Day in Paris w/Kids

• Thalys train from Schiphol, 3 hours, FUN!
• Bus #42 out in front of Gare du Nord, 1.80 euro pp.  Scenic tour of the city with a stop at the Eiffel Tower!
• Summit the Eiffel Tower at night with pre-reserved tickets (tried to reserve well in advance and finally got a time slot just the night before we left- so keep checking the website!)
• Crash in comfy slumber at Hotel de l'Exposition (Room 107 is actually 2 separate but attached rooms- great for parents looking for a good night sleep!) 
• After breakfast, back on the #42 to hit Galleries Lafayette and spoil the kids with a new outfit from Paris (a good reconnaissance for Mom).
• Number 7 Metro to Porte de Villete. Enter the Cite des Sciences (Science Museum) There are a few sections for kids, Cite des Enfants.  We saw a 3d movie Oceanosaurus in La Geode first and then visited the musuem for 7-12 year olds.  Very fun!! Kids part also has English descriptions & instructions. Don't miss the adult sections but bring someone who reads French! :)
• Quick bite at a cafe near Gare Du Nord and au revoir Paris!! 

Cocktail Party Hits

Key Lime Cookies YUM! http://homecooking.about.com/od/dessertrecipes/r/blcookie96.htm

Smoked Salmon on Chips, funny sounding but with rave reviews and no leftovers.  http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Smoked-Salmon-Chips-242390

I feel sLOVEnia!

Bovec, Slovenia: Thumbs up!  Would be great for a summer vacation, too, but we were there for skiing at Kanin.  Rugged, high mountains with a drop into Italy for lunch....who can beat that!  Just prepare yourself for some exciting gondola rides and perhaps a mechanical failure or two which will keep you and your family perched high above the ground and bouncing for undetermined amounts of time, in our case, about 30 minutes! Yikes- yuckiest 'Mom moment' ever.

Next stop, Venice...can't get enough of Italy.  Hotel Tre Archi for a great, off the beaten track, location...and sweet rooms.  Right on a water bus stop and the cafe Marisa across the way is a must for a multi course classic homecooked Italian meal- different themes every night. We had 4 courses of seafood- kids get a gold medal for bravery! ha.  Note to self; it's great to be in Venice with the family, but it begs for a weekend with only your sweetie- SUPER romantic! It's with that late afternoon glow when the city wakes up......hora italica......