Bucket List Roadtrips for Harry Potter and Star Wars Fans

With brutal winter storms expected across the Midwest over the upcoming Christmas holiday, we know many families will want to curl up in front of their big screen TV and catch up on favorite movies or... hit the cineplex and see something new.

For you couch potatoes, we share this delightful infographic produced by AttractionTix.com which details some of the actual places that these great movies and TV shows were filmed, to inspire you to future family travels!

Happy Holidays, safe travels!


View full infographic (via AttractionTix).

Fashionista in the House? Cunard has a Cruise for You!

Do you have kids who can't stop playing with their clothes, changing outfits, fussing about style? (Did you know that as a boy of 6, fashion legend Yves Saint-Laurent was obessesed with dressing paper dolls?)

Do your kids aspire to be professional designers or stylists to the stars? If so, we have a family vacation custom tailored for them, that parents will enjoy just as much.

Queen Mary 2 sails into her berth in Brooklyn, New York

The regal and very British Cunard cruise line has announced an intriguing themed cruise for 2016 aboard the Queen Mary 2, celebrating the world of fashion. A year in advance, the company is promoting its very first ‘Transatlantic Fashion Week’ and the shipmate celebrities who will give it flair.

No need to worry about how your scruffy kids will be treated on this Old School ocean liner -- Family Travel Forum says Cunard loves kids.

The inaugural fashion-themed voyage is timed to arrive in New York City on September 8, the very same day New York Fashion Week 2016 begins. So not only will you have had a special seven-night voyage across the Atlantic on board the most famous ocean liner in the world, but hopefully your family will have spent some time on Carnaby Street, in Kensington, and in all the other fashion hotspots in London before boarding.

What Makes this Cruise Special

Stop thinking about the Captain's Supper! That tradition of bringing your best Black Tie outfit for the evening on which passengers dine in the presence of the captain is pretty much a thing of the past. Instead, this fashion-forward cruise will be hosted by a number of very significant names from the industry, as guests will be treated to events hosted by pioneering British designer, Dame Zandra Rhodes CBE, fashion historian Colin McDowell, and commentator Fern Mallis, considered the founder of New York Fashion Week.

photo courtesy, Cunard Line

Dame Zandra Rhodes, who has dressed some of the world’s most iconic stars and musicians, including Freddie Mercury and Jackie Onassis, has said: "I’m extremely excited to be joining Cunard on board Queen Mary 2 for the very first Transatlantic Fashion Week, 2016. For me, it offers the opportunity to share my knowledge and wonderful experiences from throughout my career in fashion, and give guests a taste of what my collection has to offer."

What budding designer wouldn't be fascinated by this?

According to Cunard, Dame Zandra Rhodes will also reveal select designs from her collections. Picture a fashion show at sea, with your family as front row guests when the next generation of beauty from the Storm modelling agency takes to the catwalk during the voyage.

Alongside these great fashion authorities, guests will have the opportunity to meet the designers of the future, as students from one of the world’s number one postgraduate fashion programs, The Royal College of Art, showcase their latest collections on board.

Cruise Planning Details 

The Transatlantic Fashion Week cruise is scheduled for 1-8 September 2016, sailing from Southampton - New York. Inside cabin rates begin at $1,349.00 per person. For more information, visit the Queen Mary 2 - Transatlantic Fashion Week details page, call Cunard at 800/728-6273, or speak with a cruise specialist travel agent.

Make sure everyone brings their sketchbooks and patterns, this is bound to be an experience that inspires wearable memories.

Do You Treat Guests of Honor Like This?

Anyone who reads this blog regularly may have noticed the paucity of contests and sweepstakes we cover, probably because my family are among the many who never win anything. (So we ignore them rather than face the pain of defeat.)  But, sometimes, a contest comes along that is so compelling, one whose prizes are so intriguing, that we have to share it and perhaps -- give one of you a chance to win!

With that, we'd like to introduce the extraordinary, culturally rich "London's Official Guest of Honor" contest which began November 12th and ends on December 9, 2014.  The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, describes it like this, with more detail to follow:

Launched by VISITLONDON.COM, the official Visitor Guide to the capital, together with VisitBritain and the GREAT Britain campaign, the opportunity has drawn thousands of people from all over the world to apply for this once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience London as never before.

The winning guest will be invited to London in February 2015 and will have the unique honours of:

• Opening Tower Bridge, the most famous bridge in the world
• Visiting the Science Museum with renowned physicist Professor Stephen Hawking
• Downton Abbey's butler Carson – actor Jim Carter – will provide the winner with afternoon tea at Lord's Cricket Ground
• Plácido Domingo and British ballerina and Strictly Come Dancing judge Darcey Bussell, will take the winner to one of their favourite theatres in the world, the Royal Opera House. 
• The Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton will personally cook a meal for the Official Guest of Honour at one of the capital's best restaurants
• The Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt Hon John Bercow MP, will take the Guest of Honour behind the scenes of the Houses of Parliament. 

And there's more! As part of the experience the Guest of Honour will fire the guns from HMS Belfast, be an extra in the West End smash hit musical Mamma Mia!, walk the red carpet at a film premiere in Central London, and meet the English tennis star Tim Henman for a VIP tour of the All England Tennis Club, which hosts The Wimbledon Championships.

London's City Hall proudly bears the Official Guest Crest of Honor

CONTEST RULES!
To apply to be London's Official Guest of Honour, entrants must go to Visitlondon.com, submit a short film or image and in 70 words describe their perfect day in London. The closing date is 9th December 2014 and participants must be aged 18 and over. For all terms and conditions see the visitlondon.com website.

As we would tell our kids, may the best behaved guest win!

Paddington Bear Overtakes London this Holiday Season

Who doesn't love teddy bears, those plush toys named after a failed hunting trip by president Theodore Roosevelt? They're everywhere now; we have admired a cuddly Steiff bear when visiting Germany, and we have definitely heeded the advice of Smokey the Bear. Your kids may fight over books about Corduroy or the Berenstain Bears, but the Brits have always had the one and only Paddington Bear.

Actor Hugh Bonneville with a Paddington Bear he designed

Furry brown Paddington originated in 1956 when author Michael Bond transformed a stuffed bear from Selfridges department store into the hero of a children's book series. Named for the busy train station in central London, in Bond's stories, the bear who hails from Peru wanders the city until he's adopted by the local Brown family, who keep him safe.

While unfamiliar to many American children, the hairy European hero stars in a major motion picture to be released by StudioCanal around Thanksgiving. Titled "Paddington," the mixed animation and live action film is written and directed by Paul King, produced by David Heyman, and stars Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Peter Capaldi, Jim Broadbent and Nicole Kidman. Ben Whishaw plays the voice of Paddington.

The Paddington Trail will feature 50 different decorated bears, each 42" tall -- perfect for kids!

To commemorate the quintessentially British hero, and publicize the city's role in the film, a Paddington Trail of 50 Paddington Bear statues will be set up around the city from from November 4 to December 30, 2014. Each of the 42" tall statues has been designed by a celebrity, ranging from the film's stars to Hollywood-based British actors such as Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Sheen and Emma Watson, to the Chelsea football team, to fashion designers Christopher Kane, Lulu Guinness and Matthew Williamson, the street artist Inkie, and even David Beckham.

The statues are great fun, as you can see in this video narrated by Hugh Bonneville of "Downton Abbey" fame.

If this FTF London Family Attractions guide didn't give your family enough to see in London this holiday season, you can follow the "trail" through museums, parks, shops and landmarks.

London Tourism has also launched a dedicated section of their website visitlondon.com/paddington which will enable visitors to download the trail map, share their pictures with Paddington (and his various avatars such as Paddington Shakesbear and Paddington Sparkles), and discover the stories behind each statue and location. 

Put on your walking boots as the Paddingtons will be located from as far west as Heathrow to as far east as the O2 arena on the Thames, taking in some landmarks such as The Royal Opera House, Museum of London, Horse Guards Parade, the Museum of Childhood and, of course, Paddington Station.

Excerpt of Visit London's Paddington Trail Map, available on their website for download.

The trail ends in Selfridges (where else?), in a shop selling a variety of Paddington-related products and artifacts. Proceeds from the shop will benefit the NSPCC, a charity protecting children.  The city is also involving many hotels in special packages and even Bear High Teas, as you can see in Eileen Ogintz' roundup of London Events for Paddington Bear.

Adds actor Hugh Bonneville, “Paddington is an explorer -  this trail is a wonderful way of bringing this to life and I hope it makes people look at London with fresh eyes.  I can’t wait for people to see it.”

We can't either.

The Funnest #Falltrips - London in Autumn

Still feeling the glow (and the crazy rise in prices) two years after its successful Olympics, London has remained Americans' favorite place to travel internationally. 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have restored and reopened Kensington Palace, open daily to visitors. Explore the gardens, snack in the chic cafe and enjoy the live show put on by the multimedia theatrical group, Coney, within the King's and Queen's State Apartments, where you'll also learn more about Prince George's namesakes.  

Families with toddlers will enjoy Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, whose solar-powered Timber Lodge cafe and adjacent playgrounds are a great place to let off steam.

The third weekend in September, Open House London is the quintessential "insider's" adult event, a weekend where more than 700 municipal and private buildings open their doors to the public. Tour power stations, the original Benjamin Franklin house and more, by road, foot and by boat with expert guides -- and it's all free. 

Red House, Bexley c. NTPL

We love the London Restaurant Festival from 8-27 October, because prices are kept in check with sampling menus. If you don't know what you want to eat, you can get on the Routemaster's Bus Tour for a Gourmet Odyssey. 

Theater-goers will find a frenzy of musical revivals ("Miss Saigon," "Book of Mormon," "Evita"), many of which have played on Broadway but which can be seen in London for a fraction of the price. If you're traveling with young kids, check out this great guide to live shows for preschoolers -- no wonder the Brits turn out so many Shakespearean actors. 

November 5th is Guy Fawkes' Night, and bonfires and fireworks light up the skies to commemorate Guy Fawkes' foiled attempt 400 years ago to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Keep the kids awake and you can teach them a bit of history during the many free festivities; Visit London keeps track of many other seasonal festivals.

Harry Potter fans of any age will get a big bang out of the new Warner Bros. Studio Tour, The Making of Harry Potter in Leavenden, about a half hour outside of London. Visitors get to see what the camera doesn't show by going behind the scenes and viewing the sets, costumes, props and visual effects.  

The Harry Potter Shop is at Platform 9 3/4 in Kings Cross Station, London N1 9AP

A real crowd pleaser, it's gained even more popularity since a very pregnant Kate, with Will and brother Harry, were caught play-fighting with wands from Ollivander's.  The Athenaeum Hotel, one of our favorites with 18 posh townhouse apartments adjacent to the main hotel, guarantee tickets to the tour when you book their Spellbinding London package which also includes breakfast, WiFi, a stocked minibar and access to the hotel's spa, gym and hot tubs (£370 for two). The Family Apartments sleeping four start from £625 (approximately US$947) per night. Double rooms are about half that price and kids 12 and under dine free at their restaurant.

For the best sightseeing values, take advantage of the current sale on the London Pass sightseeing card. Use the Oyster Card to get around buses and trains, and don't miss a visit to Kings Cross Station. This London tube stop was featured in the "Harry Potter" series as Platform 9-3/4, the portal to the Wizarding World. And if you can't get enough of Potter, take in the world-class collection at Regent's Park Zoo. Their Reptile House was the location where Harry learned he could speak to snakes, something that the whole family is welcomed to try. 

London: Fun Free Things to Learn When You Visit

Now is a wonderful time to take the children to London, England for some fun and learning, much of it at no cost to parents or grandparents! Learn all about the city and the world through many free, family-friendly museums and attractions that cover topics varying from the Royal Air Force to banking.

CheapFlights.co.uk provides fun information and factoids about the Royal Air Force Museum London, the Bank of England Museum, and other attractions in their infographic:




Not only are all of these listed attractions free to visit, there are a variety of options that cover a wide array of interests. Two of the options that struck me cater to kids with very specific interests:  your Top Gun will love the Royal Air Force Museum and your Wall Street Tycoon will enjoy the Bank of England Museum. 

As mentioned above, the Royal Air Force Museum has a large number of historic artifacts and is the only location with a life-sized model of an F-35 Join Strike Fighter Jet. The museum is located a half hour away from central London by train. The photo below is a Fiat CT.42.

If you are interested in banks, or want to learn more about the history of banks, the Bank of England Museum includes the history of banking from 1694 to present day. Visitors can see pikes and muskets that were used to defend the bank and -- best yet -- can hold a real gold bar.

We always recommend the British Museum and this summer it is open until 8:30pm on Fridays. It is very big but you can take a shorter "themed" tour using one of the family-friendly trails, like the one entitled "Hunting for Dragons" or "Sailing on the Nile."

The Natural History Museum is equally large, but your family can take in the displays without having to read so many labels, ideal with your tiny travelers.

If you have the energy for a few more museums, visit the National Maritime Museum, the largest maritime museum in the world. The kids can learn what sailors eat and play pirate games.

The Tate Gallery is the most visited modern art gallery in the world, with 5 million visitors per year. Children ages 12 and under can eat for free at the café or restaurant, and the museum allows visitors to play with different tools on the weekends.

More Resources for a London Family Vacation

Wouldn’t it be Luverly provides information about the four museums mentioned above, and about other fun places to visit.

While you are in London, you should stop by the recently opened Bond exhibit in the London Film Museum: James Bond Vehicles Showcased in New London Exhibit.

In addition to museums and attractions, discover some of the hotels London has to offer, including one that centers on the world of Harry Potter: Athenaeum Hotel London has Magic Access to Harry Potter's World, and more general options: London, England Hotels.
There are also hotel options specifically for families and expecting parents: Hotels Offering Royal Pampering to Expecting Parents and Families.

Tips for Taking your Family to London has more information about what to do with children during your stay.

Photos courtesy of Wikipedia.  Infographic courtesy of CheapFlights.co.uk