A Visit to Paris with Kids

We previously visited Paris before we had kids. It was on our list to visit again but we weren't sure whether kids would enjoy it (or whether us parents would enjoy it!!)

Once decided to re-visit and booked our trip, we didn't plan any specific activities before going. We have learned that with young kids we prefer to travel slowly. Just explore and remember to take lots of breaks, which was easy to do in a city like Paris.

We found playgrounds where we walked, even some swings and wall climbing area along one part of the Seine river.

We really liked this playground at Square Trousseau.

Really nice playground and park at Trousseau Square.

Dessert and snacks were always available at all the cafes in the city but we also brought a few snacks with us.

We stopped in at Bread & Roses for some much needed snacks, coffee and even a delicious mushroom quiche!

The kids enjoyed running around at different gardens and the entrance area of the Lourve.

The weather during our trip was pretty good but we did get a couple of rainy days. We all prefer being indoors when it's rainy.

We spent the morning at a relaxing brunch place called, Immersion. Kids enjoyed the waffles, juice and French toast! 

Check out my blog post on Immersion.

Then we found an interesting museum, one of the museums that are actually open on a Tuesday. It's good to note that many museums are closed on Tuesday in Paris!

Check out my blog on Musée en Herbe.

Our visit was during the Winter holidays so there were a few Christmas markets to check out as well!

The first time we visited "Marche Gourmand" it was really packed so we just walked through and got some snacks. The second time we went was much better. Fewer people meant shorter lines!

There was also a nice market area and Paris 2024 Olympics set up with a Ferris Wheel and other activities for the kids.

Something that was a bit of a challenge was taking the metro with the stroller. It's not very stroller friendly with all the stairs at all of the stations we got on and off at. The entrance to the subway with kids and a stroller was challenging. It was often crowded and the paper ticket had trouble being read. Will be interesting to see how all the Paris 2024 Olympics visitors will do with the Subway!

I felt so proud of myself surviving taking kids on the subway after we visited "Arc de Triomphe".

We walked back on the "Fancy" street of Avenue des Champs-Élysées and at the end of the street took the subway! 

We loved our stay in the City of Lights! The travel stroller helped a lot with long walks and exploring the city. We even visited the Eiffel Tower (stay tuned for my blog post on visiting the Eiffel Tower). Paris might seem daunting, but it is possible to enjoy a city vacation with kids!

Don't forget your snacks! 

Mazarin Day!

We have seen the Mazarin all over swedish cafes. It's a popular Swedish fika snack! 

The classic mazarin is like a little tart, with a shortcrust exterior, filled with almond and topped with glaze. It's named after a man called "Jules Mazarin" who was a cardinal and prime minister.

It can be flavored in different ways, like with berry or lemon.

With or without a coffee, it's delicious.

On March 13th (and on Jan 10th), Swedes celebrate Mazarin's Day or Mazarindagen by eating these treats! Cafes all over Swede  will have these delicious snacks available to grab for fika! Have you tried a mazarin?

Don't forget your snacks!

LIDO Riga

A nice and affordable way to try local Latvian cuisine while in Riga, is to visit a LIDO restaurant!

A chain cafeteria style restaurant, with many locations around Riga, Lido offers drinks, soup, lunches and dessert that are perfect for budget travelers, families and just about anyone who wants a bite to eat in Riga.

It may be "Cafeteria-style"where you serve yourself the drinks, soup and dessert but the food quality is much better than we expected. Food was delicious, traditional Latvian dishes like garlic butter rye bread, typical salads and grilled meats and stews.

The staff help dish out the meat, fish or veggie dish you choose. They don't ask how much you want, but you can tell them.

The customer serves themselves the drinks like LIDO Beer or Mead, wine, coffee and even fresh squeezed orange juice (soo delicious and kidapproved)!

Depending on the location you visit, there is usually lots of seating in the restaurant too!

You don't need to stop for a meal, you can even just come for a coffee and dessert to enjoy.

If you're looking for a quick, affordable lunch, snack or dinner option in Riga, check out a LIDO location! It's kid-friendly and a great option for budget travelers as well!

Don't forget your snacks!

LIDO

Elizabetes iela 65, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia

Check out their website for more information.

Things to do in Lanzarote

We visited Lanzarote, in the Canary Islands in the month of October and had a lovely time in the sunshine and warm weather!

If you're planning to visit the island, here are some ideas of things to do during your stay!

Beach day

The kids enjoyed playing at the beach closest to where we stayed! There are few beaches that you need to drive to.

Shopping

Lots of snacks and souvenirs to choose from. We like collecting a small souvenir whenever we travel.

Hike a volcano

There are different volcanos to hike up! We went to Montana Roja! Beautiful views of the island.

Scenic drive

We did several drives, one to the northern part of the island and back which was harder for the kids. Shorter ones to see the Black Sand Beach were more doable.

Eat some delicious food

Sunrise/sunset stroll

We loved doing early morning or evening walks along the boardwalk. That's when the temperature was cooler and most people were still snoozing or already doing other evening activities. 

Scuba diving 

There are more than few dive shops around the island. If you're interested in trying scuba diving that's possible but also if you have been certified, you can check out the islands dive sites. We dived with Bonito diving. This shop is in Flamingo Beach.

Visit Timanfaya National Park

Read more about our visit to Timanfaya 

We stayed on Lanzarote for 2 weeks and really enjoyed the warm weather and sunshine 🌞 We have such great memories from our trip!

Don't forget your snacks!

Coffee Academy Riga

Located in Riga, Latvia, Coffee Academy is a pop-up cafe in a shopping center that offers delicious drinks, chocolate and other snacks.

We visited on a weekday evening and had a really nice Coffee break after a day strolling around the city.

The staff were friendly and helped with recommendations. There are a lot of different menu items to choose from at this cafe and chocolate shop. They also had Oat milk available!

Try a chocolate paired with a coffee, like a latte macchiato, or a cookie with a hot chocolate for a nice treat.

We tried the lilikoi and bailey's chocolates and they were delicious!

The cafe is spacious with plenty of indoor seating.

You can buy all things related to coffee making (italian supplier) and speciality chocolate gifts like Easter bunnies or Heart chocolates.

It was a nice spot to relax for a bit and they close at 7pm on most days.

Kids enjoyed the visit too and that's always a big plus. There was adequate space for a stroller and comfy places to sit for the little ones.

If you're in Riga, or just visiting the city, stop by Coffee Academy for a lovely coffee break with delicious drinks, chocolate and treats. It's always great to support small businesses too.

Don't forget your snacks!

Coffee Academy 

Entrance also from Ridzenes street, Audēju iela 16, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia

Check out their website for more info

Mikla Bakery Riga

Rainy days during traveling can't always be avoided but we try to make the best of them.

After some indoor time at a museum and a short walk, we found ourselves at Mikla bakery located in the city center of Riga, Latvia.

There are 2 locations of this cafe that we visited and both offer delicious drinks, pastries and friendly service! They also offer a few different milk alternatives including oat milk and pea milk (Sproud brand).

The larger location that had ample indoor seating with tables spread out around the cafe. The smaller one, closer to the Freedom Monument, has a few tables but is mostly a great spot to grab your coffee to-go. 

The first location we visited even had a place to hang jackets, which always helps in the winter when we have our thicker jackets on.

Our visit was on a weekday afternoon but the cafe was busy and bustling with customers.

They also had little budgies on display in their little cage. Kids loved seeing these birds and they also enjoyed their drinks and snacks!

There is space indoors for small strollers and it's nice to sit by the window with a group.

Feel like something more to eat? In addition to a few savory pastries, there are some salads and sandwiches that are pre-packaged available to buy as well.

We had a wonderful visit to both locations of this bakery cafe! If you're in Riga or visiting the Latvian city, mark a Mikla location on your map! With delicious pastries and coffee, you'll definitely enjoy your coffee break! 

Don't forget your snacks!

Mikla bakery

Dzirnavu iela 42, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1010, Latvia

Check out their instagram for more information.

Crumble Cake Riga

While wandering the cobblestoned streets of Old Town in Riga, we found ourselves at a lovely cafe called Crumble Cake! 

After another great day out with the kids full of park time, walking around and checking out a museum, we were ready to sit and relax. We happily settled into a cozy corner in the cafe that even had a "family table" for 3+ people. 

We tried a couple of cakes along with coffee and everything were delicious!

The Signature Cake made with apple, brown sugar and flour is also nut-free and it was a hit with the little ones! They enjoyed it so much and ate it up!

The cherry, dark chocolate crumble cake was also really nice! The delicious homemade crumb cakes were served warm which was a nice touch.

You order your cakes and coffee at the front and pay before you leave. They bring your order to your table so you can put jackets and things down and relax. 

The coffee comes with cinnamon cookie. Those homemade cookies are so good we had to buy a bag to take with us!

Really great, friendly service (even with tired kiddos) and they explained what each of the cakes were before we ordered.

The cafe staff said they usually have more cakes out, but it was nearing the end of the day. 

They also have seasonal cakes! In the Summer, they've had Strawberry yogurt cheesecake. Pumpkin spice in the Fall, and even black currant or Plum cake.  

There are some rules for being at the cafe - which they have at the tables, so it's good to respect them. They are an independent cafe and depending on the day can get busy. 

Are you visiting Riga or maybe live in the city and enjoy coffee breaks or delicious homemade cake? Visit cozy cafe, Crumble Cake in Riga's Old Town! You won't be disappointed. It's always great to support local businesses.

Don't forget your snacks!

Crumble Cake

Jāņa iela 14, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia

Check out their Instagram for more info