Courtney and I spent a hilarious weekend seven years ago (pre-children) at the October Fest in Munich. It was great fun: there was a lot of beer, schnapps, bretzels, German sausages, sleeping and card playing involved. I don’t think we had ever seen so many people our age in lederhosen and dirndls. It was definitely not the kind of weekend you would have with kids.

I am pretty sure that a weekend in Munich now would be very, very different, but potentially as much fun — it is a beautiful city, very traditional but also very happening. For some local insight on what Munich has to offer for kids, Mitali, a stay-at-home mom living in Munich, has very kindly given us her tips and recommendations on what to do in the capital of Bavaria. She is a mother of two (son Nilay 6 years, daughter Nalini 7 months) and the proud owner of a crazy dog, Greta. She loves travelling and has lived all around the world, but, in the end, has always enjoyed coming home to Munich. She has some great ideas of what to do in Munich!

SEE AND PLAY:

Schloss Nymphenburg – This is a beautiful castle close to Munich’s city center. It is located within an amazing park, so if you don’t want to visit the inside of the castle, it is still worth the trip to walk around the wonderful gardens. If the weather is warm, go to Prinzengarten located close to the left entrance, where the kids can play in a little creek.

Right next to Schloss Nymphenburg is the museum Mensch und Natur. This is a great interactive museum for children with quizzes, dinosaurs and varying exhibitions.  In front of the castle begins the Nymphenburg canal. In summer many people take a walk along the water, go jogging or cycling. In winter the canal is frozen and you can go ice skating or try out bavarian curling. You can rent skates in all sizes for a small fee and little booths sell hot wine and punch for children to warm you up.  If you walk towards the end of the canal, away from the castle, make sure to stop at Gruenwaldpark, a small park with a nice playground.

Tierpark Hellabrunn -  Tierpark Hellabrunn is Munich’s zoo. Apart from all the wonderful animals you can see, it offers a huge and very creative playground, a petting zoo and pony riding for kids. Unfortunately it gets very crowded during the weekend.
The zoo is located right next to the Isar, so if the weather permits, take a walk at the Flaucher, which is what this part of the Isar is called. People hang out here in summer, bring picnics, barbeque and sunbath. The vibrant atmosphere in the evenings is enjoyed by all.

Olympiapark - The Olympiapark are the old olympic grounds of Munich. There is a huge area with a big public bath, the former soccer stadium, an ice skating rink and a lake. Climb the big hill for an awesome view or to fly kites. For an even more amazing view go up the olympic tower where there is a moving restaurant! (Definately a great spot for a romantic dinner with your loved one! Go at sun set.)
In summer, an alternative festival called Tollwood is held at the Olympiapark, offering food from all over the world, concerts and crafts. Munich’s Sealife is also located at the park and is worth a visit. You can see sharks, sea turtles and other amazing creatures of the sea.  For car lovers BMW Welt is right across the street. Especially little and big boys will enjoy the world of BMW and the museum inside the very modern building.

Marienplatz –  The Marienplatz Square the centre of Munich. The impressive new town hall is located there and you can see Munich’s famous tourist attraction, the Glockenspiel. Every day at 11am and 12pm this chiming clock recounts a royal wedding, jousting tournament and ritualisitc dance – all important in Munich´s history.
You can then walk to a church called Alter Peter (Old Pete) to climb its many stairs to the top of the church tower for an amazing view of the city. Close by is the toy museum which shows old timey toys and dolls.

Don’t forget to stop by next door at the wonderful chocolate shop, called Goetterspeise.  They sell heavenly chocolates, truffles, amazing cakes, macaroons and in summer home made ice cream. You can sit out front on small tables and tiny benches and stools (perfect for kids), enjoy a hot chocolate, home made ice tea or coffee and enjoy the pretty neighbourhood.

Cafe Freistunde - Another great little cafe in this part of town is Cafe Freistunde.They have a playroom for kids, offer delicious coffee and cake, pretzels and kids cappucinos and you can also have a coffee to go to take to the wonderful playground opposite the cafe. The river Isar also isn’t far away to go explore with a coffee and pretzel in hand.

Aroma Kaffeebar – This is a beautiful cafe and store offering delicious coffee, paninis, home made cakes and croissants, muesli, rice pudding and other wonderful dishes. The food is always arranged in the loveliest way with flowers and other cute additions and the vibe there is very laid back.

Cafe Netzwerk – This café is located in the “Center for Natural Birth”. The cafe is a project where women (mostly migrants) can find work after having kids. They offer breakfast and lunch from Monday to Thursday between 9am and 2.30 pm. The friendly ladies serve amazing vegetable soup and other hearty dishes. Babies are able to sleep in one of the many baby beds that can be placed next to your table and older kids can sit in the offered highchairs. You will find no tourists there as this is a spot that is only known by locals….until now

Hirschgarten - Hirschgarten (Deergarden in English) is a huge park located about 15 minutes by tram from Munich Central Station. It offeres a couple of great playgrounds, soccer fields, a water playground, in winter you can go sledding there and as the name suggests there are deers that can be watched and fed. There is a huge beergarden there, where you can either bring your own food and sit at one of its many tables or you can buy great beergarden food there like pretzels, radish, the typical bavarian cheese spread called Obadzda, grilled fish on a stick and of course bavarian beer served in the typical big glasses. If the weather isn´t good enough to sit outside there is also a bavarian restaurant.

Hans im Glück - Hans im Glück has a very creative interiour where the tables are actually build around tiny trees. The have a small shelve with kids toys and they offer food most children like: burgers and fries. Hans im Glück has beef burgers and veggie burgers and offer a great variety of fillings, like burgers with hummus spread, or an Italian burger with antipasti. You can also order salads and desserts and sit inside and outside.

Le Florida - Located in Maxvorstadt this restaurant and bar is great for the start of a night out without your little ones. You can enjoy yummy fusion food and cocktails and listen to some great tunes. The crowed consists mostly of students as this restaurant is located close to the university of munich. Other bars are close by.

Pardi - Pardi is a Turkish restaurant that is always crowded, so make sure to book a table in advance, especially if you want to go in the evening. In summer you can sit outside on their lovely terrace, blankets and heaters allow you to enjoy even a cooler night outside. Inside, Pardi is a stylish place with a fire place and a bar. The food is delicious turkish food. I can recommend the mixed cold and warm entrees and the salad with grilled goats cheese. Children are always welcome and are greeted warmly by the staff!

SHOP:

Rasselfisch - Rasselfisch sells basically all a family needs for their kids. From stylish strollers, to bike chairs for kids, baby carriers, bags, dishes, furniture, toys…This stylish store offers a wide variety of wonderful, individual and well designed things for babies, children and their parents. Check out the website!

Thierchen - Thierchen is a small shop selling handmade baby and childrens clothes, blankets and pillows. The clothes are very indivdual and creative. They sell little t-shirts with hand embroiderd pretzels on them which make great souvenirs to bring home from your trip to Munich. The shop is located in Hans-Sachs-Strasse close to “Kaiser Otto” and “Goetterspeise”. Unfortunately the shop doesn’t have a website.
Kinderzimmer – These are really two shops. One sells furniture for babies and older kids and one offers a wonderful selection of toys, stuffed animals and childrens books. One can get lost in there for hours looking at toy trains, beautiful dolls, individual kids costumes and other gorgeous things.

Lily und Milou – Lily and Milou sells up market, stylish baby and kids clothes, Barbapapa toys and books, wonderfull dolls from Blabla Kids and Anne-Claire Petit, diaper bags and other beautiful things for kids and their mamas.

Nia Pret a Porter and Nia Chaussure - Those two shops are heaven. Leave the kids with your partner or travel partner for two hours and enjoy shopping there. Nia Pret a Porter offers mostly French brands like Sessun and American Vintage. The girls who work there are geniuses in combining clothes and accessories and can help with all your fashion needs. It is my go-to shop for almost anything. The only downside is, that it isn’t cheap and one can never leave without spending way to much on their gorgoues pieces.
Same goes for Nia Chaussure which offers beautiful shoes from Bensimon, dico Copenhagen, Dolfie, Sessun and others and also sells amazing bags and the softest scarves.
Can you tell that I love love love those stores and I am NOT getting payed to say that at all!!!!!!

Leselotte - Leselotte is Munich´s greatest bookstore for kids. They only sell German childrens books but even if you cannot speak German you might want to take a peak at their great selection. The staff can recommend the best book for every age and they also offer a lot of picture books for the smallest ones and a great little selection of toys.

Servus Heimat - Servus Heimat, located in the city center, offers a wide range of really stylish souvenirs from Munich. You can buy shirts for adults and kids, snow globes, key chains, books, diaries and more. Definately go there, if you want to bring something home that isn’t as tacky as the usual tourist stuff.

STAY:

Here are a couple of recommendations of Hotels to stay in: The Laimer Hof, The Anna Hotel, The Hotel Olympic, The Cortiina and the Louis Hotel.

Happy, happy 2012! May this new year be filled with lots of love, fun, hugs, sleep, tea, laughter, books… etc. Did you make a new year’s resolution? We’ve promised to be a quieter family (less shouting!) but we also hope to have more of all of the things listed above. Here’s to hoping!

xx Courtney

Print found on Pinterest

We send you our warmest wishes for a happy, cosy, and relaxing holiday with your family and friends. We are ever so grateful for your support over the past year, and we look forward to an exciting new year ahead with you.

Love,
Esther, Emilie and Courtney

As a child, my mum and I made pomanders out of oranges and cloves every year for Christmas. I love that smell, so spicy and Christmassy, so last weekend I put my kids to work. It kept them focussed and busy for quite some time! It’s such an easy and lovely project, great for all ages (even 19-month-old Ava liked to participate — pulling the cloves out of the oranges!). There’s nothing more to it than an orange, cloves and a wooden toothpick to make it easier to get the cloves in. You can make patterns or just let the kids go crazy — it won’t affect the scent of the pomanders! When finished, you can tie a ribbon around them and hang them somewhere decorative. Or, give them away as presents!

xxx Esther

Every year of my childhood my mom took us to see Santa. We would drive into the city, head to the big department store and wait for hours in the queue to see Santa. I still remember standing there with all my siblings, waiting eagerly to see him, and my mom telling us all to behave and stand patiently! My mom has kept all the santa photos in one big album… and it’s hilarious to look through them. From the time I was a baby (crying on Santa’s lap) until the time I was 20 (looking very awkward standing next to him!), there is a photo from every year.

Isn’t it funny how some kids LOVE santa and others think he’s the scariest thing they’ve ever seen? My now four-year-old has cried every year we’ve visited Santa. And he told me the other day that this year when we go he wants to sit on a stool, not Santa’s lap. (Sweet.)

So tell me, is visiting Santa a tradition you did when you were younger? Do you now take your own kids to see Santa? I’m curious to know which countries do and don’t do this!

xx Courtney

p.s. That photo is of my two boys when they were younger (2½ and 6mos) and it’s my favourite of all our Santa photos. I just love how they’re both crying… and Santa looks so perfectly poised!

Can you believe it’s December already?! Wow! It crept up quickly this year, didn’t it?!

This year will be the first year we stay in London for Christmas… which means we get to properly decorate the house and make it nice and cosy and christmasy (!!!). We’re all very excited about it and have already hung our stockings, set out the decorations, and of course, hung the Advent Calendar (which starts today!). And… I’m listening to Christmas music as I type! Oooh Happy December!

Have you caught the ‘holiday bug’ yet? Do you do an Advent Calendar? Any other little traditions you do around this time of year? I would love to know!

xx Courtney

Here’s the recipe:

• 150 g (2/3 cup) butter
• 135 g (3/4 cup) brown sugar
• 10 g (2 teaspoons) ’speculaas spices’ (if you can’t buy them ready-made see recipe below)
• 250 g (1 1/4 cup) self raising flour
• a pinch of salt
• 4 tbsp milk

For the speculaas spices, mix:

• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground aniseed
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Preheat oven to 160 °C (320 °F). Cut cold butter in little chunks and knead through sugar, speculaas spices, salt and self raising flour. Add the milk bit by bit until the dough is smooth and supple. Start making little balls (a bit smaller than a marble). Your kids can help with this: if you give them little pieces of the dough, they will love making the little balls! Line the little balls up on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and flatten them slightly with your thumb (I make two batches). Bake for about 15 minutes until light brown.

Bon appetit!

xxx Esther

PS If you want to read more on Sinterklaas, please read this post I wrote a few years ago!

Happy Halloween! Hope you all have a spooky, fun, candy-filled day!

Tell us, will you be taking the kids trick-or-treating? Throwing a little party? Did you carve pumpkins? Or… is this just a normal ‘ol day for you? Is Halloween even celebrated in your country? (It is certainly becoming bigger and bigger here in the UK!).

xx Courtney

(Sweet Halloween image from Belle and Boo)

The bell tent we took last weekend was in a different league altogether and I don’t think I can ever go back to a small tent. My friend Russell had it left over from a film shoot (here is actually a clip featuring our tent!). It was super easy to put up and soo roomy and cosy! I thought we were being wildly original, but these tents are now hugely popular with the Brits and were all over the festival camp ground.

I am seriously thinking of getting one. It would be perfect to pitch up in a garden for the summer, or go for a comfortable camping trip with the whole family. I am even thinking it could work as a spare guest room in the garden, when lots of people come to visit!

I am definitely picking up City Walks with Kids in Paris. Though I live in this city, I have never used a travel guide to explore it with my kids, and it will be a fun thing to do this summer! City Walks with Kids in Paris and City Walks with Kids in London are available from Smallable. The other Cirty Walks with Kids (Washington, San Francisco and New York) are available from the Chronicle Books website.

xxx Esther

PS Photo of my husband’s heart-shaped muffins this morning — yum!

Have you caught Royal Wedding fever yet? The wedding is this Friday! I haven’t really paid any attention to it… but everyone I know is starting to get excited about it (my mom even came to town for the event!). Every store front in London is devoted to the wedding, and there are commemorative gifts and objects available to buy everywhere (my mom came home the other day with a deck of cards, each card with a different photo of Wills and Kate — too funny!). Here are a couple of my favourites.

• Of course I love the ‘Keep Calm It’s Only A Wedding‘ print — funny!
• I also really love the William and Kate tea towel available on Etsy
• And of course Belle and Boo have made something beautiful as well — I love their Royal Party Parade Poster!

Do you know of any other good commemorative gifts?

xo Courtney

Happy Mother’s Day to all you mamas in the UK! Hope you have (had) a splendid day!

xoxo Courtney

PS – Mother’s Day card (above) from Rifle Paper Co.

Kuala Lumpur is one of my top ten favourite cities. One of my closest friends lives over there, and so, before kids, I used to visit almost once a year. Kuala Lumpur is such a great mix between a modern metropolitan city and an ethnically diverse melting pot, full of history and buzzing with energy.
We are very lucky to have Vivien, a mom of two and a KL local, do a write up  for us of her favourite child-friendly places in and around Kuala Lumpur. Vivien works with Irene Hoofs on one of our favourite blogs Bloesem Kids. She lives with her two daughters and husband in KL. Do let us know if you have other great ideas of things to do in KL.

EAT:
Most eating-places in Kuala Lumpur are child-friendly so if you are traveling with young children, don’t hesitate to ask for a high chair. Restaurants will indicate if they are ‘halal’ (kosher) as Malaysia’s population is largely Muslim so don’t be perplexed when you see this sign on restaurant doors! Eating out is very popular in Malaysia and there is a wide range of cuisine, and is generally inexpensive.

Annalakshmi – Temple of Fine Arts, 116 Jalan Berhala, Brickfields – This Indian buffet restaurant is located in what is now known as the second Little India and serves exceptional South Indian vegetarian food and is run by the charitable Temple of Fine Arts. Shorts are not allowed, but a piece of fabric will be lent to you to wear like a sarong, if you do arrive in shorts. You pay what you think your meal was worth! The proceeds help fund the work of the foundation.

DELICIOUS – Located on Jalan Tun Razak across from the American Embassy, Delicious started off as a cozy little tearoom but now is known for its consistently delicious (excuse the pun) range of local and western favorites. It has a kid’s menu and yummy cakes and desserts for the indulgent. It’s also open for breakfast (but I would recommend a ‘roti canai’ at local restaurants dotted all over the city). On the lower floor is Dish, which is Delicious’ fine(r) dining restaurant. The Sunday champagne brunch is amazing value for money and though your kids may not appreciate the champagne as much as you do, they do enjoy the live music upstairs.

SOO KEE MEE 14 JALAN Imbi, Kuala Lumpur – Located in the heart of the Golden Triangle, this restaurant has been here for ages and kind of looks like its been here for ages. But don’t be put off by its lack of interior styling: head here for something local. English is spoken and in fact, don’t be surprised by a Caucasion man serving you (he is married to one of the owners). This is a typical casual Chinese restaurant. The kitchen is open and is at the very front of the restaurant. ‘Tai Chau’ which literally means ‘Big Fry’ in Cantonese is the style of cooking using big woks and even bigger roaring fires. The specialty here is the beef noodles. Order the paper-wrapped chicken too. Satay is also available from a separate vendor. As a child, satay (coal-barbecued chicken or beef skewers served with peanut sauce or sans) was always a treat when going out to eat.

OLD CHINA CAFÉ – This restaurant serves Peranakan or Nonya cuisine unique to Malaysia (Peranakan cuisine is a combination of immigrant Chinese and local Malay cuisine influences), and located in Chinatown, this little find is a place you will remember not only for the food but for the atmosphere and its very old world charm. There is also an antique gallery upstairs.

PETER HOE BEYOND 145 Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, second floor – Okay, this is not a restaurant but it is a store, and a very special one too! But it has a small café within it. My daughters learnt to eat their carrots here and the white chocolate cheesecake is their ultimate favorite dessert. It is parallel to Petaling Street or Chinatown and is a wonderful escape after your bargaining sessions at Chinatown or your visits to the Chinese and Indian temples on the same street. The menu is small but the salads and quiches have never known to disappoint. The cakes neither!!

FOOD COURTS
You want chicken rice, he wants sushi, junior wants noodles… what do you do? A food court is the answer. They are inexpensive and a dime a dozen and can be found everywhere, especially in shopping malls. Each vendor sells something different and it is self-service.

My children’s top favorite eating-places: sushi bars (plenty everywhere) and Peter Hoe Beyond.

SHOP:
PETER HOE BEYOND 145 Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, second floor – This is my favorite one-stop store when I am looking for gifts to bring abroad when visiting friends. Granted, most things in the store are not made in Malaysia but come from all over Asia. But it is still one of the most interesting stores in KL, with an explosion of colors and abundant gift ideas… from jewelry to lamps to cutlery and napkins.
Young budding designer Justine Yap also has his atelier here but if you’re on a short visit, you may not have time to have him design something for you. You may be able to only find some items off the rack, which is not a bad option!

CHINATOWN – I don’t like to promote counterfeit goods and there are lots of those in Chinatown, but it is worth a visit anyway. Traders sell everything from fake Gucci bags and perfumes to roast duck and fresh lycees. Be sure to hunt down the old Chinese medicine halls and haberdashery found behind the bustling stalls. Also a good place to sample (paying of course) tropical fruits like rambutans, mangosteens, lychees, and if you’re really adventurous, durians. Locals revere it as the king of fruits, but foreigners avoid it for its overpowering (read offensive) smell. So offensive it is banned from hotels and public transportations…

LITTLE INDIA – A walking distance from Chinatown, Little India also has interesting wares to offer. Sequined shiny outfits for children will add lots of Bollywood glamour to any dress up box. Add bangles, anklets, hair accessories, henna, colorful fabrics.

Malls are plenty in Kuala Lumpur, and in the city centre, Suria KLCC (where the Petronas twin towers are) and the Pavilion are amongst the best ones. For a bit of madness, visit Sungai Wang Plaza.

SEE:
BATU CAVES -  is a limestone hill and takes 272 steps to reach. It has a series of caves and cave temples. Located 13km north of Kuala Lumpur, the cave is a popular Hindu shrine and attracts more than a million devotees each year during the Thaipusam festival, where pilgrims young and old pay homage to Lord Muruga, carrying heavy Kavadis or have spikes through their cheeks or hooks on their backs.

ROYAL SELANGOR PEWTER FACTORY – The Visitors’ Centre and the School of Hard Knocks at the world’s largest pewter (an alloy of tin and antimony) factory are fun and educational for children and adults alike. Kuala Lumpur prospered in the old days from tin mining, and although it no longer is the world’s largest producer of tin, Royal Selangor continues to be known as the world’s finest pewter makers.

ISLAMIC ARTS MUSEUM – Housing one of the best collections of Islamic art in the world, the Islamic Arts Museum is a beautiful building of striking Islamic architectural details. Its proximity to the National Mosque and the Lake Gardens, Bird Park and Butterfly farm in the surroundings could make a full day out.

KL TOWER and BUKIT NANAS FOREST RESERVE – Visit the 421m KL Tower first which stands atop this jungle in the middle of the city. There is a series of nature trails and there is an interesting array of plans and animals commonly found in lowland forests. Free-guided tours leave from the base of the KL Tower.

PETRONAS TWIN TOWERS – Iconic and impressive, the Petronas Twin Towers houses the headquarters of the national oil and gas company. The towers are the focal point on the enormous Kuala Lumpur City Centre development which includes a world class concert hall (check for kids-friendly Family Fun Day concerts usually on weekends), a huge park with splash pools, an aquarium, a fantastic science centre and of course, a shopping mall. They may no longer be the tallest buildings in the world, but they sure remain stunning. Visitors can go up to the 41st floor Skybridge – get your free pass before 9 am as they run out very quickly!

STAY:
Hotels are relatively inexpensive in this part of the world. There are plenty of choices and it’s hard to narrow them down!!

KL HILTON – Conveniently located near the Sentral train station, the KL Hilton is an easy choice for quick stopovers in the city. The fast train from the airport takes 25 minutes and takes you almost to the hotel doorstep.

TERASEK BRICKHOUSE – 42A, Jalan Terasek, Bangsar Baru., Kuala Lumpur
This house provides a cozy home stay in a convenient location for a very affordable price. The minimalist back-to-nature concept of landscape architect Ng Sek San is evident here (as with his other properties). The rustic simplicity of the Terasek Brickhouse and its location in a local neighborhood makes it a nice change from your chain hotels.

(Sugar cookie recipe here)

Caftan-lover like myself? Well… look no further than Australian bohemian-inspired webshop Rock My Horse because their caftans are AMAZINGLY gorgeous! At this time of the year (it’s Summer here folks) my kids are in and out of pools and sprinkler systems every 2 minutes and running around in next to nothing. Caftans are the coolest, most versatile piece of summer clothing to throw on in between swimming sessions, for any activity. And trust me, these are the coolest I have ever seen… especially if you are partial to paisley prints (which I adore). They are all hand embroidered, made of the finest, softest cotton and their lovely range extends to include boys, girls, babies and even us ladies. So do have a look… even if it is snowing outside and you are shivering to the bone because before you know it the sun will be shining and you will be bikini-clad and heading off to the beach!!

ps. Rock My Horse is now having a Christmas sale with 25% off. They will ship world-wide. Don’t you just love the internet?

- Sara

Love, the girls from Babyccino Kids

Image from here

Love,

the girls from Babyccino Kids

Card and tree ornament from Esthex; wooden tree from Muji.

xxx Esther

-Courtney

p.s. I’m also planning on doing Mo’s Christmas Book Advent Calendar idea as well! Bring on the holidays!