As promised, a few more “Moms on Bikes” pictures for cycling enthusiasts. To see me and Heather (6 months pregnant) on our cruisers, go back to this post.

Our friend Rachel on her due date in Copenhagen

Rachel returns home from the hospital after delivering Oscar a few days later.

Triplet tandem bike in Amsterdam, decorated to reduce likelihood of theivery. Via Bakfiets en Meer

Portland-style commuting, via Clever Cycles

Dutch-style bike in the UK (don’t miss baby in carseat in there!) via GlutenFreeKidsTravel.

But wait… there’s one more cute biking image on this page! Do you see it? Our book cover! (Look up at the top of the page, in the sidebar.)

My family was lucky enough to have a great friend to visit and crash with in Østerbro. We spent ten days touring around Copenhagen and can condense our highlights into a tidy little week of fun with toddlers and preschoolers.

Copenhagen is baby-friendly to a degree I couldn’t even comprehend before visiting: the attractions either accommodate strollers or provide easy parking; changing tables abound; most restaurants provide child-friendly menus and highchairs. For real. When I left Copenhagen, it made me feel like by comparison America hates babies.

Copenhagen is a mix of super-expensive and totally FREE activities so it takes a little planning to balance the fun with the budget.

Monday: Experimentarium
Holden’s favorite thing about the Experimentarium was “all the things” and we had to agree with him. If you have a geeky streak and imagine the coolest hands-on science museum you could ever go to, it might look like the Experimentarium. Can you fit inside a bubble? Measure the strength of your scream? Feel the force of an earthquake? Yes, yes, yes.

If you have a toddler, I recommend the membership. It will pay for itself after a couple visits. The cafe was only ok. You can bring your own food (recommended) and eat it downstairs.

Tuesday: Remisen indoor play area
Visit this totally FREE indoor play space to let your toddler run off his energy near Trianglen (at Blegdamsvej 132). An enormous climbing structure — that likely would not pass stringent safety laws in the U.S. — dominates the room. Older kids can climb up the sky and descend through the swirly slide. Younger toddlers can climb underneath and find plenty to explore. Other cool features: a pirate ship, zipline, fireman’s pole, ride-on toys, balls and separate rooms for crafts, dolls, and Legos.

Again, you will find ample stroller parking, changing tables, and cubbies for your belongings. Did I mention it is FREE? Tuesday and Thursdays are the days open for the four and under set. You’ll probably want to come back again and again.

There is no food or beverage in the Remisen complex but if you walk over toward the lakes, you can find a super delicious hamburger at the Franco-Danish café, Den Franske Café. Toddlers will also enjoy watching the ducks year-round.

Wednesday: Akvarium
We took the 14 bus north toward the coast to Charlottenlund to visit the Denmark’s Akvarium. The Aquarium (Akvarium, get it? Just say it out loud) is a short walk from the main road (away from the water). Cool features include sea turtles, sharks, and all the characters from Finding Nemo in one tank (for reals!)! The petting pool is open after 10:30.

No need to pack your own food. The cafe is decent and we enjoyed hot dogs (polse m/ brod or “sausage with bread”) and cocoa. And yes, there is a cloak room with stroller parking and plenty of changing tables in the men’s and women’s restrooms.

Admission prices are reasonable (kids under three are free and many reciprocal arrangements exist with other museums). At the end of the day, my sons loved the bus ride and seeing piles of snow then fields of snow (“c’mon boys, we’re in Europe! we have snow in California” oh well, the heart wants what it wants).

Thursday: Louisiana Museum
Take a 30 minute train ride out of town and visit the amazing Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. You will also need to take about a 20 minute walk (so bring a stroller for tired legs).

You might think that a toddler shouldn’t mix with a modern art museum. Talk to me after you visit Louisiana.

The art museum is arranged in a labyrinthine loop making the children’s wing tricky to find when you arrive. But oh my! Once you find it, you will be blown away. And don’t stop at the first level, there are three levels of DIY art projects with each floor focusing on a medium and artist. We got entangled on the Calder mobile level for a half hour using scissors, glue sticks, and bendy wire to create our very own mobiles and attach them to the display wall. In fact, our family of four was so immersed in this project that we forgot our plan of “divide and conquer” to see the rest of the museum in solo shifts.

Little Calder

Luckily, in a moment of selflessness, Holden declared that “we should do what you want since we spent so much time doing what I want.” After a delicious and pricey meal in the cafe, we strolled around the remaining exhibits. I mentioned that the layout is a little confusing (see excellent use of the word “labyrinthine”); eventually we had to ask a security monitor how to find the exit.

On the plus side, this is a fantastic museum and we all enjoyed our visit.

On the down side, the Louisiana Museum is expensive. We used our Copenhagen Card to get admission and train fare and this is a good way to go. Since it is quite a hike to reach, I recommend it for little babies who will nap on the go or preschoolers who can skip a nap.

Friday: National Museet

10 lb. helmet on 30 lb. child

The National Museum of Denmark, or NatMuseet, is a FREE gem of a place to take toddlers and preschoolers. If you can get your kiddos to look at piles of bones and armor, then you might stand a chance of seeing the national artifacts before you discover the great play area.

On the other hand, the kids’ zone is FREE and chock full of interesting historical items that you can climb on and wear in the name of play. We climbed aboard a pirate ship, a small viking boat, a huge horse, a medieval wall, and into a Pakistani market. We tried on armor and swung wooden swords.

The cafe is pricey and the menu did not look kid-friendly. We left hungry and cranky. Oh well. I’d love to know in the comments if there are good food options nearby.

Saturday: Statens Museum for Kunst
The day we went to the National Gallery of Denmark, or Statens Museum for Kunst, we did it all wrong, so let me help you do it right. To take advantage of the hands-on children’s workshop (for a small fee), you must go on a weekend. During the week, it is used by school groups [we went on a week day].

Adjacent to the workshops is a bouncy mattress that allows little ones a chance to get their jumpies out [my kids wouldn't leave]. Try to discover this fun surprise at the right time in your visit so you might have a moment to see the art.

We had some luck looking at the cool timeline of art and then doing a scavenger hunt to find the various pieces. Holden was particularly happy to find the installation below.

Also, the cocoa looked wicked good, but neither of my kids would share. So, order your own.

Since the museum has FREE admission, our failure was a cheap one.

Sunday: Swim at DGI-byen:
DYI-byen is simply the most amazing swim complex that I’ve ever had the pleasure to visit. It features many levels of swimming and splashing with family-friendly amenities at every turn (stroller parking, baby carriers and tubs, changing table at the pool).

The main kids’ area has spray fountains and a water table for older preschoolers as well as an inches-deep level for infants. Kids will also enjoy watching parents and big kids jump from the diving board with a ground-level viewing window.

The cafe is run by ChiliMili and it is delicious and healthy.

Admission prices are not cheap, but it is totally worth it. A few tips: bring your own towel and come early! We saw many families lined up to enter as we were leaving around lunchtime.

Other tips and observations:

• Danish demeanor. Folks in Denmark don’t queue up, they push to get ahead. Also, if you need help, you better ask for it; locals will give you helpful and direct advice (and are very quick to point out when you’re “doing it wrong”) but will let you stand around all day simply looking clueless. So, speak up.
• Biking.Copenhagen has a beautiful biking culture. If you don’t already have a cycle, borrow or rent a bike so you can feel the freedom and the joy. Another friend lent me her cargo bike and we had a fantastic adventure cycling from Charlottenlund to Østerbro in the dark.
• Food. All of our food was delicious and most of it was very expensive. Danish families do not eat at restaurants as much as Americans do. Yet, all restaurants we visited and cafes were family-friendly.
• Cold. We planned our visit to coincide with our friends’ availability. Brrr. If we come back — and I hope we do — I want to visit in the summer. There’s even more we could see and do when the weather is above freezing. Then again, I think my boys would miss the snow.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone. Celebrate by wearing green, drinking a pint or so of Guinness and enjoying this guest post from Kate Moran.

Kate is an American girl living in Ireland with her two small children. She founded MummyMaps.com, the stylish guide for Irish parents, and shares these insider tips for living in Dublin or traveling to Ireland with little ones.

Ireland is famous for gorgeous landscapes, charming villages and relaxing family time. Here is the perfect week in Ireland with kids (including best restaurants with changing tables and highchairs and advice for beating the weather):

Monday: City walk
The country’s capital and cultural heart, Dublin has lots for families to enjoy. Wander through Trinity College’s cobblestone paths, up the main shopping street, Grafton Street and to St. Stephen’s Green, where the kids can spend some time at the playground. Entry into most museums is free, so they are great to pop into to get out of the rain. In fact, the National Gallery of Ireland has a fantastic gift shop to buy gifts for home as well as a reliable cafe.

Tuesday: Guinness tour
The Guinness Storehouse is a requisite stop for many adults – and we can report that it’s pretty family-friendly. The displays (like the massive waterfall in the front hall) can engage most children for a while and the Gravity Bar is bright and lively. There are baby changing facilities and well, there is something strangely gratifying about taking your baby’s picture next to a pint of Guinness.

Finally, for older children, visit Kilmainham Goal for a tour of the famous jail where the leaders of the 1916 uprising were jailed and executed. Just across the road from Kilmainham is the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA). It hosts an eclectic variety of exhibitions to suit every taste.

After strolling the lengthy corridors, head to the café Itsa-at-Imma. Wholesome hot meals, salads, (including coeliac options) and a full kid’s bagel menu is available. Just off the main café is a family room with little tables, highchairs, play mats, a microwave and lots of wooden toys and colouring and chalk boards to keep the monkeys amused while you enjoy that long awaited coffee. And to top it off…the ladies loos would put the Ritz to shame – you could fit at least four buggies in the baby change area! (Ah, it’s the little things…) If the weather is bearable, let the wild ones run freely in the wide open spaces or shout it all out in the formal gardens where an art installation in the form of a volcanic metallic fountain is a little treat for tiny ones with big imaginations.

Wednesday: Countryside
The amazing green countryside isn’t far from Dublin city. Take a drive through the Wicklow Mountains and Powerscourt House & Gardens – it’s one of our all-time favourite daytrips from Dublin. Drive south of the city to the Wicklow Mountains to find Powerscourt Estate. On a sunny day, the drive is spectacular. The tour/video show of Powerscourt isn’t all that interesting (the original building burned down and the existing interior is a recreation) but the planned gardens and Japanese garden are lovely to walk through – and the kids can run wild.

The café and shop are feasts for the eyes and stomach – the café, run by the venerable Avoca Café, serves Irish food with a twist and is delicious. There is always a children’s meal that comes with an enormous cookie (“biscuit”) the size of their head. The shoppe is an eclectic mix of Irish goods, kitchen treats and funky clothing and books for adults and kids. If you can, take turns browsing the shop, as it’s usually a bit hectic to bring the kids into, as there are a lot of breakables and it’s hard to navigate a stroller.

Note: There are several Avoca cafés throughout the country; the food is fantastic and they are always great for kids. The cafés are casual and usually noisy and crowded, but there are always highchairs, places to park a buggy and helpful staff to help carry your trays if you have a baby on your hip!

Thursday: Howth
The hills of Howth are magnificent and well worth a short trip just outside of Dublin to check out. You can drive or take the DART from the city. It’s the Cliff Walk you want, however, the cliff walk literally hugs the cliff’s edge and is only appropriate for adults with babies in a pouch or backpack – the paths are narrow and the drops very steep. There are other less perilous routes to the top , so some of your gang can take the more navigable route and meet at the top. The views are stunning and you can’t beat the fresh air!

And, the rumors are true, a great pint awaits at the end of your hike at The Summit Inn. (During the Cliff Walk, you are really exposed to the elements, so if it’s particularly windy and rainy, skip it. The views won’t really be all that great and cliffs and windy days don’t mix. However, a little drizzle “a soft day” need not be a deterrent.)

Howth has some great eating establishments, so working up your appetite is a brilliant move. Our suggestions? The House is our new favourite home away from home. Imagine warm crumbly scones, great coffee and a bacon sandwich served with greens dressed in vinaigrette and a perfect selection of seafood for dinner. They welcome families with open arms – happy to stash buggies at the door, pull a highchair out for your little one and provide coloring supplies. The adventurous children’s menu offers smaller portions from the regular menu.

Close runners up include Italian eatery, Casa Pasta or make a picnic with fish & chips from Beshoffs of Howth.

Friday: Dublin Zoo
Dublin Zoo is set within the largest park in Europe, Phoenix Park (there’s enough here as well to entertain the family) Here are some top tips from seasoned zoo members:

1. Get there early. Whatever the season, most of the big draw animals are out strutting their stuff between 10:00 am and noon. Get out & up early so you won’t have to keep explaining to your little ones that the tiger/chimp/wolf “is having its nap.”
2. Dress warmly. The zoo seems to have its own arctic microclimate and there are several cool playgrounds, so waiting around can be tough on the grown ups. On really bad days, retreat for a break to the (centrally heated) indoor exhibits like the Reptile House or the Discovery Centre.
3. Do your research. The zoo’s website lists a schedule of Keeper Talks for various species during the day, kicking off around 11:00 am. These generally combine feeding time and a mini-lecture, pitched at children of all ages. The website also offers a map of the zoo to download in advance, and lots of animal information to impress the children, as well upcoming event details.
4. Bring your own picnic. There are benches and tables around to make this easy and the zoo’s own restaurant, though improved lately, is nothing to write home about. If you don’t want to prepare your own food, the tiny Phoenix Park Tea Rooms kiosk, located opposite the zoo’s entrance, does very good paninis, home-baked cakes, organic coffee and some tasty children’s options to eat there or bring along.

[more tips from Kate on the Dublin Zoo]

Saturday: Phoenix Park
Head back to Phoenix Park and recapture the pleasures of your youth with help from Phoenix Park Bike Hire, at the park entrance. This brilliant endeavor caters to tourists, locals and families, alike. Completely kitted out with everything the gang could need — kiddie helmets, bike locks, baby seats and baby carriers -– there is no better way to enjoy the park on a gorgeous day. The staff is lovely and patient and willing to look after your personal affects that you’d like to leave behind during your excursion (i.e. buggies, nappy bag). Explore the grounds of the park and check out the super cute toddler-height maze for the kids to adventure through by the Visitor’s Centre.

The centre has a great café and cobbled courtyard and the food in the café is organic, very healthy (and tasty) with plenty of options for the little ones. Highchairs are available and basic change facilities are on site too.

Sunday: Playground by the sea
Ireland has some seriously impressive playgrounds – really! Take a lovely drive up to the seaside town of Skerries to indulge the kids with a visit to Ardgillan Castle. The adults will marvel at the gorgeous grounds and view of the sea while the nautical themed playground provides a bounty of entertainment guaranteed to thoroughly tucker the kiddies out. The view alone makes this our favorite playground in all of Dublin (to date!).

If you are hankering for a snack before arrival, nip into Olive on the main drag in Skerries for take-out sandwiches, lattes, and sweets. If you’re planning on a meal after, visit the excellent Stoop Your Head in Skerries harbour for its first lunch seating (they open at noon). If you’re in a big group, try to score the tables in the right corner and dig into some of the freshest, most delectable seafood around. Despite it being a popular (and small) place, they are happy to have children and offer a children’s menu and highchairs.

If you have more time, here are some favourite spots beyond Dublin:

The Cliffs of Moher: These majestic cliffs rise out of the sea and are truly awe-inspiring for both parents and kids, alike. The visitor’s centre provides some background to this natural wonder. If you are approaching the cliffs from the north, make your drive to the cliffs doubly stunning by getting there via the Burren.

Ring of Kerry: The Ring of Kerry is a tourist favorite, so some try to avoid it – but, it’s a favorite for good reason. Dotted with beautiful Irish villages, dramatic overlooks and stunning beaches tucked below the cliffs – it’s beautiful! Again, opt for driving yourself and be sure to spend lots of time out of the car – make stops wherever inspires you!

West Cork: Magnificent natural landscapes makes West Cork a delight to visit. In particular, Schull is one of the loveliest villages. While there visit the Mizen Head Signal Station for a thrilling walk and view and stop at gorgeous Barley Cove Beach for a stroll.

Galway city: Galway’s streets are lively, full of university students and feels like a very small city compared to Dublin. Stroll the streets, listen to the music and be sure to get some great seafood.

Connemara: Driving through Connemara offers breathtaking scenery (I know we keep saying this, but it’s true!) Nestled behind the mountains is Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Gardens. The children will be delighted to see this amazing castle on the shores of Lough Pollacappul. There are lots of wooded paths to explore and the walled gardens will inspire the gardener in you.

TRAVELING TIPS:
BABY GEAR:
If you plan on bringing a stroller, smaller is better. The doors to most shops and restaurants tend to be narrower than in America – forget about surviving with those double-wide strollers – most mums of two little ones in Dublin seem to have the buggies that stack one kid on top of the other like the Phil & Ted’s (note: we’ve lived in Dublin for 4 years without a car – the P&T double-stroller is our family car – love it!) Oh, and ALWAYS have your rain cover in the bottom of the stroller, even if it looks bright and sunny. Trust me.

WEATHER:
A word about the famous rainy weather. Yes, it does really rain a lot. It needn’t slow you down too much, but if you plan spending the day outside, always bring a light windbreaker with a hood – the kind that can be scrunched down into the bottom of your bag or stroller are perfect.

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We thank Kate for sharing her great tips with our readers. Want more ideas for shopping, eating, and enjoying diversions in Dublin? Visit MummyMaps. If I didn’t just get back from a family European getaway, I think she’d have me packing my bags for Ireland!

It is with much joy (and a tiny bit of terror) that I announce to you that we are taking both the kids on a huge trans-Atlantic airplane in less than a month!

What are we thinking?

Hooray! We are heading to Copenhagen to stay with a a dear college friend along with her tall husband and little son.
Oh dear! We are traveling day and night with two preschooler boys.

In the process of preparing, we’re buying guidebooks, downloading apps, making lists, and considering purchases (kid-size neck pillow worth it or just more crap?). See, I love packing almost as much as traveling.

I also love research and tips, so this is where you come in, oh wise readers. What are your favorite kid-friendly destinations in Copenhagen, daytrips worth visiting in Denmark, travel guides, products, and web resources that I must know about in the 18 days before I leave?

And now the back story…
On my first date with Alec, we talked about travel. We wooed each other with the exotic destinations that we’d visited that the other hadn’t yet. Thailand, Turkey, and Greece were under my belt, but Alec had me impressed with Kenya and Australia.

After about a year of dating, we started plotting our big adventure around the world. I posted a large map on the wall of our apartment and we circled any and all regions of interest. Some days, I would circle a city. Other times, a whole continent.

One thing led to another and our great journey became the MonsterMoon after our wedding. We chucked all our possessions in storage, gave up our adorable rent-controlled apartment, and went on indefinite leaves-of-absence from work to take our six month honeymoon around the world.

{Side note: thanks to many years of business trips, we only had to pay for one ticket}

We made it all the way to Swakopmund, Namibia before we discovered our little embryonic stowaway. Only two months into our trip. Ugh. And also blech. To this day, South African tea reminds me of my occasional morning sickness.

After falling asleep at dinner, puking behind gas stations, and being kicked off our safari leaving our safari early (for being a Malaria risk), we decided to end our trip early. In three months of travel, we explored parts of many countries (UK, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, South Africa, Namibia, Singapore). It would take years to go everywhere we wanted to.

So, we made a gentleman’s agreement that we would leave the country every year of our marriage. Then we gave ourselves a free pass for 2005 on account of the newborn. We barely made it to Mexico in 2006. Then we gave ourselves a free pass for 2007 on account of the second newborn. 2008, we almost went to Paraguay to visit my cousin. 2009 we didn’t quite make it to New Zealand because we added a second bathroom to the house. At this rate, we’re basically amortizing our honeymoon rather than actually taking trips.

No more! I booked tickets. We’re doing it. We may regret it, but we’re going.

Taking the boys overseas

When in doubt, just add cocoa. Right?

Sending out a huge Grazie to Michela in Milan for rounding out our wonderful set of activities by the moms from BabyccinoBlog. Michela kept telling us how UN-kid friendly Milan is, but she managed to come up with a fun array of activities for moms, babies, and young children.

We’re all in favor of mama getting a cappuccino break…I hope if I ever make it out to Italy with bambinos, she’ll show me the best spots in person.

Monday:
Take it easy on Monday morning, as so many things are closed! Go to a nice bar and have the typical Italian breakfast: cappuccino and cornetto (the italian croissant) and get a babyccino for your kids. To get the full experience you should have it quickly and while standing up, but that may not be ideal with children in tow.

Wherever you are you should not be too far from a stop of the 29/30 tram line: it’s a line that does a complete loop around Milan following the (now inexistent) Spanish walls. The trams in service on this line are very old, similar to San Francisco’s cable cars, and children love them! Wait until rush hour is over and board one, tickets are 1 euro and kids below 10 go free.

Get off in Corso Vercelli, one of the nicest shopping streets in Milan. Corso Vercelli, together with its continuation Via Belfiore and Via Marghera is probably one of the best places for shoes, kid’s shops and jewelery (together with everything else). Take a break and have a gelato at Grom, undoubtedly the best ice cream in the world! Reboard the tram and complete your tour.

Tuesday:
Head to Leonardo da Vinci Science Museum, where the highlights are the models of the machines designed by Leonardo and a real submarine. The Toti is a war submarine, built in Italy in 1967 and is over 46 meters long. Its transportation to the Museum took place in the middle of august and during the night to minimise disruption. It was very spectacular! Tickets can be booked in advance or bought at the Museum entry.

Unfortunately the cafeteria is closed until further notice, so you can walk down Via San Vittore and have a sandwich in one of the many cafés or have a slice of pizza or focaccia from one of the bakeries.

After lunch have a stroll around the Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio. It’s the quintessential Milanese church, very austere and elegant. Kids can run around in the porch if they still have some energy to burn off after the Museum visit.

Take Corso Genova, a nice shopping street, and walk towards the Navigli. These canals are what is left of the whole canal system that existed in Milan in the middle ages. The neighbourhood is very characteristic, a bit bohemian maybe. If it’s summer the streets along the canals will be pedestrianised and all the bars will have tables outside. You should have an aperitive, this is the ultimate Milanese habit. You get a drink and the bar provides so many snacks that you may as well skip dinner. Try to go early in the evening, so that it’s not too crowded.

Wednesday:
Go (window) shopping in what is known as “fashion quadrilateral”. All the streets around Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga are lined with the boutiques of all the designers you can think of, Italians or not. You could have a quick stop for an espresso either in Cova or in Sant Ambroeus. Both patisseries are extremely posh, but an espresso or cappuccino taken at the counter will cost more or less like in any other bar. Then walk down Corso Vittorio Emanuele until Piazza Duomo. Get the elevator (or climb the stairs if you feel sporty) to the top of the Duomo. Here you can walk on the roof among hundreds of statues and all the spires; the tallest of them measures 109 meters. You also get a great view of the city, if it isn’t too cloudy.

You can have lunch on the 7th floor of la Rinascente, the best department store in Milan. They have nice restaurants, not too expensive and with a terrace that faces the big stained glass windows of the Duomo. As an alternative you can walk around the corner and have the best panzerotto in town from Luini; unfortunately there’s no seating, but they are yummy and quite inexpensive!

Thursday:
Take your kids to the Castello Sofrzesco, a true castle in the center of town! You can walk around the courtyard and then enter and visit some of the permanent galleries. Children may not be too interested on what’s on show, but they will love walking in the big corridors of the castle.

The castle borders the Sempione Park, one of the only two (decent sized) parks of Milan. Nothing compares to London parks, but your kids can run and play. There is a playground towards the other end (you can reach it in 10 minutes) and also an electric little train that children love to ride.

You can stop for lunch in Bar Bianco in the middle of the park; they serve sandwiches and a selection of warm dishes. If the weather is nice it is definitely a good choice. If it’s raining, head for the Triennale, where you can have lunch at the Design Café. The cafeteria was recently refurbished reopening in April and the mind behind the project is Carlo Cracco, one of Italy’s most well-known chefs.

Friday:
Take the underground and go to Piazzale Loreto, then start walking down Corso Buenos Aires to get the Italian high street experience. Continue down Corso Venezia, an extremely elegant street bordered by luxury buildings. You will get to Giardini Pubblici — the other nice park in Milan. It hosts the Natural History Museum and the Planetarium. Together with playgrounds, merry-go-rounds and electric train you can also find a little coach with horses and ponies that children can ride. You can have a sandwich or coffee at Bar Bianco nearby.

Exit from Via Palestro, you will be facing the Villa Belgioioso Bonaparte (known as Villa Reale) and the Contemporary Art Museum. On the side of the main entry there is a gate that leads to a little garden where adults can enter only if in the company of a child. It is very small, but it is extremely well kept and if you have a crawling child you can let him free without fear of dog poo, cigarette butts and the like.

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If you missed any of the week’s worth of fun activities from the other BabyCCINO moms, check out London, Paris, and Amsterdam. Or go visit their wonderful website.

When we started the “week in” section of our site, it was an attempt to not be so Berkeley-focused. If you’re not our neighbors, there are still a ton of great options that are better than wiping someone’s tushy, right?

We’re so happy to share another one in Europe — where neither of us has (yet) been with our children — Emilie from BabyCCINO shares with us her favorite activities in Paris! Emilie has one young daughter, Coco, and is expecting a second baby this month.

As soon as I can get my passport together, I’ve got to get on a plane and meet these fun women.

Monday
Take a walk in the Tuileries Gardens. They have trampolines (for kids over 2), and a merry-go-round situated in the middle of the gardens. Try to go before 4pm as this is the time school finishes and the parks get packed. Go for a hot chocolate at Angelina’s (226 rue de Rivoli). Rumour has it, that this is the best hot chocolate in the Northern Hemisphere….

Tuesday
Treat yourself to a spot of shopping on one of the shopping hotspots of Paris, rue des Franc Bourgeois and rue Veille du Temple in the Marais. Around these streets are numerous little parks (place des Vosges and parc Royale) so you can let the kids have a quick play in-between shops! Go for lunch at Le loir dans la Théière also in the Marais (3 rue des rosiers 75004 Paris Tél. : 01.42.72.90.61).

Ironically all the antique highchairs there are purely for decoration, but it is a really kid-friendly place with big leather sofas. Nobody rushes you, even if there is a huge queue in front of the door (and the lemon tarte is something to behold– its meringue topping must be at least 15 cm high)!

Wednesday
Head over to the Jardin des Plantes the botanical gardens in Paris. La Menagerie is a little old-fashioned Zoo inside the park. It is very cute and has all the animals kids could possibly want to see. The café inside is decent and very good with kids. In true French style you can order anything… from a croque monsieur to escargot! If it is raining, the Natural History Museum is also in the same park. It is maybe not the most impressive stuffed-animal museum of all times, but definitely worth a look.

Thursday
Go to a local market like the Bastille market on boulevard Richard Lenoir in the morning. If you can’t get there in time, find one of the many other morning markets throughout the city on another day. Market times are posted here.

One of my favourite markets is the marche d’Aligre in the 12th, which has beautiful flower and fruit and vegetable stalls. It is surrounded by cafes, if you feel like you need a break. It is also a great place to take kids as there is always a kind market stall guy who wants to give away a cherry tomato, a Clementine or even a ballon.

If you need to stock up on clothes for the kids, some of the best kids clothing and toy stores in Paris are concentrated on the rue Vavin and the rue Brea in the 6th, just south of the Luxembourg gardens. Petit Bateau have a lovely shop there as do DPAM and Jacadi, and there are lots of individual children boutiques. After that you can go to the playground in the Luxembourg Gardens, which is one of the best playgrounds in Paris. There are swings for bigger kids, and the highlight for all the kids are the sailboats you can rent at the fountain, which you push around with sticks.

Friday
Make your way over to the bois de Vincennes. It is a beautiful park/woods on the outside of Paris but in easy reach by metro (line 1). You can rent little boats to row around the lake and there is a little city farm, which is worth visiting especially in the spring when all the animals have just had their babies. The playground in the Parc Floral is huge and great for all ages.

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Merci beaucoup Emilie and BabyCCINO!

Last month, we were very lucky to get Courtney from Babyccino to write up a week in London. Now, I’m excited to tell you that we have another fun European city to explore: Amsterdam! Esther has two little ones almost the exact ages as my two… now if we could just schedule a playdate. She’s a busy Dutch stay-at-home mom with a ton of good ideas for rainy days and sunny days in her home city.

Monday
Go out for breakfast in the Bakkerswinkel. A basket of different sorts of bread, muffins, scones and croissants makes way to your table accompanied by a much needed coffee and orange juice. Fancy jams can be found on the table. Open from 7AM – what a wonderful way to start the week!

After, take your children to the Amstelpark, where there is a lovely playground and a little city farm. A ‘real train’ can take you around the park – a sure hit with your little ones.

Had enough of the park? Go to the Scheldestraat where you can find the great kids’ shoe store Meys & Co (open from 1PM onwards), with across the street Koter & Co where they sell a big selection of the cool Dutch kiddie brand Imps&Elfs (and more).

Before going back home, don’t forget to visit Italian delicatessen Feduzzi for a cappuccino and one of their mouth watering Panini. And don’t forget the babyccino for your little angel! You can pick up something for dinner here too – I promise you, the food is great, and prices are reasonable.

Tuesday
TunFun is an indoor playground that your children will LOVE. There are different soft play areas for different age groups, and there are also benches and a lounge area for the grown ups. A good place to start the day with a cup of coffee! (And a great place to go if it’s raining)!

Artis, the Zoo of Amsterdam, is not far from here. Because of the mix of historic, listed buildings, huge amounts of green and great variety of animals, this is truly a magnificent place to spend half a day.

In the unfortunate but not unthinkable case of bad weather, Artis provides many indoor activities for your children and yourself to enjoy: the aquarium, the greenhouses, reptile house, Planetarium and the new butterfly-garden.
The playgrounds and restaurants are very good, but if you feel like having lunch in a different environment, you can go to restaurant Plancius, across the street from Artis. It’s a good place to go with children (high chairs are available).

Wednesday
Make your way to the Central Station because right next to it lays NEMO: the science centre. Great for kids! There only rule here is: its forbidden NOT to touch! [Under age 3, admission is free!]

From the sloping roof-piazza, the view over Amsterdam is magnificent. In summer, this roof-piazza transforms to a city beach (sand, bean bags, stunning harbour views and tapas-style snacks)!

If the weather is not good enough to enjoy lunch on the roof (it happens often in Amsterdam, this is why I keep mentioning it), you better go to the new Public Library next door. On the top floor is a self service restaurant with a wonderful selection of fresh food, sandwiches and fruit juices (yes, cakes too), with again a great panorama over Amsterdam and plenty of high chairs. After lunch, you can visit the VOC ship (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie) in front of NEMO to have a taste of life on a ship in the Golden Age (18th century).

Thursday
Go shopping in the Nine Streets where boutique after boutique makes you wish you came with a truck instead of a pushchair (to load all the goodies in)!

After, take your little ones for lunch in restaurant Pancakes – high chairs, toys, kids’ menu and friendly staff is available! Or, get ‘friet’ with mayonnaise at the ‘Vlaams Friteshuis’ in the Voetboogsteeg, arguably the best Belgian French Fries in Amsterdam.

Friday
Grab your bakfiets (or rent one) and make your way to the Amsterdamse Bos.

Go for a long stroll, let your children run around for a bit, and then visit the macrobiotic goat farm. There are chickens, pigs, and, of course, goats. Kids can help feed the baby goats and are allowed to cuddle. The cheese factory can be visited and there is a cheese shop – so don’t worry too much about dinner; goat cheese will do just fine. The playground is made from all natural materials and there is a maze!

You can have lunch here, or at ‘Boerderij Meer’, with chickens and peacocks roaming around the farmyard. In summertime there are wading pools, and an adventure island (with footbridges and a little ferry) to be explored; building huts is allowed here!

After the journey back home, put your children to bed early as they will be exhausted, and enjoy a quiet evening with your man (or find a babysitter and hit the streets of Amsterdam. Cheers to the weekend!

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We thank Esther and the ladies from Babyccino so much for sharing their cities with us. I’m particularly happy with this post about Amsterdam because there are several fun activities and at least as many kid-friendly restaurants to try!

We recently “met” Courtney from Babyccino — an excellent blog in which moms in 4 European cities hold an online conversation about life, kids, and style.

She is an American from Seattle living in London with her husband and 2 lively sons, Easton and baby Quin (near the same ages as mine!).

She shares some of her favourite mum and baby activities.

Monday: Burgers and Electric Scream
Head to “Babes ‘n Burgers” on Portobello Road for a quick lunch. They have a play area in the back for kids, and the burgers are decent!

After lunch, walk a few blocks south on Portobello Road to the Electric Cinema. They have a 3:00 screening slot set up for mums and their babies under 1-year-old. You buy a ticket, “valet” park your buggy, take your seat, and your baby sits on your lap (or the ample floor space in front of you). No worries if they scream — it’s actually called “Electric Scream” because it is to be expected! This way you can stay up-to-date on recent films, and maybe meet some other mums while you’re there. (Buy your ticket early on Monday, because it always sells out)!

Tuesday: Kid’s Zone and delicious pasta
Take your kids to the (free) National Army Museum in Chelsea. They have a Kid’s Zone for interactive learning and a play space with a forest, castle, board games, a construction corner, and a reading area. The Zone is meant for kids under 10, including a soft-play area for babies! After the museum, head to the nearby King’s Road for lunch at Carluccio’s. They have a great kid’s menu, loads of highchairs, changing tables in the bathrooms, and the food is good!

Wednesday: Trendy boutiques and butterflies
Go shopping in Primrose Hill (yes, really)! Most of the trendy boutique shops on this quintessentially hip London street have a basket of toys in the back to keep your kids entertained while you shop (or even try things on)! My kids are always amused with any toy that isn’t their own, and they can stay happy in these stores for at least 15 minutes! The following stores have a kids’ corner: Elias and Grace, Adam Simmonds (sunglasses), Pamela Shiffer, and Anna.

When your kid’s get bored with shopping, walk 5 minutes toward Regents Park and visit the Zoo. (It isn’t the best zoo in the world, but they DO have a petting farm for children, a whole exhibit dedicated to bugs, and a REALLY cool butterfly house where loads of butterflies fly around freely). My boys love the butterfly house with all the different colors and sizes of butterflies flying around and landing on their buggy!

Thursday: Farm animals and dinosaurs
Visit a city farm. (Yes, a farm right in the middle of dense London)! Put wellies and farm gear on your little ones, and bring apples and carrots to feed the animals. They have pigs, cows, horses, sheep, chickens, rabbits, ducks, etc. My favourite city farm is the Kentish Town City Farm in the heart of Camden.

In the afternoon, head to one of London’s famous (and free) museums! We have a great Natural History Museum with a T-Rex in the Dinosaurs gallery and a blue whale in the Mammals gallery. The science museum is also great. They have a “launch pad” and a “garden” with hands-on exhibits in the basement for younger kids.

Friday: Music class and a pirate ship
Attend a “Monkey Music” class! This is by far my favourite class for babies and toddlers. It isn’t overly commercialized and cheesy, and their venues are usually in beautiful, old churches or community centres. Kids sing songs, play instruments and dance. They offer classes across London and on every day of the week.

In the afternoon take your kids to a playground! (On a sunny day, London is the most amazing city — with loads of green spaces and great playgrounds). Some good ones in central London are: The pirate ship (Princess Diana memorial playground) in Kensington Gardens, the playground in the northeast corner of Regents Park, St. Luke’s park in Chelsea, and the Parliament Hill playground in Hampstead Heath. If it’s a windy day, you can always fly a kite (remember Mary Poppins?). Walk up to the top of “Kite Hill” in Hampstead Heath (where you’ll also find great views of London).

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Cheers to Courtney for sharing her fun activities with us. It makes me wish I could jump on a 10 hour Virgin Atlantic flight with my baby for a playdate and enjoy the charm of London right now.

More fun things to do with babies in London from my friend Val: A week in Hampstead.

And go visit Courtney and her friends at BabyCCINOblog.com/ and let’s keep our fingers crossed we can hear about some of the best activities in Paris, Amsterdam, and Milan in the future!

My good friend Valerie did me the favor of having a baby shortly after I did, but then went and moved out of the Bay Area all the way to London… as if I wasn’t having a hard enough time crossing the bridge into San Francisco to see her and Baby Norah.

She’s sent us her ideal week’s worth of local activities with the caveat that she and Norah are really only capable of one activity a day – and sometimes just going to the grocery store counts as that day’s activity. (As long as I pass the threshold of my front door, it counts as an outing in my book!)

Alrighty, here goes Val’s week in London’s Hampstead district…

MONDAY
Attend the “Gym Walkers” class at Gymboree and hit the Sainsbury’s.

After a weekend hanging out and playing with Daddy, Norah and I find that it’s important to ease into the week slowly. So, our primary Monday goal is to attend the 3PM “Gym Walkers” class at Gymboree.

(I never imagined I’d be a Gymboree class-type – it seems so yuppie-housewifey?!?! However, it turns out: (a) I am a yuppie housewife at the moment, (b) it’s a good way to meet other moms when you move to a new city, and (c) if you are like me and have packed up and moved to a new city where you have no friends, family or job and thus your baby is with you – and you alone – basically 24/7, it’s probably a good way to expose her to other kids and people.)

My local Gymboree outlet is located in the O2 Centre, so I can do my grocery shopping at the Sainsbury’s there before or after class (which also means I can count it as a two-activity-day!) There are also a number of restaurants and cafes there, so it’s easy to go on a “mommy date” for lunch or a coffee after class (seems moms are the primary clientele there…).

I just stumbled into Gymboree because it is located right near our flat and I’d heard of it; however, a few people have told me that Tumble Tots is a great – and perhaps better – local kid activity center, er, I mean centre. I have been too lazy to check it out, however, so can’t weigh in with an opinion.

TUESDAY
Enjoy the Hampstead Heath playground and Kenwood House.

On Tuesdays we might head out to Hampstead Heath. There is a FANTASTIC playground in the southwest corner (near the Hampstead train station and the running track). It is truly the best playground I’ve ever seen – tons of equipment of every kind imaginable, huge sandbox, plus a big wading pool that seems to be getting tons of use during our current heat wave her in London. Norah – at 10 months – is still getting the most use out of the baby swings as she hasn’t yet graduated to much of the other equipment. She did do her first spin in the sandbox the other day, however, which she seemed to like quite a bit (both the feel and taste – judging from the amount of sand in her diaper the next day!)

Rumor has it there are “10:00” and “3:00 Clubs” where groups of moms meet up at the playground every day (or perhaps certain days – I’m not really sure). Anyway, sounds like a semi-formal thing where someone brings refreshments and a pretty regular group gets together, but that anyone can drop by. I can’t speak from experience, however, because Norah and I have never been (lord knows we can’t get anywhere by 10AM – and we just haven’t gotten it together to go to the 3PM one…)

After some frolicking at the playground, we might decide to walk up the Kenwood House, which is this lovely old estate sitting in the middle of the Heath. They have a restaurant up there and tons of lawn so it makes a nice spot to sit for lunch while the wee ones crawl around on the grass. They also have a concert series up there, which draws lots of families on summer evenings.

Golders Hill Park (off the northwest corner of the Heath) is also a really nice spot – great playground, café, and miniature zoo (Mark, Norah and I had a lovely picnic there yesterday, in fact!)

There are several organized moms groups that meet for walks/workouts in the Heath, including the Buggy Brigade and Pushy Mothers. I’ve not tried either, however, so can’t speak from personal experience, but I have talked to moms who have and said they were pretty fun.

WEDNESDAY
Visit the Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre.

On Wednesday we might go to the Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre, the great new community center that has opened near our place. If you’re looking for some kid-free time, they have a crèche (aka drop-in daycare center) where you can leave your kid while you work out and/or eat lunch at the lovely café. You can pre-book a time at the crèche up to a week in advance and it comes free with certain levels of membership or you can pay a pretty nominal drop-in fee.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I will tell you that I’ve left Norah there three times, all of which she screamed hysterically pretty much the whole time I was gone and they had to page me to come rescue her. I don’t think it was a reflection on the crèche, however, but rather the fact that Norah has never been left with a babysitter/in daycare and is a bit of a momma’s girl at the best of times! I would say that you probably wouldn’t want to leave your child there unless he or she was a more experienced daycare attendee, however, given that it is just a drop-in.

Anyway, they have two pools there – one of which is a warmer “training pool” – and you can take your baby swimming there during open swim time. I’ve heard there will be baby swim classes in the fall, but none so far…

There is also a nice little playground out front, as well as another great wading pool (complete with shooting water jets) that anyone can use (Norah LOVES crawling around and splashing in it). The community center is also connected to the Swiss Cottage Library. Rumor has it they have a regular story time where you can bring you baby to listen to someone (presumably better at it than you!?!) read them stories.

THURSDAY
Catch a movie at Everyman Cinema.

Thursday is bring your baby to the movie day at Everyman Cinema, located in the middle of Hampstead Village. At noon is “Scream” for babies 1 year old and younger, and 3:00PM is for tots. It’s a small, quite posh little theater – you can reserve a couch or box seat, though the regular seats are just fine. They serve food and have a nice little café where tons of moms hang out pre and post movie to chat.

FRIDAY
Take your baby to the pub!

Hampstead definitely seems to be a neighborhood of ‘ladies’ – or more accurately – ‘mommies who lunch’. Basically every restaurant around here is very child friendly, and you are definitely likely to be surrounded by moms and babies wherever you go. I, personally, am fond of lunching and hanging out with the babe at the pub – especially those that are part of the ‘gastropub’ trend here (i.e., pubs that have given themselves a menu makeover and now serve more than just typical greasy pub fare like fish and chips and burgers). Family pub culture is such that most of these establishments even have highchairs (though there are still some that do now allow anyone under 18, so you do have to ask).

Anyway, two of my favorites are The Holly Bush and Free Masons Arms.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

Beyond the confines of Hampstead, there are, of course, tons of other great activities to do with babies in London (it definitely feels way more baby-filled and baby-friendly than San Francisco — where babies seemed a bit of an endangered species!) It is at least relatively manageable to get around (while many of the tube stations do not have lifts, you will find that people are extremely helpful offering to help you carry your buggy or pushchair – aka stroller – up the stairs. And, as you know, it’s also completely acceptable here to just roll your baby and buggy into a black cab and make your way to your next fun activity!

Mark and I have also definitely embraced the Sunday Roast tradition here in the UK, i.e., taking the family out to the pub for a good hearty meal and a few pints on Sunday afternoons – and it isn’t just us alchies doing it – there are definitely lots of other families!