deannanmc

After all the food posts I’ve done and the walking tours that I do when I travel, this seems like a slightly ridiculous post to write. Aren’t I getting enough of a workout by seeing cities on foot (often with a small child strapped to me)? Have I not earned a Liege waffle at the end of a multi-mile day of exploration? Probably, and definitely. But we could all probably be more fit than we are, and I definitely don’t exercise as much when I’m at home. I know that with a little extra effort, I could see and do more with greater energy when I travel. And with minimal prep, it will be easy to take the show on the road.

Read More »

Three days in Amsterdam isn’t a lot of time, but it’s certainly enough to stuff oneself with the local delicacies. (Insert obvious joke about managing the munchies here.) There are lots of really good, simple foods to try that are filling, easy to find, and generally pretty easy on the budget. And since you’re probably going to be riding a bike around the city, why not make sure to up your daily calorie intake? We’re full of good ideas on this blog.

Say cheese!

Read More »

For a town that produced possibly the biggest name in the English language, Stratford-upon-Avon is rather quaint and unassuming. When I first traveled to Shakespeare’s hometown on a high school trip about eleven years ago, I was rather taken by its small charm and Tudor-style buildings; revisiting Stratford this past winter revealed that not much has changed there in the last decade. So what is there to do in the birthplace of the Bard?

Hathaway Cottage. Photo by deannanmc

Read More »

Bicycles, tricycles, cargo bikes, tandem bikes, bikes with one or two built-in baby seats: you name the style, and you can find it on the streets of Amsterdam. Though the city has a fantastic public tram and bus system, I highly recommend renting a bike for your warmer-weather visit. It’s particularly handy if you choose to stay in a quieter neighborhood outside the medieval center like we did. Renting a bike made a slightly longer walk into a quick and breezy ride.

Rented bikes. Photo by deannanmc

Read More »

One of the nice things about traveling through England is that it’s a history buff’s dream destination. You can hardly throw a pint of ale in the United Kingdom without hitting ruins, manor homes, a few former battle sites, and a bunch of old castles. Warwick Castle is a prime example of a castle that’s been well-maintained for visitors–and despite the presence of a torture exhibit, has actually been a little airbrushed.

Warwick Castle

Read More »

With all the furor over the popular series “Downton Abbey,” English manor homes are enjoying a surge of popularity. Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Southern England is one of the great granddaddies of palatial living. As the familial home of the Churchills–it was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill–and later on a set for famous films, the Palace has become a cultural touchstone all its own and a good day trip if you’re a World Heritage Site aficionado.

Blenheim Palace. Photo by deannanmc

Read More »

I’ve written a lot about traveling with our family in this space, and I’m a huge believer in the idea that to be a good citizen of the world a child must be raised to search, understand, accept, and include all people. When my oldest daughter received an autism diagnosis in February, I realized how much travel has helped all of us in this journey. Travel has made us better parents to our daughter, our daughter an involved global citizen, and shown others that exploration and inclusion paves the way for acceptance of difference.

At a sidewalk art festival in Provence, France

Read More »

Many times when people think of Belgian art, they think of the old Flemish masters and their dark but detailed oil brushstrokes. But art evolves, as do cities, and Brussels is no exception: it is also the home of the Musee Magritte gallery attached to the Museum of Modern Art (not to be confused with the preserved artist’s abode: Maison Magritte). Rene Magritte is hardly an obscure artist, but he’s often overlooked in favor of other that other 20th-century surrealist Salvador Dali. Brussels has given Magritte the extensive showcase he deserves.

Modern art museum entrance. Photo by deannanmc

Read More »

Next month I’m going to do something I haven’t done in a few years–actually, something that I haven’t done since 14 months before the birth of my second child. I’m going on a no-kids, no-husband trip to Amsterdam with an old friend for a girls’ weekend. Though my husband is my favorite travel buddy (nobody puts together an itinerary like he does) and I love showing my girls the world, I really need this little break to shake up my travel routine. But will my packing style change much since I’m packing for one and not myself plus two little kids? Actually…it won’t. Here’s a list of parent must-haves that benefit the solo traveler without taking up much daypack space.

Read More »

Thanks to the 2008 Colin Farrell film In Bruges, some people think that Bruges is a quaint little historical city that also doubles as a holding cell for the souls of the damned. I’m pleased to report that this is only half true: Bruges is quaint, historical, and almost comically pretty. If Disney’s Epcot World Village had a Belgium section, it would look like Bruges. As we were spending our trip headquartered in Brussels, we only had a few hours to spend in the Bruges but we could have easily done another day.

Belfry of Bruges

Read More »