Family & Kids | Viator Travel Blog

Rome’s Gladiator School

9. October 2009

The Gladiator School (Scuola di Gladiotori) in Rome is nestled very appropriately off the ancient Roman road of the Appia Antica, where cars and buses still roar over the original paving stones that make up this ancient via. The school is like a genuine little fortress, complete with its wooden ramparts constructed from sharpened wooden logs.

15 Tips for Traveling with Kids

7. October 2009

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Traveling with little and big kids, ages five and up, can really be a hoot. Whether taking my 18-year-old niece on her first New York City trip or Burning Man festival, or planning a Crater Lake expedition with my 6-year-old stepdaughter, adapting my usual travel habits makes trips different and more enjoyable for me, too.

Horrible History: Edinburgh’s Dark Past

29. September 2009

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OK, it’s confession time. I know that tourist boards want to promote the positive and – honestly – I really do love all the good things. But sometimes I just feel in need of something a little…darker. Fortunately, we’re in Edinburgh. Now this is a city which has (it seems) more than its fair share of rogues and gruesome tales. So Simon and I take a deep breath and head up to the Royal Mile for the start of the Ghost Hunter tour ("A 5-Star Scare Factor").

The Beatles on Tour

17. September 2009

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I'll start off with a confession, I am becoming hopelessly addicted to Beatles Rock Band, I would play it eight days a week. My brother and I are big Beatles fans, so naturally we got the game, and despite genetic advantages, are still trying to get our high harmonies in sync. Let's just say I have new respect for the Beatles' skills since they could score a double or triple fab every time, and we are still trying to get a couple per song consistently. Still my brother's rock band guitar gently weeps.

Europe in Miniature

14. September 2009

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While the European Union is developing in an ongoing process of enlargement, I was curious about the miniature version. I wondered, what on earth would possess anyone to visit a mini-Europe theme park in Brussels? And what had me baffled even more, why did anyone build such a thing?

Southern Iceland in a Day

11. September 2009

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During the perpetual light of Iceland's summer, people like to get out of town. Leaving their posts at their city desk jobs for weeks at a time, people load up the car with supplies, strap in their pretty blonde children, and merge with the summer traffic. Since the completion of the national ring road in 1974 Icelanders have collectively set out to explore every inhabitable corner of their dramatic country. The 1,339km (832 mile) spin around Route 1 really is the ultimate road trip.

Tips for Visiting Rome with Kids

6. September 2009

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Perhaps you’ve heard that Rome isn’t the most hospitable place for children and families, but don’t be fooled! Families with children of all ages will find no shortage of interesting family-friendly activities around nearly every corner in Rome.

Cruising the Canals of Paris

26. August 2009

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When your feet are tired from climbing all those stairs in the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame, try a nice relaxing cruise along two of the most fascinating waterways in Paris, the Canal St Martin and the River Seine. I love a good boat trip, and jumped at the chance to take a Paris canal tour for a few hours of blissful floating through some of my favourite Paris scenery.

Maui: Just the Ticket for Beach Novices

20. August 2009

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Maui seemed suspiciously easy. It could be reached in five hours via a non-stop flight from San Francisco, on the airline that awards me bonus miles for my travel. There would be no issues with language, immigration, food, water, weather, currency, or driving on the wrong side of the road. What wasn’t there to like, other than the possibility that the inviting stream we had waded into would gather speed and carry us over a lovely waterfall and into oblivion.

Five Great Cities for Children

18. August 2009

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As a general rule, children and cities don’t tend to mix. A family holiday can be far less stressful when it’s restricted to a resort or quiet countryside area. But there are some cities in the world that are jam-packed with child-friendly attractions and activities. Singapore, Sydney, London, Copenhagen & Los Angeles are arguably the world best five.