Amsterdam Bike Trip with Kids

Today I am revisiting one of my favorite European excursions ever. Three summers ago, we stayed in Amsterdam for a week. We spent most of the time visiting relatives and sightseeing. Day after day, we discussed whether or not we should take a bike trip into the countryside. My little guy was sick, my middle was ‘not in the mood’ and all my mom could see was danger (no helmets, fast cars…).

My dad and stepmom, thankfully, insisted that no Holland vacation was complete without a bike trip. To this day, we still talk about how it was the best day of our entire European vacation!

Here are some photos from our time in Amsterdam:

We stayed at Mae’s B & B on Herenstraat in the Jordaan district – a lovely place in a great location owned by two cool guys, Ken & Vlad. Here are the sisters on the hotel stoop.

On the way to rent our bikes, and taking the ferry across the canal to our starting point.

Broek in Waterland, the picturesque village where we stopped to have pancakes just north of Amsterdam.

Pannenkoekenhuis (Pancake House) with Bompa, and other vignettes from our stroll through the village.

Our scenic ride back to Amsterdam (the ride back is twice as long…but worth it!)

It took us about 5 hours from door to door. The girls, who were 7 and 10 at the time, were able to make it the whole way. And the little guy was a trooper, fever and all. The bucket in the front of our bike is called a baakfiets, and they are brilliant. I would totally get one for home, but we have hills in Connecticut. There is a reason people bike so much in flat Holland!

If you ever have the chance to visit Amsterdam and go on this bike trip, do it! You will remember it forever.

18 Jan 2013By: Barbara Rucci Category: Explore, Featured, Outdoor, Play, Summer, Travel Tags: Amsterdam, bike trip, Europe

Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade

Every year, we are lucky enough to see the Macy’s parade from my dad’s apartment. It is a complete and utter luxury that we try not to take for granted. A slice of Americana that is so festive and unique. Our favorite part by far is watching the marching bands. Top bands from all over the country are invited to represent their state. This year they came from High Schools and Colleges from Tennessee, Ohio, Florida, Texas. The NYPD marching band is always there, and this year the US Air Force band marched. Listening and watching these bands always gives us goose bumps.

A little back history on how the parade got started: In 1924, Macy’s was already a leading department store in Manhattan. As a way for its immigrant workers to celebrate their new American culture, Macy’s organized their first parade. That first year there were no oversized balloons marching down the sidewalks. Instead, live animals were borrowed from the Central Park Zoo. For various reasons, including the safety issues of parading live animals, the parade began to feature balloons in 1927. Goodyear Rubber and Tire made the balloons, the first of which was Felix the Cat. Balloons are inflated the night before the parade outside of the Museum of Natural History, and the public is invited to watch (another fun parade event).

If you aren’t one of the lucky few who has a friend or relative living along the parade route, Time Out New York has some great tips on the best spots to view the parade.

Oh, and another of our favorite parts…the cheers that errupt for the pooper-scooper men who follow behind the horses!

Let the holidays begin.

25 Nov 2012By: Barbara Rucci Category: Explore, Featured, Outdoor, Play, Travel Tags: Macy's Parade, New York City, Thanksgiving

Jump Rope Rhymes

With spring in the air, our minds are one step away from summer. I pulled out these photos of my little guy learning to jump rope last year with his cousin and uncle. Here’s a great book of old-fashioned jump-rope rhymes that you can buy and teach your kids. Or google jump rope rhymes and you will find many more like this:

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, tie your shoe,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, that will do!

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, go upstairs,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say your prayers,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn out the lights,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say good-night!