Category: Wanderlust

Flying with Kids

Nothing drives fear into the heart of this experienced traveller like the thought of flying with a kid.  We did it successfully back in September, on our trip to NYC, but that was a pretty short flight.  What if we want to go a bit further?

A friend and her 7-month old babe are flying to San Francisco this week, and I’ve been thinking about them.  That’s a 5 hour flight from Toronto (longer if you do a layover).  Yikes!  In order to try and help her out, I compiled a list of blog articles I’ve read about travelling with babies:

Ten Tips for Traveling with a Baby from Cup of Jo

Tips for Flying with a Baby from Hannah of akhmatova

Traveling with a Toddler from You + Me

Up, Up and Away from Coos and Ahhs

A bajillion handy articles from the Canadian site, Have Baby will Travel

And in this weekend’s NY Times, there’s a great article about flying with children.

Have you flown with your little ones?  How did it go?  Do you have any more tips?

[image via here]

Brooklyn’s Fort Greene Neighbourhood

We’ve been in NYC for about a week and a half now (of our three week trip), and I would love to share some of our adventures and my travel picks with you.

First up is Fort Greene, the neighbourhood in Brooklyn where we’re staying. We LOVE it here. Residential tree-lined streets with gorgeous brownstones and old estate homes, great restaurants, Fort Greene Park and its green space, excellent access to subway lines, the only Target in Brooklyn, etc, etc. And everything is extremely family-friendly.  You can’t throw a stone around here without hitting a baby stroller. When people say that Leslieville is the “Brooklyn of Toronto”, this is what they must be referring to. This area certainly feels like home, but better.

Our favourite spots in Fort Greene (so far):

The Smoke Joint and Not Ray’s Pizza for delivery – they’re both really fast, cheap, and delicious. The Greene Grape has amazing gourmet groceries and coffee. Habana Outpost offers crazy-good Cuban food in a family-friendly atmosphere. They have an outdoor courtyard with a cool fountain, where kids run around and people chill in hammocks. The beer list at the Brooklyn Public House is impressive, and they didn’t blink when we brought our baby to happy hour.

Butterfly Nail Plaza is a no-frills but clean NY-style nail bar, where I got a great inexpensive manicure. Fort Greene Park is a good spot for a picnic and people watching. There’s a farmers’ market there on Saturdays with fresh produce, dairy, breads, fish, and more. The independent Greenlight Bookstore has an excellent selection of books by local writers (including Nicole Krauss and Jonathan Safran Foer), lots of books about Brooklyn and NYC, and great cards.

I have a few more great spots to share with you, but I’ll save them for their own posts later in the week.

[pic of Dekalb St in Fort Greene taken by me]

 

The Best Travel Websites Ever

See… I told you I couldn’t stay away for long!  I saw this list of the Best Travel Websites Ever on the Guardian’s website and had to share.  It really is the best roundup of “insider” travel websites I’ve seen in a long time.  Peruse, and enjoy!  (I might be back soon with more info about a few of these that are personal faves.  Otherwise, I’m still on holiday!)

Au Revoir, Mes Amis

Yay – it’s finally vacation time!  Ian has just started his 12 weeks of parental leave, and we’re hitting the road.  First stop – visiting my parents, then his parents.  Then we’re off to the cottage we rented near Bancroft.  We’re back in Toronto for 10 days at the end of August, and then to Brooklyn.  It’s going to be a whirlwind, and as I’m sitting here with a packing list as long as my arm, I’m wondering if it’s all just a little too much.  But I’m always game for an adventure, so onward!

I won’t be blogging regularly until we’re settled back in at home at the end of September.  But I’ll probably pop online here and there to keep you updated, and share anything I find that I just can’t keep to myself.

Have a wonderful rest of your summer, whatever you’re up to.

Spectacular Hotel in Uruguay

Isn’t this place jaw-droppingly gorgeous?  It’s Playa Vik Jose Ignacio, a beachfront retreat in Uruguay.  It features 2- and 3-suite residences, and there’s amazing art everywhere (including an Anselm Keifer sculpture and an installation by Pablo Atchugarry).  If I’m ever in Uruguay (which, let’s face it, is not likely to happen any time soon), then I’ll have to check it out.

[via Tablet]

There’s More to Buffalo Than Shopping

I bookmarked this article in the Toronto Star a while ago and kind of forgot about it.  But I’m glad I’m revisiting, as it’s a good one!  Titled “How I Overcame my Prejudice Against Buffalo,” it features all kinds of cool ideas for a weekend getaway to Buffalo, NY.  Most of us just head there for the shopping, but there’s much more.  I knew the Albright Knox Gallery was worth a visit, but hadn’t heard about Allentown, the bohemian artsy part of town full of bars, restaurants, and shops.

Next time I head to Buffalo for my outlet-mall and Target fix, I’ll be sure to check out the Blue Monk bar… just look at that beer list (pictured above)!  Ian went with a friend last year and said they don’t serve ketchup – just different kinds of spiced mayo for your frites.  Amazing.

And after last year’s trip to Fallingwater, I think a visit to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House Complex is a must.