travel

The Paul & Paula crew loves to travel.

Near & far. And we love to share our trips – our favourite stops, eats and things to do with the kids. Nothing teaches you more than traveling the world.

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10 family things to do in London when you ticked all the famous sights!

10 family things to do in London when you ticked all the famous sights!

Whether you have visited London a few times and want to see more than the usual tourist attractions, or you just like to travel on the ‘hidden path’, I have a few things today that are very London and fun for families. And the locals will be there too!

Personally, I always love to discover things hidden behind the usual stuff. See more of a city than the famous attractions and queues. And, especially with children, I find it more relaxing to explore the less crowded areas.

Therefore, today we will discover a different side of London. Take note and start working on this list over the upcoming week:

1. Barbican Conservatory: It is an estate and such a discovery. It is one of London’s principal examples of concrete brutalist architecture and is considered a landmark. And it is home to a glass-roofed, leafy sanctuary that features tropical plants and trees, bird life, and exotic fish. The tropics in the heart of London. Free entrance! The Barbican is also an arts centre and the largest of its kind in Europe. You can enjoy performances, exhibitions, movies, or visit one of the cool shops. Of course, you can find great places to eat and drink too. And you can live there. The residential complex consists of about 2,000 flats.

2. Mayfield Lavender Farm: 25 acres of Lavender fields that open to the public during their beautiful, purple summer months. Picturesque and Instagram perfect!

3. Simple and ‘oh so English’… A Sunday roast at the pub: A Sunday roast “with all the trimmings” at a friendly locals’ pub. Enjoy!

4. City farm: Take your kids to one of London’s city farms and visit sheep, goats, pigs and rabbits. Nobody really knows that the city has quite a lot of farms and you can surely find one in your borough too!

5. Stand on the Meridian Line: GMT= Greenwich Mean Time. Stand on the historic Meridian Line at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the home of Greenwich Mean Time. Extra: Its path is illuminated overhead at night! From the top of the hill in Greenwich Park towards the London Skyline.

barbican centre london
Barbican Centre

How did you enjoy the first five ideas? Already making plans?

6. Football match: The Gunners, the Blues, Spurs… there are quite a few big football clubs in the capital, and you surely have a fan in your family too! Try and get tickets or watch a game in a local pub or sports bar. Otherwise, you can also go on an official tour of one of the stadiums and take a peek behind the scenes. For tickets: If you are not local and not a member of a club, it is nearly (miracles happen sometimes) impossible to get hold of tickets. If you plan a visit, you can be lucky. Check as much as possible ahead of time!

7. Ride the Kennington Loop: Leave Kennington tube station on a tube train (do not leave the train at the ,ast stop!) and re-enter the same station a couple of minutes later. Kids love it!

8. Have a picnic on Primrose Hill: With that view it would be a shame to miss out on this one. Maybe the first thing of this list to tick? One you can do this week end with the beautiful weather ahead! You can even get your picnic from one of the local shops…

9. Museum lates: Did you know that you can visit the fabulous museums after hours? And avoid the crowds? Even have a drink, listen to talks or enjoy a film screening.

10. Visit a lido: Heated lidos, outdoor pools or natural ponds. Who says London is missing a beach? Here is a good list of places.

Tip: Go and see the popular attractions first thing in the morning or early evening, avoiding peak hours and crowds!

 

More Paul & Paula travel:

Have a great week everyone!

Family Holiday on the Kent Coast

Family Holiday on the Kent Coast

This year we decided to vacation nationally and went to Kent. Not far from London at all, and therefore perfect for the current situation that can be somehow challenging for travelling families.

And here we stayed at the very charming 19th century Victorian cottage called The Wainstones Cottage. A place that rather found us than the other way around because the owner is my friend Sophie. A very talented multi-entrepreneur who is living in France and owns this cottage on the other side of the channel.
The cottage is located in the pretty seaside town of Hythe, just a stone’s throw from the main shopping street. Which made general errands like grocery shopping or take away very easy. And even the beach and canal were very close by.

More about Hythe

The coast is on our doorstep, you have easy access to explore the beautiful lush countryside and there are numerous castles to discover.
We were very lucky with the weather (you just don’t know when in the UK) and enjoyed the local beach profoundly. The best thing about it really is the promenade running behind it. I just love a great beach promenade and this one is kinda endless. Plus you will find some lovely cafes, restaurants, as well as little kiosks that did great with the new rules in place.

At the beach, you can choose between sunbathing, swimming, kayaking, kite surfing, and other water sports. The beach, as well as the water, were super clean and we all had a swim. Something, I have to be honest, I did not expect. But during the very hot days, I did go in completely and had a nice and refreshing swim.

But there is more than the beach

Hythe is the best place to access the Royal Military Canal. Stretching 28 miles from Seabrook almost to Hastings, it borders the Romney Marsh and was dug by hand in the early 1800s. A public path now runs its length so it can be enjoyed by walkers, cyclists, and anglers.

And when walking up to Sandwood behind the cottage we enjoyed a little forest as well as a huge playing field and spend some lovely afternoons here as well.

Some images from our Family Holiday on the Kent Coast:

 

Family Holiday on the Kent Coast 4

Family Holiday on the Kent Coast 4

Family Holiday on the Kent Coast 4

Family Holiday on the Kent Coast 4

More about the cottage

The Wainstones Cottage is really well equipped and has everything you need for a comfortable family stay. There is a cosy sitting room, a separate dining space, and a small yet practical kitchen. Upstairs are two comfortable bedrooms that are beautifully decorated. Furthermore I love that Sophie chose some famous local Hythe and Folkestone artists to add colours, lovely prints, and other interior accessories. We thoroughly enjoyed the selection of family games that guests can use. Between jigsaw puzzles, classics, and games that we did not know and tried out after breakfast. It was good entertainment and very appreciated.

After all we had a very lovely time and were happy with our decision to stay in the UK. And even during the hot days, it was not too crowded at the beach, and one could always find a spot and keep distance to others.

In addition, the High Street is a great mix of antique shops, boutiques, and gift shops, intermingled with cafés, restaurants and convenience stores.

Family Holiday on the Kent Coast 4

Would we recommend it?

In short: Absolutely. As mentioned, it is easy to reach from London as well as the Eurotunnel between Folkestone (UK) and Calais (FR) that is only a 10min drive from Hythe.  There is a lot to do with many beautiful beaches and lovely villages and cities along the Kent coast. A good start to explore are Sophie’s recommendations that she shares on the website. She has three children and is definitely a good source when it comes to entertaining the family in Hythe and surroundings.

Thank you, Sophie, for the lovely time we had and for making us discover this part of the UK.

 

All images: Paul & Paula
Disclaimer: The first week was a press trip, the 2nd week fully paid by ourselves. All words and opinion are my own.

Why not renting an RV for your next family trip?

rv share

I am the first to admit that the whole camping or mobile home thing is not the first thing that comes in my mind when thinking about a holiday. But we did rent an RV for two trips (when we went to Iceland and during our California road trip)and I have to say – it is really fun.

And the kids like it. Or in their own words: ‘We don’t like it, we love it!’ And that counts for a lot as well, because they just loved to be on the road with a house. They loved being so close to nature and to basically just pull up at a camping, jump out and discover a new spot. And I loved that part too!

Altogether I find it great for family trips because it adds a little bit of adventure. It brings you very close as a family, can require some improvisations, and who doesn’t like a campfire? On top of it, it is a great way to explore a country and having all of your stuff and comfort in the back.
The children keep asking when we will do another RV trip and we are thinking about it.

And that is where RVshare can be a big help. Because RVshare is the world’s first and largest RV rental marketplace, serving more than 60,000 RV owners across the US. Connecting RV renters and RV owners (think about it as an Airbnb for RV’s), and with a range from travel trailers to luxury motorhomes. And trust me, the luxury RV’s can beat a 5 star hotel room easily!

 

rvshare

Especially in the US, you have so many road trip options. From the awesome National Parks like Yosemite, Yellowstone or Zion, to the less busy and equally superb State Parks. Down the coasts or how about a trip around the Great Lakes? And if you like some more inspiration for great RV family trips, this article is a good source.

Good to know about RVshare:

To ensure a safe experience, the company offers industry-first rental insurance and 24-hour roadside assistance.

You can travel easy by either finding an RV in your local area or at your destination.

You can filter your search and compare RV rental prices, features, reviews and more.

The secure RVshare payment system verifies accounts and performs fraud checks to help keep your transactions safe.

Some motorhomes are even deliverable, just search for them. (a very practical point, especially if you are not planning to start and end your trip at the same place)

So, if you think you are ready for some road trip fun, and quality time with your family why not renting an RV? Because another great thing about this form of transport is: It allows you to travel at your own pace! Such a great way to slow down and unwind…

In collaboration with RVshare.

 

Top image: Photo by Arun Antony on Unsplash

Tel Aviv with kids

Tel Aviv with kids

End of December 2018 we sat on the plane, direction Tel Aviv. A city that has been on my travel list for a very long time and that I was so excited to discover. Finally!

And boy, this place did not disappoint. On the contrary, Tel Aviv is one of the most interesting, lively and energetic cities I have visited so far. (and that list is fairly long!)
With top-notch food, epic stretches of golden beach, The New York Times who crowned it the ‘capital of cool, and this young, upbeat vibe. We fell in love!

The White City never sleeps and if we would still be in the ‘party, nightclub and dancing all night long place of our lives’, this is the place that covers all your wishes in that area too. However, we came as a family and were looking forward to some calm, slow days and open plans after all the events in 2018.

On average we had about 18C (in December) and the good thing is the temperature stays stable throughout the day. Imagine a December day at 18C for a whole of 24h. Some days it was even around 20C. However, I would like to say that the same goes for the summer months where temperatures go up to 40C. Which means 24h of extreme heat…

 

Tel Aviv with kids

Tel Aviv with kids

Note: You should know that Tel Aviv is a fairly expensive destination. I think it usually ranks at the 10th spot worldwide for most expensive cities.

But you get so much in return! Tel Aviv has at least 300 days of sun per year, National Geographic lists Tel Aviv as one of the top 10 beach cities in the world, and it is a paradise for vegans.
The culinary scene is considered one of the most creative in the world. What other cities may have in sights, Tel Aviv tops it with its amazing food places. (and even so the prices are high, the quality is superior!)

Let’s start with my version of Tel Aviv with kids:

Since we stayed for two weeks, we were in no rush whatsoever to run through the city and see everything mentioned in books and blogs instantly. On the first day, we went down to the beach, had a long lunch just by the water and enjoyed ourselves. After that, we started to venture and walk down to places that I had noted down beforehand. We usually walked, with some stops here and there, and discovered the city this way. There are many playgrounds, of various sizes, all over the city and they made for great pit stops. Especially because you can find cute little kiosks on more or less every corner, so a cafe or a fresh juice was never far away as well.
Tel Aviv with kids

Tel Aviv with kids

Tel Aviv with kids

Areas to visit in Tel Aviv with kids:

To the south, the ancient port of Jaffa is home to many historic buildings and a vast alfresco restaurant-bar scene. In the centre, Carmel Market is the lively heart of the city. The bustling Rothschild Boulevard is near the market, the heart of the city, and earned this area World Heritage status with Bauhaus architecture wherever you look. We loved to discover these areas:

Jaffa

Jaffa is the most ancient city centre and port within the Tel Aviv region. Tel Aviv was only founded in 1908, in the sand dunes north of Jaffa. Today, Jaffa is a southern suburb of Tel Aviv. And, no surprise, the oldest part of the city that is often referred to by its double name Tel Aviv – Jaffa.
The famous Jaffa flea market is a well-known attraction of the area, and vendors are selling a diverse range of interesting and unique products. The ancient Jaffa Port is still an active fishing port. Stroll or bike around and discover its unique mix of old and new.

The Jaffa Park is on the hilltop where the ancient city of Jaffa in Israel was located. Beautiful views above the city guaranteed! For an even better view, you can climb up the Jaffa Watchtower
And the most fun is discovering what is hidden in these beautiful winding streets and alleyways. Galleries, jewelry shops, juice bars, and more…

Tel Aviv Beach Front & Tayelet

The coastal strip is 14 kilometers long and home to 13 official beaches, stretching from Herzliya to Bat Yam. During summer, every beach is equipped with changing rooms and bathrooms, a lifeguard, a rescue station and everything else you could need. There are lots of restaurants and cafes as well as play areas and outdoor gyms.

During winter the lifeguard stations are minimised and you need to check where you can go in. Do not go in the water at an unsupervised beach, it is forbidden, and people get called out very quickly!
By the way, “Tayelet” means boardwalk or promenade in Hebrew. And it runs along the Mediterranean seashore in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Tel Aviv with kids

Tel Aviv with kids

Tel Aviv Port

Namal Tel Aviv, or the Tel Aviv Port, has recently been restored and is now one of the hottest places in town with lots of cafés and bars. You can find a little bit of everything here: the sea, markets, cool shops and restaurants, play areas, and a lively night scene.
And you can find Hayarkon Park, Israel’s largest urban park, here. And the park is home to a very nice and big playground as well as an outdoor gym. Inside the park, you can find 6 different gardens!

Neve Tzedek

Just walk down Shabazi Street and you can explore lots of galleries, shops, and hip restaurants. Neve Tzedek, once one of the city’s most rundown areas, is now the centre of its arts community. We went back here several times, especially because there is an excellent ice cream parlor (more about food later) as well as a good playground. Furthermore, it is one of those areas that has something for everyone…

Florentin

East of Neve Tzedek, you can find Florentin, also called the ‘Brooklyn of Tel Aviv’. The hipster place! A bit grungy, lots of chill bars and boho cafes, graffiti everywhere and close to Levinsky market which is full spices in every aroma and colour you could think of. Street art, small shops, galleries, and a very nice community vibe.
Tel Aviv with kids

Tel Aviv with kids

Sights in Tel Aviv:

Street art. You will find beautiful murals, graffiti art and other creative decorations all over the city. It is so inspiring, colourful and interesting!

Carmel Market, Shuk Hacarmel, is the largest market, or shuk, in Tel Aviv. A vibrant place where you can find anything ranging from fruits to electronics. A fascinating and busy experience.

Tel Aviv Museum of Art – Israel’s largest art museum. The architecture is stunning, the permanent collection contains some great modern & contemporary works, and is a place you should have on your list. The temporary exhibitions are excellent as well, please check what is on when you are around.

Another great museum is the Eretz Museum. We went here because they showed the World Press Photo exhibition and I absolutely wanted to see it.

Jaffa Market, an eclectic flea market in the Jaffa Area and a must-do!

HaTachana – The Old Train Station, is a very smart public space. It was originally built in 1892 as the terminus for the Jaffa-Jerusalem railway. And is sitting at the end of Neve Tzedek and on your way to the Jaffa neighbourhood. And it is a great spot for families because there is a bit for everyone. History, art galleries, boutiques, and specialty stores, restaurants, and activities for kids. It is open from 10 am – 10 pm every day and hosts lots of events. You can find great souvenirs that are made and designed in Tel Aviv right here too!

Levinsky Market. Big spice market that is colourful and begs you to shop as much as you can fit in your suitcase. Cooking with the right ingredients is just so much more fun…

 

Let’s talk about Shabbat!

Before we talk about food, we need to talk about Shabbat. According to Jewish tradition, the week begins on Sunday and Shabbat falls on Saturday. Days are considered to last from sundown to sundown. Therefore, Shabbat begins on Friday evening and continues until Saturday evening. The Sabbath is a holy day, and shops, markets, and public transport are all closed. Restaurants and bars start to re-open on Saturday afternoon. Which means you need to do a bit planning for these two days to get the most out of the city.

So yes, Tel Aviv is a very lively city, but some things do stop on the Jewish day of rest.

However, there are exceptions: Not all restaurants are closed (but you need to check which ones are open and which are closed) because the majority of restaurants in Tel Aviv are not Kosher and therefore opened on Shabbat. And they are all packed! Book in advance or plan to queue. It is their weekend, people love to go out and the open places are just full.
So prepare to decide where you would like to go and try and book a table. Book a taxi if you need to get to the airport for example. Or calculate the waiting time. Also, the beach will never be closed. Organise a picnic (before shops close) and enjoy your day here.

 

Restaurants and cafes in Tel Aviv:

This could easily be an article on its own and every person I know who visited Tel Aviv raves about the food. So one more time, this city is heaven for everyone who loves food! Our family loves the more casual places that are easy, fun and cool with the kids.

Vegan:  Tel Aviv is among the top five vegan destinations in the world. And you can find vegetarian as well as vegan options on the menu in almost every café. And it is not just salads…

Meshek Barzilay
Delicious organic vegan restaurant in Neve Tzedek. The farm-to-table concept with very friendly staff, a little garden, and a very colourful menu!

Benedict
Do you love breakfast? You will love this place! There are a few outlets in the city and they serve their mouthwatering breakfasts all day long. We went more than once…

Ha’ Achim
Classic Israeli cuisine the modern way. Very busy, with a DJ and you can order lots of little side dishes to share which we did.

Puaa
Right in the heart of Jaffa and serving Mediterranean dishes. Pumpkin dumplings, moussaka or a colourful plater of mezze. A very colourful and fun place!

Anastasia
A fantastic vegan restaurant where we had brunch one Saturday noon (after we had to wait for a while because of Shabbat). My favourite was the vegan cheese plate that changed my opinion about vegan cheese and I am still busy figuring out how to make some myself. The desserts were delicious too!

Abu Hassan
Abu Hassan does one thing, and that is hummus. The service is more ‘fast food’ as is the decore but the food is fantastic. And the rest does not matter much. The place opens in the morning and closes when the hummus runs out.

Bucke
Bucke has two cafés in Tel Aviv and is a vegetarian place. Their vegan Shak-Shuka was awesome and we also ordered some mixed breakfast plates for the children and they loved all the different things like hummus, eggs, warm bread, jam, and cheese.

Port Said
Serves terrific food on butcher paper right behind the Great Synagogue. We loved the eggplant with tahini and watching people from here…

Miznon
Streetfood! Pita with meat (if you want), falafel, veggies… order, wait, eat! Busy but so good! They also serve baked cauliflower – a delight. Oh, and whilst you are waiting, they hand out warm bread which we happily took and handed over to the hungry kids…

The Streets
We had our first as well as last diner here because it was just around the corner from our apartment. Quite the hipster place, super friendly service and a great mix of food from Falafel to Pasta to Schnitzel.

Hakosem
Famous for the best falafel in Tel Aviv and, lucky us, just across the street from our apartment. So we went here a couple of times and even picked up some falafel to take home on one or two evenings.

Brasserie
An institution in Tel Aviv that serves all the classics in a very elegant environment.

 

Tel Aviv with kids

Tel Aviv with kids

Tel Aviv Cafes:

CafeLix
Slow-roast coffee!

Arcafe
They do have delicious pastries!

Boulangerie 96
You need to buy a loaf of chocolate cake for your afternoon treat or breakfast here.

Dallal
Take away or enjoy some pastries in the small bougainvillea-covered patio.

Anita Ice Cream
Just yum!

Delicatessen
We got some goodies for a picnic from here and everything was lovely.

Tony & Esther
Cute cafe with scrumptious brunches.

 

Tel Aviv Shopping:

For clothes, you will discover a lot of dark colours, wide and interesting shapes as well as high-quality fabrics.

Levinsky Market as mentioned before.

Carmel Market as mentioned before.

Anny Jacobson in Jaffa sells lovely clothes that are all made and designed in Tel Aviv. I bought a dress that already got me many compliments.

Concept 13. Cool concept store in Neve Tzedek with designers such as Vanessa Bruno, Forte Forte as well as a lovely kids selection that includes Bonton, Bellerose and more.

Ginger, in Neve Tzedek as well, sells colourful home goods and accessories. Great for souvenirs!

Comme il faut is a Tel Aviv brand with a big store in the Port area. Great basics!

Papier is a shop where you can get lost easily. Discover lovely notebooks, paper, and pens.

Yooletta is another paper haven. And Israel’s first paper boutique, with a huge selection of stationery, greetings cards, wrapping paper, notebooks, calendars and lots more!

Shtaim is for the cool kids. A children’s shop with that edgy Tel Aviv vibe.

Sarona Market. A trendy hub of gourmet food stores, restaurants (incl. Benedict and Anita) and shops like G-star, Diesel, etc…

 

I hope you enjoyed this tour to Tel Aviv and got a good idea of the atmosphere. It is such a special place…

You love to travel with your children? How about Lyon with kids or Iceland? A place we still remember fondly too…

 

All images: Paul & Paula

Sky Garden London with children (and Jo’s new Spring shoes)

Sky Garden London with children

The Sky Garden London at the top of the iconic Walkie Talkie building was our destination for a Sunday morning. 38-storey’s up in the air and great views of London. For free!

Afterward, we walked over to Tate Modern with children with some little stops to watch the London Marathon that day too. I did not notice when I booked the tickets that it was the same day as the marathon but all went very well and the city was super organised. I booked tickets and yet it is for free? Yes! You do not pay an entrance fee, however, you do need to book in advance and online.

The building is 160m tall, making it the sixth-tallest premises in the City of London. And on the 36th floor of the skyscraper, you are greeted with a magnificent garden and breathtaking views of famous landmarks. A true urban jungle and London’s highest public garden!

The perfect moment to put on her new Spring shoes Josephine decided.

Sky Garden London with children

Sky Garden London with children

Sky Garden London with children

Sky Garden London with children

Josephine is wearing her new Falcotto sneakers that she selected all by herself. The brand has lots of vibrant colours and cool details in its latest collection.

Super-comfortable sneakers for a truly spunky summer! And they are ergonomic, practical, comfortable, and super-stylish too. Aren’t these star sneakers adorable? Definitely for trendy little girls who can wear them with anything, from jeans to chic dresses.

By the way, Josephine’s t-shirt is from Naturino. The brand famous for its shoes launched an apparel collection to complete your look!

 

Sky Garden London with children

Sky Garden London with children

Sky Garden London with children
We enjoyed the 360-degree view of London, spotted the Tower Bridge, St Paul’s, the Shard, the Gherkin, the ‘Cheesegrater’, and, of course, the River Thames.
We wandered around the foliage-filled atrium, and the kids loved the open air terrace. (which is totally safe by the way)  And with the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, you get fantastic views of the famous rooftops of London from almost everywhere.

The kids really enjoyed it, and Josephine could try out her new shoes by running around and doing some little ‘gymnastic’ moves on the top floor of the garden too. Personally, I love to see cities from above. It is quite fascinating and shows you how big it is but also all the things it has to offer.

In collaboration with Naturino.

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