And today I am thrilled to share with you this amazing gift:

Paris, Up, Up and Away is a beautifully crafted tribute to  Paris.

This hardcover book, illustrated by Hélène Druvert and edited by Thames & Hudson, is a wonderfully imaginative introduction to Paris for young children (suitable for ages 4+).

Paris is brought to magical life by illustrator, paper and textile designer Hélène Druvert’s ornate and intricate lasercuts and meticulous drawings.

The Eiffel Tower is bored today,

Wouldn’t it be nice to fly away?

Paris is full of things to do,

The Tower would like to see them too…

The Eiffel Tower is bored … so it decides to cut loose and fly over Paris! Sailing through the night air, the Eiffel Tower glides over the Seine, watches ballerinas at the Opera, weaves through the crowds of people and over the department stores and wakes up to the jangling bells of Notre Dame.

You can follow with your kids the rest of the Tower’s journey and discover the city’s glorious monuments that are brought to life in great detail.

It is a stunning view of Paris like you’ve never seen before!

You can pre-order this amazing book now. Paris, Up, Up and Away  is a true poetic tribute to the City of Light and a charming story that will be adored by kids and adults alike.

I could not think of a better gift for those kids that have recently travelled to Paris, families that are planning their next trip to this city, and for all of us who enjoy travelling with our imagination.

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This new map makes it easy for families to plan their stay, following in the footsteps of Helppi- Helsinki’s fun family mascot- as he shows the way to the city’s attractions, restaurants, activities and shopping areas.

This map includes all the essential information about Helsinki’s family offerings, local tips, and lots to do (for both small kids and teenagers).

You can download the map at this link:  http://www.visithelsinki.fi/en/sites/visithelsinki.fi/files/files/Liitteet/lasten_helsinki_kartta_eng_web.pdf

Also, you can find some inspiration of all the great things that Helsinki offers to families at: http://https://www.pinterest.com/visithelsinki/helsinki-for-kids/

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Our hotel traffic-calmed street

On our last trip to Amsterdam we were fascinated by those huge wood cargo bikes that we saw full with kids and grocery bags.

This optimistic-colorful-bicycle parked just in front of our hotel on a rainy day was probably my favorite.

Madrid is not a very bicycle-friendly city and during our stay in Amsterdam I just dreamt of how wonderful our life would be if we could just run errands by bicycle in the city.

On our bicycle rental store close to Vondelpark, I could not resist myself and asked for a complete catalogue of Bakfiets, the famous  bicycles made in Holland.

Bakfiets  is the perfect solution for families that need to carry 2 or more children and also heavy bags. It is a transport bicycle that it is manoeuvrable, convenient and light steering.

The Cargobike has a low instep and the centre of gravity is close to the ground. The kids sit in a tough wooden box in front of the rider and are held securely with three-point harnesses.

Bakfiets offers a variety kinds of models, colors, sizes and accessories, including this genius-special accessory for baby-twins!

It is simply perfect!

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Today we would like to feature the Denver Art Museum (DAM) , an art museum located in the Civic Center of Denver, Colorado,  recognized internationally for its educational programs and unique manner of interacting with visitors.

The Museum is known for its collection of American Indian art, and its other collections (African, Spanish Colonial, Pre-Columbian…) of more than 68.000 diverse works from across the centuries and the world.

General admission to the DAM is free for kids every day (all youth ages 18 and, including school field trips and youth group visits with reservations ahead of time) made possible by Scott Reinman and Kaiser Permanente Colorado.

Families are welcome at the Denver Art Museum and they offer with general admission free activities for all ages. Every day, they offer different programs:

– Just for Fun Center (Duncan Pavilion) and Kids Corner (North Building)

– Gallery Games & Artmaking

– Family Backpacks: your kids can trek through the galleries with a Family Backpack ful of artmaking, games and puzzles (available on weekends year-round and daily during summer and winter school breaks).

On weekdays, they also offer “Create-n-Takes” which inspire visitors to discuss and get creative (available weekends year-round and on week-days in the summer).

They also feature stunning monthly programs like CelebrARTE every first Saturday of the month, with bilingual English-Spanish cultural and creative activities that includes a new storytelling program. On the second Sunday of each month beginning in September,  the whole family can take part of their Foxy & Shmoxy Art Detectives program, and discover unseen treasures in the museum. Also, every second Wednesday of the month, they offer Create Playdate for children ages 3-5. Their special programs include also summer classes for kids ages 4-11.

Your kids can experience world-class art at the Denver Art Museum, one of Denver’s must-see landmarks.

** All photos published in this post are courtesy of the Denver Art Museum. We thank the DAM for their collaboration and support. 

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We have already presented some great resort with incredible locations in Patagonia and Maldives, and today we are discovering another great resort for families:  the Hyatt Lake Tahoe, located in the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, just about a 3 minute drive to the California Border.

Nestled high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains at an elevation of over 6,000 feet, this great hotel is a reflection of the tranquil, natural environment of the region.

Discribed as an “alpine paradise“, the resort is a stunning lakeside destination for family year-round adventure: you can take a cruise on one of their private boats, bask in the sunshine of the resort’s private beach, relax in the heated lagoon-style pool and practice water sports.

Honored with AAA’s prestigious Four Diamond Rating, the resort offers many activities and services for kids and families:

• Heated, year-round pools with swim-in, swim-out access
• 500 feet of private beach with volleyball, bean bag toss, a relaxed BBQ grill, firepits for s’more roasting and more
• Water activities ranging from kayaking and paddleboarding to family catamaran sails and paddleboats
• Hiking & mountain biking for all skill levels within minutes of the resort, ranging from beginner strolls to world-class multi-day hiking trails
• Skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing, with free ski shuttles and ski valet, as well as on-site ski and snowboard rentals
• Every summer, they produce a children’s activity guide and activities all day, every day (most are free) ranging from pool games and arts and crafts to guided lake learning walks and late-night storytelling by the campfire.

They also offer a Camp Hyatt day care, where kids enjoy everything from lake walks and outdoor games to arts and crafts and Tahoe stories.

And for tired Moms & Dads: the hotel’s Spa is incredible!

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Their  brand new Children’s Club catering to children (from 12 months to 12 years) is run by fully qualified childcare professionals and local team members with an exceptionally high ratio of carers to children.

It is the only resort with a club for children under three years of age and offers special facilities including a sleeping room for daytime siestas.

Children are split into four age groups with activities tailor-made to their abilities and interests.

Theme days include Jungle Safari, Pirates & Princesses and Circus.

Older children can enjoy their own space with activities such as football skills, beach cricket, tennis, snorkelling safaris and Master Chef Classes.

The water park in the Kids’ Club has pressure-controlled sprinklers, so the faster the children run around, the more water sprays out. Isn’t that fun?

The infinity-edged pool in front of the BLU restaurant also has a shallow section for smaller swimmers.

You can find more information on how to plan your visit  at the resort’s website.

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Llao Llao is located on one of the lower mountains within the Nahuel Huapi National Park – Argentine Patagonia – between the Nahuel Huapi and Moreno lakes, and framed by Mt. López, Mt. Capilla & Mt. Tronador.

The Hotel has a 15-hectare park, including the 18-hole golf course, the marina, beach, solarium, heated indoor and outdoor infinity edge swimming-pools, Spa and Health club with sauna, Fitness Center and other leisure activities.

Llao Llao resort is an oasis for the whole family.

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This family friendly center was launched in 2011 and welcomes visitors from all ages.  It is managed by a team of elephant specialists that have been working towards the protection of elephants in Laos for over a decade, running welfare, vet care, breeding and mahouts training programmes.

You can book and join the ECC for an overnight stay and discover their center and elephants. You can stay one night at a private bamboo bungalow and enjoy the view on the majestic lake surrounded by tropical forest. You can also stay for a week and volunteer as part of the Elephant Conservation team!  It will give you a more in-depth insight into what it takes to look after elephants.

The ECC has a special Kids in Conservation program. They partnership with several non-governmental organisations (Community Learning International, Eco-Sys Action…), and the Elephant Conservation Center promotes literacy within schools in rural Sayaboury province in northern Laos.  They encourage literacy within schoolchildren by distributing Lao language resources and bringing students up close with the endangered Asian Elephant.

They also have some other wonderful programs like the Elephant nursery and the Baby Bonus program, and you can also sponsor an elephant.

You can visit  their website   for more information on how to contribute to the conservation of Asia’s most iconic species, and watch this video about the extraordinary and unique experience of visiting this center.

This Center is the perfect hideaway from mass tourism routes and a place where your visit can make a difference.

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It all started when Jordi Roca decided to bring back the traditional dessert trolley of El Celler de Can Roca, which was dispensed with when he took over the sweet part of the menu. When they saw the new petit‑four trolley  the Roca brothers thought it would be fun to stroll around the streets of Girona offering these petits fours to passers-by. Though it was an exciting idea, they were faced with the restrictions imposed by local regulations, so they decided to showcase it in an ice cream shop that they opened in the centre of Girona, their town, and this is how Rocambolesc was born.

With locations in Girona and Madrid, as well as Platja d’Aro, all the establishments have a vintage feel inspired by the magical world of Willy Wonka, the fictional character that owns a chocolate factory in Roald Dahl’s children’s book and Tim Burton’s movie.

Ice creams are the essential product on offer: six different flavours, in cones or tubs, combined with up to 34 funny toppings, so that you can make your own ice cream to suit your taste. Besides, new products are created throughout the year: hot ice cream-filled buns, ice-cream muffins,  their famous milk dessert…etc.

You and your kids will love it!

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• Oceanografic. Valencia’s Aquarium is an outstanding destination for families. The Oceanogràfic of the City of Arts and Sciences is the largest aquarium in Europe and contains representatives of the world’s main marine ecosystems. Each building is identified with the following aquatic environments: the Mediterranean, Wetlands, Temperate and Tropical Seas, Oceans, the Antarctic, the Arctic and the Red Sea. Our kids loved the Dolphinarium with 24 million litres of water and a depth of 10.5 metres, and there is even an underwater restaurant.

Your kids will learn the behaviors and ways of live of 500 species: dolphins, belugas, walruses, sea lions, seals, penguins, turtles, sharks, rays, sawfish, jellyfish, starfish, sea urchins, and crustaceans of all kinds…, as well as wetland bird species such as those inhabiting the Albufera de Valencia and tropical mangrove swamps.

• Enjoy a great paella at La Pepica , one of our favorite local restaurants. Even picker kids will love this typical dish of Valencia and you will also enjoy the incredible beach views.

• Make a day boat excursion through the coastline of Valencia. There are many options and we loved the cruises organized by Boramar

• Visit the historic hotel Las Arenas, created with the objective of restoring the beaches of Las Arenas and La Malvarrosa in the city of Valencia. The building, with a classical look, combines the architectural beauty of the historic Las Arenas Spa Resort, founded in 1898, with the elegance and comfort of modern design, occupying an exceptional seaside location. Kids are welcomed at the spa’s swimmingpool. It is also a great alternative for your stay in the city if you can find a good offer, as it is a five star hotel.

• Visit the city’s  Príncipe Felipe Science Museum:   Since its opening in 2000, the Museum has received over 30 million of visitors.  It is an interactive science museum that stimulates curiosity and critical thinking, and presents science, technology and the environment in a surprising and amusing way.

The weather in Valencia allows you to travel throughout the year, but we especially love Valencia during spring.

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We visited NYC when my kids were just 5 and 2 years old and every single day they would ask us if they could visit again their 2 favorite toy stores: FAO Schwarz and the Lego Store at the Rockefeller Center.

FAO Schwarz flagship store in New York (located at 767 5th Avenue @ 58th St.)  is a must-see destination. It is a world famous toy store where kids are greeted by the store’s real-life Toy Soldiers. Their larger-than-life piano, featured in the film BIG, was one of our favorite attractions.

The Lego Store at the Rockefeller Center (620 Fifth Avenue @ 50th Street) is also a great toy store.  They have different consumer-friendly play areas, innovative displays and lots of Lego sets built all over the store. There is also a living room with an interactive play area in the center of the store. We found some products that are hard to find in Madrid and some LEGO Exclusives also.

The store displays the whole Rockefeller Center in Legos, very true to the real building.

I hope that we can return soon to NYC and discover many other toy stores.

I would like to wish a Happy 4th of July to all our American readers.

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