The Berghaus Bort in Grindelwald, Switzerland is a rustic alpine retreat nestled just off the Bort station of the First Gondola. It’s only reachable by gondola in the winter. So be prepared to dodge skiers, snowboarders and sledgers while you are lugging your kids and bags onto the moving car. It’s not easy to get to, but the charm and views are worth it. The Berghaus Bort offers majestic views of the glorious Swiss Alps in nearly every direction. It’s simple accommodations and mountain-filled fun will make this a memorable stay for you and yours! Berghaus Bort
Borthwick Castle just outside of Edinburgh is an AMAZING hotel! Built in 1430, the castle was once the refuge of Mary Queen of Scots and still bears the damage from Cromwell’s cannons.
Cromwell’s Cannon Damage to Borthwick
It is one of my favorite hotels because it gives you such a unique and authentic experience.
Inside we crept up the tiny spiral stairwells to our rooms, we had dinner in the Grand Hall, then headed to the State Room for drinks. We played croquet on the front lawn. We slept in the Mary Queen of Scots room, which had a hidden door to the State Room. We spent the night like royalty and we LOVED it!
We even had a ghost visit our room. Door knobs rattled with no one there. Heavy wooden doors swung open on their own and I slept better than I ever had before.
Every once in a while we stumble upon an unexpected adventure and Maquoketa Caves in Iowa is one of those places. Nestled between emerald green rolling hills that are dotted with grazing cattle and golden fields of grain, Mother Earth has twisted herself into a wondrous system of tunnels and cliffs. Oozing with adventure, the trails at Maquoketa Caves take you up and down, in and out and through some of nature’s most fun scenery.
If I had told Jake and Zac we were going hiking, they would have complained all the way there. They don’t like walking around for the sake of walking around, but they will walk for hours in search of something… So we don’t go hiking we go hunting for dinosaur bones, fairies, elves, gnomes, smurfs and anything else that strikes their imagination.
I wish I could claim this parenting hack as my own, but as anyone that has ever ventured out in nature knows – it’s simply filled with a sense of magic. The valleys and peaks of Maquoketa Caves seemingly captures this magic, and it took less than five minutes for Jake and Zac to spot a possible gnome village carved out of a fallen tree nearly lost in the tiny white flowers that covered the forest floor.
There is also a sense of danger that precariously balances on each tree and boulder dangling on the edge of every rocky outcropping. Some of the tunnels get very tight and you have to crawl to get through. Consequently, you will want to bring head lamps and a possible change of clothes if you plan to go that deep into the caves. We were not able to venture that deep into the caves because it was too rainy and wet when we were there, so we stuck to the larger caves.
Maquoketa Caves is filled with a sense of magic that kids will love! It’s also brimming with the adrenaline-inciting sense of danger that grown-kids adore!
We love to travel, but let’s be honest getting there sucks. What I’ve learned is that you have to leave your expectations at home. On those long-haul international flights that you expect a TV, ya won’t get one… but on that 1 1/2 hour flight, you will have a TV and charging station.
I also learned that having a child that was easily lulled to sleep by the simple start of jet engines, doesn’t mean they all are. There are kids (ZAC) that could be exhausted and almost asleep walking onto the plane only to kick into hyper-speed the moment those engines purr.
So what do I do… 1. Don’t EXPECT anything and 2. Bring everything that you can carry and not an ounce more!
Below is my carryon packing list:
At least one pair of headphones per person, then a backup.
Portable DVD player with a few movies.
IPAD
Computer
Phone *I’ve been on flights that stream entertainment via free, but limited wifi so have the Gogo Entertainment App ready to use. Then be ready to hand your phone to your toddler the entire flight while you watch the Spongebob movie on the portable dvd player.
Snacks, obviously or so you’d think. Silly me assumed that we could just buy food at the airport until I had a showdown on the candy aisle with an angry two-year-old. Let me just tell you, one of us left crying and it wasn’t him. (Thank goodness for in-flight beverages).
A sense of humor. Don’t even bother packing your sanity, cause you’re going to loose it but if you can step back an laugh when the flight attendant suggest Benadryl next time – you’ll be fine.
With that said, I always try to be considerate of the others on the plane. I let Jake and Zac torture me, but I stop them from being loud, bouncing around and kicking the seats in front of them… Or at least I try (we can all have goals).
Getting there may not be the best but being there is.
Simply put… Scotland is magical. From Edinburgh to the Highlands, fairy tales do exist!
We began our trip in Edinburgh, where we explored Edinburgh Castle and the underground city (although only older kids are allowed). We opted for the Real Mary Kings Close tour, which is a little more kid-friendly and not as scary as some of the other tours. If you have brave or older kids there are some really scary and fun underground ghost tours.
We were in Edinburgh during the famous Fringe Festival, so there were shows for all ages and tons of street entertainers. It’s a fun, busy and exciting time of year for this amazing city.
From Edinburgh we drove about 30 minutes to Borthwick Castle. This 15th century castle is incredibly well-preserved and one of the coolest places that I’ve ever stayed at! Mary Queen of Scots was one of the castle’s most famous guests and you can still see the exterior damage that Cromwell’s cannon caused. There are tiny winding stairwells to get to your room, you can play croquet on the front lawn and eat in the grand hall… or in other words you can live like royalty. Just be warned, you may receive an uninvited guest in your room – we had doors that opened swung open on their own and door nobs that rattled. Whether or not you believe in ghosts, this was something we couldn’t explain. Never-the-less, I had the best night of sleep ever. (If you’re curious we stayed in the Mary Queen of Scots room ;).
The magic didn’t stop there. Scotland is full of amazing places:
Rosslyn Chapel
Rosslyn Chapel was built in the 1400’s and is still a place of worship. The chapel is glorious. Its rose hue and unique craftsmanship is beautiful, but it is also filled with incredible stories so make sure you take a tour or take the time to hear these tales.
Walk in the steps of royalty:
Stirling Castle is a must-see. It shows you just what life was like for renaissance royalty and those that served them.
We also loved our Highland Safari. A Land Rover took us up into the Highlands where we hiked and enjoyed a picnic lunch and whiskey in the Hilltop Bothy.
Grand Hall at Borthwick
Cromwell’s Cannon Damage to Borthwick
Enjoy a Dram at Meldrum House Hotel in AberdeenCameron House Loch Lomand
Adventures with Mom 