Author Archives: JW Patrick
Do kids ever do as they’re asked?
The very best thing about UK motorways…
Kids and War Memorials
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Sometimes when you take the children somewhere full of meaning and poignancy, they don’t always appreciate the solemnity of the occasion…
All parents dread that familiar knot of tension in our stomachs whenever the children start playing up somewhere they shouldn’t: weddings, theatres, museums… war memorials. Children giggle too loudly, or run too fast, or don’t listen to the guide, or jump in a bomb crater, or clamber on a statue. (Sorry Canada).
Nice to be heading home but…
… how on earth do rain clouds know where the Scottish Border is?!
Kids win rewards with the Family Travel Journal!
With the Family Travel Journal, kids win points and prizes for doing something they’ve never done before on holiday.
Last week our kids visited the Canadian War Memorial at Vimy Ridge, caught a baby lizard and spotted a fearless Coypu (Ragondin)!
25 Points for each!
The Perfect Storm
My daughter’s favourite cuddly is a wolf called Storm.
At home, all her soft cuddlies get a fair and equal chance for a night time snuggle with her but when she’s away from home, Storm is The Chosen One. (Storm usually travels with a Minecraft Sheep – for snack?). Continue reading
My Family’s Favourite EVER B&Bs!
Agriturismo Al Marnich
Listed below are the 4 best family-friendly B&Bs and small hotels that we have ever stayed in! Our B&B Hall of Fame if you will.
Our family criteria includes a wonderful setting, a friendly welcome or amazing food. These family-friendly places simply made us go WOW so we couldn’t recommend them more highly.
(Price range from 120 euros per night for a family room).
Long Family Road Trip 2012: Scotland to Portugal
Salamanca, Old Quarter
A drive from Scotland to Portugal (& back!)
c. 2500 Miles through 5 countries.
Children’s Ages: 7 and 3.
[Also see: Why do we inflict these vast road trips on our kids?]
Our Family Road Trip 2013: France to Croatia
A drive from Scotland to Croatia (via France and Italy) then back again!
3500 Miles
Children’s Ages: 8 and 5
Why another long family road trip?
Our friends were staying in Barbezieres in south western France and the grandparents rented a place in Istria, north western Croatia, which, as it happens, is nearly 1000 miles exactly due east. So in order to take advantage of the free accommodation on offer we needed to plan a road trip right across France, through the Alps and across the top of Italy (skimming the corner of Slovenia) before heading for the stunning region around the hill top town of Groznjan.
Then of course, we had to come back… Continue reading