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It’s officially Fall! It definitely doesn’t fe It’s officially Fall! It definitely doesn’t feel like it in Miami, it really never does but that just gives us a reason to explore other states. West Virginia is one of them, fun fact I actually lived here between undergrad and grad school! Here are Things to do in West Virginia (SAVE + SHARE): 

1. Enjoy New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, or visit any of the states 35 state parks as West Virginia has 1.5 million acres of parks and public land. We personally walked the Shavers Lake Trail and canoed on the lake. 

2. Enjoy some serious adventures! We’re always trying something new and West Virginia offers a lot of options from whitewater rafting, to 1,000+ miles of off-road ATV trails, to rock climbing, caving and mountain biking . 

3. Take a train ride on the Cass Scenic Railroad which stops at the Whittaker Camp where those who worked in the lumber and coal industry lived during the work season. 

4. Explore Cranberry Glades Botanical Area where you might just get to see some black bears! 

5. Walk the Falls of Hills Creak trail to get up close to some gorgeous waterfalls! 

This week I’ll be sharing various cities and states you can experience a beautiful Fall getaway. What are some of your favorite places to enjoy autumn?

Tap the link in my bio for my West Virginia blog post and a blog post of the best places to experience Fall in the US!
Still not over our day exploring the waters of For Still not over our day exploring the waters of Fort Pierce. We danced, snorkeled, fished and went tubing. Definitely want more days like this and still pinch myself that this is what a day of work looks like for me sometimes. Thank you @seadoo for the opportunity.
If you know my husband you know water activities a If you know my husband you know water activities are his favorite! Fishing, jet skiing, just being on a boat on the ocean relaxing, name it, he’s there. So we couldn’t be more excited than to not only get the chance to test out the new @seadoo Switch but be the stars of a whole commercial for it. We had entirely too much fun filming this. Of course now he wants to buy one!

Do you like getting out on the water? Favorite activity?
Our 3 Day London Itinerary (SAVE + SHARE): 

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Day 1: Walked across the Tower Bridge (you can take a tour of London of Tower as well), walked along the River Thames and took a make a fascination hat class with @create_your_own_hat! 

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Day 2: Harry Potter walking tour, checked out Borough Market and went on a night ghost bus tour. 

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Day 3: Morning Tea at Peggy Porschen, Buckingham Palace for Changing of the Guards, and explore Westminster for the infamous red telephone booths, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey.

If you have more time on previous visits to London we have taken a day trip to check out Stonehenge, Bath and Windsor Castle, rode the London Eye, took a ferry ride down the Thames River, checked out Warner Brother Studios, and did a graffiti/street art tour.

Is London on your list? If you’ve been what did you do that you think is a must for visitors?

Things to do in London, London with kids, family travel
Then vs Now (swipe left)!🥹🥰 My babies are no Then vs Now (swipe left)!🥹🥰 My babies are not babies anymore. Where has the time gone? Excuse me while I go cry in the corner 😭😭😭😭. 

Too in my feelings to provide an informational post, I’ll be back tomorrow.
Why is this man always trying to stop my fun? List Why is this man always trying to stop my fun? Listen replace husband with whoever you need to but why these ppl keep acting like we can take our money when we’re gone?!? Y’all feel me or nah? 😅😬😩
Morning Tea in London! Afternoon or High Tea is us Morning Tea in London! Afternoon or High Tea is usually on everyone’s things to do in London list but since the girls and I don’t eat beef or pork the menus for most places didn’t make sense for us as they are filled with ham sandwiches and other things we don’t eat. I ended up finding Morning Tea at Peggy Porschen instead which offers a tea menu with breakfast items, while not traditional it worked best for us! It cost £35 pp.

For a traditional Afternoon or High Tea Try:

🫖Palm Court at The Ritz
🫖The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon at Fortnum & Mason
🫖Theatre Royal Drury Lane
🫖The Grill Room Hotel Cafe Royal (has vegetarian an vegan options)
🫖Coronation Afternoon Tea at Cellarium, Westminster Abbey
🫖The Rosebery Coronation Afternoon Tea at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
🫖The Goring Hotel

Afternoon Teas Geared Towards Families:

☕️Peter Pan Afternoon Tea at Aqua at The Shard
☕️Jurassic Afternoon Tea at the Ampersand Hotel
☕️Jungle Book Afternoon Tea at Brown’s Hotel
☕️Secret Garden Afternoon Tea at Taj 51
☕️The Buzzy Bees Afternoon Tea at St. Ermin’s Hotel
☕️Grover’s Children’s Tea at Grosvenor House Hotel
☕️The Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tour
☕️Sherlock Holmes Inspired Afternoon Tea at the Mind Palace
☕️Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Tea at One Aldwych
☕️Mad Hatter Afternoon Tea at The Sanderson
☕️Wizard of Oz Afternoon Tea at The Soho Hotel

Have you done a proper Afternoon or High Tea in London before? Was the one you did on this list, if so what did you think of it? If you have additional recommendations please do leave a comment!

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Five Days in Cartagena with Kids

July 31, 2016      Colombia, Destinations, South America

This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more information. All opinions are my own.

With most American workers having limited vacation time, I believe you have to take advantage of all opportunities given to travel. So of course taking a trip while on maternity leave was a must for me. My youngest was 10 weeks when we embarked on our trip and my eldest was 23 months. Here’s how to spend 5 days in Cartagena with kids.

mom holding baby in front of door

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you.

Cheap Flights to Cartagena

We decided on Colombia because 1. JetBlue had an amazing deal, $75 each way 2. The flight wasn’t that long, under 3hrs and 3. Colombia is pretty inexpensive as far as accommodations, food and tours. I found this deal on Skyscanner, download there free app here, it’s amazing!

Landing in Cartagena with Kids

We arrived in Cartagena from Ft. Lauderdale, FL and gained 1hr due to the time difference. You de-board on the tarmac, having to walk down the stairs on the side of the plane. You’ll need to be able to carry everything you have on your own so be sure to  consider that when choosing to carry-on or check bags. We gate checked my daughters stroller but they sent it to baggage claim upon arrival. Depending on the age of your child you may want to use a carrier if they can’t walk down the stair. Be sure to put them in the carrier prior exiting the plane.

You May Be Interested in Reading: Tips for Flying with Babies or Tips on Flying with Toddlers


Where to Stay in Cartagena with Kids

We booked our Cartagena Airbnb within the “walled city”. Just 10mins from the airport it was a $5-$7USD taxi ride.  Sign up for Airbnb here and save $40 on your first stay. Nervous about using Airbnb? Here are 8 Tips to Guarantee a Great Airbnb Experience.

Things to Do in Cartagena with Kids

Day One in Cartagena with Kids: Exploring Boca Grande

We got settled in and headed to Boca Grande for dinner, the South Beach of Colombia.  We asked the cab driver to drop us to a good restaurant and he did, but unfortunately writing down the name slipped my mind, sorry!

When deciding where to stay in Cartagena we were contemplating between Boca Grande and the Walled City. Let’s just say I was very happy we chose the later. Boca Grande was okay, just not my scene for this trip. There are tons of casinos but to me there didn’t seem to be much else other than night life.

Day Two in Cartagena with Kids: Totumo Volcano Tour

Thursday morning we were booked for the Totumo Volcano Tour. The tour cost $30USD per person and included lunch, grilled chicken or fried fish and coco rice. We took my 23 month old daughter on the tour and she was free of charge. Prior to booking the trip I asked about bringing my 10 week old and they said she was welcome but there was really no place to at the volcano to keep her out of the sun. My mom stayed in Cartagena with her as she wasn’t interested in going in the Volcano.

The tour picked us up from our Airbnb and made a few other pickups before we headed to Totumo, about a 2hr drive. When you arrive there is a covered room with lockers to put your belongings. Each group is assigned a photographer. You give him your phone or camera and he takes about 50 pictures of you before, during, and after your descent down the volcano. With so many people I was unsure he would use the correct camera but he did a great job.

people in a volcano that is filled with healing mud

You leave your shoes at the bottom of the volcano and walk up the wooden stairs barefoot. When you get to the top you see how steep the climb down is. I started thinking to myself this might not be such a great idea because I am terrified of heights. There isn’t much space while waiting at the top and there is no security railings to prevent you from falling off the side. I didn’t feel comfortable holding my daughter in my arms to climb down so my dad. There was another lady with a toddler and she also didn’t feel comfortable. She was alone so she didn’t have anyone to help her but one of the employees carried her son down for her.

Once in the volcano you are given a 5min massage. I read about this and had decided before I didn’t want one but they don’t really give you an option. They say you can’t sink and I have to say you do just seem to automatically float in the mud. I held my head up as to not get my hair filled with mud and my daughter laid/sat on top of me and I still didn’t sink. The climb up is much scarier than the climb down as this ladder is filled with mud from everyone who has climbed before you.

mom and daughter covered in mud

After you get down from the Volcano you walk over to a lake area where there are women to wash you off. I hope you aren’t shy because they dig ALL in your swimsuit to get every bit of dirt out. I definitely know some people saw my boobs, I’m still shamefully wondering if one of them was my dad….

When you go back to get your belongings the staff that gave you the massage and cleaned you up come up for their payment. Bring small bills and coins because they DO NOT give change. The tour company provided watermelon for a snack and then we were off to lunch at the beach.

In hindsight my mom could of came along and just not went in the Volcano. There was actually a lady on our tour who did just that. When I inquired about the tour they said it would be really hot and no place for her to sit while we were at the Volcano. That proved to be untrue as there is the covered area where the lockers and snack shop were.

Day Three in Cartagena: Walled City, Getsemani, and Dinner at Carmen

We took this day to walk around the walled city with no real agenda besides dinner reservations.  All the colorful houses and buildings are just so beautiful and eye captivating and we enjoyed just seeing those. There are many squares in the walled city with people performing traditional dances and other acts and we caught a few.
 
We looked through shops, checked out the viewpoints overlooking the ocean and did the tour at the Emerald Tour at JC Emeralds. They didn’t try to pressure us into buying anything at all which I really liked.
 
We headed to Carmen for dinner, supposedly one of the best restaurants in Cartagena. When I made the reservation online, they give you the option of requesting an area of the restaurant, of course I requested the roof.  The roof is very small and can only seat about 6-8 people so we had it all to ourselves! Bring a portable speaker to enjoy music of your choice. The sunset from the roof is breathtaking so make a reservation time to catch it. The food was really good but I still think it’s a little overpriced in comparison to all the other restaurants we dined at.

mom and daughter walking through door

Day Four in Cartagena with Kids: Getsemani

Prior to heading to Colombia I did research on the tours and read nothing but horror stories on the fast boats that do the island tours. From what I read I didn’t think I would want to go that route if it was just me so I definitely wasn’t going to make that decision with kids in tow. Instead I booked this tour where you drive to the beach instead, an hour drive away.
 
We chose to go on Monday to avoid the busy weekend that’s filled with both tourists and locals. We were in an air-conditioned van and it was the 5 of us and one other person. When we arrived at the beach our “tour guide” met us to walk us to their section of the beach and asked us what we wanted for lunch and what time we wanted to eat. They had a full bar, tables and chairs, lounge chairs, and hammocks (in the shade). They had restrooms right there that were clean and convenient.
 
You could opt to stay overnight in their little tree house type accommodations if you wished. The tour was scheduled for 12-7pm but after 3hrs we were ready to go. We asked our guide about going back with the earlier tour but the other person in our group was ready so we all left. The water was crystal clear and warm and we had a great time!

girl running out of the water at the beach 

Day Five in Cartagena with Kids: Cartagena to Medellin

After spending 5 days in Cartagena with kids we continues to Medellin, read about our 48 Hours in Medellin here.

Cartagena with Kids: Child Gear You Need

Using Car Seats in Cartagena

We traveled with my daughters infant car seat but the cab didn’t have seat belts in the backseat so I kept her in the carrier. Unfortunately not one cab we got into the entire trip both in Cartagena and Medellin had seat belts! We still used her car seat to snap into the stroller so it wasn’t a complete waste bringing it. During our trip we didn’t see the benefit of renting a car for our itinerary. However, if you do not feel comfortable not having your child in a car seat that seems to be the only way. The only other option is not leaving the area you are staying in and walk everywhere. Of course I didn’t want her to not be in her car seat but when traveling the world these are things you face. Here are 3 things to consider when traveling with young kids.


Using Strollers in Cartagena

The sidewalks are uneven and narrow and it was difficult to navigate our double stroller. Using an umbrella stroller would be easier but the cobblestone roads might be very bumpy for your child. If your child is still light enough to be carried I recommend a carrier. It’s hot in Cartagena so we prepared to keep your kids cool!


We had a great time exploring Cartagena with kids. After spending 5 days in Cartagena we visited Medellin, Colombia. It’s a quick and cheap flight, read our Medellin itinerary here. Did you find this article helpful? Please share it!

The Traveling Child is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

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Comments

  1. Anna Maria says

    September 18, 2017 at 11:53 pm

    Just want to say thank you for your trip report. We are headed to Colombia with our twin 3.5 year olds soon and your post was most helpful!

  2. Erica says

    January 24, 2018 at 5:02 am

    I am SO happy I found your blog post! I have an almost 3 year old and am pregnant with my second and am planning a trip over my maternity leave to Cartagena! Everyone is telling me I am absolutely nuts! So glad to see you had such a wonderful time showing your children the world!

  3. Maggie says

    March 31, 2018 at 5:15 pm

    Thank you for your post! I will travel to Colombia with my 3-year old in a few months. He wears diapers overnight but I would rather not carry 40 of them in my luggage, so I have a funny question…do they sell diapers as large as size 5 there? People in other countries seem to toilet train younger than in the US, so I don’t want to bet on it!

    • Monet says

      April 7, 2018 at 10:07 am

      Hi Maggie,
      I def understand not wanting to carry diapers in your luggage. I’m so sorry but I have no idea if they sell size 5. Kennedy was a newborn when we went and Jordyn was potty trained so I didn’t really pay attention to the size diapers they had.
      Monet

  4. jessica says

    June 29, 2018 at 2:10 pm

    love your website its so informative, will defiantly be my go to when I have kids!

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Hi! We’re The Hambricks

If kids live there, kids can visit! That's our motto and you'll often find us exploring destinations most don't find "kid friendly". We've traveled to 35 countries on 6 continents with our children since they were 10 weeks old and share tips to make it easier and affordable. But mom and dad are people too so we also write about solo travel, baecations and girlfriend getaways.

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