adventure, education, history, culture and solid bonding experiences. A recent trip to England took us to the northern city of York, located in the heart of Yorkshire, England and incorporated all of these elements. Known as one of England’s most historic cities, the experience provided two days of looking up and gazing at medieval architecture, walking down winding cobble streets, learning about its diverse and sometimes troublesome history and wandering Read More
31Dec
My Holiday Travel Journey (+ Tips for Better Photos)
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If you haven't noticed, I've been kind of quiet lately. Well, I haven't been idle, I've been away in the United Kingdom, visiting family and friends, and playing tourist. Having come here once a year for the last 15-20 years, I'm certainly not your typical visitor but each time is filled with new experiences and I record everything faithfully on Instagram as I am photograph crazed. It may because I was provided with a Samsung Galaxy Phone 4 zoom to bring along on the trip to take better photos and really learn the tricks of the trade. I was provided Read More
13Apr
Exploring London with the Kids
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We just finished a week in London. We actually come here every year to visit family, but we always look forward to the trip. One year we spent time seeing the major tourist sites, like the Changing of the Guard, the London Eye, another year we visited the Science Museum and took a bike ride in Camden Lock. I've posted a about prior trips to London on Traveling Mom: Where to Eat with Kids in London A Day at London’s Science Museum Exploring the London Museum of Jewish Life with Kids London’s Restaurants for Traveling Moms London on a Read More
08Apr
Caving with the Kids at Creswell Crags
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Our trip to the UK has not only taken us back in time but it has introduced our children to various parts of UK history. We discovered a bit about Victorian history at Chatsworth House and Elizabethan chivalry at Bolsover Castle. Our visit to Creswell Crags in Derbyshire also presented us with new information about a time period we've yet to explore with our children: the Ice Age. Located in a limestone gorge full of caves, Creswell Crags is home to the only Ice Age rock art in Britain, which tells the gripping story of life in the last Ice Age – Read More
07Apr
Going Back in Time at the Bolsover Castle
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On our recent visit to Chesterfield in Derbyshire, we visited my children's first real castle called Bolsover. Built in 1612 by Charles Cavendish as a mansion modeled on a medieval castle, it is now a tourist site that proudly displays the castle's remains. It has withheld the test of time, and there is a lot of history to be learned from a walk around. Some of the castle is in the open air, so do bundle your kids up. The castle is now in the care of English Heritage and has been since the death of William Cavendish's (the son of Charles) wife in Read More
04Apr
A Family Stay at the Casa in England’s Peak District
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If you're traveling through the North of England and head to the Peak District with your family, you'll want to make sure to stay at the Casa in Derbyshire. You can't beat this 4-star hotel's excellent location. It's in the historic market town of Chesterfield, but is in easy reach of Sheffield, Nottingham and a number of landmarks and attractions. It's also very family-friendly as the hotel really focuses on comfort and you can't find a nicer staff in all of England. When we entered the hotel, we were greeted by a pleasant and upbeat host at Read More