Family Adventures in Norway

Family trips to the beautiful countries of Scandinavia are a hot ticket these days.  The incredible vistas, easy walking cities, and fluent English locals all add to what make Denmark, Sweden and Norway some of the most coveted European places to visit.  This summer, I took my children on a tour of Norway to show them a part of beautiful northern Europe and trace our family history.  At the same time, Melissa Lee, my friend and a travel advisor at Royal Travel and Tours took her kids to the capitals of Sweden and Denmark. Here we share our adventures.

First off, we were both fortunate enough to snag amazing kids airfares on SAS that flew nonstop from Chicago to Copenhagen.  The Airbus planes were new and well appointed with three separate and comfortable cabin options: economy, SAS plus, and business.

Oslo, Norway -

Oslo is the smallest of the three Scandinavian capitols but its intimate size only enhances its charm and makes it such an easy walking city when traveling with young children. Book at room at the centrally located, and Signature preferred, Hotel Continental, which is just a block away from the Palace and close to the waterfront as well as the best shopping and restaurants.

For the adrenaline junky, a summertime visit to Oslo must include a zipline ride at Holmenkollen ski jump, site of the 1952 Olympic winter games and several world championships. From the top of this landmark you can enjoy the best views in Oslo then descend 1,185 feet with the same speed and sensation as the ski jumpers.

Next stop is the Viking Ship Museum where you can see the world’s oldest best-preserved Viking Ships as well as treasures and household items found in Viking tombs buried around the Oslo Fjord centuries ago.

One can easily explore Oslo on foot to see some of its national treasures.  For example, the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, which opened in 2008 and is designed to look like a great iceberg coming out of the Sea, is an architectural gem and fun to walk across. 

A visit to the National Museum is easy for young children, due to its smaller size, who can see works from the great Norwegian artist Edvard Munch as well as other impressionists such as Cezanne and Gaugin. 

A fun family activity is to stop by the Palace at 1:30 pm any day of the week to witness the changing of the guards.  Kids will love that there are no gates out front and you can walk right up to the front of the Palace. A beautiful garden is set behind and is a lovely place to stroll or have a picnic.

You cannot spend time in Oslo without wandering through Vigeland Sculpture Park, one of Norway’s most popular tourist attractions and the world’s largest sculpture park made by a single artist.  For young children who need a break from sight seeing there is also an incredible playground within this park.

Copenhagen, Denmark –

Hotel d’Angleterre is a luxurious oasis next to Copenhagen’s most fashionable streets and within walking distance to many must-see attractions, quality shopping and the best Danish dining experiences.  The hotel’s pool and Michelin-starred, family-friendly restaurant, mean the whole family can enjoy the amenities and offerings of the hotel.

Copenhagen is home to the world’s second oldest amusement park in the world, Tivoli Gardens, which opened its doors in 1873.  The park today is home to thrilling rollercoasters, a wide range of restaurants offering fast-food to high-end dining, outdoor concerts from world-class performers, theatre and dance performances and beautifully landscaped gardens.  We spent a morning here checking out all of the rollercoaster and had lunch at a beautiful sit-down restaurant where the adults had wine and fresh shrimp open-faced sandwiches. 

For another perspective of Copenhagen, we boarded a canal cruise to see the colorful sights of the old waterfront shipping district of Nyhavn and were wowed by all the modern design and architecture of the The National Gallery and Opera House, the Christiansborg Palace and the iconic Little Mermaid statue based on the popular Hans Christian Andersen fairytale. 

Nyhavn (before Canal Cruise)

Stockholm, Sweden –

The Grand Hotel in Stockholm was the elegant and historical waterfront hotel to begin our grand tour of the Scandinavian capitals.  Its location in the city center between the Royal Palace and Old Town meant we could walk to many of the sites and were never far from the user-friendly public transportation.

Stockholm is a city made up of 14 island in the Baltic Sea archipelago.  A short ferry ride from Old Town is the island of Djurgården,  a veritable wonderland full of museums and entertainment from Viking history and modern art to an ABBA experience and rollercoasters. 

Not to be missed are The Vasa Museum, which houses an intact 17th century Viking warship, Junibacken, an interactive museum dedicated to the world of author Astrid Lindgren and Pippi Longstocking, Moderna Museet,

Stockholm’s art and design museum featuring the most influential Scandinavian artists and Skansen, an open-air musem showcasing Swedish culture, tradition and homelife of past days. And of course, a visit to Stockholm would not be complete without checking out the new The ABBA Museum where visitors can not only see famous memorabilia and learn about the group, but also have the unique opportunity to become the 5th band member through their interactive studio experience.

The Top 5 Luxury Family Resorts

1. Eden Rock - St. Barths

Eden Rock – St Barths offers impeccable attention to detail, unparalleled levels of service and a driven commitment to creating a unique holiday for the world's elite family vacationers – all in a relaxed and good-humored way with friendly and efficient staff. The resort is located on a rocky promontory and surrounded by white coral sandy beaches, clear blue sea and a lovely coral reef full of wild sea life. Its convenient location in the heart of the island allows guests to easily stroll to the vibrant shops, boutiques, quaint bars and restaurants situated in the village of St Jean. Eden Rock - St Barths is a member of the distinguished Relais & Chateaux hotel collection. My clients receive complimentary breakfast daily during their stay and a bottle of champagne and hors d’oeuvres upon check-in.

2. The Cloister - Sea Island, Georgia

One of only 2 destinations in the U.S. to receive 4 Forbes Five-Star awards, this ocean front resort is an exceptional destination appealing to those who appreciate gracious service and heartfelt hospitality.  Sea Island is home of two of the top five resorts and one of the top five hotel spas in the Continental U.S., according to Travel + Leisure’s 2013 and 2014 World’s Best Awards. The Cloister at Sea Island is the only resort in the world to have received four Forbes Five-Star awards for six consecutive years. Located on the southeastern coast of Georgia, Sea Island features five miles of private beach, a Beach Club, tennis and squash centers, Yacht Club, Shooting School, and Camp Cloister. Well known as a family resort, Sea Island is steeped in golf tradition and is home to three championship golf courses, including Seaside, site of the PGA Tour’s McGladrey Classic, as well as the nation’s finest Golf Performance Center. Royal Travel clients will receive breakfast daily, $100 resort credit and upgrades.

3. Chatham Bars Inn - Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Quite simply, there is nothing else quite like it...it is the picture of East Coast elegance.

Chatham Bars Inn has just undergone a $100 million renovation that has left nothing untouched and includes every modern convenience and amenity that families seeking laid back luxury would want.  This Four-diamond resort offers 217 guestrooms, several with fireplaces and balconies overlooking the ocean, four restaurants, a full-service spa, white-sand private beach, heated pool and Jacuzzi, tennis, croquet, bicycling, boating, fishing, and golf. This beach side resort has won numerous awards including the prestigious Forbes Four-Star award.  It is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World and was named one of the top resorts in the world by Travel & Leisure Magazine and the best hotel on Cape Cod by Boston Magazine. Royal Travel clients will receive breakfast daily, $100 resort credit and upgrades.

4. Grand Velas - Riviera Maya, Mexico

Grand Velas Riviera Maya is the latest and most sophisticated of ultra-luxury, all-Inclusive resorts. This beach retreat rated by Forbes’ roundup of the 10 Coolest All-Inclusive Resorts, renowned deluxe spa - winner of a SpaFinder Readers’ Choice Award also includes personalized butler, concierge services, and kids and teens club. Grand Velas is the pinnacle for an all-inclusive luxury family experience. Royal Travel clients will receive a romantic dinner for two, $50 spa credit per day, private one way transfer from airport and a welcome bottle of tequila.

5. The Breakers - Palm Beach, Florida

This breathtaking oceanfront resort is located in the heart of Palm Beach island. Famous for its genuinely warm and gracious staff it is reminiscent of the French Riviera and Caribbean with 4 ocean view pools, 2 championship golf courses, 11 world-class shopping boutiques, world class spa, and 8 distinctive restaurants and lounges. The Breakers Palm Beach offers the best of Florida. Royal Travel clients will receive breakfast daily, $100 resort credit, and upgrades.

February School Break on Cape Cod: Frozen-themed family fun at Ocean Edge Resort

Raising two young daughters, I can personally say I know every word to Disney's Frozen movie, which is why I love the special Frozen package offered by Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club during February school break in Brewster, Cape Cod. This quick family friendly getaway to the Northeast is perfect during the beautiful wintertime on the Cape with a Disney-inspired Winter Wonderland.

Over February School Vacation, February 13-23, the resort has a wonderful selection of activities for families with an action-packed travel deal. If your daughters love Elsa as much as mine, they will love the Frozen-themed scavenger hunts, kid’s costumes, ice cream sundaes, and art & crafts sessions! With two indoor pools, family karaoke, movie nights, and hip hop classes - the little ones will have endless options for entertainment.

While the kids are having their fun, its nice that Ocean Edge has something going on for parents too. There is a Healthy cooking demonstration by their Executive Chef Phil Flath with wine and chocolate tastings that would be perfect for Valentine’s Day! Since we all eat a little more sweets than we should during Valentine's Day, we can work it off in their fitness room that hosts daily classes including yoga, water aerobics, spinning, and designated adults-only swim.

I have fond memories of visiting the Northeast in the Wintertime when I was a kid because of all there is to do during the chilly winter season. It's great how Ocean Edge offers a little bit of everything for families traveling to the Cape over February school break! 

• For more information on the Frozen package, contact Kendra at kthornton@royal-travel.com.

The Plantation on Crystal River

With its warm weather and vast array of fun activities, Florida is the perfect destination for a family getaway. This was my first time staying at the Plantation on Crystal River, a hidden gem located along Florida’s Nature Coast (NW corner of the state).

When staying at a waterfront location, there are so many aquatic activities to do during the day that the whole family will enjoy. Choice Hotels is rapidly expanding its Ascend Collection of independent hotels that cater to travelers looking for unique travel experiences. A great example is at the Plantation on Crystal River, which is surrounded by more than 25,000 surface acres of lakes, rivers, wildlife refuges and state parks. 

What makes this place so special is that the Plantation on Crystal River is the only place in the world where you can learn about and legally swim with endangered West Indian Manatees. I visited during the winter months, which is when the largest concentration of manatees in the world migrates to the area to enjoy the bay’s warmer waters. With over 600 manatees gathering here (approximately 10% of the total population) it is a once in-a-lifetime opportunity to swim alongside these majestic creatures.

Kings Bay is made of over 40 springs where manatees gather including The Three Sisters-which has been featured in both the National Geographic Magazine and the Discovery Channel’s North American Series. 

Crystal River is one of the most popular destinations in Florida for recreational scalloping. As I was taking my tour around the bay, I noticed a family preparing for their guided scalloping adventure. The kids were having so much fun exploring the waters for scallop shells. After a long day of hunting for scallops, your guide takes you back to the marina where the Chef at the hotel restaurant cooks them for you!

I stopped in the hotel restaurant -West 82º Bar and Grill-for a quick lunch before heading out to the Adventure Center, where you can rent fishing boats, kayaks, snorkeling gear, canoes for further exploration of the bay. 

he resort is also home to the The Original Golf School™ and a state-of-the-art Spa, and a lagoon-style pool. There is truly something for everyone at the Plantation on Crystal River.

Healthy Habits: Traveling with Family

My family usually sticks to healthy habits. All my kids are active and enjoy sports. At home, I pack healthy snacks for them to enjoy at school, and we regularly share healthy meals together. When we go on vacation, it isn’t as easy to stick to a healthy routine, but I’ve found some tricks that help us stay healthy no matter where our journeys take us.

1. Drink Plenty of Water

Never limit the amount of water your family drinks when on vacation. A few extra bathroom breaks aren’t nearly as inconvenient as the discomfort and dangers of dehydration. This is especially true when traveling on hot days or spending time outdoors in the sunlight. My family always takes along personal water bottles. On especially warm days, I often freeze the full bottles before we head out.

2. If you’re traveling with a small child or a baby, try to keep their surroundings familiar. Any favorites should come along for the trip. Make sure you have any comforting items packed such as a blanket that is often used or toys that are always in the crib. Keep everything as close to normal to promote smooth sailing while traveling. If necessary, pack everything but the kitchen sink! Even try keeping their sleep routines very close to what they do on their home schedule. (Many hotels in Walt Disney World, a top traveling destination for families, offer quiet hours to ensure a proper night’s rest!)

3. Play for Fun and Exercise

Play together as a family. This is important all the time, and on vacation it can help your family get necessary exercise. Have races and competitions to help everyone stay active. My family likes to play together at the hotel pool. We’ll compete to see who can swim underwater the longest or who can swim across the pool the fastest. We even have splashing contests with one another.

4. Stay Safe

When traveling it will help keep you and your family germ free to pack a hygiene travel kit/first-aid kit. Make sure you have things like hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes for furniture, and baby wipes for when you’re not close to soap and water. Also pack band aids, antibiotic cream, and a pain-free cut and scrape wash in case of accidents.

5. Eat Right When Eating Out

Eating a healthy breakfast before going to theme parks will give you more control over the food your family consumes that day. A nutritional breakfast will give you a good start to the day as well as give you lasting energy instead of the quick burst received from sugar-filled foods. Many hotels have a healthy continental breakfast with foods to choose from such as fresh fruits, milk and juices that’s included in the room rates.

Eating out is a necessity on vacation. I like to use the same guidelines when on vacation that I use when eating out near home. I research to find restaurants that serve locally produced ingredients. I also try to find places that offer healthy menu options. Places that serve Mediterranean cuisine or offer vegetarian options are great places to eat.

6. Use Hotel Amenities

Many hotels offer fitness amenities. I like to learn about these amenities before booking my stay. As a family, we try to always stay at hotels with nice fitness facilities.

You have to be intentional about keeping your family fit and healthy. When you make a point of keeping to a healthy routine on vacation, everyone will have a better time. I hope you find my special tricks helpful the next time you take a family trip.