Exploring the Med With Kids

So you want to head off to the Mediterranean, and you’re taking the kids? No problem! There are all kinds of fantastic things to see and do all over the med that both you and your little ones will enjoy, so grab a cuppa, kick back, and start planning! First things first though, you need to decide whether you’re going to head for one specific destination, or take in lots of different destinations on a longer multi-centre holiday. If you go for the latter, a family-friendly cruise with a company like Norwegian Cruise Line is a fantastic way to take the hassle out of it and be able to truly relax and enjoy while also getting the excitement and adventure of visiting lots of different ports.

CosmoCaixa, Barcelona

Said to be the biggest science museum in Europe, CosmoCaixa is impressive from the second you walk through the door as a glass-enclosed spiral ramp runs all the way down its six floors. On the lowest floor you’ll find the main collection, including the Flooded Forest, a reproduction of a flora and fauna filled corner of the Amazon, and the breathtaking Geological Wall. There are often temporary exhibitions alongside these that change over regularly throughout the year – so check out what’s going to be on before you go. From here, it’s on to the Matter Room, which introduces kids to all the wonders of different kinds of matter, be it inert, living, intelligent or civilized; in other words it’s all about natural history – and learning in a way that genuinely engages your kids’ minds. The core ethos of the museum is about taking exhibits out of glass cases and making scientific theories more accessible, both to little ones and adults alike. In particular kids will love the Planetarium, and the wonderful Clik and Flash areas, which introduce children to science through games. Toca Toca! Is an interactive exhibit that educates children on which animals and plants are safe and which to avoid. Also be sure to check out the amazing sound telescope outside on the Plaça de la Ciència.

Island Hopping, Venice

When you think of holidays with kids, Venice probably isn’t the first destination that pops up. But although it’s generally thought of as more of a honeymoon hideaway than a place to take the family, it’s actually a fantastic destination for travellers of all kinds with plenty for kids to do. Don’t limit yourself to the main city though, grab a water taxi and hop over to visit the gorgeous little islands of Murano and Burano. Murano, as you’ve probably heard, is famous for its glassmaking; and you can see generations of glass artists craft figurines, jewelry, and bowls as you watch transfixed. Burano is much less well known and located a bit further away – about an hour outside Venice itself. It’s a quaint but colorful sleepy little village famous for its handmade lace. Creating the lace is incredibly intricate work, and sadly very few people are still making it, but if you look carefully there are still a few local artisans who sit in their shops or on the pavements and make lace as you watch.