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See Osaka With Kids in a Weekend: An Itinerary
Osaka, Japan is the kind of city that doesn’t demand early mornings or tightly packed schedules. With its walkable neighborhoods, endless food options, and playful attractions tucked between temples and museums, it’s surprisingly easy to explore with kids, especially over a short weekend. We didn’t go into our Osaka weekend with a lot in mind, I wanted to see Katsuo-ji temple, my daughter wanted to shop for the most kawaii things she could find, and my husband just wanted to eat. We arrived on a Friday night and left on a Sunday evening, giving us almost two full days that balanced nature, culture, shopping, and just the right amount of…
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Why Katsuo-ji Is One of Osaka’s Most Magical Day Trips for Families
The moment you step through the gates of Katsuo-ji temple (勝尾寺) in Osaka, Japan, it intrigues. Instead of a single focal point drawing everyone forward, the grounds unfold slowly, pulling you deeper with every step. A Daruma doll peers out from between stones. Another sits quietly on a railing. Then another. And another. If you visit Katsuo-ji with kids, you will hear them gasp and squeal with delight as they find these adorable figures all around. Soon, spotting Daruma becomes a game, one that kids instinctively take on, darting ahead to see who can find the next one first. They won’t have to go far. Set in the forested hills…
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A Curious Encounter at Amsterdam’s Art Zoo Museum
You’ll feel like you stepped into another world, a Jumanji-like world where the creatures are coming alive right before your eyes, and yet it’s all an amazing work of taxidermy art. When I first saw images of Art Zoo Museum in Amsterdam, I was taken aback by the style. The features gleam, the muscles seem to ripple, and it creates a sort of wonderous 18th century painting coming forth into a diorama feeling. A new addition to the Amsterdam scene, Art Zoo Museum reimagines nature through a more theatrical, almost cinematic lens and it beckoned us to visit. If you’re museum connoisseurs like us, it will beckon you too. Plan…
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Raymond Island: The Guaranteed Place To See Koalas In Australia
Continuing our road trip in Australia from Canberra to the Great Ocean Road, we were determined to add some stops that would guarantee us some must-see Australian animal sightings. Luckily for those of us with dreams of spotting wild koalas lounging lazily in the treetops, there is an island that makes it super easy to see them. Raymond Island in Victoria’s East Gippsland is THE place to see koalas in Australia. It actually might be Australia’s best-kept koala secret. Home to around 300 wild koalas, the island that’s only 6km by 2km is the kind of place where you can take a short walk and count your koala sightings on…
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Eden’s Whale-Sized Surprise: Visit the Killer Whale Whale Museum with Kids
Eden, Australia might seem like a random little town to stop in, but let me tell you, it’s full of surprises, whale-sized surprises. Sitting along the Sapphire Coast of New South Wales, Eden was a perfect spot for a night on our road trip from Sydney to the Great Ocean Road. Home to one of the most fascinating stories of whale and human interaction in the world, if you’re traveling with kids, you’ll want to find the Eden Killer Whale Museum to learn about history, marine science, and myth. It’s a lot more memorable than you might imagine. Get ready to explore the Eden Killer Whale Museum. Here’s what you…
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The National Gallery of Australia Is The Perfect Reason To Visit Canberra
“Why are you going to Canberra?” That was a question I heard from just about every Australian I know. Apparently, the capital city doesn’t top their travel bucket lists. But I’m here to say: don’t write it off, especially if you’re traveling with kids in Australia. The capital of Australia is home to a fantastic collection of museums that can fill days with endless adventure and inspiration. For one of the best things to do in Canberra, the National Gallery of Australia needs to be on your Canberra itinerary. Not only did I love the artistic inspiration, but the three kids we had in the group enjoyed it too. Get…
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The Dreamiest Day Trip in the Netherlands: Hoorn’s Annual Weavers Market
Did you now there’s a market in the Netherlands where yarn, fleece, and felt practically take over the whole city? We found out about it after chatting with the owner of our favorite yarn shop in Haarlem, and just like that, Hoorn’s Weversmarkt (Weavers Market) became a must see. Ever year, Hoorn, a harborside town in the Netherlands, hosts this fiber-lover’s paradise. Cobbled streets burst with skeins in every imaginable hue, looms clack softly in the sun, seamstresses show off their sewing techniques and everyone is sharing ideas. If you’ve ever swooned at the sight of sock yarn or considered learning to spin “just for fun”, this is your kind…
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Berlin, Germany: A 2-day Itinerary with History, Art, and a Taste of Local Life
Berlin in a weekend? Is it enough time? No. It really isn’t. But, it’s a good start. Berlin is one of those cities where past and present sit side by side and just when you think you’re looking at everything modern, you turn a corner to find WWII ruins. There’s an amazing sense of fashion and style and reminders about the importance of remembering history so we don’t repeat it. There is so much to see in Berlin and plenty of delicious food to eat too, here is a 2-day itinerary for Berlin, and some great daytrips down below if you have some extra time to tack on to your…
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Why Adventure Science Center in Nashville Is a Must-Visit for Families
We’re always on the lookout for kid-friendly things to do in Nashville for when we head there to hang with family and the Adventure Science Center did NOT disappoint on our last visit. This museum encourages kids to touch, build, create, launch, and explore. We’ve been to a lot of science museums and this is definitely one of the best. If you’re searching for fun things to do in Nashville with kids, especially something educational and exciting, this spot should be at the top of your list. Whether you’ve got toddlers or teens (we visited with a toddler and an elementary student just to note), there’s something for everyone inside…
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Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp: A Sobering Day Trip from Berlin
History leaves scars, and some places wear them more visibly than others. As a child, my 6th-grade history lessons were filled with stories of World War II, but understanding the depth of its horrors was impossible at that age. I was taught right from wrong, yet the sheer scale of the atrocities defied comprehension. The “why” seemed unfathomable when the “how” was so disturbingly clear. In 8th grade, I traveled to Europe and visited a concentration camp. The experience was overwhelming, a grotesque and haunting confrontation with the past. I remember thinking, How could anything like this have happened when the evidence of its horrors was laid out so plainly…
