Traveling with kids in northern Sweden: reindeer safari

It's not every day that I get to go with my kids on a reindeer safari, but today we did just that. And it wasn't even difficult: we just headed out with my parents in their mini-van and drove a few kilometers inland from Skellefteå, just past the small community of Medle. Every winter, many reindeer graze in this area and can often easily be seen from the road if you're just driving through.

The kids were very excited when we spotted a small herd of reindeer on the road, and we all got out of the car to watch as the animals headed into the snowy woods.

Reindeer in Sweden are not actually wild animals, they are semi-domesticated and the herds are managed by, and belong to, the Sami people. In the summer, the herds generally spend their time in the Swedish mountains, but in the winter, the Sami bring them down to the coastal areas where it's easier for the animals to find food.

If you do head out on a reindeer safari in northern Sweden, try to do it during the daylight hours (and there are not a lot of those this time of year!). In the dark, you risk crashing into the reindeer: they are known to jump into traffic, and also prone to dawdling on the road, not showing much fear of anything. So drive slowly and be careful. Also look out for the special reindeer warning signs: black plastic bags tied to a stick and placed next to the road.

Traveling with my kids for a while

'Tis the season for holiday travel and my family is off to Sweden again, visiting grandparents, old friends and family. In the new year, I'll be back with more travel stories and tips!

Happy holidays to everyone and thank you for checking out this blog!

5 Swedish Christmas traditions

My family is celebrating Christmas in Sweden with family this year, and it is a little bit different than when we celebrate it at home in Canada. Here are 5 Swedish Christmas traditions that we enjoy when we're there:

1. Christmas comes on Christmas Eve - Yep, in Sweden Christmas Eve is the big day with the big family dinner, the presents and Santa. This is great in one way, because it's like having Christmas one day early, if you're used to the North American way of things. The only problem: presents usually are not opened until after dinner, making it a loooooong day for kids.
2. Open the door when Santa comes knocking - In Sweden (maybe because he has more time there?) Santa actually comes knocking on the door in person, to deliver the Christmas presents. His standard line is "Are there any nice children here?". (And yes, this means that there is often a bit of an argument between various grownups about who is going to "go outside and check if Santa's coming yet"...)
3. Watch the Disney medley on TV - When I grew up, this was an absolute must, as in: everybody watched it. These days, I think it's starting to lose its lustre a bit and some people might even be skipping it. It's basically a clip show featuring scenes and songs from various Disney movies throughout the years, always ending with Benjamin Cricket singing "When you wish upon a star".
4. Eat some delicious Christmas ham & pickled herring - There are lots of traditional dishes on the Swedish Christmas table, which is usually a buffet (or "smorgasbord") of various hot and cold dishes. But there is almost always a big ham to carve, and various kinds of pickled herring to try.
5. Drink some glögg - This is the Swedish version of mulled wine. It's served warm, often from a copper pot, spiced with various spices like cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger. The traditional accompaniments are raisins and chopped almonds. Here is one recipe, though I would advice everyone to be careful with the sugar: you don't want to add too much... To me, the smell of glögg is Christmas.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you!

Traveling with my kids: 10 memories of 2011

There are not a lot of days left of 2011, and even though I still have some more traveling to do with my kids before the year is all done, I am feeling kind of reflective. Here are some of my most memorable travel moments from the past year.

1. Spring break in the Canary Islands
Our trip with extended family to the island of Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands was a definite highlight of the year. So many great memories of good food, good beaches, good company, and family time together.

2. Sun & sand
Gran Canaria was a great place for our beach-loving family. Two favorite spots were the dunes near Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles. 

3. Drive on the wild side

One of the best day trips we did while on Gran Canaria was to drive around the island. We saw the wild, steep western coastline, had lunch by the ocean, visited the caves at Cuatro Puertas and had a wonderful time. The winding mountain roads did induce some car sickness, but the scenery was worth it!

4. Pyromaniac roaches
One of my weirdest travel experiences occurred on our last morning in Gran Canaria when I woke up very early and smelled smoke. I got up and found that one of the elements on the stove had somehow turned on by itself and had burned a corner of a lunch bag that had been left on top. Everyone was asleep, but two seconds later I saw a cockroach run over the stove top, very close to the touch-activated controls... Yeah, that was one of the things I learned this year: cockroaches can be a fire hazard!

5. Picking strawberries with the kids
This was not a long trip: it only took about 30 minutes to drive to our place to Westham Island and the U-Pick strawberry farm. But it was definitely a trip worth making. Six months later I am just using up the last of the freezer jam we made from all those berries (and we go through a lot of strawberry jam in this house!).

6. Sheep fun
This even at North Vancouver's Maple Wood Farm was another wonderful close-to-home trip this past year. We got to see all the farm animals, sheep being expertly clipped, and we got to see what happens to the wool once it comes off the sheep: I'll definitely be returning for this event in the future!

After the meltdown. Zzzzz.

7. Traveling with my kids to Sweden
Taking the kids all the way to Sweden by myself was not a relaxing endeavour, but I was so impressed with how travel savvy they were, and how well they handled themselves for the majority of the trip. Yes, there was that major meltdown (both kids at the same time) at Arlanda Airport, but hey, 20 hours of travel time can do that to you... and other than that they were good as gold.

8. Spending time with family in Sweden
The last few years we have spent the first part of summer with my parents in their summer house, and the kids always have a great time. Fishing, boat rides, sleeping in, beach time, picking blueberries, swimming, splashing... It's pretty much unbeatable.

9. Harrison Lake beach & boat fun
We did a few day trips to Harrison Hot Springs this year, but the one when we rented a boat and drove around the lake was the best one. It's such a nice spot: gorgeous scenery, child friendly beach, and a lot of fun on the water as well. Can't wait for summer to arrive again so we can go back for more!

10. Heading up the Sunshine Coast
Taking the ferry from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver, heading across to Langdale and then on to Earl's Cover for the ferry to Saltery Bay made for a great weekend trip and a great time with family. It's a real treat to see British Columbia's coastline from the deck of a ferry on a sunny day. And when you get a home-cooked turkey dinner once you arrive, it makes the trip even better!

Flying with kids: choosing a seat

A T-Rex always gets the window seat.

Middle, aisle, or window? When I got on a flight before I had kids, the choice usually came down to whether I thought I wanted to look at the view, or have easy access to the bathroom without having to ask someone to get up. (As for the middle seat: nobody really wants that, right?)

When you're traveling with children however, the choice becomes a bit more important, and over the years I've developed some clear preferences for certain seats on the plane. Here are some of my top tips for choosing a seat when you're traveling with kids. (Keep in mind that these tips are mainly for people flying Economy Class: unfortunately I have had no experience with Business Class or First Class.)

1. Access to the aisle is always good
If you're flying with a young child, or more than one, you will most likely need to get up to take them to the bathroom at some point. Having an aisle seat makes this easier, and less of a hassle. Access to the aisle also makes it easier to get up and take a restless child for a walk around the plane: not a big area to walk really, but sometimes it can help.

2. If you're flying with an infant, ask for a seat with a cot
On certain flights, babies can qualify for a cot, also called a bassinet. Ask your airline about this when you book your flight, and let them seat you wherever a cot is available. You can read more about cots in All about cots and bassinets.

3. If you're breastfeeding, a window seat can be nice
Feeding your baby on board can be a great way to calm them down, help equalize the pressure in their ears, and also (of course) make them less hungry. The middle seat can be awkward when breastfeeding, especially if you're seated next to someone you don't know. The aisle seat can also be awkward, and you might feel a little worried by passing passengers and carts. Best choice in my opinion is the window seat: it' gives the most privacy for you and the baby. 

4. One adult flying with one or more kids
I've flown as a solo parent with my two children (they are now 4 and 8 years old) on several occasions. Usually we are seated together, three in a row, with me in the middle and the kids taking turns between flights as to who gets the window seat. This makes it easier for me to "buffer" any sibling silliness, and allows me to help both of them if they need assistance. Only once have I been on a flight where there were only two seats on either side of the aisle. In that case, I took the seat across the aisle, while my most anxious child (the oldest) sat across the aisle from me. How you position yourself and your kids best will depend on their preferences and personalities.

5. Two adults flying with one or more kids
When my husband comes along on a flight with the kids, I always hope that the plane will have the 4-seat wide section in the middle. Then we can put the kids between us and have access to the aisle on either side: perfect. If there are only three seats available together, we try to get the other adult seated on the same row, just across the aisle. To me, this works a lot better than sitting behind or in front of the rest of the family. Everyone can see each other, and it also makes it easier to give a helping hand. 

6. Switching seats is (usually) allowed
Sometimes you don't end up with the seat you would like, even if you were confirmed for a certain seat ahead of time. For example, if a delay forces the airline to use another type of plane for your flight, then all the seat assignments might change. If you end up with a seating arrangement you don't like, you can ask people on board if they want to trade seats with you. On a recent flight with my kids and my husband, he was not seated with us in the 4-seat middle section for some reason, but the young guy who did get that seat was quite eager to trade seats. I mean, seriously, who would want to be seated next a mom with two kids if they could stick the dad in that seat instead? In my experience, people are usually quite accommodating, especially if it means that they don't have to be seated next to small children!

7. Other considerations

• Sitting next to the bathroom can be a very good thing when you're traveling with a young child. Especially if they have a nervous tummy from the excitement of travel.
• Some airlines now offer you the option of upgrading to a seat with more leg-room in Economy Class. If you've got the cash, this might be a good option.
• Seats at the bulkhead (the dividing wall inside the plane), often have more legroom. However, when seated there, you don't have a seat in front of you to shove things under, and you don't have a screen or tray in the seat-back in front of you. Instead the screen and tray usually fold out somehow from your arm rest or your seat. One good thing about these seats: your kids can't kick the seat in front of them!

Flying with kids: 9 festive items to bring on board

Traveling with kids during the holidays isn't always the most relaxing activity. Lots of people, lots of lineups, potentially lots of delays due to weather and other potential problems (labor disputes and volcanoes for example). But if you bring a bit of the holidays with you on board, things just might feel a bit more fun.

Here are 9 items that might help make a flight with your kids a little more festive this Christmas season:



1. A Rudolph nose
Two girls at our pre-Christmas Open House were wearing these festive novelty items. It's just a round, red, blinking nose worn with an elastic strap around the head: simple and fun for kids. I'm thinking I might bring a couple of these along on our next flight for some silliness and laughs!


2. Antlers
Let your kids wear some antlers on the flight or wear a pair yourself: a little bit of fun and a little bit of holiday spirit.



3. Elf shirt
These come in kids' sizes and adult sizes. Making your fellow airplane passengers (or airport personnel!) smile is never a bad thing.


4. An elfish outfit for your baby
Your child can look festive AND be comfy at the same time.


5. Christmas puppets
Hand puppets make great toys for on-board play with your kids, whether it's Christmas or any other time of the year.


6. Mini candy canes
Stuff some of these in your hand luggage and bring them out when the need arises, like a long lineup at security, or if there's a flight delay.


7. A bold Christmas sweater
Some call them ugly Christmas sweaters, but some are just... bold: with bright colors, bright patterns, or really big designs on them. If it brings a smile on the flight, it's worth wearing it I think.


8. A festive book
Whether you bring a regular book, or an audio book, or a book on your tablet, a story to go along with the season can be a great way to pass some time with your kids at the airport or on board.



9. A festive app
There are a lot of different apps for the holidays out there, for example Santa Tracker for the Android. A fun way to spend some time and give your kids some holiday cheer!

7 wintery activities & trips I'd love to do with my kids

I'm a beach-lover at heart, but this time of year I'm in the mood for some trips and adventures involving snow and chilly weather, and so are my kids. Here are 7 activities I'd love to try and places I'd love to go to with my children:

1. Visiting Santa - Santa seems to have lots of homes (and even theme parks) all over the world, but I think one I'd really like to take the kids to is located in Finnish Lapland.  
2. Dogsledding - Mush! I'd love to try this out with the kids. And since I would also love to travel to the Yukon with them, why not go dog sledding there? Maybe then we could experience the famous Yukon Quest sled dog race.
3. Building an igloo - My daughter who is 4, recently asked me if people can live in the snow, so we had a conversation about igloos. In Whistler, north of Vancouver, BC, Canada (not far from where I live!), there's a course in snow camping and igloo building. I'd love to try that with the kids!
4. Going for a sleigh ride - My grandfather kept horses when I was little, and I do have wonderful winter memories of riding in a sleigh with the torches lit and jingling bells around the horse's neck. I'd love to try this out with my kids. Maybe we'll try it on Grouse Mountain just north of downtown Vancouver. Or I might try to get us in on a ride when we're in Skellefteå, Sweden visiting my parents. Apparently the local operators Stall Loke, and Skellefteå Vagn och Körförening organize sleigh rides in the winter.
5. Riding an ice breaker - In Finland, you can go on a mini-cruise on an icebreaker! First you ride a snowmobile to the ship, and then you ride the icebreaker around the Gulf of Bothnia. Now that sounds like a pretty awesome winter adventure!
6. Seeing the snow monkeys in Japan - I've seen the Japanese snow monkeys in a few different nature shows over the years, and I find it fascinating that animals can make such clever use of natural hot springs. I'd love to take my kids to see them, up close and personal! The hot springs and the monkeys are located in the Yamanouchi municipality.
7. Going on an Arctic safari - In one Canada-based version of an Arctic safari, you get to see walruses, caribou, muskoxen, polar bears and whales. I'd love to do this one, and the African version with the kids!

Photo thanks to my dad. It's taken in Burvik, Sweden, December 2011.

Destination for my traveling kids: Skellefteå, Sweden

Swedes ride their bikes even in winter. If they can find them.

We're spending the holidays with my parents in Skellefteå, Sweden this year. Last time we were there for Christmas, in 2009, there were crazy amounts of snow everywhere, and it was also really cold: below 20 degrees Celsius for a large part of our stay. This year Skellefteå has barely any snow yet, and it's been an unusually warm fall and early winter. We'll see what kind of conditions we'll be dealing with for our stay!

Getting the mail can be a challenge...

The kids are very excited about the trip, and so am I. Here are 10 things I'm really looking forward to (apart from hanging out with friends and family of course!):

1. Trying out some cross-country skiing with the kids. We already have gear for the kids at my parents' place (it was a Christmas present last time we visited), and the kids tried it. I'm hoping the temperatures will be a little milder this time around so we can enjoy it a little bit more!

2. Playing in the snow. There was so much snow last time we visited in December that even the locals found it astonishing. I'm hoping there will be enough this time for snow angels and toboggan rides!

3. Snuggling up in the dark. Northern Sweden doesn't get a lot of sunlight in the winter. In Skellefteå, the sun will just barely creep over the horizon in the daytime before setting again. This can be kind of depressing I guess, but when you have some candles, some Christmas treats, and a cup of glögg (Swedish mulled wine), it doesn't feel so bad. It will also make it easier to convince my jet-lagged kids that it really is the middle of the night when they wake up at 3 am...


4. Shopping for winter gear. I'm hitting up the local clothing stores for the after-Christmas sales, mainly to try to find some bargains on kids' winter clothing. Snow suits, jackets, ski pants, snow boots, even simple stuff like gloves and toques... the quality of the winter gear that is available over there is often a lot better than what I'm able to find where we live in British Columbia. And when it's on sale, I can usually find some excellent deals. If you're in Sweden, Lindex, Åhlens, Polarn o Pyret, H&M, and KappAhl are good bets for kids' clothing.

5. Swedish treats. And yes, since I grew up in Sweden but have been living in Canada since 1992, there are a lot of treats I enjoy when we visit:

• pastries from Lilla Mari, the coffee shop located just beside my parents' apartment
• salty licorice
• Swedish Christmas ham
• gravlax
• all the different varieties of Swedish cheese and crispbread
• my mom's home-made black sausages (like black pudding in sausage form)
• my dad's home-baked breads

6. Leo's Lekland. This is one place my kids are all excited about seeing again. Leo's playland is packed with slides, ball rooms, trampolines, and more. There are lots of places like this where we live in Canada, but in Skellefteå, it was kind of a novelty when Leos opened two years ago. It can get pretty intense in there when it's Christmas holidays, really cold outside, and every family is looking for somewhere for their kids to burn off some energy. Getting the kids in there is easy; getting them out... that's a different story!

And in case you're wondering exactly where Skellefteå is: take a look!

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