Living in suburban DC, we think nothing of trekking into town with the kids to visit museums, take in a show, or go to a festival. Over time, we’ve established a good routine, including which metro to take, where to park, where to eat, and where to go when things get rough (i.e., a favorite ice cream or hot chocolate shop). Navigating an unfamiliar city with small children, however, can seem overwhelming.
My husband and I have traveled to many cities with our three boys and have learned some valuable lessons along the way. I also talked to three local travelers who shared tips on what worked best on their family vacations to London, Venice, New York, and Paris.
- Beware of their limitations and stay flexible. Don’t plan vacations like no one will ever travel again. The important thing is to spend time together and get a feel for the city, not scratch landmarks off a list. So it’s OK if you don’t see it all. When Anne Buckborough’s family traveled to London last summer, her daughter’s sudden and epic tantrum cut their visit to the Tower of London to a sum total of about eight minutes. If it’s not meant to be, go to Plan B:
- Sometimes bribery is the best policy. Museums and cultural sites can be a hard pill to swallow for a small child but sometimes a spoonful of sugary or salty snacks can make the medicine go down just fine. My friend Paige and her husband John Totaro are expert negotiators with their twin girls. They got through Venice, including its many churches, with promises of gelato, and bribed their way through New York’s Museum of Modern Art with talk of pretzels and ice cream. The whole family was rewarded that evening at dinner when the girls recognized the Andy Warhol prints hanging on the restaurant walls.
- Rent an apartment, A huge benefit to renting is that you’ll have a chance to experience where locals actually live. Many city hotels are concentrated in central areas, such as San Francisco’s Union Square or Manhattan’s Times Square, which tend to be crowded and touristy. Apartment rentals will give you a much wider geographical range to choose from and you won’t be as cramped. Jeneen Piccuirro and her family rented an apartment in Paris for two weeks this past spring. Seeing the same faces in their building every day made the whole family feel at home. Her daughter Haiku still asks when they’ll go back to their “Paris house.”
- Frolic attack! Just like they need their sleep, all kids need to a good run around every day. Find an outdoor playground, indoor pool, or even a large empty space to run in. In DC, I always recommend the Building Museum to friends to burn off their toddlers’ excess energy. Local mom Anne Buckborough picked her family’s rental apartment in London in part because it was across the street from an indoor pool, a perfect place for a to burn off some energy in case of rain.
- Follow their lead- If your kids are the right age, get them their own map and let them help navigate through the city streets and subway system. It gives them a real sense of purpose and accomplishment to be the “leader” and keeps them busy as well. Don’t forget to write your local address and telephone number on the map in case they get lost.
- Find an outdoor concert- In the summer, cities across the globe are teeming with free evening concerts. It’s a great place to hear some local music and let the kids have some outdoor time. And since they largely attract families, you’ll feel right at home.
Resources: For apartment rentals, visit Homeaway, Vacation Rentals by Owner, and airbnb.
