Traveling With Kids Tip 1 - Picnics!

Paris, June 2010

A beautiful day in a beautiful city. Sitting in the grass at the base of the Eiffel Tower, one of the most iconic images on planet Earth. Sharing a picnic with great friends. Good food, good wine, good conversation...

...Epic Vacation Moment

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People are often surprised that we travel so much and so far with two young kids. It really can be tough but over time we've learned a few tricks to make it easier, and I thought it might be nice to share some of them.

 

Traveling with kids, Tip #1:

Picnics!

Lots and lots of picnics. This is such a no-brainer. What sounds less stressful? Sitting in a busy restaurant, trying to figure out what to order in a language you don't speak while your kids are fighting and fidgeting, or eating your lunch outside on a bench, watching the kids run around safely in the park, free to be as loud as they want? I thought so...

 

A few more reasons why vacation picnics with the kids are awesome:

• Picnics are usually a lot cheaper than eating out
• Picnics in the park or in the plaza or town square offer a great opportunity to slow down and enjoy the scenery
• Shopping for your picnic can be fun - I love going to the supermarket in a foreign town and seeing how the locals shop. Its a great way to soak up the culture. It's also easier to buy groceries in the market than it is to order in a restaurant if you don't speak the language
• If the supermarket is not your thing, street food makes for a great picnic lunch - you know how I love my street food!
• Stopping for a picnic is a great relaxing way to break up a long drive

Here are a few of my favorite vacation picnic memories:

 

Iceland, 2011 We stopped for a bite to eat on our hike to the Svartifoss waterfall

Burgundy, 2010  Crusty bread, hams and cheeses, fruit and yogurt on a nice grassy spot in the Burgundy country side

Vienna Austria, 2007  On a park bench in Vienna. This was the little guy's first trip to Europe. And no, that's not his beer...

Tuscany, 2005  Sandinette was an only child back then. This was a beautiful spot to stop and soak up the scenery

Of course, sharing a picnic with old friends makes it 100 times better...

Paris, 2010  Our good friends, the Knoepfle family. They came over from their home in the Black Forest of Germany to share a few vacation days with us in the City of Lights.



Stay tuned for more Traveling with Kids Tips in future posts...