by Heather
Meg at Backpack to Buggy really nailed it with her suggestions for easy toddler dining. I read it and smacked my head (in the “why didn’t I think of it” fashion) and then wanted to save all her suggested locations for my future adventure travels to Bali, Nova Scotia, and Hong Kong as well as my (much more likely) forays into San Francisco.
Just last week I was driving the New York Turnpike cursing the choice of bad pizza after bad pizza options at the rest areas. So, when she mentioned Sbarro by name (and that was my GOOD choice), I knew she was speaking directly to me.
And that, my friends, is why I must share it with you.
In addition to her favorite local fast eateries, Meg offers important tips to finding your own off-the-beaten-path the toddler-friendly food court:
- newer and renovated US malls (check out the hand washing station in the new SF mall — it’s a dream come true!)
- pedestrian-friendly and sightseer friendly places are often combined
She says, “This won’t solve how to get a toddler to sit down and eat, but at least parents can restore much needed energy and sample some local cuisine.” Amen to that.
Read Meg’s suggestions for how to eat out with a toddler.
Here are my tips for taking your toddler to an upscale place (way harder, I now realize!)
[photo credit: Meg at backpack to buggy]
by Whitney
Dude, is it hella hot today. (I’m in California, and this is how we talk.) I let baby Scarlett engage in about three different types of water play within a four-hour span of time. She was out in the backyard, sitting in a highchair with bowls of water and spoons to splash with, and finally the bathtub.
Julian (three and three-quarters and a half years old, he’ll tell you) also loves him some water play. We had a spontaneous invention a couple of weeks ago of a car wash in our backyard. It really kept him busy, and our ride-on toys have never been cleaner.
The key to making it an official car wash seemed to be placing the car in a special place. In our case, it was on two outdoor Ikea chairs. Probably making a fort for this specific purpose would be the most satisfying. Make it extra fun with a spray bottle, sponge, and a bucket to dunk sponge in.
While Julian washed the “cars”, I paged through catalog after catalog that had come in the mail. A mutually beneficial water play session, I’d say.
by Heather
Another week of fun activities for moms and babies courtesy of Kristi at Ciao Bambino. If you’re a local mum, why not be a tourist in your own town for a week?!
Just visiting? Stay at the posh Hotel Manoir Victoria, which has a special entrance for strollers and an indoor pool.
What’s not to love about a city that makes you feel like a femme français? Your bébé and you can live like Europeans (visiting Americans will enjoy that their dollar will actually have value!) in this charming little city in Eastern Canada.
Monday: Sip & Shop
Get your caffeine buzz while your petit chou (this means “little cabbage” but never mind that—it’s an adorable term of endearment nonetheless) listens to French conversation. It’s tough to choose from the city’s 100 cafés, restaurants and bistros, by my fave is L’Omelette (66 rue Saint-Louis). Not so much for the ambiance (although there’s nothing better than an open-air window seat overlooking the street) but for The. Greatest. Café au Lait. In. The. Universe. Whittle away an hour or two then pop in and out of local shops on rue St. Louis.
Bring your sturdiest stroller—these cobblestone streets can be killers. Need a bathroom break or diaper change? Every bistro and hotel along the way has clean, accessible bathrooms, with the exception of the Chateau Frontenac, where you need a room key to open up the door to its swanky washrooms.
Tuesday: Gourmet Eats & Fresh Air
Head to J.A. Moisan Epicerie Fine, North America’s oldest grocery store. Stock up on two or three varieties of cheese, strawberry jam and a loaf on fresh bread. Uneasy because your French is weak at best? Worry not. Even in local stores where English is but an afterthought, employees are friendly and gracious and will find a way to help you figure out what you’re trying to say. Stroll your spoils along the city’s fortification walls and find a lay down a blanket on the massive grassy knolls of Artillery Park.
[click to continue...]
