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Posted by Danielle 27 June 2025 11 July 2025
Where to eat in Edinburgh Scotland

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Posted by Danielle 28 June 2025 28 June 2025
Danielle From Ciao Family Travel

Ciao! I’m Danielle!

 

I’m an American mom raising my 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy.

After traveling to over 48 countries, I’ve figured out how to make family travel meaningful and rewarding! I spend hours on hours researching my trips and am ready to pass all that along to you!

DESTINATIONS
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We’ve tried so many games over the years, and thes We’ve tried so many games over the years, and these are the ones that have made the cut!

We started bringing games on our vacations about eight years ago…and we’ve never stopped. They’re perfect for winding down after a long day, keeping everyone entertained while waiting for food at a restaurant, or for a midday break at the park. 

Some of our forever favorites are Spot It, Qwixx (!!), Pass the Pigs, and Monopoly Deal. Comment “stocking” and I’ll send you the full list with links!

They’re the perfect size to toss in a bag (and a stocking!), they’re cheap, and the kind of games you’ll actually use for years.

👋🏻 Hi! I’m Danielle, an American mom raising our 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy. 🇮🇹

I share our family travels with an emphasis on unique and educational experiences. So glad you’re here! 💛

#familytraveltips #travelwithkids #lifeinitaly #expatinitaly #familytravel #stockingstuffers
At least that’s what the internet loves to tell us At least that’s what the internet loves to tell us… 🙄

And it’s such an impossible guilt trip. 😒
We can’t read every book, see every landmark, or have every experience in the world…and that’s okay! 

Choosing adventures that fit your budget and your season of life is normal and enough!!

I’d love to explore more of Asia and South America, but they’re far from us and more expensive (the price of 6 airline tickets! 😅) AND there are so many amazing experiences here in Europe that are cheaper and easier to get to. 

I was talking with my son the other day in the car when he told me how badly he wants to visit China. I said that maybe one day we could go as a family, but if we never do he can go on his own when he’s older. 

He turned to me with the biggest smile and said, “Ok, I’ll send you a postcard.” 🥰

👋🏻 Hi! I’m Danielle, an American mom raising our 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy. 🇮🇹

I share our family travels with an emphasis on unique and educational experiences. So glad you’re here! 💛

#familytraveltips #travelwithkids #lifeinitaly #expatinitaly
If you’re like me and use November and December to If you’re like me and use November and December to plan your trips for the upcoming year, here at some couple trips you’ll definitely want to consider! 

I’d go back to any of these places in a heartbeat. 😍

A few more destinations on our couple’s-trip-wish-list are…
1. Svalbard, Norway
2. Tunisia (Tunis, Carthage, and a night in the desert!)
3. Lofoten Islands, Norway
4. Basque Country 
5. Jutland, Denmark 
6. Berlin, Germany
7. York and Lake District, UK

Have you been to any of these places? 
Where else would you add to my list?

👋🏻 Hi! I’m Danielle, an American mom raising our 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy. 🇮🇹

I share our family travels with an emphasis on unique and educational experiences. So glad you’re here! 💛

#familytraveltips #travelwithkids #lifeinitaly #expatinitaly
Two years ago I heard something that completely re Two years ago I heard something that completely reshaped how I thought about raising confident kids: competence builds confidence, not praise. 🤯

Positive affirmations have had their spot in the limelight, but research suggests they’re actually NOT enough. 

Building real confidence comes when kids master a variety of skills: cooking their own pasta, ordering their own food at a restaurant, unloading the dishwasher, or navigating their way through an airport or subway system. (I’m still obsessed with “The Anxious Generation.” 😆) 

Travel is a great way to build confidence, but honestly it’s the small, everyday tasks that truly make the biggest difference. 

I remind myself often that every time I let my kids do something on their own or teach them a new skill, I’m showing them they’re capable…And that’s the foundation of real confidence. ✨

Up next on my reading list is “Hunt, Gather, Parent.” Has anyone read it? 

👋🏻 Hi! I’m Danielle, an American mom raising our 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy. 🇮🇹

I share our family travels with an emphasis on unique and educational experiences. So glad you’re here! 💛

#familytraveltips #travelwithkids #lifeinitaly #expatinitaly
The most underrated tourist spot in Florence…😮 I The most underrated tourist spot in Florence…😮

I don’t know why this palace isn’t more well known, because to me it’s totally on par with Versailles and Schönbrunn. Truly!! ✨

Plus, the fact that it was home to the Medici family means every corner is absolutely soaked in history. (And don’t even get me started on the Boboli Gardens. ⛲️ They’re incredible.)

If you want to go deeper than just the “big hits” when traveling, don’t forget to check out the @gaido.app ! 😍 It’s an incredible resource for planning your itinerary, and it’s also a fantastic place to book a private tour with exceptional guides. (They’re all hand-picked and truly such great quality!)

Have you been to Pitti Palace? Or is this going on your list now?!

👋🏻 Hi! I’m Danielle, an American mom raising our 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy. 🇮🇹

I share our family travels with an emphasis on unique and educational experiences. So glad you’re here! 💛

#familytraveltips #travelwithkids #lifeinitaly #expatinitaly
✨Here’s a full itinerary for the greatest girls tr ✨Here’s a full itinerary for the greatest girls trip ever! (Trust me, that’s not an exaggeration!!) 

📍Dinan - The most adorable, medieval French town! Just enjoy exploring all the streets and the old port. Thursday morning there is a fantastic market that has been happening for centuries! 🤩 DON’T miss my favorite French pastry from this region the kouign amann. Our favorite was from Steve McKouign. 😋

📍Saint Malo - Walk the ramparts, take a dip in the Bon Secours swimming pool (it fills up with ocean water at high tide!!), admire the stained glass at Saint-Vincent Cathedral, and relax on the beach. 🌊 For lunch get crepes at Le Corps de Garde. 🍽️

📍Mont Saint Michel - This is an absolutely incredible island town/abbey. ✨ Wander the streets, tour the abbey, and explore the mudflats…a tour guide will even show you the quicksand! 

📍Arromanches - Spend one day seeing the D-Day beaches and historical sites. ❤️ This day was sombering and learning so much about the sacrifice really changed my life. 

📍Paris - End with the City of Lights. 🥐 So much to do and see in Paris depending on your interests. Even just walking around and going up the Eiffel Tower is magical! 

↗️ Send this to the girlfriend/s you want to go with!! 

📚Best way to prepare for this trip…

🎧 D-Day: The Tide Turns Poscast 
🎬 “The Longest Day”
📖 All The Light We Cannot See 

👋🏻 Hi! I’m Danielle, an American mom raising our 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy. 🇮🇹

I share our family travels with an emphasis on unique and educational experiences. So glad you’re here! 💛

#familytraveltips #travelwithkids #travelhacksforparents #momapprovedtravel #learningthroughtravel #traveleurope #travelhacksforparents #familytravel
Learning this set me on fire. 💛 I still have a vi Learning this set me on fire. 💛

I still have a vivid memory of washing dishes in our old kitchen, while listening the podcast that changed my life. 🌎

The interviewee said, “Research shows that the best predictor of academic success is how much your child ALREADY knows about the world before going to school. And the best way to give them this ‘background knowledge’ is to give them experiences in the world and read books to them.” 🤯

I literally froze to take it all in…

The best way to give my kids a strong educational foundation wasn’t flashcards, or teaching them to read at 4, or math worksheets….It was going on adventures together and reading books?! 📚

Not only did that sound much easier, but it also sounded FUN!! 🤩

I become obsessed with seeking out experiences…taking them to the zoo, making mosaics, going to the lake, making homemade apple juice and butter, and showing them as much of the world as possible!! 🗺️

I’ve spent years now taking my kids on adventures near and far and reading aloud to them almost every night. 

And it has turned into one of my favorite parts of motherhood, giving us so many amazing memories. Plus I’ve seen the magic work in my kids. 🎈

↗️ Send this to another mom so you can take your kids on more adventures together!! 🎉

👋🏻 Hi! I’m Danielle, a mom of 4 living in Italy. 🇮🇹 
I share our family travels with an emphasis on unique and educational experiences. So glad you’re here! 

#familytravel  #travelwithkids #familyvacation #travelfamily #traveltheworld #adventure #kidstravel #travelingwithkids #traveleurope #italy #travelitaly
These are by far our favorites… 1. Lapland 🇫🇮 - I These are by far our favorites…

1. Lapland 🇫🇮 - If you only take one winter trip with your kids, let it be this one. Sleep in an ice hotel, visit a reindeer farm, go on a husky ride, try ice fishing, relax in a sauna and then jump into an ice covered lake. End each day in a cozy, warm cabin in the woods with hot chocolate and board games. This is the one trip I would do again and again. (Just make sure you’re properly dressed! 😆) 

2. Turkey 🇹🇷 - We loved Turkey in late December/early January because it wasn’t nearly as crowded as it is in the summer. Istanbul alone deserves 3–4 days, and you also can’t miss Pamukkale, Ephesus, and Cappadocia. (Bring swimsuits to Pamukkale so you can swim in the old Roman baths!) The food is delicious, the culture a fascinating blend of East and West, and learning about Islam and actually hearing the call to prayer are experiences my kids haven’t forgotten. Oh, and riding in a hot air balloon with the kids is one of my favorite memories ever! ✨

3. Southern Spain 🇪🇸 - The mild winter weather here is great!! We were there the last week of December, and some days even reached the high 60s. Sevilla and Granada are incredible, and we loved our time in Gibraltar (extra special since Andrea’s grandfather was a prisoner there during World War II). One note: if you have younger kids mix big cities with slower, smaller towns so the pace stays fun. Ronda is a unique smaller town and you can add interesting experiences to your itinerary such as a cooking class or staying in a yurt (our kids loved it!) to keep the trip exciting. 

Here are a few places we’d love to visit on future winter breaks…
1. Madeira 
2. Canary Islands
3. Egypt (I know…not Europe but still so close!) 

Have you already been to one of them? Where else would you add? 

👋🏻 Hi! I’m Danielle, an American mom raising our 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy. 🇮🇹

I share our family travels with an emphasis on unique and educational experiences. So glad you’re here! 💛

#familytraveltips #travelwithkids #lifeinitaly #expatinitaly
Her face at the end. 😆 I hardly remember any gift Her face at the end. 😆

I hardly remember any gifts from my childhood Christmases. The only one I vividly remember is receiving the board game Risk, because my dad spent hours that Christmas afternoon playing with me. 💛

With all the advertisements and wish lists bombarding us this time of year, I’m trying to remember that what will have a lasting impact on my children’s memories and hearts are the things we did together this Christmas…not how many presents they had under the tree. 

👋🏻 Hi! I’m Danielle, an American mom raising our 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy. 🇮🇹

I share our family travels with an emphasis on unique and educational experiences. So glad you’re here! 💛

#familytraveltips #travelwithkids #lifeinitaly #expatinitaly
Last Christmas my daughter begged us for a pair of Last Christmas my daughter begged us for a pair of sneakers with attachable wheels. It was all she could think and talk about for weeks. She wore them exactly twice. 😅

It’s so easy to get caught up in all the consumerism and think that more presents equals a more magical Christmas. 

But does it *really* work that way? 🤔

You don’t have to spend ALL morning unwrapping gifts for it to be a good Christmas. 🎁 There is magic in the stockings and the excitement of presents…but magic is also in the hours that follow: playing games as a family, eating good food, and just being together. Maybe those moments are even more memorable.

I hardly remember any Christmas gifts I received as a kid, but I do remember playing Risk (for hours!!) with my dad. 🥹

And it’s the same with my daughter. She doesn’t ever use those shoes she begged us for, but she does remember the evening we went ice skating as a family and the giant hot chocolate (piled high with mini marshmallows!) we drank afterward. ❄️

This time of year when I’m tempted to fill my Amazon cart, I try to remind myself that time with us is what our kids really want and what they’ll remember years from now. 

👋🏻 Hi! I’m Danielle, an American mom raising our 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy. 🇮🇹

I share our family travels with an emphasis on unique and educational experiences. So glad you’re here! 💛

#familytraveltips #travelwithkids #lifeinitaly #expatinitaly
He said it was the best trip of his life. 🇬🇧 Day He said it was the best trip of his life. 🇬🇧

Day 1:
Started at the Tower of London right when it opened and headed straight to the Crown Jewels before the crowds arrived. 💎 Took the free Beefeater tour, saw the chopping block (😳), and the prisoner carvings in the Beauchamp Tower. Next we walked across Tower Bridge (the glass floors are wild 🤩), grabbed fish & chips at Fishoria, and popped into the British Museum where we followed Rick Steves’ self-guided tour. (Don’t miss the Rosetta Stone!) After hitting the Lego and M&M stores, we ended the day with dinner in Chinatown and then The Mousetrap, the world’s longest-running play! 🎭

Day 2:
9:30 am we were at Westminster Abbey, again following Rick Steves’ self-guided tour (perfect length for kids 🙌). Next we went up the London Eye for skyline views, had lunch at St. Stephen’s Tavern, and then a Buckingham Palace tour. (The East Wing’s Chinese Regency décor absolutely blew my mind. 🤯) At 4 pm we headed to Harrods to check out the toys and teen gadgets on the 4th floor before heading home.

Day 3:
Started early at Platform 9¾ ⚡️ (shorter lines in the morning!) then had breakfast at the incredible Sandwich Street Kitchen. Next door is the free British Library with original works by Beethoven, Da Vinci, and some of the oldest English Bibles in the world. 😍 Afterward, the boys went to a soccer match while I explored the Churchill War Rooms. We wrapped up our trip with afternoon tea at The Ritz (I actually preferred St. Ermin’s tea! 🤯) and finally spent an hour browsing through Waterstones bookstore, trying not to buy everything. 😆

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know this itinerary would’ve been a total disaster with a 5 or even 8-year-old 😅. But at 12, it was perfect! 

The first two days were packed, so it felt amazing to have a more relaxed third day with a Harry Potter stop, an incredible soccer game, and afternoon tea. A third full sightseeing day would’ve definitely been too much!

👋🏻 Hi! I’m Danielle, an American mom raising 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy. 🇮🇹
I share our travels with a focus on unique, educational experiences. 💛
Any mom who has attempted the Christmas markets wi Any mom who has attempted the Christmas markets with kids knows they aren’t always the easiest. 😅 Little ones get tired, cold, and overstimulated faster than you might expect.🙈

But over the past ten years of living in Europe, I’ve learned that these five things can make a long, chilly day at the markets feel manageable…maybe even magical. ✨😆

👋🏻 Hi! I’m Danielle, an American mom raising our 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy. 🇮🇹

I share our family travels with an emphasis on unique and educational experiences. So glad you’re here! 💛

#familytraveltips #travelwithkids #lifeinitaly #expatinitaly

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