Playa Pilar Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo Vacations in Cuba Before I booked, I didn’t realize that Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo are essentially just hotel strips. No town, no shops, and no Cubans… Except, of course, for those working at the resorts. There were plenty of excursions. But, with a baby in tow, I prefer to do our own thing on our own time. I don’t want the worry of throwing a busload of people off schedule. Plus, it’s enough to stay put in a resort for a week, we want to do at least a little exploring by ourselves. So I’m glad I read about Playa Pilar, or Pilar Beach, before we went ..read more

The view from the ferry dock on Centre Island… Without a doubt, Centre Island is one of our favourite spots in Toronto. And the ferry ride to get there not only delights toddlers, but is part of the feeling that you’re escaping the city when you’re still in the heart of it. Well, once said toddler gets over the disappointment of taking a ferry and not a *fairy* The best sign ever… Centre Island & Toronto Islands Park There are very few weeping Willow trees left in Toronto. Their destructive root systems mean the city cut most of them down years ago. So the Willows swaying in the breeze ar ..read more

Centreville was my absolute favourite place to visit when I was a kid. With the now-closed Ontario Place being its only competition at the time, that wasn’t a particularly tight race. But my kids have traveled extensively, and spent a great deal of time at the Holy Grail of theme parks – Walt Disney World. But their favourite Toronto attraction? Centre Island. The charming Centreville amusement park is an absolute must-visit for a trip to Toronto with kids. The Toronto Island Ferry, not “Fairy” Just getting to Centre Island is part of the fun for my family. I laughed when my then-two-year-old ..read more

All About Baby Club Med… Baby Club Med is an optional program for babies and toddlers ages four to 23 months that is available at select Club Med locations around the world. Our daughter was two when we visited Club Med Ixtapa Pacific, and the G.O.s that run the baby program there at the time were international Early Childhood Education students. Photo courtesy Club Med We were first-time helicopter parents who had never left their baby with anyone other than family before. And we were able to hang out and use the facilities with our daughter so we could spy on observe the G.O.s in action. Ul ..read more

What’s scarier than snakes? Ever since the goofy movie Snakes on a Plane was released, travel writers far and wide have come up with their own variation of the title for a piece they’ve written.  I am no exception.  Once upon a time I wrote Toddler on a Plane. I was inspired to write it after the second flight we took with our daughter when she was no longer content to be held on a lap. Breastfeeding on a Plane? Yikes We flew with our daughter as a lap infant for three return flights. Technically she was a toddler for the last two. I was no longer nursing by the time we tra ..read more

I’m so pleased to share Amy Ballantyne’s story. She traveled to Japan with a baby at 7.5mos pregnant and with her 16-month-old son. They had a great time! Making new friends in Japan… Japan with a Baby… What an amazing place to travel. It has been a year since we traveled to Japan with a baby but an experience we will never forget. Japan is filled with kind, generous, and helpful people. They were excited to take care of the travelers to their beautiful country. 10 Days in Tokyo We travelled to Tokyo for 10 days for a baseball tournament and decided to bring our 16 month-old with us (along wit ..read more

Swimming with Dolphins, Dolphin Cove Jamaica Swimming with Dolphins in Jamaica Swimming with dolphins has always been a dream of mine. I was very fortunate to do it twice. The best time was at Dolphin Cove in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, when my family and I were guests of the Jamaican Tourist Board. Swimming with dolphins may not necessarily be an activity that comes across as baby friendly, but Dolphin Cove is definitely a place you can relax and enjoy with baby, while other members of your family are enjoying the more active pursuits that Dolphin Cove has to offer. Admission is Free for Under 6s If ..read more

I LOVE LOVE this guest post from Laura Siciliano-Rosen. I’ve been to Jamaica a few times and have always gone the resort route. Laura’s trip off the beaten path for a remote Jamaica vacation with a toddler sounds like a wonderful adventure. A few bumps here and there, but those happen even when you’re headed straight to a resort! I’m delighted she’s sharing her trip to Port Antonio with us. Remote Jamaica Vacation with a Toddler Some trips with a toddler are easier than others. After several successful jaunts—Denmark, Sweden, Mexico, Louisville, Charleston—with our little guy, my husband, Sco ..read more

Work harder, Mama! Horseback Riding in Jamaica When you think of Jamaica with little kids, you envision a beach right? Jamaica’s star attractions are definitely the beautiful beaches. But also? How much Jamaican culture embraces families. Once upon a time, thanks to the Jamaican Tourist Board, my daughter and I had a wonderful experience at the Half Moon Equestrian Centre that has really stuck with both of us. So if you’re heading down to Jamaica with your kids, if you’re near to Montego Bay this is something a little different, not too expensive, and A LOT of fun. Half Moon Equestrian Centre ..read more

She remembers the scent of the cool and damp Scottish air as she exited the airport every August. It felt so different from the hot and muggy month she left at home. She remembers straining to decipher the accent at first, and by the end of the trip she had one too. She remembers family, and comfort food, and road trips across green hills, or train trips to busy busy cities with tons of pigeons and giant lions to climb. She remembers always looking the wrong way before crossing the street. What He Remembers… He remembers eating sweet cereal as a treat, and the family treks to the grocery store ..read more